Phachara On Course to Fulfil Rich Promise
Long touted as one of Asia’s brightest golfing prospects, it was just four months ago that Phachara Khongwatmai found himself languishing in 671st position in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Not that the phlegmatic Thai was too disturbed, writes Spencer Robinson, Contributing Editor
On the contrary. Having squeezed into the top-20 in a Japan Challenge Tour (Abema TV Tour) event at the start of October 2021, Phachara felt invigorated.
His game was starting to click into gear and he was looking forward to lining up in a handful of All-Thailand Golf Tour events on home soil and excited at the prospect of the Asian Tour resumption. As he’s emphatically proved, his optimism was well founded.
Heading into this week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the opening leg of the Asian Tour’s 2022 season, there’s a spring in Phachara’s step.
It’s easy to understand why. In the nine OWGR counting events in which he’s competed since that Japan Challenge Tour outing, Phachara has won three times (including his maiden Asian Tour triumph at the Laguna Phuket Championship), had a runner-up and third place finish and has not ended lower than tied 23rd.
It’s been a remarkable transformation for Phachara Khongwatmai, of whom there have been such high expectations since he burst onto the scene in 2013, winning the Singha Hua Hin Open when aged 14. He immediately turned professional and won twice on the Asian Development Tour in 2015.
Over the course of the next six years, victory on the Asian Tour eluded him, but his self-belief never wavered. “I never get discouraged and enjoy playing golf every time. It feels good to go out for a competition. I’m still aiming to win on the Asian Tour and I think I have a chance to win in the future,” said Phachara, prior to his belated Laguna Phuket breakthrough, before which he’d posted six runner-up finishes on the Asian Tour.
He’d also joined forces with famed compatriot Thongchai Jaidee to win the GolfSixes Cascais in Portugal in 2019, an unofficial money ranking team event on the European Tour.
Given Phachara’s recent upsurge, several respected golfing voices believe that 2022 could be the year that the Thai truly begins to fulfil the potential that was first identified nine years ago.
“I think he’s one of the most talented players on the Asian Tour,” said Korean Bio Kim, who played alongside Phachara in the last flight in the final round of the Laguna Phuket Championship.
“He’s a great all-round player. His chipping and putting are especially impressive,” said Kim, the third-round leader, who had to settle for a share of second place after being overhauled by Phachara at Laguna Phuket in the first week of December.
Like Kim, veteran television commentator Dominique Boulet has been impressed with what he’s seen of Phachara these past few months, prompting him to proclaim that the Thai has the ability to populate the upper echelons of the OWGR and challenge the best players in the world. “He’s got the game to be a top-10 player in the world,” opined Boulet.
Phachara himself recognises that these past few months have seen his stock rise considerably – along with widespread expectations on the golfer who will turn 23 in May.
“Right now it is my time … and I feel great,” said Phachara, following his long-awaited maiden Asian Tour triumph. “I feel very happy, and very excited for this win. I have been waiting for about six years,” he added.
Building on his fourth-place finish in the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 Order of Merit standings is now uppermost in Phachara’s mind as he looks to elevate his game – and career – to the next level.
Where better to start that process than the PIF Saudi International where he’ll have a chance to assess his recent progress when he faces off with many of the world’s foremost players, including Major champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson.
It’s the perfect time for Phachara to make a major statement.
The cream of the Asian Tour will compete in next week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers with six Asian Tour number ones and over 50 Asian Tour players, boasting hundreds of Tour titles between them, competing in the season-opening event on the 2022 Asian Tour.
Jooyhung Kim, the 19-year-old rising star from Korea, who secured the 2020-21 Asian Tour Order of Merit title at the weekend, after finishing joint second in the SMBC Singapore Open, will lead an impressive line-up which includes former Merit list champions Thongchai Jaidee from Thailand (2001, 2004, 2009), his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Shubhankar Sharma from India (2018), Malaysia’s Gavin Green (2017), and Australian Scott Hend (2016).
The PIF Saudi International will be played at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from February 3-6 and will feature the strongest field ever assembled for an Asian Tour event.
Americans Dustin Johnson – the defending champion and 2019 winner – Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele, all in the top-10 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), are competing as well as six-time Major champion Phil Mickelson from the United States, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the 2020 winner, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, and England’s Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, and Ian Poulter, among others.
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during round three, Sarturday January 22, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
The PIF Saudi International will also be one of the most lucrative in the Tour’s history with a purse of US$5 million.
The top-30 players from the Final Asian Tour Order of Merit booked their tickets to Saudi although Kim is actually exempt through a category for the top-300 on the OWGR. This also applied to Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who claimed the SMBC Singapore Open to finish in second place on the Merit list, and Phachara Khongwatmai, Korean Bio Kim, Australian Wade Ormsby plus Jazz and Sharma.
The Asian Tour resumed play at the end of last year, following a 20-month break caused by COVID-19, with back-to-back events in Phuket.
Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei, also playing in Saudi, was victorious in the first of those, the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, while the following week Phachara lifted the Laguna Phuket Championship trophy.
The Tour completed its end of season events in Singapore this month with Joohyung Kim winning The Singapore International, a week before Sadom’s success in Singapore’s National Open.
A number of Asian Tour players received invites to the tournament including Thongchai, his countryman Prom Meesawat and Filipinos Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Saturday December 4, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Another of the invites is Thailand’s 14-year-old golfing wonderkid Ratchanon Chantananuwat. The amateur sensation, nicknamed “TK”, nearly won The Singapore International, before finishing in third place.
Singapore’s Koh Dengshan also earned a berth in the elite field in the Saudi International by being the top local player at the SMBC Singapore Open.
As the 2020/21 Asian Tour campaign reached its delayed culmination at Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday evening, there were celebrations aplenty after the return to action.
After many months of Covid-19 related postponements and cancellations, Commissioner Cho Minn Thant and his Asian Tour team could reflect on a successful return to action, first with the two-event Phuket Series late last year before the Singapore climax this past fortnight.
There was widespread cheer, too, among the Asian Tour membership, the majority simply thankful for the return to action and to be back on the fairways and the chance to earn a living.
Leading the way was Sadom Kaewkanjana, who was basking in the warm glow of his accomplished victory in the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open.
There was also justified joy for Joohyung Kim, although he didn’t disguise his disappointment at what he clearly deemed to be a below-par closing round over The Serapong.
Seven days after a dramatic play-off win in The Singapore International, 19-year-old Kim finished joint runner-up at the SMBC Singapore Open. Back-to-back wins may have eluded him, but he was, nonetheless, able to toast a remarkable rise that has seen him crowned the second youngest Order of Merit champion in Asian Tour history.
Furthermore, Kim’s performance at Sentosa has earned him a starting spot in The 150th Open, to be staged at St Andrews from July 14-17 – a date that will also already be etched into the diaries of 23-year-old Sadom, Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa and American Sihwan Kim.
Like Sadom and Joohyung Kim, it will be a maiden Open appearance for Katsuragawa and Sihwan Kim, who were tied second and solo fourth respectively at the SMBC Singapore Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series.
Despite an abbreviated season, there was no shortage of incentives among those in the starting line-up at Sentosa.
Among them there was the race to finish as the leading Singaporean, an honour that was bestowed upon Koh Deng Shan, who signed off with a 73 to tie 60th, crucially ahead of Mitchell Slorach and Nicklaus Chiam, the two other home players to make the cut.
As the top local player, Koh booked himself a potentially lucrative pay-off – a place in the field for next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The opening event on the Asian Tour’s 2022 season, the Saudi International will be played at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 3-6.
SINGAPORE- Koh Deng Shan of Singapore pictured during round three, Saturday January 15, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Given that it will feature many of the world’s best male players and offer a juicy purse of US$5 million, no wonder the Saudi International was on the minds of many in the Sentosa field, aware that the top-30 on the final Asian Tour Order of Merit would qualify.
In the end, US$49,432.97 proved to be the magic number that secured 30th spot for Suradit Yongcharoenchai.
He’ll have plenty of familiar faces alongside him at Royal Greens with no fewer than 11 Thais making the Asian Tour’s top-30 with eight in the top-15.
Reflecting the continued cosmopolitan nature of the Asian Tour, eight nationalities were represented in the top 30 – Korea and the United States (both five players), Australia and India (three apiece) and Canada, Chinese-Taipei and England one each.
Those who did not qualify for the Saudi event may have missed out on what will be a memorable week, but at least they can look forward to a full schedule this year, and what promises to be the biggest season in the Tour’s history.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana secured the biggest title of his fledging career today when he won the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club.
Sadom, the joint-overnight leader, fired a composed bogey-free 69 on the Serapong Course to finish on 13 under and beat Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa and Joohyung Kim from Korea by three strokes.
Katsuragawa returned a 68 while Kim wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after signing for 69.
Sihwan Kim, who started the day sharing the lead, carded a 73 to take fourth place.
All four players booked their tickets to this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews as this week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.
Sadom produced another inspired level of golf today that confirmed his status as one of hottest young golfers in the region and a star of the future.
The 23 year old was never really challenged on an extremely hot day. After Sihwan Kim made bogey on the first Sadom took the outright lead and did not look back. Birdies on six and seven saw him move three ahead and he calmly parred his way home and enjoyed the comfort of a three-shot lead playing 18.
He picked up a cheque for US$225,000 and finished the year in second place on the Merit list, with US$378,972.
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
The victory continued Sadom’s remarkable recent run of form: in the final three months of last year, he won five times in Thailand, including the Thailand Open.
He’s won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open –which saw him become the fastest Qualifying School graduate to win on Tour as it was his first start after graduating.
“This is amazing, it wasn’t easy,” said Sadom, who was also bogey free on Saturday.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, especially over the last two years. This is a great way to start the year. I hope it’s the start of a great year.”
Joohyung Kim, aged 19, fought hard to catch him but it was not to be his day.
He said: “Just trying to grind it out. It’s too bad, I felt like I had a shot, but obviously I couldn’t be so aggressive because just knowing that I had The Open on the line as well. I just tried to play through my game and I felt like I didn’t have my 100% today and it’s pretty disappointing. But we learn, and hopefully just come back stronger.”
He becomes the second youngest winner of the coveted Merit title after compatriot Seungyul Noh – who was also 19 when he won in 2010 but he is a month younger.
The tournament’s star player, Paul Casey from England produced his best performance of the week by shooting 66 to tie for 16th, while Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat closed with a 71 to finish equal 34th.
Koh Dengshan ended as the leading Singaporean after coming in with a 73 to tie 60th.
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand, middle left, and Joohyung Kim of Korea walk up the fairway during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
By being the top local player, he booked his place in the field for next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The Asian Tour commences its 2022 season at the US$5 million Saudi event, which will be played at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 3-6.
The top-30 players from today’s final Merit list have qualified for the event.
SINGAPORE- Yuto Katsuragawa of Japan pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Korean teenager Joohyung Kim completed the finest season of his career today by wrapping up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after finishing joint second at the SMBC Singapore Open, the final event of the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season.
After earning US$108,125 at Sentosa Golf Club he topped the list with earnings of US$507,553 having played in all eight events on the schedule.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana impressively won Singapore’s National Open to jump into second place on the list, on US$378,972.
“I didn’t know it was going be this fast, but I think it’s still sinking in. I don’t know when it’s going to sink in. But you know, definitely very happy with it,” said Kim.
SINGAPORE- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
He is the second youngest winner of the Merit title after compatriot Seungyul Noh – who was also 19 when he won in 2010 but he is a month younger.
Last week, 19-year-old Kim took over stop from Australian Wade Ormsby on the Merit list after winning The Singapore International at Tanah Merah Country Club.
It has been a sensational end to a season full of impressive results. The Korean ended joint second in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of last year, and he also recorded two fourth place finishes.
Today’s success cements his position as one of the most exciting teenagers in the world of golf. In 2019 after earning a battlefield promotion from the Asian Development Tour by claiming three events, the teen titan made an instant impact by winning in just his third start on the Asian Tour at the Panasonic Open in India.
That made him the second youngest professional to win on the Asian Tour at 17 years and 149 days – Noh again being the youngest having won the 2008 Midea China Classic at the age of 17 years and 143 days.
Kim will look to impress at next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Yuto Katsuragawa from Japan, Korean Joohyung Kim, and American Sihwan Kim have booked their berths in the elite field for the Open Championship this year, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary and will be played at St Andrews.
Sadom led the way by winning the SMBC Singapore Open today while Katsuragawa and Joohyung Kim were second, with Sihwan Kim fourth.
Said Sadom: “This is a dream come true, it will be my first Major. I am so happy.”
It marks the second time in succession that Kim has made it through to golf’s oldest Major via the SMBC Singapore Open as he finished fourth in 2020, the last time the prestigious event was played.
“I had the opportunity to play in The Open last year but could not because of COVID, so it means so much to have a second chance,” said Kim.
SINGAPORE- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
The Open will be played on the Old Course at St Andrews from July 14-17.
Since 2017, the SMBC Singapore Open has been part of The Open Qualifying Series – an honour bestowed on the tournament by The R&A.
The Open Qualifying Series allows for the leading four players who finish in the top 12 and ties at the SMBC Singapore Open and who are not already exempt to earn a place in the game’s oldest Major.
The last time The Open was played at St Andrews was in 2015, when American Zach Johnson beat Marc Leishman from Australia and South African Louis Oosthuizen in a four-hole play-off.
In 2020 the top four finishers to qualify along with Kim were, Poom Saksansin of Thailand, Canada’s Richard T. Lee and Ryosuke Kinoshita of Japan. They earned a place in the field at Royal St George’s last year. Both Kinoshita and Poom excelled by making the cut, making it memorable first appearance in the event.
The Open Qualifying Series provides the opportunity for players to realise their dream of playing in golf’s original Championship.
Places in The Open are available in a host of events across multiple continents. The Open Qualifying Series started at the Joburg Open at Randpark in Johannesburg last November.
Three places were on offer at there, with Thriston Lawrence, Zander Lombard and Ashley Chesters booking their spots at the home of golf.
ENDS
American Sihwan Kim stayed out in front after the third round of the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open today at Sentosa Golf Club but was joined at the top by Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand.
Third-round leader Kim carded a two-under-par 69 on the Serapong Course while Sadom fired a 65 to lead on 11 under, in the final event of the 2020-21 season on the Asian Tour.
Joohyung Kim, the 19-year-old Korean who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, returned a 69 and is in solo possession of third, three strokes back.
Australian Zach Murray, in with 65, Justin De Los Santos from the Philippines and Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa, who both scored 68, are a further shot behind.
Kim, who has spent much of his career playing on the Challenge Tour in Europe, is chasing his first win as a professional.
SINGAPORE- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured during round three, Saturday January 22, 2022, at the SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Said the Korean-American: “I feel alright, I wish I made more putts, but it is what it is and I’m still leading. I just couldn’t really get it close to the pin today, only had a couple of birdie chances and that was about it.”
The 33-year-old has finished in the top five six times on the Asian Tour and was joint fourth in the recent Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, at the end of last year.
“It is a very demanding course. I don’t know how the winds are going to be tomorrow, but I’ll just do what I did for the first three rounds,” added Sihwan Kim, who claimed the US Junior Championship in 2004, before playing college golf at Stanford University.
Sadom has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open –which saw him become the fastest Qualifying School graduate to win on Tour as it was his first start after graduating.
The 23 year old triumphed five times in Thailand last year, including in the Thailand Open, but a victory tomorrow would be far and away the biggest win of his career.
SINGAPORE-Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured during round three, Sarturday January 22, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
“I feel very happy. I made it bogey-free today and hit 16 greens, many chances to make birdie today, so I’m very happy today,” said Sadom.
“Tomorrow is the final day, and it’s not easy for me. A lot of pressure, but I will do my best.”
His 65 was the joint lowest round of the day and was flawless with six birdies and no dropped shots.
Joohyung Kim, despite being well place to win the Merit list and add Singapore’s National Open to his win in last week’s The Singapore International, was not happy with his round.
Said Kim: “I started really well at the front nine, it’s the back nine that I couldn’t do anything about it. To be honest with you, I was really disappointed with my back nine, felt that I should have stuck more in there, felt that I should have been mentally more there but made a few mistakes. The last hole I was able to redeem myself but I’m just not really confident over the ball and so got some work to do. I will still be in the final group tomorrow, so will give myself a chance tomorrow and work on it again.”
He got off to great start with an eagle on the par five fourth and went out in three under but dropped shots on 15 and 17 saw him slip back.
SINGAPORE- Mitchell Slorach of Singapore poses with his golf ball after making a hole-in-one on hole No 17 during round three, Saturday January 22, 2022, at the SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Thailand’s 14-year-old star Ratchanon Chantananuwat signed for a 72 and is one over, one ahead of England’s Paul Casey, who came in with a 71
Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach aced the par-three 17 hole using a six iron and won a five-year Shangri-La Diamond Membership and 500,000 Shangri-La Circle Points, worth approximately US$50,000.
Sihwan Kim fired a fine five-under-par 66 in the second round of the SMBC Singapore Open today to take the clubhouse lead on nine under at Sentosa Golf Club.
The American opened up a three-shot lead over Korean teenage star Joohyung Kim – who came in with his second 68 to put himself in a strong position to wrap up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title at the weekend.
Korean Dongkyu Jang and Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand are a stroke further back following rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
The US$1.25 million event is the final event of the season on Asian Tour. Three players were unable to finish as darkness fell.
Sihwan Kim has good pedigree – he won the US Junior Championship in 2004, joining a host of big names players to have claimed the title including compatriots Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth – and showed that on the Serapong Course today.
SINGAPORE- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured during round two, Friday January 21, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
He started on 10, toured the back nine in three under and after making three birdies in a row from his 11th he had a five-shot lead.
The 33 year old’s only blemish followed when he double bogeyed hole six but he responded with a birdie on the seventh.
“Feels good, I putted really well today and hopefully the rest of my game follows,” said Sihwan Kim, who also went to Stanford University, at the same time as Michelle Wie.
“I don’t know [why I played so well]. To be honest, I just had a terrible practice round. So, I didn’t really expect that. But at the end of the day, you know, you just kind of find what you have and score from there. So that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Joohyung Kim, winner of last week’s The Singapore International, was again in impressive form making five birdies and two bogeys.
He has a healthy lead at the top of the Merit list with his nearest challengers Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Trevor Simsby from America, off the pace, while Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei will miss the cut.
Said Kim: “It’s not over till it’s over. I can’t relax over the weekend, but just got to keep grinding, trying to finish the best I can this week.”
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during round two, Friday January 21, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
“I feel like this weekend, it means so much to everyone and it’s a big week for everyone so you know, keep my head down and keep grinding,” he added.
Sadom won five times in Thailand last year, including his National Open.
“I have worked really hard on my game over the last two years since COVID,” said Sadom.
“Now that I have made the cut, I am aiming for a top five finish.”
Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat, the 14-year-old golfing phenom, carded a 73 and is level par in a tie for 31st.
His playing partner England’s Paul Casey recovered from his opening round 76 by carding a 68 to finish on two over, which will most likely be good enough to make the cut, currently three over.
An eagle and a birdie in his closing six holes saw the Ryder Cup star, joint second here in 2019, narrowly make it through to the weekend.
SINGAPORE- Dongkyu Jang of Korea pictured during round two, Friday January 21, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Korean Taehoon Ok sensationally eagled the two par fives on the front nine of the tough Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club today to help take the clubhouse lead, along with Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, on the opening day of the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open.
Ok and Suradit fired five-under-par 66s in the final event of the season on the Asian Tour to lead from Korean Sihwan Kim, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Justin De Los Santos from the Philippines who returned 67s.
Koreans Joohyung Kim – the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and winner of last week’s The Singapore International – and Dongkyu Jang came in with 68s, in a group of players consisting of Thailand’s 14-year-old wonderkid Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, and Kosuke Hamamoto and Singapore’s Jesse Yap.
Play was abandoned for the day at 5.51pm due to poor weather (lightning and rain), with 52 players due to resume their opening rounds at 7.30am on Friday.
SINGAPORE- Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand pictured during round one, Thursday January 20, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Little-known Ok hit a rescue to 20 feet for his eagle on the fourth and on the par-five seventh nailed a three wood to 15 feet and holed out. He also made three birdies, including one on 18, and two bogeys.
“The last tournament didn’t go too well so I was feeling a bit anxious,” said the 23 year old, who missed the cut in The Singapore International.
“But after last week I’ve been practicing a lot, so think I’ve improved and think I have figured things out.”
He added: “After the 2021 season ended, I was trying to fix my swing, but it wasn’t going too well. But this time I’m feeling pretty good so I’m just going to do my best.”
The Korean tied for 10th in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of last year suggesting more results were to follow.
Back in 2020 he made three birdies in his last five holes to secure the last card at the Qualifying School.
Suradit had a chance to take the outright lead but missed an eagle putt on the par-five 18th from 15 feet. Impressively, he went round bogey free.
“Really happy today,” said Suradit.
SINGAPORE- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured during round one, Thursday January 20, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
“I played good, putting was okay, I made tee shots that were very good today but some second shots on par threes were not so good, but it’s okay.”
He played on the European Tour last year and feels he has come back stronger.
“It was a great experience playing in Europe. I am definitely a better player,” added the Thai golfer.
Joohyung Kim put himself in a strong position to win the Merit title at the weekend.
He said: “Just trying to stay in the moment. That’s what I’ve been working on for the past couple of weeks. And I think it was a really good example of it today. I just kept telling myself, it’s just the first round I can’t win it today. So just hang in there and just keep hitting good shots.
“Just grind it out. You know, I got a lot of work to do. You know, I got a lot of time until tomorrow. So just practice and hopefully you know, tomorrow we can put a best foot forward.”
Ratchanon, better known as “TK”, finished third last week and excelled again today playing with England’s Paul Casey.
SINGAPORE- Paul Casey of England, left, chips onto the 16th green watched by Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 14 year old amateur of Thailand during round one, Thursday January 20, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
“I am a bit disappointed. I could have done better,” said the confident teenager.
“It was amazing playing with Paul. He is such a nice guy and a great ball striker!”
Casey in his first event back after the end of season break returned a 76.
England’s Paul Casey had planned to compete in the SMBC Singapore Open last year, eager to improve on his impressive joint second-place finish in 2019.
He’s a big fan of Sentosa Golf Club’s acclaimed Serapong Course but the pandemic meant the event, one of the region’s iconic National Opens, could not be played.
It was a missed opportunity for the region to see him play again that disappointed everyone but much to the delight of his many fans the Ryder Cup star and winner of 21 titles around the world is back for this year’s long-awaited tournament, which tees-off tomorrow, and he is very excited about it.
“It’s been difficult for pretty much everyone on the planet this last two years,” said the 44-year-old Arizona-based star.
“We planned on being here last year and then that got cancelled. But I’ve always loved playing international golf. And I’ve loved this golf course. It’s a difficult golf course but I think it suits my game very nicely. You know, not a lot of guys have made the journey over but this is what I’ve always done. So, I relish the challenge. There’s a lot to play for.”
His last event was in Dubai towards the end of last year and although he says he “probably lacks a little sharpness” he says his game is in good shape.
SINGAPORE- Paul Casey of England answers questions at a press conference on Wednesday January 19, 2022 ahead of the SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond beat him by two shots three years ago and he is determined to make amends for that this week.
“That’s why I’m here! Jazz beat me, it was a 65 or something in the final round and I thought there was unfinished business. There’s a lot of history to this event. It’s a fantastic trophy. I think this first year was 1961. Great list of champions. Adam Scott’s won here, what three times or something? Yeah, I’d love to win it. As I said unfinished business.”
He’s been put in the same group as Thailand’s 14-year-old wonderkid Ratchanon Chantananuwat for the first two rounds, which will make for a fascinating pairing.
It is just the start of what will be another big year for Casey, who is surprisingly still in search of his first Major and very conscious of how high the standard of the professional game is at the moment.
“You know in this game, it is transitioning, it seems, all the time. You know, these younger, faster guys are amazing. Like last week, we got to watch TK finish third! And the scoring in the States is bonkers. I know those golf courses in Hawaii,” he said.
SINGAPORE- Paul Casey of England pictured warms up at the driving range ahead of the Pro-am event on Wednesday January 19, 2022 ahead of The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
“The game is just on a trajectory which is impressive and so my goals are to stay relevant really. I’ve got various things written down, including my victories. Yes, the Major always gets written down. I still feel I’ve got a great chance at Augusta National. I love the fact we’re going to St Andrews this year. I was third I think when Louis won in 2010. There’s a lot to play for.
“I think my thing is stay healthy. Stay fit. You know I felt I got probably a bit burnt out last year. Just a lot of stuff that went on last year, which was all good, Olympics and Ryder Cup and victory in Dubai early in the year but if I stay healthy, then there’s no lack of excitement and energy that I’ve got for the game.”
SINGAPORE- Paul Casey of England pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday January 19, 2022 ahead of the SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
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