Prom Meesawat: Patience paramount at Woo Jeong Hills
Kolon Korea Open tees off tomorrow at famously tough venue
By Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour
Thai star Jazz Janewattananond famously won the Kolon Korea Open in 2019, during his four-victory season when he topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit, but apart from that, Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, the event’s regular home since 2003, has been a notoriously difficult nut to crack for the best non-Koreans on the Asian Tour.
In the two editions of the Kolon Korea Open since the Asian Tour started co-sanctioning the event again in 2018, after a hiatus since 2008 and a two-year break during COVID, only six non-Korean born players have finished in the top 10, and nine inside the top 20.
One of these players is Thailand’s Prom Meesawat – a proven winner in Korea having claimed the SK Telecom Open at Sky 72 in Incheon back in 2006. He finished tied 10th at Woo Jeong Hills in 2019, and feels he knows why playing in Korea is more difficult than other countries.
The 18th hole at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club
“For myself, to play well in Korea, you have to be, especially at Woo Jeong Hills, very patient on the golf course,” said Prom.
“There are a lot of tough holes on the back nine. When the greens are getting firm and when it’s windy, the course plays hard compared to other course where we play tournaments in Korea. So that’s the key for me, to be patient when playing in Korea. If you make a mistake, you have to miss in the right spot.”
While the Shinhan Donghae Open, one of Korea’s other flagship events, has seen foreign winners such as Gaganjeet Bhullar (2016), Richard T. Lee (2017) and Jbe Krueger (2019), other than Jazz winning in 2019, you have to go all the way back to 2011 to find Rickie Fowler as a non-Korean winner. Is there something that makes this course more difficult to win on than others?
Said Prom: “Yeah, I think Woo Jeong Hills doesn’t really compare to other courses we play on in Korea. Like when we played the Ballantine’s Championship for example it was always cold, rainy and windy. But in normal conditions, Woo Jeong Hills is, I think, the toughest course.
“In my opinion, I think there’s many holes where you can get in trouble. Like on number nine, you have to drive it really well. And then number eleven, when we played in the early years at Woo Jeong Hills, we actually played it as a par five. The last couple years we played that hole as a par four, which makes it a lot more difficult.
The 13th hole at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club
“The par threes on the back nine, 13 and 16, are difficult, and number 16, 17 and 18 are all tough finishing holes. There are a lot of holes that if you hit one bad shot you can get in big trouble. Yeah, there’s a lot more trouble than on the other courses.
“For example, at Nam Seoul where we play the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, if you stay below the hole on approach shots you are fine. That course plays a bit shorter, but if you miss on the high side or the wrong side, you can still get in trouble.
“But I think Woo Jeong Hills is like everywhere, if you miss a tee shot or if you miss the green, you still need to miss in a good spot. And the course plays longer than Nam Seoul.”
The two-time Asian Tour winner has his strategy mapped out for this week and what the key to his success at the Kolon Korea Open should be.
CHACHOENGSAO -THAILAND – Prom Meesawat of Thailand pictured on Friday November 8, 2019 during round two of the Thailand Open at the Thai Country Club, Chachoengsao, Thailand. The USD$ 300.000 event is an Asian Tour event, November 7-10, 2019. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He adds: “For me, just hit the tee shots into a good position, and then try to make birdie on the easy holes like hole number one, two, five, six, and eight. On the front nine we can make birdies, but then the back nine everyone knows it’s tough. Try to score on the front nine if it’s possible, then just play more defensive on the back nine. It depends on the green conditions as well. If they are firm, it’s gonna be very, very tough I think.”
The 37-year-old Thai has a good memory from his last visit to Woo Jeong Hills in 2019 and is feeling good about his game heading into the championship, which starts tomorrow.
“The putt I holed on the 18th on Sunday was a really long putt, the pin was in the back left and I was in the right centre about 30 feet away from the hole. When I holed the putt there, that was a good finish and it was on television as well,” he said.
“My game right now, I have more confidence in my tee shots, and when I played at Slaley Hall a few weeks ago I was driving it pretty well. With my putting I have a good feeling, more comfortable with my stroke. When you hole more putts, you get more confident. I think I just need to stay in my process and just work to try to improve every part of my game.”
Ends.
Phachara Khongwatmai will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of fellow-Thai Jazz Janewattananond when he tees-off in the 64th edition of the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship on Thursday.
It was three years ago to the week that Jazz triumphed at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club – the last time the tournament was staged on the Asian Tour. Jazz went on to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit that season.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand – Winner of the 2019 Kolon Korea Open
With three top-six finishes to his name already this campaign, Phachara is now looking to add a second Asian Tour title to his resume, having made his breakthrough at the Laguna Phuket Championship late last year.
Were he to do so at Woo Jeong Hills, where he tied for 31st in 2019, not only would Phachara consolidate his place in the top-five of the current Merit list, but also raise his hopes of emulating the feats of Jazz in topping the season-end standings.
An added incentive for Phachara and all those in the starting line-up is that the Kolon Korea Open is once again part of The Open Qualifying Series. As such the leading two players not already exempt who finish in the top-10 will earn spots in next month’s 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC lines up a putt on the third green during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Among Phachara’s main challengers at Woo Jeong Hills in the event that is co-sanctioned with the Korea Golf Association are Sihwan Kim and Bio Kim, the leading two players in the latest Order of Merit.
Sihwan Kim has already won twice this year while Bio Kim secured his belated maiden Asian Tour success at Nam Seoul Country Club last month in the 41st GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
A second triumph on the Asian Tour in what is the 10th leg of the 2022 season will be especially poignant for Bio Kim, who announced his arrival on the big stage at the Kolon Korea Open in 2010. It will also mark his third triumph on home soil this year as he won the SK Telecom Open earlier this month.
Bio Kim of Korea
Then aged 20 and in his first year as a professional, Bio Kim was hailed as the great new Korean hope after finishing joint second, two strokes behind compatriot YE Yang, who just months earlier had been crowned as Asia’s first Major winner following his defeat of Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship.
Yang is one of five Major champions to have had his name inscribed on the Korea Open trophy since the event’s inauguration in 1958, alongside Americans Orville Moody and John Daly, Fijian Vijay Singh and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
Other notable winners include Americans Rickie Fowler and Scott Hoch, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was runner-up in 2011 and 2013.
Due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions for foreigners, last year’s Kolon Korean Open were played as domestic event on the Korean PGA Tour, with Junseok Lee victorious. The tournament was cancelled in 2020. Lee, who won on the local circuit l will be brimming with confidence when he returns to defend his title this week.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “The Korea Open is one of our mainstay events and always a high point of the year.
“With the 64th Korea Open back on the schedule it shows the Asian Tour is returning to full speed and, along with the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, means our membership are able to return to one of their favourite tournament destinations.”
Title-sponsored by Mandiri, the Indonesia Open will return to the Asian Tour schedule in 2022.
Following a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 40th edition of the national Open championship of Indonesia will be staged at Jakarta’s Pondok Indah Golf Course from August 4-7.
With a prize purse of US$500,000 the Mandiri Indonesia Open will be the 11th leg of the 2022-23 season and will immediately precede Tour stops in Singapore and Korea.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, said: “The National Open Championships of countries around the region are such an integral part of Asia’s golfing history. We’re delighted, therefore, to be able to welcome back the Indonesia Open to the Asian Tour schedule this year and we are extremely grateful to Mandiri for their support.”
Dating back to 1974, the Indonesia Open has a proud and rich heritage. Its roll of honour includes late, great American Payne Stewart (1981) and fellow Major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2014).
Other international golfers who have savoured success in the championship include New Zealander Frank Nobilo, Australian Craig Parry and South African Justin Harding.
When the Indonesia Open was last staged in 2019, victory went to Argentinean Miguel Angel Carballo with Korean Yikeun Chang claiming runners-up spot at Pondok Indah.
Miguel Carballo of Argentina won the Indonesia Open in 2019.
Among the famous Asian players to have had their names inscribed on the trophy are Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thais Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsi-chuen and Lu Chien-soon, and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, victorious in 2013 and 2016.
Kasiadi is the only Indonesian golfer to have lifted the trophy, his triumph coming in 1989.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and opened in 1976, Pondok Indah has been rated as one of the Indonesia’s leading golfing establishments for more than 40 years, hosting numerous professional events, including the World Cup of Golf in 1983.
Headquartered in Jakarta, Mandiri is the largest bank in Indonesia in terms of assets, loans and deposits and offers businesses and individuals throughout Indonesia a full set of banking and non-banking products and services.
Murdaya Po, President of the Indonesian Golf Association added: “We are truly thankful to Mandiri for its support. It promises to be a memorable week at Pondok Indah that will help signify the return of international tournament golf to our country.”
More updates for the 2022/23 schedule to follow in the coming weeks.
Asian Tour regular Todd Sinnott will enjoy a two-for-one deal at the US Open this week as not only will he be making his debut in a Major, but it will also be the first time he has competed in a professional event in the US writes Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
“Yeah, I’m excited, it should be pretty cool,” said Sinnott, who qualified for the year’s third Major thanks to clinching the final spot in a grueling one-day 36-hole qualifier in Chiba, Japan, in three man sudden-death play-off for one place.
“It’s my first pro event in America as well, so it will be cool to see the crowds and just the way they set up a U.S. Open. It’s always been one of my favorite tournaments to watch, so it will be nice to play in it.
“I think you just got to drive it well, and kind of map out the greens and where you want to leave your second shots because I think the greens get pretty firm and fast, which is nothing we’re not accustomed to back home in Australia.”
The 122nd US Open Championship tees-off Thursday at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts – the historic club founded in 1882 which is one of the oldest clubs in America. It is also one of the charter clubs that founded the United States Golf Association in 1894, and the host venue for three U.S. Opens, six U.S. Amateurs and one Ryder Cup.
Sinnott is relishing the prospect of teeing it up alongside the best players in the world in a championship that usually has the most demanding set-ups of all the majors.
Asked if he had studied the course or done any special preparations for the championship Sinnott said: “We’ve done a little bit, my caddie Scott and me. We’ve tried to watch Matt Fitzpatrick’s highlights from the U.S. Amateur there in 2013. But yeah, there’s not much on the course, I can’t get a course guide or anything off the internet.”
After enduring a back injury a few years ago the 30 year old is back in form this season: he won the TPS Victoria Hosted by Geoff Ogilvy on the PGA Tour Australasia in February and has posted solid results on the Asian Tour.
YANGON, MYANMAR – JANUARY 29: Todd Sinnott of Australia pictured with the winner’s trophy after round four of the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open at Pun Hlaing Golf Club on January 29, 2017 in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
“Yeah, I’m kind of having a lot of top 20s, and I won earlier this year in Australia. But I haven’t been able to be really in contention in Asia this year. The game is pretty solid, it’s just a matter of going from 15th to in contention,” said the Australian, who has won once before on the Asian Tour at the 2017 Myanmar Open – an event jointly sanctioned with Japan.
About the injury he added: “I missed all of 2019 and the back half of 2018. I had a stress fracture in my back. It was my lower thoracic vertebrae on the left side, I couldn’t move. That was a pretty grim, dark time. It’s all good now, I played all of last year in Japan and the back held up really well.”
Sinnott is feeling good about his game after finishing tied 20th at the International Series England in Newcastle two weeks ago and has spent the last week in the US preparing.
He added: “It’s just a matter of going there and getting the job done, I’m playing well. We flew to New York on Monday after Newcastle and played a couple golf courses like Baltusrol and Shinnecock Hills. One of my mates met me there and we played some golf, we’re pretty lucky to get on those courses.”
Sinnott tees off at 2.31pm US EST time with Swede Jonas Blixt and American Bo Hoag.
Last year’s Asian Tour number one Joohyung Kim from Korea starts at 1:25 PM with Ireland’s Seamus Power and Min Woo Lee from Australia.
Former US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel completed a brave wire-to-wire victory in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London at Centurion Club today.
The South African added a final day two-over-par 72 to his opening rounds of 65 and 66 to finish with a 54-hole total of seven under and win by one shot from compatriot Hennie Du Plessis, who closed with a 70.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: Charl Schwartzel of Stinger GC celebrates with teammate Louis Oosthuizen of Stinger GC on the 18th green during day three of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Branden Grace from South Africa completed a clean sweep of the top-three places by the Springboks after closing with a 65 to take third place along with American Peter Uihlein, in with a 69, two behind the winner, on a day which once again saw an innovative 2.15pm shotgun start for the elite 48-man field.
The South African players success meant their Stinger GC team, which also included Louis Oosthuizen, won the team competition by 14 shots from Crushers GC, which consisted of Uihlein, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Travis Smyth from Australia and England’s Richard Bland. Three of each team’s scores counted towards the team total today, unlike the first two days when two scores went towards the team total.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: (L-R) Individual winner Charl Schwartzel walks alongside teammates Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis of Stinger GC during day three of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
In what was the richest golf tournament ever played, Schwartzel received the biggest winner’s cheque of all time, an incredible US$4 million and earned US$750,000 for his share of the team’s US$3 million cheque.
It is his first victory since his success in the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour in 2016.
Schwartzel started the day with a three-shot lead and was in control until a double-bogey six on the 12th reduced his five-shot lead to three but he was able to hold on to a memorable victory.
“Honestly it’s a relief,” said Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011.
“It was tough finishing. I made a bad mistake on 12 which put me on the back foot. I needed to stay calm. I had this thing in my hands and made it a bit more difficult than it should have been, but I am proud of how I hung in there, it’s a great feeling.
“Hennie played some fantastic golf. At 25 years old he has a bright future. Played real good. I am proud of him, and I am proud of my team mates. This is a historical moment.”
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: Hennie Du Plessis of South Africa tees off on the 1st hole during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
The next LIV Golf Invitational Series event will take place in Portland, in the United States, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club from June 30-July 2.
The Asian Tour’s next stop is the Kolon Korea Open, at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, from June 23-26 – an event last played on the Asian Tour in 2019 when Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was victorious.
Ends.
Asian Tour winners Scott Vincent and Phachara Khongwatmai put themselves in excellent positions to challenge for honours in the final round of the US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club in London, tomorrow after battling performances in today’s second round to stay in the hunt.
Zimbabwean Vincent, who claimed the International Series England last weekend for his first success on the Asian Tour, and Phachara both carded two-over-par 72s to end the day on one over in a tie for fifth – in the first of eight LIV Golf Invitational events this year.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa tees off on the 15th hole during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
First-round leader Charl Schwartzel from South Africa kept the lead after returning a 66 for an impressive tournament total of nine under. His countryman Hennie Du Plessis is in second place, three strokes back, following a 68, while American Peter Uihlein carded a 66 and is in solo possession of third five off the lead.
A shotgun start at 2.15pm today saw all 48 player start at the same time.
Vincent is attempting to win for the third week on the trot, having triumphed in the Mizuno Open in Japan two weeks ago, and while he has an enormous challenge to catch Schwartzel he faces the prospect of securing far and away the biggest cheque of his seven-year professional career.
“Much harder day for me today,” said the 30 year old, who is one of 13 Asian Tour players competing this week.
“This is great for English weather, I would take this anytime, I am looking forward to tomorrow, I am excited about it. Hopefully things will go right.”
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe tees off on the 6th hole during the LIV Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Having birdied both 16 and 17 he looked set to finish closer to the front runner, but he dropped a shot on the par five 18th.
“I’d like my game to be a little bit sharper, but the game is completely out of your control, all you can do is commit to your shots and see what happens,” he added.
“Today I felt comfortable, yesterday was a bit different, but it’s great to be in these circumstances and learn to be uncomfortable. Game plan tomorrow is exactly the same, point A to point B.”
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC lines up a putt on the third green during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Phachara, who like Vincent has won once before on the Asian Tour, made a late birdie on his 17th hole and just missed a 15-foot birdie attempt on his last.
He said: “I’m happy to still be in a good position heading into the final round tomorrow. It’s tough out there. I didn’t get off to a good start, bogeyed the first but I hung in there. Felt good coming back, made a birdie on 18 which was nice.
“The conditions and the pin positions are tough today. It was windy and difficult, so I think 72 is still alright. I’m still under par for the tournament so it’s good. The week has been great so far. I’m enjoying myself out here. I like this format. It’s more fun and exciting.”
The 23-year-old Thai star also has a chance to win the team event as his Crushers GC team – consisting of Uihlein, England’s Richard Bland, and Travis Smyth from Australia – are just seven shots behind the leader’s Stingers GC.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC tees off on the fourth hole during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
The formidable Stingers side is made up of Schwartzel, Du Plessis, and South Africans Brandon Grace and Louis Oosthuizen.
Added Phachara: “I’m glad my team is still in contention as well. Peter and Travis both played well today. I talk to Peter every morning. The mindset is just to go out there and play, don’t think so much, just try my best. The greens are tricky here. It’s slopey and not easy to read. Putting is the key to score this week.”
Thailand’s 15-year-old golf prodigy Ratchanon Chantananuwat fired a 69 and is two over par in joint 17th.
Ends.
Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai flew the Asian Tour flag with distinction today carding three-under-par 67s in the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club in London, to finish the first round in joint third place.
They narrowly trail Charl Schwartzel from South Africa who leads after a 65, helped by an eagle on 18, while his countryman Hennie Du Plessis came in with a 66.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Scott Vincent of Smash GC tees off on the 1st hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Vincent is attempting to win for the third straight week having claimed the International Series England on Sunday, for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, a week after claiming the Mizuno Open in Japan.
He was paired in one of the marquee groups today with Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson but handled the pressure with ease.
“It was great out there,” said Vincent, who made seven birdies, including four in the last five holes, and four bogeys.
“It was something that I was very excited to experience. What an honour to play with two of golf’s best players and to see how they operate on the course. Just class guys they are. I really enjoyed myself today. It was fun playing with them and they are really nice guys.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Dustin Johnson of the United States, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Phil Mickelson of the United States walk up the 15th fairway during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
“I was really nervous on the first tee. I hit a great shot there. I was just trying to make good contact on the ball. It’s hard to follow DJ. I wished I went first but I was very happy. It was a great shot. I executed very nicely.”
The 30 year old, who at the weekend also became the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour, began his round on the first, in an innovative new tournament format that saw all 48 players tee off following a 2.15pm shotgun start.
He added: “I made some good putts out there. I really took care of the par threes on the back nine. That really got me going. All in all, great day, great experience. Golf has been really good for me the last couple of weeks. But you never know how it’s going to show up in an event like this. Today was a great day, I did a lot of things I wanted to do well. That’s the plan going forward.”
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC tees off on the 3rd hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Phachara, just 23 years old, started his round on hole 10, with Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and South African JC Ritchie, and was immediately into his usual aggressive stride with four birdies in the first six holes. He led for much of the day before dropping a shot on his last hole, the ninth, before Schwartzel’s eagle.
“I feel great because before I started I did not feel I could be three under. To get to three under in this condition I am pretty happy,” said the Thai star.
“I was okay playing today; I have played in many big events so I am used to it. The golf course is difficult on the front nine but easier on the back nine. If I can make a good score on the front nine then I can go under on the back nine and post a good score. The back nine is three par fives and you can reach with your second shots.”
Phachara has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year: he won the Laguna Phuket Championship in December, which was his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, and was runner-up at the International Series Thailand in March.
He added: “I am playing well, I am just older now, my game plan is better, my swing is better, everything is better. I know so much about golf now because I have been a pro for about eight years.
“My game plan is just hit it to the flag and make birdies and when you miss just make a par. Maybe I can win this week, maybe I can’t, but I have a little chance.”
South Africans Justin Harding and Branden Grace carded 68s to lie in equal fifth, while Johnson returned a 69 along with Mickelson, and England’s Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter.
A team component is also an exciting feature of this week’s inaugural event and saw Stinger GC take the early lead thanks to strong performances by its members, Schwartzel, Du Plessis, Grace and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Spectators look on as Charl Schwartzel of Stinger GC lines up a putt on the fourth green during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
A total of 13 players from the Asian Tour will compete in the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club near London, this week and none are happier than the five players who qualified for the event at the 11th hour at the International Series England on Sunday.
“I’m really happy, very happy. I almost cried, it’s a big move for me,” said Itthipat Buranatanyarat.
“I played really good to shoot five under. Before I warmed up my confidence was a bit low, but my caddie said just do it, and that was good for me to hear at that moment.
“I just think about taxes! No, I’m joking, but that is really so much prize money. I am happy to play with players like Dustin Johnson, and some of the other top world ranking players coming, I excited to play with them.”
The Thai golfer secured his place in the tournament via the cumulative International Series Order of Merit along with Australian Travis Smyth, and Ian Snyman from South Africa.
Viraj Madappa from India and Kevin Yuan of Australia claimed their berths as the two highest-finishers on Sunday.
All five were helped by the fact that eligible players above them on the Merit list and final results were exempt through other categories.
Team Crushers GC: Richard Bland, Peter Uihlein, Phachara Khongwatmai and Travis Smyth, pictured with Greg Norman at the LIV Golf Invitational – London Draft (Photo by Tristan Fewings/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Scott Vincent for example won the International Series England but had already earned a place by being in the top-300 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
The Zimbabwean finished one ahead of Smyth, who had started the final round with a one stroke lead.
“Love it, can’t wait to be a part of it, meet everyone involved: Greg Norman, LIV Golf, everyone. Cannot wait,” said Smyth.
“Right from the get go, round one, when I started playing well, I thought this is good, I want to have a good week. I felt more pressure mid tournament as opposed to the final round as I’m in a position where I have not earned as much as the other guys. I find it more stressful when I am around the cut line and to compete and have a chance to win didn’t feel like as much pressure. I am pretty proud the way I handled it; I don’t feel the nerves got the better of me; I didn’t feel like adrenaline ruined any of my shots.”
Madappa is the sole representative of India in the tournament and is also still processing everything that has happened.
“It’s all happening superfast. It’s still kind of sinking in,” said Madappa.
“But I’m super excited to be part of a new format. It’s going to be exciting to see what it brings to golf, because I think it’s a great opportunity to play against a very elite field. So, it’s going to be exciting to play.
“We’re honestly not used to seeing so much money being put into golf. But I think it’s only gonna be great for us. I think when we compete it’s still a case of going out to try and win the event.”
The other Asian Tour regulars competing this week are Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, Australian Wade Ormsby, Sihwan Kim from the United States, South African Justin Harding and Kinoshita Ryosuke from Japan.
The LIV Golf Invitational, which will see 48 players competing over three days, also features a team format with 12 teams of four.
The draw for the teams was made on Tuesday night with captains selecting their teams.
Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat attend a press conference ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in London. (Picture by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images).
Phil Mickelson from the United States, whose team is called HY Flyers GC, chose Ratchanon, Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star, along with Harding and American Chase Koepka – the brother of Brookes Koepka.
Said Ratchanon: “I just can’t believe this. I am a 15-year-old kid still at school playing for six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson. It’s like I am in a dream.”
All 48 players compete against each other in a traditional stroke play format, with the lowest 54-hole total from the no-cut event being the winner, who will earn US$4 million.
For the four-man team format for the first two rounds the best two stroke play scores will count for each team. For the third and final round, the best three scores will count, with the lowest overall team score after 54 holes being named the team winner. US$5 million will be shared between the top-three teams.
A proven three-time winner on the Asian Tour, Australian Wade Ormsby has a chance this week to do something he’s never done before: play for a winners’ check of US$4 Million. Story by Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
He’s playing the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – which starts Thursday at Centurion Club and will offer up a brand-new format with both an individual and a team competition – and it is an opportunity that Ormsby is relishing.
“It’s exciting, it’s going to be great for golf. It’s a new event so not really sure what to expect, but it’s going to be big I think so I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m really happy to be part of it.”
Having finished tied ninth last week at the International Series England at Slaley Hall, closing the event with a three-under-par 68 on a very demanding golf course, his game is rounding into form nicely.
Said Ormsby: “Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, had a lot of opportunities, if I had not made some mistakes, I think that I probably could have been right in contention. So that’s always a good sign. So yeah, it’s nice to have a little bit of form, especially going into a big event like that. I’m excited to get down there and get stuck into it and see what’s going on.”
The new format of 48 players over 54 holes for a purse of US$20 Million, plus another US$5 million in a team competition, will add to the drama and excitement during the tournament.
Wade Ormsby is a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic, a new exciting format for golf can only be like a good thing, like an addition to the traditional format that we’ve got. I think we just really want to get down there and see how it’s gonna play out and see what it’s all gonna be like you know, because it’s all new for all of us so it’s gonna be cool,” he added.
While all top tour players compete to win titles and trophies, the lucrative prizemoney on offer this week is also an obvious draw and incentive for the competitors.
“It’s a huge amount of money, it’s great for any player to have the ability to play for this kind of money. I think the only event ever on that kind of level has been the Players Championship earlier this year. So yeah, it’s a huge opportunity for everyone playing to make that kind of money. I’m just looking forward to it. Just want to get down there and play well, and kind of get into this team spirit and whatever else that brings. It’s just a new format, so it’s gonna be different,” said the Australian.
The 42 year old, a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open, will also be one of the few players in the field that have played the course before, which could definitely work in his favor.
“I played the GolfSixes at Centurion on the European Tour in 2018, so I’ve played six of the 18 holes and got a general feel for what the place is like and the turf and everything. I think it’s going to suite me if there’s a little bit of rough around and has a bit of emphasis on hitting fairways and plays little bit tricky.”
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