Published on February 25, 2023

England’s Paul Casey and Jason Kokrak from the United States shot six-under-par 65s to share the first-round lead of LIV Golf Mayakoba, the season-opening event of the new LIV Golf League.

Casey’s Crushers GC lead the team competition at El Camaleon Golf Course by three strokes with a collective 10 under. Kokrak’s Smash GC and defending team champions 4Aces GC share second at seven under.

Asian Tour member Casey, who teed off on the sixth hole, rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole and was cruising with a bogey-free five under through his first 14 holes. He then suffered his only bad swing of the day, a poor tee shot at the par-four second that found the penalty area, leading to a double bogey.

“I’ve never played here before,” said the 45-year-old Casey. “I’m used to desert golf, when you’ve got that feeling of two hazards either side of the fairway. This place just puts you on edge … There are so many difficult tee shots that kind of get your attention. They kind of make you a bit nervous, to be honest, in this wind.”

But after quickly dropping off the lead, the Englishman responded by finishing his round with three consecutive birdies to climb back to the top.

“Maybe I was in the zone for the last three,” Casey laughed. “It was a really good day. A blemish is a blemish, but it is what it is. I’d be surprised if anyone gets through this tournament this week without making some kind of error like that.”

Kokrak didn’t have any bogeys in his round, but that doesn’t mean it was a completely error-free day. An errant tee shot at the 14th hole forced him to scramble, but he saved par by chipping in from off the green. He also used his putter from off the green at the second hole to drain a long birdie putt.

The 37-year-old Kokrak started his calendar year with two top-20 finishes in the Middle East and was particularly pleased with his driver in that stretch. But on Sunday while working in a simulator before leaving for Mexico, the face of his driver popped out. That has forced him to use his backup driver this week at El Camaleon.

He said the backup isn’t exactly identical, and described his first practice day on the range this week as “horrific, hitting it left.”

He spent the next two days tweaking his backup driver. Other than the 14th hole, he was solid off the tee, hitting 10 of 14 fairways.

“I knew I was hitting it well because all the other golf clubs I was hitting were right on target and quality golf shots, so I knew it wasn’t the golf swing,” Kokrak said. “It was just something small with the driver. Hopefully we have that figured out and we’ll drive it good for the rest of the week.”

The closest pursuers to the co-leaders are Carlos Ortiz (Fireballs GC), Peter Uihlein (4Aces GC) and Talor Gooch (RangeGoats GC). Ortiz and teammate Abraham Ancer, who each represented Mexico in the Olympics, received huge support Friday from their fellow countrymen.

“I love when I play in front of my family and friends and just Mexicans overall or Latins,” Ortiz said. “… I just tried to find a way to make things happen.”

Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, winner of the Asian Tour’s season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, opened with a 70, and is equal 12th.

Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, who is playing the LIV Golf League by virtue of winning the International Series Order of Merit list last year, fired a 71 and is tied for 18^th.

American Sihwan Kim, winner of the 2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit, had a poor day and carded an 82 and will be hoping for a repeat of his amazing turnaround performance at last year’s LIV Golf Invitational – Boston when he showed his never-say-die attitude.

After a bout of COVID-19 he had low energy levels and erratic driving led to a nightmarish opening-round 87. It would have knocked the wind out of most players, but Kim responded in spectacular fashion – making an eagle and seven birdies in a brilliant seven-under par 63 second round for a 24-shot turnaround!

Text courtesy of LIV Golf.

 

Published on February 24, 2023

In an outstanding development for golf in the region two events on the Asian Tour, the inaugural World City Championship Presented by Hong Kong Golf Club and the long-standing Kolon Korea Open, have both been included in The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) this year, following an announcement by The R&A this week.

The exciting new Hong Kong event, to be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from March 23-26, will see the four leading players not otherwise exempt earn a place in The 151st Open – which will be held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, from July 20-23.

At Korea’s national Open, which will be staged at Woo Jeung Hills Country Club from June 22-25, two places will be up for grabs in the game’s eldest Major.

“This is great validation of the strength of the players who compete week in and week out on the Asian Tour,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“Playing in Major championships is undoubtedly one of the goals that every player sets at the beginning of each season. Having the opportunity to qualify on two separate occasions on the Asian Tour gives our members a prime opportunity to achieve this.

“Sadom Kaewkanjana’s 11th place finish in The Open last year and the ascendancy of Tom Kim at that same event are prime examples of players taking advantage of The Open Qualifying Series in the Asian region.”

The news is a boon for the organisers of the World City Championship, an event being staged to celebrate the opening up of Hong Kong after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Hong Kong Golf Club is renowned by players and fans alike for its historic atmosphere, natural beauty, and challenging Composite Course, we welcome The R&A awarding of the World City Championship with The Open Qualifying Series status,” said Andy Kwok, Captain, the Hong Kong Golf Club.

“With four places at golf’s original Major on offer, Hong Kong galleries can look forward to another top-flight field assembling in Fanling.

“For our part, we look forward to once again hosting the top players in the game, visitors from around the world, and thousands of members of the Hong Kong public, as we open what promises to be a milestone season of international events at the Hong Kong Golf Club in 2023.”

In total 15 events in nine countries make up the OQS for 2023, which started at the Joburg Open and will be end at the Genisis Scottish Open.

A total of 34 places are available through the events being played on the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said: “We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool. We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional Tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year.”

Published on February 22, 2023

Burning with ambition, Gunn Charoenkul heads to New Zealand next week determined to build on his best Asian Tour finish.

The 30-year-old Thai delivered a spectacular eagle-three finish in last week’s International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club to claim runners-up spot.

He now aims to maintain momentum with a strong showing in the 102nd New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT from March 2-5.

Returning to the schedule after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event at Millbrook Resort is co-sanctioned by the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, and held in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Thanks to his strong performance in Qatar, Gunn enters the fourth leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season in fourth place on the Order of Merit and 415th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), a rise of 106 spots from the previous week and his highest position for almost two years.

Brad Kennedy pictured winning the New Zealand Open in 2020. He also won in 2011.  

For a man, though, who was as high as 126th in the OWGR in January 2020, there’s a long way still to go as he seeks to make up for lost time following a series of injuries which stalled his career.

Despite the setbacks he’s endured, Gunn is once more in a positive frame of mind and displaying an ambition to stamp his mark on the game and fulfil the promise and potential that his coach, Sam Cyr, believes he has.

“You know, we’re looking up,” said Gunn, following the International Series Qatar. “He (Cyr) wants me to look forward … to top-10, maybe number one in the world. It’s a little crazy right now, but hopefully we get there.”

Joining Gunn as part of the 30-strong Asian Tour contingent in New Zealand, where a purse of NZ$1.65 million (about US$1 million) is on offer, are five players from the top-20 on last year’s Order of Merit.

Leading the way is Korean Bio Kim, runner-up to Sihwan Kim in the 2022 Merit standings, and Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (sixth).

Also making the trip to New Zealand are Australian Todd Sinnott, South African Ian Snyman and American Jarin Todd.

Former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Scott Hend is also in the starting line-up along with fellow-Australian Brad Kennedy, who is setting his sights on a third New Zealand Open crown, having won the event in 2011 and 2020.

The tournament will include a field of up to 156 amateurs and 156 professionals playing alongside one another. The professional golfers will compete for the New Zealand Open title whilst simultaneously a pairing of one professional and one amateur will play a best-ball format for the New Zealand Open Pro-Am Championship.

The field will be split across two courses at Millbrook Resort for the first round of competition with all players alternating to the other course for the second round.

After the second round the top 60 and ties among the professionals will continue to the final two rounds at Millbrook Resort.

For the Pro-Am teams, the top 40 pairings will progress to compete in round three, before a third-round cut will see the top 10 Pro-Am teams progress to the final round.

 

 

Published on February 19, 2023

American Andrew Ogletree became the first player to win two International Series events when he recorded a convincing victory today in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

The impressive 24 year old from Mississippi closed with a one-over-par 73 to finish on seven under and win by three shots from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who fired a 68, helped by an eagle on the par-five 18^th.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72, while his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai returned a 67 to claim fourth, another stroke behind.

Ogletree, who won the International Series Egypt in November and has two wins in just nine starts on the Asian Tour, started the day with a five-shot lead and was never really challenged, when for the fourth day in a row strong wind were unrelenting.

At the turn his lead was six and while a double bogey on hole 10, where he was unable to get up and down after an errant second shot went long and left, briefly offered some hope to his pursuers, he proceeded to steady the ship with seven pars and a birdie on the last.

“I think it just comes from all the work that I’ve put in,” said Ogletree, who won US$450,000.

“I’ve worked really hard this offseason post Egypt, and just have a lot of confidence because I work so hard. I don’t think anyone wants it more than me. I want to keep giving myself more opportunities and this is the route that I can do that. So, I’m really focused, and trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my number one goal this year, and that’s all I’m really focused on. And you got to win to do that, so this feels great.”

Ogletree moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) and International Series OOM thanks to an outstanding start to the season. He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and tied for seventh in last week’s International Series Oman.

“I mean, confidence wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher. My last five starts internationally, four top-10s and two wins, so I think I’m playing really good golf,” he said.

“I’m executing my game plan really well and kind of eliminating some of the silly mistakes. I had a couple today, but throughout the week this week it was really good tee to green.

“Eliminating three putts, eliminating short-sided iron shots, eliminating bogeys with wedges and eliminating bogeys on par fives is just kind of the goal. So that’s how I define how I’m playing, if I’m doing those things, and I’ve done that really well the last few weeks.”

It’s all a far cry for a player who, hindered by a hip injury, struggled to make an impact when he turned professional in 2020 following a stellar amateur career.

The former Georgia Tech college golf star reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2019 when he won the US Amateur, and that same year was part of the victorious United States team at the Walker Cup.

He said: “Yeah, I mean, obviously, just being able to play pain free is awesome. I’ve had a really good run the past few months, my body has felt great. I’ve never lost my confidence mentally. But now that I’m getting some reassurance from my body, it’s gaining even more confidence. So super pleased to be champion here. It’s unbelievable.

“What a great test we had this week. It was really hard. The course got really firm and fast, there was so much wind. I grew up playing in no wind, so super proud to win a golf tournament in wind like this.”

A storming finish allowed Gunn to snatch second at the very end. He birdied 13 and 14, dropped a shot on the next before making birdie on 16 and an eagle on 18.

It’s his best finish on the Asian Tour since he came third in the Hong Kong Open at the beginning of 2020. He has also been struggling with injuries over the past few seasons.

“I don’t know what to say, it’s been a while since I started playing well again and could say that all the credit goes to my coach Sam Cyr who is here,” said Gunn, who has been playing on a medical exemption.

“We’ve been working really hard for the past six months and this has been the first time that he’s come out here and working with me. We really did grind it out during the practice days, and he put me in the present moment throughout the weekend, encouraged me throughout the whole day and you know, don’t put my head down.

“This is my biggest cheque I’ve received so far, and I mentioned that to Sam as well. And, you know, we’re looking up, and it’s not just here, and he wants me to look forward to like, up there. Top 10, maybe number one in the world. It’s a little crazy right now, but hopefully we get there.”

The next event on the Asian Tour is the New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT, which will be played at Millbrook Resort from March 2 to 5.

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The International Series is definitely the future for the Asian Tour and its up-and-coming players, but it’s also a place where the game’s more experienced campaigners can enjoy competing, which was clearly evident at this week’s International Series Qatar where India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Prayad Marksaeng, all impressively made the cut.

All four are legends on the Asian Tour and they are also all now aged over 50, so their performances over the first two days caught the eye in an event the boasts an extremely strong field.

Thaworn, the Tour’s most successful golfer with 18 victories, shot rounds of 71 and 76 to survive the cut, made at six over, by three. Prayad was four over, after a 73 and a 75, as was Randhawa, who shot 71 and 77, while Singh finished right on the cut mark, following a 74 and 76.

Prayad says he’s not surprised the over 50s still have a chance to compete with the young guns at Doha Golf Club: “Because the course is not actually that difficult, but the wind has been very strong. You have to know how to play in the wind, and make sure you hit the ball in the fairway off the tee.

“The secret is you just have to be able to hit the fairways, and I’ve hit a lot of fairways this week. I was mostly in the fairways and on the greens and I have also putted very well.”

The 57 year old credits his longevity and success to keeping fit and a healthy lifestyle, which has seen him win an impressive 52 professional events. Remarkably, and in more recent times, he has won 18 times on the Japan Senior Tour, while during his heyday he was victorious on 10 occasions on the Asian Tour and six times in Japan, while he has also claimed numerous local events in Thailand.

“The secret for me to keeping fit is because I sleep early, very early. I normally sleep at 8.30pm but I wake up early as well, about 3.30am. I don’t drink or smoke so that’s my secret. Another thing is when I have a tournament, I will not go to the driving range to hit balls before I play because I want to save some energy for the course. Basically, I’ll just do some chipping and putting before I play.”

His compatriot Thaworn, aged 56, is also not surprised that the older players survived the half-way cut this week: “Because we have experience, and don’t think so much about it, we just come here for fun so we’re not stressing about playing well. I played here many times when the event was on the European Tour and my best finish is probably top 20. But I was younger and stronger and hit it longer back then, and the greens were softer, and the wind was not as strong as this week.”

The 2005 and 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is mainly planning to play senior events this season, but will also play Asian Tour events on courses that he feels suits his game.

“If I have time on the schedule I will play some Asian Tour events, but I will mainly play Thai Senior Tour events and on the Japan Senior Tour,” said Thaworn.

“In Japan, there are lot of new senior players coming up from the JGTO, so I can’t say how it will go this year.”

Randhawa also made the cut in last week’s International Series Oman and thinks his game is in a good place.

Says the 50 year old: “Well, I think I’m playing pretty good, probably hitting the ball better than I ever did right now. Because when you reach my age, there’s no doubt in your mind, you know you’re just playing and you’re just believing in what you’re doing.

“When you’re younger, you’re changing too many things, but now I know exactly what I need to do. It’s just that the body and the mind have to work, so that’s the problem. But playing against the young guys, yeah, I love to compete. I love to be out here playing with them, and if I can give them good competition I look forward to that.”

“I haven’t lost any distance, if anything, I’ve gained about 10 yards with the new driver, the new clubs and new ball, I’m hitting it longer than I used to. Short game is a bit off you know, I don’t practice as much, don’t chip and putt as much so I’m losing a lot of shots there.”

The eight-time Asian Tour winner and 2002 Merit champion also has limited status on the Champions Tour and is looking forward to a stint in the U.S. this summer: “I finished 27^th in the Champions Tour Q-School and I can do Monday Qualifiers every week. So come summer I think I’m gonna go try to play six, seven events in May, June and July and see if I can make it.”

Singh, who won the Merit crown in 2006 and has amassed six Asian Tour wins, four DP World Tour victories and six on the Japan Tour, says experience plays such an important part in their games in the latter stages of their careers.

“I think experience plays a big role when the conditions like this come into play on a golf course, especially when it gets so windy. I think over the years, we’ve learned to make sure we keep the ball in play, where you don’t have to be aggressive and where you need to hold back, and where you do need to be aggressive. I think that’s the main reason.

“I think the four of us are playing good golf, and I think that’s the main reason we are here on the weekend playing with the young guns and trying to keep up with them.”

Singh plans to play quite a bit on the Asian Tour in the near future before heading overseas when the European Senior Tour resumes again this summer.

“I am going to play the Asian Tour, I’m going to double-dip basically,” he says.

“If there is no Senior Tour event in Japan or in Europe, I’m going to come and play in Asia because I’m playing under a category which I can get into most of the events. My next one is going to be at Black Mountain in Thailand, then Hong Kong, Vietnam, and hopefully at Nam Seoul.

“Then I’m gonna hit the senior tour, I’m going to be playing mainly in Europe this year, because the money is going up.

“I focused on Japan last year, but this year it’s going to be maybe two or three events in Japan, the rest is going to be in Europe and U.S., which is going to be a few Monday qualifiers and some major championships.”

While neither of them were able to make an impression on the leaderboard over the weekend –Prayad faired the best finishing in a tie for 26th – the fact that the four were present for all four days was an acknowledgement of their unquestionable class and an inspiration to all.

Published on February 18, 2023

American Andy Ogletree made a statement of intent to win his second International Series title when he took the third-round lead in the International Series Qatar today, after firing an outstanding six-under-par 66, on another windswept day at Doha Golf Club.

Ogletree, who triumphed in the International Series Egypt last November, put himself in a strong position for a repeat tomorrow, after moving to eight under for the tournament, which gave him a commanding five-shot lead from Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai.

Suradit started the day two in front but carded a 74 while Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and Malaysian Ben Leong are a shot further back following rounds of 71 and 73 respectively.

After a poor finish to his second round yesterday when he made bogey on 15 and then a double bogey on 16 Ogletree looked like a man seeking redemption today, and he did just that with a confident bogey-free performance, that saw him make an eagle and four birdies.

The 24 year old, playing in the penultimate group, took the lead thanks a brilliant run of holes from nine, which saw him go birdie, eagle, birdie. The eagle on the par-five 10^th came after a lengthy chip in, while his birdie on the ensuing hole saw him take a three-shot lead over Leong.

And he satisfactorily got his revenge on the 16^th when he reached the short 307-yard par four with an iron off the tee to set up a two-putt birdie, which increased the lead to four.

A double bogey by Leong on the par-five 18^th allowed the American to end the day with an even bigger buffer.

“Today was pretty good, didn’t make any mistakes really,” said Ogletree.

“I put it in the right positions all day off the tee. I think I kind of to set up the approach shots. The ground got pretty firm, obviously the wind is blowing super hard so I felt like I set up the angles pretty well, and I missed it in the right spots. I had really good speed on the greens, so it was really a solid day.”

Suradit, also the first-round leader, did well to stay in contention and was three over after six but played the next 12 in one under.

“I felt it was even windier today, so it was difficult, but I am happy I still have a chance,” said Suradit, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2019.

“I have had Kiradech’s (Aphibarnrat) caddie on my bag since the Saudi International. He has made a big difference and helped me be strong mentally. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

Leong, looking for his first win on the Asian Tour in 15 years, found trouble on the left on the 18^th and when trying to play a recovery shot back into the fairway his ball hit a rock and ricochet back down the fairway.

“I hit a rock, took an un-playable, and hit a rock. Fortunately, it went back to the fairway, it could have gone anywhere so I think it was a good seven. Look at it this way, life can be a lot worse than we thought,” said the Malaysian.

“Like I said yesterday I thought with this wind, a couple over, three over, that’s fine. It’s so hard out there even just standing over the putt you start wobbling. So, I’m okay, it wasn’t a great finish but there’s always tomorrow.”

Japan’s Hideto Tanihara, a 17-time winner in Japan, carded a 70 and is in outright fifth, seven adrift of Ogletree.

Published on February 17, 2023

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai impressively succeeded when the majority failed again today in wildly windy weather to take the lead at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

After yesterday’s four-under-par 68 which gave him the first-round lead he followed that up this morning with a brave 71 to lead on five under, by two strokes from Malaysian Ben Leong, who shot 70.

American Andy Ogletree (71) and Australia’s Travis Smyth (72) are a shot further back – in the Asian Tour’s third event of the season, and second of 10 International Series tournaments.

“I was very happy with the 68 yesterday and today I feel even more happy with one under par in this wind. Today was more windy,” said Suradit, who has tasted victory once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

“Today into the wind I hit three clubs more, and maybe had to aim 30 yards right [on cross wind shots], it was very windy.”

The 24 year old made three birdies and two bogeys and is looking to bounce back from a poor 2022 season when he finished 81^st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, when a 10^th place finish in the Mercuries event was the highlight of his year.

“My caddie and I feel in these conditions the par is about 75. I have been driving the ball well, and when I miss they haven’t been bad misses. I have very good distance control with my irons considering the strong wind, and have also been putting well,” he added.

Leong, who played in the afternoon and started on the back nine, tried hard to catch the Thai leader and reached four under with seven to play but dropped his only shots of the day on five and seven before recovering with a birdie on the ninth as darkness descended.

“Phenomenal, I’m just glad I could finish today,” said the Malaysian, whose sole victory on the Asian Tour came 15 years ago at the Selangor Masters.

“I think the key for today was just driving the ball really well, surprisingly with this tough condition. And coming back in from the front nine, I drove it well, misjudged the wind a little on my second shots. So yeah, all in all very happy.”

Smyth has also won once before on the Tour, in last year’s Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei following a string of good results, and was delighted to reach the clubhouse under par.

He said: “It’s like the best feeling ever, finishing Friday midday, just sitting back relaxing, watching the carnage unfold. Yeah, brutal conditions, I’m super stoked to be under par.”

He missed a four-foot putt on his last, the par-five ninth as he began on 10, for birdie, in stark contrast to his opening eagle on 10, also a par five, when he holed a pitch shot from 50 metres.

“I mean, it’s so strange, I’ve never seen anywhere like it where it’s windy all the way through the night, all the way through the morning. It’s like it’s the exact same basically the last two days,” he added.

“The forecast is meant to be the same over the next two days. But yeah, got off to an amazing start, the eagle was a great feeling.”

Ogletree, winner of last year’s International Series Egypt, also got close to Suradit in the afternoon but made bogey on 15 and a double on 16, where he lost his tee shot on the driveable par four.

He said: “I’m just trying to play every hole as best I can, and I felt like I gave up three shots on that one hole because no one saw my ball. So, I’m not going to get over that anytime soon. Pretty frustrated, I should be leading the tournament. And you know, I’m here to win a golf tournament. I’m not here to have a good finish. So, a successful week this week is a win, and that’s the only way I’m gonna look at it, and that’s all I’m focused on.”

Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of last year’s Kolon Korea Open, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat fired fine 68s, two of only three sub 70 rounds today, to be the next best placed on one under, along with American Dodge Kemmer, in with a 71.

Four players were unable to complete the second round and will finish in the morning.

Published on February 16, 2023

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai shot a solid opening four-under-par 68 in difficult windy conditions to take the clubhouse lead in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar today at Doha Golf Club.

Canadian Richard T. Lee, Sangmoon Bae from Korea and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai came in with 69s, while South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Darren Fichardt and Travis Smyth from Australia shot 70s – in the third event of the season on the Asian Tour and the second of the year’s International Series tournaments.

Australia’s John Lyras and Todd Sinnott, Andy Ogletree from the United States, Indian Jyoti Randhawa, Malaysian Ben Leong, Filipino Miguel Tabuena, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Nitithorn Thippong and Gunn Charoenkul, and Saudi Arabian Saud Alsharif all carded 71s.

Suradit finished late in the day, unlike the three trailing him in second who played in the morning, and took the outright lead with a birdie on his last hole, the par-four ninth, having started his round on the back.

The 24-year-old Thai, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, made five birdies and dropped one shot.

In hot pursuit is Lee a two-time winner on the Asian Tour who came close to winning two International Series events last year in Singapore and Morocco before finishing runner up on both occasions.

“I made a few good long putts in my round and just kept it in play, windy conditions so you have to keep it in the fairways and get it on the green to have putts that can go in,” said the Canadian.

“I think I converted that pretty well even though I had two bogeys out there, I’m looking forward to tomorrows round.

 It was an encouraging round, made up of five birdies and two bogeys, for Lee considering he had to retire from last week’s International Series Oman as he was feeling unwell.

He added: “Yeah I’m feeling about 70% healthy again and hopefully the next three days I can hold up and play the round I played today.”

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, was happy to make a good start considering the difficult conditions, which saw the wind reach gusts of 35 kilometres per hour.

He said: “Yeah, I thought teeing off early we would get a little bit of benefit with the wind, but we didn’t, so spent most the day in pretty strong conditions and thought I played really well. You always feel like when you played well you always feel like you could have left a few out there but in these conditions two under will be good.”

Smyth was equally as happy to come in under par while battling the breeze.

“I feel awesome, I was joking around saying it’s just another day back where I’m from, it’s super. super windy in Sydney,” said the Australian.

“I just embraced it and felt like I got some control of my golf ball so just tried to use the wind to my advantage and yeah everything kind of went my way. I hit a few loose shots and found my ball and was able to scramble for pars. I got a little lucky combined with some good golf, so I’m stoked.”

Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur and American Dru Love, the son of PGA Tour star Davis Love III, are in a group of players on 72.

A total of nine players will resume their rounds at 6.40am local time on Friday with the second round scheduled to start at 6.20am as planned.

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Recharged, refreshed and revitalised, the Asian Tour emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with flying colours in its first full season back in action.

Bolstered by the forging of a key partnership with LIV Golf, the launch of the International Series, and an innovative initiative with the Ladies European Tour that saw two co-sanctioned mixed events, featuring leading players from both circuits, 2022 proved to be a year to remember for the Asian Tour.

In commemoration of what was a truly tumultuous campaign, the Asian Tour has published a lavish 152-page hardback Yearbook.

As well as reports, results and evocative images from all 20 tournaments that were staged across 12 countries, the coffee table publication includes a special feature on Order of Merit winner Sihwan Kim and a moving tribute to Kyi Hla Han, the inspirational Asian golf flag-bearer who passed away in early 2022.

There are also recaps on the disrupted 2020-2021 season and the Asian Development Tour’s welcome return to action in 2022.

Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, said: “The Asian Tour is at the beginning of an extraordinary moment in history, enjoying a period of exponential growth.

“Much of the early narrative is encapsulated in the Yearbook, arguably one of the most essential editions to date as it has such an important story to tell.”

To relive all the memorable moments from the Asian Tour’s 2022 season, a digital version of the Yearbook can be viewed at https://golfasia.sg/issues/asiantour-2022/

 

Published on February 15, 2023

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has revealed he was practically “digging the dirt” when practising so much in order to find his form before a brilliant victory at the International Series Morocco last year.

Jazz had not won in nearly three years before his success in North Africa, a result he will try and repeat at this week’s International Series Qatar, here at Doha Golf Club.

“It was three years of playing bad golf and suddenly it just comes. Hopefully it continues a bit longer,” said the winner of 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the season he won on four occasions.

“I was searching, went searching, hours and hours on the range, digging the dirt, sometimes I found it, sometimes it wasn’t there.”

The victory in Morocco was the result of a sensational eagle, birdie finish – an incredible performance for a player who was shattered after an exhausting season up until that point.

He added: “Seriously like in Morocco I was such a blur, I still don’t know what happened. And I walked home with a trophy so that was pretty lucky.”

It was the seventh Asian Tour victory of his career, and in terms of confidence building it was arguably his most important.

“That was my first time in Morocco and the city of Rabat was amazing – the culture, the food, the people, everything. I had heard a lot about the golf course already from people I played with, and I knew it was going to be hard, but it exceeded all my expectations. I had been out nine weeks in a row and I was tired and my back was hurting, but I went in with an open mind to explore Morocco and Rabat, and I think that helped me win, because I didn’t come in with high expectations.”

Having tied for 17^th in last week’s International Series Oman and survived the cut in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers he feels his game is in a good position for this week, on a golf course he knows well, where the wind plays a major factor.

“It is my fourth time here in Qatar and third time on this golf course. So I know the golf course quite well,” said Jazz.

“I couldn’t reach the fairway on 18 today because of the wind. That was a little embarrassing.”

Despite that the signs are there that the gifted 27 year old is getting closer and closer to his best golf, justifying the exceptional amount of time he has spent on the range.