Olympic tee times
Eight players from the Asian Tour will tee off in one of the tournaments of their lives tomorrow when they compete in the first round of the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition, at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
And, perhaps, none will be more excited and proud than Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino who The International Golf Federation ‒ organisers of the golf event ‒ have given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot.
Hoshino, who was the leading Asian Tour player to qualify after finishing in 24th place on the rankings, will start at 7:30 a.m. local time ‒ along with Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Sepp Straka of Austria.
The 25 year old, who has played on the Asian Tour for the past three years, has enjoyed a brilliant 2021, winning twice in Japan to take pole position on the money list there.
The other Japanese player competing ‒ Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama ‒goes off at 8:41 a.m.
India’s Anirban Lahiri, who competed in Rio five years ago, is the next Asian Tour player off at 8.52 a.m.; while Gavin Green from Malaysia, the other Asian Tour competitor in the field who competed in Rio, is in the following group at 9.03 a.m.
Both are former Asian Tour Order of Merit champions.
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 27: Anirban Lahiri of Team India plays during a practice round at Kasumigaseki Country Club ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul is in the threesome at 9.14 a.m; while his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond – the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner – starts his Olympics at 9.47 a.m.
Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent are the only Asian Tour players paired together at 10.58 a.m., and India’s Udayan Mane ‒ who earned the 60th and final Olympic qualifying berth ‒ makes his debut in the Olympics at 11.09 a.m.
In one of the high-profile groups, American Collin Morikawa ‒ last week’s winner of The Open ‒ Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland and Korean Sungjae Im begin at 10.25 a.m.
Wooden clubs and mud greens, Indian Open champ C. Muniyappa lockdown innovations. By Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India.
C. Muniyappa, the 2009 Hero Indian Open champion, grew up learning golf on mud greens with handcrafted clubs. The setting used to be agricultural fields in his village before he moved to pristine championship courses like the Karnataka Golf Association in Bengaluru, his regular practice venue. But unknown to him then, staying connected to his village, called Poolampatti in the nearby state of Tamil Nadu, would help him many years down at a time when life and golf came to a standstill.
Since the pandemic struck last year, the visits to the village to escape the scourge of the virus were also used to stay sharp, albeit the traditional way. Muniyappa got little time to plan before the first visit and arrived in the village without his regular clubs save the odd iron and had to make do with ones carved out of the branches of a tamarind tree. It was nothing new for Muniyappa as access and affordability was not easy in the formative years. The clubs were improvised alright but in sync with the three mud greens he created last year in a portion of the land owned by his uncle.
He was better prepared this time and anticipating the second wave in late March moved to the village with a better ensemble of conventional clubs a week after the Professional Golf Tour of India got stalled again. Practice was on the mind, but also on the agenda was building a base for the family. Work on both projects started alongside and though it will be a while before the house is ready, Muniyappa was up and about with practice in no time.
Two-and-quarter acres were earmarked for the makeshift mini golf course, and it took Muniyappa and his sons Kiran (16) and Prem (10) about two days to get the facility ready. Making use of the hilly terrain to increase the difficulty quotient, two mud greens of 150 and 120 yards have been created at a higher level while the third measuring 140 yards is on a lower gradient. Irons and a sand wedge come into use here, and since the putter broke during practice, a 9-iron is being used as a makeshift putter along with a wooden one.
Through April and a portion of May, Muniyappa practiced hard, but just as the connect with the past was getting stronger, he was laid low by body ache and high fever. Given the times, it was a scare till medical reports confirmed dengue. A month went by without practice, and though yet to gain full strength, Muniyappa is getting back to the old schedule.
A typical day starts at 7am with an hour-long session of stretching, pull-ups, yoga and breathing exercises. Depending on the intensity of the sun, practice happens early in the morning or between 4-6.30 pm. Work starts from the makeshift range which allows a carry of 230 yards. Excited village kids wait at the other end to collect the balls, and for the odd golf ball as a giveaway after Muniyappa is done.
The action then shifts to the tight mini course. Teeing off amid lush green foliage, chipping and putting is a test of skill given the rocky and potholed terrain. But Muniyappa swears by it and claims the experience makes putting in tournaments seem like child’s play. Given the small coverage area, the exercise is repeated 4-5 times. As for the score, it mostly hovers around 1-2-over. The best he has managed till date is 1-under and that is a source of encouragement to keep at it in the hope when tournaments resume this unconventional practice drill will hold in good stead.
Lockdown innovations ?
Former Indian Open champion C. Muniyappa ?? making the most of the pandemic back home in India. ?⛳ pic.twitter.com/qBwzyhnopd
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) July 26, 2021
The XXXII Olympiad is finally here, with the opening ceremony taking place on Friday, and next week will see the men’s golf tournament tee-off at Kasumigaseki Country Club. To whet your appetite, we look back at Rio 2016 ‒ when Justin Rose won gold in such glorious fashion.
Justin Rose’s exuberant fist pump celebration after holing the winning putt was one of the many lasting memories from Rio 2016.
Sadly, the Englishman did not make the Great Britain team for Tokyo, but he set the bar for Olympic golf in terms of passion and performance.
He became golf’s first Olympic champion since 1904 by overcoming friend and Ryder Cup partner Henrik Stenson from Sweden in a thrilling final round at the Olympic Golf Course.
Rose, 36 years old at the time, was level with Stenson on 15 under par after 17 holes but the Swede bogeyed the last while Rose sank a birdie putt to win by two shots.
The 2013 US Open champion closed with a four-under-par 67 to win on 16 under.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Henrik Stenson (R) of Sweden congratulates Justin Rose of Great Britain as Rose celebrates winning in the final round of men’s golf on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Stenson ‒ who two months earlier had claimed The Open ‒ took silver with a 68, while American Matt Kuchar carded a 63 to claim bronze on 13 under.
“That felt better than anything I’ve ever won,” said Rose.
“It was the best tournament I’ve ever done. Hopefully, we have shown Brazil what golf is about. I’m glad it was close. Not for my nerves, for golf.”
Rose had relished the prospect of becoming an Olympian since the moment the sport’s return to the Games was confirmed in 2009.
Such was his eagerness to be part of the experience, he arrived the week before the Olympics officially started to ensure he was part of the opening ceremony.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about Rio for a long, long time. I’ve been dreaming about coming here for a few years now. I was hoping my ranking would allow me to compete in the Olympic Games.
“I came here in good form, and I felt excited about competing, excited about giving it 100%. Then, when I actually got down to Rio and experienced the whole vibe of the Olympics, to come out of it with a medal is incredible. To come out of it with gold, unbelievable.”
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Justin Rose (C) of Great Britain celebrates with the gold medal, Henrik Stenson (L) of Sweden, silver medal, and Matt Kuchar of the United States, bronze medal, after the final round of men’s golf on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The Englishman made history by hitting Olympic golf’s first hole-in-one in the opening round and started Sunday with a one-shot lead, before shooting four birdies and just one bogey on his outward nine.
Stenson carded birdies in four of his first 10 holes and drew level with Rose when the leader dropped a shot on the 13th.
It looked like a play-off would be needed to separate them, but Rose held his nerve on the par-five last, chipping his approach to two feet from the hole, while Stenson’s spun away to around 20 feet.
The Swede then raced his birdie putt eight feet past the hole and missed the return to allow Rose the luxury of two putts for victory. He needed just the one.
Earlier, Stenson had been forced to summon the trainer to help with back issues on the 14th hole, which left him face down on the tee for a brief spell. He went on to bogey the hole.
“I didn’t make the best swings there for a little while, but it wasn’t hindering me too much,” Stenson said. “But it’s not something you plan to have worked on out on the course.
“It did kind of put me out of rhythm a little bit, but I was still there till the end. It was just down to whoever made a birdie on the last, otherwise we would have been out for a play-off.”
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat competes in the men’s individual stroke play at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. / AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
A total of 14 Asian Tour members competed in Rio, with several players excelling: in particular, Australian Marcus Fraser and Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand tied for fifth, just eight shots behind Rose. Fraser, in fact, led after day one and two.
But more than the performances it was the Olympic experience that was remembered the most by the Asian Tour players who competed.
Bangladesh star Siddikur Rahman was the flag bearer for his country, Brazil’s Adilson da Silva was the first player to tee off in the first round, and Malaysian Gavin Green, inspired by the occasion, promptly got an Olympic tattoo on his arm when he returned home.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, saved the best for last at the Open Championship at Royal St George’s on Sunday after closing with a three-under-par 67 to finish in a tie for 46th place, on even par ‒ his best finish in three appearances in golf’s eldest Major.
It brought to an end a good week’s work for Asian Tour players, which saw five survive the halfway cut, with South African Justin Harding ‒ a two-time winner on the Asian Tour ‒ leading the way by finishing in a tie for 19th, following a final day 75, in the final Major of the year.
American Johannes Veerman tied with Jazz, Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita came equal 59th and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin ended joint 76th ‒ an impressive result considering it was his Major debut.
American star Collin Morikawa claimed the title after shooting an inspired bogey-free final round 66 to hold off compatriot Jordan Spieth and win by two strokes.
The 24-year-old, who won his first Major on his US PGA Championship debut last year, became the first Open debutant to win since American Ben Curtis did so at this course in 2003.
SANDWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand plays his shot from the first tee during Day One of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 15, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
“This is one of the best moments of my life,” he said. “Look at all these fans. To see some of the best crowds I have ever seen, I’m looking forward to making my trip every year.”
Morikawa’s final round saw him win on 15 under, with 2017 champion Spieth also recording a 66.
US Open champion Jon Rahm from Spain birdied four of his last six holes to also card a 66 and finish joint third on 11 under with overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen from South African, who closed with a 71.
“I tell everyone I am not the biggest history guy but I want to add myself to history and make memories for myself,” added Morikawa.
“Everything about this week was very special, to cap it on my caddie’s birthday, even more special.
SANDWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Open Champion, Collin Morikawa of United States celebrates with the Claret Jug on the 18th hole during Day Four of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 18, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“I’ve had belief in myself since turning pro that I can do it. When it’s coming to these tournaments, courses and styles that I have never played, I do my homework Monday to Wednesday to know what I need to do.”
Report by Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India.
Udayan Mane does not care much about the cliché, “I grew up dreaming of the Olympics.” He had an “unreal” wish of featuring in the Ryder Cup though, but not the Olympic Games. “As kids, we engaged in putting competitions to win The Masters, but the Olympics was never on the to-do list,” said the Indian.
But since golf returned to the Games after 112 years at Rio 2016, Mane made an addition to the checklist. The week of the event in Rio, Mane was keyed in, making it a point to tune in for the post-round interviews of Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar in particular to “get a sense of the atmosphere”.
He stepped up by raising his craft several notches and specific work going into fitness. The hours of toil paid off as Mane qualified for Tokyo courtesy of a prolific run on the Professional Golf Tour of India between December 2019 and March 2020 that saw him win thrice in succession and finish second before the virus struck.
But the road to Tokyo had been an arduous one.
With overseas travel an uphill task and tournaments at home after the pandemic hit happening in fits and starts, Mane’s ranking dropped. With time, interest in the Olympic rankings waned too but he kept doing what he was supposed to. Mane won the Delhi NCR Open, the last event on the Professional Golf Tour of India before Lockdown 2 this year, but he was aware that would not suffice. Mails were shot off to the European and Sunshine Tours requesting for spots. The South African Tour responded favourably but by May India was in the red zone, making leaving the shores impossible. Another opportunity was the Asia Pacific Diamond Cup on the Japan Golf Tour, but the 14-day quarantine rule did not make sense.
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – FEBRUARY 04: Udayan Mane of India in action during round four of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open at Kurmitola Golf Club on February 4, 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
The angst got deeper when Mane was informed by the Indian Golf Union, the national federation, in June that he did not figure even among the Olympic replacements. Mane ploughed on with his daily schedule but with a tinge of disappointment. But when news broke of Emiliano Grillo’s pull out from the Olympics, which paved his way to join Anirban Lahiri in Tokyo, it was like elixir. Practice at the Poona Club got more structured and with a lot more intent.
The golf course yet to reopen after the second wave in the country, Mane is the lone figure practicing with undivided focus. Initially, when news broke of his qualification, the phone did not stop ringing and that was an irritant. At the risk of seeming impolite, Mane had to switch off as there is a task on hand.
Peace has been restored and its Mane, Rupesh, his caddy on Tour, and fitness trainer Samarth Dwivedi hard at work. A typical day starts at 8am with mobility and conditioning under the watchful eyes of Dwivedi. The 90-minute session at the gym, again out of bounds for everyone else, is followed by breakfast before hitting the golf course around 11am. From then till 6pm, all aspects of the game are covered interspersed by playing nine or 18 holes six days a week.
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – FEBRUARY 04: Udayan Mane of India in action during round four of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open at Kurmitola Golf Club on February 4, 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
Notes are also being exchanged between the two Olympic-bound athletes and Rahil Gangjee, their go-to man on what to expect in Japan. Mane has made it a point to have a chat with Gangjee at least once a week so that enough updates are got on the conditions before departure.
After the dismal phase of watching the world pass by, the mood is upbeat and should a medal come India’s way, the Mane household in Pune will have a quiet celebration, quite like the way they embraced his qualification. It was over roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggies; a podium finish will call for a more elaborate menu.
Singapore’s Marc Ong won for the first time on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG today ‒ in the fourth leg, at Tanah Merah Country Club.
The 26 year old fired a closing two-under-par 70 to finish even for the tournament, and tie compatriot Greg Foo but win on countback based on final round score.
Foo, joint leader at the start of the day with Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach, closed with a 75 on the Tampines Course.
Slorach tied for third, two shots back, with countryman Mardan Mamat and Myanmar’s Zaw Moe.
“This is my first win as a pro, so it means so much,” said Ong, who earned a cheque for S$3,850.
“It was close all the way and to come out on top against Greg [Foo] and Mardan [Mamat] is really great. I didn’t check the scores for most of the round but when I checked the app I saw we were tied so that put the pressure on.”
Ong, a professional for three years who is based at Tanah Merah, toured the front nine in two under and came home in even par making a crucial birdie on the par-three 16th.
Foo had claimed the second leg of the Pro Series here on the Tampines Course – helped by a final round 64 – and was looking to continue that winning streak this week.
However, the two-time Singapore Open Amateur champion double bogeyed the 10th and dropped shots on 14, 15 and 18 for a back nine of 42.
And, Mamat, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, also struggled home in two over – he made double on the par five 15th – to help hand victory to Ong.
“It wasn’t meant to be today, best to let the young one’s win,” joked 53-year-old Mamat.
In the 73rd Singapore Open Amateur Championship – which was run in parallel with the Pro Series event, on the same course ‒ Singapore’s Ryan Ang emerged victorious. He closed with a 74 to finish four over for the event and beat countryman Justin Kuk by two shots. Singapore’s Hailey Loh claimed the women’s title by five from Aloysa Margiela Atienza.
This week marked the first time the Singapore Open Amateur Championship has been played in parallel with a professional event.
The event was also to be the circuit’s first 72-hole tournament, but Tuesday’s first round was washed out because of heavy rain. Total prize money was S$12,600.
Each of the Pro Series legs counts towards the ‘Race to FTAG Cup’, where the winner of the Order of Merit will also receive a bonus of S$10,000.
The next event – leg five – will be played on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from August 4 to 5.
Three-time Asian Tour winner Poom Saksansin says it will be a “great honour” to play in this week’s Open Championship, as it will mark the first time he has competed in one of golf’s four Majors.
“The Open is very important for me as it’s my first Major. It’s a very big event. I’m very happy to attend this tournament,” said the Thai star, who will tee off at 3.54pm (GMT) in the first round with American Kurt Kitayama, also a winner on the Asian Tour, and Deyen Lawson from Australia.
“When I was a junior, I used to play on the links course – it’s buffeted by strong winds and deep bunkers.”
The 28-year-old, who qualified via the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open, says he has been working on making his body stronger to deal with the more exacting conditions that come with links golf, and he has been practising his “straight shot”.
SANDWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 13: Poom Saksansin of Thailand tees off during a practice round for The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 13, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/R&A/R&A via Getty Images )
“I only got the course information from the internet. Although I have no idea about the course conditions, I aim to make the cut. I admit that I never played in the course conditions like that but I will try my best to play without pressure,” added Poom, who flew into the UK on Saturday.
“During the pandemic, I had a lot more time to practice and improve my flight ball. Also, I have been competing in golf tournaments in Thailand,” he added.
“I think I practiced too much as there were just a few local tournaments. My performance during the year was not very good – sometimes I have been playing with stress. I felt pressured while I was playing. I was not playing that well as I was playing before the pandemic.
“Although I practiced a lot, my game was not improving. I decided to practice less so I haven’t got back pain and I feel more comfortable. I’m a better player with less practice.”
The tournament tees-off on Thursday at Royal St George’s with Ireland’s Shane Lowry defending the title he won at Royal Portrush in 2019 (the event was cancelled last year because of the pandemic).
SINGAPORE- Poom Saksansin of Thailand an Open qualifier pictured on Sunday January 19,2020, during the final round of the SMBC Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore. The USD$ 1 million event is co- sanctioned with the Asian Tour and Japan Tour, January 16-19, 2020. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Lagardére Sports.
Ten Asian Tour members are competing: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion – Americans John Catlin and Johannes Veerman, Australian Brad Kennedy, Ryosuke Kinoshita and Rikuya Hoshino from Japan, Canadian Richard T. Lee, and Jaco Ahlers from South Africa.
ENDS
The Open Championship tees-off at Royal St George’s on Thursday ‒ much to the delight of the golfing world, as the event was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Surprisingly, still no player from Asia has improved upon the second-placed finish by Chinese Taipei’s Lu Lianghuan in 1971, at Royal Birkdale. We look back at what was one of the stand-out Opens, thanks to the performance of the man popularly known as “Mr Lu”.
When China’s Haotong Li stormed through the field on the final day of The Open in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, threatening to become the first Asian to win the Claret Jug, Chinese-Taipei’s greatest golfing hero Lu Lianghuan ‒ likely watching at home, in Taipei ‒ perhaps thought his second-place finish in the 1971 Open, remarkably played at the same venue, was about to be finally matched or surpassed.
The region has been waiting a long time for an Asian player to win The Open, and even Lu would have welcomed seeing a name from this region being inscribed on golf’s most recognisable trophy.
However, as impressive as Li’s closing seven-under-par 63 was it was only good enough to secure him third place, and leave him six shots behind the impressive champion, American Jordan Spieth.
Photo by Getty Images.
Once again, Lu’s best-ever performance by an Asian in the Open record remained firmly intact.
With Asian golf continuing to make great strides forward, his result may be beaten someday soon – although the intricacies of links golf might possibly delay the process further.
And the fact that Lu’s week was so memorable, for a variety of reasons, makes it worthy of a record lasting longer.
The 1971 Open was the 100th Open and saw Lee Trevino from the United States win the Claret Jug for the first time and, following triumphs at the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open, completed a unique hat-trick of victories within only four weeks.
Lu had been a professional since 1955, playing on the Asian Golf Circuit (as the Asian Tour was called then) and in Japan, and had played in The Open only once before.
His pork pie hat caught the eye, especially as he kept politely tipping its brim to the packed galleries. He had only bought the hat a few days before the tournament because, as he would later explain: “I like round hats. And I hate the sun shining on my neck.”
The 34-year-old, affectionately known by then as “Mr Lu”, quickly became a firm fan favourite, along, of course, with the charismatic and chatty Trevino.
The American star shared the lead on each of the first two days and led by one from Lu and Englishman Tony Jacklin, the 1969 champion, going into the final round.
Trevino was in inspired form early on and made four birdies in the first six holes to lead by six at the turn.
Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images
However, Lu remained undeterred and bravely responded with birdies at the 13th and 15th holes before Trevino had a double-bogey seven at the 17th ‒ meaning the lead was down to one at the last.
Both made birdie on the last, but it was a traumatic finish for Lu as his second shot hit a female spectator on the head. Visibly distressed, he composed himself to take second.
“I feared for her,” Lu said. “I hit her really badly, but I went over and she said to me: ‘go on Mr Lu – get a birdie for me!’”
The concussed spectator, Mrs Lillian Tipping, was taken to hospital to receive several stitches and Lu went to check up on her afterwards. They stayed in contact, and he even invited her and her husband to stay at his hotel in Taipei years later, on offer they accepted.
Lu’s success did not stop at Royal Birkdale as the following week he won the French Open at Biarritz. It was all part of a phenomenal 1971 when he also won in Thailand and Japan.
Photo by Getty Images.
His Open heroics were also not over as in 1974 arguably Asia’s greatest golfer of the time tied for fifth at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
During an illustrious career he won the Asian Golf Circuit Order of Merit twice, in 1966 and 1967, and claimed nine titles in Asia and eight in Japan.
And, most noticeably, in 1972, he and countryman Hsieh Min-nan teamed up to win the World Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Chinese-Taipei’s sole victory in the event.
Having survived a bad bout of COVID, Anirban Lahiri is back on track and has a lot on his plate – the Olympics, his PGA Tour card and charity work. V. Krishnaswamy reports.
Anirban Lahiri once told me something, which seems to be the secret of his mental strength. He said there will always be something to chase – a world ranking, a title, a personal goal and so on. So, he said: “If I do right what is in front of me, the rest will follow.”
Nothing could be truer than that right now. Except that the list is longer now, but Lahiri is not shying away; neither from his challenges or his responsibilities – as an idol for young golfers, as a professional golfer trying to reach his goals and above all as a sympathetic human being for all around him.
Lahiri feels he has multiple things on his mind these days and it shall stay so for the next few weeks. Till a couple of weeks back, it was not just his form or the way his game was coming and going in patches, but also his recovery from COVID ‒ which at one point reached a scary stage ‒ and, of course, the need to secure his PGA Tour card for 2022.
Now he has additional things, which have also been his goals – the Tokyo Olympics, for which he got into the field almost at the eleventh hour. And, he is also involved in his personal charity work with Akshaya Patra, an organization which is doing some fine work, according to Lahiri.
On his charity work, Lahiri said: “Akshaya Patra is an organization that is doing great on-the-groundwork. One of the reasons I like it is because they’re doing a lot of work specifically for the migrant laborers, for kids whose parents are not around.”
Lahiri lines up a putt on the fourth green during the third round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 03, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
And, of course, at the back of his mind is that gnawing thought that he is yet to notch his maiden win on the PGA Tour, where he has played since 2016 The former Asian Tour number one last won in 2015, when he took the Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open in quick succession and rose to Top-50 in the world.
This week he played in the John Deere Classic [unfortunately, he missed the cut on Friday], and he will also play the Barbasol next week, because, as he said: “I will miss the 3M Open because of Olympics, so I added Barbasol to my schedule.” Then he will have Barracuda, which he may or may not play, and Wyndham to secure his 2022 playing rights.
Talking of the Olympics, which he also played in 2016, he said: “I think the biggest difference, about the Olympic is you don’t get anything for coming fourth. Anything other than a podium finish is not significant at the Olympics, though a T-4 at a PGA Tour event goes a long way in ensuring a lot of things on the PGA Tour.”
He added: “It’s more of all or nothing because that’s really what you are there for. Unlike in many other sports (outside of Olympics), in golf you can have a top 10, which is considered a good result, or you can have a top 25, which is called a decent result, but at the Olympics a top 25 means nothing and a top 10 could be equally insignificant.”
Though his PGA Tour card is not locked yet, Lahiri said that he could not even think of bypassing a chance to play for India at the Olympics. He said: “I know what an Olympic medal can do for Indian golf. I would not be able to forgive myself if I passed up a chance to try and get one [medal].”
Lahiri’s own struggles with COVID over the last two months were “scary”. On how his game has been on return from COVID, Lahiri, said: “My game is feeling quite good. This is probably the best I’ve felt since my bout with COVID. I think I had a lot of positives in the one week, and then last week also I played some good golf.”
Lahiri at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. / AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Sharing his COVID story and how he got it, Lahiri said: “It just so happened when my coach [Vijay Divecha] came in from India he tried to avoid exposing himself at the airport and he went to a friend’s house in Delhi when he was transiting (in early April). When he landed here and started work, the day after he landed, the friend he stayed with called us and said that he was not feeling well.
“Vijay unfortunately contracted the virus even though he was fully vaccinated; I kind of got it from him and so did my family, my wife. I think my daughter had it, too, though we didn’t test her because she’s only two.”
“I had a pretty serious bout with it. I had prolonged fever,” he added. He was even suspected of having COVID pneumonia. The chest X-rays were not very positive, and he was put on stronger and slightly different medication. When he had to go back to the hospital for a checkup, the fever was up to 104 on the ninth day and oxygenation had come down.
However, subsequent tests and chest Xrays ruled out COVID pneumonia, which was a relief for Lahiri as it could have impacted him seriously.
It took him two months to get to back on his feet and he lost all his muscle and almost 15 pounds. His wife, Ipsa, despite having Covid, drove him to hospital and took care of the family.
On his game as such, he added: “This week I’ve tried to work on some of those areas that needed a little bit of polishing, and I’m excited. I like the golf course. Weather is going to be nice and warm, which is something that I usually like.”
As for his tight schedule, Lahiri said: “After John Deere and then Barbasol next week, it will be Olympics. He added: “I will be in Japan for around seven and a half days – and back to the US.
He may play the Barracuda Championships and then the final event of the regular season at Wyndham.
“By then I hope I have done enough to get the card,” Lahiri added with a laugh. He is 119th and needs to stay inside Top-125 to keep his full status.
Of Thongchai Jaidee’s 20 victories worldwide perhaps the greatest was achieved on this day just five years ago at the Open de France ‒ which to add further weight to the week was celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The Thai star claimed his eighth title on the European Tour in a comfortable fashion that belied the quality of the field and overall enormity of what is one of Europe’s stellar events.
He was a picture of consistency over the weekend at Le Golf National (venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup), carding consecutive rounds of 68 to reach 11 under ‒ thanks to a run of 39 bogey-free holes ‒ and claiming a four-shot triumph over Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who carded the low round of the day with a 66.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was two shots further back in third place after a closing 71.
Thongchai came into the final day with a two-shot lead and extended that to five on three occasions as the chasing pack failed to put him under any great pressure and a closing bogey on the toughest hole on Tour in 2015 failed to take the gloss off a fine victory.
Thongchai celebrates his win during day four of the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
“I think this is the biggest tournament in my life. This golf course is fantastic for me, I’m really happy with that. Absolutely perfect,” said Thongchai, a three-time winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
He went about his business with the minimum of fuss and he rolled his third shot from the fringe to within tap-in range on the par five third and then birdied the sixth for the fourth time during the week as he put his approach to four feet before going on to birdie the 11th and 15th.
The cheque he received for €583,330 (US$690,814) was the most lucrative of his career and at the age of 46 years old he became the oldest winner in Open de France history, beating 2010 champion Miguel Angel Jiménez from Spain by 58 days.
“I’m very happy to have my family here this week together and also really happy to win the tournament here. I know the golf course is fantastic,” he added.
“I’ve been here many, many years and I think especially this week, it’s a special week for me to win the tournament out here. Sometimes you need one perfect week. You can’t do well every week. This week is my perfect week because I didn’t miss much. Anything I missed, I found I could lay up and make a good shot and make par and that’s it.”
The win was also his fourth European Tour victory in Europe, with his first four coming in Asia.
Thongchai completes his win at the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Recent Comments