Matteo Manassero opens with stunning 62
Matteo Manassero rekindled some of the magic from his glory days to take the first-round lead today at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The Italian shot a sizzling eight-under-par bogey-free 62 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in what is the opening event of the Asian Tour’s 2022-23 season.
England’s Sam Horsfield, Adri Arnaus from Spain, Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita plus Americans Bubba Watson and Harold Varner III carded 64s.
Newly crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim from Korea, Americans Dustin Johnson, the defending champion, and Matthew Wolff, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Indian Shiv Kapur, and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann came in with 65s.
KAEC-SAUDI-ARABIA – Joohyung Kim of Korea, left and Dustin Johnson of the USA pictured on the 16th green, Thursday, February 3, 2022 during round one of the US$ 5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The event is staged from February 3-6, 2022, at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Matteo Manassero has struggled with his game over the past 10 years, following a brilliant start to his career as a teenager, but today’s performance in the star-studded US$5 million event suggests better days are ahead.
He toured the front nine in six-under-par 29 with six birdies before two birdies on the homeward stretch.
“It was one of those days in which everything was going my way,” said the Italian.
“I was playing really solid, giving myself a lot of birdie chances, a lot of really short ones, as well. So just got the round going and just felt comfortable. That’s the right word, I guess.”
The 28-year-old’s last big win came in 2013 at the BMW PGA Championship – which was his fourth success on the DP World Tour in the space of three years.
He also won the Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club in 2012, when the event was jointly sanctioned with the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour.
He added: “I’m curious to see what 2022 has for me. I worked really well, and I’m happy with the work I’ve done. Obviously, it started really good. There’s going to be some lows, there’s going to be some ups, but I’m ready for it and see what happens.”
Joohyung Kim, paired with Johnson – the winner of this event in 2019 and 2021 – also made a fine start despite some nerves early on.
“I think I had some nerves in the first couple holes. You saw that roller coaster ride. But got into a good mindset. I felt calm after a couple holes, and obviously I know I was birdieing. Just stuck in there, and yeah, great round,” said the Korean.
The 19-year-old rising star secured the Merit list last month by winning the Tour’s penultimate event, The Singapore International, before tying for second in the SMBC Singapore Open.
“I hope the TV got my smiles because I was having the time of my life. It was awesome playing with those guys, and just a great experience,” he added.
“I told myself there’s a reason I’m playing with these guys, and I know I worked really hard to get to this point. I prepped really well this week, and I just told myself just be confident and don’t be afraid and just hit your shots, and I think that’s what I did.”
KAEC-SAUDI-ARABIA – Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Thursday, February 3, 2022 during round one of the US$ 5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The event is staged from February 3-6, 2022, at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Phachara began his round on hole 10 and impressively made six birdies in a row from the 14th to move into contention.
He said: “I feel I am very close to everything coming together. Maybe I need to work more on my fitness and consistency, but everything feels good. It’s a good start and I am excited to start the season this way.”
The brilliant 22 year old won the Laguna Phuket Championship at the end of last year for his maiden win on the Asian Tour, before finishing the season fourth on the Merit list.
His countryman Sadom Kaewkanjana, winner of the Singapore Open, fired a 68 and is in a tie for 32nd.
World number five Dustin Johnson will bid for a hat-trick of victories in the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers this week facing what he feels is “probably the best field they’ve had”.
The American, who is competing in just his second event of the year, is the defending champion, having been victorious last year, while he also won in 2019 and was runner-up in 2020.
The US$5 million event is the opening event of the season on the Asian Tour and tees-off tomorrow at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
“Well, I mean, this year is no different than any other year,” said the 37 year old.
“Absolutely I’m going to try to do everything I can to put myself in a position to have a chance to win come Sunday. Yeah, obviously the field keeps getting better and better every year, so it gets a little harder and harder to win the trophy.
“They’ve done a great job with this event and keep bringing a lot of world-class players in. I think this year is probably the best field they’ve had. It’s a lot of talent, a lot of really good golfers. It’s going to be a challenge.”
He’s been drawn with newly crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim, Korea’s 19-year-old star, in the first two rounds and compatriot Jason Kokrak.
KAEC-SAUDI-ARABIA – Dustin Johnson of the USA, defending champion, pictured on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 during the Pro-am event ahead of the US$ 5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The event is staged from February 3-6, 2022, at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Over 50 Asian Tour members are competing including six Asian Tour number ones.
Johnson is joined by a powerful contingent of Americans including Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the winner here in 2020, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, and Englishmen Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, and Ian Poulter, are also competing.
The stellar line-up means the tournament features the strongest field in the history of the Asian Tour and it is also one of the most lucrative in the Tour’s history.
Two-time Major winner Johnson made his first start of the year at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour finished in joint 25th place.
He said: “Last week was a good week, I felt like I played really solid. Difficult golf course, difficult conditions. Yeah, I felt like for my first week in a long time, the game held up quite nicely. Going into the last round on Sunday, I was kind of right in the middle of it. Played actually really well on Sunday, just scored really bad. Played better probably Sunday than I did any of the other days, but obviously shot a worse score. But that’s golf.”
When he won here in 2019 he finished 19 under, while last year he led the way 15 under.
“Obviously since the first year I came, I’ve liked the golf course,” he said.
“I’ve obviously done pretty well here the last three years, so I look forward to coming over here. It’s a tournament I enjoy playing. It’s a golf course I enjoy to play, and yeah, it’s a place that, I have a lot of good memories.”
The Asian Tour is aiming to stage 25 events this season, which will include the 10 new International Series tournaments announced yesterday.
LIV Golf Investments and the Asian Tour today unveiled The International Series and the 2022-23 destinations and prize purses for the ground-breaking series of 10 marquee international events announced in November 2021.
In what is the most significant development in the history of Asian golf and a boom for the global game, what is now to be known as The International Series will be integrated into the full 2022-23 Asian Tour schedule. The series will kick off in Thailand in March followed by visits to England, Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong and will feature prize purses ranging from US$1.5 to US$2 million per event.
Today’s announcement also saw the unveiling of the new brand, name, and logo as well as an increase in the lucrative and unprecedented investment into the Asian Tour from US$200 million to US$300 million further solidifying LIV Golf Investments dedication to the global game. As one of the biggest investments in the history of professional golf, The International Series will support playing opportunities and prize funds for the 10 events to be played every season over the next decade. It has been designed to drive greater engagement amongst fans, attract new commercial interest and to help stabilize professional golf following a sustained period of worldwide disruption and uncertainty.
“We are on the threshold of a new era for Asian golf,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour. “The International Series is a new upper-tier of elite events, the likes of which the region has not seen before, that will mark the start of a phenomenal period of growth for the Asian Tour. It also signifies the beginning of our relationship with our new strategic partner LIV Golf Investments and its CEO Greg Norman.”
“Importantly, The International Series will add to the Asian Tour’s backbone of established events to comprise a 25-event season, expected to represent a record-breaking combined prize-fund. Each of the 10 events will be broadcast live across the globe, with plans to attract an international field of headline talent.”
KAEC-SAUDI-ARABIA – LIV Golf Investments announce the 10 event The International Series, from left right, Greg Norman, CEO LIV Golf and Asian Tour No 1 golfer, Joohyung Kim of Korea shake hands at a press conference ahead of the US$ 5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The event is staged from February 3-6, 2022, at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
In October last year, Greg Norman, was announced as CEO of LIV Golf Investments – a newly formed company whose purpose is to holistically improve the health of professional golf on a truly global scale to help unlock the sports’ untapped worldwide potential. PIF, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with a diverse international investment portfolio, is the majority shareholder in LIV Golf Investments.
“We are setting the Asian Tour up as a powerful new force on the world golf stage,” said Norman. “In my 40 years as a professional golfer, I’ve seen many parts of the world that have benefitted tremendously from golf and its growth and development. We now have the opportunity to do that in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East with this incredible investment platform. Everyone benefits – professional players, amateurs, grassroots golf, fans, economies, communities, stakeholders. I’ve never been so optimistic about the future of the sport.”
The widely acclaimed Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, will host The International Series Thailand March 3-6, boasting a prize purse of US$1.5 million, before London stages the next event at Centurion Club from June 9-12, offering a US$2 million purse. The second half of the year will see stops in Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia before heading to the Middle East and then culminating in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
The announcement comes on the eve of the Asian Tour’s new season with the US$5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers starting on Thursday at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. With six out of the top-20 players in the world competing – including Americans Dustin Johnson, the 2019 and 2021 champion, and Bryson Dechambeau – as well as over 50 of the Asian Tour’s most prominent players, the star-studded event is the strongest field in the history of the Asian Tour. The tournament, which is not part of The International Series, also offers one of the Asian Tour’s most lucrative purses.
KAEC-SAUDI-ARABIA – Asian Tour and LIV Golf Investments announce The International Series. From left to right -Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, Greg Norman, CEO LIV Golf and Asian Tour No 1 golfer, Joohyung Kim of Korea. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season was recently completed and saw Joohyung Kim, Korea’s 19-year-old rising star, claim the coveted Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Speaking at today’s press conference, he said: “I have been fortunate to enjoy an amazing start to my professional career but for this to happen at the same time as the Asian Tour is going through such incredibly positive changes is a huge bonus for me, as well as for all the Asian Tour players.”
More details of The International Series events, and other Asian Tour tournaments this year, will be made available in due course.
By Spencer Robinson, Contributing Editor
Should Bio Kim bump into Shane Lowry at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club this week he could be forgiven for affording himself a wry smile … and a fleeting moment of nostalgia.
Korean Kim and Irishman Lowry are in the starting line-up at the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the opening leg of the Asian Tour’s 2022 season.
Although they barely know each other on a personal level, this will not be the first time that their paths have crossed.
Not that Kim expects the 2019 Open Championship winner to have vivid recollections of their encounters in a Ryder Cup-style contest between the finest male amateurs of Asia-Pacific and Europe almost 14 years ago.
The sixth edition of the Bonallack Trophy took place at Valderrama in Spain in the final week of April, 2008 with the host continent’s star-studded team spearheaded by Lowry and the English duo of Chris Wood and Danny Willett, then the world’s number one amateur and a Masters champion in the making.
For their part, Asia-Pacific hopes of an ‘away’ win were reliant on New Zealand standout Danny Lee and 17-year-old Korean Bio Kim.
While Lee had a week to forget, losing four of his five matches, Kim’s reputation soared on the back of a sterling performance that saw him claim 3½ points from a possible five.
Alongside unrelated compatriot Kim Yeong-su, Bio recovered from a one-down loss in their opening match to remain undefeated.
In two epic foursomes contests, the Kims followed up a first-day half against Willett and Wood by beating the Englishmen 2 & 1. Earlier on day two, they’d swept aside Lowry and Welshman Nigel Edwards 3 & 1 in the fourballs.
Not content with those efforts, Bio Kim went on to score a comprehensive 4 & 2 win over Lowry in the final-day singles.
Although Bio’s heroics proved in vain with Europe running out comfortable winners, the Korean, confidence boosted, returned to Asia where he pulled off a notable double, winning both the Korean Amateur and Japan Amateur titles.
The following year, Kim and Lowry both relinquished their amateur status. They’ve gone on to carve successful careers with multiple wins, Kim in Asia and Lowry in Europe.
While Kim recalls his sole Bonallack Trophy appearance with fondness, he’s typically modest and under-stated when discussing those clashes with Lowry.
Of his singles success, Kim said: “Europe had already won the trophy so I think Shane was going easy on me!”
Rather than reflect on past glories, Kim, now aged 31 and a father-of-two, is firmly focused on what lies ahead, starting with the Saudi International.
Following an impressive run of form that saw him conclude the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 campaign with four successive top-10s – Blue Canyon Phuket Championship (tied fourth); Laguna Phuket Championship (tied second); The Singapore International (seventh) and SMBC Singapore Open (tied ninth) – Kim is anxious to continue trending upwards.
“I’m looking forward to Saudi Arabia. I’ve never been to the Middle East so it’s a first for me and a special event for the Asian Tour,” said Kim, who placed seventh on the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 Order of Merit and has climbed to 216th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
“The Saudi International is a great opportunity for Asian Tour members to play with PGA Tour players. For me, I need to concentrate on my own game and play how I can – not try and play like Dustin (Johnson) or Bryson (DeChambeau),” added Kim, for whom collecting world ranking points is a priority as he plots a path back to the PGA Tour.
“At some point, I want to get inside the top-100 in the world ranking, qualify for the Majors and get back to the big-time on the PGA Tour,” said Kim, who admits he was unprepared for his first flirt with the PGA Tour after gaining a spot via qualifying school at the end of 2010.
In 2011, at the age of 20, he was the youngest member of the PGA Tour. Although he posted five top-25 finishes from 25 starts he finished 162nd on the Money List and lost his card.
“Looking back, I wasn’t ready mentally for the big stage. I was a little homesick and I couldn’t compete. Now I’m more settled and mature and would like to have another shot,” said Kim, who will consider attempting to regain his playing rights through the Korn Ferry Tour.
After his varied experiences as a teenage prodigy, Kim is better placed than most to comment on the remarkable exploits of his 19-year-old compatriot Joohyung Kim, the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 Order of Merit champion, and 14-year-old Thai Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, whose recent performances have catapulted them into the headlines.
Bio Kim said: “Joohyung is capable of getting to the very top. He’s got a fabulous tempo and rhythm to his swing and he doesn’t seem to get shaky or nervous. Nothing bothers him.
“For TK, I was surprised that he didn’t back off when playing with Paul Casey at the SMBC Singapore Open. It was impressive.
“They’re both more mature than I was when I was the same age as them. I was too hurried, wanting to get on Tour as soon as possible instead of spending enough time learning.”
Long touted as one of Asia’s brightest golfing prospects, it was just four months ago that Phachara Khongwatmai found himself languishing in 671st position in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Not that the phlegmatic Thai was too disturbed, writes Spencer Robinson, Contributing Editor
On the contrary. Having squeezed into the top-20 in a Japan Challenge Tour (Abema TV Tour) event at the start of October 2021, Phachara felt invigorated.
His game was starting to click into gear and he was looking forward to lining up in a handful of All-Thailand Golf Tour events on home soil and excited at the prospect of the Asian Tour resumption. As he’s emphatically proved, his optimism was well founded.
Heading into this week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the opening leg of the Asian Tour’s 2022 season, there’s a spring in Phachara’s step.
It’s easy to understand why. In the nine OWGR counting events in which he’s competed since that Japan Challenge Tour outing, Phachara has won three times (including his maiden Asian Tour triumph at the Laguna Phuket Championship), had a runner-up and third place finish and has not ended lower than tied 23rd.
It’s been a remarkable transformation for Phachara Khongwatmai, of whom there have been such high expectations since he burst onto the scene in 2013, winning the Singha Hua Hin Open when aged 14. He immediately turned professional and won twice on the Asian Development Tour in 2015.
Over the course of the next six years, victory on the Asian Tour eluded him, but his self-belief never wavered. “I never get discouraged and enjoy playing golf every time. It feels good to go out for a competition. I’m still aiming to win on the Asian Tour and I think I have a chance to win in the future,” said Phachara, prior to his belated Laguna Phuket breakthrough, before which he’d posted six runner-up finishes on the Asian Tour.
He’d also joined forces with famed compatriot Thongchai Jaidee to win the GolfSixes Cascais in Portugal in 2019, an unofficial money ranking team event on the European Tour.
Given Phachara’s recent upsurge, several respected golfing voices believe that 2022 could be the year that the Thai truly begins to fulfil the potential that was first identified nine years ago.
“I think he’s one of the most talented players on the Asian Tour,” said Korean Bio Kim, who played alongside Phachara in the last flight in the final round of the Laguna Phuket Championship.
“He’s a great all-round player. His chipping and putting are especially impressive,” said Kim, the third-round leader, who had to settle for a share of second place after being overhauled by Phachara at Laguna Phuket in the first week of December.
Like Kim, veteran television commentator Dominique Boulet has been impressed with what he’s seen of Phachara these past few months, prompting him to proclaim that the Thai has the ability to populate the upper echelons of the OWGR and challenge the best players in the world. “He’s got the game to be a top-10 player in the world,” opined Boulet.
Phachara himself recognises that these past few months have seen his stock rise considerably – along with widespread expectations on the golfer who will turn 23 in May.
“Right now it is my time … and I feel great,” said Phachara, following his long-awaited maiden Asian Tour triumph. “I feel very happy, and very excited for this win. I have been waiting for about six years,” he added.
Building on his fourth-place finish in the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 Order of Merit standings is now uppermost in Phachara’s mind as he looks to elevate his game – and career – to the next level.
Where better to start that process than the PIF Saudi International where he’ll have a chance to assess his recent progress when he faces off with many of the world’s foremost players, including Major champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson.
It’s the perfect time for Phachara to make a major statement.
The cream of the Asian Tour will compete in next week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers with six Asian Tour number ones and over 50 Asian Tour players, boasting hundreds of Tour titles between them, competing in the season-opening event on the 2022 Asian Tour.
Jooyhung Kim, the 19-year-old rising star from Korea, who secured the 2020-21 Asian Tour Order of Merit title at the weekend, after finishing joint second in the SMBC Singapore Open, will lead an impressive line-up which includes former Merit list champions Thongchai Jaidee from Thailand (2001, 2004, 2009), his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Shubhankar Sharma from India (2018), Malaysia’s Gavin Green (2017), and Australian Scott Hend (2016).
The PIF Saudi International will be played at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from February 3-6 and will feature the strongest field ever assembled for an Asian Tour event.
Americans Dustin Johnson – the defending champion and 2019 winner – Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele, all in the top-10 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), are competing as well as six-time Major champion Phil Mickelson from the United States, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the 2020 winner, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, and England’s Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, and Ian Poulter, among others.
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during round three, Sarturday January 22, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
The PIF Saudi International will also be one of the most lucrative in the Tour’s history with a purse of US$5 million.
The top-30 players from the Final Asian Tour Order of Merit booked their tickets to Saudi although Kim is actually exempt through a category for the top-300 on the OWGR. This also applied to Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who claimed the SMBC Singapore Open to finish in second place on the Merit list, and Phachara Khongwatmai, Korean Bio Kim, Australian Wade Ormsby plus Jazz and Sharma.
The Asian Tour resumed play at the end of last year, following a 20-month break caused by COVID-19, with back-to-back events in Phuket.
Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei, also playing in Saudi, was victorious in the first of those, the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, while the following week Phachara lifted the Laguna Phuket Championship trophy.
The Tour completed its end of season events in Singapore this month with Joohyung Kim winning The Singapore International, a week before Sadom’s success in Singapore’s National Open.
A number of Asian Tour players received invites to the tournament including Thongchai, his countryman Prom Meesawat and Filipinos Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Saturday December 4, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Another of the invites is Thailand’s 14-year-old golfing wonderkid Ratchanon Chantananuwat. The amateur sensation, nicknamed “TK”, nearly won The Singapore International, before finishing in third place.
Singapore’s Koh Dengshan also earned a berth in the elite field in the Saudi International by being the top local player at the SMBC Singapore Open.
As the 2020/21 Asian Tour campaign reached its delayed culmination at Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday evening, there were celebrations aplenty after the return to action.
After many months of Covid-19 related postponements and cancellations, Commissioner Cho Minn Thant and his Asian Tour team could reflect on a successful return to action, first with the two-event Phuket Series late last year before the Singapore climax this past fortnight.
There was widespread cheer, too, among the Asian Tour membership, the majority simply thankful for the return to action and to be back on the fairways and the chance to earn a living.
Leading the way was Sadom Kaewkanjana, who was basking in the warm glow of his accomplished victory in the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open.
There was also justified joy for Joohyung Kim, although he didn’t disguise his disappointment at what he clearly deemed to be a below-par closing round over The Serapong.
Seven days after a dramatic play-off win in The Singapore International, 19-year-old Kim finished joint runner-up at the SMBC Singapore Open. Back-to-back wins may have eluded him, but he was, nonetheless, able to toast a remarkable rise that has seen him crowned the second youngest Order of Merit champion in Asian Tour history.
Furthermore, Kim’s performance at Sentosa has earned him a starting spot in The 150th Open, to be staged at St Andrews from July 14-17 – a date that will also already be etched into the diaries of 23-year-old Sadom, Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa and American Sihwan Kim.
Like Sadom and Joohyung Kim, it will be a maiden Open appearance for Katsuragawa and Sihwan Kim, who were tied second and solo fourth respectively at the SMBC Singapore Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series.
Despite an abbreviated season, there was no shortage of incentives among those in the starting line-up at Sentosa.
Among them there was the race to finish as the leading Singaporean, an honour that was bestowed upon Koh Deng Shan, who signed off with a 73 to tie 60th, crucially ahead of Mitchell Slorach and Nicklaus Chiam, the two other home players to make the cut.
As the top local player, Koh booked himself a potentially lucrative pay-off – a place in the field for next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The opening event on the Asian Tour’s 2022 season, the Saudi International will be played at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 3-6.
SINGAPORE- Koh Deng Shan of Singapore pictured during round three, Saturday January 15, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Given that it will feature many of the world’s best male players and offer a juicy purse of US$5 million, no wonder the Saudi International was on the minds of many in the Sentosa field, aware that the top-30 on the final Asian Tour Order of Merit would qualify.
In the end, US$49,432.97 proved to be the magic number that secured 30th spot for Suradit Yongcharoenchai.
He’ll have plenty of familiar faces alongside him at Royal Greens with no fewer than 11 Thais making the Asian Tour’s top-30 with eight in the top-15.
Reflecting the continued cosmopolitan nature of the Asian Tour, eight nationalities were represented in the top 30 – Korea and the United States (both five players), Australia and India (three apiece) and Canada, Chinese-Taipei and England one each.
Those who did not qualify for the Saudi event may have missed out on what will be a memorable week, but at least they can look forward to a full schedule this year, and what promises to be the biggest season in the Tour’s history.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana secured the biggest title of his fledging career today when he won the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club.
Sadom, the joint-overnight leader, fired a composed bogey-free 69 on the Serapong Course to finish on 13 under and beat Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa and Joohyung Kim from Korea by three strokes.
Katsuragawa returned a 68 while Kim wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after signing for 69.
Sihwan Kim, who started the day sharing the lead, carded a 73 to take fourth place.
All four players booked their tickets to this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews as this week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.
Sadom produced another inspired level of golf today that confirmed his status as one of hottest young golfers in the region and a star of the future.
The 23 year old was never really challenged on an extremely hot day. After Sihwan Kim made bogey on the first Sadom took the outright lead and did not look back. Birdies on six and seven saw him move three ahead and he calmly parred his way home and enjoyed the comfort of a three-shot lead playing 18.
He picked up a cheque for US$225,000 and finished the year in second place on the Merit list, with US$378,972.
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
The victory continued Sadom’s remarkable recent run of form: in the final three months of last year, he won five times in Thailand, including the Thailand Open.
He’s won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open –which saw him become the fastest Qualifying School graduate to win on Tour as it was his first start after graduating.
“This is amazing, it wasn’t easy,” said Sadom, who was also bogey free on Saturday.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, especially over the last two years. This is a great way to start the year. I hope it’s the start of a great year.”
Joohyung Kim, aged 19, fought hard to catch him but it was not to be his day.
He said: “Just trying to grind it out. It’s too bad, I felt like I had a shot, but obviously I couldn’t be so aggressive because just knowing that I had The Open on the line as well. I just tried to play through my game and I felt like I didn’t have my 100% today and it’s pretty disappointing. But we learn, and hopefully just come back stronger.”
He becomes the second youngest winner of the coveted Merit title after compatriot Seungyul Noh – who was also 19 when he won in 2010 but he is a month younger.
The tournament’s star player, Paul Casey from England produced his best performance of the week by shooting 66 to tie for 16th, while Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat closed with a 71 to finish equal 34th.
Koh Dengshan ended as the leading Singaporean after coming in with a 73 to tie 60th.
SINGAPORE- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand, middle left, and Joohyung Kim of Korea walk up the fairway during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
By being the top local player, he booked his place in the field for next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The Asian Tour commences its 2022 season at the US$5 million Saudi event, which will be played at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 3-6.
The top-30 players from today’s final Merit list have qualified for the event.
SINGAPORE- Yuto Katsuragawa of Japan pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Korean teenager Joohyung Kim completed the finest season of his career today by wrapping up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after finishing joint second at the SMBC Singapore Open, the final event of the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season.
After earning US$108,125 at Sentosa Golf Club he topped the list with earnings of US$507,553 having played in all eight events on the schedule.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana impressively won Singapore’s National Open to jump into second place on the list, on US$378,972.
“I didn’t know it was going be this fast, but I think it’s still sinking in. I don’t know when it’s going to sink in. But you know, definitely very happy with it,” said Kim.
SINGAPORE- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured during round four, Sunday January 23, 2022, at The SMBC Singapore Open on the Serapong Course, Sentosa Golf Club. The US$1.25 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 20-23, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
He is the second youngest winner of the Merit title after compatriot Seungyul Noh – who was also 19 when he won in 2010 but he is a month younger.
Last week, 19-year-old Kim took over stop from Australian Wade Ormsby on the Merit list after winning The Singapore International at Tanah Merah Country Club.
It has been a sensational end to a season full of impressive results. The Korean ended joint second in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of last year, and he also recorded two fourth place finishes.
Today’s success cements his position as one of the most exciting teenagers in the world of golf. In 2019 after earning a battlefield promotion from the Asian Development Tour by claiming three events, the teen titan made an instant impact by winning in just his third start on the Asian Tour at the Panasonic Open in India.
That made him the second youngest professional to win on the Asian Tour at 17 years and 149 days – Noh again being the youngest having won the 2008 Midea China Classic at the age of 17 years and 143 days.
Kim will look to impress at next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
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