Mane eyes Tokyo high
Report by Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India.
Udayan Mane does not care much about the cliché, “I grew up dreaming of the Olympics.” He had an “unreal” wish of featuring in the Ryder Cup though, but not the Olympic Games. “As kids, we engaged in putting competitions to win The Masters, but the Olympics was never on the to-do list,” said the Indian.
But since golf returned to the Games after 112 years at Rio 2016, Mane made an addition to the checklist. The week of the event in Rio, Mane was keyed in, making it a point to tune in for the post-round interviews of Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar in particular to “get a sense of the atmosphere”.
He stepped up by raising his craft several notches and specific work going into fitness. The hours of toil paid off as Mane qualified for Tokyo courtesy of a prolific run on the Professional Golf Tour of India between December 2019 and March 2020 that saw him win thrice in succession and finish second before the virus struck.
But the road to Tokyo had been an arduous one.
With overseas travel an uphill task and tournaments at home after the pandemic hit happening in fits and starts, Mane’s ranking dropped. With time, interest in the Olympic rankings waned too but he kept doing what he was supposed to. Mane won the Delhi NCR Open, the last event on the Professional Golf Tour of India before Lockdown 2 this year, but he was aware that would not suffice. Mails were shot off to the European and Sunshine Tours requesting for spots. The South African Tour responded favourably but by May India was in the red zone, making leaving the shores impossible. Another opportunity was the Asia Pacific Diamond Cup on the Japan Golf Tour, but the 14-day quarantine rule did not make sense.
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – FEBRUARY 04: Udayan Mane of India in action during round four of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open at Kurmitola Golf Club on February 4, 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
The angst got deeper when Mane was informed by the Indian Golf Union, the national federation, in June that he did not figure even among the Olympic replacements. Mane ploughed on with his daily schedule but with a tinge of disappointment. But when news broke of Emiliano Grillo’s pull out from the Olympics, which paved his way to join Anirban Lahiri in Tokyo, it was like elixir. Practice at the Poona Club got more structured and with a lot more intent.
The golf course yet to reopen after the second wave in the country, Mane is the lone figure practicing with undivided focus. Initially, when news broke of his qualification, the phone did not stop ringing and that was an irritant. At the risk of seeming impolite, Mane had to switch off as there is a task on hand.
Peace has been restored and its Mane, Rupesh, his caddy on Tour, and fitness trainer Samarth Dwivedi hard at work. A typical day starts at 8am with mobility and conditioning under the watchful eyes of Dwivedi. The 90-minute session at the gym, again out of bounds for everyone else, is followed by breakfast before hitting the golf course around 11am. From then till 6pm, all aspects of the game are covered interspersed by playing nine or 18 holes six days a week.
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – FEBRUARY 04: Udayan Mane of India in action during round four of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open at Kurmitola Golf Club on February 4, 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
Notes are also being exchanged between the two Olympic-bound athletes and Rahil Gangjee, their go-to man on what to expect in Japan. Mane has made it a point to have a chat with Gangjee at least once a week so that enough updates are got on the conditions before departure.
After the dismal phase of watching the world pass by, the mood is upbeat and should a medal come India’s way, the Mane household in Pune will have a quiet celebration, quite like the way they embraced his qualification. It was over roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggies; a podium finish will call for a more elaborate menu.
Singapore’s Marc Ong won for the first time on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG today ‒ in the fourth leg, at Tanah Merah Country Club.
The 26 year old fired a closing two-under-par 70 to finish even for the tournament, and tie compatriot Greg Foo but win on countback based on final round score.
Foo, joint leader at the start of the day with Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach, closed with a 75 on the Tampines Course.
Slorach tied for third, two shots back, with countryman Mardan Mamat and Myanmar’s Zaw Moe.
“This is my first win as a pro, so it means so much,” said Ong, who earned a cheque for S$3,850.
“It was close all the way and to come out on top against Greg [Foo] and Mardan [Mamat] is really great. I didn’t check the scores for most of the round but when I checked the app I saw we were tied so that put the pressure on.”
Ong, a professional for three years who is based at Tanah Merah, toured the front nine in two under and came home in even par making a crucial birdie on the par-three 16th.
Foo had claimed the second leg of the Pro Series here on the Tampines Course – helped by a final round 64 – and was looking to continue that winning streak this week.
However, the two-time Singapore Open Amateur champion double bogeyed the 10th and dropped shots on 14, 15 and 18 for a back nine of 42.
And, Mamat, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, also struggled home in two over – he made double on the par five 15th – to help hand victory to Ong.
“It wasn’t meant to be today, best to let the young one’s win,” joked 53-year-old Mamat.
In the 73rd Singapore Open Amateur Championship – which was run in parallel with the Pro Series event, on the same course ‒ Singapore’s Ryan Ang emerged victorious. He closed with a 74 to finish four over for the event and beat countryman Justin Kuk by two shots. Singapore’s Hailey Loh claimed the women’s title by five from Aloysa Margiela Atienza.
This week marked the first time the Singapore Open Amateur Championship has been played in parallel with a professional event.
The event was also to be the circuit’s first 72-hole tournament, but Tuesday’s first round was washed out because of heavy rain. Total prize money was S$12,600.
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.
The next event – leg five – will be played on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from August 4 to 5.
Three-time Asian Tour winner Poom Saksansin says it will be a “great honour” to play in this week’s Open Championship, as it will mark the first time he has competed in one of golf’s four Majors.
“The Open is very important for me as it’s my first Major. It’s a very big event. I’m very happy to attend this tournament,” said the Thai star, who will tee off at 3.54pm (GMT) in the first round with American Kurt Kitayama, also a winner on the Asian Tour, and Deyen Lawson from Australia.
“When I was a junior, I used to play on the links course – it’s buffeted by strong winds and deep bunkers.”
The 28-year-old, who qualified via the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open, says he has been working on making his body stronger to deal with the more exacting conditions that come with links golf, and he has been practising his “straight shot”.
SANDWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 13: Poom Saksansin of Thailand tees off during a practice round for The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 13, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/R&A/R&A via Getty Images )
“I only got the course information from the internet. Although I have no idea about the course conditions, I aim to make the cut. I admit that I never played in the course conditions like that but I will try my best to play without pressure,” added Poom, who flew into the UK on Saturday.
“During the pandemic, I had a lot more time to practice and improve my flight ball. Also, I have been competing in golf tournaments in Thailand,” he added.
“I think I practiced too much as there were just a few local tournaments. My performance during the year was not very good – sometimes I have been playing with stress. I felt pressured while I was playing. I was not playing that well as I was playing before the pandemic.
“Although I practiced a lot, my game was not improving. I decided to practice less so I haven’t got back pain and I feel more comfortable. I’m a better player with less practice.”
The tournament tees-off on Thursday at Royal St George’s with Ireland’s Shane Lowry defending the title he won at Royal Portrush in 2019 (the event was cancelled last year because of the pandemic).
SINGAPORE- Poom Saksansin of Thailand an Open qualifier pictured on Sunday January 19,2020, during the final round of the SMBC Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore. The USD$ 1 million event is co- sanctioned with the Asian Tour and Japan Tour, January 16-19, 2020. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Lagardére Sports.
Ten Asian Tour members are competing: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion – Americans John Catlin and Johannes Veerman, Australian Brad Kennedy, Ryosuke Kinoshita and Rikuya Hoshino from Japan, Canadian Richard T. Lee, and Jaco Ahlers from South Africa.
ENDS
After a one-year hiatus, Korea-based Canadian Richard T. Lee finally makes his debut appearance at The Open this week. The two-time Asian Tour winner earned his coveted ticket by virtue of a commendable fifth-place finish at the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open.
“This is a very special week to me. It is my second Major appearance. I am lucky to still be able to play competitive golf back home in Korea prior to this week. I will continue to play the same golf as what I have been doing,” said the 30-year-old Lee.
SINGAPORE- Richard T.Lee of Canada pictured Saturday January 18,2020, during round three of the SMBC Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore. The USD$ 1 million event is co- sanctioned with the Asian Tour and Japan Tour, January 16-19, 2020. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Lagardére Sports.
Despite not being to travel outside of Korea due to the pandemic, Lee made the most of his playing opportunities over the last 12 months, notching three top-five results in 18 starts on the Korean PGA Tour.
“My preparations (for The Open) are the same as other tournaments. I have been playing a lot of KPGA events recently and I have been playing well. I am glad to finally be here for The Open and I look forward to a great week ahead,” added Lee, who previously played the U.S. Open in 2007.
Lee emerged runner-up at the 2006 U.S. Junior Amateur to earn an exemption into the sectional qualifier for the 2007 U.S. Open. He came in runner-up in the qualifier to earn his Major debut and became the second youngest golfer, at the age of 16, to tee up in the prestigious tournament.
Unfortunately, Lee did not complete the tournament as he suffered a wrist injury during the second round. He turned professional immediately after. Lee came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2013 and claimed his first victory at the Solaire Open in the Philippines the year after.
His second win came in 2017 where he shook off injury woes to win by one shot over Malaysia’s Gavin Green at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea.
Lee missed out on his third victory at the 2019 Sarawak Championship after losing in a sudden-death play-off but was applauded for his aggressive style of play which saw him make a sensational eagle on the 72nd hole to force extra time.
He had hit a three-wood off the deck from about 275 yards before rolling in the eagle putt from eight feet. It was a magnificent shot as he had to hit a big draw around the trees to get to the green on 18. That shot was undisputedly hailed as the shot of the decade on the Asian Tour, according to a fans’ poll last year.
???? #?
Well deserved, @progolferrich ??
The 'shot of his life' ?? and the most popular shot among the fans in the last decade on the Asian Tour. ?⛳#ShotoftheDecade #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/KLd2stXUUd
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) September 15, 2020
Lee will tee off at the Royal St. Georges Golf Course alongside fellow Asian Tour winners Jazz Janewattananond and Poom Saksansin of Thailand, Japanese duo Rikuya Hoshino and Ryosuke Kinoshita, as well as American Johannes Veerman and Brad Kennedy of Australia.
Ends.
The Open Championship tees-off at Royal St George’s on Thursday ‒ much to the delight of the golfing world, as the event was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Surprisingly, still no player from Asia has improved upon the second-placed finish by Chinese Taipei’s Lu Lianghuan in 1971, at Royal Birkdale. We look back at what was one of the stand-out Opens, thanks to the performance of the man popularly known as “Mr Lu”.
When China’s Haotong Li stormed through the field on the final day of The Open in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, threatening to become the first Asian to win the Claret Jug, Chinese-Taipei’s greatest golfing hero Lu Lianghuan ‒ likely watching at home, in Taipei ‒ perhaps thought his second-place finish in the 1971 Open, remarkably played at the same venue, was about to be finally matched or surpassed.
The region has been waiting a long time for an Asian player to win The Open, and even Lu would have welcomed seeing a name from this region being inscribed on golf’s most recognisable trophy.
However, as impressive as Li’s closing seven-under-par 63 was it was only good enough to secure him third place, and leave him six shots behind the impressive champion, American Jordan Spieth.
Photo by Getty Images.
Once again, Lu’s best-ever performance by an Asian in the Open record remained firmly intact.
With Asian golf continuing to make great strides forward, his result may be beaten someday soon – although the intricacies of links golf might possibly delay the process further.
And the fact that Lu’s week was so memorable, for a variety of reasons, makes it worthy of a record lasting longer.
The 1971 Open was the 100th Open and saw Lee Trevino from the United States win the Claret Jug for the first time and, following triumphs at the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open, completed a unique hat-trick of victories within only four weeks.
Lu had been a professional since 1955, playing on the Asian Golf Circuit (as the Asian Tour was called then) and in Japan, and had played in The Open only once before.
His pork pie hat caught the eye, especially as he kept politely tipping its brim to the packed galleries. He had only bought the hat a few days before the tournament because, as he would later explain: “I like round hats. And I hate the sun shining on my neck.”
The 34-year-old, affectionately known by then as “Mr Lu”, quickly became a firm fan favourite, along, of course, with the charismatic and chatty Trevino.
The American star shared the lead on each of the first two days and led by one from Lu and Englishman Tony Jacklin, the 1969 champion, going into the final round.
Trevino was in inspired form early on and made four birdies in the first six holes to lead by six at the turn.
Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images
However, Lu remained undeterred and bravely responded with birdies at the 13th and 15th holes before Trevino had a double-bogey seven at the 17th ‒ meaning the lead was down to one at the last.
Both made birdie on the last, but it was a traumatic finish for Lu as his second shot hit a female spectator on the head. Visibly distressed, he composed himself to take second.
“I feared for her,” Lu said. “I hit her really badly, but I went over and she said to me: ‘go on Mr Lu – get a birdie for me!’”
The concussed spectator, Mrs Lillian Tipping, was taken to hospital to receive several stitches and Lu went to check up on her afterwards. They stayed in contact, and he even invited her and her husband to stay at his hotel in Taipei years later, on offer they accepted.
Lu’s success did not stop at Royal Birkdale as the following week he won the French Open at Biarritz. It was all part of a phenomenal 1971 when he also won in Thailand and Japan.
Photo by Getty Images.
His Open heroics were also not over as in 1974 arguably Asia’s greatest golfer of the time tied for fifth at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
During an illustrious career he won the Asian Golf Circuit Order of Merit twice, in 1966 and 1967, and claimed nine titles in Asia and eight in Japan.
And, most noticeably, in 1972, he and countryman Hsieh Min-nan teamed up to win the World Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Chinese-Taipei’s sole victory in the event.
Having survived a bad bout of COVID, Anirban Lahiri is back on track and has a lot on his plate – the Olympics, his PGA Tour card and charity work. V. Krishnaswamy reports.
Anirban Lahiri once told me something, which seems to be the secret of his mental strength. He said there will always be something to chase – a world ranking, a title, a personal goal and so on. So, he said: “If I do right what is in front of me, the rest will follow.”
Nothing could be truer than that right now. Except that the list is longer now, but Lahiri is not shying away; neither from his challenges or his responsibilities – as an idol for young golfers, as a professional golfer trying to reach his goals and above all as a sympathetic human being for all around him.
Lahiri feels he has multiple things on his mind these days and it shall stay so for the next few weeks. Till a couple of weeks back, it was not just his form or the way his game was coming and going in patches, but also his recovery from COVID ‒ which at one point reached a scary stage ‒ and, of course, the need to secure his PGA Tour card for 2022.
Now he has additional things, which have also been his goals – the Tokyo Olympics, for which he got into the field almost at the eleventh hour. And, he is also involved in his personal charity work with Akshaya Patra, an organization which is doing some fine work, according to Lahiri.
On his charity work, Lahiri said: “Akshaya Patra is an organization that is doing great on-the-groundwork. One of the reasons I like it is because they’re doing a lot of work specifically for the migrant laborers, for kids whose parents are not around.”
Lahiri lines up a putt on the fourth green during the third round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 03, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
And, of course, at the back of his mind is that gnawing thought that he is yet to notch his maiden win on the PGA Tour, where he has played since 2016 The former Asian Tour number one last won in 2015, when he took the Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open in quick succession and rose to Top-50 in the world.
This week he played in the John Deere Classic [unfortunately, he missed the cut on Friday], and he will also play the Barbasol next week, because, as he said: “I will miss the 3M Open because of Olympics, so I added Barbasol to my schedule.” Then he will have Barracuda, which he may or may not play, and Wyndham to secure his 2022 playing rights.
Talking of the Olympics, which he also played in 2016, he said: “I think the biggest difference, about the Olympic is you don’t get anything for coming fourth. Anything other than a podium finish is not significant at the Olympics, though a T-4 at a PGA Tour event goes a long way in ensuring a lot of things on the PGA Tour.”
He added: “It’s more of all or nothing because that’s really what you are there for. Unlike in many other sports (outside of Olympics), in golf you can have a top 10, which is considered a good result, or you can have a top 25, which is called a decent result, but at the Olympics a top 25 means nothing and a top 10 could be equally insignificant.”
Though his PGA Tour card is not locked yet, Lahiri said that he could not even think of bypassing a chance to play for India at the Olympics. He said: “I know what an Olympic medal can do for Indian golf. I would not be able to forgive myself if I passed up a chance to try and get one [medal].”
Lahiri’s own struggles with COVID over the last two months were “scary”. On how his game has been on return from COVID, Lahiri, said: “My game is feeling quite good. This is probably the best I’ve felt since my bout with COVID. I think I had a lot of positives in the one week, and then last week also I played some good golf.”
Lahiri at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. / AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Sharing his COVID story and how he got it, Lahiri said: “It just so happened when my coach [Vijay Divecha] came in from India he tried to avoid exposing himself at the airport and he went to a friend’s house in Delhi when he was transiting (in early April). When he landed here and started work, the day after he landed, the friend he stayed with called us and said that he was not feeling well.
“Vijay unfortunately contracted the virus even though he was fully vaccinated; I kind of got it from him and so did my family, my wife. I think my daughter had it, too, though we didn’t test her because she’s only two.”
“I had a pretty serious bout with it. I had prolonged fever,” he added. He was even suspected of having COVID pneumonia. The chest X-rays were not very positive, and he was put on stronger and slightly different medication. When he had to go back to the hospital for a checkup, the fever was up to 104 on the ninth day and oxygenation had come down.
However, subsequent tests and chest Xrays ruled out COVID pneumonia, which was a relief for Lahiri as it could have impacted him seriously.
It took him two months to get to back on his feet and he lost all his muscle and almost 15 pounds. His wife, Ipsa, despite having Covid, drove him to hospital and took care of the family.
On his game as such, he added: “This week I’ve tried to work on some of those areas that needed a little bit of polishing, and I’m excited. I like the golf course. Weather is going to be nice and warm, which is something that I usually like.”
As for his tight schedule, Lahiri said: “After John Deere and then Barbasol next week, it will be Olympics. He added: “I will be in Japan for around seven and a half days – and back to the US.
He may play the Barracuda Championships and then the final event of the regular season at Wyndham.
“By then I hope I have done enough to get the card,” Lahiri added with a laugh. He is 119th and needs to stay inside Top-125 to keep his full status.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond grew up with dreams of putting on his goggles and competing for an Olympic medal in a swimming pool. A twist of fate will see him shoot for gold in the men’s golf competition instead later this month.
Jazz, the Asian Tour’s No. 1 in 2019, will line up alongside the world’s elite at Kasumagaseki Country Club on the outskirts of Tokyo from July 29 to August 1 where he and compatriot Gunn Charoenkul will make their Olympic debuts.
THOMASTOWN, IRELAND – JULY 01: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand plays his second shot on the second hole during Day One of The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet Golf Club on July 01, 2021 in Thomastown, Ireland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
“Growing up, not many people knew I swam a lot,” said Jazz. “My dad wanted me to become a swimmer. When I was between four to eight years old, I used to swim a few kilometres every day. It was crazy. Now I won’t even go into the water,” he added with a laugh.
The 25-year-old recalls how he and his father would watch the Olympics on TV, in particular the track and field events and swimming competition. American swimming legend Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals, was amongst the stars who caught his young eye back in the day.
“I would follow athletics and swimming and there was no golf back then,” said Jazz, who is now a six-time winner on the Asian Tour. “I used to watch Phelps dominate the pool, so it was a thing. The Olympics is the biggest stage for sports and it’s a huge priority for me.
“I don’t like to day-dream and I don’t say things like I want to win the Masters one day or The Open. I won’t day-dream except for the Olympics. The Olympics is different and I would often think what if I can win an Olympic medal. It’s so weird. I think it is the ultimate for sports.”
After others his age outgrew and outpaced him in the pool, Jazz tried football (soccer) but gave that up too after getting kicked and outmuscled. Golf came next when his father, a Thai judge, encouraged him to hit balls when he was eight. Bitten by the bug, Jazz became a golf prodigy and emerged as the youngest player at age 14 to make the halfway cut at an Asian Tour event in 2010. A day before he turned 15, he joined the professional ranks.
It was not a quick ascent though, as Jazz took a few years to adjust to life in the professional ranks. In 2016, he decided to spend a few months in a Buddhist monastery where he learned to become a monk – a ritual common amongst young Thais as a mark of respect to their parents. In February of 2017, he won the Bangladesh Open, crediting his first Asian Tour victory to his time in the monastery for the success.
Jazz entered monkhood in Chiang Rai for two weeks at the end of the 2016 season, becoming a disciple of Phra Maha Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi. Weeks later, he claimed his first Asian Tour title in Bangladesh.
“I prayed and chanted every day in the temple. I felt really peaceful. Golf used to be everything but now, I’m just happy I get to play in tournaments,” said Jazz, whose Sunday trademark is to wear an orange shirt which is the colour of a monk’s saffron.
By the end of 2019, he joined an illustrious list of famous Thai golfers including Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit following four wins before his momentum was halted by COVID-19.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand with his Asian Tour trophies at the 2020 Hong Kong Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
After showing glimpses of his best form with a second-place finish in Kenya and tied 11th in the British Masters earlier this year, Jazz knows there is so much to play for in the Tokyo Olympics. “I’m really happy to qualify. It’s been a long journey. We were aiming to play last year but we couldn’t. I’m just glad I finally made it,” he said.
“I’m excited to represent my country, and it’s an honour. I remember Thongchai and Kiradech sharing their experience after they came back from Rio de Janeiro and Kiradech played well that week (to finish fifth).
“We’ve got two from the men’s and women’s (Ariya Jutanugarn and Patty Tavatanakit), so four chances there to win a medal for Thailand. One of us need to have a good week to win a medal for our country. Golf is not like any other sport and you don’t need to be the best. You just need to have the right week. It would be mad to get a medal, it’ll be crazy if I do.”
Ends.
Udayan Mane has become the eighth player of the Asian Tour to earn a coveted place in the elite 60-man field for the upcoming summer Olympics ‒ which was announced yesterday by the International Golf Federation.
The Indian star had been on the reserve list but moved into the top-60 on the Olympic Ranking following the withdrawal of Argentine Emiliano Grillo.
“After being a certainty at one point last year, the rankings have been coming down and I couldn’t do much because I had no events to play. It was almost depressing, but I stuck to practice and workouts,” said the 30-year-old Bengalurean.
“I cannot help thinking about that last hole in the Delhi-NCR Open in March. I birdied the 72nd hole and managed a win and those points helped me make this team,” added Mane. “Even a second place would not have been enough.”
He was the leading Indian qualifier last year and seemed set to clinch a trip to Tokyo alongside countryman Rashid Khan, but then came the pandemic, the Olympic Games were postponed and their playing opportunities became fewer by the week.
“I had done what I could and it included a win in my last start which was in March this year after which I did not get a chance to play. Anirban is someone I have looked up to and to be with him in the team is indeed an honour,” Mane said.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – APRIL 04: Anirban Lahiri of India plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 04, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
India’s Anirban Lahiri, the Asian Tour’s 2015 Order of Merit winner, secured his spot in the Olympics a few weeks ago, also thanks to player withdrawals. Lahiri competed in Rio in 2016 and finished in 57th place.
The other Asian Tour players set to compete are: Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and Gavin Green from Malaysia ‒ who also played in Rio.
The Olympics start on July 23 with the golf tournament being played from July 29 to August 1, at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture.
Spaniard Jon Rahm topped the Olympic Ranking thanks to his sensational victory in the US Open at Torrey Pines last month.
Ends.
Of Thongchai Jaidee’s 20 victories worldwide perhaps the greatest was achieved on this day just five years ago at the Open de France ‒ which to add further weight to the week was celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The Thai star claimed his eighth title on the European Tour in a comfortable fashion that belied the quality of the field and overall enormity of what is one of Europe’s stellar events.
He was a picture of consistency over the weekend at Le Golf National (venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup), carding consecutive rounds of 68 to reach 11 under ‒ thanks to a run of 39 bogey-free holes ‒ and claiming a four-shot triumph over Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who carded the low round of the day with a 66.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was two shots further back in third place after a closing 71.
Thongchai came into the final day with a two-shot lead and extended that to five on three occasions as the chasing pack failed to put him under any great pressure and a closing bogey on the toughest hole on Tour in 2015 failed to take the gloss off a fine victory.
Thongchai celebrates his win during day four of the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
“I think this is the biggest tournament in my life. This golf course is fantastic for me, I’m really happy with that. Absolutely perfect,” said Thongchai, a three-time winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
He went about his business with the minimum of fuss and he rolled his third shot from the fringe to within tap-in range on the par five third and then birdied the sixth for the fourth time during the week as he put his approach to four feet before going on to birdie the 11th and 15th.
The cheque he received for €583,330 (US$690,814) was the most lucrative of his career and at the age of 46 years old he became the oldest winner in Open de France history, beating 2010 champion Miguel Angel Jiménez from Spain by 58 days.
“I’m very happy to have my family here this week together and also really happy to win the tournament here. I know the golf course is fantastic,” he added.
“I’ve been here many, many years and I think especially this week, it’s a special week for me to win the tournament out here. Sometimes you need one perfect week. You can’t do well every week. This week is my perfect week because I didn’t miss much. Anything I missed, I found I could lay up and make a good shot and make par and that’s it.”
The win was also his fourth European Tour victory in Europe, with his first four coming in Asia.
Thongchai completes his win at the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach fired two birdies in his closing three holes to cap an impressive four-shot victory in what is the third leg of the Singapore Pro Series Invitational presented by FTAG held at the highly acclaimed Sentosa Golf Club on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Slorach, who held an overnight two-shot lead after opening with an even-par 71, rode on his fine form and took advantage of his home course knowledge to sign for a final round 70 and a winning total of one-under-par 141 in the two-day event.
(From left) Jerome Ng, General Manager of the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) and Mitchell Slorach, winner of the third leg of the Singapore Pro Series Invitational presented by FTAG (Photo courtesy of Sportfive)
Slorach took home a winner’s prize purse of S$3,000 after emerging top of the field that consisted of 18 professionals and six amateurs. Fellow countryman Jesse Yap battled to a 72 to take second place while local veteran Mardan Mamat settled a further shot back in third after carding a second consecutive 73.
“I came in with no expectations. I played really consistent these two days and I am very happy to win on my home course,” said Slorach, who moved to second place on the money list with total earnings of S$4,500 following his victory.
Mitchell Slorach of Singapore (Photo courtesy of Sportfive)
Yap leads the merit rankings by a mere S$100 over Slorach while Gregory Foo, winner of the second leg of the Series, sits in third with S$4,200.
The fourth leg of the Series will be a four-day tournament held at Tanah Merah Country Club from July 13 to 16 and in conjunction with the Singapore Open Amateur Championship.
Amanda Tan, the first woman professional to play the in final flight with the frontrunners in this Series, registered a 76 to take a share of seventh place on 149.
“It was amazing playing in the last flight with the lads,” said Tan. “They came wearing their game faces and I had to strive to keep pace with their powerful drives and accurate placement. I had a good chance today but came up a bit short. Looking forward to doing better in the next one!”
Daryl Low posted a second straight 75 to emerge as the top amateur in tied-ninth place on 150.
Ends.
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