SMBC Singapore Open returns
The SMBC Singapore Open will make a welcome return in 2022, and with an increased prize purse of US$1.25 million, up from the US$1 million previously on offer. The event will once again take place on the Serapong Course at the Sentosa Golf Club from 20 to 23 January.
After a hiatus in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore’s premier men’s championship will be the final event of the 2020/21 Asian Tour season. The tournament, jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization, will decide who will be crowned The Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.
Said Ross Tan, President of the Singapore Golf Association: “The SMBC Singapore Open has always been a highlight on the local sporting calendar, and organisers have worked with the relevant authorities to create a truly unrivalled experience under the circumstances and in the safest possible manner. We look forward to welcoming the players back to Singapore and are confident of staging another successful edition of the SMBC Singapore Open.”
Andy Johnston – General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Sentosa Golf Club said: ““We are very excited to host and welcome the players back to Sentosa Island and Sentosa Golf Club again for the SMBC Singapore Open. Since we last hosted the tournament, we have made many improvements to The Serapong and we are very much looking forward to the players experiencing and enjoying the changes we have made.”
The Serapong was voted best course on Tour in 2019,
Public health and safety remain the highest priority during the event and organisers, SPORTFIVE, have been working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that all protocols will be followed .
Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
All players and officials will adhere to strict protocols including pre-departure tests and tests on arrival. Working closely with both Sentosa Golf Club and Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore, SPORTFIVE will ensure the highest level of preparedness. All onsite personnel will also undergo all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all parties. It is unlikely there will be spectators allowed but limited hospitality is being planned. More details will be shared later.
Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO said: “We are very pleased that the SMBC Singapore Open will be returning in 2022. The tournament has always been popular among players and fans, and we are confident that event organisers and partners are working hard to put together a high-quality event that is safe for all involved.”
Isao Aoki, Chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organization said: “The SMBC Singapore Open 2020 was the opening event of the 2020 Japan Golf Tour Organization. We are delighted to be starting our year in Singapore again in 2022 and resuming the Tour in style. We appreciate the tournament organisers’ efforts to ensure the safe return of professional golf to Singapore and look forward to watching some of the world’s top golfers in action at Sentosa Golf Club.”
Singapore’s flagship golf tournament has a storied history and has consistently attracted some of golf’s biggest names since its inaugural edition in 1961. Stars who have competed here most recently include then-world No. 1 Jordan Spieth in 2016, and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia ‒ who won the 2018 title. Updates on the players who will feature in the 2022 event will be shared soon.
The 2020 edition of the SMBC Singapore Open took place from January 16-19 on Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course. Matt Kuchar, the bronze medallist from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, pulled off a stunning comeback in the final round to win the tournament with an 18-under par total, turning the tables on gold medallist Justin Rose, who finished second, three shots back at 15-under par.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
Jeev Milkha Singh turns 50 today (congratulations Mr Singh) and while most professional athletes at his age are retired the Indian great is not even close to putting his clubs away.
“It feels good in a way [to be turning 50] because I am heading to the Senior Tour for my second innings!” he said, this week.
“It has been an amazing journey: I have played all over the world, I have made good friends, I have made a living out of what I love doing, and I have had success.”
The two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, and winner of six titles on Tour, is exempt for the senior circuits in Europe, Japan and Korea and is hoping to receive invites for the Champions Tour.
He should also be able to play in the Senior British Open, US Senior Open, and the Senior PGA Championship.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Singh added: “I will probably start in March in either Europe or Japan – just waiting for the schedule to come out. I am going to play full time and shuttle between Europe, Japan and Korea.”
Jeev Milkha Singh has taken up associate membership for the Champions Tour, where he hopes to get two or three starts.
The Indian star’s plans are coming off the back of a traumatic and tragic year that saw his famous sporting parents pass away in the same week in June because of COVID-19 related complications.
His father Milkha Singh, the country’s most famous runner popularly known as The Flying Sikh, died at the age of 91. A few days before that, his wife Nirmal Kaur, a former captain of the India women’s national volleyball team, also passed away.
“It was really difficult as I lost my parents in the space of five days. It was a double whammy,” he adds.
“I was spending a lot of time in the hospital with them, so it was very difficult for me because I saw the way they were breathing and the way they went. I have had these images since then and had trouble sleeping, and all the memories keep coming back.”
He said he had little desire to play golf and it wasn’t until his 11-year-old son Harjai asked for a game one day that he decided to play again.
He adds: “My son loves the game – he is a good eight handicapper ‒ and he asked me to play, and I decided I did not want to be a bad parent. My father did a lot for us, and if I did not follow in his foot-steps I would not be doing justice to my son.”
Singh recently competed in the Asian Tour Phuket Series and made the cut in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship.
“It was a good start after 20 months of no golf on the Asian Tour. It was great to get the competitive juices going, feel the butterflies. I enjoyed getting back, and it was a great way of getting ready for the Senior Tour,” he said.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His weekly routine now is six days practice, three days workout, plus yoga and physiotherapy.
“I need a lot of work to be done, especially as I lost a lot of distance because I did not touch a club for five months. I need to get my clubhead speed back. I have lost close to about 15 to 20 yards, that’s basically a club and a half. And I played with that in Phuket and I was having a tough time,” he said.
Indeed, it’s been a tough year for India’s golfing talisman and as he stands on the threshold of the star-studded senior game there is one incredible emotion that will be driving him forward.
“I am going to be playing golf for my parents as they got me started.”
Asian Tour Media (ATM) has successfully utilised new cutting-edge golf remote production technology for the first time on the Asian Tour, delivering the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and Laguna Phuket Championship broadcasts, the first Asian Tour events to take place since COVID-19 stopped play.
With the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and restrictions on travel, an innovative remote production technology solution was developed and trialled earlier this year by Asian Tour Media at two LPGA events in Singapore and Thailand. It successfully allowed crews to collaborate remotely from different locations and deliver outstanding broadcasts for global consumption with minimal staff on site. In what was a first for golf production, all the learnings and technological advancements now in place are set to forever change the golf event broadcast landscape with ATM leading the way.
The pandemic allowed the time and opportunity to relook at golf production from the ground up and develop a new framework, focusing on technology as never before. By utilising existing underground fibre optic cable networks in place all around the world and a compression technology, ATM can create content quicker and for less expense, changing the entire future delivery of production at live golf events.
PHUKET-THAILAND- The Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Phuket tournaments used a hybrid method of broadcasting, utilising both public internet and secure private telco lines with the remote production technology offering many benefits. It enables more optimal and flexible ways of working, allowing Asian Tour Media crews to produce multiple events in the same day, reduces travel and freight costs, and minimises wear and tear on expensive equipment. It also offers a much more sustainable and environmentally friendly method of production as it significantly reduces travel, thereby limiting carbon footprint.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour said: “Utilizing this new technology allows us to potentially televise more content than ever before without the logistical barriers that we may ordinarily face. Showcasing the talent that competes regularly on the Asian Tour and reaching more fans on a more regular basis is one of our top priorities for the Tour moving forward.”
Peter White, Senior Head of Production, Asian Tour Media, commented: “We are delighted to have been able to deliver the first two Asian Tour events back utilising this new technology. Born out of necessity during the pandemic, we are pleased to be able to capitalise on the innovations and technologies developed for the long-term benefit of the Asian Tour. As we navigate the ongoing restrictions and challenges of the pandemic, our abilities in delivering this remote network solution will be invaluable in ensuring a top-quality Asian Tour broadcast.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- The Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), November 25th-28th, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Whiz-kid golfer TK Ratchanon Chantananuwat has revealed that he bravely battled back from a nose bleed, heat stroke and a severely blocked left ear in last week’s Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket.
The 14-year-old amateur star ‒ who made the cut in both the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and the Laguna Phuket Championship, finishing as low amateur both times ‒ said he suffered from a blocked ear on day one last week and later in the week had heat stroke that nearly forced him to withdraw.
“I couldn’t hear since the first day,” he said.
“I went to see the doctor, but he said it would be too risky to treat it without the proper equipment. But I went to the hospital, as it was so bad, but they couldn’t clear it out. In the end I took some medicine and that helped.”
Impressively, he finished in a tie for 30th place at Laguna Golf Phuket but it was at the Blue Canyon event where he really attracted headlines after closing with a 65 to finish 12 under and tie 15th.
His ailments definitely had an impact at Laguna.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 14 year old amateur of Thailand pictured on Sunday, December 5, 2021 with the Low Amateur Award and his mother and father during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It [the ear] is a big problem that started with my nose. It’s complicated. My problem is I get a lot of heat stroke, and I randomly get a runny nose and sneeze a lot and I get a lot of nose bleeds and because the nose is connected to the ear it causes some problems with my ear and that’s what caused the wax to be that stuck,” said Ratchanon.
“Apparently, I have pretty much no holes to breathe through in my nose, so I am barely breathing, so I just found that out. It’s basically an allergy which I have had since six.”
The night before his final round at the weekend TK Ratchanon had a very high fever that threatened his participation.
“My mum had to feed me dinner cos I was in bed and I couldn’t get out. At 9pm that night I had no chance of playing but I took a lot of medicine, woke up and felt pretty good.”
“TK”, as he is nicknamed, next competes in the All Thailand Golf Tour and Thailand Trust Tour’s biggest season-closing events this month.
Ends.
Phachara Khongwatmai finally secured his breakthrough maiden win on the Asian Tour today when he claimed the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship after a gripping finish at Laguna Golf Phuket.
He holed a pressure-packed 12-foot par putt on the 18th to avoid a sudden-death play-off and beat countrymen Panuphol Pittayarat and Denwit Boriboonsub and Korean Bio Kim by a solitary shot.
Phachara, who first hit global headlines when he won a professional event aged 14, claimed the biggest tournament of his career so far after closing with an even-par 70 for a winning total of 10 under, on a difficult day when the wind speed reached 25 to 30km per hour.
“I feel very happy, and very excited for this win. I have been waiting for about six years. Right now, it is my time, and I feel great,” said 22-year-old Phachara ‒ six-times a runner-up on the Asian Tour.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phacahra Khongwatmai of Thailand celebrates victory on the 18th green on Sunday, December 5, 2021, during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Today was quite difficult because it was tough wind. I have never played this wind in Thailand before. Today was tough, and all about who can make the score. That last putt is my last chance for 18 holes but if I missed I knew I had another chance in a play-off. But I had that putt from that place before when I was here in quarantine.”
The Thai star has won twice before on the Asian Development Tour, both in 2015, while it was back in 2013 he triumphed in the Singha Hua Hin Open as a 14 year old amateur.
The tournament developed into a two-horse race over the closing holes between Phachara Khongwatmai and playing-partner Panuphol. The latter held the lead for much of day but bogeyed three holes in a row from the 13th.
A pivotal two-shot swing saw Phachara draw level with Panuphol on the par-five 14th, where Phachara made birdie while Panuphol bogey.
And Phachara moved one ahead on the following hole when he made par while Panuphol registered another bogey.
The momentum was in Phachara’s favour but drama was soon to follow when he three-putted 17, after missing a seven footer for par, to leave them both tied on 10 under playing the par-four 18th, with Kim, also playing in the group, one back.
In a nail-biting finale, Panuphol ‒ whose approach shot landed 15 yards short ‒ chipped to 15 feet but missed his attempt, while Kim’s birdie putt from 22 feet also slipped past the hole.
Earlier, Phachara had had to deal with a difficult 40-foot birdie putt, which sped past the cup to set up victory with the last roll of the dice.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Bio Kim of Korea pictured on Sunday, December 5, 2021, during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Denwit, aged just 17, returned a 68, Panuphol 71, and Bio a 72.
Bio, like Phachara Khongwatmai, was looking for his first Asian Tour win having led after each of the first three days and had started the final round with a one-shot advantage over his two playing partners.
But he got off to the worse start possible with four bogeys in the first five holes. He was out of contention for most of the day until presented with a chance to make extra time on 18.
“It was another difficult day when I could not find my rhythm, but I still had some chances with some putts coming in. I am proud of the way I hung in there,” said Bio.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand, left and Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand walk to the 7th green pictured on Sunday, December 5, 2021 during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The tournament was the second and final event of the Asian Tour Phuket Series.
The Asian Tour heads next to Singapore, where two 2020-21 season-ending events are being planned.
Bio Kim holds on from a peloton of leading players from Thailand to keep his lead at the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship today after the third round at Laguna Golf Phuket.
The Korean, the first and second round leader, signed for a one-over-par 71 to lead by a stroke from Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat and Phachara Khongwatmai, who carded 68 and 69 respectively.
“It was a tough day. I was a little out of sync, I’m not sure why,” said Bio Kim , who is on 11 under.
“I am going to head straight to the range to work it out. I was certainly mentally tired. I was playing with two great Thai players, so it was tough. I am pleased the round is over and I can reset for tomorrow.”
He appeared to be in control after nine holes, after touring the front side in one under but the wheels came off on the homeward stretch with bogeys on 10 and 15.
The 31 year old is a six-time winner on the Korean PGA Tour but is looking for his first title on the Asian Tour, having made it through Qualifying School in 2020.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand pictured on Saturday December 4, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Recent form suggests Bio Kim holds on and will not be far away tomorrow: he was joint fourth last week at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and claimed the LG Signature Players Championship last month on the Korean PGA Tour.
Kim narrowly held the lead all day until Panuphol, playing in the group ahead, drew level with him for the first time when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on 17.
But the Thai golfer dropped a shot on the par-four 18th after hitting his approach short, chipping to three feet and missing the putt.
Said Panuphol: “I am still struggling with a shoulder injury, but I am playing well, enjoying the course and it’s great to be in contention. It’s going to be tight tomorrow with so many in contention.”
Panuphol, affectionately known as Coconut, last won on Tour at the 2018 Thailand Open, a year after winning the Indonesian Open.
‘Win number three would be amazing but there’s a lot of work to be done before that,” he added.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Saturday December 4, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Phachara, still only 22 years old, is another looking for his first Asian Tour victory after a plethora of top finishes ‒ he has finished second on six occasions.
“We had a battle on the back nine and I am sure it will be the same tomorrow,” said Phachara, who was paired with Kim.
The trio will play in the final group on Sunday making for a thrilling finish to the event.
Thailand’s Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol, Prom Meesawat, and Natipong Srithong, and Korean Yikeun Chang finished tied for fourth on eight under.
The tournament is the second and final leg of the Asian Tour Phuket Series, which has marked the resumption of the Tour after a 20-month COVID-19 enforced break.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Yikuen Chang of Korea celebrates with his caddie on hole No 4 pictured on Saturday December 4, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Bio Kim has one eye on trophy in his bid to win for the first time on the Asian Tour gathered momentum today when he took the halfway lead in the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket.
The Korean added a four-under-par 66 to his first round 62 to lead on 12 under by two shots from Thailand’s Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol, in with a 67.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai is a stroke further back after firing 65, one better than his compatriots Panuphol Pittayarat and Natipong Srithong, who both shot 64.
The tournament is the second and final leg of the Asian Tour Phuket Series, which has marked the resumption of the Tour after a 20-month COVID-19 enforced break.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Bio Kim of Korea pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kim had a commanding three-shot lead with two to play but surprisingly hit trouble on the par-four 17th, where he made double. His tee shot went right into pine trees and from there he found woodwork twice while trying to punch out before reaching the green with his fourth. But he bounced back brilliantly on the par-four 18th, hitting a nine iron from 160 yard to 12 feet ‒ which he duly converted for a birdie.
“It was one of those day when I could have done much better but luckily today is over and I will regroup tomorrow,” said the 31 year old.
“And hopefully I do a little better than today. I will just keep my head down, be focused and be present; that’s who I am and that’s how I am playing the game of golf. And hopefully good things happen on the weekend.”
Kim was expected to be the next big superstar of Korean golf over a decade ago after winning both the Korean and Japan Amateur Championships in 2008, before finishing top of the Korean PGA Tour Order of Merit two years later and then securing his PGA Tour card aged 20.
But he lost his card after one year there, played the Web.com Tour (now called the Korn Ferry Tour) before competing mainly in Korea ‒ where he has won six times, including the LG Signature Players Championship last month.
That victory and a joint fourth placing in last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship suggests the Korean ‒ who graduated from the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2020 ‒ is building towards a second coming, and tomorrow Bio Kim has one eye on trophy.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chanachok Dejpriantanamongkol of Thailand pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I have made a lot of putts for the last few months. My putter has been co-operating, and I have been hitting the ball better than I used to for the last few years, I think that helps as well. I have just been sticking to what I have been doing,” he said.
“Maybe the big difference is my second child who was born last October. I have two daughters now, hopefully I can give them good things on the weekend.”
Chanachok’s affinity for Laguna Golf Phuket continued after he made an eagle, a birdie and for the second day did not drop a shot.
The Thai golfer won the Singha Phuket Open here in 2017, on the Asian Development Tour, in brilliant fashion finishing 27 under.
“It’s not easy but it’s just that I did not have big trouble. I have been in good spots for up and downs,” said the 27 year old.
“This week my up and down game is really good, and my iron game is also good, but the best thing for me is putting, I have not three putted yet.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chanachok has good reason to be playing well as his wife is expecting in February.
He added: “Right now I have to focus on my game. I think after this year I might pause my game because our baby is coming next year. And I think I will also open a shop in Bangkok, a golf club fitting shop.”
He’s also in fine form thanks to losing 15 kgs over 12 months after changing to a vegan diet.
Chanachok also claimed the Singha Championship in 2017 on the All Thailand Golf Tour for his only other success as a professional.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Panuphol, better known as “Coconut”, rocketed into contention with four birdies on the trot from 10th followed by an eagle on the par-five 14th.
Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol’s affinity for the golf course at Laguna Golf Phuket continued today at the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship when he took the clubhouse lead on 10 under after returning a second round three-under-par 67.
The Thai golfer won the Singha Phuket Open here in 2017, on the Asian Development Tour, in brilliant fashion finishing 27 under and has gone bogey free for the first two rounds this week.
“It’s not easy but it’s just that I did not have big trouble. I have been in good spots for up and downs,” said the 27 year old, who made an eagle and a birdie.
“This week my up and down game is really good, and my iron game is also good, but the best thing for me is putting, I have not three putted yet.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chanachok Dejpriantanamongkol of Thailand pictured at right performing the Thai Wai, at left is playing partner Veer Ahlawat of India on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Prom Meesawat from Thailand carded 65 and is on seven under, along with India’s Veer Ahlawat, playing in the same group as Chanachok, and Korea’s Yoseop Seo, who both shot 67.
Half the field are still out on the course, including first-round leader Bio Kim from Korea. Bio shot a 62 on Thursday.
Chanachok has good reason to be playing well as his wife is expecting in February.
He added: “Right now I have to focus on my game. I think after this year I might pause my game because our baby is coming next year. And I think I will also open a shop in Bangkok, a golf club fitting shop.”
He’s also in fine form thanks to losing 15 kgs over 12 months after changing to a vegan diet.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Prom Meesawat of Thailand pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chanachok also claimed the Singha Championship in 2017 on the All Thailand Golf Tour for his only other success as a professional.
Australian Scott Hend put himself in contention after shooting a 63 to move to six under.
Bio Kim took the first-round clubhouse lead in the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship today after shooting an exceptional eight-under-par 62 ‒ which at one point looked like being sub 60.
The Korean ‒ who first hit global headlines over a decade ago when he qualified for the PGA Tour as a 20 year old ‒ made an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey at Laguna Golf Phuket, where preferred lies were being played.
It saw him finish one shot ahead of Australian Travis Smyth, whose 63 was no doubt inspired by the fact he played in the same group as Kim, and Thailand’s Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol ‒ who won the Singha Phuket Open here in 2017 on the Asian Development Tour.
Poor weather stopped play at 5.17pm meaning 40 players will complete their first round tomorrow. England’s Steve Lewton was the best of those at five under with two to play.
Bio Kim, whose group played the back nine first, was nine under after 13 holes and on course for an elusive 59 before realization set in.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Bio Kim of Korea pictured in action on Thursday December 2, 2021 during round one of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Unfortunately, at the final three holes I kind of figured where I was at, so I got a little nervous,” said the 31 year old ‒ an Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate from last year.
“My form is actually in very good shape. I putted good, I’m hitting it good, I am capitalising on the chances; so hopefully next couple of rounds I will keep going and maybe, maybe, at the end, I’m holding something.”
He finished joint fourth in last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, and at the beginning of last month claimed the LG Signature Players Championship on the Korean PGA Tour ‒ which was his sixth victory on home soil. He has mainly played in Korea since 2014.
He added: “59 was in my sight but then the last few holes were kind of tough and then the wind was blowing. I tried my best but unfortunately it did not happen. 62 is still a great round.”
Smyth also played well last week, coming home in 10th, and like his playing partner was able to build on that momentum today.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Travis Smyth of Australia, right, fist bumps with his caddie Kyle Roadley of Australia on Thursday December 2, 2021 during round one of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I’m playing really good golf right now,” said Smyth, who like Kim is looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.
“[I’m] holing a little bit more putts than I normally would, around that 15 to 25-foot range. I’m hitting it fairly straight on this type of tight course and taking advantage of the par fives out there.”
He birdied two of his last three to make up ground on Kim.
Added Smyth: “I was having a bad back last week but it’s better today. I got help from the physios here. I was also coping with a bad foot from playing golf almost everyday, and got some lower back spasms that some golfers get. Had some sharp lingering pain last week but today wasn’t too bad. It’s definitely stiff. I have been working hard with the physio here every morning and after my rounds. Hopefully the back holds up for the rest of the week.”
Chanachok carded a third-round 61 and was 27 under par when he won here four years ago and continued his love affair with the Laguna Golf Phuket course again today.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol of Thailand pictured on Thursday December 2, 2021 during round one of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The 27 year old said he lost 15 kgs over 12 months by becoming a vegan after watching the Netflix documentary The Game Changers.
“It [becoming vegan] was a big change for my wife and me in the beginning, but we are now used to it,” said Chanachok, who shot seven birdies, including on his last two holes, and was bogey free.
“It’s really helped my fitness and energy levels. But being here again at Laguna Phuket is also special for me.”
Korean Joohyung Kim, equal fourth last week at Blue Canyon Country Club, India’s Udayan Mane and Veer Ahlawat, and Thailand’s Vanchai Luangnitikul, Phachara Khongwatmai, Kosuke Hamamoto, Sarun Sirithon, and Kasidit Lepkurte all returned 66s.
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