Jeev Milkha Singh reveling in nostalgic return to Slaley Hall
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh courageously survived the cut this week at the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, after a mad dash from the US to just make his first-round tee time, writes By Olle Nordberg, Asian Tour Contributing Editor.
It’s a trip of enormous significance and meaning for the two-time Asian Tour number one as Singh was one of the pioneers of Asian golfers coming to Europe, and also played the Compaq European Grand Prix here at Slaley Hall in 1999 – during his second full season in Europe.
Coming back to the course this week more than 20 years later, he is full of praise for the first Asian Tour event ever to be played in England.
“Oh, I think it’s an awesome event,” said Jeev Milkha Singh.
“I played here in 1999 on the European Tour and I’ve come back here now after, I don’t know, I can’t even count the years. I just love the golf course; I think we couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better venue. The crowds are amazing, I think the whole setup is amazing. I think this is a very demanding golf course, with sloping greens which requires precision golf and a lot of feel on the greens.
“I think it’s great for Asian Tour to have an event here, my thought process is that golf is a global sport, and I think wherever we can have tournaments, anywhere in the world, we should. The Asian Tour used to have events only in Asia, and the European Tour would come to have events in Asia with us in our co-sanctioned events. But us coming to the UK and playing an Asian Tour event for the first time is great to see, and hopefully in the future we do have more tournaments which can be played anywhere in the world.”
Asked if he had ever imagined the Asian Tour venturing into England when he first started playing in Europe in 1998 Jeev Milkha Singh said: “Not really, honestly. If we talk about having an event in Europe, an Asian Tour event, I never thought about it. But you know, it’s a start and I’m happy that we have an Asian Tour event here because the weather is so hot in Asia at this time of the year anyway, so it’s better to be coming to play in the UK, the weather’s perfect. Maybe cold for a few players, but I think it’s much better than being in the heat and we should make the most of it.”
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Playing in unfamiliar territory can be quite a challenge for players not used to playing in Europe in early summer, with weather and course conditions very different from most countries in Asia. A three-time winner on European soil, Jeev Milkha Singh managed to overcome these obstacles during his time on the European Tour and offered this advice to Asian Tour players facing this for the first time:
“I think the main things which the Asian players need to work on is obviously playing in the cold, that’s one. Second is playing in the rain, third playing in the wind. Normally the greens here are quite soft, and you need to make sure you have good distance control. Most of these courses with the wind and the undulation of the greens, you’ve got to make sure you have the right yardage so that you can fly the ball to the hole. And that’s all I can say, otherwise these guys are good enough to play anywhere in the world.”
Having turned 50 in December last year, Jeev Milka Singh is now starting to shift his focus towards the senior tours, and he is planning to play the European Legends Tour most of the summer.
He says: “Now I’m going to be based in Sunningdale outside of London from this week onwards. I’m going to be playing at the Sunningdale Golf Club, they were nice enough to extend playing rights to me and my son, I’m going to be playing and practicing there. And from there I’ll just fly out every week on Wednesdays to senior events in Europe, starting with the Jersey Open next week. I’ll fly out on Wednesday and come back on Sunday. After that it’s the Farm Foods Ian Woosnam Invitational, another senior event, before two weeks off and then play Switzerland, Germany, The Senior Open and The JCB Championship.
“In August I’ll be back in Asia again, I’ve got an exemption on the Japan Senior Tour, so I’m gonna start playing there too. The way I put it to everybody is, it’s my second innings and I think we are fortunate in this game that it gives you a second chance after 50. I’m a rookie on tour again so I got to make use of it.”
Singh is happy with the state of his game this week especially after making it through to the weekend, following an arduous journey.
He competed in the Senior PGA Championship in Michigan last week, and on Tuesday he played a Champions Tour qualifier in Des Moines, Iowa.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Basically, it was a long trip for me. On Tuesday after my Champions Tour qualifying, I flew from Des Moines to Chicago, Chicago to JFK, got there Tuesday night at about midnight. I woke up at about six o’clock in the morning and took a flight to Heathrow. Got in at about 1AM to London, spent five hours trying to sleep in bed, but didn’t get much sleep. Maybe I got two hours of sleep. Thursday morning I took the 9:30am flight out of Heathrow to Newcastle, I got here at 10:40 in the morning but the luggage didn’t come for a while.
“I got to the hotel at the airport at about 11:30am and asked them when the last shuttle was, it was at 12. I couldn’t get a room so I changed to my golfing clothes in the restroom, took the 12 o’clock shuttle and got here at 12:40. My tee time was at 1:46, so I registered, got a yardage book and tried to arrange a caddy. Did that. I hit a few balls and then straight on to the tee. I was really tired. So, it was tough.”
He shot a five-over-par 76 that first day but rebounded magnificently with a 69 on Friday to finish on the three over cut line.
It was a battling performance reminiscent of his six victories on the Asian Tour and a warning shot to the senior game that a new a kid is on the block.
Justin Harding took route 66 to surge into contention in the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle, along with teenage star Joohyung Kim.
The South African, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, made a big move during the second round, climbing to six under par for the tournament.
And it served to put behind him the frustrations of a bogey-bogey finish to his opening round.
Justin Harding, 36, said: “I’m in a good spot. I was a bit grumpy after yesterday’s finish – I felt like if I’d got in at three-under-par I would’ve been happy.
“I hit a lot of good shots today. I made a couple of putts but felt like I gave myself a bucket-load of chances. It could’ve been a little bit better had a few gone in – but I’m happy where I’m at tournament-wise.”
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Justin Harding shone on the front nine – the loop where scoring has been hardest for the field. He made birdies at the second (his 11th), sixth (his 15th) and eighth (his 17th) to add to a trio of gains on his outer loop on the Hunting Course.
Justin Harding added: “I felt like I gave myself a chance on almost every hole coming in. We made three, so it was fine – I’m happy with it.
“The only one that I was having to grind on was four, which is the converted par five. That’s just a strong golf hole.”
Korea’s Kim, last season’s Asian Tour number one, tagged a 69 to his opening effort of 67.
The 19 year old said: “I wish I had a couple more, but I felt like I played pretty solid for the first two days – and you can’t win it today.”
Kim also revealed how much he enjoyed the experience of playing alongside former US Open champion Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland over the first two days.
He said: “You can just kind of see why he’s Graeme McDowell, major champion. You get to see the way he plays, the carries himself around. It’s a different class and I felt like I learned a lot from him. It was definitely a pleasure.”
Hot on their heels one behind is Kosuke Hamamoto (65) and Kasidit Lepkurte (70) from Thailand (65), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (68), South African Neil Schietekat (68), India’s Shiv Kapur (70), and first-round leader Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei (72).
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- L-R- Scott Vincent of Zimbababwe and Shiv Kapur of India pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kapur said: “All things considered, I’m happy. I got off to a good start today. I didn’t quite hold it – a couple of three-putts on my back nine. But the front nine is the trickier side and a couple of tucked pins.
“But that’s always going to happen – to go blemish-free over 36 holes would’ve been a bit of a bonus. Overall, I’m in a good position. Hopefully the body can keep up at the weekend.”
American Sihwan Kim played his way to within striking distance of the leaders with a solid 68.
The Asian Tour Order of Merit leader moved to four under par for the tournament and for the second day in succession showed a steely touch with the putter.
It was evident on Slaley Hall’s last green where he holed a clutch 15-footer to take momentum into ‘moving’ day tomorrow.
Kim, 33, said: “Every putt’s important and I’ve been making a lot of putts the last two days, so hopefully that will keep on going.
“If you just hit it in the fairway and get really hot with the putter on the weekend, you could just run away with this thing. Obviously, it’s easier said than done, but at the same it is possible.”
Kim’s playing partner Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat comfortably made the halfway cut on his debut in the UK, courtesy of a second-round 70 that left him at one-under.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The 15-year-old Thai sensation displayed his battling qualities as he recorded three back-nine birdies.
He said: “I played much better than yesterday. It still wasn’t really my day though – I couldn’t really hole any putts. But, overall it was a pretty good round.
“I’m five behind. I’ve put myself back in contention from way further behind before – Black Mountain, for example. I’m hoping I can really make some putts tomorrow – and good ball-striking. But I’m pretty happy with where I am.”
McDowell carded a 69 and is just off the lead on three under.
“Really hit it solidly for the past two days. I just struggled to get the ball in the hole as the greens are a little bit slower, which they need to be as Slaley Hall is on quite a bit of a slope,” said McDowell.
“I really like the way I have been playing the last three or four months, it’s really about that last piece of the puzzle, which is just confidence. Coming over here this week I am feeling comfortable being back in the UK and seeing a golf course like this and seeing the ball behave itself, the confidence is coming back. I am really enjoying my time. The weather has actually been quite pleasant to us. Nice to be there and there abouts going into the weekend.”
Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun upstaged a stellar field at the inaugural International Series England today to take the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.
The little-known golfer, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017, birdied his last three holes at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle, to finish the day ahead of six players who carded 67s: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and India’s Shiv Kapur and S.S.P. Chawrasia.
“My family gave me some advice before I flew here,” said Chang.
“My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently.”
The signs have been there that the 28 year old has been threatening something special as when the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year, after a two-year gap because of the pandemic, he confidently made the cut in all four of the final events of the 2020-22 season.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “Coming into this week, I wasn’t thinking too much. I have been playing well this season, but I know I can do better. The weather was much cooler than I expected. I was actually more concerned about the weather, so I prepared myself for bad weather conditions, but today’s condition is actually not too bad.”
Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz said he has really benefited from catching up with his coach Pete Cowen this week.
“My game is getting better, training the right way since beginning of the year. Hitting good, just waiting for the scoring to come back,” said Jazz.
“I haven’t seen my coach Pete Cowen much. I saw him in Dubai but that was a while ago, and I saw him at the British Masters, and he is here this week with G-Mac [Graeme McDowell] so it has been really great, as obviously it’s just me and G-Mac so I can have as much time with him as possible.”
The 2019 Asian Tour number one was in impressive form: he made nine pars on the front and toured the back nine in four under with birdies on 10, 11, 14 and 16.
“We are just getting back to what we were doing in 2019.Working out why I was swinging it great in 2019 and what I am doing now. It’s really hard to explain. It’s a lot of small things. It’s like one of those games when you have a picture and you have to spot the small things. But mostly it’s timing. When you don’t see your coach for a while you just start getting lose.”
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Last year’s top ranked player on the Asian Tour Kim three putted 18 for a bogey to slip back into the pack but he was content with his round considering the foreign conditions.
Said the 19 year old: “It was great. I actually had some hard situations that I made par with. Obviously, it would have been nice to have two putted 18. It’s just the first round, I have a lot of golf to play. Leading after the first round doesn’t mean I am going to lead on Sunday. It got really cold out there in the afternoon, so it was tough, especially over the last six holes. It is the kind of situation we don’t normally have in Asia, but I think I adapted really well.”
American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.
Kim said: “Man, I pretty much made the best out of my round. Not really that good off the tee, but I just grinded – and made some decent putts.
“I made some bombs today, so that kind of kept my round going. I’ve got to get some work in after lunch and see how it goes.”
Ratchanon, who started on 10, made an incredible start with two birdies either side of an eagle in his opening three holes. That eagle came as a result of a stunning drive and thee-wood followed by a chip-in.
NEWCASTLE-ENGLAND-Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 yr old amateur golfer of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
But a couple of loose drives at his 12th and 14th holes saw three strokes go and there was another mistake at the last.
He said: “Ball-striking was pretty bad. I’ve hooked three of my drives that have cost me four strokes. On three, it was probably so unlucky – it just went right in the trunk of the tree. Then five, an easy par four, I pulled it into the water. And the last hole – on nine. I definitely need to change up five and nine. I might even try my back-up driver!”
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, came in with a 70.
The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs, the region’s biggest support of junior golf, has called a £20,000 donation from this week’s first-ever International Series England tournament as “game-changing” and confirmed that it will allow them to expand its coaching programmes for under-18s for the next five years.
The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs (NUGC) received the massive sum as a thank you from the Asian Tour event for the incredible work the county does in helping young golfers develop their talents.
The Union comprises over 40 golf clubs from Magdalene Fields (Berwick) in the North to Tynemouth in the South, from whom they are solely supported by an annual £5 levy paid by approximately 15,000 members that make up these clubs.
Although that may sound considerable, on a national scale it makes Northumberland one of the smaller golfing counties in England, meaning there is very little discretionary spend available for coaching or training for young golfers.
Run by its management team of local lads Mark Laverick, Simon Coultas, Phil Ridden and Graham Forrest, the central goal of the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs is to create a culture of improvement and a pipeline of high-class local boys capable of competing nationwide.
During the four years of their stewardship, the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs boys have achieved incredible results: in 2021, they were victorious in the Northern Counties Boys Championship for the first time in 28 years. This ensured their passage to the English County Finals, where they again emerged triumphant, becoming Boys Champions for the first time in history.
Now, thanks to the sizeable donation from this week’s history-making event, the NUGC has the chance to build on its success story and create an enduring legacy for junior golf in this region.
HEXHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: David Rollo and Mark Laverick pose with a cheque displaying a donation from The Asian Tour to Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs Juniors ahead of the International Series England at Slaley Hall on June 01, 2022 in Hexham, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Graham Forrest, men’s captain of the NUGC , said: “Too often the north-east of England is forgotten about, particularly in golf terms. This financial input, together with the substantial time put in by many County administrators, could help establish Northumberland junior golf at the forefront of the sport nationally for many years to come.”
David Rollo, COO of the Asian Tour said: “It is our immense honour to hand this cheque over to the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs. Wherever we take these events, it is vital to us that their impact is being felt within golf from grassroots level up.
“The work Mark, Simon, Phil and Graham have done over the last four years at the NUGC has been incredible to learn about and we wish them and all their young golfers every success for the coming years.”
Thailand’s Kasidit Lepkurte says he has struggled to make the cut on the Asian Tour since turning professional in 2015 but that did not show today as he upstaged a strong field to take the clubhouse lead early on day one of the inaugural International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle.
He shot a four-under-par 67 to lead the field after the morning session was finished – in what is the ninth event of the season on Asian Tour
India’s Viraj Madappa and Jaco Ahlers from South Africa sit in second following 68s, while Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, Prom Meesawat, and Pawin Ingkhapradit and Australian Travis Smyth returned 69s.
“I am very happy,” said Kasidit, who plays mainly on the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.
“I hit 14 greens in regulation and missed the fairway on two holes: number nine and 18. It is my first time to come to UK, I like the weather, I like this course, it is very beautiful. It’s a bit cold but I am fine with it.”
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Viraj Madappa of India pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Madappa challenged for honours in the GS Caltex Maekyunng Open in Korea last month and remains in good form.
“I have been playing well; the last event in Korea I was in contention until the last few holes on Sunday. I have been feeling good about my game, it is coming around,” said the Indian, who made four birdies in a row from the 10th.
He added: “I actually went to see my coach, who I had not seen for a year because of the pandemic. My coach is Laurence Brotheridge – he works out of Leeds. I flew out for the Mixed events in Thailand in April from Leeds where he is based. He was able to come down yesterday as well. I have been working with him for two years. We have mainly been working on set up. I feel if you get the set up right there is nothing much more you need.”
American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.
Kim said: “Man, I pretty much made the best out of my round. Not really that good off the tee, but I just grinded – and made some decent putts.
“I made some bombs today, so that kind of kept my round going. I’ve got to get some work in after lunch and see how it goes.”
Ratchanon, who started on 10, made an incredible start with two birdies either side of an eagle in his opening three holes. That eagle came as a result of a stunning drive and thee-wood followed by a chip-in.
NEWCASTLE-ENGLAND-Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 yr old amateur golfer of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
But a couple of loose drives at his 12th and 14th holes saw three strokes go and there was another mistake at the last.
He said: “Ball-striking was pretty bad. I’ve hooked three of my drives that have cost me four strokes. On three, it was probably so unlucky – it just went right in the trunk of the tree. Then five, an easy par four, I pulled it into the water. And the last hole – on nine. I definitely need to change up five and nine. I might even try my back-up driver!”
England’s Steve Lewton is thoroughly enjoying the rare and unique opportunity of playing an Asian Tour event on home soil this week at the International Series England – which is in stark contrast to when he played in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup in Thailand in April.
Lewton, who has played on the Asian Tour with success for the past decade, was rushed to hospital in Pattaya during the first round with heart palpitations.
“I had been kind of feeling a bit rough on the Wednesday afternoon and woke up Thursday feeling like I had been hit by a bus. I did a COVID test which was negative so went and played. During the round my heart started going,” said the Englishman.
“I had to go straight to hospital. Got checked out and was fine. I came back to England, and they said I was absolutely fine, and could keep playing.”
The startling turn of events stemmed from Lewton having Supraventricular Tachycardia, better known as SVT, which he normally gets twice a year with it lasting about five seconds each time.
“They think I had COVID – despite testing positive – and that made it [SVT] worse,” added the 39-year-old from Northampton.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- L-R- Steve Lewton of England, Ratchanon Chantanauwat, amateur golfer of Thailand and Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured at a press conference on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ahead of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event, 2nd – 5th June 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
To the relief of everyone, Lewton made a full recovery and was back on the Asian Tour in May competing in the Diamond Cup – where he was very happy to finish in the top 15.
“They said most people live with this so it was great to get the all clear but I will still be getting some more professional advice about,” he says.
The convenience and comfort of being able to play at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, situated just outside Newcastle, this week is also a huge bonus.
He adds: “It’s weird only having to drive a few hours up the road to play rather than having a long commute, which makes a nice change. And long may it continue. It is a great privilege for us to have an event here.”
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Steve Lewton of England pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ahead of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event, 2nd – 5th June 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
After a stellar amateur career, which saw him play for the prestigious North Carolina State University Lewton, he turned professional in 2008 and after a brief spell on the European Tour he decided to try his hand on the Asian Tour.
“I chose Asia as I felt it was the next best step for me at that point in my career. For me it was a way of trying to progress,” says Lewton, who is one of 17 Englishmen playing this week.
Having won in Asia, at the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, and recorded a multitude of impressive finishes it has proved to be the correct decision – rewarded by being able to welcome his Tour of choice to his homeland this week.
American Sihwan Kim, currently riding high on top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit after two wins, says he is not taking anything for granted as he continues to enjoy the finest season of his career.
“Golf is a funny game,” said Kim, who turned professional in 2011 but had been winless until this year.
“I won twice this year in four weeks, but I still worry about the same things that I did before I won, so it has not really changed me that much in that sense. It is still a tough game, and I don’t take anything for granted but the aim is always to win.”
Sihwan Kim competes in this week’s International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, just outside Newcastle – an event that marks the Asian Tour’s first ever trip to the UK.
He added: “It is a very fickle game. I am just trying to enjoy it as much as I can because you don’t know when it is going to go away. I am enjoying it but when golf goes south, I don’t think anyone enjoys it. When part of my game is bad, I try to work on it, and I know it is going to get better and you just keep on grinding.
NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured at a clay pigeon shooting range with chief Instructor Ian Moir of England on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ahead of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event, 2nd – 5th June 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“As I have said many times before, you have got to get lucky to win. It always comes down to the last one or two shots and when you get that lucky break that’s all that you need. In the years before I didn’t have that, I kind of got unlucky bounces here and there.”
The 33 year old is no stranger to playing in the UK having competed on the European Tour and Challenge Tour over the past 10 years, although it is his first time at Slaley Hall.
“It [Slalely Hall] is good, some holes are a little funky,” said Kim, who had a go on Slaley Hall’s clay pigeon shooting range today.
“You can’t hit driver, you’ve gotta hit two iron from the tee and have a four or three iron into the green. But other than that, the course looks good. The cold conditions mess with my yardage a little bit. When it’s cold and damp the ball doesn’t travel as far.”
The American has been trying to fix a fault with his tee shots.
“My putting is good, but my tee shots are a little wayward, I am trying to figure that one out a little bit. My irons are okay, if I get my tee shots worked out, I will be ok,” he said.
“I don’t know what’s happening with the driver but been trying to figure that out for the last four or five weeks. Not hitting it as good as I did in Black Mountain for the International Series Thailand.
“I am mainly fanning it right but if I try and prevent that and compensate it goes left obviously but my miss is kind of a fan right. When it really matters, that can’t happen.”
Sihwan Kim has been paired with Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat and Scott Hend from Australia, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, for the first two rounds and starts tomorrow at 7.02am.
Scott Hend competes in the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort this week after a promising performance in the Netherlands that suggests his game may be on the mend following poor health, that even included contracting COVID-19 last week.
The Australian, winner of 10 events on the Asian Tour and the 2016 Order of Merit title, was one off the lead after round three at the Dutch Open last week before finishing in a tie for 14th.
It was a standout week in complete contrast to a season that has seen him miss the cut in all six events he has played in on the Asian Tour.
Hend has been fighting prostrate cancer for over a year, caught the flu a few weeks ago before picking up COVID-19 early last week.
“I have had a lot of injuries this year,” said Hend.
“It’s nice to turn the corner last week, and hopefully start to put some results together. Catching COVID last week wasn’t the perfect formulae, but we battled through it. I was lucky I could play because the only symptom I was showing was testing positive. Last six holes every day I was struggling because of a lack of energy. Hopefully we can play good again this week and have a good result.”
The Australian continues to battle prostate problems but has been making good progress.
Scott Hend last won on the Asian Tour in 2019. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It’s a work in progress, it’s a man problem. As you get older … prostate issues … something that I can control but I can’t control,” he said.
“For a year and a half, urinating blood and struggling to urinate on the golf course is obviously not ideal for playing good golf. I should have been operated on earlier. I had bad information from a specialist, but I saw another specialist and he said do it straight away as you are struggling. Having those sorts of things on your mind doesn’t help.
“It’s been really tough times and I have worked really hard to get back. Certain things became a little bit more important than others. From an outsider looking in you just think it is just someone playing bad golf but there is a lot more to it. Golf is a massive part of my life but so is living!”
Hend last won on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Maybank Championship and is now determined to get back on track.
“I want to start playing well again, I want to start winning again, I want to improve my world ranking, I want to compete against all these guys again and show them I can still play,” said the Australian.
“I want to finish my career with as many wins as I can. That’s why I am out here, to play and win trophies. I like to think I can be competitive this week and be up there on Sunday.”
Scott Vincent, a winner two days ago in Japan, has arrived in Newcastle for the inaugural International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, following a gruelling 24-hour flight from Tokyo, via Helsinki and Amsterdam, full of hope for more success despite that fact his golf clubs have yet to arrive.
“I’m feeling good but obviously I would love my clubs to be here but that’s not the case right now,” said the 30 year old Zimbabwean.
“We don’t know when they are due to arrive, but we’ll give them a call.”
He beat Australian Anthony Quail on the second extra hole to win the Mizuno Open and secure his third victory on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation. On a remarkable final day he started seven-shots behind overnight leader Quail but forced the tournament into overtime after firing a stunning seven-under-par 65, consisting of an eagle and five birdies.
He added: “It was a bit of a surprise because I was coming from so far behind. It was absolutely amazing, it kind of all worked in my favour. It was a great day, some really good golf and fun to get into a play off and come through with a win because I have been in many play offs that have not gone my way.”
Vincent was out early on Tuesday morning to walk the course saying he was “still on Tokyo time”.
He has played some golf in England and is fully aware of the challenges posed by the conditions.
Scott Vincent walked the course early on Tuesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I feel pretty good. I have just got to get used to the weather and England, it’s a completely different style of golf. I am excited to play, excited for the opportunity. It’s fun walking the course, seeing the different grasses and different shots we have to hit,” he said.
“I am not so sure about the wind and weather up here. I know it can get rainy and cold so got to prepare and get ready for that.”
Vincent has been playing on the Asian Tour since 2016 and has finished second on five occasions while it was in Japan last year that he broke through with wins in the Sansan KBC Augusta and ANA Open.
He is the first golfer from his country to play in the Olympics and the World Cup.
The West welcomes the East this week, when the International Series England is played at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, just outside Newcastle, in England – marking the first time the Asian Tour has staged an event in the UK.
It’s a seismic development for the Asian Tour and the significance of the week has not been lost on the Tour’s membership.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for the Asian Tour players,” said Gaganjeet Bhullar – the most successful Indian on the Asian Tour with nine victories.
“As you know, in the past we have of course played in Switzerland, but I think playing in the UK is going to be a great experience. I’ve played a lot of golf on the European Tour in the UK, but, you know, playing on the Asian tour and representing our Asian Tour flag on the UK soil, I think that’ll be great. And it’ll be a great boost for all the youngsters, all the people who are getting ready to move on to the next level.”
The furthest west the Tour has been before was for the Omega European Masters, when it was joint sanctioned with Europe, but the trip to Newcastle is a more significant move, especially as it will be a full-field Tour event.
Bjorn Hellgren predicts low scores this week.
Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, who is playing his first season in Asia, says: “I have played quite a few tournaments in this part of the world, but I have not played this golf course. But seeing pictures of the course, looking at the conditions, I think it’s going to be a fair setup. We would definitely expect a lot of low numbers. Of course, in the UK, it depends a lot on the weather actually.
“So, depending if you’re on the good side of the draw, if we get to see some sun, then definitely the boys are ready to take on the best players in the world. So definitely, I’m really, really excited.”
Also playing this week are 51 Tour winners and one of the newest winners’ is Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who claimed The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March.
“For me, it’s amazing, the Asian Tour is going to have an event in England!” said the 25-year-old who is also a rookie on the Asian Tour.
“I’ve never been to England before. It’s going to be awesome and it’s a US$2 million purse, it’s a lot. So, I’m just going to have fun. I mean, I never expected that the Asian Tour was going to be in Europe, because it is the Asian Tour. I don’t know how to say it, but for me I am so excited to play.
“I think it is great that we are playing in UK. The DP World Tour are playing on different continents including Asia, so it is great that Asian Tour are able to host in UK. When I heard the rumours about the International Series going to UK I got real excited.”
Nitithorn Thippong is making his first trip to the UK. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Nitithorn represents one of 29 nationalities competing this week in what is the Asian Tour’s newest destination, set in 1,000 acres of Northumberland moorland and forest, on a golf course known as the Augusta of the North.
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