Week of firsts for Sinnott at US Open
Asian Tour regular Todd Sinnott will enjoy a two-for-one deal at the US Open this week as not only will he be making his debut in a Major, but it will also be the first time he has competed in a professional event in the US writes Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
“Yeah, I’m excited, it should be pretty cool,” said Sinnott, who qualified for the year’s third Major thanks to clinching the final spot in a grueling one-day 36-hole qualifier in Chiba, Japan, in three man sudden-death play-off for one place.
“It’s my first pro event in America as well, so it will be cool to see the crowds and just the way they set up a U.S. Open. It’s always been one of my favorite tournaments to watch, so it will be nice to play in it.
“I think you just got to drive it well, and kind of map out the greens and where you want to leave your second shots because I think the greens get pretty firm and fast, which is nothing we’re not accustomed to back home in Australia.”
The 122nd US Open Championship tees-off Thursday at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts – the historic club founded in 1882 which is one of the oldest clubs in America. It is also one of the charter clubs that founded the United States Golf Association in 1894, and the host venue for three U.S. Opens, six U.S. Amateurs and one Ryder Cup.
Sinnott is relishing the prospect of teeing it up alongside the best players in the world in a championship that usually has the most demanding set-ups of all the majors.
Asked if he had studied the course or done any special preparations for the championship Sinnott said: “We’ve done a little bit, my caddie Scott and me. We’ve tried to watch Matt Fitzpatrick’s highlights from the U.S. Amateur there in 2013. But yeah, there’s not much on the course, I can’t get a course guide or anything off the internet.”
After enduring a back injury a few years ago the 30 year old is back in form this season: he won the TPS Victoria Hosted by Geoff Ogilvy on the PGA Tour Australasia in February and has posted solid results on the Asian Tour.
YANGON, MYANMAR – JANUARY 29: Todd Sinnott of Australia pictured with the winner’s trophy after round four of the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open at Pun Hlaing Golf Club on January 29, 2017 in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
“Yeah, I’m kind of having a lot of top 20s, and I won earlier this year in Australia. But I haven’t been able to be really in contention in Asia this year. The game is pretty solid, it’s just a matter of going from 15th to in contention,” said the Australian, who has won once before on the Asian Tour at the 2017 Myanmar Open – an event jointly sanctioned with Japan.
About the injury he added: “I missed all of 2019 and the back half of 2018. I had a stress fracture in my back. It was my lower thoracic vertebrae on the left side, I couldn’t move. That was a pretty grim, dark time. It’s all good now, I played all of last year in Japan and the back held up really well.”
Sinnott is feeling good about his game after finishing tied 20th at the International Series England in Newcastle two weeks ago and has spent the last week in the US preparing.
He added: “It’s just a matter of going there and getting the job done, I’m playing well. We flew to New York on Monday after Newcastle and played a couple golf courses like Baltusrol and Shinnecock Hills. One of my mates met me there and we played some golf, we’re pretty lucky to get on those courses.”
Sinnott tees off at 2.31pm US EST time with Swede Jonas Blixt and American Bo Hoag.
Last year’s Asian Tour number one Joohyung Kim from Korea starts at 1:25 PM with Ireland’s Seamus Power and Min Woo Lee from Australia.
Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai flew the Asian Tour flag with distinction today carding three-under-par 67s in the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club in London, to finish the first round in joint third place.
They narrowly trail Charl Schwartzel from South Africa who leads after a 65, helped by an eagle on 18, while his countryman Hennie Du Plessis came in with a 66.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Scott Vincent of Smash GC tees off on the 1st hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Vincent is attempting to win for the third straight week having claimed the International Series England on Sunday, for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, a week after claiming the Mizuno Open in Japan.
He was paired in one of the marquee groups today with Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson but handled the pressure with ease.
“It was great out there,” said Vincent, who made seven birdies, including four in the last five holes, and four bogeys.
“It was something that I was very excited to experience. What an honour to play with two of golf’s best players and to see how they operate on the course. Just class guys they are. I really enjoyed myself today. It was fun playing with them and they are really nice guys.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Dustin Johnson of the United States, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Phil Mickelson of the United States walk up the 15th fairway during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
“I was really nervous on the first tee. I hit a great shot there. I was just trying to make good contact on the ball. It’s hard to follow DJ. I wished I went first but I was very happy. It was a great shot. I executed very nicely.”
The 30 year old, who at the weekend also became the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour, began his round on the first, in an innovative new tournament format that saw all 48 players tee off following a 2.15pm shotgun start.
He added: “I made some good putts out there. I really took care of the par threes on the back nine. That really got me going. All in all, great day, great experience. Golf has been really good for me the last couple of weeks. But you never know how it’s going to show up in an event like this. Today was a great day, I did a lot of things I wanted to do well. That’s the plan going forward.”
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC tees off on the 3rd hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Phachara, just 23 years old, started his round on hole 10, with Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and South African JC Ritchie, and was immediately into his usual aggressive stride with four birdies in the first six holes. He led for much of the day before dropping a shot on his last hole, the ninth, before Schwartzel’s eagle.
“I feel great because before I started I did not feel I could be three under. To get to three under in this condition I am pretty happy,” said the Thai star.
“I was okay playing today; I have played in many big events so I am used to it. The golf course is difficult on the front nine but easier on the back nine. If I can make a good score on the front nine then I can go under on the back nine and post a good score. The back nine is three par fives and you can reach with your second shots.”
Phachara has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year: he won the Laguna Phuket Championship in December, which was his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, and was runner-up at the International Series Thailand in March.
He added: “I am playing well, I am just older now, my game plan is better, my swing is better, everything is better. I know so much about golf now because I have been a pro for about eight years.
“My game plan is just hit it to the flag and make birdies and when you miss just make a par. Maybe I can win this week, maybe I can’t, but I have a little chance.”
South Africans Justin Harding and Branden Grace carded 68s to lie in equal fifth, while Johnson returned a 69 along with Mickelson, and England’s Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter.
A team component is also an exciting feature of this week’s inaugural event and saw Stinger GC take the early lead thanks to strong performances by its members, Schwartzel, Du Plessis, Grace and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Spectators look on as Charl Schwartzel of Stinger GC lines up a putt on the fourth green during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
A total of 13 players from the Asian Tour will compete in the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club near London, this week and none are happier than the five players who qualified for the event at the 11th hour at the International Series England on Sunday.
“I’m really happy, very happy. I almost cried, it’s a big move for me,” said Itthipat Buranatanyarat.
“I played really good to shoot five under. Before I warmed up my confidence was a bit low, but my caddie said just do it, and that was good for me to hear at that moment.
“I just think about taxes! No, I’m joking, but that is really so much prize money. I am happy to play with players like Dustin Johnson, and some of the other top world ranking players coming, I excited to play with them.”
The Thai golfer secured his place in the tournament via the cumulative International Series Order of Merit along with Australian Travis Smyth, and Ian Snyman from South Africa.
Viraj Madappa from India and Kevin Yuan of Australia claimed their berths as the two highest-finishers on Sunday.
All five were helped by the fact that eligible players above them on the Merit list and final results were exempt through other categories.
Team Crushers GC: Richard Bland, Peter Uihlein, Phachara Khongwatmai and Travis Smyth, pictured with Greg Norman at the LIV Golf Invitational – London Draft (Photo by Tristan Fewings/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Scott Vincent for example won the International Series England but had already earned a place by being in the top-300 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
The Zimbabwean finished one ahead of Smyth, who had started the final round with a one stroke lead.
“Love it, can’t wait to be a part of it, meet everyone involved: Greg Norman, LIV Golf, everyone. Cannot wait,” said Smyth.
“Right from the get go, round one, when I started playing well, I thought this is good, I want to have a good week. I felt more pressure mid tournament as opposed to the final round as I’m in a position where I have not earned as much as the other guys. I find it more stressful when I am around the cut line and to compete and have a chance to win didn’t feel like as much pressure. I am pretty proud the way I handled it; I don’t feel the nerves got the better of me; I didn’t feel like adrenaline ruined any of my shots.”
Madappa is the sole representative of India in the tournament and is also still processing everything that has happened.
“It’s all happening superfast. It’s still kind of sinking in,” said Madappa.
“But I’m super excited to be part of a new format. It’s going to be exciting to see what it brings to golf, because I think it’s a great opportunity to play against a very elite field. So, it’s going to be exciting to play.
“We’re honestly not used to seeing so much money being put into golf. But I think it’s only gonna be great for us. I think when we compete it’s still a case of going out to try and win the event.”
The other Asian Tour regulars competing this week are Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, Australian Wade Ormsby, Sihwan Kim from the United States, South African Justin Harding and Kinoshita Ryosuke from Japan.
The LIV Golf Invitational, which will see 48 players competing over three days, also features a team format with 12 teams of four.
The draw for the teams was made on Tuesday night with captains selecting their teams.
Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat attend a press conference ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in London. (Picture by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images).
Phil Mickelson from the United States, whose team is called HY Flyers GC, chose Ratchanon, Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star, along with Harding and American Chase Koepka – the brother of Brookes Koepka.
Said Ratchanon: “I just can’t believe this. I am a 15-year-old kid still at school playing for six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson. It’s like I am in a dream.”
All 48 players compete against each other in a traditional stroke play format, with the lowest 54-hole total from the no-cut event being the winner, who will earn US$4 million.
For the four-man team format for the first two rounds the best two stroke play scores will count for each team. For the third and final round, the best three scores will count, with the lowest overall team score after 54 holes being named the team winner. US$5 million will be shared between the top-three teams.
A proven three-time winner on the Asian Tour, Australian Wade Ormsby has a chance this week to do something he’s never done before: play for a winners’ check of US$4 Million. Story by Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
He’s playing the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – which starts Thursday at Centurion Club and will offer up a brand-new format with both an individual and a team competition – and it is an opportunity that Ormsby is relishing.
“It’s exciting, it’s going to be great for golf. It’s a new event so not really sure what to expect, but it’s going to be big I think so I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m really happy to be part of it.”
Having finished tied ninth last week at the International Series England at Slaley Hall, closing the event with a three-under-par 68 on a very demanding golf course, his game is rounding into form nicely.
Said Ormsby: “Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, had a lot of opportunities, if I had not made some mistakes, I think that I probably could have been right in contention. So that’s always a good sign. So yeah, it’s nice to have a little bit of form, especially going into a big event like that. I’m excited to get down there and get stuck into it and see what’s going on.”
The new format of 48 players over 54 holes for a purse of US$20 Million, plus another US$5 million in a team competition, will add to the drama and excitement during the tournament.
Wade Ormsby is a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic, a new exciting format for golf can only be like a good thing, like an addition to the traditional format that we’ve got. I think we just really want to get down there and see how it’s gonna play out and see what it’s all gonna be like you know, because it’s all new for all of us so it’s gonna be cool,” he added.
While all top tour players compete to win titles and trophies, the lucrative prizemoney on offer this week is also an obvious draw and incentive for the competitors.
“It’s a huge amount of money, it’s great for any player to have the ability to play for this kind of money. I think the only event ever on that kind of level has been the Players Championship earlier this year. So yeah, it’s a huge opportunity for everyone playing to make that kind of money. I’m just looking forward to it. Just want to get down there and play well, and kind of get into this team spirit and whatever else that brings. It’s just a new format, so it’s gonna be different,” said the Australian.
The 42 year old, a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open, will also be one of the few players in the field that have played the course before, which could definitely work in his favor.
“I played the GolfSixes at Centurion on the European Tour in 2018, so I’ve played six of the 18 holes and got a general feel for what the place is like and the turf and everything. I think it’s going to suite me if there’s a little bit of rough around and has a bit of emphasis on hitting fairways and plays little bit tricky.”
Scott Vincent could’ve been forgiven for thinking this wasn’t to be his week when he turned up at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort but his clubs didn’t.
Happily, the missing clubs materialised in time for the US$2million International Series England and worked to stunning effect as the popular Zimbabwean recorded a one-shot victory.
In the final round he fought out a pulsating back-nine birdie battle with overnight leader Travis Smyth before sealing success with a seven-foot par putt on the final green.
“It’s amazing,” said 30-year-old Vincent, reacting to his maiden Asian Tour triumph. “This is the tour I started on, so obviously it’s nice to get the first win out here. It has felt like a long time but my game is trending in a good direction.”
Absent clubs aside, Vincent came to the north-east of England with his game in great shape. He won the Mizuno Open on Sunday on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation and kept his fine form throughout the Asian Tour’s first-ever UK tournament.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe is sprayed by Joohyung Kim of Korea on the 18th green on Sunday, June 5, 2022, during the final round of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Three rounds in the 60s left him at seven-under-par and a stroke behind Smyth going into the final day.
Vincent immediately set out his intentions with birdies at the opening two holes before tree trouble at the third hole saw him give him both shots back.
“Three was just a huge anomaly,” he said. “After coming off that kind of start, you hate to give it away so quickly but I knew there was so much still to play.
“The front nine was not giving up many shots, so anything around even par and you’ve got a fighting chance going into the back nine. That’s kind of where I left myself, which was great.
“Then, as you saw, lots of birdies were made coming in and it was very exciting and so I just had to be very patient and present and keep hitting the shots.”
Scott Vincent mustered four birdies in six holes to the 16th to take control but his skills and focus were given the sternest examination by Smyth.
The talented Australian launched his own scoring spree over the closing holes and drew level at 12-under-par on the par-three 17th, thanks to a stunning mid-iron to 10 feet from where he duly converted.
It looked as if Smyth held the advantage after finding the fairway on the last, while Vincent erred slightly left into the rough.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Travis Smyth of Australia pictured on Sunday, June 5, 2022, during the final round of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
But the twists and turns continued as Smyth pushed his approach into a greenside bunker.
Scott Vincent duly pounded on a pitching wedge to find the front of the green and put the pressure on the Aussie, who was unable to get up and down.
Vincent still had plenty of work left after coming up short with a long-range birdie putt.
But he showed a steely resolve to hole out for a five-under-par 66 and secure the US$360,000 first prize, becoming the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour.
“It got very close there at the end, but – just one of those things – it kind of fell in my favour and I’m very thankful,” he said.
Despite the bogey on 18, Smyth was philosophical about the defeat and losing out on his first Asian Tour title.
“Awesome week. Coming into the week I just really wanted to play solid,” said the Australian.
“I did not have any expectations. If you could have said at the start of the week I was going to finish second and had a chance to win. I would have taken it. It was a lot of fun, I learned a lot, and I can’t wait to be in the position again.”
He carded a closing 68 to record his best finish on the Asian Tour.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured on Sunday, June 5, 2022, during the final round of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “That tee shot [on 18], I hit a four iron, I don’t know if you can see from TV but there is a very big slope on the fairway, it’s severely downhill. I had seven iron into the green, I was aiming straight into the hole but I had a downhill lie and unfortunately for me if I don’t get my swing right I just block it. I got a bit unlucky, caught the lip of the bunker and it dropped back in. It’s a game of inches but I will go practice my downhill lie seven irons.”
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana secured third place after shooting a 69 to finish three behind Vincent, while South African Justin Harding was a shot further back after also carding a 69.
Last year’s Asian Tour number one Joohyung Kim from Korea was fifth after shooting 72.
The International Series England also saw five golfers earn their spot at next week’s $25million LIV Invitational Series at Centurion Club.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Six qualifiers for the Invitational Series at Centurion Club June 9-11, left to right, Travis Smyth of Australia, Viraj Madappa of India, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, Ian Snyman of South Africa, Kevin Yuan of Australia and Itthipat Burabatanyarat of Thailand pictured on Sunday, June 5, 2022, after the final round of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Viraj Madappa from India and Kevin Yuan of Australia both claimed a berth as the two highest-finishers from the Slaley Hall event who were not otherwise exempt.
Australian Travis Smyth, South African Ian Snyman and Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat will be joining them, having qualified from the cumulative International Series Order of Merit.
The ground-breaking International Series will gather momentum with two events added to the Asian Tour schedule in consecutive weeks in August.
From August 11-14, the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club will play host to the International Series Singapore.
It’s then onto Korea’s Jeju Island for the International Series Korea at Lotte SkyHill from August 18-21.
Both tournaments will offer US$1.5 million in prize money.
Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said: “We’re delighted to confirm the dates and venues for what will be the third and fourth legs of the inaugural International Series in 2022.
“The first two events, in Thailand in March and in England last week, have been resounding successes. Not only have they signified the beginning of our relationship with our strategic partner LIV Golf Investments, but they’ve also marked the start of what promises to be a phenomenal period of growth for the Asian Tour.”
Further International Series events are planned to take place this year in South East Asia, North Asia and the Middle East.
Lotte SkyHill on Jeju Island
The International Series Singapore will see the Asian Tour paying a second visit to Tanah Merah in 2022. The club’s Tampines Course played host to the penultimate event of the Asian Tour’s Covid-hit 2020-21 season in January which was won by Korean teenager Joohyung Kim, who went on to clinch the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit title.
The Asian Tour will then move on to picturesque Jeju Island which is a familiar destination for the Tour. Owned and operated by Lotte, one of Korea’s largest conglomerates, Lotte SkyHill has 36 holes sculpted by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Opened in 2005, some of the holes feature distinctive ancient rock formations and old stone walls. The club has staged multiple professional male and female events over the past decade.
The inaugural International Series event was staged at Thailand’s Black Mountain Golf Club at the start of March. Sihwan Kim marked the momentous week by emerging triumphant in the US$1.5 million International Series Thailand.
Offering a prize fund of US$2 million, the International Series England, the second event in the 2022 Series, concluded on Sunday at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in the northern English city of Newcastle and was won by Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe.
The International Series has added to the Asian Tour’s backbone of established events to comprise an estimated 25-event season, expected to represent a record-breaking combined prize-fund. Each of the events is being broadcast live across the globe.
Cho said: “These events are a massive boost for the Asian Tour. The International Series will set new standards for the Asian Tour in terms of prize purses, staging, player and fan experience and destinations.”
“We have seen the competition instantly become a lot stronger with players from all over the world taking note of our transformation.”
Travis Smyth is confident he can register a maiden Asian Tour success after taking the third-round lead in the International Series England after signing for a superb five-under-par 66 today.
The Australian, 27, topped the leaderboard on eight under par at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle – in an event that marks the Asian Tour’s debut in the UK.
He leads by a shot from Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who matched the course record with a 65, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in with a 69, and Korean Joohyung Kim, who carded a 70.
South African Justin Harding, joint overnight leader with Kim, carded a 71 and is two off the lead.
Smyth is set to feature in the final group for the first time on the Asian Tour but shrugged off the pressure and said: “I definitely think I can win. I don’t know how I’m going to do it – but it’s going to be exciting. This is the best chance that I’ve had on the Asian Tour to win, so I cannot wait to get out there.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND-L-R- Joohyung Kim of Korea and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe shake hands on the 18th green on Saturday, June 4, 2022, during round three of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Today, I knew I was up there early on because I started pretty well. I’m hoping tomorrow I feel like I did today.”
The crunch moment for Smyth came at the par-three 17th where an errant six iron left him in all sorts of trouble on the edge of penalty area, right of the green.
He said: “It was a terrible shot. I got way ahead of it, left the face open and it went way right. I was inside the hazard line – a foot away from the little ditch, so very lucky.”
He was still partially blocked out but knocked a chip to the front of the green before draining a 33 footer. The great escape was proof indeed that it was his day.
The man from 100 kilometres south of Sydney in New South Wales, said: “I was thinking ‘make four’. It was pretty obvious to go left of the tree, hit it to the front of the green, two-putt – and I holed it!”
Sadom produced one of the finest rounds of his fledgling career to put himself in position to win his third Asian Tour title; in January he claimed the SMBC Singapore Open.
“I’m very happy today. I had a good start from hole number three with a birdie, and a par save on the fourth that changed the momentum for my game today,” said Sadom.
“This is the first time for me in the UK and I like this weather, but maybe it’s a bit cold. The golf course condition is very good, I like this course so much.”
He was bogey free today and impressively worked his way up the leaderboard with birdies on three, eight, 11, 12, and 15 and 16.
Vincent, fresh from his third victory in Japan last weekend, will also go in search of a first Asian Tour title tomorrow.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured on Saturday, June 4, 2022, during round three of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It was a day for patience and the Zimbabwean showed plenty as he followed 10 straight pars with a trio of birdies from the 11th.
But late in the afternoon a couple of short putts refused to drop – including one at the last where he made his only bogey.
Vincent said: “Obviously that would’ve been nice to have finished a little better, but I hung in there.
“I didn’t feel like I had my best today. So I’m hoping that I’m going to wake up tomorrow and feel amazing and give it a good go.”
Harding also displayed great composure to recover from a damaging front nine in which he dropped three shots.
But he clawed them all back on the home loop to finish alongside his compatriots Neil Schietekat and Ian Snyman.
Harding said: “It was just a weird day but I’m still there – it’s fine. I’m glad I made a couple of birdies on the back nine and it keeps me in the mix.”
Graeme McDowell still thinks he can play a part in the finish after mounting a third-round comeback.
The Northern Irish star was three over for his day after 10 holes but dug deep to birdie four of the next five holes. His 70 left him at four under and just about in touch with the leaders.
McDowell said: “I’m really happy with the fightback. Tomorrow, I might need five or sixunder to have a chance to win, but I’m excited to be in the mix.
“The key’s going to be play the front nine well. That’s going to be the goal – get out of the blocks fast.”
Thailand’s Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur star, came in with a 72 and is even par for the tournament. He went out in three over but recovered with a fine two under par homeward half.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Justin Harding of South Africa pictured on Saturday, June 4, 2022, during round three of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Tomorrow promises to be a thrilling day especially as final places in next week’s LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament are up for grabs: the leading two players not otherwise exempt will earn a place in the elite field, as will the leading three players not otherwise exempt from the International Series Order of Merit, from the International Series Thailand in March through to this week.
The inaugural US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament will be played at Centurion Club from June 9-11.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh courageously survived the cut this week at the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, after a mad dash from the US to just make his first-round tee time, writes By Olle Nordberg, Asian Tour Contributing Editor.
It’s a trip of enormous significance and meaning for the two-time Asian Tour number one as Singh was one of the pioneers of Asian golfers coming to Europe, and also played the Compaq European Grand Prix here at Slaley Hall in 1999 – during his second full season in Europe.
Coming back to the course this week more than 20 years later, he is full of praise for the first Asian Tour event ever to be played in England.
“Oh, I think it’s an awesome event,” said Jeev Milkha Singh.
“I played here in 1999 on the European Tour and I’ve come back here now after, I don’t know, I can’t even count the years. I just love the golf course; I think we couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better venue. The crowds are amazing, I think the whole setup is amazing. I think this is a very demanding golf course, with sloping greens which requires precision golf and a lot of feel on the greens.
“I think it’s great for Asian Tour to have an event here, my thought process is that golf is a global sport, and I think wherever we can have tournaments, anywhere in the world, we should. The Asian Tour used to have events only in Asia, and the European Tour would come to have events in Asia with us in our co-sanctioned events. But us coming to the UK and playing an Asian Tour event for the first time is great to see, and hopefully in the future we do have more tournaments which can be played anywhere in the world.”
Asked if he had ever imagined the Asian Tour venturing into England when he first started playing in Europe in 1998 Jeev Milkha Singh said: “Not really, honestly. If we talk about having an event in Europe, an Asian Tour event, I never thought about it. But you know, it’s a start and I’m happy that we have an Asian Tour event here because the weather is so hot in Asia at this time of the year anyway, so it’s better to be coming to play in the UK, the weather’s perfect. Maybe cold for a few players, but I think it’s much better than being in the heat and we should make the most of it.”
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Playing in unfamiliar territory can be quite a challenge for players not used to playing in Europe in early summer, with weather and course conditions very different from most countries in Asia. A three-time winner on European soil, Jeev Milkha Singh managed to overcome these obstacles during his time on the European Tour and offered this advice to Asian Tour players facing this for the first time:
“I think the main things which the Asian players need to work on is obviously playing in the cold, that’s one. Second is playing in the rain, third playing in the wind. Normally the greens here are quite soft, and you need to make sure you have good distance control. Most of these courses with the wind and the undulation of the greens, you’ve got to make sure you have the right yardage so that you can fly the ball to the hole. And that’s all I can say, otherwise these guys are good enough to play anywhere in the world.”
Having turned 50 in December last year, Jeev Milka Singh is now starting to shift his focus towards the senior tours, and he is planning to play the European Legends Tour most of the summer.
He says: “Now I’m going to be based in Sunningdale outside of London from this week onwards. I’m going to be playing at the Sunningdale Golf Club, they were nice enough to extend playing rights to me and my son, I’m going to be playing and practicing there. And from there I’ll just fly out every week on Wednesdays to senior events in Europe, starting with the Jersey Open next week. I’ll fly out on Wednesday and come back on Sunday. After that it’s the Farm Foods Ian Woosnam Invitational, another senior event, before two weeks off and then play Switzerland, Germany, The Senior Open and The JCB Championship.
“In August I’ll be back in Asia again, I’ve got an exemption on the Japan Senior Tour, so I’m gonna start playing there too. The way I put it to everybody is, it’s my second innings and I think we are fortunate in this game that it gives you a second chance after 50. I’m a rookie on tour again so I got to make use of it.”
Singh is happy with the state of his game this week especially after making it through to the weekend, following an arduous journey.
He competed in the Senior PGA Championship in Michigan last week, and on Tuesday he played a Champions Tour qualifier in Des Moines, Iowa.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Basically, it was a long trip for me. On Tuesday after my Champions Tour qualifying, I flew from Des Moines to Chicago, Chicago to JFK, got there Tuesday night at about midnight. I woke up at about six o’clock in the morning and took a flight to Heathrow. Got in at about 1AM to London, spent five hours trying to sleep in bed, but didn’t get much sleep. Maybe I got two hours of sleep. Thursday morning I took the 9:30am flight out of Heathrow to Newcastle, I got here at 10:40 in the morning but the luggage didn’t come for a while.
“I got to the hotel at the airport at about 11:30am and asked them when the last shuttle was, it was at 12. I couldn’t get a room so I changed to my golfing clothes in the restroom, took the 12 o’clock shuttle and got here at 12:40. My tee time was at 1:46, so I registered, got a yardage book and tried to arrange a caddy. Did that. I hit a few balls and then straight on to the tee. I was really tired. So, it was tough.”
He shot a five-over-par 76 that first day but rebounded magnificently with a 69 on Friday to finish on the three over cut line.
It was a battling performance reminiscent of his six victories on the Asian Tour and a warning shot to the senior game that a new a kid is on the block.
Justin Harding took route 66 to surge into contention in the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle, along with teenage star Joohyung Kim.
The South African, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, made a big move during the second round, climbing to six under par for the tournament.
And it served to put behind him the frustrations of a bogey-bogey finish to his opening round.
Justin Harding, 36, said: “I’m in a good spot. I was a bit grumpy after yesterday’s finish – I felt like if I’d got in at three-under-par I would’ve been happy.
“I hit a lot of good shots today. I made a couple of putts but felt like I gave myself a bucket-load of chances. It could’ve been a little bit better had a few gone in – but I’m happy where I’m at tournament-wise.”
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Justin Harding shone on the front nine – the loop where scoring has been hardest for the field. He made birdies at the second (his 11th), sixth (his 15th) and eighth (his 17th) to add to a trio of gains on his outer loop on the Hunting Course.
Justin Harding added: “I felt like I gave myself a chance on almost every hole coming in. We made three, so it was fine – I’m happy with it.
“The only one that I was having to grind on was four, which is the converted par five. That’s just a strong golf hole.”
Korea’s Kim, last season’s Asian Tour number one, tagged a 69 to his opening effort of 67.
The 19 year old said: “I wish I had a couple more, but I felt like I played pretty solid for the first two days – and you can’t win it today.”
Kim also revealed how much he enjoyed the experience of playing alongside former US Open champion Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland over the first two days.
He said: “You can just kind of see why he’s Graeme McDowell, major champion. You get to see the way he plays, the carries himself around. It’s a different class and I felt like I learned a lot from him. It was definitely a pleasure.”
Hot on their heels one behind is Kosuke Hamamoto (65) and Kasidit Lepkurte (70) from Thailand (65), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (68), South African Neil Schietekat (68), India’s Shiv Kapur (70), and first-round leader Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei (72).
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- L-R- Scott Vincent of Zimbababwe and Shiv Kapur of India pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kapur said: “All things considered, I’m happy. I got off to a good start today. I didn’t quite hold it – a couple of three-putts on my back nine. But the front nine is the trickier side and a couple of tucked pins.
“But that’s always going to happen – to go blemish-free over 36 holes would’ve been a bit of a bonus. Overall, I’m in a good position. Hopefully the body can keep up at the weekend.”
American Sihwan Kim played his way to within striking distance of the leaders with a solid 68.
The Asian Tour Order of Merit leader moved to four under par for the tournament and for the second day in succession showed a steely touch with the putter.
It was evident on Slaley Hall’s last green where he holed a clutch 15-footer to take momentum into ‘moving’ day tomorrow.
Kim, 33, said: “Every putt’s important and I’ve been making a lot of putts the last two days, so hopefully that will keep on going.
“If you just hit it in the fairway and get really hot with the putter on the weekend, you could just run away with this thing. Obviously, it’s easier said than done, but at the same it is possible.”
Kim’s playing partner Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat comfortably made the halfway cut on his debut in the UK, courtesy of a second-round 70 that left him at one-under.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The 15-year-old Thai sensation displayed his battling qualities as he recorded three back-nine birdies.
He said: “I played much better than yesterday. It still wasn’t really my day though – I couldn’t really hole any putts. But, overall it was a pretty good round.
“I’m five behind. I’ve put myself back in contention from way further behind before – Black Mountain, for example. I’m hoping I can really make some putts tomorrow – and good ball-striking. But I’m pretty happy with where I am.”
McDowell carded a 69 and is just off the lead on three under.
“Really hit it solidly for the past two days. I just struggled to get the ball in the hole as the greens are a little bit slower, which they need to be as Slaley Hall is on quite a bit of a slope,” said McDowell.
“I really like the way I have been playing the last three or four months, it’s really about that last piece of the puzzle, which is just confidence. Coming over here this week I am feeling comfortable being back in the UK and seeing a golf course like this and seeing the ball behave itself, the confidence is coming back. I am really enjoying my time. The weather has actually been quite pleasant to us. Nice to be there and there abouts going into the weekend.”
Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun upstaged a stellar field at the inaugural International Series England today to take the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.
The little-known golfer, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017, birdied his last three holes at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle, to finish the day ahead of six players who carded 67s: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and India’s Shiv Kapur and S.S.P. Chawrasia.
“My family gave me some advice before I flew here,” said Chang.
“My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently.”
The signs have been there that the 28 year old has been threatening something special as when the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year, after a two-year gap because of the pandemic, he confidently made the cut in all four of the final events of the 2020-22 season.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “Coming into this week, I wasn’t thinking too much. I have been playing well this season, but I know I can do better. The weather was much cooler than I expected. I was actually more concerned about the weather, so I prepared myself for bad weather conditions, but today’s condition is actually not too bad.”
Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz said he has really benefited from catching up with his coach Pete Cowen this week.
“My game is getting better, training the right way since beginning of the year. Hitting good, just waiting for the scoring to come back,” said Jazz.
“I haven’t seen my coach Pete Cowen much. I saw him in Dubai but that was a while ago, and I saw him at the British Masters, and he is here this week with G-Mac [Graeme McDowell] so it has been really great, as obviously it’s just me and G-Mac so I can have as much time with him as possible.”
The 2019 Asian Tour number one was in impressive form: he made nine pars on the front and toured the back nine in four under with birdies on 10, 11, 14 and 16.
“We are just getting back to what we were doing in 2019.Working out why I was swinging it great in 2019 and what I am doing now. It’s really hard to explain. It’s a lot of small things. It’s like one of those games when you have a picture and you have to spot the small things. But mostly it’s timing. When you don’t see your coach for a while you just start getting lose.”
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Last year’s top ranked player on the Asian Tour Kim three putted 18 for a bogey to slip back into the pack but he was content with his round considering the foreign conditions.
Said the 19 year old: “It was great. I actually had some hard situations that I made par with. Obviously, it would have been nice to have two putted 18. It’s just the first round, I have a lot of golf to play. Leading after the first round doesn’t mean I am going to lead on Sunday. It got really cold out there in the afternoon, so it was tough, especially over the last six holes. It is the kind of situation we don’t normally have in Asia, but I think I adapted really well.”
American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.
Kim said: “Man, I pretty much made the best out of my round. Not really that good off the tee, but I just grinded – and made some decent putts.
“I made some bombs today, so that kind of kept my round going. I’ve got to get some work in after lunch and see how it goes.”
Ratchanon, who started on 10, made an incredible start with two birdies either side of an eagle in his opening three holes. That eagle came as a result of a stunning drive and thee-wood followed by a chip-in.
NEWCASTLE-ENGLAND-Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 yr old amateur golfer of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
But a couple of loose drives at his 12th and 14th holes saw three strokes go and there was another mistake at the last.
He said: “Ball-striking was pretty bad. I’ve hooked three of my drives that have cost me four strokes. On three, it was probably so unlucky – it just went right in the trunk of the tree. Then five, an easy par four, I pulled it into the water. And the last hole – on nine. I definitely need to change up five and nine. I might even try my back-up driver!”
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, came in with a 70.
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