Relieved Nitithorn back to his best after claiming Mandiri Indonesia Open
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong prevailed in the Mandiri Indonesia Open today after a gripping finish here at Pondok Indah Golf Course – confirming he has recaptured the kind of form that established him as one of the region’s most exciting young golfers last year.
Having started the day with a comfortable five-shot margin, he was pushed all the way to the finish line, closing with an even-par 72, for an 18-under-par total, and a two-stroke triumph over Australian Scott Hend, Steve Lewton from England and Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, who all carded 68s.
Hend, chasing his 11th win on the Asian Tour and first in four years, came closest to catching him but, playing in the group ahead, hit his tee shot on the par-five 18th out of bounds and made a costly double bogey.
Nitithorn had appeared to be in complete control at the turn after two birdies and no dropped shots on the outward half to open a substantial lead on 20 under but dropped shots on 12 and 13 to give hope to his three nearest challengers.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
However, he was able to par home to secure his third Asian Tour title and put behind him a poor first half to the season, when he was shadow of the player who recorded two breakthrough victories last year, in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore.
Said the 26-year-old, whose nickname is ‘Fever’: “Wow, amazing! Like, I feel so happy about this win you know. Back the last few weeks I didn’t feel confidence like this, but after I played some rounds before, I came here and I just figured out my swing, got some good feelings and transferred to this tournament. Like I said the past few weeks, I was like how to hit, even how to impact the ball very well, I really struggled on my swing. But right now, I feel better, amazing!”
Nitithorn had not finished in the top-10 in nine starts this year until this week and had failed to progress to the weekend four times.
“I didn’t think I was going to win this year to be honest, but I just planned to be just keep doing my best,” he said.
“I was really excited when I finished hole number nine, and on hole number 10, this is funny, my caddie lost my towel and I just freaked out a little bit.”
Scott Hend. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
He earned a cheque for US$90,000 and moved into 11th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Lewton, looking for his first win since the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2014, made a birdie on 18 to close the gap but was left to rue missed opportunities. He also tied for second here last year.
Said the Englishman: “I thought I’d have to shoot really low 60s to be honest. And then when I got to 14, the par-five, I looked at the board and I had a putt to get to 17 under, and I was like oh I’m not actually as far behind as I thought it would be. I just missed and then after that I just didn’t capitalize on a couple of the good shots I hit.”
Lee dropped shot on both 16 and 18 to miss out on his first victory on the Asian Tour but took positives from his performance.
“I am not disappointed actually,” said Lee.
“I gave myself a chance. I am happy with the result. I didn’t think I had a chance when we went out today. I have been hitting my irons well, especially yesterday and today. I gave myself a lot of opportunities at the start, but I think I wasn’t that lucky and left a few out there.”
Korean Yongjun Bae tied for fifth after breaking the course record with a brilliant 63, with 10 birdies and one dropped shot; four of those birdies came in the last four holes.
He finished the event on 14 under with compatriot Mingyu Cho (66), Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert (65) and Chang Wei-lun (71) from Chinese-Taipei.
Steve Lewton. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
The next stop on the Asian Tour is the International Series England at Close House, in Newcastle, from 17-20 August.
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong made a strong claim on the winner’s trophy at the Mandiri Indonesia Open today, posting a score of five-under-par 67 to secure a five-shot lead going into the final round.
Nitithorn started the day in second place after rediscovering his form with a bogey-free round of 65 yesterday. He dropped two shots during the third round today, but seven birdies were enough to consolidate his lead over Chang Wei-lun (69) of Chinese Taipei who holds solo second in the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.
“I played really well today and just kept hitting the ball on the fairway and just tried to hit the greens,” he said after his round at Pondok Indah Golf Club in Jakarta, the 11th event in the 2023 Asian Tour season.
“I think I made 16 greens today, just missed only two, but my putting I just struggled a little bit, like on the short putts,” he explained. “I don’t know why but I felt a little bit of pressure when I putted, so yeah, just the stroke wasn’t so good on the short putts.”
“It didn’t feel easy, I was just really focused until hole number 13 or 14 and I still didn’t know how many I was under until I asked my caddie. Golf is really hard, but I played really well, so I hope I will play this good again tomorrow.”
In third place, a strong group threatened to make inroads on the lead, including Lee Chieh-po of Chinese Taipei and England’s Steve Lewton, both of whom were in a position during their round to overtake the course record of 64.
Lee fell short, needing an eagle on the final hole to equal the target, but his birdie on the 18th secured him a position in the final group when the event resumes tomorrow. The wind picked up later in the day, firming up the course and making conditions difficult for the later groups finishing in the afternoon.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Chang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei pictured on Saturday August 5, 2023 during Round Three of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Chang, who started the day in fourth place, posted a solid three-under-par round and explained how he was trying to come to terms with maintaining his momentum through a four-day tournament
“I actually felt a bit of pressure today,” he said after posting his score. “I have been in this position in the past and I was never able to hold four good rounds together. There was always one bad round, especially on the third day,” he explained.
“So going out today, even though I started well with a birdie on first, I wasn’t playing confidently. The first birdie was quite an adventure as I didn’t hit the fairway,” he added.
“Things got better at the back and I felt more comfortable out there. The birdie on 17 was the highlight for me as I holed quite a long putt there, maybe from like 25 feet.
“It’s nice to be in a good position heading into the final round although Nitithorn has widened the gap today. I will continue to do the same things tomorrow, trust my game and see how it goes,” he said.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Richard T Lee of Canada pictured on Saturday August 5, 2023 during Round Three of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Richard T. Lee of Canada, who shares third place with Lee, Lewton, Scott Hend of Australia and South Africa’s MJ Viljoen, struggled with some nasal issues following recent surgery, but managed to get back on track to stay in contention having started the day in front.
“I actually had an incident in the morning, so it was like a bloody nose for an hour. I thought I was going to actually withdraw from the tournament, but it stopped for a bit and I came out and played. I just felt dizzy all day today, so I couldn’t make any putts,” he explained.
“I actually had surgery one month ago because I couldn’t breathe out of one side of my nose. Hopefully I’m not dizzy tomorrow and I don’t have a nose bleed again, so hopefully just shoot another six under and maybe I will have a chance out there.”
Hend, who was bullish about his chances after returning to golf from a six-week break, managed to maintain sight of the lead with a 70.
Viljoen scored a sensational 62 yesterday, albeit playing with lift clean and place due to early rainfall, but was unable to continue his charge as conditions firmed today. His four bogey and two birdie round of 74 helped him to complete the group at 12 under in third place.
In solo eighth place, on 11 under par, Tom Power-Horan of Australia was another who threatened to upend the course record. Despite scoring eight birdies with no dropped shots up until the last hole, a bogey on the par-five 18th meant he had to settle for a 65.
MJ Viljoen, a rookie on the Asian Tour having successfully negotiated the Qualifying School in January, took the surprise second-round lead in the Mandiri Indonesia Open today after an eye-catching 10-under-par 62.
The South African, playing in his fourth Asian Tour event, made an eagle and eight birdies to go to 14 under for the US$500,000 event, and a one-shot lead over Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who carded a 65.
Canadian Richard T. Lee fired a 66, here at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, and is a shot further back.
“I think I was in a zone today you know. I didn’t really think I was gonna go that low,” said Viljoen, who started on 10 and playing in the last group out made it a thrilling last-minute run to the line with an eagle on the par-five sixth and birdies on eight and nine.
MJ Viljoen. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
“I think that was my personal best today, by one, so it just kind of happened. I was doing my thing and when I got off the course it was plenty of birdies!”
“I think I was just focused on doing my thing and following my process. So, you know, kind of lost count [of the birdies] and just did my thing, and you know, it was a good day.”
As preferred lies were being played his round could not officially count among the lowest scores on the course.
The 27-year-old is a two-time winner in South Africa and turned professional in 2014.
Nitithorn enjoyed a welcome return to form today.
The Thai star, 26, had a breakthrough season on the Asian Tour last year, winning twice – at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore – but he has been unable to recapture that form this season, until this week.
“I mean, I played really good on the first couple days, so perfect, without a bogey,” he said.
“Everything was perfect. There’s nothing to complain about.”
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Currently in 51st place on the Tour’s Order of Merit (OOM), his best performance came at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea, where he tied for 11th.
He added: “Before I came here, I just played 18 holes with my girlfriend, and then it’s, I don’t know, I just felt something, and I like figured it out on that round and then I think I can play good.
“And then I came here, and in the practice round I played like with the same feeling as when I play golf with my girlfriend. Like, do the same feelings and yeah, it has really worked.”
In a tie for fourth, four behind pace-setter Viljoen, are first-round leader Sarit Suwannarut (70) from Thailand, Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun (68), Scott Hend (69) from Australia, and Korean Doyeob Mun (70).
Sarit won the season-ending BNI Indonesian Masters last year, which was also the final International Series event of the year, and like Nitithorn he has struggled to replicate that form in 2023. In fact, he has been even further off the pace and is 112th on the Merit list, having made three cuts in seven starts.
Encouragingly, he appears to be back on track this week, although he was disappointed with today’s effort, having opened with a brilliant 64.
Said Sarit: “The putts did not drop like yesterday, my irons were not so good, my tee shots not really good. So, I might need to fix my putting today and let’s see tomorrow.”
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, currently second on the OOM, carded a 70 and is five under, while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won this event for a record third time last year, came in with a 72 and is two over for the tournament, and, very surprisingly, did not make the cut, which was two under.
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong enjoyed a welcome return to form today in the Mandiri Indonesia Open, shooting a seven-under-par 65 to go to 13 under and take the clubhouse lead for the Asian Tour event mid-way through day two.
He has a healthy three-shot lead from first-round leader and compatriot Sarit Suwannarut (70), Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun (68), Scott Hend (69) from Australia, and Korean Doyeob Mun (70).
Scotland’s David Drysdale is next best placed in the clubhouse, having shot a second successive 68 to move to eight under at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta.
Nitithorn, 26, had a breakthrough season on the Asian Tour last year, winning twice – at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore – but he has been unable to recapture that form until his two fine rounds this week.
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
“I mean, I played really good on the first couple days, so perfect, without a bogey,” he said.
“Everything was perfect. There’s nothing to complain about.”
Currently in 51st place on the Tour’s Order of Merit (OOM), his best performance came at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea, where he tied for 11th.
He added: “Before I came here, I just played 18 holes with my girlfriend, and then it’s, I don’t know, I just felt something, and I like figured it out on that round and then I think I can play good.
“And then I came here, and in the practice round I played like with the same feeling as when I play golf with my girlfriend. Like, do the same feelings and yeah, it has really worked.”
Paired with Hend and defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar from India he began on 10 and made a steady start on his first nine with birdies on 11 and 12 to make the turn in two under before a sizzling second half five-under-par 31 thanks to birdies on one, three, five, six and eight.
Sarit won the season-ending BNI Indonesian Masters last year, which was also the final International Series event of the year, and like Nitithorn he has struggled to replicate that form in 2023. In fact, he has been even further off the pace and is 112th on the Merit list, having made three cuts in seven starts.
Encouragingly, he appears to be back on track this week, although he was disappointed with today’s effort, having opened with a brilliant 64.
Said Sarit: “The putts did not drop like yesterday, my irons were not so good, my tee shots not really good. So, I might need to fix my putting today and let’s see tomorrow.”
However, he is well placed heading into the weekend and will look to capitalise on his love for playing in Indonesia.
David Drysdale. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
“I’ve been playing good in Indonesia since my junior golf. I really like to play here. I mean, maybe the food is similar to Thailand and maybe the weather.”
Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, currently second on the OOM, carded a 70 and is five under, while Bhullar, who won this event for a record third time last year, came in with a 72 and is two over for the tournament, and, very surprisingly, will not be making the cut.
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut posted an eagle on each nine in the first round of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023, securing a single shot lead and boosting his confidence as he bids to get his season back on track.
The double eagle was, to his recollection after the round, the first he’s shot in a tournament, and he paid tribute to feeling quite at home in Indonesia on his first visit since securing victory at the Indonesian Masters at the end of last year.
“I’m feeling really good, feeling comfortable. It’s been a challenging year. Play has not been really good in the first half but I’m feeling better now so hopefully I can keep going,” he said after his round.
Five birdies and one bogey saw Sarit post an eight-under-par round of 64 at the US$500,000 Asian Tour event which is being played at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta from August 3-6.
“My driver and irons were alright today, but the main thing was the putting, it was really good today. I saw the line on every hole, and everything seemed to drop.
“On the last, the tee shot wasn’t good, in the left bunker, but I got a good lie and hit it to the front of the green. I made the putt somehow,” he laughed.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Woohyun Kim of Korea pictured on Thursday August 3, 2023 during Round One of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Korea’s Woohyun Kim (65), who took advantage of an unexpected eagle in the morning session to post the early clubhouse lead on seven-under-par, said he appreciated his good fortune but felt he was ready to compete after a disappointing showing at the event last year.
Starting on the back nine, he set the early pace by scoring four birdies, including a run of three on his way to the par five 18th hole, but the hole-out from around 30 yards caught him by surprise.
“It was a good start today, I made birdie on the first hole. On the 18th, I thought my third shot was a little bit long but the bounce was soft and it rolled in to the hole. It looked like it would end up a few feet away but it got to the hole and made eagle. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’ll take it.”
Kim said after his round that it been an improvement over his previous performance in the event. “I played here last year, I liked the course and made the cut but finished almost last. Today I’m playing better than before, my irons, all shots are better than last year.”
A birdie finish on his last hole saw Australia’s Scott Hend (65) edge into a share of second place with Kim on -7 and the Australian was bullish on his prospects for the week.
“Yeah, it’s alright. I mean we had lift, clean and place out there so it’s playing a bit easier obviously. Scoring is going to be quite low this week because the greens are alright and they are quite receptive so I’ve just got to keep plugging along. It’s nice to get a good first round instead of trying to chase all the time and let’s see if we can have another low one tomorrow.”
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Scott Hend of Australia pictured on Thursday August 3, 2023 during Round One of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Despite being an Asian Tour veteran who is turning 50 in 12 days, Hend feels he is still able to compete with the younger guys on tour.
“It’s really no difference, is it? I’m still fit, I think I’m fitter than a lot of the young guys out here. I intend to play golf for a long time and hopefully they keep seeing me in the rear view mirror catching them,” he aid after his round.
Korea’s Doyeob Mun (65) joined the group in second with eight birdies and a dropped shot on the ninth hole.
Ryo Hisatsune (66), who shared fifth place on six-under-par with Richard T. Lee of Canada after the morning wave, said he was also pleased with his round, his first time playing at Pondok Indah.
“Tee shots were important today,” he said after posting his score. “If you can be aggressive and find the fairway, get within 100 yards, you can make birdie. It’s my first time here, the course is a little narrow, and a bit scary.
Completing the group in fifth place were Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Chang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei.
Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat (67) finished the morning with a share of ninth place on five-under-par, joining fellow Thai golfer Settee Prakongvech and the Indonesian duo of Elki Kow and amateur Gabriel Hansel Hari.
Panuphol, affectionately known as Coconut, is coming back to the tour after a prolonged spell with injury. He said his approach game was one of the highlights of his round. “I gave myself a lot of chances. I kind of left a couple out there but I made more, so yeah it was a good day.”
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand pictured on Thursday August 3, 2023 during Round One of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
The former Indonesian Open champion, who won at Pondok Indah in 2017, has fond memories of the victory, which was also his first win on the Asian Tour. “It’s always a special place where you win your first event and it’s always fun to come back.”
On the recovery trail, Panuphol is looking to build momentum with a good performance this week.
“The season so far has been very slow. I got off my medical exemption so I didn’t keep my card, and I got in this week in the past champion category. Obviously I want to win this week, that’s my first priority, get back on tour as fast as possible, other than that just have to be healthy, that’s my main goal.
Kow (67), playing in his fourth Indonesian Open, was reasonably upbeat after his round.
“I didn’t hit my tee shots very well, but I managed to get it on the green and then I putted pretty well today,” he told reporters after his round.
He briefly held the lead after a stretch of four birdies in a row on the back nine, including a long thirty-footer on 16, but a bogey on the last dropped him back into a share of ninth place on five-under-par.
Even the dropped shot on 18 couldn’t dampen his mood, and he was quick to dismiss suggestions of nerves while holding the early lead on the closing hole. “I just made a wrong decision, that’s all.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Elki Kow of Indonesia pictured on Thursday August 3, 2023 during Round One of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
“I’ve been here for four Indonesian Opens now, I usually don’t perform very well, but I took away any expectations going in today. In my mind I just wanted to be happy today, post a good score and stay in a good mood.
Of the other finishers after round one, Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin leads a multi-national group in 13th place on four-under-par, together with Australia’s Denzil Ieremia and Terry Pilkadaris, the Indian duo of Rashid Khan and Kartik Sharma, Steve Lewton of England, Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, MJ Viljoen of South Africa, Korea’s Minkyu Kim and David Drysdale of Scotland.
Sadom Kaewkanjana always exudes calmness and composure but at this week’s Mandiri Indonesia Open that will be even more apparent as, just last month, the Thai star concluded his two-week monkhood.
With the main aim of giving his family considerable credit, he was ordained a monk for a short period of time, something Thai men, after they turn 20, often chose to do, entering a monastery to study dharma – the teachings of the Lord Buddha.
“I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents,” said Sadom, who tees off in Indonesia’s National Open tomorrow at Pondok Indah Golf Course.
“During this time of ordination, it was of great value and experience, even though the ordination was a short period of time.”
As was well documented, in 2017, his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond went through the same process and a month later he won his first event on the Asian Tour – the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open.
Said Jazz at the time: “They [the monks] just make you see things in a different perspective. Golf is not the biggest thing in your life.”
And, back in 2014, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the Asian Tour number one at the time, also swapped his golfing attire for a robe to be ordained a monk for a week.
Sadom Kaewkanjana during his sojurn as a monk, a time he said was of great value and experience.
Sadom will also be hoping the special spiritual experience has a positive effect on the golf course. He is currently in sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), following a strong start to the year, which saw him place fourth in the season-opening Saudi International, and then joint second in the International Series Oman, the following week.
However, he has missed the cut in his last year’s three events and will be looking to bounce back this week in an event that marks the start of the second half of the season.
He said: “I was cut off from the rest of the world when I was ordained, that made me feel more calm. I was able to concentrate more, which will help me improve my game of golf.”
His time in the temple required him to shave his head and eyebrows, wake up at 4.30am, meditate, and clean the temple grounds, eating just one meal a day.
Sadom Kaewkanjana during his ordination as a monk, a traditional undertaking among young Thai men.
The 25-year-old is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour; the first coming in the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2019, before he recorded a famous win in one of Asia’s most prestigious events, the Singapore Open in 2022.
The second victory was expected to open the floodgates to more success but while he has regularly been in contention since then, and finished third on last year’s OOM, a third win has been elusive so far.
That could change this week, though, with the supremely talented golfer, boasting a textbook swing, seeing the world and his ambitions in the game in a different light.
Gaganjeet Bhullar’s record in the Mandiri Indonesia Open is second to none – he clinched the title for a record third-time last year – and ahead of this week’s tournament, which starts on Thursday at the renowned Pondok Indah Golf Course, he says he will look for inspiration from those remarkable performances.
“You know that success will inspire me a lot,” said the 35-year-old from Amritsar.
“They basically will remind me of all the good shots, all the good moments I’ve had in Indonesia and I’m just hoping that I will play as good as I played last year.”
Having triumphed in 2013 and 2016, the latter also at Pondok Indah, a reinvigorated Bhullar, fully recovered from a bad bout of COVID at the start of the year, made it a third title last season by storming to a two-shot victory over compatriot Rashid Khan and England’s Steve Lewton.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Rashid Khan of India pictured during the Pro-am event on Tuesday August 1, 2023 ahead of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Bhullar was at his imperious best on the last day on the Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed layout, carding a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 for a tournament total of 20-under.
“I remember clearly pretty much every hole. I got off to a really good start. I was paired with Rashid Khan and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai and I remember those two guys they also played well actually but I got off to a good start,” said the Indian, who was marking his return to his home continent after four years focusing on Europe and who dedicated his triumph to his 11-month-old daughter.
“I was driving the ball well, I didn’t miss any fairways on Sunday, hit my iron shots on the green and I think I just putted well. Once you’re on the positive mojo it just multiplies over and over. I’m glad I just closed it well and that was another victory under the belt.”
He has started this year slowly by his own high standards and is currently 50th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, having played eight of the 10 events so far, with his best result coming on home ground at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard, where he tied for sixth.
However, he is hoping that his recent break from the game will help get him back on track.
“I basically took two months off, just over two months, I think close to nine weeks off, and this was the first time I actually got such a long break ever since I’ve turned pro in the last 17 years,” he said.
“I was actually looking forward to this break and there were so many things which I’ve worked on during my off season from my fitness right to my driving speed to my playing ability.
“I played so many rounds on the golf course with a mindset of scoring well, I was mentally fatigued, so I personally feel that this break was much needed, and I have utilized it in a great way, in a structured manner. Now, I’m actually mentally and physically prepared and ready for the second half.”
He plans to play pretty much all the events from here on in, which will be at least 14 more, with this week’s event signifying the commencement of the second-half of the season.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Taichi Kho of Hong Kong pictured during the Pro-am event on Tuesday August 1, 2023 ahead of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 3-6, 2023. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
His first victory on the Asian Tour also came in Indonesia at the President Invitational in 2009. That win set in a motion an outstanding career in Asia, which has also seen him claim the Macau Open twice.
“The majority of the golf courses in Indonesia and Thailand and Malaysia all really suit my style of play and over the years I’ve just felt very comfortable, and maybe it’s something to do with the weather, I feel very comfortable playing in hot and humid weather,” said the Indian, his country’s number one amateur in 2004 and 2005.
“Golf, it’s a game of clicks, one thing leads to the next. One good shot will keep on making a new thread of good shots, so I think that has happened over the past few years and that was one of the reasons why I’ve won their multiple times.”
Bhullar will have his work cut out for him this week though with a strong field in attendance, led by Filipino Miguel Tabuena, second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Gunn Charoenkul as well as Taichi Kho from Hong Kong – all ranked in the top 10.
Patrick Reed will be aiming to deliver a super-charged performance at this month’s inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship.
The appearance of the 2018 Masters champion further bolsters the line-up for the US$1.5 million event which will be the 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the sixth stop on The International Series.
In what promises to be a memorable week at Fairmont St Andrews (24-27 August), Reed will join fellow Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann, alongside a host of players from the LIV Golf roster.
Organisers also announced today that South Africans Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, Australian Matt Jones, Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Colombian Sebastian Munoz, New Zealander Danny Lee and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger will be gracing the fairways of the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews.
Reed has been a permanent fixture in the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking since 2014 and is in an elite group of players who have posted top-10 finishes in all four Majors.
He’s been one of the most consistent players at this year’s Majors. Following a share of fourth at Augusta National in April, Reed was joint 18th at the PGA Championship, tied for 56th at the US Open and equal 33rd at last month’s Open Championship.
Joining Reed in Scotland will be Sergio Garcia of Spain, pictured here at the The International Series Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve had some strong fields at our International Series events thus far and the St Andrews Bay Championship is no exception. It’s wonderful to have such prominent players compete more regularly on the Asian Tour since the establishment of The International Series and this definitely validates the Asian Tour’s growth into a global Tour.
“I know this will motivate and inspire our Asian Tour members to raise their games. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to test themselves against genuine world-class players at a world-class venue.”
Winner of nine tournaments worldwide, Reed achieved his highest world ranking of sixth in June 2020.
In the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational series, he was in the top-five three times, including a runner-up spot in Bangkok, and finished fourth in the Individual Champion standings. In the 2023 standings he’s currently fourth having had four top-five finishes.
Callum Nicoll, Director of Golf & Estates at Fairmont St Andrews, said: “We’re delighted to see such a strong field shaping up and very much look forward to welcoming so many outstanding players to Fairmont St Andrews.
“Set among 520 acres of stunning Scottish coastline with views of St Andrews Bay, the Torrance Course at Fairmont is a worthy venue for such an historic tournament.”
Andy Ogletree of the USA, current leader in The International Series for 2023, playing in The International Series Thailand at Hua Hin in March. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sculpted by European Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance, the 7,230-yard layout has previously hosted the DP World Tour and European Seniors Tour as well as being a venue for Open Qualifying.
Part of the Asian Tour’s 2023 ‘UK Summer Swing’, the St Andrews showpiece will be preceded by the International Series England, at Close House in Newcastle.
The Asian Tour’s elite-level International Series comprises 10 events, featuring elevated prize funds and welcoming top golfers from every continent and Tour.
Following the first four International Series events of 2023, American Andy Ogletree leads the way in the overall standings with Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Australian Wade Ormsby in pursuit.
The final Asian Tour entry list will be unveiled soon.
The highly anticipated 2024 Asian Tour Qualifying School is set to be held across six different venues in three countries over a span of five months starting this September.
Apart from its regular destination in Thailand, the Asian Tour Qualifying School will also be staged in the United States for the second straight year and is set to make a welcome return to Australia following a 17-year lapse.
The First Stage of the Qualifying School will consist of six events, with the first to be played ‘Down Under’ at the Mt Derrimut Golf & Community Club in Victoria from September 26-29, while the Soboba Springs Golf Club in California will host the next stop from November 7-10.
Thailand, which has such a strong association with the Qualifying School will then stage the ensuing events, at Grand Prix Golf Club, Kanchanaburi from December 12-15, and Pattana Sports Resort, Chonburi from December 19-22.
The final two First Stage qualifiers will be played simultaneously from January 9-12 at the Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok and Grand Prix Golf Club.
Each event will be played over four rounds, with the top-placed finishers earning places in the Final Qualifying Stage to be played in Thailand from January 16-20. The top-35 will earn their cards for the 2024 Asian Tour season with the venue for the final qualifying stage to be announced in due course.
Jack Thompson of Australia topped the class after a grueling 90-hole battle at the final stage of the 2023 Asian Tour Qualifying School. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“The Asian Tour added a new Qualifying School site in the United States for the first time last year and we received immediate interest with the site filling up in a matter of days. It made complete sense to look at other regions from which we typically see a large number of entrants. Australia was the natural candidate.” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
“A First Stage Qualifying event being played in Australia reflects increased interest in the Asian Tour and our need to broaden Qualifying School’s reach. It also demonstrates the strong bond we have always enjoyed with Australia’s talent pool year in and year out. This way we can help lessen the burden if travelling for Stage 1.”
The Final Qualifying Stage will be played over five rounds. The top 140 players (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to round three and four. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the decisive final round, which will be held on January 20. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will be ranked accordingly for the 2024 season.
Many of the Asian Tour’s most successful golfers have ascended through the Qualifying School including Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (1999) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2009), Australian Scott Hend (2007), and American John Catlin (2018).
The Asian Tour Qualifying School was last held in Cranbourne, Australia in November 2006.
Registration for the 2024 Asian Tour Qualifying School will begin on August 7, 2023. Check out asiantour.com/q-school for more information.
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