Malaysian Golfer Dies In Hotel Room During Tournament
28-year-old Arie Irawan was found dead in his hotel room at the Sanya Championship in Hainan, China


28-year-old Arie Irawan was found dead in his hotel room at the Sanya Championship in Hainan, China
Malaysian Golfer Dies In Hotel Room During Tournament
Arie Irawan was found dead in his hotel room on the weekend during the Sanya Championship in China.
Irawan, 28, died of "apparent natural causes" according to a PGA Tour report, with the coroner's report not yet completed.
The tournament was taking place on the Chinese resort island of Hainan and it was cancelled prior to the final round, with leader Trevor Sluman declared the champion.
Irawan had missed the cut at the PGA Tour China Series event.
Having turned professional in 2013, he won twice on the Asian Development Tour in 2015 and ranked 1,394th in the world.
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“The PGA Tour and the China Golf Association grieve at this loss of one of our members and share sincere condolences with Arie’s wife, Marina, and his parents, Ahmad and Jeny,” the PGA tour statement said.
“When something of this magnitude occurs in the golf world, we all grieve at the same time.
“Out of respect for the family, officials cancelled the final round of the Sanya Championship, the tournament becoming a 54-hole event.”
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5