Lahiri aiming for Olympic gold
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)
Sentosa Golf Club (SGC), home to the Asian Tour and a member of Asian Tour Destinations, recently announced its commitment to become the world’s first ever carbon neutral golf club by 2022. We spoke to Andy Johnston, the Club’s General Manager and Director of Agronomy, about this high-profile commitment.
Andy, what made the Club want to take on this carbon neutral project?
We recognize how important it is to address the issues of global warming including the more critical element of climate change. We can see the changing landscape in the planet’s ecosystems and feel climate change should be on the top of everyone’s annual master planning efforts for long- and short-term agenda.
We recognize we often lead the conversions in golf in South East Asia and perhaps on a larger worldwide platform with the attention we seem to attract with our work. We notice that we are making a difference after nearly a decade of responsible business practices which are adding up to an intelligent global sustainability programme. There is no playbook for addressing climate change, but there is one thing we can clearly see that needs to be addressed, and that is a more aggressive wider participation in the reduction of carbon.
Many of us have been talking about climate change and carbon elevation, giving the conversation attention, however we now feel it is time to do something about it. The community of golf has many great leaders, role models, heroes in sport and business and we believe it is time for us as leaders to create a healthy community for our planet.
How does the Club plan to reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2022?
We have developed an in-depth carbon footprint audit. The carbon footprint identifies how we are contributing to carbon release in the atmosphere, and we intend to use the study and the audit to define stronger control in the reduction of our outputs.
The Club has recently purchased two bio-digesters that will remove problematic methane inputs from food and horticultural waste in the landfill by breaking down the products onsite into a compost fertilizer that will be re-used on our two championship golf courses.
Currently any carbon that we do not reduce, we have made a commitment to purchase certified carbon offsets through regional Forestry or Blue Carbon projects to balance our outputs while we work to naturally become carbon neutral or better.
How is the Club able to work out how much more CO2 is needed to be saved to achieve its target?
As mentioned earlier, the Club has recently undertaken its first CO2 audit that has revealed where we currently sit in terms of our carbon footprint. These carbon footprint analytics mathematically allow us to review our operations and the overall impact they are causing to the environment. This study delivers the evidence in three stages.
The Club has implemented several sustainable initiatives on-site since 2018 through its two campaigns, #KeepitGreen and GAME ON. Are there any further initiatives that are planned soon to help lower the Club’s carbon footprint?
Our new Bio digesters will come online later this year. They are estimated to help reduce our food and horticultural waste considerably with up to 40kg of food waste generated each day and one tonne of horticultural waste produced each month to be ground down into fertilizer. This will help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills; one of the world’s biggest causes for methane leakage.
We are also currently making a study into a floating solar farm, as well as changing our brown energy to green energy. The Club has also recently developed a partnership with adidas Golf for our new staff uniforms. Our golfing and F&B teams will be supplied with the new adidas Golf PRIMEGREEN polos that are made with yarn developed out of 100% recycled ocean plastics. We are hoping in the next few months to expand our partnership with adidas Golf to bring about greater awareness for their campaign to end ocean plastic waste once and for all.
In August 2020, SGC became the first golf club in the world to join the UN Sports for Climate Action initiative. Is the Club’s commitment aligned with the initiative in any way?
The UN is the world leader in this area. We are still learning from the UN and the delegates involved and will continue to review the information and the resources provided to help improve our overall position. They have a high-profile team who expect signatories of the UN Sports for Climate Action initiative to deliver on proposed goals and show ways in which they are constantly looking to reduce their carbon footprint. We are currently working to participate with them on many levels and will share these in due course once it is possible to do so.
Are there any specific companies that the Club is working with to help achieve its carbon neutral target?
Since forming a partnership last year with international sustainable golf non-profit, GEO Foundation, we have been working closely alongside them to help monitor our carbon output and discover new ways to gather and report our results.
It is our intention to become a GEO Certified® venue and be able to use our partnership to help pioneer new innovative practices that can be shared with other golf clubs around the world to help influence them to begin their own journey to becoming carbon neutral.
What advice would you give to other golf clubs around the world that are thinking of becoming carbon neutral?
All I would say is start by building a detailed plan that recognises your different carbon outputs, as it is important to understand what levels you are working at before you begin. Once you have reached this point, it is crucial that everyone within the business is committed to working the plan and making sure no stone is left unturned in the club’s pursuit to reduce its overall carbon footprint and move forward in its journey to becoming carbon neutral.
The time to act is now, we can no longer wait for tomorrow, or let others step up to the plate first. Without considerable action, the world, and its ecosystems that we rely on to live will reach the point of no return. However, if we act fast and unite as an industry, golf can play a considerable role in helping to turn the tide on climate change. It is not game over, It’s GAME ON.
How does the Club plan on helping Sentosa Island achieve its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral destination by 2030?
Sentosa Island has recently this year taken on the commitment to become a carbon neutral destination by 2030. They have employed a new Director of Sustainability and developed a sustainability division that are looking into how the entire precinct can work towards becoming carbon neutral.
They are working extremely hard to develop a robust all-encompassing island wide programme. It is a massive undertaking, and we are really honored to be a part of it. We will continue to play our part and hopefully be able to showcase to other businesses on the island the ways in which they can begin to lower their carbon footprint and contribute towards the island achieving its overall goal of carbon neutrality.
By Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India.
Had the pandemic not struck last year and the Tokyo Games gone ahead as per schedule, Rashid Khan would have made his Olympic debut as India’s number one golfer. With a career-best world ranking of 176 at the start of 2020, the experience of turning out in Tokyo under the Indian tricolour would have been precious and the takeaway memories from Kasumigaseki Country Club priceless.
Khan’s build-up to the Games was the result of some solid golf and sound strategy. Making the most of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and solid results in Asian Tour events at home in 2019, Khan was India number one when the pandemic stalled events on the Asian Tour and PGTI in March last.
Given the enormity of the crisis, the Olympics got postponed. “I was in and ahead when the pandemic started, and they froze the OWGR points.”
The double whammy was the rustiness after the PGTI restarted in November last. Out of touch and trying to play catch up with fewer OWGR points on the PGTI took a toll on the world ranking of Khan and Udayan Mane, who were in a neck-and-neck race to seal Olympic berths when the virus struck. Both slipped out of the top-60 in the race to Tokyo, and that rankles for Khan.
Khan pictured during round three of the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship at Classic Golf and Country Club on September 14, 2019 in Gurgaon, India. (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
And when the Final Olympic Ranking was confirmed this week, Anirban Lahiri was the only Indian to make it through after securing 60th place in the 60-man field at the eleventh hour following several player withdrawals. Mane is in the que as one of the replacements.
“Why me, the person with the best feel should have made the Olympics,” said Khan.
Two wins on the Asian Tour and 10 on the PGTI, for someone as prolific as Khan picking up his first OWGR points after more than a year this February is a shocker and attributed to lack of touch. “When the feel goes, it is tough. With no tournaments, the circumstances have been disappointing,” he said.
Reliving childhood days
Not one to brood over a situation none had anticipated, Khan visited his village in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in May. When he arrived in Jagdishpur near Lucknow, the state capital, Lockdown 2 was in force, but Khan still carried his golf set. Earlier, trips to the ancestral home built by his grandfather were whirlwind visits; for the first time in 19 years he stayed more than a week, in fact two weeks.
Khan pictured with the winner’s trophy at the Chiangmai Golf Classic at Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai on November 16, 2014 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
It was a throwback, meeting friends and family and spending quality time over sessions of sequence (a card game). What stands out is visiting the small river that flows near the house every day and sitting on the bank for hours fishing. The icing to the cool experience was plucking mangoes from the family orchard and sharing them as the friends sat with their feet dipped in the river.
Despite the clubs travelling with him, golf was incidental, or “for fun” as Khan terms it. An empty rice field became a makeshift driving range. The weather pleasant, retrieving the balls was no problem as a bunch of wide-eyed children were always willing for the job. All clubs were tried out except the putter. For a man struggling to regain touch, putting on an uneven surface would have been detrimental.
What did work for Khan during the trip is his sleep pattern got regulated. “In the village everyone has dinner by 7.30pm and sleeps by 9 since there is nothing to do.” It contrasted with his hours in Delhi ‒ staying up till 1am and waking up around noon.
It’s been a month since Khan got back from holiday, but the pattern has held, and that’s a positive as the city unlocks and Khan gets back to full-fledged practice.
Thailand’s emerging golf star Gunn Charoenkul says his appearance in this summer’s Olympics will, surprisingly, mark the first time he has represented his country and that he plans to “aim high” and finish on the podium with a medal.
“During the early part of my career, when I was 16 or 17 years old, I never got a chance to get into the national team. So, this is the first time,” he said this week, after finishing in 52nd place on the Final Olympic Ranking ‒ which see the top 60 qualify for Tokyo 2020.
The 29 year old, who plays on both the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization, admitted that he could barely look at the Ranking at tournaments each week as he tried to maintain his focus and keep his position in the top 60.
“I felt the pressure, and I think that’s partly why I did not perform well in the past eight events. I tried not to think about it too much, tried not to think about my World Golf Ranking which determines your Olympic position,” he added.
“My goal is one of the medals, they are the only prize. You have to aim high, even though the top players are going to be there.”
Gunn will be joined at the XXXII Olympiad by compatriot Jazz Janewattananond and he will be one of seven Asian Tour players competing. At the Rio Olympics in 2016 ‒ when golf returned to the quadrennial event after an absence of 112 years ‒ Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat represented Thailand, with the latter impressively finishing joint fifth.
KASAOKA, JAPAN – MAY 30: Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during The Mizuno Open at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club on May 30, 2021 in Kasaoka, Okayama, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Appropriately, Gunn has been in Japan since March competing on the JGTO: he is currently 37th on Money List, and has only missed one cut in 11 starts in the 2020/2021 season, with a best finish equal eighth in the Dunlop Phoenix. He lines up in this week’s Dunlop SRIXON Fukushima Open.
“I never thought I would be home sick, but I am,” said Gunn, who plans to play the second half of the year on the JGTO after the Olympics ‒ which means he faces the prospect of not getting back to Thailand until December.
“I haven’t seen my family for four months. I could understand why Prom [Meesawat] did not come. He said he did not want to be away from his family that long. But these are exceptional times and the opportunity to play in the Olympics and more events in Japan helps outweigh the negatives.”
Despite what appear to be good performances this season, Gunn ‒ whose textbook golf swing is perfectly complemented by a calm demeanour ‒ has been disappointed with his form, which he says is partly because he is carrying an injury to his left thumb ‒ the unfortunate consequence of trying to hit the ball like American Bryson DeChambeau.
“I was trying to do some Bryson stuff last October. I was just trying to swing harder but the problem is my swing is really steep and the harder I swing the more I pull the head of the club, so it gets even steeper and puts a lot of strain on my thumb. I even had a shot of cortisone before my flight here in March,” he said.
“I am just going at things 70% right now. Anything longer than a six iron I cannot swing that hard. I don’t really know any therapist here. I know one but he is more like an acupuncture doctor. I went to see him over the last two weeks, and I did a couple of treatments but basically he said the best thing to do is rest.”
He has two more JGTO events before he can prepare for Tokyo 2020. A golf club have offered him their facilities to practice and play for a few weeks, after which he heads into the Olympic bubble.
HONG KONG, CHINA – JANUARY 12: Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand reacts during the final round of the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club on January 12, 2020 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Said Gunn: “I am really looking forward to being part of the Olympic village, soaking up the atmosphere and seeing other athletes, although it may be difficult with the restrictions ‒ I just heard the news that you cannot go and watch other sports. And I want to see the work ethic and routines of other athletes.”
He says he has not played Kasumigaseki Country Club, host venue for the Olympic golf event, before as they have not held events, but he has been doing some homework about the course by reading their website.
Added Gunn: “I feel ok now about things, but I think when I get to the village it will hit me. It will be amazing.”
Spain’s Jon Rahm won the US Open on Sunday at Torrey Pines in sensational fashion to claim his maiden Major, and also become the first Spaniard to win the prestigious event.
A brilliant birdie birdie finish saw him end one ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen ‒ who has now finished second in six Majors, including last month’s US PGA Championship.
On a gripping final day which saw the title wide open and the lead change hands numerous times, Rahm sensationally holed a 25 footer for birdie on the par-four 17th and after splashing out of sand on the par-five last, he made another challenging 18-foot putt for birdie, which sent the crowd wild.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates with the trophy after winning during the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 20, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
That saw Rahm, who was playing in the fourth from last group out having started the day three off the lead, close with a four-under-par 67 and set the clubhouse lead at six under.
Oosthuizen, playing in the final pairing, surprisingly found trouble off the tee on 17 and needed to hole his third shot for an eagle on 18 to force the tournament into overtime. He ended up making birdie after his approach finished 15 feet away.
The victory comes two weeks after Rahm was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament ‒ where he was leading by six shots after three rounds ‒ because of a positive coronavirus test.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa reacts after putting for birdie on the 18th green during the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 20, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
“I’m a big believer in karma and after what happened a couple of weeks ago, I stayed really positive knowing that big things were coming,” said the world number three, who won his first PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines in 2017.
“I didn’t know what it was going to be but I knew we were coming to a special place. I got my breakthrough win here and it’s a very special place for my family.
“The fact my parents were able to come, I got out of Covid protocol early, I just felt like the stars were aligning.”
The 26 year old dedicated his win to Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros, who claimed five Major titles but died 10 years ago of brain cancer at the age of 54.
Rahm’s previous best Major result was when he finished tied for third at the 2019 US Open
“It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing,” Oosthuizen said. “I’m playing good golf, but winning a Major championship is not just going to happen. You need to go out and play good golf.”
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau from the United States, his compatriot Brooks Koepka, winner of this event in 2017 and 2018, and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the 2011 champion, were all contention but made mistakes on the back nine.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 18: Rikuya Hoshino of Japan waits with his caddie on the ninth hole during the second round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 18, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Asian Tour member Rikuya Hoshino from Japan put together four impressive rounds on a typically demanding US Open golf course. He finished in a tie for 26th after a final round 71, for a four-round total of three over.
Fellow Asian Tour member Wade Ormsby from Australia also shot a 71 to tie for 40th on six over.
It was a big step up for both players as they missed the cut in their previous US Open appearances, while it is the first time Hoshino made the cut in three Major appearances.
In-form Rikuya Hoshino from Japan ‒ currently riding high on top of the Money List in Japan ‒ is one of four Asian Tour members who will compete in this week’s US Open, which tees-off tomorrow at Torrey Pines in California.
He is joined by countryman Yosuke Asaji, Australian Wade Ormsby, and Johannes Veerman from the Unites States.
Hoshino, who like Aasji and Veerman made it through tough US Open final qualifiers, has been on fire this year having tasted victory twice on the Japan Golf Tour Organization: first in the Kansai Open Golf Championship, in April, and then the following month’s Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf.
The Japanese star also claimed the Fujisankei Classic in September last year, an event part of the 2020/2021 schedule in Japan, and currently leads Japan’s Money List with winnings of ¥68,413,107 (approx. US$621,389)
He starts at 2.09 pm (local time) on tee 10 with American Brendon Todd and Sebastian Munoz from Columbia, while Asaji also begins on 10 at 6:56 am with Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas and England’s Marcus Armitage.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 15: Rikuya Hoshino of Japan plays a shot from the first bunker during a practice round prior to the start of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Ormsby, playing in his second US Open (he missed the cut in 2017), tees-off on the 10th at 12:30 pm with Canadian Taylor Pendrith and David Coupland from England.
He got into the event by virtue of leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Veerman starts on the first at 2.31pm with Americans John Huh and Zack Sucher.
This year marks the 121st edition of the USGA’s flagship event ‒ which boasts an overall purse of US$12,500,000, with the winner earning US$2,250,000.
American Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion and has been paired with Japan’s Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama at 1.14 pm on hole one.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: Phil Mickelson of the United States plays his shot from the 15th tee as Bryson DeChambeau of the United States looks on prior to the start of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 14, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Six-time runner-up in this event Phil Mickelson from the United States, who became the oldest Major winner at the age of 50 when he won the US PGA Championship in May, starts his latest bid to complete the career Grand Slam at 7.51 am.
The left hander, who celebrates his 51st birthday on the eve of the tournament, is playing with fellow Americans Xander Schauffele and Max Homa.
ENDS
It has been an historic year so far for Asian golf following Hideki Matsuyama’s win at The Masters and more recently Yuka Saso’s victory at the US Women’s Open.
In April, Matsuyama became the first golfer from Japan to don a Green Jacket while this month Saso achieved the huge honour of becoming the first Filipino to win a Major.
And the fact that Saso’s father is Japanese meant it was also a win win for the Land of the Rising Sun.
While we hope to see more success by players from Asia at this week’s US Open, the Major has proven to be the more difficult to get to grips with by players from this region.
But as historians of golf know, it is another Japanese golfer who has the distinction of registering the best finish by an Asian golfer in the prestigious US event.
In 1980, at the 80th US Open, Japan’s Isao Aoki came close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of golf when he went head-to-head with America’s “Golden Bear” Jack Nicklaus and nearly prevailed.
At Baltusrol Golf Club, near New York, Nicklaus set a new tournament scoring record and won his fourth U.S. Open title, but Aoki took much of the glory thanks to a brave performance that saw him finish two-shots behind in second place.
Isao Aoki of Japan. (Photo by Brian Morgan/Getty Images)
The two played all four rounds together in almost Matchplay like conditions, in what became known as the “Battle of Baltusrol”.
Nicklaus, aged 40 years old, and his countryman Tom Weiskopf began the tournament by firing seven-under-par 63s in the first round on the Lower Course.
After a second round 71, Nicklaus had a two-stroke lead over Aoki, but the Japanese star carded a third consecutive round of 68 the following day to tie Nicklaus and set up a thrilling final round.
On that Sunday, Nicklaus birdied the third after Aoki recorded a bogey on two, taking a two-shot lead.
Nicklaus was then expected to run away with the tournament but found it nearly impossible to shake off Aoki.
The American hit his approach to three feet on 10 to set up a birdie, but Aoki countered with a long putt from the fringe for a birdie. And on the 17th Nicklaus holed a 22-footer for birdie but again Aoki rose to the challenge and made his own from five feet.
UNITED STATES – MARCH 19: Isao Aoki and Jack Nicklaus during the 58th Senior PGA Championship held at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. April 17-20, 1997. (photograph by The PGA of America). (Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America via Getty Images)
And as if to make sure of getting the job done, Nicklaus rolled in another birdie putt on 18 from 10-feet to win the championship and his 16th major title as a professional.
“I kept telling myself no matter how perfect he is, he will make a mistake in 72 holes in four days,” said a 39-year-old Aoki that week. “But I was wrong. Jack did not make any errors until the end of the tournament.”
“It has been a very good lesson. I learned a lot for my future play.”
To this day it remains the best finish by an Asian in the US Open ‒ slightly better than that of TC Chen’s joint runner-up finish in 1985.
It was also to be Aoki’s best-ever finish in a Major championship.
Finishing second was a rarity for Aoki during an illustrious career: he triumphed 51 times in Japan, where he topped the Money List in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981.
But he also tasted success overseas, most notably winning the Hawaiian Open in 1983 ‒ becoming the first player from Japan to win on the PGA Tour, where he played for over two decades. And in 1978 he claimed the World Match Play Championship in England, which was one of the biggest tournaments in the game at the time.
Fittingly, Aoki now serves as Chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organization, helping to nurture his nation’s stars of the future and groom future US Open champions.
As the Tokyo Olympics approach, to help whet your appetite, Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India, spoke to Indian stars Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia about their memories of Rio in 2016 ‒ when golf returned to the summer Olympics after 112 years.
Golf was making a comeback to the Olympics in 2016 after a long gap, and the enthusiasm had rubbed off on all the stakeholders. But sport can be unpredictable and that finds no better expression than in Anirban Lahiri’s debut at the Rio Games.
Raised in an Army household, Lahiri was excited at the prospect of turning out in Indian colours. An integral part of the PGA Tour by now, helped by a joint fifth finish at the 2015 PGA Championship, the icing for him was partnering SSP Chawrasia. The two have engaged in iconic duels at the Hero Indian Open and spent time on the Asian Tour and European Tour. So, Rio was being looked at as one more contest with “deep and technical discussions on the short game” by the sidelines.
Since Lahiri knew for a while that he would play, the build-up to the Olympics was good. He finished runner-up to Chawrasia at the Indian Open and enjoyed a joint sixth placing on the PGA Tour. Missing the cut at the US Open wasn’t a dampener as Lahiri opened well at The Open Championship. He looked good for a strong finish but a shoulder injury going into Sunday at Royal Troon triggered a phase of “not so good golf”.
Martin Kaymer of Germany and Lahiri walk on the second hole during the first round of men’s golf on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Golf Course on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Lahiri wasn’t ready for competition, and proof was the missed cut at the PGA Championship. The strain of playing across America, Europe and Asia was showing, and led to the tough call of cutting down on tournaments in the coming seasons. Next up were the Olympics but there was no time to name a replacement because of visa restrictions and other paperwork.
Trying to get the best out of a tired body wasn’t the only challenge, wading through official red tape was another mountain to climb. The swing compromised due to the injury and the feel of his driver not right, Chawrasia came to the rescue by offering a spare club. Even then, Lahiri felt the heat and by the second day could not keep pace with the intensity.
As a proud Indian that is a regret and Lahiri is hopeful he gets a chance to complete “unfinished business and set the record straight” in another edition of the Olympics.
The memories outside competition were opposite to what transpired on the golf course. Seated next to Michael Phelps at dinner was memorable but equally inspiring was the story of the Indian judoka and wushu player Lahiri interacted with closely. “It made me realise how tough it is to pursue their love and getting to the Olympics is an achievement in itself. Golf figures way down in the list of disciplines, these guys are even lower down in the order. It was saddening but the struggle is inspiring,” said Lahiri.
Lahiri watches his tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the golf on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Rio, SSP and a new love
Like Lahiri, Chawrasia was fearful of not turning up at Rio in the best shape. It was the week of the Irish Open and discomfort in the C4, C5 and C6 discs prevented him from going through with the full swing. The pain was such that Chawrasia even contemplated pulling out of the following week’s BMW PGA Championship.
Timely advice from the European Tour doctor helped him get in touch with a neurosurgeon and the shot of cortisone worked like magic. Within half an hour, he could go through with the full practice swing. From pulling out to T27 on that Sunday, that was some progress. More than the pay cheque, it was relief. “I had to play the Olympics, else there would have been a lifelong regret,” said Chawrasia.
The fatigue of the long flight from Kolkata to Rio got washed away the moment he entered the Games Village. “There was so much of positive energy; it had to be experienced to be believed.” Chawrasia finished T50, seven rungs ahead of Lahiri, and though the final day 78 rankles, playing alongside Sergio Garcia stands out.
Through the week, friendships were struck that cut across sport and have stood the test of time. Sharing the three-bedroom apartment with Lahiri and a towering 6’3” judoka, the friendly banter in the evening is recounted with fondness.
SSP in action during Round 4 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14 August 2016. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa | usage worldwide (Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)
But the biggest takeaway for Chawrasia from Rio was junking tea and embracing coffee. The unavailability of tea in the 24×7 food tent had Chawrasia reaching out for coffee. Growing up in Kolkata, tea was his staple beverage but in light of its non-availability and the affinity for caffeine had Chawrasia making the switch. He started by adding a dollop of milk but the aroma of the coffee beans grew on him quickly and since then it has been two cups of black coffee a day.
What is missed is the unmistakable taste of Brazilian coffee and Chawrasia is still on the lookout as he traverses through Europe and Asia in search of his next international title.
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