Veerman and Higa triumph
American Johannes Veerman and Kazuki Higa from Japan flew the Asian Tour flag with distinction at the weekend winning on the European Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation respectively.
Veerman, an impressive performer on the Asian Tour since 2016, recorded his first victory in Europe when he won the D+D Real Czech Masters ‒ played at the Albatross Golf Resort.
And fellow Asian Tour member Kazuki Higa registered his second success in Japan by claiming the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup.
Veerman prevailed after a thrilling final round battle with playing partners Tapio Pulkkanen from Finland and Swede Henrik Stenson.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – AUGUST 22: Johannes Veerman of United States poses with the trophy after winning the D+D Real Czech Masters alongside volunteers during Day Four of The D+D Real Czech Masters at Albatross Golf Resort on August 22, 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)
The American shot a stunning four-under-par 68 to finish on 15 under par and claim a two-shot victory.
Pulkkanen and former Asian Tour member Sean Crocker from the United States finished in a tie for second on 13 under, with Stenson and American Paul Peterson – another Asian Tour member who won here in 2016 – another stroke back.
Veerman and Pulkkanen were tied playing the final hole, but the latter found the rough and then water to finish with a double bogey, and hand victory to Veerman, who closed with a par.
“It feels amazing. I was asked if I could put it into words and I can’t,” said 29-year-old Veerman, who last week announced his wife is pregnant.
“When I walked off the green I felt relief more than anything. Being neck-and-neck with Henrik, Tapio and Sean Crocker and a whole bunch of guys – to come out on top, breathe a sigh of relief. I’m elated. I feel amazing.
“To finally break out and win on the European Tour, it’s a dream come true being a European Tour winner. It’s something you practise for when you’re 12/13 years old, imagining making that putt. My putt was only a foot, so I wasn’t so nervous over it. I’ve got to soak it in. I feel amazing.”
Higa was equally as buoyant when he won by two at The North Country Golf Club ‒ an Asian Tour Destinations venue.
Kazuki Higa of Japan (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
A final day four-under-par 68 saw him beat countryman Kunihoro Kamii by two shots.
Kazuki started Sunday two shots behind the leader Kamii, but following a seesaw match Kazuki pulled away after making three straight birdies from the 13th.
“Overall, my goal for today was to tie the tournament record 20 under, and I am glad that I was able to accomplish it,” he said.
Kazuki’s first victory in Japan came at the Sansan KBC Augusta in 2019, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic but will be played this week.
On this day in 2010 a certain Indian golfer became the first from his nation to win on the PGA Tour. Here is the story of how Arjun Atwal bravely prevailed at the Wyndham Championship.
Arjun Atwal has achieved many things during his history-making career.
He is the first from the sub-continent to: win a European Tour event ‒ achieved at the 2002 Caltex Singapore Masters; earn over US$1 million in career earnings on the Asian Tour, in 2003; and taste victory on the Korn Ferry Tour, when he lifted the 2008 Chattanooga Classic trophy.
The list of honours goes on and on: he was the 2003 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, claimed eight titles on the Asian Tour, and recorded three European Tour success.
But if that is the iceberg beneath the surface then the tip is his memorable victory in the Wyndham Championship, at Sedgefield Country Club, on the PGA Tour on August 22 in 2010 ‒ on this day 11 years ago.
It was a success full of emotion and significance.
BENEFITS AND RECORDS
It meant he became the first Indian golfer to clinch a PGA Tour title, but it also allowed him to regain his playing card on the most lucrative tour in the game within weeks of losing it.
And it saw him become the first Monday-qualifier to win on the PGA Tour in 24 years (Fred Wadsworth was the last to achieve such a feat at the 1986 Southern Open).
He was 37 years old at the time, entering the twilight of his career, and having been struggling with his game, partly through injuries, his greatest triumph ‒ which importantly earned him his status on the PGA Tour for the remainder of that year and the next two years ‒ came completely out of the blue.
GREENSBORO, NC – AUGUST 22: Arjun Atwal holds the championship trophy after winning the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 22, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Atwal, who had a three-shot lead going into the final round, carded a three-under-par 67 to secure the title by a shot, from American David Toms, with a total of 20-under-par 260.
“I don’t know if it has sunk in yet, seriously. Obviously, it was a long-time dream but until it happens you just keep doubting yourself. I had my doubts despite a three-shot lead,” said Atwal, at the time. He also picked up a cheque for US$918,000 for his effort.
“I am so glad, I was very nervous, the most nervous I have been in all my life. My swing wasn’t feeling great but I just grinded it out and got it done somehow.”
CALM IN THE STORM
In a composed final day performance, Atwal picked up strokes on the third and fourth holes to be two-under at the turn.
On his way back, he added another two birdies on the 14th and 16th but a bogey on the 12th prevented him from going 21 under, something that his friend and practice partner American Tiger Woods had asked him to aim for the night before the final round in a text message.
“My goal was to get it to 21 under today. I came up one short. Actually, that’s the number my friend Tiger Woods also told me to get to last night,” he said.
“It’s all text, we never talk. He’s busy I guess,” he added.
Atwal mentioned he was glad the Wyndham tournament was televised live in India where his parents were watching, even though it was the middle of the night there.
GREENSBORO, NC – AUGUST 22: Arjun Atwal hits his second shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 22, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
“There’s definitely pride in what I’ve done in my career,” the Indian star said more recently.
“Playing on the Asian Tour taught me a lot and it’s a matter of pride to be first Indian to win on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, European Tour … that’s not bad. I’ve always dreamt about playing here [in the US] and this is the dream. Hopefully I can become the first Indian to win on Champions Tour as well. There may be generations doing much more after me, but they can’t take away being the first. It’s pretty cool coming from a country of 1.3 billion people.”
Bangladesh’s golfing talisman Siddikur Rahman has temporarily upped sticks and based himself in the United States so that he can play and practice more ‒ plus, he is also considering entering next month’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School.
The two-time Asian Tour winner and his wife, Samaun Anjum Auroni ‒ also a professional golfer ‒ are living in Dallas, Texas, where they have some Bangladeshi friends.
“I came for a few weeks, but I don’t know how long ‒ just until things improve back home,” said the 36 year old.
“I am here because in Bangladesh there have been long, long lockdowns, almost 80 percent of the time was lockdown, which only just ended,” said Siddikur.
He said his family were “really scared about COVID” and followed all the rules, didn’t go out and stayed at home. They are all vaccinated.
(Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
The Bangladesh star has been able to make use of a five-year US visa and after a long and testing period, since lockdown started in March 2020, he is now able to play and practice regularly at a number of different venues.
He added: “Even the golf courses were closed [in Bangladesh], sometimes they were open, sometimes they were closed. I just could not practice that much as it was almost like full lockdown. So, I couldn’t do anything, and I got really fed up. That’s why I just said, ‘okay let’s go out!’.”
Much to his frustration he has only played in one tournament in 16 months: a local event played over three rounds on a nine-hole course which, of course, he won.
“I finished five under. The sponsor kindly gave us some money, and we just split the money and played.”
Siddikur first won on the Asian Tour in 2010 at the Brunei Open and triumphed in the Hero Indian Open in 2013 ‒ he has gone on to earn US$2 million in prize money on the Tour.
“My game is rusty and without tournaments, and as professional, we cannot judge our performance,’ said the Bangladeshi.
“To be honest I am not happy with my game for the last one and a half years because I could not play and practice, there were no tournaments. So, I will practice as much as possible and take the decision about the Korn Ferry Qualifying School in a few weeks. I am not yet decided if I will enter my name. I think I have until the end of the month to decide. I have a very good hope.”
(Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
He has only played golf in the US twice before: a practice round at TPC Sawgrass many years ago, and in 2016 he played in a US Open qualifier in Los Angeles.
He said leaving Bangladesh was really hard, but absolutely necessary in order for him to further his career.
Pandemic collateral damage also meant he missed out on playing in the Olympics in Tokyo this summer; if it had been played in 2020 he would have qualified.
He competed in Rio in 2016 where, memorably, he was his nation’s flag bearer.
“I have no regrets, I already played in it. It was a big achievement for me,” he adds.
“I am really hungry to win again. I am just waiting for everything to go back to normal. I want to play again and see everybody. I am missing the Asian Tour a lot, the tournaments, the officials, all my friends.”
The award-winning Angkor Golf Resort ‒ which sits at the doorstep of the famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia ‒ is the latest high-profile golfing venue to become part of Asian Tour Destinations.
The popular resort, which boasts a Sir Nick Faldo-designed 18-hole layout, becomes the ninth golf club to join Asian Tour Destinations ‒ which was launched in 2020 to set up an affiliate network of premier golfing properties in the region that have direct ties with the Asian Tour.
“We are truly proud to be part of the Asian Tour Destinations program,” said David Baron, General Manager, Angkor Golf Resort.
“We are fully aware that the platform is going from strength to strength, and it allows us to align ourselves with some of the region’s leading venues. We look forward to utilizing the platform, enhancing our brand, and welcoming new golfers to our fairways.”
Opened in 2008, Angkor Golf Resort, has a proven track record for hosting tournaments including the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic ‒ the Asian Tour event won by American David Lipsky.
The Resort is also the host venue for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School in Asia, as well as the Faldo Series Asia Cambodian Qualifier, the Angkor Amateur Open and the Angkor Fourball championship.
“We welcome Angkor Golf Resort on board, and we are especially pleased to see them join as our first Cambodian venue,” said Ken Kudo, Associate Director, Partnerships, Asian Tour.
“We look forward to working with them and further developing our relationship. They represent one of the top-tier of golfing properties in Asia and are a perfect fit for Asian Tour Destinations.”
Among the many awards the Resort have won are the: 2016/17 Best Course in Cambodia, World Golf Awards; 2015 IAGTO Excellence Award; 2012 Best Golf Course in Cambodia, Golf Digest US; and 2011-16 The Rolex World Top 1000 Golf Courses.
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)
Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore were the first to join Asian Tour Destination and were later joined by Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand; Classic Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, India; Kota Permai Golf & Country Club and Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, both in Malaysia; Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, Vietnam; and Japan’s Sapporo Country Club and The North Country Golf Club.
Asian Tour Destinations will be adding other prominent venues from the Asia-Pacific region to its portfolio in the near future.
Singapore’s Abdul Hadi made it a memorable first win on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG today when he stormed to a commanding five-shot victory in the circuit’s sixth leg.
The 26 year old completed an eye-catching performance by adding a second and final round four-under-par 67 to his opening day 69 for a tournament total of six, on the demanding Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.
His compatriot Koh Dengshan took sole possession of second place after coming in with a 69, while Singapore’s Jesse Yap shot 71 to finish third ‒ a shot further back.
Singapore’s all-time great Mardan Mamat ended fourth, following a 72, with one of the country’s top females Koh Sock Hwee, who returned a 73.
Hadi, a former national team member who turned professional in 2018, caught fire on the front nine making six birdies and a bogey to make the turn in five-under 31.
It meant he had a huge lead on the inward stretch and could afford to come back on one over, with two bogies and one dropped shot.
“Feels great to have my first Pro Series win!” said Hadi, who is based at the Sentosa Golf Club.
The win is especially good timing as Hadi along with Koh, Yap and Gregory Foo will leave for the United States soon and attempt to make it through the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School.
He added: “I had some inconsistent shots, but I managed to hold it together on the back nine. I feel extremely relieved now, and this definitely builds my confidence as I proceed to Q School next month.”
He was part of the 2015 SEA Games silver medal-winning team and in early 2019 finished first at the Qualifying School for PGA Tour Series-China.
Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza finished as the low amateur after signing for a 73 to tie ninth.
She said: “I’m happy to be playing the Pro Series for the third time and winning the low amateur. I have a few mental notes that keep me going to commit to every single shot which I’m glad worked well for me throughout the day.”
Singapore’s Gregory Foo maintained his lead on the Order of Merit after his second 73; while Hadi moved up into fourth. Yap is second, with Koh in third.
Singapore’s Amanda Tan, who became the first female to win on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG last week, carded a 76 to finish 16th in the 24-player mixed field event.
The week after next will see the seventh leg played from August 25 to 26, while the final season-ending tournament will be held from January 5 to 6. All the remaining events will be played at Sentosa ‒ home of the SMBC Singapore Open.
Each of the Pro Series legs counts towards the ‘Race to FTAG Cup’, where the winner of the Order of Merit will also receive a bonus of S$10,000.
Situated on Vietnam’s ‘golf coast’ in Hue, just north of Da Nang, the magnificent Laguna Golf Lăng Cô is patiently waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to clear so it can resume normal business. In June we spoke to Adam Calver, Director of Golf, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, to get the latest news from the Asian Tour Destinations venue.
In general, how are things at the moment at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô? What level are you operating at?
For the month of May we were closed as a precaution to what was a fourth wave in Vietnam. Our region [Hue] right now has no confirmed cases but we are trying to minimise gatherings as a precaution. But before that we were achieving good numbers in terms of rounds of golf just from the domestic market. So, we were seeing some pretty strong growth domestically until the recent slowdown with provincial travel.
Actually, it was the same last year when we were doing well in number of rounds, but they brought in some social distancing measures which slowed it down. We feel by next month we will be back up seeing some strong numbers again. Last year we were only closed for about three weeks the whole year. This year some of the hot spots in the country are a little closer to us so we have been closed for about a month to minimise travellers.
The pandemic has proved that if you don’t have a strong domestic market, you won’t survive in times of crisis. Most of the city courses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh have had a stong year with high domestic golf demand.
There have been some positives with the pandemic, allowing people to reset and refresh and rebuild. What have been the positives for you?
We took a negative situation and turned it into a positive opportunity to improve the conditioning of the course and review our service standards, and we have done some fairly aggressive renovations. We are finishing our event lawn between the 18th green and the clubhouse to allow for lager event gala dinners. We opened up our 19th Hole which we built last year, and we have a couple new tee boxes we enlarged ‒ made them a little more event friendly as well and we added a new tee to the driving range and three new target greens for our training camps.
Summarise the negatives, but no need to dwell on them.
For us and indeed all the courses on the Vietnam ‘golf coast’ in the Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An area we were seeing phenomenal growth coming into the pandemic; there was a new course opening almost every year in a two-hour radius of Danang International airport, so there was a lot of international hype. There was a lot of interest in the region but as the pandemic closed in we lost about 80% of our golf market. What is fortunate is that we did see a big rebound domestically. The good thing for us was that two of the newest courses opened up in the pandemic, so we think there will be a very strong rebound from the international market with a high demand to come and see the two new courses. The two courses are Hoiana Shores Golf Club and BRG Group opened up their second 18-hole layout which was designed by the Nicklaus group. So, we now have seven courses within a two-hour radius of Da Nang Airport and five of the courses are ranked in Vietnam’s top seven courses, which gives us the country’s most outstanding cluster of golf courses.
Were you the first course built there?
No, we were the third. The first was the Montgomerie Links, then the Greg Norman course at BRG, then Laguna Golf Lăng Cô with Sir Nick Faldo, and then the Luke Donald layout at Ba Na Hills. We opened late 2012 with a grand opening early 2013. I have been with the club four and half years and we upgraded the course in 2017 – 2019 and we were elevated to a Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design status in 2019 as a result. Sir Nick has been hands on with all our enhancements and he hosts his Faldo Series Asia Grand Final each year at our Resort.
Bring us up-to-date on all the facilities that Laguna Golf Lăng Cô has, and indeed anything new being planned.
Here at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô the 18-hole Sir Nick Faldo signature course is the centre piece of the larger integrated destination resort Laguna Lăng Cô. So, Laguna Lăng Cô is part of the Banyan Tree Group’s brand structure that includes multiple hotels, private residences, restaurants, sporting facilities, spas and golf – all stretched out along a 3km beach surrounded by tropical coast mountains.
So at our property we have Banyan Tree residence property which are two and three bedroom private villas with infinity pools along the hill tops overlooking the ocean on the far north side of the property. And then below that is the Banyan Tree hotel with private beach villas and lagoon villas as well as the Banyan Tree Spa, and right beside that is the Angsana Hotel which is a larger hotel structure with its own Angsana Spa and Ballroom and a wider variety of rooms categories – what’s really unique to the Angsana property is that the ocean facing hotel rooms have their own private plunge pools with the Sky Pool rooms having roof top ocean view private pools.
And along the golf course we have the Laguna Park golf residences which are two and three bedroom town homes along the 18th hole, and they are also about 200 metres from the beach and a mix of private pools and gardens.
So, we have a unique property here which is why we have spent a lot of time in the last four years upgrading areas and growing our capacity as our events keep getting bigger and bigger. Since all rooms, villas outlets and the ballroom are within walking distance to the club house it has been a great venue to host numerous tournaments and events.
Despite the current volatility are you able sell property?
Our current offerings for phase one of the Laguna Park units (they are all three-story town homes) are all sold out. And just before the pandemic we launched phase two of the Banyan Tree residences ‒ which is our elite ultra-luxury offerings ‒ and we have sold a dozen of them. We put things on hold for a little while just to see how things played out last year and then we started to reactivate that programme in Q1 this year as we are seeing a high demand for city dwellers seeking private luxury villas and our product is the perfect sanctuary especially if you’re an avid golfer.
Where are your buyers from?
It is a little bit of a mix. Just before COVID they were from throughout Southeast Asia, then for the last 12 to 18 months it has predominantly been domestic investors. We have seen that if you are going to be locked down our resort is a phenomenal place to spend a couple of weeks or months, so we have seen some long-stay guests and now with more people working remotely I am sure we will see more multi-month stays. Even at the beginning of COVID some of our Korean golfers stayed for two to three months
How many golfing properties does Banyan Tree have?
Banyan Tree group is a global hospitality brand. They have expanded into various real estate developments associated with their different brands. They have three golf courses under their direct ownership and management which would be the three Laguna properties: the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô here in Vietnam; their first property Laguna Phuket in Thailand; and Laguna Bintan in Indonesia.
And they do have a number of hotel properties like the Banyan Tree property in Mayakoba in Mexico, which has a Greg Norman designed course as part of the larger resort. Even in Seoul their city hotel has a golf academy attached to it.
You are known for hosting the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. It has been a great success. What was the rationale behind staging it?
With Sir Nick Faldo being our designer, over the years he has come back to Laguna Golf Lăng Cô quite often; I think he has been here almost every year since the course was built ‒ that’s quite exceptional for a golf course designer.
He had been hosting the series in China for about 11 years, and it was brought up that he loved the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô course, and as the course was maturing we moved the tournament here the first year I was here in 2017 as a trial year.
Then we discussed putting more resources behind the event, and some marketing focused on the players, and the last four years it has been phenomenal seeing the growth of the series. We have managed to have Nick here for a week every year hosting the Asia Final. Because of COVID we will have to push the two Faldo Series Asia Grand Finals, 2020 and 2021, to later this year ‒ we will host them back-to-back and then we will be back on track for 2022.
The tournament is really an investment in the future of the game. We see a great value in helping provide an avenue for up-and-coming golfers especially across Asia and having Sir Nick come and host it himself is truly phenomenal and a testament to his commitment to grow golf globally. He hosts a clinic every night throughout the event where he gives short and long game lessons and all the players show up, as well as our members, and hotel guests, and he just puts on these private clinics. We had to put some lights in there some evenings because he went on so long with an enthusiastic audience answering questions and giving some one-on-one lessons to players.
In December last year, you became part of Asian Tour Destinations. What are you hoping to achieve through this relationship?
We have had a good relationship with the Asian Tour overs the years with the support through the Faldo Series and helping to grow the game at amateur and junior level. So, now as we start to step up and look to the future we want to help create opportunities and provide venues for Asian Tour professional events which we think also benefits tourism and exposure for the region. So we are pretty excited about the partnership and we are looking forward to things opening up to start discussions on bigger and better events.
We have had a few proposals going through various levels of tourism to host an Asian Tour event and different sponsorship enquiries but everything has been a start stop process because of COVID. But we feel we are getting to the end of the tunnel so we can move forward with more events for Vietnam as we seek to showcase the quality of the courses in our region. We want to leverage the power of golf to make Vietnam famous. There are an estimated 70,000 golfers in Vietnam and with a population of 95 million it is not unfathomable to think of a million golfers coming out of Vietnam in the next decade and we hope to see a number of them becoming tour players.
Adam Calver, Director of Golf, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô
Singapore’s Amanda Tan showed why she is the nation’s top woman golfer when she became the first female to win on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG today.
A brilliant birdie, birdie finish by Tan on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club – home of the Asian Tour – saw her close with a two-under-par 69 for a two under total, and a ground-breaking three-shot victory over compatriots Shannon Tan, an amateur, and Koh Dengshan.
Tan fired a 72, while Koh, the first-round leader with a 70, carded 73 ‒ in what was the Pro Series’ fifth leg.
Tan’s feat was made even more impressive by the fact that she held off a challenge from her illustrious compatriot Mardan Mamat over the closing holes.
The country’s most successful golfer, with five Asian Tour wins, was also in the hunt for his first Pro Series title but double bogeyed the 16th, opening the door for Tan to finish in style for the victory, and record the only sub-70 score of the event.
Mardan returned his second 72 to tie for fourth on two over with Singaporean Abdul Hadi, who shot the same scores.
“Being the first female to win a FTAG Pro Series event feels just great!” said Tan.
“My putting today was strong. I had some trouble on 14 and 15 but I trusted my golf which kept me strong for the last few holes.”
Tan, who is based at Sentosa Golf Club, earned a cheque for S$3,000 and moved into sixth place on the Order of Merit, with three more tournaments to go on the exciting new eight-leg circuit.
Said Shannon Tan: “I’m very happy to be playing in my first FTAG Pro Series tournament. It was a great experience for me. I would like to thank the SGA for the opportunity, and I definitely look forward to the next one.”
Singapore’s Greg Foo remained the leader of the Order of Merit, with earnings of S$7,650, after signing for a 73 for ninth place.
Amateur Justin Kuk from Singapore, who finished runner-up in the Singapore Open Amateur Championship last month, returned a 76 to place eighth while Singapore’s Hailey Loh, who won the women’s division of the Singapore Amateur, shot a 77 for a respectable 15th position.
This week’s tournament marks the start of a busy month for the new circuit, as leg six takes place next week from August 11 to 12, while the seventh event tees-off from August 25 to 26.
The final season-ending tournament will be held from January 5 to 6; with all the remaining events to be played at Sentosa ‒ home of the SMBC Singapore Open.
Each of the Pro Series legs counts towards the ‘Race to FTAG Cup’, where the winner of the Order of Merit will also receive a bonus of S$10,000.
Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul says he worked out something on the back nine on Sunday in the final round of the Olympic men’s golf competition that might translate to better results moving forward this year.
The rising star closed with a four-under-par 67 after three successive 71s to finish on four under in a tie for 45th place, at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better round to finish off. I was very consistent again not seeing a red figure,” Gunn said.
“But I kind of figured out something towards the back nine, I know it’s a bit too late, but it was good to get something going for when Japan (Tour) starts again. “
He stormed through the back nine in three-under-par 32 with four birdies and one dropped shot.
Gunn plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Men’s golf event at Tokyo 2020 at Kasumigaseki Country Club on July 29, 2021 in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“I think I kind of bend my knee too much and I think that kind of shallows my swing too much,” he added.
“I have always been hitting down on the ball a lot steeper. But if I bend my knee too much I try and scoop everything and I miss everything right. It makes it really hard to trust yourself and it made the week a bit harder ‒ it is just some basic stuff that I forget over time.”
He was one of two Thais in the Olympic 60-man field along with countryman Jazz Janewattananond and one of seven Asian Tour players.
Gunn has been playing on the Asian and Japan Tours over the past few seasons and has been one of the most consistent performers with many expecting a first victory to come soon.
He has been plagued by a left thumb injury for most of this year ‒ the unfortunate consequence of trying to hit the ball like American Bryson DeChambeau last year ‒ and plans to spend this week at the Olympic village while getting treatment from the physio.
He said: “I am not quite sure what my plan is yet, will try and sort something out with my physio and see how it goes.”
Gunn watches his shot from the 14th tee in round two of the Men’s golf at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on July 30, 2021. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
The Japan Tour resumes later in August, and he is hoping to be ready for that, while if his thumb has not healed by then he might have the option of a medical exemption.
As for his Olympic experience, he is certainly ready for more.
“It was the first time playing something bigger than yourself. Hopefully I get to play again in Paris. Hopefully by then we will have crowds and everything will be back to normal.”
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond says the disappointment of not being able to finish among the medals was outweighed by simply having the chance to compete in his first Olympics.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion ‒ one of seven Asian Tour players competing in Tokyo 2020 ‒ carded a final round three-under-par 68 today at Kasumigaseki Country Club to tie for 27th.
The 26 year old finished nine under for the tournament ‒ which, during an exhilarating final day, saw American Xander Schauffele take gold, Rory Sabbatini from Slovakia win silver, and Chinese-Taipei’s CT Pan prevail in an epic seven-man sudden-death play-off to claim bronze.
“I am literally just happy to be here,” said Jazz, who started brilliantly with an opening round 64 to sit second but was unable to maintain that form and followed up with a 71 and 72.
(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
“The result over the last three days was not the result I was looking for, but I am happy to be here, and I will take away the good things.
“It was weird, in a normal tournament you grind out a result, but this week was a different grind. But I didn’t get super angry. I actually enjoyed it when I realised I didn’t have a chance [to win a medal].”
He needed to go low today to have an opportunity of winning a medal ‒ like Sabbatini did in shooting an Olympic record 61 to storm through to second. Birdies on five and six suggested he was making a move, but he dropped a shot on nine, and played the back half in two under.
Added Jazz: “The first round was great for sure, seven under par, hitting those great shots. Staying in the village was an experience but just playing for the country was the best feeling I will take away.”
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Zimbabwean Scott Vincent had the distinction of finishing as the leading Asian Tour player after closing with a 67 to tie for 16th, on 11 under.
India’s Anirban Lahiri fired a 72 to share 42nd place and improve on his 57th position in Rio in 2016; while Gunn Charoenkul from Thailand left his best for last, carding a 67 to tie for 45th.
ENDS
Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and fellow Asian Tour players Anirban Lahiri from India and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond all have an outside chance of finishing in the medals after another gripping day at the Olympic men’s golf competition today.
Vincent impressed in round three shooting one of the lowest scores of the day, a five-under-par 66, to move to seven under for tournament ‒ which is seven strokes behind American Xander Schauffele, who leads on 14 under after carding a 68.
Lahiri, one of the few players in the field to have competed in Rio five years ago, also fared well returning a 68 to lie a further shot back along with Jazz, who signed for a 72.
Jazz plays his shot from the 13th tee during the third round (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
All three will have to shoot low on Sunday at Kasumigaseki Country Club to challenge for honours.
Jazz did just that on day one when he came in with a 64, to sit second, but frustrating rounds of 71 and 72 have followed. He was paired with Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry today, who both excelled, firing 67 and 68, to finish three and four shots behind the leader, respectively.
Vincent, one of the most consistent performers on the Asian Tour over the past five years, was also a picture of consistency today, making five birdies and no bogeys.
And, Lahiri, determined to improve on his 57th placing in the previous Olympics, bravely fought his way back after a bogey at the first to birdie eight, eagle nine and birdie 14.
A total of seven Asian Tour players are competing in the star-studded 60 man field.
Matsuyama talks with Schauffele on the 12th hole in round thee (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
Second-round leader Schauffele made a brilliant birdie on the last to edge one ahead of Japan’s great hope for gold, Hideki Maruyama, who returned a 67.
England’s Paul Casey (66) and Carlos Ortiz from Mexico (69) are tied for third, a further stroke behind.
The last round sets up a fascinating battle between Schauffele and Matsuyama, who were also paired together in the final round of the Masters this year when the Japanese star triumphed.
“Yeah, it’s good,” said Schauffele.
“Hideki’s a great player, he’s our current Masters champion. I plan on wearing that jacket someday as well, and whenever you play against the world’s best you happen to see them a lot. So, we’re playing together tomorrow in the final group, and I assume we’ll be playing in more final groups for years to come.”
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