International Pairs is ready to move to new a dimension after Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brunei became the latest countries to join the global tournament.

Golf and corporate event specialists Image Golf has signed an agreement with the largest competition of its kind in the world for club golfers to run International Pairs in the four countries.

Golf is a flourishing game in the Far East with more than 15 million people estimated to play in Asia and Adnan Othman, managing director of Image Golf, is relishing the opportunity to be the inaugural licence holder and promote the competition.

“International Pairs is an event that is growing all the time and we’re delighted to have the chance to become a part of its global family,” said Adnan.

"With the European Tour now playing regular events in the Far East as well as the Asian Tour, golf is becoming more and more popular.

“International Pairs is unique in that in brings amateur golfers from all over the world together and this was something we were very keen to be a part of.”

China and Thailand made history in the summer when they become the first Asian countries to play in the International Pairs world final in Scotland.

And they are set to be joined by competitors from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brunei when the fifth International Pairs world final is staged at The Duke’s, St Andrews, from September 21-23 next year.

Ross Honey, founder and managing director of International Pairs, said: “To know that we are expanding into the Far East so quickly is great news.

“We want as many people as possible to enjoy the unique that International Pairs experience.

“Originally, we didn’t anticipate promoting the competition in Asia until 2009 but things have moved much faster than even we could have dreamed and the future is very exciting.”

Signing the new licences with Image Golf caps a remarkable year for International Pairs which has seen the tournament officially endorsed by the English Golf Union, the South African Golf Union and IAGTO (the International Golf Tour Operators Association).

Around 30 countries are anticipated to compete at the 2008 International Pairs world final with the likes of Australia, Sweden, Finland, France and Portugal also joining the competition in 2007.

And the competition signed a TV deal with Fox Sports International, one of the world’s leading sports Broadcast companies, which helped the 2007 world final be played out to a global television audience of millions of households worldwide

International Pairs has been backed by VisitScotland for the last five years – and the Scottish national tourist body has committed to be the tournament’s main sponsor until at least next year.