History-maker Yang expects Asia to savour more major moments
Korea’s Y.E. Yang believes it will not take another 12 years for the region to herald a third major champion following Hideki Matsuyama’s stunning victory at the Masters Tournament last month.
Ahead of this week’s PGA Championship which is the year’s second major, Yang tipped six-time PGA TOUR winner Matsuyama to compile more major victories and expects his fellow countrymen such as Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim to also succeed on the major stage.
Yang wrote golf history in 2009 when he became Asia’s first male major champion by winning the PGA Championship at Hazeltine where he overcame a two-shot deficit in the final round to defeat Tiger Woods in a memorable head-to-head duel.
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)
It strangely took more than a decade before Asia savoured another major high when Matsuyama became the first Japanese champion at the Masters, which Yang said he followed every shot of the final round at Augusta National on TV.
“I watched the final round until the final moment. Hideki stayed in control of his game until the end without losing focus. He earned the title to become the first Asian player win at Augusta National, which I want to congratulate him. I believe he can win more major titles and he will have a positive effect on Japanese and Asian golf. Prior to the Masters, I always felt Hideki could win one of majors,” said Yang.
As a former PGA champion, Yang will feature in this week’s elite 156-man field gathered at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. He will be joined by Matsuyama, Im, Kim, Byeong Hun An and last week’s AT&T Byron Nelson winner, K.H. Lee. Talented Japanese duo Takumi Kanaya and Rikuya Hoshino, and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond will also fly Asia’s flag at Kiawah Island.
Yang, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, is preparing to make the transition to PGA TOUR Champions as he turns 50 next January and he has kept himself competitive by playing in tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour and in Asia in recent times.
“Twelve years have passed since the first Asian win in a major and Hideki subsequently won. I really think more Asian players will go on to win major titles now. Players who can potentially win are Sungjae Im, Siwoo Kim, Byeong Hun An and K.H.Lee. They are potential candidates to be our next major champion,” said Yang, who earned the nickname Tiger-tamer following his historic victory over Woods.
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)
“As for Hideki, now that he has already won the Masters and several other PGA TOUR tournaments, I can only see him setting a record for most PGA TOUR wins by an Asian player as long as he keeps his focus on the game.”
Twelve years may be a long time but Yang has vivid memories of his great triumph over Woods.
“It’s been more than 10 years now that I competed against Tiger and won. That event will always stay in my memory for a very long time. It will be one of my career highlights for sure,” he said.
Yang is confident he can compete against the other legends of the game on PGA TOUR Champions. He should receive a number of exemptions next year through his success on the PGA TOUR.
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)
“If I get onto PGA TOUR Champions, I will be one of the younger players. And for that, I will try my best to make every event count and perform well. When I play on the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour, I do feel I’m not the same like during my younger days. I hope to be more competitive on Champions.
“I’ve enjoyed my time on the PGA TOUR where there were some ups and downs. But I feel very proud with my success and have great pride and joy,” said Yang, who has made 192 starts on the PGA TOUR and earned close to US$9 million in prize winnings.
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Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino made his 25th birthday a truly memorable one when he won the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf on Sunday for his fifth victory on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) and second triumph this year.
Hoshino, who turned 25 years old five days ago, started the week on a good note as he earned an invitation to this week’s PGA Championship by virtue of being ranked 100th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Photo credit: JGTO
The talented Japanese would go on to end the week on an even better note, securing another invitation to The Open this July following his victory, which also marked his third win in the extended 2020-21 season on the JGTO.
Hoshino battled against gusty winds to sign off with a second consecutive three-under-par 69 and win by four shots over 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines with a 13-under-par 275 total at the Sagamihara Golf Club’s East Course.
“I just can’t believe that this could be done. I pushed myself to the limit and I have given it all. I felt so exhausted after the tournament,” said Hoshino, who climbed to a career-best 69th place on the OWGR following his win.
Hoshino extended his overnight two-shot lead to six after sinking birdies on the second, fifth and eighth holes. He dropped two straight bogeys on 11 and 12 but recovered swiftly with birdies on the next two holes.
“I was in shock when I made bogeys and that really put me under pressure. I told myself no matter how many shots I am leading, I wanted to play aggressively. That strong mentality gave me those birdies on 13 and 14”, added Hoshino, who won the Kansai Open Golf Championship last month.
Hoshino took over the driver’s seat on the JGTO’s money list, thanks to his win. He also put himself in a good position to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics with his new ranking on the OWGR where he hails as the second highest ranked Japanese following Hideki Matsuyama, who sits in 15th.
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The old Thongchai Jaidee resurfaced on PGA TOUR Champions after a lapse of 14 months and the signs were ominous.
The 51-year-old Thai star finished tied 26th in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia on Sunday but the manner in which he closed out the tournament gave him plenty of confidence and optimism for his golf future.
After struggling with an outward 40, Thongchai birdied five of the closing seven holes to ensure his first competitive appearance on U.S. soil since March 2012 ended on a high note.
DULUTH, GA – MAY 14: Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand walks off the first tee during the first round of the PGA TOUR Champions Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf on May 14, 2021 in Duluth, Georgia. (Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
“It was a good comeback on the back nine. I enjoyed being here,” said Thongchai.
“I struggled with my putting on the front. We played all right all week but I didn’t have enough time to practice as I arrived on Tuesday from Thailand and was jetlagged. The greens here are very difficult and I couldn’t get the speed right. There were firm and fast but with it being softer today, I had good chances on the back nine. I missed only a few greens and had two three-putts on 8 and 9.”
The former three-time Asian Tour No. 1 and eight-time winner on the European Tour is playing catch-up on PGA TOUR Champions. After earning his card by finishing a creditable second in Qualifying School in December 2019 courtesy of a final round 62, Thongchai went on to finish T29 and T52 in his first two events last March before COVID-19 shut down all sports across the globe.
He returned to Bangkok subsequently and opted to remain in his home country due to the pandemic restricting international travel. It unfortunately resulted in him missing the restart of PGA Tour Champions last July and prior to last week, he had already missed 16 tournaments, thus limiting the opportunities that he will have on the over-50 circuit for the remainder of 2021.
“I enjoy being on PGA TOUR Champions which is a good tour. I was stuck in Thailand due to COVID and tried to leave the country to play here but I couldn’t do it. The situation at home was difficult and we didn’t have any vaccine then but now that I‘ve got both my vaccines, I have more confidence and I hope to spend more time in the U.S,” he said.
Thongchai added that his next start will be the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma from May 27-30, a venue which holds dear to his heart. The veteran Thai, who was a paratrooper and served in the army during his amateur days, knows every start must count to boost his position in the Champions re-rank category. He is also prepared to play Monday qualifiers to get into other Champions events should he be ineligible through his present status.
“At the moment, I’m not sure (about my schedule). There will be a re-rank and if I can’t get into tournaments, I will try to Monday qualify. I plan to hang around and to be here more,” said Thongchai, whose illustrious career also saw him become the first Thai to play in the Presidents Cup in 2015.
With an appearance in the Senior PGA, which will be his first major start as a Champions golfer, it will mark a full cycle in Thongchai’s illustrious career as his first major appearance was at Southern Hills when he made it into the 2001 U.S. Open through sectional qualifying. He finished tied 74th in what was the first of 32 career major appearances.
As the first Thai qualifier of the U.S. Open, Thongchai made global headlines that week after saying in a pre-tournament press conference that he opted to sleep on the floor of his US$200-a-night hotel room as the bed was “too soft.”
Twenty years on, he is prepared to toughen it out again to make his mark on PGA TOUR Champions.
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Berry Henson is virtually a household name on the Asian Tour, and it all started for the popular American during this month of May a decade ago.
In fact, it was on this very day in 2011 – shortly after having made it through Qualifying School, in 11th place – that he marched to victory in Manila, claiming the ICTSI Philippine Open, at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Winning the National Open of the Philippine’s is a rare privilege as it is one of the oldest National Opens in the game – in 2011 it was the 95th edition of the tournament – and Henson was made to work very hard to secure the title.
Despite suffering from dehydration over the closing holes during the third round, he finished the day with a two-shot lead, and then fired a final round one-over-par 73 to narrowly beat local-favourite Jay Bayron from the Philippines by a single shot.
Henson celebrates during the final round of the Philippine Open on May 15, 2011 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
Henson made a brave up-and-down at the last, holing a tension-packed putt for par from three feet, to win with a four-round total of five-under-par 283 – on the notoriously difficult East Course.
“I feel like I went 72 rounds with Manny Pacquiao this week and didn’t get KO’d,” Henson said, after his win. “I played on a very difficult golf course and the weather was brutal. It was a hard win.”
He earned US$47,550 with the victory.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger finished third, while Digvijay Singh from India was fourth.
Henson held a three-shot lead heading into the back nine, but bogeys on 12 and 17 opened the door for Bayron.
Henson plays a shot during day three of Philippine Open (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
“We were all struggling to make birdies and stay aggressive on the back nine,” Henson said. “I made a couple of mistakes coming in but everything worked out for me on the last hole.”
Bayron made an eagle on the second, but bogeys on 14 and 15 were setbacks from which he could not recover.
“Honestly, I was playing for second after the 15th hole,” said the 2005 Southeast Asian Games team gold medallist. “I tried to keep the thought of winning out of my mind for the entire round. Finishing second is a good result for me and I hope to build on this confidence.”
Henson was 31 years old at the time and it was the culmination of a remarkable and inspiring start to his journey in Asia.
Just two weeks before winning in the Philippines he had claimed the Clearwater Masters, in Malaysia, on the Asian Development Tour.
This came on the back of him having arrived at the Qualifying School with just US$5,000 in his bank account.
Said Benson, in an interview more recently: “I had one sponsor and he said, ‘hey it’s sink or swim, we either get a card or we are done’.”
Sentosa Golf Club has further expanded its sustainability agenda by announcing a new partnership with Porsche Asia Pacific.
Five new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed as part of Porsche Destination Charging, a global charging network available at premium lifestyle destinations, making Sentosa the first golf club in Singapore and the Southeast Asia region to join the programme.
From today, the AC destination chargers (11kW) are available for use by all plug-in-hybrid or fully electric vehicles that use a Type 2 connector, enabling members to top up their cars free of charge whilst going about their day-to-day business at the Club.
It coincides with Sentosa Island’s plan to transform into a carbon-neutral destination by 2030 and Singapore’s ambitious target to phase out all internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040, as well as to create 60,000 EV charging points by 2030 to pave the way for a greater uptake of electric vehicles. As of January 2021, there were just over 1,200 electric vehicles, out of a total car population of 636,483 units (0.2%), and 1,800 EV charging points in Singapore.
Sentosa Golf Club will use the opportunity to encourage its members to take a more sustainable approach and go electric for the good of the environment.
The installation is the latest sustainability initiative to be rolled out at Sentosa Golf Club, following its reduction of single use plastics, the introduction of numerous water conversation measures, housing bee colonies on the golf course and plans to grind down waste to reuse it as fertiliser.
The Club also became the first golf club in the world to sign the UN Sports for Climate Action Initiative last year and is widely recognised for its commitment to sustainability through campaigns such as Keep It Green and, more recently, GAME ON.
Sustainability is also a top priority for Porsche with the brand committed globally to reducing negative environmental impact while further reinforcing positive influence on society.
Andrew Johnston, General Manager & Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club, said “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Porsche Asia Pacific and Porsche Centre Singapore to have five electric charging points installed at Sentosa Golf Club. Porsche are one of the most credible and best-known makers of top-quality luxury vehicles in the world and it is fantastic to be working with them on this project.
“This agreement aligns itself closely with our overall sustainability agenda, especially our #KeepItGreen campaign that has become one of the Club’s key pillars and a way of life. With this new introduction, we will encourage our members to act in a sustainable manner by going electric and helping us on our journey to becoming carbon neutral.”
Henrik Dreier, Director New Business Fields at Porsche Asia Pacific, said “We are continuously working with partners such as Sentosa Golf Club to provide more charging points at convenient locations that match and seamlessly integrate into the lifestyle of our customers. By leading the charge in expanding charging infrastructure for drivers in Singapore and around the globe, we hope the adoption of electric vehicles will become more widespread. Our goal is to become the most sustainable and recognised brand for exclusive and sports mobility in the world.”
Sentosa Golf Club’s latest environmental campaign, GAME ON, was launched at the SMBC Singapore Open in 2020 and is designed to help educate and illustrate to the wider golfing community how important modern sustainable practices are for the betterment of the environment, acting as inspiration for golf clubs around the world to make changes to reduce their own carbon footprint. Sentosa Golf Club also works closely with international sustainable golf non-profit, GEO Foundation, to pioneer innovative practices and elevate Sentosa’s commitment to serve as a centre of excellence.
Porsche launched the Taycan, the first all-electric Porsche, in Singapore last year. The highly lauded electric sports car has been declared the most important innovation driver in the global automotive market by the Centre of Automotive Management (CAM).
By 2025, Porsche aims to have 50 per cent of its vehicles sold to be either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models. The production process of the fully electric Porsche Taycan at the main plant in Zuffenhausen is already CO2-neutral. Porsche also involves its partners and suppliers in its sustainability strategy. For example, battery cell suppliers may only use electricity from renewable energy sources in their production processes. At the same time, Porsche is working to re-use or recycle used vehicle batteries once they have reached the end of their service life.
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Sentosa Golf Club, regarded as one of the world’s most sustainable sporting venues, has announced a commitment to become the world’s first ever carbon neutral golf club by 2022.
The announcement comes during Sentosa Golf Club’s hosting of the HSBC Women’s World Championship, dubbed ‘Asia’s Major’, where 69 of the world’s best players are set to battle it out on The Tanjong.
Contributions from golf rounds over the next 12 months will be set aside to support the purchase of certified carbon offsets through regional Forestry or Blue Carbon projects, that will sequester atmospheric carbon while defending against deforestation and fostering conservation of forests, mangroves and reefs.
Sentosa Golf Club is also aiming to join the United Nations’ Race to Zero (carbon emissions) campaign following its pledge to neutralise the Club’s carbon footprint by 2022.
This latest goal builds on the Club’s various carbon mitigation measures over the past few years, including achieving Singapore’s Green Mark (Platinum) certification through enhancing the energy efficiency of its clubhouse, the first in the region to introduce lithium battery golf carts and increasing the efficiency of its irrigation system by deploying some 1,200 water saving sprinklers across the golf courses.
The Club has already undertaken the important first step of establishing its carbon footprint against the Green House Gas Protocol, in conjunction with Sentosa Development Corporation’s (SDC) island-wide carbon profiling efforts and GEO Foundation, the international non-profit dedicated entirely to inspiring, supporting, and recognising sustainable golf.
Moving ahead, the Club will further realise its carbon neutral goal by stepping up its efforts to pursue solutions that will make club operations and grounds maintenance more carbon efficient, including golf equipment and maintenance fleet electrification initiatives and renewable energy sources.
Sentosa Golf Club’s commitment is aligned with SDC’s goals towards sustainability. SDC announced in March 2021 that Sentosa Island would be transformed into a carbon neutral destination by 2030 as a key goal in its sustainability plan, bringing on board some 200 businesses within Sentosa to work towards the collective aspiration of island carbon neutrality.
Having become the first golf club in the world to join the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative last year, Andrew Johnston, General Manager / Director of Agronomy and Resident Golf Course Designer at Sentosa Golf Club, commented on the latest pledge saying: “We are excited to set the aspiration to become the first golf club in the world to go carbon neutral. Since joining the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action initiative in 2020 it has been our goal to become carbon neutral and hopefully inspire others around the world to follow suit.
“The Club is also proud to be aligned with Sentosa Island’s recent commitment to become a carbon neutral destination by 2030 and we are looking forward to working closely with SDC and other businesses on the Island to achieve this goal. Our vision is to deliver a world-class facility of exceptional quality, and our commitment to carbon neutrality will safeguard the Club’s long-term future and allow us to be a model for sustainability in golf worldwide.”
Thien Kwee Eng, Chief Executive Officer at Sentosa Development Corporation, added “Sentosa Development Corporation is excited by Sentosa Golf Club’s commitment to become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club. Golf can act as a catalyst in the fight against climate change and it is great to see one of Singapore’s premier golf clubs leading the way in reducing carbon emissions. The Club’s sustainability agenda is closely linked to that of the Island’s, and we are looking forward to working alongside the Club as we progress towards achieving Sentosa’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
This announcement is the latest in a long list of sustainable initiatives and commitments made by Sentosa Golf Club since the launch of its newest environmental campaign, GAME ON, at the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open. The campaign is designed to help educate and illustrate to the wider golfing community how important modern sustainable practices are for the betterment of the environment, acting as inspiration for golf clubs around the world to make changes to reduce their own carbon footprint.
Sentosa Golf Club intends to continue developing its sustainable initiatives in 2021 by installing two food and horticultural waste digesters to limit carbon emissions by grinding down waste on-site and reusing it as fertiliser on its two championship courses.
The Club also continues to explore alternative energy solutions such as solar, as well as other sustainable food produce options, whilst its collaboration with GEO Foundation aims to pioneer new innovative practices and report credible results to share with other golfing organisations around the world.
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Former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner David Lipsky has achieved his life-long ambition of playing on the PGA Tour, following an outstanding season on the Korn Ferry Tour – the development circuit that feeds the PGA Tour.
The American is currently in fifth place on the Korn Ferry Tour ranking, and, although another 15 events remain, he has already comfortably secured his playing privileges for the 2021/2022 season on the PGA Tour. The top-25 earn their Tour cards.
He has been playing some of the finest golf of his career, including winning the TPC San Antonio Challenge last year, and he nearly won the Emerald Coast Classic last month, but lost in a play-off.
CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: David Lipsky of USA plays a shot on the 18th hole during the playoff against Graeme Storm of England during the final round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on September 7, 2014 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Lipsky first made his name in Asia: he was a medallist at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2012 and won the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic, in his third start on Tour.
And after a brilliant season, two years later he claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit title – helped in a big way by winning the cash-rich Omega European Masters, an event sanctioned with Europe.
He also won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa in 2018, for a second European Tour title.
“I’ve played internationally for years and the European Tour for five or six years,” Lipsky said. “The whole goal was to try and get back and play the PGA Tour.”
“I took a little bit of a risk doing it,” he said. “I was playing really well in Europe, making good money, but I knew, ‘Why not now?’”
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – MARCH 17: David Lipsky of the United States holds the trophy of the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic at Angkor Golf Resort on March 17, 2012 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Photo by Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
The American grew up in Southern California and played at La Canada High School, where American star Collin Morikawa attended.
Despite having achieved his goal of securing his PGA Tour card, the 32 year old is still very focused on more success on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I have my eyes on number one now,” he said.
“Keep playing solid like I’m doing, keep the confidence and momentum going, and we’ll see what happens with that, end of the season.”
The XXXII Olympiad will take place this summer – from July 23 to August 8 – COVID-19 conditions permitting in Tokyo, and, after its successful re-introduction to the roster in RIO in 2016, golf will return as one of the most eagerly-anticipated sports.
The men’s golf tournament will be played from July 29 to August 1, at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, as will the women’s event, the following week – from August 4 to 7.
The tournaments have in a way already started with competitors attempting to secure qualification to quadrennial sporting spectacle, through the respective world’s rankings for men and women.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Gavin Green of Malaysia plays his shot from the 13th tee during the final round of men’s golf on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
And, with Asian Tour members very much in the running to make it to Japan, the Tour will provide bi-weekly updates on the qualification standings.
At present, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, Gavin Green from Malaysia and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent are very well placed to make it through.
As was the case for Rio, qualification is based on the Official World Golf Ranking; a total of 60 players will qualify with the cut-off date being June 21.
The top 15 players will all qualify, with a limit of four golfers per country that can qualify this way. Four Americans are currently in position to do this: Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa
The remaining spots will go to the highest-ranked players from countries that do not already have two golfers qualified. The International Golf Federation (IGF), who manage the golf event and qualification, has guaranteed that at least one golfer from the host nation and each geographical region (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) will qualify.
Jazz, currently ranked 111th in the world, is in 35th place on the Olympic standings, while Gunn is 198 in the world, and 50th for Japan.
Green – who competed in the last Olympics and finished 47th – is world ranked 239th and 54th on the Olympic listing, while Vincent is 245th and 55th respectively on the rankings.
Three Indian golfers are currently on the reserve list: Udayan Mane, Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar. Korean golfers Kyounghoon Lee,Sung Kang, Joohyung Kim and Junggon Hwang are all reserved, their participation dependant on players withdrawing.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 08: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (L) and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand pose on a tee box during a practice round during Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Olympic Golf Course on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
A total of 14 Asian Tour members competed in Rio, with several players excelling: in particular, Australian Marcus Fraser and Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand tied for fifth, just eight shots behind gold medallist Justin Rose from England. Fraser, in fact, led after day one and two.
But more than the performances it was the Olympic experience that was remembered the most by the Asian Tour players who competed.
Bangladesh star Siddikur Rahman was the flag bearer for his country, Brazil’s Adilson da Silva was the first player to tee off in the first round, and Green, inspired by the occasion, promptly got an Olympic tattoo on his arm when he returned home.
It was a memorable return to the Olympics for golf after 112 years that, all being well, will be suitably matched, despite COVID-19 protocols, in the Tokyo 2021.
It is fair to say there have been many landmark moments during the stellar career of Korea’s K.J. Choi.
But perhaps one that standouts more than most is his victory in the Compaq Classic of New Orleans, achieved on this day in 2002.
The significance of the victory is both personal and historic: it was his maiden success on the PGA Tour and, more importantly, it was the first win by a Korean there.
With millions of fans watching back home in the middle of the night, Choi did not disappoint and fired a final round five-under-par 67 for a four-stroke victory.
NEW ORLEANS – MAY 5: K.J. Choi is congratulated by his wife Hyun Jung Kim after winning the Compaq Classic at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 5, 2002. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“I believe it will influence a generation of Korean golfers to come to the U.S. and try out for the PGA,” Choi said, through an interpreter. “In that sense, the win is very special.”
He earned the US$810,000 winner’s check with a 17-under-par 271 total, holding off a number of challengers in perfect scoring conditions on English Turn Golf & Country Club.
Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Dudley Hart from the United States came the closest, finishing with 67s to tie for second, at 13-under 275.
Choi took the lead in the second round and was tied but never trailed after that.
“This win is very special to me because when I first came to the U.S. I had a 10-year plan laid out,” Choi said. “It’s earlier than I thought it would happen, but it’s part of the plan.”
NEW ORLEANS – MAY 5: K.J. Choi of Korea hits his second shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Compaq Classic at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 5, 2002. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
He had two birdies on the front nine for a one-stroke lead at the turn, and sank a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 11 to go to 15 under – two shots ahead of three players.
Choi increased his lead with a birdie on No. 13. His second shot on the 16th rolled to the lip of the cup and sat there, just short of an eagle and a five-shot lead.
The Korean star described that as the turning point in the round. He said he knew it was a good shot, but did not think it was an eagle.
He chipped in for his final birdie on No. 17 – a 35-footer from out of the rough, before he could afford to finish with the luxury of a bogey at the last.
Having secured his PGA Tour card in 1999, to become the first Korean to do so, victory in New Orleans was indeed a quick transition to the winners’ circle.
And having got a taste for it, he promptly won again later that year at the Tampa Bay Classic.
He won in Tampa by a commanding seven shots to help signal the start of a career that would see him become Asia’s most prolific winner on the PGA Tour with eight titles.
And, boasting six wins on the Asian Tour, plus 29 globally, it’s not difficult to understand why the Korean star is also an Honorary Member of the Asian Tour.
Singapore’s Gregory Foo fired two birdies in his closing three holes to sign for a superb eight-under-par 64 and win the second leg of the Singapore Pro Series Invitational presented by FTAG by two shots over veteran Mardan Mamat at the Tanah Merah Country Club on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Foo, who started the day with a three-shot deficit following an opening 75, highlighted his card with an eagle and eight birdies against two bogeys to finish with a two-day total of five-under-par 139 at the Tampines Course.
Gregory Foo of Singapore (Credits: Sportfive)
Overnight leader Mardan, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, returned with a commendable 69 to take second place while countryman Mitchell Slorach took third place on 146 following a battling 72.
Commenting on his win, Foo said, “I am very satisfied with my score today. This is my best score ever on this course in a tournament setting, and it is an amazing personal achievement for me. I hope this will propel my golf journey from here on.”
A total of 24 players, including seven amateurs, participated in the tournament this week. At the end of the opening round, 18 players, including five amateurs, successfully progressed into the second and final round after making the cut set at 12-over-par.
Amanda Tan, who flew the flag for Singapore at the prestigious HSBC Women’s World Championship last week, emerged as the leading female player after registering a 71 to sit in fourth place.
Young talents Hiroshi Tai and Ryan Ang took the honours of being the joint-low amateurs of the week as they shared sixth place on matching 151s.
Ang said, “To be able to go head-to-head with the pros in these tough course conditions helped me realise what I need to improve on to become a better golfer. I am very grateful to everyone who made this series possible, and the opportunity to be able to play at such amazing courses.”
Launched by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA), the series of local professional golf events – consisting of a total of eight legs held across two venues – aims to provide 18 Singapore top professionals and six local national amateurs who are aspiring to be tour professionals, the chance to play and compete during the ongoing global pandemic, which will prepare them for their tour events and major games to come.
Mardan Mamat of Singapore (Credits: Sportfive)
The first leg kicked off at the Sentosa Golf Club on March 24 and the tournament will conclude with a final leg in January 2022. In total, 16 tournament days, or eight legs, have been scheduled for the inaugural season – where touring professionals, both male and female, and leading national amateurs will compete over two days (36 holes) for a S$10,600 prize fund.
Each leg will also count towards the ‘Race to FTAG Cup’, where the winner of the Order of Merit will receive a bonus of S$10,000.
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