Asian golf's bid to be taken seriously on the world stage will be put to the test in Kuala Lumpur this weekend when the top Asian professionals take on some of Europe's finest in the $825,000 Malaysian Open.

The tournament, organised jointly by the European and Asian PGA Tours, got underway this morning with the Asians keen to prove how far the game has come in the region.

Among Europe's challengers at the Jumbo Ozaki-designed Templer Park course is Bernhard Langer, winner of two US Masters titles and 37 European Tour events.

Langer is still feeling the effects of an ear infection, which needed three holes to be drilled in his middle right ear to relieve a build-up of pressure.

"I feel pretty strong, energy-wise, but my right ear isn't right. I still have some fluid in there and my hearing isn't perfect," he said.

"I hope it won't affect my game."

Ireland's representatives are Padraig Harrington - hoping to make his first cut of the season - and Gary Murphy.

Also appearing is South African's Retief Goosen, fifth on the European Order of Merit last season.

Asian PGA number one Kyi Hla Han, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Sunday, Andrew Coltart and Per-Ulrik Johansson are also strong contenders for honours on Sunday. The Scot and the Swede finished tied for third place at the Holden International last week.

South African Open winner Mathias Gronberg of Sweden, Welshman David Park and Justin Rose, who captured the imagination of millions with a fourth placing at the 1998 British Open as an amateur, are the other European Tour drawing cards.

Goosen is feeling particularly confident, following a fourth and fifth placing in two events in South Africa last month. In 1997, he finished third in the Malaysian Open after a final round of 65.

"I feel confident and I've done well in previous Malaysian Opens. I grew up in these sort of greens and I know how to read the grain. I'm looking forward to it."

Chinese number one Zhang Lian-we is among those who believe that Asia has nothing to fear in the East-West challenge.

"I'm confident we'll do well, if not better than last year's outing," he said. "Our confidence is up and we've got more experience after playing five years on the Asian PGA Tour. We'll definitely see our players up on the leader-board this week."

Zhang, who finished tied for 17th last week in Australia, will start among the favourites to claim the title won last year by Asian PGA regular Gerry Norquist.

That win opened the door for Norquist to play in Europe and he believes his success could be the inspiration for another Asian-based player to shine.

"Guys only have to look to last year to see what it did for me. They think - `Hey it's possible'."