Rashid Khan fires flawless 65 to take halfway lead
India’s Rashid Khan opened up a healthy four-shot lead after round two of the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today after firing a masterful seven-under-par 65.
He leads on 12 under from Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (68) and Wang Wei-hsiang (70), the defending champion and first-round leader, and Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand (69), who are all in second position.
A trio of Thai golfers, Danthai Boonma (66), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (69) and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (71) are two shots further back, at Taiwan Golf and Country Club – in what is Chinese-Taipei’s richest golf tournament.
Khan, whose two victories on the Asian Tour came back in 2014, has been a regular contender this year and looks hungry to transfer form into silverware this week after a bogey free round with four birdies on the front, and three on the back.
“It was pretty good, it was stress free,” said the 31 year old, who began his round on 10.
“I really enjoyed it. I was hitting the ball well and even rolling the putts really well. So just keeping myself on the green, give yourself a lot of chances and that’s what I did. I only missed like two greens, I’ll say, the 10th where I started, and the last hole, but a really good par on the last.”
Nitithorn Thippong.
On that final hole, the ninth, he just missed out of bounds with his tee shot, chipped out leaving himself an approach from 140 yards from where he hit his third to 25 feet and courageously holed the putt to complete a brilliant round.
He added: “I played well here last time also, I finished fifth [in 2019]. I know that a lot of things are required at this golf course, especially if you miss the green, the ups and downs are not easy. So, I’m just gonna hit the greens and you know, give myself chances.”
His round was two shots short of the course record set by Chinese-Taipei’s Lin Wen-hong in 2008.
Nitithorn, the highest ranked player in the field sitting in third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, put himself in perfect position to attempt to win for the third time this year.
He said: “I had a really great round today. I think I missed only three greens today, same as yesterday. Just like keep playing and a lot of positive things today.”
The rising star, who won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March and the International Series Singapore in August, eagled the par-five ninth after drilling his second into nine feet and holing the putt. He moved further up the leaderboard with birdies on 13 and 14 before dropping his only shot of the day on 15.
“I have been playing really good on the first day, but the last three days, like before this tournament, I don’t know just some of the days my mentality was not so good. It’s not the pressure, but I play too comfortable and like too confident. So, this week, I just tried to really focus on my game and my process,” he added.
Wang Wei-hsiang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Wang shot a 66 yesterday to make the ideal start to his title defence but endured a rocky front nine mixing three birdies with three bogeys before he steadied the ship with a two under par back nine thanks to birdies on 15 and 16.
“The pin positions were tricky today,” said Wang, whose brother Wang Wei-hsuan claimed the title in 2020.
“Overall, it’s still ok. Still in a good position for the weekend. Will keep to the same strategy and see how it goes. Not thinking too much about it. Just go out and play. The conditions out there are pretty much the same as yesterday. Wind direction was hard to gauge. Just had one bad hole on the sixth where I lost my ball. But overall, it’s alright.”
Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, the winner here in 2019 when the event was last played on the Asian Tour, carded a 71 and is further shot back with Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman (69) and Filipino Miguel Tabuena (70)
Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star, returned a 73 to end the day one under and sit in a tie for 27th.
Defending champion Wang Wei-hsiang picked up today where he left off in last year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters by shooting a six-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead.
A bogey-free scorecard at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, with four birdies on the front and two on the back, saw him top the leader board again in the US$1 million event and comfortably handle the fact that this year the event is back on the Asian Tour, unlike last season when, because of the global pandemic, it had to be played as a local event.
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, Donlaphatchai Niyomchon and Nitithorn Thippong, India’s Rashid Khan, and Hung Chien-yao from Chinese-Taipei shot 67s
Suradit Yongcharoenchai from Thailand, the winner here in 2019, and Chinese-Taipei star Chan Shih-chang fired 68s, along with four other players.
Remarkably, when Wang Wei-hsiang triumphed in 2021 it came a year after his brother Wang Wei-hsuan had been victorious – again when, due to COVID-19, the event was not on the Asian Tour schedule.
“Not thinking too much about my title defence,” said Wang Wei-hsiang, 26 and three years older than his brother, who carded a 74 today.
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Not much pressure to be honest. I told myself to stay relax and not give myself too much pressure. The conditions this week are not quite similar to last year. The course has improved and the greens are faster. It felt like summer wind out there, different from past years. Felt like we were playing in Southeast Asia. I was actually aiming to shoot even par today.”
He has engaged the services of local professional Chen Yu-zhen to caddie for him this week, which based on today’s round, could well mean he is the man to beat this week.
“It’s his home course here so he knows the course very well. He helped me a lot with the greens this week. He gave me a lot of good advice,” he added.
Sarit chose laundry over practice yesterday, but that rest day paid dividends today when after dropping a shot on the first he birdied the second and third before more birdies followed on seven, 11, 15 and 16.
“I skipped a day of practice yesterday because I ran out of golf shirts after last week,” said the Thai golfer.
“I stayed in to do laundry and just did a workout in the hotel. Everyone was telling me the greens are tough and it’s not easy out there, so I didn’t expect much.
Chan Shih-chang (picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)
“Started with a three-putt bogey today but was nice to bounce back strong. I hit my wedges really well today. It’s really hot out there. Quite easy without much wind. It’s good to start with an under-par round, sets me well for tomorrow. I took advantage of the par fives today. Hit it good off the tee, gave myself easy iron shots and then easy chips to make birdies.”
Donlaphatchai was the last Asian Tour player to win in Chinese-Taipei before the global pandemic stopped play as he claimed the Taifong Open on the Asian Development Tour at the end of 2019.
He said: “Feels good to be back in Chinese-Taipei, especially after I won the ADT Taifong Open here in 2019. Hopefully I can continue to play the same tomorrow.
“This is my first time here so I’m very happy to shoot a 67 today. I hit my approach shots very well, giving myself a lot of birdie chances which I managed to convert. Not so much wind today so it’s slightly easy.”
As expected Chan, a four-time Asian Tour winner including two in the last 10 months, is in the hunt, making five birdies and dropping one shot.
“I made a great birdie on 10 from seven yards; on this course, long putts are easier than short ones, I think. The short ones are hard to read the lines and speed. That’s the challenging part of the Tamsui course,” sad Chan, who is eager to win an Asian Tour event for the first time on home soil.
“So, I think I putted well overall today. Was hoping to make it three birdies in a row on the eighth but the ball stopped right outside the hole. The wind direction was pretty messy today. It’s hard to gauge. The greens are better now. Last time, it was hard to stop the ball. That’s why you see some low scoring this week.”
Thailand’s teenage amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat came in with a 70 to put himself in a good position to make the halfway cut, something which he didn’t do in last week’s Yeangder TPC, which was his first Asian Tour event since June.
Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images).
“I am happy with that, I am going to be honest, I have not been playing great, I didn’t play well last week,” said the 15 year old, who won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour in April.
“I started off bogeying the first very easy holes today, like the way I played last week, which was not great so just happy I pulled myself back and shot four under for the rest of the round so I am definitely happy, but I think I need to get back into that proper mindset, the real TK mindset. I made four bogeys today, the real TK would be disgusted, so I need to get my confidence back.
“I am enjoying playing the course, it’s tough and reminds me when we played Tanah Merah at the start of the year when only three of us, including me, finished under par.”
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon shot five-under-par 67s to take the clubhouse lead with half the field having completed their rounds mid-way through day one of the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Chinese-Taipei star Chan Shih-chang fired a 68, along with Benjamin Follet-Smith from Zimbabwe, and Australian Daniel Fox at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Sarit chose laundry over practice yesterday, but the rest day looked to pay dividends today when after dropping a shot on the first he birdied the second and third before more birdies followed on seven, 11, 15 and 16.
“I skipped a day of practice yesterday because I ran out of golf shirts after last week,” said the Thai golfer.
“I stayed in to do laundry and just did a workout in the hotel. Everyone was telling me the greens are tough and it’s not easy out there, so I didn’t expect much.
“Started with a three-putt bogey today but was nice to bounce back strong. I hit my wedges really well today. It’s really hot out there. Quite easy without much wind. It’s good to start with an under-par round, sets me well for tomorrow. I took advantage of the par fives today. Hit it good off the tee, gave myself easy iron shots and then easy chips to make birdies.”
Donlaphatchai Niyomchon.
Donlaphatchai was the last Asian Tour player to win in Chinese-Taipei before the global pandemic stopped play as he claimed the Taifong Open on the Asian Development Tour at the end of 2019.
He said: “Feels good to be back in Chinese-Taipei, especially after I won the ADT Taifong Open here in 2019. Hopefully I can continue to play the same tomorrow.
“This is my first time here so I’m very happy to shoot a 67 today. I hit my approach shots very well, giving myself a lot of birdie chances which I managed to convert. Not so much wind today so it’s slightly easy.”
As expected Chan, a four-time Asian Tour winner including two in the last 10 months, is in the hunt, making five birdies and dropping one shot.
“I made a great birdie on 10 from seven yards; on this course, long putts are easier than short ones, I think. The short ones are hard to read the lines and speed. That’s the challenging part of the Tamsui course,” sad Chan, who is eager to win an Asian Tour event for the first time on home soil.
“So, I think I putted well overall today. Was hoping to make it three birdies in a row on the eighth but the ball stopped right outside the hole. The wind direction was pretty messy today. It’s hard to gauge. The greens are better now. Last time, it was hard to stop the ball. That’s why you see some low scoring this week.”
Thailand’s teenage amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat came in with a 70 to put himself in a good position to make the halfway cut, something which he didn’t do in last week’s Yeangder TPC, which was his first Asian Tour event since June.
“I am happy with that, I am going to be honest, I have not been playing great, I didn’t play well last week,” said the 15 year old, who won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour in April.
“I started off bogeying the first very easy holes today, like the way I played last week, which was not great so just happy I pulled myself back and shot four under for the rest of the round so I am definitely happy, but I think I need to get back into that proper mindset, the real TK mindset. I made four bogeys today, the real TK would be disgusted, so I need to get my confidence back.
“I am enjoying playing the course, it’s tough and reminds me when we played Tanah Merah at the start of the year when only three of us, including me, finished under par.”
The Indonesian Masters is set to become the nation’s most lucrative sporting event when it makes its highly anticipated return this year boasting an overall purse of US$1.5 million and is played at its traditional home Royale Jakarta Golf Club from December 1-4.
In addition, the popular tournament – which has not been held for two years because of the global pandemic – will become part of the Asian Tour’s ground-breaking new International Series.
It will also celebrate its 10th staging and as one of the year-end events it will help bring the curtain down on the 2022 season.
Said Jimmy Masrin, Founder of the Indonesian Masters and Chairman of the Asian Tour: “To be in position now to announce and confirm details for the 10th staging of the Indonesian Masters is an incredibly rewarding feeling, particularly as we are back this year with so many exciting developments.
“Becoming part of the International Series will see the Indonesian Masters join a million-dollar plus series of elite-level events with superior playing fields, the likes of which have not been seen before in Asia, and we are absolutely thrilled that the Indonesian Masters will be the country’s representative event in this exciting initiative.”
Jimmy Masrin, Chairman, Asian Tour/Founder Indonesian Masters.
First played in 2011, when England’s Lee Westwood won the first of his three Indonesian Masters titles, the event was last played in 2019 – the year that Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand lifted the trophy to help him secure the Asian Tour Order of Merit title.
“The Indonesian Masters has long been one of our premier events which has contributed to so many great moments in our history,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.
“The Asian Tour is delighted it will return to our schedule this year and be part of the International Series – a visionary project playing an integral part of the Asian Tour as a whole.”
The International Series was launched earlier this year thanks to a new landmark partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to invigorate the game in Asia and the Middle East.
“LIV Golf remains committed to strengthening the golf ecosystem and growing the game globally,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman.
“The Indonesian Masters is another showcase addition to the International Series which is creating player pathways for tremendous talent all around the world. LIV Golf is proud to support another marquee tournament for our great sport.”
The Series has so far visited Thailand, England, Singapore and Korea, and is due to make the trip to Morocco and Egypt in November.
As well as Westwood’s three wins (2011, 2012, 2015) and Jazz, the other distinguished winners are Bernd Wiesberger (2013), Anirban Lahiri (2014), Poom Saksansin (2016, 2018), Justin Rose (2017).
The Mercuries Taiwan Masters may not have been staged on the Asian Tour for the past two years, a result of travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, but it was played on the local circuit and witnessed a rare and unique double.
In 2020 Wang Wei-hsuan was victorious, in what is one of Chinese-Taipei’s most sought after titles, and the following year Wang Wei-hsiang lifted the trophy.
Yes, you guessed it, the two Chinese-Taipei golfers are indeed brothers, and they are back to compete in the tournament, which tees-off tomorrow at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
“This is a really special tournament for me and my younger brother Wei-hsuan as we both won the last two years,” said Wang Wei-hsiang, who is three years older than his brother.
“I take it as a healthy competition between us! Really looking forward to this week. Mr. George Wong [the event’s founder] has been a great supporter of us. It’s really inspiring to see. We are all very thankful.”
Wang Wei-hsiang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Their back-to-back success was a first the event, although the famous Hsieh siblings Yu-shu (1993) and Chin-sheng (1995) have also tasted victory, adding to the rich history of an event first played in 1987 and which boasts a purse of US$1 million, the most lucrative in Chinese-Taipei.
Adds Wang Wei-hsuan: “Feels good to be back here at the old Tamsui course. Every time I come back here I feel like the course has improved. The fairway condition is getting better and better. It’s good to see. Lots of good memories from last year.
“Coming back to play here as a defending champion and with the event back on the Asian Tour, I’m really excited. Feeling more confident than before as well. I hope to play well this week.”
He has set himself the goal of finishing in the top three and says the key to playing well at Taiwan Golf and Country Club is to have the short game on point and to avoid the rough, which is grown every year specifically for the event.
Wang Wei-hsuan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Wang Wei-hsuan has the benefit of playing on the back of brilliant performance in last week’s Yeangder TPC, where he tied for third, five shots behind the winner Travis Smyth from Australia.
“I am really pleased with my result last week,” said the younger Wang, who celebrated his birthday yesterday.
“I played well on the last day, bogey-free round. My mental game was good too. I was playing in the United States the week before so to come back to finish well at the Yeangder TPC gave me a great boost of confidence.
“It sets me up well for the Mercuries Taiwan Masters this week. I have a lot of good memories here, winning here two years ago and my older brother won last year as well.
“I just want to enjoy and play my best out there. I know the course pretty well, I know the key will be my driving strategy and also how good I can gauge the wind direction. That will be main challenge I think.”
No doubt another challenge will be to beat his older brother.
Six-time Asian Tour champion Lin Wen-tang competes in this week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters – an event which he won in 2009 and finished runner-up in 2018 and 2005 – short on playing time on the Asian Tour, nursing an injury but all the better for being able to spend more time with the family. Story by Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
“Everybody knows that COVID-19 is very dangerous,” said Lin.
“And if you went outside Chinese-Taipei to another country you needed to stay at your house for about two weeks. Now maybe it’s just one week. So, my family told me, okay no problem, you don’t go to play outside Taiwan, just play local events. So, it was family time.”
The 48 year old played in the Yeangder TPC last week where he finished tied 39th, a solid performance considering it was his first tournament back for 10 months following a shoulder injury he got from working out in the gym.
He adds: “Yeah, my wife told me for the last three years you go to travel all the time, and now every day you stay at the house. So, my wife was happy, and my friends were happy. Because we always wanted to go together as a family, always wanted to go somewhere. Now I just go to play the Chinese-Taipei Tour sometimes, go to eat some good food and enjoy my life.”
The iconic Taiwan Golf and Country Club is well known for being one of the more demanding layouts on the Asian Tour, but the past champion knows how to tackle it.
Says Lin: “Everybody knows the wind is very tricky at the Tamsui golf course. I mean the fairways are small and the greens are sometimes a bit difficult. Last month they were good, but they aerified them since, so now maybe a little bit better. So, we hope they will be good this week.”
Lin Wen-tang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“On the difficult holes number 12 to 14, because the wind always changes, you need to hit a low ball and you need good chipping and putting. You also need to hit it straight. Make the cut first, and I don’t know, just do it.”
Turning 50 in June of 2024, Lin still has his sights set on the Senior circuit in the U.S., although the shoulder injury means it is not a certainty.
“I want to go, and my sponsors told me to go to the PGA Tour Champions in America, but I injured my shoulder going to the gym, and now it’s not so good. I don’t know, maybe I’ll try. Maybe after a year I will try to see how I feel. If no chance, I’ll just pay local events” he says.
Even if the plans to go play in the U.S. after turning 50 don’t materialize, he still has had a career full of moments to be very proud of, such as winning the 2008 DP World Tour co-sanctioned Hong Kong Open against future Major winners Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari in a playoff.
He did so by hitting a miracle shot out of the left trees to four feet on the first playoff hole to match McIlroy’s birdie and wedged it to a foot on the second playoff hole for the win.
Says Lin: “Yeah, I always remember the Hong Kong Open, because on the first playoff hole my lie in the trees is very bad. So, I needed to get lucky, I just remember that God helped me.”
He adds: “I remember McIlroy telling me it’s a very good shot, and maybe at that time he’s one of the best players in Europe. So was very happy because he is a good player, I have played with him three times. Now I have the video in my phone, sometimes I look at it and it just makes me happy, because it’s a long time ago. My family told me just last night, we all enjoy the 2008 Hong Kong Open. So, I mean it’s just very important in my life.”
The banner season of 2008 saw Lin finish the year 49th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), which meant an invitation to the Masters the following year – a lifetime experience for the Chinese Taipei player.
Lin Wen-tang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Everybody told me at Augusta the greens are very fast, but I just enjoyed it because for a long time no Chinese-Taipei player could go to America and play the Masters,” he said.
“I very much enjoyed the Masters week, because my friends and sponsors came with me too so we just enjoyed it. There were a lot of spectators, guests and sponsors, so I was a bit nervous on the first tee. I had to put the ball on the tee three times on the first day.”
Lin also had the honor to represent Chinese-Taipei in golf’s return to the Olympics in Rio in 2016, one of many great moments in an accomplished career since turning professional in 1996.
Said Lin: “Now I’m just happy because I’m 48 and I’ve played in the Olympics and the Masters, sometimes in Europe and America. I’m happy with my life, maybe I’m finished but I don’t know.”
Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai has indicated a return to form is on the cards after a disappointing start to the season – which is timely, as this week he competes in the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters, an event he won in 2019, which remains his maiden success on the Asian Tour. Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour reports.
He won what is the most lucrative golf event in Chinese-Taipei here at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, when it was last played on the Asian Tour before the global COVID-19 pandemic brought play to such a sudden halt.
Said Suradit: “Now I’ve started to play good golf again, so I feel good. Earlier this year my results haven’t been so good, but now my game is coming along. Hopefully the result will be good this week.”
Earning his maiden Asian Tour victory at the event three years ago by one stroke over defending champion Adilson Da Silva, Miguel Tabuena and Ajeetesh Sandhu was a big milestone for the young Thai.
“It was my first win on the Asian Tour and I’m really happy to have won, I was very excited,” added Suradit.
Suradit Yongcharoenchai with the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters trophy.
At last week’s Yeangder TPC the 23 year old fired a last of round five-under-par 67 to finish tied 22nd following three missed cuts in a row, and he is hoping a return to the iconic Tamsui layout will inspire him to an improved performance this week.
The narrow tree-lined course is not one of the longer ones on the Asian Tour, but the greens are known for being some of the trickiest the players will encounter during the season.
Suradit think this works in his favour as the course suits his game.
He said: “I like the Tamsui course because you know, the golf course is a little bit narrow, and I like narrow courses. And the greens are very hard to putt but it’s okay for me.”
Although the Mercuries Taiwan Masters has been dominated by Chinese-Taipei winners through its history, Thai players have a good record in the event with legends Boonchu Ruangkit and Thaworn Wirathchant winning the trophy in 1998 and 2004 respectively, as well as Pariya Junhasavastikul taking the title in 2010.
Players from The Kingdom are well known for having an affinity to playing golf in Chinese-Taipei and Suradit, nicknamed “Art” is no exception.
He said: “I like the food in Chinese-Taipei and the milk tea, and I have a lot of friends here.”
His win in 2019 helped him finish fourth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit which also earned him playing rights on the DP World Tour; he spent much of 2021 playing in Europe, gaining a valuable learning experience playing in different conditions and on unfamiliar courses.
Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images).
Should he manage to be victorious he will join an elite group of players who have won the event more than once: Lu Wen-teh (four), Lu Wei-chih (three), Tsai Chi-huang (two), with Lu being the only one to successfully defended his title back in 2007-2008.
The tournament was played in 2020 and 2021 but only as an event on the domestic circuit. The Wang brothers from Chinese-Taipei triumphed, with Wei-hsuan winning in 2020 and Wei-hsiang keeping it in the family the following year.
Chinese-Taipei veteran Yeh Weh-tze, famous for being one of only two players from his country to win on the DP World Tour when he claimed the 2000 Malaysian Open, has confirmed he plans to play on the game’s Seniors circuits after he turns 50 early next year. Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour, spoke to him.
The 49 year old played in the Yeangder TPC last week, showing he still has what it takes to compete at the top level by playing all four rounds, and says he is excited about the next stage of his career.
“Next year I want go to Japan, I can play the Japan Senior Tour,” said Yeh.
“I could also play the European Senior Tour if I wanted since I won the Malaysian Open, but I like Japan better so I think I will only play in Japan next year”.
In 2000 he hit global headlines when he won the jointly-sanctioned Malaysian Open by a single shot over three players including three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington from Ireland.
In doing so he became only the second player from Chinese-Taipei to win on the DP World Tour, following his famous compatriot and coach Lu Liang-Huan, better known as “Mr. Lu”, who lifted the French Open trophy and finished runner-up in the Open Championship in 1971.
Yeh Wei-tze. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The last few years of COVID-19 restrictions has meant no international travel for Yeh, but he has still managed to keep busy.
He said: “I’ve only stayed in Taiwan doing some training and spending time with my family. I played the local tour and we’ve had quite a few events, but I haven’t been playing that well, only so-so”.
He turns 50 in February and it’s no surprise Japan is initially his first choice to start with the Seniors as he triumphed twice there: in the ANA Open in 2003, and the Sega Swammy Cup in 2006. Famously, he beat the legendary Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki from Japan by a shot in the first of those wins.
“I can speak Japanese and I like the food there. I played in Japan maybe eight years,” he added.
After his victory in Malaysia, he spent two years dividing his time between the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour, and found playing in Europe a challenge.
He said: “Playing in Europe the weather is a bit tough, and the greens are very difficult. But for me it was a very good challenge. I was very happy I could win the Malaysian Open and go play on the European Tour.”
Before wrapping up his time in Europe he posted a fifth-place finish at the 2002 Compass Group English Open as his best finish on European soil.
Yeh Wei-tze. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
There’s one other thing Yeh is famous for which has no doubt contributed to his success.
He says: “I have one short driver I can keep in the fairway and one for more distance.”
Nostalgia will hang heavily in the air when Asian golfing legends Chen Tze-chung and Chen Tze-ming tee-off in this week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, writes Spencer Robinson, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
The pioneering brothers, better known as TC and TM, blazed a trail for Asian golf in the 1980s with their feats on fairways around the world.
Their appearance in the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the historic Taiwan Golf and Country Club, which starts Thursday, will provide an opportunity for Taiwanese fans to pay tribute to the duo who have been household names in their home country for more than five decades.
For TM it will be an especially poignant week as he turns 70 on Wednesday (September 28), making him one of the eldest players to line-up in an Asian Tour event.
Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO, said: “The Chen brothers are genuine legends of the professional game in Asia. Through their exploits, they helped to put Asia on the golfing map and they are rightly revered for paving a path that others have been able to follow.
“It’s a wonderful gesture by Mercuries to honour TM and TC with invitations to take part this week, offering a rare chance for our modern-day stars to brush shoulders with two men who rank among the finest golfers Asia has ever produced.”
Between them, TM and 64-year-old TC won no fewer than 37 professional titles in glittering careers.
Most notable among them was TC’s triumph in the Los Angeles Open in 1987, defeating American Ben Crenshaw in a sudden-death play-off. It was the first win by a Taiwanese player on the PGA Tour and only the second by an Asian, following Japan’s Isao Aoki at the Hawaii Open in 1983.
In 1985, the brothers both came close to winning Major titles. TC tied for second at the US Open while TM was third at the PGA Championship.
T.C. Chen on the green during the 1987 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club (Picture by Augusta National/Getty Images).
TC’s remarkable week at Oakland Hills Country Club in 1985 is still often discussed. He scored the first albatross in US Open history when he holed his three-wood second shot from 255 yards at the par-five second hole and took a two-stroke lead into the final round, only to be pipped by American Andy North.
Arguably it was one stroke of misfortune that cost Chen the chance to write his name into the record books as Asia’s first Major champion. At the fifth hole in the final round, Chen ran-up a quadruple-bogey eight which included a penalty shot incurred after a freak double hit on a chip shot, earning him the nickname ‘Two-Chip’ Chen.
During the early days of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, the Chens were the star attractions.
TC, who in 1982 became the first Taiwanese player to earn his PGA Tour card, won the third edition of the championship in 1989.
For his part, TM’s stellar curriculum vitae includes seven Asian Golf Circuit titles including the national Open championships of Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. He won the Order of Merit in 1985.
The Chen brothers also excelled for Taiwan in team championships as amateurs and professionals.
The duo represented their country in the World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in 1976, while TC propelled Taiwan to the bronze medal in 1980 when he was second individually behind American Hal Sutton.
In 1984, TC was fifth individually in the World Cup of Golf, leading Taiwan to a joint second place finish behind Spain, and then teamed up with his brother in the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews in 1985 and 1994.
Fittingly, the third member of the 1985 team was ‘Mr Lu’ Liang-huan, Asia’s first global golfing star, having finished runner-up to Lee Trevino in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1971.
It was that performance which provided the inspiration for TC who recalled: “When I was a little kid, after school I came to the golf course every day and watched. I didn’t know anything about golf, only read about superstars like Nicklaus and Trevino, who were in the papers every day.
“Mr Lu had finished second at the British Open, so at the time he was very famous. I was thinking someday I will be just like him. That was part of the reason I started to play golf.”
Mr Lu, winner of the inaugural Hong Kong Open in 1959 and resident professional at the Hong Kong Golf Club from 1962 to 1964, passed away in March this year, aged 85.
Australian Travis Smyth finally got the monkey off his back and won his maiden title on the Asian Tour today when he recorded an impressive two-shot victory in the US$700,000 Yeangder TPC at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, in Taipei.
The 27 year old from Sydney drew on a season of strong performances and near misses to fire his second successive six-under-par 66 for a tournament total of 19 under, with defending champion Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei finishing runner up after an equally fine 67.
Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan (67), Nicholas Fung from Malaysia (67), American Berry Henson (68), and Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden (69) tied for third, five behind the winner.
Smyth started the day with a one-shot lead and proved uncatchable after he birdied four out of the first six to make the turn in four under before virtually wrapping things up by making three birdies in a row from the 10th. With a healthy lead the surprise double bogey he made on the 15th, which were his only dropped shots of the day, was not too damaging particularly as he responded with his final birdie of the day on the next.
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The victory made up for narrowly failing to win the International Series England in June where he was second – a result that earned him starts on the LIV Golf Invitational series.
“Feels amazing!” said an overjoyed Smyth, who picked up a cheque for US$126,000.
“I got so close, I felt like I let it go in England and to play some LIV events, feel what it’s like there, I just want to get back. I want to be the player that I believe I can be, and winning this week is one step along the journey.”
On the 15th his ball plugged in a bunker, after a big hook with his nine iron, from where he splashed out and three putted to make the closing stages slightly more interesting.
He becomes the 11th first-time winner this season, and first Australian to win the event.
He added: “The opening nine, or first five, six holes are quite easy, but it’s a tight course so you have to hit it straight. You got to be below the hole, you got to roll the putts in, and I just did exactly that. Set the pace for the day. But you know the guy I was playing with, Lee Chieh-po, he played amazing. I was always like one, two or three shots within him, and he kept playing well and applying pressure, so it wasn’t easy that’s for sure.”
Smyth earned his place on the Asian Tour by finishing joint third at Qualifying School in 2018 and after a number of good results since then, a first victory had been expected soon.
Lee Chieh-po. Pic0ure by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
For Lee it was his best finish on the Asian Tour as when he won last year the tournament was held solely as a domestic event – the result of travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic.
He said: “I think I did well today. Travis was just too good. I played well in this tough conditions. And my overall 72-hole score is better than my winning score last year so there is some improvement! I am happy with how I played this week. Happy to set a new personal best result on the Asian Tour.
“I think my card should be safe for next year. Looking forward to playing on the Asian Tour again. I am happy with my performance this week, some unfortunate misses today but overall, it was good. Travis played close to perfection today, except for that double bogey on 15 which didn’t really make a lot of difference.”
He also began well with birdies on one, seven and eight followed by two more on 10 and 12 to put some pressure on his Australian opponent but his chance of victory slipped away when he dropped shots on 13 and 15.
For Henson it was yet another good week in the Yeangder TPC, where he has recorded three top 10s in the past, including a joint fourth place finish a decade ago.
“I’m playing some great golf, I’ve played well all week,” said the American, who began with an eagle of the par-five first.
Berry Henson. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Made a few mistakes that could have been prevented, but I mean, all in all a good week. I’m striking it unbelievably well, hit my driver fantastic. The putter has been a little hot and cold. But I mean, my game is the best it’s been in a couple years, just been really, really solid.
“I mean I love coming to Linkou, I’ve always feel like this is a course I can win on after I figured out how to play it. But the first year not so much. But yeah, a super positive week for me. It’s easy to kind of take some of the negatives out of it. But I’m happy with where my game is at, that I’ve put in some hard work and it seems to be paying off.”
Today was also Hellgren’s best result on the Asian Tour.
He said: “I got off to a hot start on the front nine, I think I was four under. I just tried to play the course I didn’t care what the other guys were doing. Because this is a tricky course you need to put the ball in play.
“And then I don’t know what happened, I kind of lost it a little bit there for a while I made a bogey on 10. Just kept getting bad lies, like really bad lies, and then came back strong with a birdie on 17. So, I’m quite happy.”
The Asian Tour stays in Chinese-Taipei next week for the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, which will be played at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, from September 29 to October 2.
Bjorn Hellgren. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Recent Comments