Tour Insider: BNI Indonesian Masters
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
The Tournament
The US$750,000 BNI Indonesian Masters will be played for the ninth consecutive year and during its history has seen two of the game’s top players and former world number ones win the title.
When Englishman Lee Westwood won the inaugural edition in 2011, the victory brought him back to the number one position on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) two months after losing the top spot to Martin Kaymer of Germany.
Westwood successfully defended his title in 2012, and also won the event in 2015, becoming the only three-time winner of the BNI Indonesian Masters.
While countryman Justin Rose did not reach number one on the OWGR with his win here in 2017, he did have a chance at last year’s event to reclaim the number one ranking he had briefly held twice earlier in 2018.
In tied-fourth place and in prime position to do so after three rounds, a tied-16th with one player would have allowed him to snatch the number one spot for at least one week, while a tied-12th or better would have guaranteed Rose the coveted world number one spot at the end of the year.
However, in an uncharacteristic final round that included a double-bogey on the second hole and a fatal triple-bogey eight after a four-putt on the par-five 12th, Rose settled for a tied-17th and saw his chance to end the year on top of the rankings disappear.
A player that did not make many mistakes in the final round last year was overnight leader Poom Saksansin of Thailand who fired a four-under-par 68 to claim the trophy by three shots over compatriot Jazz Janewattanond on 20-under-par 268.
Poom, already a winner of this title in 2016, also received the added bonus of an invitation to the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee for winning the event, along with 24 important OWGR points.
At last year’s event there were no fewer than five Thai players in the top eight spots, in addition to Jazz in second, Panuphol Pittayarat finishing third, Thitiphun Chuayprakong fifth and Jakraphan Premsirigorn in tied-seventh place.
The Course
The Royale Jakarta Golf Club has hosted the BNI Indonesian Masters every year since its inception, and this prestigious club on the outskirts of Jakarta will play as a par-72 at 7,368 yards from the championship tees this year.
The course rewards accurate tee-shots and staying out of the rough in order to take advantage of the scoring holes, the par-fives should be attacked from the fairway rather than the rough. It also has some strong par-fours where distance off the tee is an advantage, but from recent results it has also been proven that you do not have to be a long hitter to win here.
For example: two-time winner Poom ranked 136th in driving distance on the Asian Tour in 2018 with 266 yards, and at last year’s event he was ranked 100th with 263.5 yards off the tee.
Thai players have had more success here than any other nationality in the last five editions of the event. Out of the 54 players who has finished inside the top-10 in the last five years, 20 (or 37%) have been from the Kingdom.
The Contenders
Poom Saksansin
The defending champion has proven his ability to win at this course and will likely feel energized and very confident coming back to the venue which has rewarded him with two out of his three Asian Tour victories.
Even though the season has not been what Poom was hoping for after his big win here in the end of 2018, the good memories of Royale Jakarta Golf Club could help him finish the year on a good note and rescue an otherwise forgettable season.
Jazz Janewattananond
Having just secured the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last week after his closest pursuer Scott Hend elected not to play in Mauritius, Jazz now has an even bigger target to shoot for this week: finishing the year inside the top 50 on the OWGR and thereby earning himself a place in the Masters field next year.
A win this week will be worth a minimum of 20 OWGR points, which would likely be enough to ensure that he finishes the year inside the top 50. He is also scheduled to play next week at the Thailand Masters, so two second-place finishes (depending on number of ties) could also be enough.
His record this year speaks for itself, with two wins at the SMBC Singapore Open and Kolon Korea Open and 13 other top-10 finishes in the region. He clearly also likes the course as shown by his runner-up finish last year and tied-fifth back in 2014.
Scott Hend
Even though Hend can no longer catch Jazz in the Order of Merit race, the 10-time Asian Tour winner will be looking to add to this tally and finish the year in style.
When the big-hitting Australian is in form he is very difficult to beat, and after a two-week break he should show up in Jakarta well rested and refreshed after a long season playing the Asian and European Tours.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert
The winner of the Sabah Masters, who triumphed in a four-way playoff two weeks ago, has been in fine form the last month, having lost in a playoff at the Thailand Open and finishing tied-14th at the Panasonic Open India. He also had another top-10 finish at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open in September where he finished tied-sixth.
Pavit has also been playing great golf at home on the All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT), posting eight top-10s in 10 events so far this season.
Currently in 14th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, a high finish this week could ensure that he eclipses his previous best year-end position of 12th from 2016 when he won the Venetian Macao Open.
Joohyung Kim
Korean “young gun” Kim has been one of this season’s breakout players, with a win at the recent Panasonic Open India and two other top-six finishes in only four Asian Tour starts this season. His worst result of the four events was a tied-12th at the Sabah Masters, missing out on another top-10 by only one shot.
He also won three times on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this year to earn a battlefield promotion to the Asian Tour and has four other top-five finsiheson that tour since the year began.
Kim has been getting some global attention on Twitter thanks to OWGR guru Nosferatu, or @VC606 as his handle is called, who has pointed out that Kim’s career top-10 percentage of 52.0% is second only to Tiger Woods at 57.6%. An extremely impressive start to his young career as a professional.
Rory Hie
Hie is enjoying his best season on the Asian Tour and became the first Indonesian to win an Asian Tour event at the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in India in September. He opened the event with an eight-under-par 64 and won the event wire-to-wire.
Since taking his maiden title nearly three months ago, Hie has been playing very solid golf and is coming off a tied-12th at the Sabah Masters and a tied-fifth at the Panasonic Open India in his last two events.
He also has a top-10 in this event previously when he finished tied-ninth in 2011, the best result for an Indonesian player since the event started.
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
The Tournament
The €1,000,000 (approximately US$1,152,000) AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Sunshine Tour, and has been on the Asian Tour schedule since it’s inception in 2015. The event has been the scene of considerable success for Asian Tour players during the four editions.
In 2016 Korean Jeunghun Wang birdied the 72nd hole to win the event by one shot over fellow Asian Tour player Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, preventing the latter to become the first Bangladeshi to win an event co-sanctioned with the European Tour.
Arjun Atwal of India came very close to claiming the trophy in 2017 when he birdied the last hole to get into a playoff against South African Dylan Frittelli, who would eventually win with a birdie on the first extra hole.
Last year it was Asian Tour player Kurt Kitayama of the U.S. who drew the longest straw, winning the event by two shots over Chikkarangappa S. from India and France’s Matthieu Pavon. It was Kitayama’s first win on Tour and he followed it up a few months later with a win in Oman on the European Tour.
Another memorable moment came in 2015 when Spanish Asian Tour player Javi Colomo came to the par-four ninth hole on Friday, his last hole of the day, needing a birdie to make the cut. Instead of making the necessary birdie to make the cut, Colomo aced the 322-yard hole with a driver to record the first ever hole-in-one on a par-four on either of the three sanctioning tours.
The Course
This year’s venue Heritage Golf Club in Domaine de Bel Hombre was also used in 2015 and 2017 and has been voted as one of the top-10 courses in Africa. The Peter Matkovich designed course will play as a par-72 at 7,106 yards from the championship tees.
Situated right on the south coast of the island of Mauritius, players should expect wind to be a factor this week.
The Contenders
Shubhankar Sharma
The 2018 Order of Merit winner came close to winning his third title a few weeks ago at the Turkish Airlines Open when he missed the six-man playoff by only two shots after a final round 64, tying the low round of the day.
Except for the tied-seventh finish in Turkey, Sharma also had a tied-seventh at the Italian Open, another Rolex Series event, and could be on the way back to the form that won him the Joburg Open and Maybank Championship in the span of a few months in 2017-2018.
John Catlin
Having recently won the Thailand Open in a three-man play-off after an immaculate approach to set up a birdie on the first extra hole, Catlin seems to be returning to the form that saw him win three Asian Tour events in 2018.
After playing the European Tour for most of this season but failing to secure a card at their Qualifying School a couple weeks ago, the Hua Hin based American will be looking for a win this week to get himself back on the European Tour.
Johannes Veerman
A player that did secure his European Tour status at the recent Qualifying School after closing with rounds of 67, 67, 66, and 66 to grab card number 13, Veerman showed remarkable heart by overcoming a rough 74, 74 start to his campaign.
The American quickly followed it up with a tied-seventh at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa last week and seems likely to continue his good run this week in Mauritius.
Shiv Kapur
Having narrowly missed out on notching his fifth Asian Tour victory twice in his last two events after being one of the play-off participants at the Thailand Open, and double bogeying the final hole at the Panasonic Open India to lose by one, Kapur would definitely be the sentimental favorite this week.
Obviously in good form at the moment and coming off a week’s rest at home, Kapur could erase the disappointment of the two recent close calls with a win this week at Heritage Golf Club.
Justin Harding
The two-time Asian Tour winner has been playing a Major and top-tier-event heavy schedule much of this year, thanks to an incredible run in 2018 and early part of 2019 that saw his Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) rise from 716th in early 2018 to a peak of 42nd in May this year.
His year also included a win on the European Tour in Qatar in March and a tied-12th at the Masters, the latter guaranteeing the South African an invitation back to Augusta in 2020.
Harding was also in the mix for a win last week at Leopard Creek on the back nine on Sunday, until a missed birdie opportunity from just off the green on the par-five 13th and a double-bogey on the 14th derailed his challenge and meant he had to settle for a tied-seventh place.
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 24: Read what players have to say following the final round of the Sabah Masters on Sunday.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha) – Final round 65 (-6), Total 271 (-13)
It’s incredible. I really didn’t expect this. I didn’t even expect to get into a play-off. I finished my round early and I already changed out of my golfing attire and getting ready to go to the airport! Had to change back again when I know I’m in the play-off. It’s really incredible.
But this is golf. You never know what will happen till the last minute. I came close to winning the Thailand Open two weeks ago. I felt more pressure that week since it’s my National Open. But this week, I am more relaxed and I think that helped me a lot.
I hit my irons really well today. Putted well too. Didn’t get off to a good start. I dropped a shot on the third but made a lot of birdies after that to make the play-off. I have been working very hard on my game lately. It’s great to finally win.
Since my first win in Macao, I have had some setbacks, battling with a wrist injury. But it’s all in the past now. In golf, you just got to keep trying. You don’t know when it will come so you need to keep trying.
David Gleeson (Aus) – Final round 68 (-3), Total 271 (-13)
I feel good about the last round, I did everything that I wanted to do. I don’t think I really made any sort of, you know, like a crazy sort of errors it was just all very patient which is just a really good feeling.
I made some good birdies; I missed a few more birdies. You know I’m still not driving the ball great, but this course suits me because I can hit some three-woods and irons.
I just really felt quite good today actually, just within myself, and what shots I was trying to hit I was actually almost getting close to matching what I was seeing and feeling without sort of worrying about nerves. So you know that’s a good sign.
I think my game is better than it was back in the past. It’s more complete than back then. I played at a very high sort of emotional level back then. That’s what I have been working on, just to relax and enjoy the game.
Better pre-shot routines are in place and more routines for the whole week are in place. That’s the goal coming to next year, so let’s keep doing this for, well, until seniors, I guess!
Aman Raj (Ind) – Final round 63 (-8), Total 271 (-13)
Everything felt like was working in my way. Especially the putting part, because you know I’ve been hitting it decent saving my pars, but today was all about everything going in. I started with a chip in on the second hole.
Then again made birdie on the fifth hole and missed on the sixth, made a good par on the sixth actually, then seventh and eighth long putts for birdie. On 10th hole I made birdie from like 10 feet so that was good.
On the 11th I again had a chance from eight feet, but missed that, so I’m like that was a chance to like “go”. On the 13th I made birdie, that’s a good hole to make birdie It is kind of tough. I would say the toughest hole on this golf course. And I’ve been bogeying it like two days I believe. So yeah, there, that was the game changer.
I birdied the 15th and 16th and the 17th was a good two-putt from like 30 feet. On the 18th was again a good chip but for par, I tried for the chip-in but at the same time I had to keep my par safe. So, all in all I’m happy with today’s round.
I have been in an amateur play-off once or twice and, like, to be honest I haven’t won a play-off. It feels good to be in an Asian Tour play-off, I’ve never been in a play-off as a professional, so this is the first time.
Coming to the last I knew that I’m close, but at the same time, you know, I was just like, you know, there are a lot of a lot of people playing right now a lot of holes left, anything can happen. So just try your best, whatever you perform and look for it afterwards.
Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha) – Final round 67 (-4), Total 271 (-13)
I quite work hard today because I had a bad start on the front nine and then good to come back with four birdies in a row. I tried to make a couple more birdies more, but I can’t make it. But it’s okay I’m happy in this position right now.
This morning I’m just thinking like I thought maybe, like three rounds, just play my game. This afternoon, the rain came too late and I have to play 18. Still a good finish. I am happy for my friend Pavit. He deserves the win.
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
The Tournament
The Sabah Masters is a brand-new Asian Tour event held at the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and will offer up prize money of US$300,000 of which US$54,000 will be going to the winner.
It is the ninth full-field event of the year and it will be a great chance for many of the non-exempt players in the field this week to go for a win and secure their Asian Tour cards for the 2020 season.
The Course
Sutera Harbour has been used by Asian Tour in the past when it was one of the two courses used for the 2008 Q-School. It is a par-71 course playing to 6,932 yards from this year’s championship tees.
Designed by Australian tour player Graham Marsh who won 70 titles on the Asian Tour, European Tour, Australasian PGA Tour, Japan Tour and PGA Tour in the ’70s and ’80s, it is a flat parkland course right on the Sabah coastline.
From player accounts the greens are quite firm, especially on the back nine, while the surrounding areas are softer. Hitting the fairways should be important this week in order to control the spin into the greens.
When Q-School was held here last time, local hero Ben Leong won his second straight Q-School in front of his local supporters and he certainly has home field advantage this week.
The Contenders
Joohyung Kim
Last week’s winner of the Panasonic Open India has been on a torrid pace all season, and the 17-year-old Kim looks very much like a future world-class player.
Having won the third of his 2019 Asian Development Tour (ADT) titles in October to earn a battlefield promotion to the Asian Tour, the young Korean wasted little time in picking up his first Asian Tour trophy.
After having come down the stretch on Sunday afternoons at both the Thailand Open, where he finished two strokes out of the playoff in tied-sixth, and the Bank BRI Indonesia Open where he finished third, he sealed the deal last week after blitzing the first 10 holes on Sunday by playing them in seven-under-par.
The way he’s playing at the moment there’s no reason to believe that Kim shouldn’t continue this great form this week in Malaysia.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert
The 2016 Macao Open winner has been playing good golf lately, having lost in a playoff at the Thailand Open two weeks ago, and a tied-14th last week in India. He also had a good result at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open where he finished tied-sixth.
On the All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT) Pavit has racked up eight top-10s in 10 outings this season, the last two of those in the weeks leading up to Thailand Open he finished tied-third and tied-second.
Currently 35th on the Order of Merit with over US$90,000 and his card for next year secured, Pavit looks primed to win his second Asian Tour title.
Rashid Khan
With four top-10s in only eight Asian Tour starts and two wins at home on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) this season, Khan has been consistently performing at a high level.
Having lost his card in 2018 after a disappointing season, the two-time Asian Tour winner is now in 24th place on the Order of Merit with over US$117,000 and have secured his status for next year’s Asian Tour season.
With a tied-second at the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in September and a third-place finish in Bangladesh earlier in the year as his best results, it would be no surprise to see Khan at the top of the podium this week in Kota Kinabalu.
Panuphol Pittayarat
Starting out the year with a tied-ninth at the SMBC Singapore Open it remains his only top-10 this season, but with over US$106,000 in earnings he is still inside the top-30 on the Order of Merit.
Known as a very solid ball-striker, Panuphol, or Coco as he’s usually known as on Tour, is always a threat when in form, and he played well last week in Japan where he qualified for the final stage of Japan Golf Tour’s Q-School.
Having recently switched over to an all plant-based diet recommended by close friends, the two-time Asian Tour winner says he feels stronger, lighter and more energized than ever. A good sign for this week in Sabah playing in very hot weather conditions.
Kosuke Hamamoto
One of the hottest rookies this season and a player that looks destined to win on the Asian Tour soon, Kosuke has already been close finishing second to Yikeun Chang at the Yeangder TPC in September.
Add a tied-10th at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open the week before Yeangder and it has been a very impressive start to his career for the young Thai.
With over US$93,000 in earnings Kosuke has already secured his playing rights for next season, a win in the near future could be in the cards.
Yikeun Chang
The highest ranked player on the Order of Merit in the field this week, Chang is currently in 11th place with just over US$200,000.
The Korean already has a win this year at the Yeangder TPC in September, and he also finished runner-up the week before that at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open.
After playing his last two events as part of the PGA Tour’s Asian Swing, The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges and WGC-HSBC Champions, he may have picked up some valuable experience playing against super-star fields that can be put to good use this week.
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