Young Kim’s success stems from solid fundamentals
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Korean wonder kid Joohyung Kim has revealed some of the keys to his early success prior to his regular PGA TOUR debut at this week’s Safeway Open – the opening event of the 2020/2021 season on the PGA TOUR.
And his father Changik Kim – a former Tour professional who played on the Buy.com Tour (now known as the Korn Ferry Tour) in the United States before becoming a teaching professional – has most definitely been the guiding force behind his meteoric rise.
“My dad didn’t teach me the basics first,” said the 18-year-old Kim.
“He made sure I just had fun. We always went to the golf club to eat, drive the cart and hit some putts. But as I started to take it really serious he always taught me to practice hard, swing mechanic wise.”
They were living in Australia when he first picked up a golf club aged five, or as he says: “a short baby club”. But it wasn’t until they moved to the Philippines, when he was aged 11, that he really started to take the game seriously.
“Basically, my parents taught me was always to practice hard and be humble. And I feel like that was the most important lesson of all. And always will be,” added the Korean.
Kim cleaned up on the amateur circuit in the Philippines – he won the 2017 Philippine Junior and the 2018 Philippine Amateur – before turning professional in 2018.
And since then he has established himself as one of the most exiting young players in the region with huge potential to be one of the dominant players in the game.
After earning a battlefield promotion from the Asian Development Tour by winning three events last season, the youngster 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 with countryman Seungyul Noh being the youngest when he won the 2008 Midea China Classic at the age of 17 years and 143 days.
Kim says his father, who is now 50 years old, is always on hand to offer advice.
“I ask him some stuff with golf because he is always with me and he knew my game ever since the beginning. So I feel like I can always go up to him and ask.
“My dad never plays. Doesn’t really have the time because he is always with me. But hopefully we can get a round one day. It would be fun to bring back the old memories. But he sometimes hits some chips and some putts, even hits one or two balls but nothing serious really.”
Kim also won on the Korean PGA Tour in July at the KPGA Gunsan Country Club Open – which was his first win on home soil and saw him become the youngest winner on that circuit at the age of 18.
It moved him inside top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and earned him a place in last month’s US PGA Championship – where he made his Major debut.
Despite his incredible success as a teenager, he is quick to downplay his achievements.
“I don’t think I have success at my age to be honest. I feel like I need to be better and I still lack so much,” he says.
“I’m fortunate to have some success yes, to break into the top 100 in the world, win once on the Asian Tour but I still have so many goals and feel like I need to accomplish so much more. So I don’t think I have success yet. And have so much to learn. I know I can play against the best.”
He adds: “I feel like it’s just really little by little that I need to sharpen. I’ve played against the top players in the world, so I know I deserve to be here. But I just need to be more consistent overall to get me to the top and get all aspects better.”
Travelling the world as a Tour professional will certainly not bother him after a globetrotting childhood.
He was born on the Jeju island in Korea, where they stayed for a few months. They lived in China for a few years, then Australia for seven years, followed by the Philippines for six years and Thailand for a year and a half.
“And now for the first time in my life Korea,” says Kim.
On his game plan for this week’s Safeway Open, Kim says: “This time not really focused on something. More of just feeling free. And one step at a time. And play my own game. If I can do that the rest will follow.”
Ends.
Photo credits: Sportfive
Few players have dominated one of Asia’s National Opens like Australian Adam Scott has with the Singapore Open.
He has lifted the trophy on three occasions in 2005, 2006 and 2010 – an impressive haul, surpassed only by Jumbo Ozaki’s five Japan Open victories and the four wins by Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Hong Kong Open. Tommy Nakajima also won the Japan Open four times.
Scott has claimed the Singapore Open more times than anyone and his success was in synergy with the emergence of the prestigious event on The Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club.
The tournament was not played from 2002 to 2004 before being relaunched in 2005 at Sentosa – where it has, so memorably, been played since.
So, Scott’s win in 2005 was the start of an exciting new chapter for the event while it was on this day 14 years ago that he successfully retained the tournament.
And what an exceptional win that was on an unprecedented Sunday.
Adam Scott of Australia
The Australian, 26 years old at the time, beat South African Ernie Els by two shots in a three-hole play-off in the US$3 million event.
He delivered the knock-out blow with a birdie at the par-five 18th to edge Els, after both players parred the first two holes – the 16th and 17th.
It was the 11th professional victory, but his first in 2006.
He coolly dropped in a five-foot putt while Els three-putted for bogey.
The rather unusual play-off format was the result of the fourth round being cancelled late on Sunday afternoon following two weather suspensions.
Organisers decided to reduce the event to 54-holes based on the scores after Saturday’s third round.
Hence, with Scott and Els tied on eight-under-par 205 after the third day the option was taken to complete the tournament with a three-hole play-off – much to the delight of the thousands of fans who had patiently remained on site waiting for a resumption.
“It’s the first time I have defended a title and it’s a great feeling and something that I will cherish. Like I said last year, it’s a great feeling to win a national Open and I’m really thrilled. It’s been a long time coming this win, since last year and hopefully I can keep going from here,” said Scott, who won US$475,500.
The fans were treated to a thrilling duel between the top two stars who matched each other blow for blow in the final round and the play-off. Els missed a birdie chance from 10 feet on the first extra hole on 16 while Scott saved par from five feet.
After both parred the 17th, Scott, the then world number six, gained the advantage on the 18th after an exquisite chip which left him five feet from the pin while Els struggled after a wayward drive put him in the shin-high rough. After finding the front of the green with his third, the South African agonizingly three putted from 25-feet.
“There wasn’t much separating Ernie and myself and whether that was over 72 or 54, or 65 holes which we played, it came down to a play-off and fortunately I won. I definitely feel I’m the winner of the tournament,” said Scott.
Ernie Els of South Africa
Els was naturally disappointed with the outcome. He said: “In the play off, I had my chances. I hit a good shot in to the 16th (to 10 feet) but did not hit the putt well. On 17 for some reason my tee shot came back – I was close to the hole but could not putt it.
“On the 18th I drove it right – just one of those things. On the third shot I was a club short, it was coming nicely on line but unfortunately it was not enough club. It is disappointing,” added the South African.
Australian Brad Kennedy took third place with his three-round total of 208 while China’s Liang Wen-chong settled for fourth position on 209.
The tournament had started with Filipino rookie Juvic Pagunsan and Scott Strange of Australia sharing the first round lead shooting four-under-par 67s.
However, on day two Els made his move surging up the leader board firing an imperious 65 – a course record at the time – to take a share of the lead with Strange.
Titleholder Scott then set up a mouth-watering showdown with Els after a 66 on Saturday. Els needed an injection to treat a bout of food poisoning during a two-hour weather disruption but he battled on gamely to finish the day tied at the top.
As expected the final round was a tight affair but a one hour and 40 minute delay in the morning due to lightning, and another torrential thunderstorm late in the afternoon, meant they could only complete eight holes before the fourth day was abandoned and the crowds eagerly gathered to watch the play off.
The tight finish was in stark contrast to Scott’s victory the year before when he sauntered to a seven stroke win over England’s Lee Westwood – that result happened this Friday, a mere 15 years ago.
Ends.
David Lipsky, the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion in 2014, hit the headlines very recently by winning the TPC San Antonio Challenge on the Korn Ferry Tour in July.
Interestingly, the American went to La Canada High School in Los Angeles – where his countryman Collin Morikawa, currently the hottest player in the game, also attended.
And Lipsky’s Korn Ferry Tour win, which was his first, came less than one hour after Morikawa earned his second success on the PGA TOUR at the Workday Charity Open.
It is evidence of the calibre of Lipsky – who also attended the prestigious Northwestern University in Chicago, where, amongst other, England’s Luke Donald enjoyed an outstanding college career.
To date, Lipsky has also claimed two titles both on the Asian Tour and on the European Tour.
And there is no doubt the biggest victory of his career so far came on this day six years ago in the Swiss Alps.
CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: David Lipsky of USA holds the winners trophy after winning in a 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)
In what was only his 18th start on the European Tour, he defeated Englishman Graeme Storm on the first hole of a sudden-death play at the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre – an event steeped in history, with its origins dating back to the early 1920s when it was the Swiss Open.
Lipsky was 26 years old at the time and had only been a professional for three years but showed maturity beyond his years in the way he played the play-off hole.
He had started the final round two shots behind overnight leader Storm but, playing in the penultimate group, he charged through with a five-under-par 65 to set the clubhouse lead on 18 under.
That was helped by a birdie on the par-four 18th – where he hit his approach to within inches of the cup – and meant Storm needed a par there to force the tournament into overtime.
The Englishman duly made four meaning he and Lipsky finished one shot ahead of none other than emerging American star Brooks Koepka, who was tied for the lead until a bogey on the 17th, where his wayward approach plugged in a greenside bunker.
When they returned to 18 for the play-off, Lipsky played the hole very differently after his opponent hit a poor tee shot that missed the fairway and came to rest against a wall.
Storm had no option but to chip out on to the fairway.
Lipsky, who had just 86 yards to the hole from a bunker with his second shot, took no risks and laid up short of the green.
It proved to be the right decision as after he chipped close to the pin, Storm made a five, and he was left with a simple putt for victory.
CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: David Lipsky of USA celebrates winning in a 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)
Speaking about the play-off hole, Lipsky said: “It’s a tough tee shot anyway, but when there’s the title on the line it’s very tough.
“You have to draw your tee shot from right to left to hold it against the hill, and I thought I’d hit a great shot but it ended up going in the bunker.
“It was a tough shot out of the bunker and, with Graeme only going to make par at best, I decided not to risk going in the water. In the end it was the right play, and I’m so pleased to get the job done.”
Storm reflected: “It’s tough to take right now. I didn’t have much time between finishing my final round and starting the play-off, so I probably wasn’t as composed as I should’ve been.
“So it was obviously disappointing, but overall it’s been an unbelievable week. There is a lot of emotions flying round right now so I’ll have to reflect with a clear head in the morning, but there are definitely lots of positives to take from the week.”
Lipsky earned €383,330 for his triumph, putting the wheels in motion for claiming the Asian Tour Order of Merit title later in the year.
CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: David Lipsky of USA plays a shot 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)
He became the first Asian Tour member to win the Omega European Masters since this event became part of the Tour in 2008.
And he was the first American to win the Omega European Masters since Craig Stadler in 1985.
Lipsky’s journey on the Asian Tour began when he won the Qualifying School in January of 2012. And, he was victorious in the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic just two months later before a sensational 2014 thrust him into the international spotlight.
Two years ago he also claimed the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa for his second win on the European Tour.
With European, Asian and Korn Ferry Tour wins to his name, he is building a mightily impressive portfolio of tournament wins across the globe.
But producing a more impressive victory than the Omega European Masters will take some doing.
Ends.
When Australian Scott Hend claimed the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational on August 31 in 2008 he would have, understandably, been oblivious to the significance of the occasion.
A relative newcomer to the Asian Tour – the previous season he was Rookie of the Year – the victory was his maiden win on the circuit, but more importantly it was the one that opened the floodgates.
Indeed, on this day 12 years ago, the Asian Tour witnessed the arrival of a golfer who would become one of the circuit’s most dominant players.
The big-hitting Australian would go on to win nine more times and monopolise the Order of Merit.
And the signs of this success were very evident in his impressive victory at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational – which was played at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club in Jakarta.
PIPI08-PRIZE PRESENTATION-The Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club,’s, Pantai Indah Kapuk course, Jakarta, Indonesia. 28-31, August, 2008. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He started slowly in the US$400,000 tournament but this was merely a smoke screen for what was to come over the weekend.
His opening round of one-under-par 71 left him with much to do as the best of the day was a 64 carded by Lin Wen-tang from Chinese Taipei – an in-form golfer, who had won earlier in the year at Asian Tour International in Thailand.
Even though Hend improved with a 69 on day two, he was five behind Malaysian Iain Steel – who took the lead on nine under with a 66.
Hend’s game then found a new dimension over the weekend and although his third-round 66 left him five adrift of tournament leaders Lin and Steel, the Australian was perfectly placed to mount a challenge.
Since joining the Asian Tour in 2007 he had finished second on three occasions and was one of the hottest golfers on Tour who was more than ready for a maiden victory.
Paired in the penultimate group on the last day with Korean-American Anthony Kang, he trailed Lin by three at turn.
Quickly responding to the challenge at hand, he made an eagle on the par-five 13th – impressively for the second day in-a-row. Lin made a par there, so the gap was down to one.
But another two shot swing soon followed when the Chinese Taipei golfer found water on the par-three 15th and made double-bogey.
It was the break Hend was looking for and from there he did not look back. The victory was secured when he made another birdie on the par-five 17th, where Lin dropped another shot.
Hend’s back-nine of four-under-par 32 and second successive 66 saw him win by three shots from Lin with a tournament total of 16-under.
Kang, Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha and Mars Pucay from the Philippines finished third.
“I had a few runner-up finishes which is nice financially but there is nothing like winning a tournament. It is truly satisfying,” said Hend, after his win.
As a result of his success, Hend walked away with the top prize of US$63,400.
“I was solid on the back nine. I was thinking that if I shot a six under, I’ll be happy no matter what the outcome, even if I had not won. There was no real pressure and my putting was average,” he added.
“The eagle was great. I struck a solid drive and then almost holed my second shot. I told myself that I had to play solid and everything came together. I got ahead of myself on a few holes but I kept a steady momentum and I’m very happy with my finish.”
Lin’s final round 74 opened the door for Hend but he was magnanimous in defeat.
He said: “My iron play was good so I thought I could be aggressive on the 15th hole but I was too fast off the tee and the ball found the water. I also bogeyed the 17th hole. But it was a good game by Scott who played well under these challenging conditions. There are still more tournaments to play this year, so I hope to follow my rhythm and stay in contention.”
Up until that point in his career, Hend had won four times in Australia and once in Canada but the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational was the big breakthrough victory he had been looking for.
In 2004, he decided to play on the PGA Tour but after two poor seasons because of injuries and loss of form he turned his attention to Asia and the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2006.
And he says: “I finished second to Ben Leong (at the Qualifying School). My kids where born in December 2006 and then I went straight to Pakistan and finished second and from there on it was ‘happy days’ on the Asian Tour.”
In 2016, he became the first Australian to win the Merit title and, impressively, he also finished second on three occasions – in 2013, 2015 and 2019 – and was fourth four times – in 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2017.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – MARCH 24: Scott Hend of Australia holds the trophy after he wins the play off match against Nacho Elvira of Spain during Day Four of the Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf & Country Club, Palm Course on March 24, 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
And when he claimed his 10th Asian Tour title in March 2019 – the Maybank Championship in Malaysia – he moved into second place on the Career Money List.
He is still in second place today with earnings of US$5,084,342 while Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee – a 13-time winner on the Tour – leads the way with winnings of US$5,744,337.
Hend has been playing on the European Tour’s “UK swing” over the past few months, will compete in the US Open in September and will no doubt be looking forward to returning to Asia when the time is right.
Ends.
Cast your eye down the list of past champions of Singapore’s National Open and one of the winners who stands out – with a truly inspirational story – is Shaun Micheel.
The American triumphed, on this day, in 1998 at SAFRA Resort & Country Club, and, as is well documented, went on to record a remarkable victory in the 2003 PGA Championship – at Oak Hill Country Club in New York.
ROCHESTER, NY – AUGUST 17: Shaun Micheel of the USA holds the trophy after winning the 85th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on August 17, 2003 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
That is two “Major” victories, some would say – particularly if you are a lover of the Singapore Open.
No doubt, the seeds for Micheel’s win in the PGA Championship were sown in Singapore 22 years earlier.
In 1998, he had decided to play in Asia in order to find his form.
“After I lost my PGA Tour exemption in 1997, my manager, at the time, mentioned going to Asia with Charlie Wi – who he also managed. He felt like a complete change of scenery might help me regain the confidence that I lost after a poor year on the PGA Tour,” said Micheel from his home in Tennessee last week – after having played in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship on the Champions Tour.
He had started his professional career in 1992 on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa and because of that experience, he felt comfortable going to Malaysia to go through the Asian Tour qualifying process. The Tour at that time was called the Omega Tour.
Having negotiated the rigours of Qualifying School, he was quick to establish himself on Tour.
Early on in 1998, he pushed Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol and Boonchu Ruangkit all the way in the Orient Masters in China. He eventually finished in a share of third, behind Chawalit – who claimed what was to be the first of many wins on Tour – and the legendary Boonchu, who finished second.
Says Micheel: “The competition was really good and I knew that if I could find some consistency, I would have a chance to get back onto the PGA Tour.”
The game plan worked and the consistency he so desperately wanted started to return; in the lead-up to the Singapore Open he was regularly in contention and on the cusp of a breakthrough win.
“You know, I don’t remember too much about the state of my game going into Singapore. One thing stands out, however, as I prepared to travel to Singapore. The week before I left, I asked my, then, girlfriend to be my wife. At the time I had known Stephanie for 16 years and we had been dating for nearly five years. I suppose that I felt quite encouraged about my engagement and that gave me the extra lift that I needed to win,” says Micheel.
He opened with a five-under-par 67 at SAFRA, to sit in a tie for fourth; and at the halfway mark, following a 69, he was two adrift of the leader, Lu Chien-soon – one of Chinese Taipei’s greatest golfing exports and a two-time winner of the Singapore Open, in 1983 and 1989.
Another 67 by Micheel on the third day saw him move into the lead, alongside South African Hendrik Buhrmann.
And on Sunday a fourth successive sub 70 (he shot 69) saw Micheel finish two ahead of Buhrmann to triumphantly claim his first Tour win and a cheque for US$80,750.
He says: “I believe that I had only two dropped shots the entire week. I don’t recall much of the competition other than my layup on the last hole, tapping in for par and then putting on the “cowboy” hat while accepting the trophy. Afterwards, I found out that a friend of my father’s had watched me win from a hotel in Japan.”
The cowboy hat was Ericsson sponsored headgear and one of many rewards that came with his win.
“The victory in Singapore validated my choice in going overseas when many others questioned my decision. Not a day goes by at home when I don’t see my Singapore Open trophy. No one will know how much that victory energised and inspired me to get back onto the PGA Tour and eventually win the PGA Championship in 2003,” said Micheel, who was 29 years old when he won in Singapore.
He is one of four past champions of the Singapore Open to have won a Major – the other three being: Australian Adam Scott, Angel Cabrera from Argentina and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
ROCHESTER, NY – AUGUST 17: Shaun Micheel of the USA celebrates his win on the 18th green after the final round of the 85th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on August 17, 2003 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Singapore as a country also left a big impression on him, as it did for his father – who was one of the original pilots for FedEx in 1973.
“My late father travelled to Singapore quite a bit and he loved it. So, when I arrived into the country I immediately saw why he felt the way that he did. The cleanliness is what struck me initially! To be honest, I thought it was so cool to be so far away from home in a country that had so much to offer in such a small space. From the hotels to the restaurants to the natural beauty, I was enamoured with Singapore. Of course, I’ll never forget SAFRA Resort. Great memories and I would love to bring my wife over some day.”
In fact, his first year in Asia in 1998 proved to be an enormous success not just because of his victory in the Lion City.
“I absolutely loved my time in Asia. Many of the places where I competed were just faraway lands that I had read or heard about from my father who was a frequent visitor. Having a place to play was, at the time, the most important element as that was why I was there in the first place. Over time, however, I realised that it was not all about playing golf. Life in the United States was quite a bit different than many of the cities that I visited.
“Having an open mind was a bit of advice that I received and I did my best to fall in love with the new cultures, people and differences that existed. One thing that I did was to learn to a few simple words in the local language in an attempt to show respect to my new friends. Of course there was no way to become fluent in a new language overnight but I felt like it was important for me to try to fit in the best that I could. I did receive quite a bit of help from Charlie Wi and that was greatly appreciated.”
Micheel is also quick to point out the great support he received from the Tour.
He said: “In the end, my incredible experience came as the result of the incredible staff from the Asian Tour office, the players that I met and the many people who accepted me and allowed me to enjoy something new!”
After his win in Singapore he made it on to Nike Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour) and won the NIKE Greensboro Open in 1999. And the following year he returned to the PGA Tour, so any chance of returning to play in Asia proved too difficult.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 06: Shaun Micheel of the United States watches his tee shot on the third hole during the first round of the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park on August 06, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Now at 51 years old, he has been competing on the Champions Tour and the European Senior Tour, which he says: “allows me to keep my passport dust free and my experiences fresh.”
He adds: “Many journalists labelled me a journeyman pro like it was a negative. My experiences of competing in over 34 countries is a badge of honour that I share with all who will listen.
“I would never trade my time in Asia for anything. So many of my friendships began in Asia. Thinking of Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, KJ Choi, Jeev Milkha Singh, John Senden and Thongchai Jaidee. I love catching up with these guys and reliving the old days. Maybe one day I can return!”
Ends.
Sentosa, Singapore, August 21: Asian Tour Destinations – an exclusive network of world-class golf venues with direct ties to the Asian Tour – has significantly strengthened its presence in the region with the addition of three premier golf clubs.
Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand; Classic Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, India; and Kota Permai Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have all become part of the exciting network, which will be adding prominent venues from the Asia Pacific region to its portfolio in the near future.
All with a history of hosting prestigious Asian Tour tournaments, they join Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore which was the first golf club to become part of the Asian Tour Destinations network in 2015.
In addition, Asian Tour Destinations has further enhanced its portfolio by partnering with online booking portal Tee Time Saver and the globally leading Customer Service Analysis provider 59Club Asia.
The iconic 18th hole of the New Tanjong and the clubhouse at Sentosa Golf Club.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “We welcome the new venues on board, and we look forward to working with them and further developing our relationships. They represent the top-tier of golfing properties in Asia and are a perfect fit for Asian Tour Destinations.
“Through our combined resources these golf clubs will benefit from the significant value that the Asian Tour and Asian Tour Destinations brand will add to their commercial and strategic goals in combination with support from Tee Time Saver and 59Club Asia.”
The primary mission of Asian Tour Destinations is to provide an affiliate membership programme between the associated venues – with a collective membership base of 7,500 golfers – and the Asian Tour which will help grow the game of golf in the region.
In particular, being a part of the Asian Tour Destinations network means that each venue is certified Tour caliber and operates a comprehensive range of facilities and services to their members and guests under tournament-ready conditions all-year round.
Among the core benefits, Asian Tour members will be able to play and practice at each venue facilitating for the members at each club to enjoy direct engagement with the region’s best golfers.
“Black Mountain is delighted be part of this new community of leading golf courses. We pride ourselves on being a desirable destination for visitors from all over the world and our association with the Asian Tour and Asian Tour destinations will truly help with this objective. Several Tour players already base themselves at our property and we look forward to welcoming more in the future as well as the members from the other Asian Tour Destination clubs around Asia,” said Harald Elisson, General Manager, Black Mountain.
The renowned Hua Hin venue has played host to a number of Asian Tour sanctioned tournaments including the Black Mountain Masters, the Thailand Classic, the King’s Cup, and the Royal Trophy.
Classic Golf & Country Club
“Classic Golf and Country Club has worked hard to build an international profile that highlights our world-class venue and so our new relationship with Asian Tour Destinations network is the perfect conduit for this, among many other benefits,” added Deepak C. Menezes, the Managing Director of Landbase India Ltd., Classic Golf & Country – venue for the Panasonic Open India, the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship, and the Sail Open.
“Kota Permai Golf & Country Club has always embraced the spirit of providing the best golfing experience possible to all our patrons. As one of the leading golf clubs in Malaysia, we would like to ensure that we are aligned with other elite clubs in Asia plus the region’s foremost professional golf Tour. Becoming a member of Asian Tour Destinations is an honour and an exciting opportunity for Kota Permai to showcase our pristine golf course, excellent club facilities as well as warm hospitality. We look forward to welcoming both Tour players and Asian Tour Destinations members alike,” said Tang Meng Loon, Director of Club, Township & Property Management at Gamuda Land.
Kota Permai Golf and Country Club
The golf club has been hosting events on the Asian Tour for nearly 20 years such as the Volvo Masters of Asia, the Selangor Masters and more recently the 2020 Bandar Malaysia Open.
Sentosa Golf Club, home of the Asian Tour and the SMBC Singapore Open, has enjoyed its role as a founding member of Asian Tour Destinations.
“Sentosa Golf Club boasts a strong bond with the Asian Tour and our involvement with Asian Tour Destinations allows us to push ahead with one of our key roles, which is to help the golf industry in the region, as a whole, attain new levels of quality and excellence. We look forward to working with the venues who have recently joined,” said Andy Johnston – General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club.
In addition, Asian Tour Destinations has established a partnership with the Tee Time Saver to promote its network of venues. Tee Time Saver provides an integrated search and booking engine for golfers to easily find the best tee-time and golf packages available for Asian Tour Destinations venues. They will also produce dedicated content on their website and social media platforms for golf fans to have in-depth reviews from Asian Tour professionals on the destination venues including strategies to adopt when playing signature holes.
As the leading sales & service analyst and performance training provider in Asia, 59club Asia delivers the resources to significantly improve and maintain sales & service etiquette, in turn increasing customer satisfaction, revenue and ultimately profits. 59club Asia are the only company in golf industry that rewards venues achieving improved customer service levels, recognised though mystery shopping audits, presenting Service Excellence Awards, famously known as the ‘Oscars’ of the industry.
Ends.
Indonesia’s budding young golf star Danny Masrin, like the vast majority of members on the Asian Tour, has chosen to use the current downtime – caused by the coronavirus pandemic – wisely and constructively.
“I decided to go back to school,” says Masrin.
“I have been doing an online Masters programme, which I started in May. It’s with the Thunderbird school, through Arizona State University. I thought if I am ever going to do it, now is the time.”
Keeping the mind sharp is a smart move by the 27-year-old as he is as eager as anyone to get back in action when the Asian Tour resumes.
Prior to lockdown gripping the region in March, Masrin unlocked his potential and found what it takes to play and compete with the best in the region.
He explains: “From the end of last year I was playing really good golf – since the BNI Indonesian Masters until the Bandar Malaysia Open. There were six tournaments there where I had two top-10s, three top-15s, I was playing pretty good. I was really happy.”
He had struggled to find his feet on Tour since turning professional in 2015, but last year his patience and conviction started to pay off.
In the middle of the year, his upswing in fortunes started when he made the cut in seven tournaments in a row, including finishing seventh at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei.
And then came the BNI Indonesian Masters in December at Royal Jakarta Golf Club.
“I was 55th on the Order of Merit going into the BNI Indonesian Masters – I was kind of on the edge, and I really wanted to finish higher. People were saying you are safe but the higher you are the better it is,” said the Indonesian.
Impressively, he overcame the pressure of fighting for his Tour card, and playing in front of his home support, to produce a breakthrough performance and finish in a tie for fifth – his best finish on Tour.
He says a big factor contributing to that result was having his mentor, Teddy Harmidy, caddie for him.
“To have Teddy, a good friend and mentor as my caddie was amazing. We play and practice all the time. It just gave me a level of comfort,” he says.
“Everything clicked there at the right time. We both know that course very well. So it was a matter of executing.”
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After that result he headed to the Thailand Masters – the final event of the year – brimming with confidence.
He says: “I still remember how much of a relief it was going to Thailand for the last event, as I had secured my card. I could just go out and play, there was no pressure any more. Knowing that I would get into a lot more tournaments, and that I could actually prepare. In the past it was like you might get into this tournament but you might not. Sometimes you had to be ready to leave at last minute notice.”
It was indeed a new dawn for the young Indonesian: he finished in the top-20 in Thailand, and in early 2020 he recorded a top-30 finish in the Hong Kong Open, captured equal eighth place in the SMBC Singapore Open and ended joint 13th in the Bandar Malaysia Open.
But, unfortunately, soon after Malaysia the Tour had to hit the pause button because of coronavirus.
“I have been in Jakarta since then, it’s probably the longest I have been in Jakarta,” says Masrin, who attended Bradley University, in Illinois, where he played on the golf team.
“After that solid start to the year, the schedule had been looking really good with events going two weeks on, two weeks off through to August but then we have to go through this.”
Masrin has since been playing and practicing and as he says: “keeping the body warm and in shape, and ready to play again.”
“I used to be of the mindset that if I take too many days off, I won’t be ready to play but it has been nice to know that if I take a few days off my body is still ready to play again at a high level,” he says.
“I am still playing pretty well, there have been moments during these five months when I wished there were tournaments to play in but there is nothing you can do about it.”
He practices at the Royale Jakarta, Pondok Indah and BSD courses and has been buoyed by the fact that the local Tour is aiming to stage an event each month from September until the end of the year.
“It is something to look forward to as we have not played in so long,” says Masrin, who has won seven events on local tour, with the most recent last year.
Masrin was also aiming to play in this summer’s Olympics and was bitterly disappointed it was postponed.
“For the longest time, for the last two and a half years, one of my biggest aims was to qualify for the Olympics. To have an Indonesian player represented at golf in the Olympics was the ultimate goal,” he says.
“This year we were coming down to the final stretch in the run up to Tokyo, I was on track to qualify and that’s why I was so excited I was playing well, but then obviously things changed, and now I will prepare for the tournaments I need to play in order to qualify for next year.”
There is no doubt that there is now huge cause for optimism for Masrin – thanks to his new found form and fine performances.
That has not always been the case over the past few years.
“There are a lot of struggles in golf, from the mental side, to the physical side, to the golf swing,” he says.
“There was a time in 2017 when I was playing really poorly, and I thought about quitting golf and I thought about what my options were. But when I first started playing professionally, I said I would give myself three to five years to see if professional golf was a stable career for myself and I have stayed true to that.
“Golf is a tough sport to be in as it is so uncertain. From week to week, it’s tough as you don’t know if you will have 10 weeks of missed cuts, with 10 weeks of spending money without making money, or you win one event and everything changes.”
As well as Teddy Harmidy – a former Indonesian national player, who played with American star David Duval on the Georgia Tech golf team in the United States – playing an important role in his success, a more holistic approach has also been key.
“What I have done well, the last year and a half, is I have started to focus on the statistics more. I have broken it down into more of the technical side, not of the swing, but the numbers of what needs to be focused on. I think I have a very good idea of what my strengths are and what my weaknesses are. I have been able to focus on those areas over the past 18 months.”
The analytical strategy has clearly worked and with a Masters degree imminent, he will be more applied than ever when the region once again opens up to tournament golf.
Ends.
At last weekend’s PGA Championship, there was a real possibility that a player from Asia would lift the famous Wanamaker Trophy.
The huge audience of golfers, and non-golfers, watching west of the Pacific tuned in to see if China’s Li Haotong could prevail after leading at the halfway mark.
Sadly, his challenge failed to materialize over the weekend while Asia had some consolation in the fact that the winner, America’s shining new-star Collin Morikawa, is half Japanese.
And so the quest by Asia to produce a winner of a Major to match Korean Y.E. Yang’s legendary victory in the 2009 PGA Championship continues.
That memorable win was, in fact, achieved 11 years ago on this day.
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
In what is another significant moment in time that feels like only yesterday, Yang became the first Asian-born player to win a Major.
He surpassed the previous best performances by Asians in Majors, which were runner-up finishes by Chinese Taipei’s Lu Liang-huan in the 1971 Open Championship; Isao Aoki, from Japan, in the 1980 U.S. Open; and Chinese Taipei’s Chen Tze-chung in the 1985 U.S. Open.
Li also came close in 2017 when he claimed third place in The Open while Korean K.J. Choi was third in the 2004 Masters – and fourth in the same event six years later.
The 91st PGA Championship was played at Hazeltine National Golf Club and Yang’s victory was one of the biggest upsets of the century and had a seismic impact on the game of golf because not only did he break Asia’s duck at Majors but he also defeated American superstar and world number one Tiger Woods.
Woods had already won 14 Majors – at that time, it would have been inconceivable to think his next one would be the Masters in 2019 – and he had never lost any tournament on American soil when leading by more than one shot.
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea (2nd L) celebrates a birdie putt on the 18th green alongside Tiger Woods (2nd R) during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Yang, a 37-year-old who attended the PGA Tour qualifying school nine months before, was ranked 110 in the world and was barely known State side.
But that was the beauty of his moment of glory, as it was a victory sealed by stealth.
Unknown and unheralded in America, he arrived at Hazeltine already a prolific winner in Asia having claimed four titles in Japan and two on the Asian Tour.
He had also fired a warning shot early on in 2009 by winning the Honda Classic in March – becoming only the second player from the Land of Morning Calm to win on the PGA Tour. Choi was the first in 2002.
A fine victory it was but it did little to alert experts in the game about what was to happen five months later in the final Major of the year.
And as expected, Woods was dominant over the first three days at Hazeltine and appeared on course to collect his fifth PGA Championship.
He was the central character in a golden era for the game thanks to his divine brilliance.
Yang had started poorly with a one-over-par 73 but gained some confidence the next day by firing a 70 to move into the top-10 – trailing Woods by six.
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after his three-stroke victory at the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
But Yang used all of his powerful well built-frame – matched only by his illustrious countryman Choi – to move into contention on day three. He fired a 67 to sit two back of Woods in joint second with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington – the defending champion and already a three-time Major winner.
The Korean was in exalted company – but this was a Major – and the occasion became even more sublime when he was paired with Woods on the final day.
On the front nine, Woods was out of sorts and three-putted for bogey at number four and made bogey from the bunker on eight to make the turn in two over. That meant Yang drew level.
They were still tied with five holes to play when Yang delivered a knockout blow, much in the same way that Morikawa did when he made eagle on the par-four 16th at TPC Harding last Sunday.
Woods had appeared to have the upper hand and was in birdie range at the par-four 14th, but Yang sensationally countered by chipping in from 60 feet for eagle to take the lead by one.
And he had maintained that slim advantage by the time they reached the par-four 18th, where Yang was called upon again to conjure one final bit of magic.
For his second shot, a tree slightly blocked his view of the flag and with Woods in the fairway, Yang needed to hit the shot of his life.
He duly accepted the challenge, and with his three-iron hybrid he cleared a bunker and saw his ball come to rest 12 feet away, where he made birdie to seal a history-making victory.
He closed with a 70 for a three-stroke victory over Woods, who shot a final-round 75 after missing a short par putt on the last for his worst score ever in the final round of a Major when he was in the last group.
“It’s not like you’re in an octagon where you’re fighting against Tiger and he’s going to bite you, or swing at you with his nine-iron,” said Yang, after through an interpreter. “The worst that I could do was just lose to Tiger. So I really had nothing much at stake.”
“This might be my last win as a golfer,” added Yang. “But it sure is a great day.”
“All the other 14 major championships I’ve won, I’ve putted well for the entire week,” Woods said. “And today, that didn’t happen.”
“He [Yang] went out there and executed his game plan. He was doing exactly what you have to do, especially in these conditions. I think he played beautifully.”
Yang finished on eight-under 280 and won US$1.35 million, along with a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour and the Majors.
Y.E. Yang of South Korea after sinking his putt to win August 16 ,2009 at the 91st PGA Championship at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. At right is Tiger Woods of the US . AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Even Korea’s president, Lee Myung-bak, got up before sunrise to watch the tournament live. He later phoned Yang to offer his congratulations.
“I woke up at dawn today to watch the broadcast, and you played in a calm manner,” Lee told Yang, according to Lee’s office. “First of all, you enhanced our people’s morale by winning the Major title for the first time as an Asian.”
It was indeed a triumph of great magnitude on a day when Yang rode into Mayor City, made a Major name for himself and Majored in the game of life.
Ends.
It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of Siddikur Rahman’s victory in the Brunei Open – which took place on this day a decade ago.
It is one of the most inspirational stories in the world of professional golf.
Siddikur was born in destitute Dhaka city – where his father worked as a taxi-driver and he had to support his family by taking on odd jobs, when just a child.
At the age of nine his search for employment led him to Kurmitola Golf Club, where they were looking for ball boys for the members.
It was there that he learned to play the game, using a “bespoke” golf club he made by securing the head of an old iron to a metal rod.
And when the Golf Club decided to form a national team by selecting the best players from the ball boys and caddies – of which there were over 100 – Siddikur was the standout pick.
Siddikur worked as a ball boy at the Kurmitola Golf Club when he was 9. Can you spot him in this picture?
It was an outrageous introduction to the game of golf and one that makes his rise to become a winner on the Asian Tour all the more remarkable.
He had arrived at the Brunei Open – played on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at the Empire Hotel and Country Club, in Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan – practically a rookie having joined the Asian Tour a year earlier.
And he had only played in 17 events on Tour in total up to that point.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM – JULY 30: Siddikur of Bangladesh, (L), celebrates a birdie putt with his caddy Joohari Backer of Malaysia during round two of the 2010 Brunei Open at Empire Hotel & Country Club on July 30, 2010 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
However, he did boast some impressive credentials having claimed numerous amateur titles – in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and India – and three events on the Professional Golf Tour of India.
A few months before Brunei he had also tied for eighth in the Queen’s Cup in Thailand for his first top-10 finish.
Boasting prize money of US$300,000 this was the sixth staging of the Brunei Open.
A strong field had entered the popular event including India’s Gaganjeet Bhulllar and Anirban Lahiri, Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang and many others.
Siddikur, the new kid on the block, aged just 25, and the first Bangladeshi to play on the Asian Tour made a fine start shooting a seven-under-par 64.
His front nine would have alerted the field that something special had arrived on Tour from the most unexpected place: he made a hole-in-one on the par-three fourth, with a six iron, and carded four birdies for an exceptional six-under-par 29.
However, it wasn’t enough to take the lead as Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot equaled the course record with an astonishing 62.
The lead would come on day two though as he cruised in with a bogey-free 67 to take to the front on 11-under, for a two-stroke lead over Thammanoon and Australian Adam Groom.
Round three lived up to its billing as ‘moving day’ and saw Siddikur, who carded a 70, joined at the top of the leaderboard by another emerging star, Malaysian Ben Leong, who shot 67.
They led on 12-under while Groom, Lin, and South African Jbe Kruger slipped into third, one stroke behind.
And with Lahiri only two back, China’s Zhang Lian-wei three behind, and Bhullar and Pagunsan four adrift, the stage was set for an absorbing final day.
On Sunday, Siddikur got off to a dream start when he sensationally eagled the par-four first hole and birdied the second and fourth to make the turn in four-under-par 31.
Despite that, his first victory on the Asian Tour would not be a walk in the park as Kruger, another youngster looking for his maiden win, toured the front nine in 30.
That saw Kruger, playing two groups ahead of Siddikur, draw level with the Bangladeshi and put the tournament on course for a dramatic finish.
Unexpectedly, the South African double-bogeyed the 11th but bounced back with birdies on 12 and 17 before setting a clubhouse lead on 16 under.
A birdie by Siddikur on the 13th meant he led by one with five to play and he had a chance to extend that to two with four-foot birdie putt on 17.
However, that slipped by and he needed a par at the last to secure his first Asian Tour win.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM – JULY 30: Siddikur of Bangladesh, (L), celebrates a birdie putt during round two of the 2010 Brunei Open at Empire Hotel & Country Club on July 30, 2010 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
He left himself a 15-foot par putt on 18 to lift the trophy but the golfing Gods had decreed it was slightly too early to create history. The putt did not drop and the tournament went into a sudden-death play-off on the last.
Fortunately, for Siddikur, the onus was on his South African opponent to deal with a putt packed with pressure on the first play-off hole.
Kruger had to hole a 10-footer for par to deny Siddikur victory but he was unable to hold back the hope of 160 million Bangladeshis.
The South African missed the putt and Siddikur was crowned the first player from Bangladesh to win on the Asian Tour.
“It is very exciting. I’m the first Bangladeshi to play on the Asian Tour and in the two years that I’m on Tour, I have won a tournament. It is unbelievable,” said Siddikur, who earned a cheque for US$47,550.
“I didn’t expect to win. Thankfully, everything clicked and I was able to win. I hope to inspire more people to take up the game of golf in Bangladesh. This is a good victory for me and my country,” said Siddikur.
There is no doubt that that first triumph was his most important and gave him the confidence to go much further in the game.
He went on to win the Indian Open in 2013, compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics – where he was the flag bearer for his nation – and earn over US$2 million, and counting, in prize money on the Asian Tour.
The win in Brunei was a turning point and a Cinderella story which made him a sporting hero in his country.
“I started with a dream and it has taken me this far. Faith, courage and perseverance made that possible too. It’s a different life now but I never forget where I come from. I’m not shy of my past and I’m proud of it. I have come a long way,” said Siddikur.
“Life is never smooth sailing but my childhood has taught me all about survival. In these difficult times, it’s even more important to stay close to those values. You have always got to think positively as difficult times will eventually pass.”
Ends.
Sentosa, Singapore, July 31: Teen sensation Joohyung Kim of Korea has been proclaimed the winner of the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing after officials decided to conclude the third edition of the series following the cancellation of the Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship which was slated to take place in Japan this September.
The Panasonic Swing, a ranking based on aggregate points earned by players at selected tournaments across Asia, was originally planned to span across events in five countries, with the top-three finishers sharing a total prize purse of US$150,000 via a bonus pool reward scheme.
Disruptions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, have forced officials to conclude the 2019/2020 Panasonic Swing where the top-three winners will now be decided based on points accumulated from three events – 2019 Thailand Open, 2019 Panasonic Open India and 2019 BNI Indonesian Masters. The total prize purse has also been adjusted accordingly to US$90,000.
Kim, who turned 18 years old last month, will take home a bonus prize of US$50,000 after sealing the top spot with a total of 2,172.60 points. Kim claimed a notable tied-sixth finish at the Thailand Open, where he made his second Asian Tour start last season and first after securing three victories on the Asian Development Tour the same year.
The talented Korean went on to clinch a sensational breakthrough at the Panasonic Open India a week later, becoming the second youngest professional to win on the Asian Tour at the age of 17 years and 149 days.
He would then conclude his dream rookie season with a tied-21st place finish at the BNI Indonesian Masters, which has now become the third and last leg of the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing.
“I’m thrilled to win the Panasonic Swing. It has been a solid run for me. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in my journey so far. A big thank you to Panasonic for their support as well. This is a great boost to me. I will continue to work hard,” said Kim.
Kim’s amazing run spilled over to the 2020 season, where he secured back-to-back top-five finishes in four starts to sit in sixth place on the current Order of Merit.
His fourth-place result at the SMBC Singapore Open earned him a coveted spot at The 149th Open, which will now be held at Royal St. George’s in 2021.
His Major debut, however, came earlier than expected as he is now set to tee up in the PGA Championship next week, thanks to his first victory on home soil which saw him break into top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) earlier this month.
India’s Shiv Kapur, winner of the inaugural Panasonic Swing, came in second with 1,960 points while American John Catlin took third place with 1,903.60 points. They will take home prize purses of US$25,000 and US$15,000 respectively from the reward scheme.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “Panasonic has always been a great supporter of the Asian Tour. We are very thankful for their continued commitment and contributions in promoting professional golf across the region despite the challenging circumstances the world is experiencing in 2020.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to shorten the third edition of the Panasonic Swing but I believe the long-lasting partnership we have forged over the years will continue to grow as we strive for more collaborations in future seasons.”
Tetsuro Maruyama, Head of Secretary Office at the Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship, said: “We would like to congratulate Kim on winning the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing. Kim’s a really talented player and his performance has been impressive. We wish him continued success and we believe he will become a world-class player soon!
“Although the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing was forced to be shorten, we are very pleased to stage three successful editions with the Asian Tour. Not only did we witness exciting golfing action, but we also did our part to support the players and promote the game of golf across the region. Furthermore, we had a confident that the sports always create a better life and a better world for people.
“We would like to thank the Asian Tour and their players for their participation. We look forward to the day when we can play and enjoy the game peacefully again.”
Ends.
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