Mr Lu’s Open
The Open Championship tees-off at Royal St George’s on Thursday ‒ much to the delight of the golfing world, as the event was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Surprisingly, still no player from Asia has improved upon the second-placed finish by Chinese Taipei’s Lu Lianghuan in 1971, at Royal Birkdale. We look back at what was one of the stand-out Opens, thanks to the performance of the man popularly known as “Mr Lu”.
When China’s Haotong Li stormed through the field on the final day of The Open in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, threatening to become the first Asian to win the Claret Jug, Chinese-Taipei’s greatest golfing hero Lu Lianghuan ‒ likely watching at home, in Taipei ‒ perhaps thought his second-place finish in the 1971 Open, remarkably played at the same venue, was about to be finally matched or surpassed.
The region has been waiting a long time for an Asian player to win The Open, and even Lu would have welcomed seeing a name from this region being inscribed on golf’s most recognisable trophy.
However, as impressive as Li’s closing seven-under-par 63 was it was only good enough to secure him third place, and leave him six shots behind the impressive champion, American Jordan Spieth.
Photo by Getty Images.
Once again, Lu’s best-ever performance by an Asian in the Open record remained firmly intact.
With Asian golf continuing to make great strides forward, his result may be beaten someday soon – although the intricacies of links golf might possibly delay the process further.
And the fact that Lu’s week was so memorable, for a variety of reasons, makes it worthy of a record lasting longer.
The 1971 Open was the 100th Open and saw Lee Trevino from the United States win the Claret Jug for the first time and, following triumphs at the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open, completed a unique hat-trick of victories within only four weeks.
Lu had been a professional since 1955, playing on the Asian Golf Circuit (as the Asian Tour was called then) and in Japan, and had played in The Open only once before.
His pork pie hat caught the eye, especially as he kept politely tipping its brim to the packed galleries. He had only bought the hat a few days before the tournament because, as he would later explain: “I like round hats. And I hate the sun shining on my neck.”
The 34-year-old, affectionately known by then as “Mr Lu”, quickly became a firm fan favourite, along, of course, with the charismatic and chatty Trevino.
The American star shared the lead on each of the first two days and led by one from Lu and Englishman Tony Jacklin, the 1969 champion, going into the final round.
Trevino was in inspired form early on and made four birdies in the first six holes to lead by six at the turn.
Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images
However, Lu remained undeterred and bravely responded with birdies at the 13th and 15th holes before Trevino had a double-bogey seven at the 17th ‒ meaning the lead was down to one at the last.
Both made birdie on the last, but it was a traumatic finish for Lu as his second shot hit a female spectator on the head. Visibly distressed, he composed himself to take second.
“I feared for her,” Lu said. “I hit her really badly, but I went over and she said to me: ‘go on Mr Lu – get a birdie for me!’”
The concussed spectator, Mrs Lillian Tipping, was taken to hospital to receive several stitches and Lu went to check up on her afterwards. They stayed in contact, and he even invited her and her husband to stay at his hotel in Taipei years later, on offer they accepted.
Lu’s success did not stop at Royal Birkdale as the following week he won the French Open at Biarritz. It was all part of a phenomenal 1971 when he also won in Thailand and Japan.
Photo by Getty Images.
His Open heroics were also not over as in 1974 arguably Asia’s greatest golfer of the time tied for fifth at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
During an illustrious career he won the Asian Golf Circuit Order of Merit twice, in 1966 and 1967, and claimed nine titles in Asia and eight in Japan.
And, most noticeably, in 1972, he and countryman Hsieh Min-nan teamed up to win the World Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Chinese-Taipei’s sole victory in the event.
Having survived a bad bout of COVID, Anirban Lahiri is back on track and has a lot on his plate – the Olympics, his PGA Tour card and charity work. V. Krishnaswamy reports.
Anirban Lahiri once told me something, which seems to be the secret of his mental strength. He said there will always be something to chase – a world ranking, a title, a personal goal and so on. So, he said: “If I do right what is in front of me, the rest will follow.”
Nothing could be truer than that right now. Except that the list is longer now, but Lahiri is not shying away; neither from his challenges or his responsibilities – as an idol for young golfers, as a professional golfer trying to reach his goals and above all as a sympathetic human being for all around him.
Lahiri feels he has multiple things on his mind these days and it shall stay so for the next few weeks. Till a couple of weeks back, it was not just his form or the way his game was coming and going in patches, but also his recovery from COVID ‒ which at one point reached a scary stage ‒ and, of course, the need to secure his PGA Tour card for 2022.
Now he has additional things, which have also been his goals – the Tokyo Olympics, for which he got into the field almost at the eleventh hour. And, he is also involved in his personal charity work with Akshaya Patra, an organization which is doing some fine work, according to Lahiri.
On his charity work, Lahiri said: “Akshaya Patra is an organization that is doing great on-the-groundwork. One of the reasons I like it is because they’re doing a lot of work specifically for the migrant laborers, for kids whose parents are not around.”
Lahiri lines up a putt on the fourth green during the third round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 03, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
And, of course, at the back of his mind is that gnawing thought that he is yet to notch his maiden win on the PGA Tour, where he has played since 2016 The former Asian Tour number one last won in 2015, when he took the Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open in quick succession and rose to Top-50 in the world.
This week he played in the John Deere Classic [unfortunately, he missed the cut on Friday], and he will also play the Barbasol next week, because, as he said: “I will miss the 3M Open because of Olympics, so I added Barbasol to my schedule.” Then he will have Barracuda, which he may or may not play, and Wyndham to secure his 2022 playing rights.
Talking of the Olympics, which he also played in 2016, he said: “I think the biggest difference, about the Olympic is you don’t get anything for coming fourth. Anything other than a podium finish is not significant at the Olympics, though a T-4 at a PGA Tour event goes a long way in ensuring a lot of things on the PGA Tour.”
He added: “It’s more of all or nothing because that’s really what you are there for. Unlike in many other sports (outside of Olympics), in golf you can have a top 10, which is considered a good result, or you can have a top 25, which is called a decent result, but at the Olympics a top 25 means nothing and a top 10 could be equally insignificant.”
Though his PGA Tour card is not locked yet, Lahiri said that he could not even think of bypassing a chance to play for India at the Olympics. He said: “I know what an Olympic medal can do for Indian golf. I would not be able to forgive myself if I passed up a chance to try and get one [medal].”
Lahiri’s own struggles with COVID over the last two months were “scary”. On how his game has been on return from COVID, Lahiri, said: “My game is feeling quite good. This is probably the best I’ve felt since my bout with COVID. I think I had a lot of positives in the one week, and then last week also I played some good golf.”
Lahiri at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. / AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Sharing his COVID story and how he got it, Lahiri said: “It just so happened when my coach [Vijay Divecha] came in from India he tried to avoid exposing himself at the airport and he went to a friend’s house in Delhi when he was transiting (in early April). When he landed here and started work, the day after he landed, the friend he stayed with called us and said that he was not feeling well.
“Vijay unfortunately contracted the virus even though he was fully vaccinated; I kind of got it from him and so did my family, my wife. I think my daughter had it, too, though we didn’t test her because she’s only two.”
“I had a pretty serious bout with it. I had prolonged fever,” he added. He was even suspected of having COVID pneumonia. The chest X-rays were not very positive, and he was put on stronger and slightly different medication. When he had to go back to the hospital for a checkup, the fever was up to 104 on the ninth day and oxygenation had come down.
However, subsequent tests and chest Xrays ruled out COVID pneumonia, which was a relief for Lahiri as it could have impacted him seriously.
It took him two months to get to back on his feet and he lost all his muscle and almost 15 pounds. His wife, Ipsa, despite having Covid, drove him to hospital and took care of the family.
On his game as such, he added: “This week I’ve tried to work on some of those areas that needed a little bit of polishing, and I’m excited. I like the golf course. Weather is going to be nice and warm, which is something that I usually like.”
As for his tight schedule, Lahiri said: “After John Deere and then Barbasol next week, it will be Olympics. He added: “I will be in Japan for around seven and a half days – and back to the US.
He may play the Barracuda Championships and then the final event of the regular season at Wyndham.
“By then I hope I have done enough to get the card,” Lahiri added with a laugh. He is 119th and needs to stay inside Top-125 to keep his full status.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond grew up with dreams of putting on his goggles and competing for an Olympic medal in a swimming pool. A twist of fate will see him shoot for gold in the men’s golf competition instead later this month.
Jazz, the Asian Tour’s No. 1 in 2019, will line up alongside the world’s elite at Kasumagaseki Country Club on the outskirts of Tokyo from July 29 to August 1 where he and compatriot Gunn Charoenkul will make their Olympic debuts.
THOMASTOWN, IRELAND – JULY 01: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand plays his second shot on the second hole during Day One of The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet Golf Club on July 01, 2021 in Thomastown, Ireland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
“Growing up, not many people knew I swam a lot,” said Jazz. “My dad wanted me to become a swimmer. When I was between four to eight years old, I used to swim a few kilometres every day. It was crazy. Now I won’t even go into the water,” he added with a laugh.
The 25-year-old recalls how he and his father would watch the Olympics on TV, in particular the track and field events and swimming competition. American swimming legend Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals, was amongst the stars who caught his young eye back in the day.
“I would follow athletics and swimming and there was no golf back then,” said Jazz, who is now a six-time winner on the Asian Tour. “I used to watch Phelps dominate the pool, so it was a thing. The Olympics is the biggest stage for sports and it’s a huge priority for me.
“I don’t like to day-dream and I don’t say things like I want to win the Masters one day or The Open. I won’t day-dream except for the Olympics. The Olympics is different and I would often think what if I can win an Olympic medal. It’s so weird. I think it is the ultimate for sports.”
After others his age outgrew and outpaced him in the pool, Jazz tried football (soccer) but gave that up too after getting kicked and outmuscled. Golf came next when his father, a Thai judge, encouraged him to hit balls when he was eight. Bitten by the bug, Jazz became a golf prodigy and emerged as the youngest player at age 14 to make the halfway cut at an Asian Tour event in 2010. A day before he turned 15, he joined the professional ranks.
It was not a quick ascent though, as Jazz took a few years to adjust to life in the professional ranks. In 2016, he decided to spend a few months in a Buddhist monastery where he learned to become a monk – a ritual common amongst young Thais as a mark of respect to their parents. In February of 2017, he won the Bangladesh Open, crediting his first Asian Tour victory to his time in the monastery for the success.
Jazz entered monkhood in Chiang Rai for two weeks at the end of the 2016 season, becoming a disciple of Phra Maha Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi. Weeks later, he claimed his first Asian Tour title in Bangladesh.
“I prayed and chanted every day in the temple. I felt really peaceful. Golf used to be everything but now, I’m just happy I get to play in tournaments,” said Jazz, whose Sunday trademark is to wear an orange shirt which is the colour of a monk’s saffron.
By the end of 2019, he joined an illustrious list of famous Thai golfers including Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit following four wins before his momentum was halted by COVID-19.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand with his Asian Tour trophies at the 2020 Hong Kong Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
After showing glimpses of his best form with a second-place finish in Kenya and tied 11th in the British Masters earlier this year, Jazz knows there is so much to play for in the Tokyo Olympics. “I’m really happy to qualify. It’s been a long journey. We were aiming to play last year but we couldn’t. I’m just glad I finally made it,” he said.
“I’m excited to represent my country, and it’s an honour. I remember Thongchai and Kiradech sharing their experience after they came back from Rio de Janeiro and Kiradech played well that week (to finish fifth).
“We’ve got two from the men’s and women’s (Ariya Jutanugarn and Patty Tavatanakit), so four chances there to win a medal for Thailand. One of us need to have a good week to win a medal for our country. Golf is not like any other sport and you don’t need to be the best. You just need to have the right week. It would be mad to get a medal, it’ll be crazy if I do.”
Ends.
Udayan Mane has become the eighth player of the Asian Tour to earn a coveted place in the elite 60-man field for the upcoming summer Olympics ‒ which was announced yesterday by the International Golf Federation.
The Indian star had been on the reserve list but moved into the top-60 on the Olympic Ranking following the withdrawal of Argentine Emiliano Grillo.
“After being a certainty at one point last year, the rankings have been coming down and I couldn’t do much because I had no events to play. It was almost depressing, but I stuck to practice and workouts,” said the 30-year-old Bengalurean.
“I cannot help thinking about that last hole in the Delhi-NCR Open in March. I birdied the 72nd hole and managed a win and those points helped me make this team,” added Mane. “Even a second place would not have been enough.”
He was the leading Indian qualifier last year and seemed set to clinch a trip to Tokyo alongside countryman Rashid Khan, but then came the pandemic, the Olympic Games were postponed and their playing opportunities became fewer by the week.
“I had done what I could and it included a win in my last start which was in March this year after which I did not get a chance to play. Anirban is someone I have looked up to and to be with him in the team is indeed an honour,” Mane said.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – APRIL 04: Anirban Lahiri of India plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 04, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
India’s Anirban Lahiri, the Asian Tour’s 2015 Order of Merit winner, secured his spot in the Olympics a few weeks ago, also thanks to player withdrawals. Lahiri competed in Rio in 2016 and finished in 57th place.
The other Asian Tour players set to compete are: Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and Gavin Green from Malaysia ‒ who also played in Rio.
The Olympics start on July 23 with the golf tournament being played from July 29 to August 1, at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture.
Spaniard Jon Rahm topped the Olympic Ranking thanks to his sensational victory in the US Open at Torrey Pines last month.
Ends.
Of Thongchai Jaidee’s 20 victories worldwide perhaps the greatest was achieved on this day just five years ago at the Open de France ‒ which to add further weight to the week was celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The Thai star claimed his eighth title on the European Tour in a comfortable fashion that belied the quality of the field and overall enormity of what is one of Europe’s stellar events.
He was a picture of consistency over the weekend at Le Golf National (venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup), carding consecutive rounds of 68 to reach 11 under ‒ thanks to a run of 39 bogey-free holes ‒ and claiming a four-shot triumph over Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who carded the low round of the day with a 66.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was two shots further back in third place after a closing 71.
Thongchai came into the final day with a two-shot lead and extended that to five on three occasions as the chasing pack failed to put him under any great pressure and a closing bogey on the toughest hole on Tour in 2015 failed to take the gloss off a fine victory.
Thongchai celebrates his win during day four of the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
“I think this is the biggest tournament in my life. This golf course is fantastic for me, I’m really happy with that. Absolutely perfect,” said Thongchai, a three-time winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
He went about his business with the minimum of fuss and he rolled his third shot from the fringe to within tap-in range on the par five third and then birdied the sixth for the fourth time during the week as he put his approach to four feet before going on to birdie the 11th and 15th.
The cheque he received for €583,330 (US$690,814) was the most lucrative of his career and at the age of 46 years old he became the oldest winner in Open de France history, beating 2010 champion Miguel Angel Jiménez from Spain by 58 days.
“I’m very happy to have my family here this week together and also really happy to win the tournament here. I know the golf course is fantastic,” he added.
“I’ve been here many, many years and I think especially this week, it’s a special week for me to win the tournament out here. Sometimes you need one perfect week. You can’t do well every week. This week is my perfect week because I didn’t miss much. Anything I missed, I found I could lay up and make a good shot and make par and that’s it.”
The win was also his fourth European Tour victory in Europe, with his first four coming in Asia.
Thongchai completes his win at the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
By Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India.
Had the pandemic not struck last year and the Tokyo Games gone ahead as per schedule, Rashid Khan would have made his Olympic debut as India’s number one golfer. With a career-best world ranking of 176 at the start of 2020, the experience of turning out in Tokyo under the Indian tricolour would have been precious and the takeaway memories from Kasumigaseki Country Club priceless.
Khan’s build-up to the Games was the result of some solid golf and sound strategy. Making the most of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and solid results in Asian Tour events at home in 2019, Khan was India number one when the pandemic stalled events on the Asian Tour and PGTI in March last.
Given the enormity of the crisis, the Olympics got postponed. “I was in and ahead when the pandemic started, and they froze the OWGR points.”
The double whammy was the rustiness after the PGTI restarted in November last. Out of touch and trying to play catch up with fewer OWGR points on the PGTI took a toll on the world ranking of Khan and Udayan Mane, who were in a neck-and-neck race to seal Olympic berths when the virus struck. Both slipped out of the top-60 in the race to Tokyo, and that rankles for Khan.
Khan pictured during round three of the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship at Classic Golf and Country Club on September 14, 2019 in Gurgaon, India. (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
And when the Final Olympic Ranking was confirmed this week, Anirban Lahiri was the only Indian to make it through after securing 60th place in the 60-man field at the eleventh hour following several player withdrawals. Mane is in the que as one of the replacements.
“Why me, the person with the best feel should have made the Olympics,” said Khan.
Two wins on the Asian Tour and 10 on the PGTI, for someone as prolific as Khan picking up his first OWGR points after more than a year this February is a shocker and attributed to lack of touch. “When the feel goes, it is tough. With no tournaments, the circumstances have been disappointing,” he said.
Reliving childhood days
Not one to brood over a situation none had anticipated, Khan visited his village in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in May. When he arrived in Jagdishpur near Lucknow, the state capital, Lockdown 2 was in force, but Khan still carried his golf set. Earlier, trips to the ancestral home built by his grandfather were whirlwind visits; for the first time in 19 years he stayed more than a week, in fact two weeks.
Khan pictured with the winner’s trophy at the Chiangmai Golf Classic at Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai on November 16, 2014 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
It was a throwback, meeting friends and family and spending quality time over sessions of sequence (a card game). What stands out is visiting the small river that flows near the house every day and sitting on the bank for hours fishing. The icing to the cool experience was plucking mangoes from the family orchard and sharing them as the friends sat with their feet dipped in the river.
Despite the clubs travelling with him, golf was incidental, or “for fun” as Khan terms it. An empty rice field became a makeshift driving range. The weather pleasant, retrieving the balls was no problem as a bunch of wide-eyed children were always willing for the job. All clubs were tried out except the putter. For a man struggling to regain touch, putting on an uneven surface would have been detrimental.
What did work for Khan during the trip is his sleep pattern got regulated. “In the village everyone has dinner by 7.30pm and sleeps by 9 since there is nothing to do.” It contrasted with his hours in Delhi ‒ staying up till 1am and waking up around noon.
It’s been a month since Khan got back from holiday, but the pattern has held, and that’s a positive as the city unlocks and Khan gets back to full-fledged practice.
Thailand’s emerging golf star Gunn Charoenkul says his appearance in this summer’s Olympics will, surprisingly, mark the first time he has represented his country and that he plans to “aim high” and finish on the podium with a medal.
“During the early part of my career, when I was 16 or 17 years old, I never got a chance to get into the national team. So, this is the first time,” he said this week, after finishing in 52nd place on the Final Olympic Ranking ‒ which see the top 60 qualify for Tokyo 2020.
The 29 year old, who plays on both the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization, admitted that he could barely look at the Ranking at tournaments each week as he tried to maintain his focus and keep his position in the top 60.
“I felt the pressure, and I think that’s partly why I did not perform well in the past eight events. I tried not to think about it too much, tried not to think about my World Golf Ranking which determines your Olympic position,” he added.
“My goal is one of the medals, they are the only prize. You have to aim high, even though the top players are going to be there.”
Gunn will be joined at the XXXII Olympiad by compatriot Jazz Janewattananond and he will be one of seven Asian Tour players competing. At the Rio Olympics in 2016 ‒ when golf returned to the quadrennial event after an absence of 112 years ‒ Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat represented Thailand, with the latter impressively finishing joint fifth.
KASAOKA, JAPAN – MAY 30: Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during The Mizuno Open at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club on May 30, 2021 in Kasaoka, Okayama, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Appropriately, Gunn has been in Japan since March competing on the JGTO: he is currently 37th on Money List, and has only missed one cut in 11 starts in the 2020/2021 season, with a best finish equal eighth in the Dunlop Phoenix. He lines up in this week’s Dunlop SRIXON Fukushima Open.
“I never thought I would be home sick, but I am,” said Gunn, who plans to play the second half of the year on the JGTO after the Olympics ‒ which means he faces the prospect of not getting back to Thailand until December.
“I haven’t seen my family for four months. I could understand why Prom [Meesawat] did not come. He said he did not want to be away from his family that long. But these are exceptional times and the opportunity to play in the Olympics and more events in Japan helps outweigh the negatives.”
Despite what appear to be good performances this season, Gunn ‒ whose textbook golf swing is perfectly complemented by a calm demeanour ‒ has been disappointed with his form, which he says is partly because he is carrying an injury to his left thumb ‒ the unfortunate consequence of trying to hit the ball like American Bryson DeChambeau.
“I was trying to do some Bryson stuff last October. I was just trying to swing harder but the problem is my swing is really steep and the harder I swing the more I pull the head of the club, so it gets even steeper and puts a lot of strain on my thumb. I even had a shot of cortisone before my flight here in March,” he said.
“I am just going at things 70% right now. Anything longer than a six iron I cannot swing that hard. I don’t really know any therapist here. I know one but he is more like an acupuncture doctor. I went to see him over the last two weeks, and I did a couple of treatments but basically he said the best thing to do is rest.”
He has two more JGTO events before he can prepare for Tokyo 2020. A golf club have offered him their facilities to practice and play for a few weeks, after which he heads into the Olympic bubble.
HONG KONG, CHINA – JANUARY 12: Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand reacts during the final round of the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club on January 12, 2020 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Said Gunn: “I am really looking forward to being part of the Olympic village, soaking up the atmosphere and seeing other athletes, although it may be difficult with the restrictions ‒ I just heard the news that you cannot go and watch other sports. And I want to see the work ethic and routines of other athletes.”
He says he has not played Kasumigaseki Country Club, host venue for the Olympic golf event, before as they have not held events, but he has been doing some homework about the course by reading their website.
Added Gunn: “I feel ok now about things, but I think when I get to the village it will hit me. It will be amazing.”
An impressive total of seven players from the Asian Tour have finished in the top-60 on the Final Olympic Golf Ranking for Tokyo 2020, which starts on July 23.
Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines, and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent have all qualified for the first time while Gavin Green from Malaysia and India’s Anirban Lahiri have the distinction of making it through to their second Olympics.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 06: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand watches his shot from the third tee during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 06, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The men’s golf tournament will be played from July 29 to August 1, at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, as will the women’s event, the following week – from August 4 to 7.
Last week’s US Open was the last qualifying event (qualification was tied to the Official World Golf Ranking) and while the final list of qualifiers is due to be ratified by the players’ respective National Olympic Committees and published by July 6 this is expected to be a mere formality.
Spaniard Jon Rahm topped the Ranking thanks to his sensational victory in the US Open at Torrey Pines. Rahm became world number one and moved above Justin Thomas of the United States into the top position on the Olympic Rankings.
Americans finished second to fifth with Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, respectively. The United States is the only country with more than two qualifiers for the 60-player field.
In-form Hoshino placed 27th on the Ranking thanks to an inspired period of form that has seen him win three times during the Japan Golf Tour Organization’s 2020/21 season. He currently leads the Money List there, while he also finished in a tie for 26th at the US Open ‒ which was his best finish in a Major.
The 25 year old has the honour of lining up alongside compatriot Hideki Matsuyama ‒ this year’s Masters champion, who is one of the favourites to light the Olympic Cauldron at the opening ceremony ‒ who was ninth on the Rankings.
He is the defending champion at this week’s Dunlop SRIXON Fukushima Open.
Jazz finished in 36th place helped by a breakthrough 2019 season when he claimed four titles on the Asian Tour and won the Order of Merit title for the first time. He also showed flashes of brilliance this year, most notably when he narrowly missed winning his first European Tour event after losing the Kenya Savannah Classic in sudden-death.
Pagunsan was one of the players to leave it late to qualify. In May he triumphed in the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open ‒ which was his first victory in Japan after a decade playing there ‒ a few weeks after a runner-up finish in the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup. He eventually finished in 50th position on the Ranking.
KASAOKA, JAPAN – MAY 30: Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines poses with the trophy after the award ceremony after earning an exemption into The 149th Open via the Mizuno Open at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club on May 30, 2021 in Kasaoka, Okayama, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Vincent and Gunn finished 53rd and 54th on the Ranking respectively, thanks to consistent performances in Japan and on the Asian Tour; while Green, the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion who tied for 47th in Rio, ended in 58th place.
Lahiri, a seven-time Asian Tour champion and the Order of Merit winner in 2015, sensationally secured the very last 60th placed spot on the final day this week when the Ranking was being finalised by removing player withdrawals. The Indian finished 57th in the Olympics in 2016.
The men’s qualification system for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games commenced on July 1, 2018.
Several Asian Tour members ‒ Korean Joohyung Kim and Indians Udayan Mane and Gaganjeet Bhullar ‒ are on the reserve list and are dependant on further player withdrawals.
This year’ marks the XXXII Olympiad, and after its successful re-introduction to the roster in RIO in 2016, golf returns as one of the most eagerly-anticipated sports.
A total of 14 Asian Tour members competed in Rio, with several players excelling: in particular, Australian Marcus Fraser and Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand tied for fifth, just eight shots behind gold medallist Justin Rose from England. Fraser, in fact, led after day one and two.
But more than the performances it was the Olympic experience that was remembered the most by the Asian Tour players who competed.
Bangladesh star Siddikur Rahman was the flag bearer for his country, Brazil’s Adilson da Silva was the first player to tee off in the first round, and Green, inspired by the occasion, promptly got an Olympic tattoo on his arm when he returned home.
It was a memorable return to the Olympics for golf after 112 years that, all being well, will be suitably matched, despite COVID-19 protocols, in the Tokyo 2020.
Ends.
After a series of disappointments, Anirban Lahiri gets good news with Olympic qualification. By V.Krishnaswamy.
Anirban Lahiri was over the moon as he received the news of getting into the final field of 60 for the Tokyo Olympic Games. He got the news just as the deadline ran out this morning.
It was just what he needed to boost his morale after months of disappointments including being stranded in India last year due to travel restrictions and lockdown; then patchy form at times and finally the big blow in the form of COVID-19 just as he was finding form.
While Lahiri will be the lone male Indian golfer in the men’s field, Aditi Ashok should also comfortably make the grade as she is currently 44th on the list. The deadline for women’s final is June 29. It will be the second Olympics for both Lahiri and Aditi.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 12: Anirban Lahiri of India watches his tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the golf on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Lahiri said, “I’m feeling really blessed and fortunate right now. I was obviously not expecting it. I had no clue or information about what was going on with the withdrawals. So, I literally found out about a few minutes before I spoke to you. Like I said, because it was not expecting to, I’m just beginning to realise and plan for it as to what I’m going to do over the next month.”
In 2016, India had two men – Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia.
Udayan Mane, whose berth seemed secure if the Games had been held in time last in July last year, is now stranded as one of the first reserves depending on which player from which country pulls out. He needed some specific withdrawals, and it remains to be seen how he will be accommodated in case of some pull outs between now and the Games. Mane has not played a tournament since March this year.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – APRIL 04: Anirban Lahiri of India plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 04, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
After being out of the running and relinquishing his position as the top Indian, Lahiri seemed resigned to miss out on the honour of wearing the tricolour at Tokyo. Then he was hit by COVID last month and was forced to miss some events on the PGA Tour and fell further back on the world rankings.
Lahiri added: “It is always a great honour to represent India. So, I am extremely happy. But I have to start planning now, also with where I find myself on the PGA Tour (currently 118th).”
The top 125 players at the end of the season retain their full playing rights. After this week’s Travelers Championship, Lahiri potentially has five more events before the Olympics, but he will have to skip some because of travel and preparation. After the Olympics, Lahiri will have only two more starts to make the Top-125. So, it will be a tight squeeze for him.
Lahiri laughed and said: “Among the things I need to manage are my workload, my schedule with my events, the travel and my physical conditioning. So, there’s lots of things to look into to make sure that you know I can accomplish all my goals, not just my Olympic goals.
“I guess it just starts with me playing well this week and building some momentum. So, I’m just trying to stay in the present. I am very, very happy and the best way forward for me is to optimize my golf.”
Last year Lahiri was stuck in India during the pandemic. He could not travel because of restrictions. This year it was patchy form and then COVID.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 04: Anirban Lahiri of India lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 04, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Lahiri’s form finally seemed to show up positively at the Palmetto Championships at Congaree, the week before the US Open. He finished T-25 finish and that helped him rise from 354th to 340th and that in turned helped him secure his spot, which at that time had looked tough. Even after the Palmetto Championship, Lahiri was 340th and needed a couple of withdrawals from certain countries to squeeze in. As the deadline passed on Tuesday morning, Lahiri found himself exactly on the 60th spot. He was duly informed by the International Golf Federation.
“The news could not have come at a better time,” signed off Lahiri, who will now be in perfect frame of mind as he tees up at Travelers’s Championship.
The extended three-year qualification process for the men’s golf competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was completed on Tuesday.
With his U.S. Open victory on Sunday, Jon Rahm of Spain became world number one and jumped Justin Thomas of the United States into the No. 1 position of the Olympic Rankings. Americans finished Nos. 2-5 with Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, respectively. The United States is the only country with more than two qualifiers for the 60-player field.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 05: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand plays his shot from the 15th tee during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 05, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Some of the top Asian and Asia-Pacific names in the field include Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn), Sungjae Im (Kor), Si Woo Kim (Kor), Jazz Janewattananond (Tha), Gunn Charoenkul (Tha), C.T. Pan (Tpe), Juvic Pagunsan (Phi), Gavin Green (Mas), Carl Yuan (Chn), Ashun Wu (Chn), Cameron Smith (Aus), Marc Leishman (Aus) and Ryan Fox (Nzl).
The top-15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top-15, players are eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15. The men’s competition in Tokyo will be held from July 29 to August 1, 2021.
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