Thongchai ready to pursue new dreams on PGA TOUR Champions
Shaun Norris from South Africa claimed his fifth title in Japan on Sunday – and first since 2019 – when he won the inaugural Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament after a thrilling sudden-death play-off at Toride Kokusai Golf Club.
Norris, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, beat fellow Asian Tour member Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and Japan’s Tomoharu Ostuki after two extra holes.
Ostuki, the leader after each of the first three rounds, made bogey on the 72nd to send the tournament into overtime but dropped out after making a double on the first play-off hole. On the following hole Vincent failed to save par to hand victory to Norris.
“I wasn’t able to come to Japan Tour last year so I am way down on the Money race, but I will fight hard to catch up. I want to win at least two more this season,” said Norris, who earned a cheque for just over US$122,000.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
The South African had closed with a seven-under-par 63 for a four-round total of 21 under.
He said: “I felt I had an advantage against the other two”, as he explained his last win in 2019 at the ANA Open came after a five-way playoff.
His victory was made more impressive by the fact that he pushed his cart all week, as his brother and regular caddie was ill.
“I wish my brother was here with me to celebrate,” added Norris, who turned 39 earlier this month.
Filipino Angelo Que, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, finished in a tie for fourth – three shots short of the play-off.
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 23: Phil Mickelson of the United States celebrates with brother and caddie Tim Mickelson after winning on the 18th green during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
At the PGA Championship, where American Phil Mickelson made his history by becoming the oldest winner of a Major at the age of 50, four Asian Tour members competed but failed to make it through to the weekend.
Americans John Catlin and Kurt Kitayama missed the cut by five with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Rikuya Hoshino from Japan further down the leaderboard.
American John Catlin begins the next chapter of his meteoric rise in the game tomorrow when he makes his debut in a Major, at the PGA Championship – on the daunting Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
It was only a month ago that the 30 year old claimed the Austria Golf Open – following five gripping sudden-death play-off holes against Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer – to secure his third victory on the European Tour in eight months, which moved him into the top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
“I’d love to crack that top-50 in the world,” said the Californian, after winning in Austria.
“Just to get a chance to play in some Major Championships – I’ve actually never played in a Major. I’m thinking this gives me a very good chance to play in the US PGA Championship, that was kind of my goal.
Catlin with the Austria Golf Open trophy on April 18 (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“Hopefully it’s good enough and to get into those events and to have the chance to win a Major, that’s been my goal since I was a kid.”
Well, that was all made possible soon after when he received a special invitation to play in the PGA Championship – the second Major of the year, where American Collin Morikawa will defend.
“It’s very exciting [to get to play in the PGA Championship]. It’s the only level of golf I haven’t been to yet,” Catlin said, more recently.
Catlin has been rewarded for his success by being paired in a high-profile group consisting of two other rising stars in the game: Scottish lefthander Robert MacIntyre and big-hitting American Cameron Champ. They tee-off on the 10th at 7.49am, local time.
Catlin celebrates winning the 2019 Thailand Open, after a three-man play-off at Thai Country Club on November 10. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
While it was only a month ago that Catlin completed his hat-trick in Europe, it was only five years ago that he burst onto the scene and became a prolific winner.
He claimed the Combiphar Golf Invitational in Indonesia on the Asian Development Tour in 2016, won again on that Tour the following year, and in 2018 triumphed three times on the Asian Tour – leading to him to being voted by his peers the Asian Tour Player of the Year. And, he won on the Asian Tour the following season, at the Thailand Open, before taking Europe by storm in September 2020 with victories in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
A remarkable and inspiring streak for a player who had been struggling to find a place to regularly play tournaments after turning professional in 2013.
Catlin will try and emulate the success of his compatriot Shaun Micheel – who in 2003, after having cut his professional teeth in Asia and won the 1998 Singapore Open, claimed the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, ranked 169th in the World, becoming one of the biggest underdogs to win a Major.
Jazz walks to the 10th tee during the final round of the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black course on May 19, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, who impressively tied 14th in this event in 2019, tees-off at 1.31 in the afternoon, on the 10th; Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, winner last week at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup, starts at 9.12am on the first; and Asian Tour winner Kurt Kitayama from the United States is off at 12.30pm, also from hole one.
Berry Henson is virtually a household name on the Asian Tour, and it all started for the popular American during this month of May a decade ago.
In fact, it was on this very day in 2011 – shortly after having made it through Qualifying School, in 11th place – that he marched to victory in Manila, claiming the ICTSI Philippine Open, at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Winning the National Open of the Philippine’s is a rare privilege as it is one of the oldest National Opens in the game – in 2011 it was the 95th edition of the tournament – and Henson was made to work very hard to secure the title.
Despite suffering from dehydration over the closing holes during the third round, he finished the day with a two-shot lead, and then fired a final round one-over-par 73 to narrowly beat local-favourite Jay Bayron from the Philippines by a single shot.
Henson celebrates during the final round of the Philippine Open on May 15, 2011 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
Henson made a brave up-and-down at the last, holing a tension-packed putt for par from three feet, to win with a four-round total of five-under-par 283 – on the notoriously difficult East Course.
“I feel like I went 72 rounds with Manny Pacquiao this week and didn’t get KO’d,” Henson said, after his win. “I played on a very difficult golf course and the weather was brutal. It was a hard win.”
He earned US$47,550 with the victory.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger finished third, while Digvijay Singh from India was fourth.
Henson held a three-shot lead heading into the back nine, but bogeys on 12 and 17 opened the door for Bayron.
Henson plays a shot during day three of Philippine Open (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
“We were all struggling to make birdies and stay aggressive on the back nine,” Henson said. “I made a couple of mistakes coming in but everything worked out for me on the last hole.”
Bayron made an eagle on the second, but bogeys on 14 and 15 were setbacks from which he could not recover.
“Honestly, I was playing for second after the 15th hole,” said the 2005 Southeast Asian Games team gold medallist. “I tried to keep the thought of winning out of my mind for the entire round. Finishing second is a good result for me and I hope to build on this confidence.”
Henson was 31 years old at the time and it was the culmination of a remarkable and inspiring start to his journey in Asia.
Just two weeks before winning in the Philippines he had claimed the Clearwater Masters, in Malaysia, on the Asian Development Tour.
This came on the back of him having arrived at the Qualifying School with just US$5,000 in his bank account.
Said Benson, in an interview more recently: “I had one sponsor and he said, ‘hey it’s sink or swim, we either get a card or we are done’.”
Former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner David Lipsky has achieved his life-long ambition of playing on the PGA Tour, following an outstanding season on the Korn Ferry Tour – the development circuit that feeds the PGA Tour.
The American is currently in fifth place on the Korn Ferry Tour ranking, and, although another 15 events remain, he has already comfortably secured his playing privileges for the 2021/2022 season on the PGA Tour. The top-25 earn their Tour cards.
He has been playing some of the finest golf of his career, including winning the TPC San Antonio Challenge last year, and he nearly won the Emerald Coast Classic last month, but lost in a play-off.
CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: David Lipsky of USA plays a shot on the 18th hole during the playoff against Graeme Storm of England during the final round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on September 7, 2014 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Lipsky first made his name in Asia: he was a medallist at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2012 and won the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic, in his third start on Tour.
And after a brilliant season, two years later he claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit title – helped in a big way by winning the cash-rich Omega European Masters, an event sanctioned with Europe.
He also won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa in 2018, for a second European Tour title.
“I’ve played internationally for years and the European Tour for five or six years,” Lipsky said. “The whole goal was to try and get back and play the PGA Tour.”
“I took a little bit of a risk doing it,” he said. “I was playing really well in Europe, making good money, but I knew, ‘Why not now?’”
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – MARCH 17: David Lipsky of the United States holds the trophy of the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic at Angkor Golf Resort on March 17, 2012 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Photo by Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
The American grew up in Southern California and played at La Canada High School, where American star Collin Morikawa attended.
Despite having achieved his goal of securing his PGA Tour card, the 32 year old is still very focused on more success on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I have my eyes on number one now,” he said.
“Keep playing solid like I’m doing, keep the confidence and momentum going, and we’ll see what happens with that, end of the season.”
The XXXII Olympiad will take place this summer – from July 23 to August 8 – COVID-19 conditions permitting in Tokyo, and, after its successful re-introduction to the roster in RIO in 2016, golf will return as one of the most eagerly-anticipated sports.
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.
The tournaments have in a way already started with competitors attempting to secure qualification to quadrennial sporting spectacle, through the respective world’s rankings for men and women.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Gavin Green of Malaysia plays his shot from the 13th tee during the final round of men’s golf on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
And, with Asian Tour members very much in the running to make it to Japan, the Tour will provide bi-weekly updates on the qualification standings.
At present, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, Gavin Green from Malaysia and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent are very well placed to make it through.
As was the case for Rio, qualification is based on the Official World Golf Ranking; a total of 60 players will qualify with the cut-off date being June 21.
The top 15 players will all qualify, with a limit of four golfers per country that can qualify this way. Four Americans are currently in position to do this: Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa
The remaining spots will go to the highest-ranked players from countries that do not already have two golfers qualified. The International Golf Federation (IGF), who manage the golf event and qualification, has guaranteed that at least one golfer from the host nation and each geographical region (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) will qualify.
Jazz, currently ranked 111th in the world, is in 35th place on the Olympic standings, while Gunn is 198 in the world, and 50th for Japan.
Green – who competed in the last Olympics and finished 47th – is world ranked 239th and 54th on the Olympic listing, while Vincent is 245th and 55th respectively on the rankings.
Three Indian golfers are currently on the reserve list: Udayan Mane, Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar. Korean golfers Kyounghoon Lee,Sung Kang, Joohyung Kim and Junggon Hwang are all reserved, their participation dependant on players withdrawing.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 08: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (L) and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand pose on a tee box during a practice round during Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Olympic Golf Course on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
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 2021.
It is fair to say there have been many landmark moments during the stellar career of Korea’s K.J. Choi.
But perhaps one that standouts more than most is his victory in the Compaq Classic of New Orleans, achieved on this day in 2002.
The significance of the victory is both personal and historic: it was his maiden success on the PGA Tour and, more importantly, it was the first win by a Korean there.
With millions of fans watching back home in the middle of the night, Choi did not disappoint and fired a final round five-under-par 67 for a four-stroke victory.
NEW ORLEANS – MAY 5: K.J. Choi is congratulated by his wife Hyun Jung Kim after winning the Compaq Classic at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 5, 2002. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“I believe it will influence a generation of Korean golfers to come to the U.S. and try out for the PGA,” Choi said, through an interpreter. “In that sense, the win is very special.”
He earned the US$810,000 winner’s check with a 17-under-par 271 total, holding off a number of challengers in perfect scoring conditions on English Turn Golf & Country Club.
Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Dudley Hart from the United States came the closest, finishing with 67s to tie for second, at 13-under 275.
Choi took the lead in the second round and was tied but never trailed after that.
“This win is very special to me because when I first came to the U.S. I had a 10-year plan laid out,” Choi said. “It’s earlier than I thought it would happen, but it’s part of the plan.”
NEW ORLEANS – MAY 5: K.J. Choi of Korea hits his second shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Compaq Classic at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 5, 2002. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
He had two birdies on the front nine for a one-stroke lead at the turn, and sank a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 11 to go to 15 under – two shots ahead of three players.
Choi increased his lead with a birdie on No. 13. His second shot on the 16th rolled to the lip of the cup and sat there, just short of an eagle and a five-shot lead.
The Korean star described that as the turning point in the round. He said he knew it was a good shot, but did not think it was an eagle.
He chipped in for his final birdie on No. 17 – a 35-footer from out of the rough, before he could afford to finish with the luxury of a bogey at the last.
Having secured his PGA Tour card in 1999, to become the first Korean to do so, victory in New Orleans was indeed a quick transition to the winners’ circle.
And having got a taste for it, he promptly won again later that year at the Tampa Bay Classic.
He won in Tampa by a commanding seven shots to help signal the start of a career that would see him become Asia’s most prolific winner on the PGA Tour with eight titles.
And, boasting six wins on the Asian Tour, plus 29 globally, it’s not difficult to understand why the Korean star is also an Honorary Member of the Asian Tour.
Korea’s Hyojoo Kim defeated Hannah Green from Australia by one shot in a gripping finish to the HSBC Women’s World Championship on Sunday at Sentosa Golf Club, home of the Asian Tour.
Kim brilliantly dismantled the New Tanjong course with a breath taking eight-under-par 64, for a tournament total of 17-under-par 271, to secure her fourth victory on the LPGA Tour but first in five years.
She was helped in her cause by Green who appeared on course to take the title after she birdied the 16th to take a one-shot lead, but then surprisingly made bogey on the final two holes to finish solo second.
Hyojoo Kim of Korea lines up her putt on the 13th green during the second round (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
The Australian, playing in the HSBC event for the first time, signed for a 69. The former KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner, playing in the final group, holed out from the fairway for a stunning eagle at the 14th and holed a ten-footer at the 16th to grab the outright advantage, only to three-putt bogey the 17th and then fail to get up and down to save par at the last.
Kim, who wore full head gear all week for protection against the sun, had started her final round five shots back of the overnight leader, China’s Xiyu Lin, but stormed up the leaderboard with one of the finest rounds of her career that saw her make four birdies on the front side and four on the back.
Hannah Green of Australia hits her tee shot on the 5th hole during the third round (Photo by Lionel Ng/Getty Images)
“My goal for this year is to get a win and I’m glad I achieved that today,” said 25-year-old Kim, whose last victory was the 2016 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Last year she stayed in her home country and won twice on the Korean LPGA. “While I was playing on the KLPGA Tour last year, I honed my skills and wanted to adapt them to this year on the LPGA, and I’m very happy that these results came out.”
Lin signed off with a 71 to finish in joint third place alongside world number two Inbee Park of Korea and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit.
Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand hits her tee shot on the 1st hole during the first round (Photo by Lionel Ng/Getty Images)
When England’s evergreen star Lee Westwood celebrates his 48th birthday today, the one victory – out of his 44 international wins – that may come to mind the most is his triumph at the Indonesian Masters, in Jakarta.
That is because he claimed the first of his three wins in the event on this same day, just a decade ago.
In what was the inaugural edition of the Indonesian Masters he beat Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee by three shots at Royale Jakarta Golf Club – the event’s regular home for the ensuing eight years.
Westwood, at the time ranked number two on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), led by five going into the last round and closed with a three-under 69, to hold off a typically brave challenge from Thongchai, who shot a sensational 65.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – APRIL 24: Lee Westwood of England poses with his birthday cake after winning the Indonesian Masters atthe Royale Jakarta Golf Club on April 24, 2011 in Jakarta , Indonesia (Photo by Khalid Redza / Asian Tour via Getty Images)
“This will definitely be the most memorable birthday for me,” said Westwood, after his win.
The Englishman was also bidding to reclaim the number one spot on the OWGR – which was being led by Germany’s Martin Kaymer, although England’s Luke Donald, in third place, looked like taking over top spot as he was on the cusp of winning the Heritage tournament on the US PGA Tour that same Sunday.
“It was about coming here this week and trying to win the Indonesian Masters and I’ve done that. I’ve ticked every box this week so we will have to wait and see what happens,” said the Englishman, who held the number one spot for 17 weeks before being deposed by Kaymer in February.
Westwood’s win was put on hold for over an hour when lightning forced him to return to the clubhouse with one hole to play.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – APRIL 22: Lee Westwood of England talks with Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand during the second round of the Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club on April 22, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
When play resumed he parred the 18th to finish the tournament on 19-under 269.
He was even par for the day after nine holes but shifted gear when he holed a difficult birdie putt on the 11th hole.
“Yeah, that was probably the hardest putt I had all day,” he said.
“It was 15 feet and had a three-feet break on it. I birdied the next with two good shots and played solidly. I managed to pick up a few shots and birdied the 16th from four feet. I was quite comfortable after that.”
Thongchai credited a red-hot putter for his fine round, where he turned in 31 before adding two more birdies on his back nine.
“It was a good round from me and I’m happy with how I played. I played my own game and focused hole by hole and shot by shot,” said the Thai, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.
In the end Westwood did not reclaim top spot on the OWGR from Kaymer – nor did Donald, who lost in a play-off to American Brad Snedeker at the Heritage.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – APRIL 24: Lee Westwood of England in action during day four of the Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club on April 24, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo by Khalid Redza / Asian Tour via Getty Images)
But his victory in the Indonesian capital was yet another career defining conquest. He went on to win the event the following year, and then again in 2015.
To date he has claimed nine titles in Asia and is one of the few golfers who has won tournaments on five continents – Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
And after winning the European Tour’s Order of Merit last year and finishing runner-up on the PGA Tour twice in March, first at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard followed the week after at THE PLAYERS Championship, perhaps we have not seen the last of his silverware success in Asia.
Happy Birthday Lee Westwood!
Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat is another of his country’s emerging young players – as demonstrated by his three wins on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). We spoke to him at the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship, the All Thailand Golf Tour and ADT event he claimed in 2019, earlier this year and got up to speed on what he has been up to.
COVID-19 has made life difficult for everyone. How has it been for you Itthipat?
I have tried to take the positives out of it and spend more time with my family, which has been great. I still kept practicing and working out. I am a professional golfer so it’s my routine. During the pandemic, I had a lot more time to play golf in Thailand and meet many people.
I also did some teaching but nothing too serious. I just wanted to give something back to the community and help people enjoy golf more. Most were junior golfers between 4-15 years old. I received positive feedback and really enjoyed it.
How much have you enjoyed playing on the Asian Tour?
The Asian Tour has been great for me, even though I lost my Tour card after playing a few seasons. But, I got my card back again in 2020 and had the opportunity to play in three big tournaments: the Hong Kong Open, the SMBC Singapore Open and the Bandar Malaysian Open. It was a great experience playing with many big-name players in those events. I was very satisfied with my performance before the season was put on hold because of the pandemic.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
You have put in some good performance on the Asian Tour. What are the areas of your game you have to work on to improve?
After returning to the Asian Tour, I have tried my best to improve everything. Then during the pandemic, I had a lot more time to practice on my own. And having taken such a long break without any competition, I have had more time to prepare myself and get ready for the Tour restart.
You won the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship in 2019, probably the biggest win of your career. How important was the victory for you?
The Boonchu Ruangkit Championship is co-sanctioned between the All Thailand Golf Tour and the Asian Development Tour (ADT). It meant a lot to me; I felt like it unlocked and improved my game. It also helped me claim the All Thailand Golf Tour Order of Merit that year and finish in the top-five on the ADT Order of Merit – which allowed me to get my Asian Tour card and return to the Tour again.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
What are your memories of that week and did you have a feeling you could win?
At that time, I did not think about winning but I remember that it was one of my best performances. I played without pressure in the final round. I just tried to concentrate and focus on my game. I could go out and play, enjoy and have fun. It was the key to my success.
How old were you when you started playing, and who taught you?
I started playing golf when I was 10 years old. My first teacher was a former national golfer, Sitthichon Samransuk. My father taught me as well when I was a kid. I followed him to the driving range and one day I told him that I wanted to try a swing, so he got me a club and I hit it. It was not too hard from the beginning because I like sports and my family have always supported me.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Who was your golfing idol growing up?
When I was young, my idol was Tiger Woods. He is a super talented golfer and one of the most inspirational golfers. In Thailand my idol is Boonchu Ruangkit, he is a legend in Thailand and like a big brother for all Thai golfers as well.
What are your plans and objectives in the future?
I want to keep playing on the Asian Tour and I’m aiming to win an event, I think I have a chance to do that in the future. I also look forward to playing in Japan, as that is part of my plan. However, my big goal is to play on the European and PGA Tours, but I will have to do really well on the Asian Tour, that would be the first step. During the pandemic, I also started to think about setting up a small business in the future.
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