Where are they now? Kyi Hla Han
The Asian Tour has welcomed many worthy champions into the winner’s circle. While many of them are still making their mark on the Tour and beyond, some have decided to put away their clubs but have continued to leave an impression on us.
In our first instalment of our ‘Where are they now?’ series, we spoke to Kyi Hla Han, who was the Asian Tour’s Executive Chairman for several years and is best remembered for winning the Volvo China Open and Asian Tour Order of Merit in 1999.
After ruling the fairways for more than two decades, Han is still very much passionate about the sport which brought him much success and even introduced him to his wife in Hong Kong.
So tell us, how did you get started in professional golf and the Asian Tour back in 1994-95?
KHH: I turned professional in December 1980 at the World Cup in Bogota, Colombia. I was 19 and still in University but wanted to turn professional badly then. I started playing the old Asian Circuit in 1981 which was basically about nine to 10 National Opens over a 10-week period run by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC). There were also a few professional events in South East Asia which would be the equivalent to what we have with the Asian Development Tour now. I won over a dozen of them, like the Malaysian and Thai PGA Championships and the Malaysian Masters.
Since the old Asian Circuit was much smaller than the Asian Tour is now, what did you do when there were no events in Asia?
KHH: I wanted to play more events, so I went to play in Australia, Europe and Japan because I felt like there were not enough tournaments in Asia. I met my wife Marlene in Hong Kong where she was living at the time, and in 1993, she was approached by a sports marketing company that wanted to start up a Tour with about 20 events in Asia. I was asked to help structure the Tour from a player’s point of view, and in 1995 the Asian PGA Tour was launched with me and Dom Boulet as its founding members. At the time I still had a card on the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO), so I didn’t really play the Asian PGA Tour until 1996.
Except for winning some of the smaller events which you mentioned earlier, you must have won bigger ones as well?
KHH: Yeah, I won the Singapore Open in 1994 which was an event on the Australian Tour then, and also the 1997 Rolex Singapore Masters. But the highlight of my career was definitely in 1999 when I won the Asian Tour Order of Merit along with the Volvo China Open.
How many years did you play on the Asian Tour before you retired and transitioned into management?
KHH: After I won the Order of Merit in 1999 I was trying to raise my game but I felt like I wasn’t improving enough to get to the next level, to play on the European Tour or PGA TOUR. In 2003, there was talk among players who wanted us to form our own Association, so we split from the Asian PGA and founded the Asian Tour in 2004. Me and five other players were the founding members, and I served as the Chairman of the Tour. I was pretty involved even though I was playing. My game was still ok and I was younger so I thought I could do both. But by 2006 I had a lot of injuries, so I stopped playing and took over as Executive Chairman later that year. Being on the management side is totally different to being a player. But it was a good experience as I got to understand both sides of the sport.
How do you feel now when you see all these young Asian players coming up and venturing out in the world, instead of in the past where most players wanted to play only in Asia?
KHH: I think it’s fantastic and it’s always been my goal to see our players to be on the world stage. It’s great to see young guys like Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Jazz Janewattananond, Anirban Lahiri and Gavin Green coming up as it was always the intention for the Tour to create a pathway for players to become world class champions.
After 25 years of playing and 12 years in Asian Tour’s management, you are still serving on the Asian Tour’s Board of Directors. But outside of the Tour, what are you up to these days?
KHH: I’ve always loved golf course design and it was something I wanted to pursue. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to design a course in Dalat, Vietnam (The Dalat at 1200 Country Club), and to be involved as a signature designer in a Schmidt-Curley Golf Design project near Mandalay, Myanmar. I have a partner in my golf design business, Sam Sakocius who has a vast knowledge of course construction. I was also approached by some people to start the Junior Golf Tour of Asia (JGTA) that is associated with the American Junior Golf Assiciation (AJGA), which basically helps our junior players get into colleges in the U.S. on golf scholarships. The Tour is for boys and girls aged between 12 to 18 years old. We have finished two seasons of the JGTA and so far seven of our players have received scholarships to Division I colleges in the U.S.
We know that you are also involved in music and playing a lot of guitar?
KHH: Yes, I’ve always been into classic rock from the 60’s and 70’s and played some guitar in my teenage years, I’ve always loved music. When I started living in Singapore, I was always going out to the bars and restaurants to listen to music. It was there where I met up with two guys that played that kind of music. I became good friends with one of them who is now one of the top guitarists in Singapore- Robyn Anthony. I get involved in gigs with them at clubs, bars and private homes and it’s really fun. Playing music is very relaxing and it’s good to have a new challenge.
Being a top player and out on tour for a long time, is there anything you miss about the Tour?
KHH: The comradery, and how you remain friends with fellow players even for a long time away from the Tour. I do miss all my friends out on tour. I have a lot of good stories and memories from the Tour, but I think the players are probably a little more serious now than we used to be. When we were out there were a lot of players with their own character, but they all played well.
So, what’s a good story?
KHH: I just met up with Danny Mjiovic from Canada in Toronto a few weeks ago, he used to play the Tour about 20 years ago and he was actually the guy that introduced me to my wife Marlene! One of the most memorable moments on Tour was back in 2000. After I won the 1999 Order of Merit, they paired me with Tiger Woods in the Johnnie Walker Classic after he had just won four Majors in a row. That was a real highlight.
Any other hobbies or interests taking up your time nowadays?
KHH: I am also getting involved in doing more charity projects to help children in Myanmar. I feel that I have been very blessed in my life, and it’s time to help the children that are not as fortunate. Our two daughters just graduated from college in Canada this year, so I have more time to pursue all my different interests and keep myself busy.
Ends.
About Kyi Hla Han
Country: Myanmar
Date of Birth: February 13, 1961
Residence: Singapore
Turned Pro: 1980
Twitter Handle: @kyi_hla
Family: Married, Wife: Marlene, Daughters: Natasha and Kaitlyn
ASIAN TOUR VICTORIES: (1) 1999 Volvo China Open
ASIAN CIRCUIT VICTORIES: (1) 1997 Rolex Singapore Masters
AUSTRALASIAN TOUR VICTORIES: (1) 1994 Epson Singapore Open
OTHER WINS: (14) 1983 and 1984 Dunlop Malaysian Masters
1983 and 1985 Malaysian PGA Championship
1985 and 1988 Thailand PGA Championship
1985 Royal Johor Championship
1985 and 1988 PFP Malaysia Championship
1994 and 1995 Hong Kong PGA Championship
1994 Johor Masters
1988 Tourism Malaysia Events in Penang and Miri
AMATEUR WINS: (3) 1980 Putra Cup, 1977 and 1978 Burma Amateur Open
OTHERS: Represented Myanmar in World Cup Golf in 1980, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2004.
Represented Myanmar National Amateur Team 1977-1980.
July 29: South Africa’s Justin Harding did not have the finish he wished for at the World Golf Championship – FedEx St Jude Invitational as he signed for a disappointing four-over-par 74 to end his campaign in tied-43rd place on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Harding, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour in 2018, had started the day trailing by eight shots in tied-18th position, thanks to a superb third-round 64 at TPC Southwind.
Harding, however, struggled to continue his hot form as he slipped down the leaderboard after marking his card with five bogeys against a birdie to finish 16 shots back of winner Brooks Koepka on even-par 280.
Japan’s Kodai Ichihara battled to a 70 to finish in tied-55th place on 286 while compatriot Mikumu Horikawa and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin settled for shares of 58th place on 290 following respective rounds of 72 and 74.
Overseas Watch: Harding surges with brilliant 64 at WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational
July 28: South Africa’s Justin Harding marked his best round so far by firing a bogey-free six-under-par 64 to move 29 spots up to a share of 18th place at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational on Saturday.
The two-time Asian Tour winner posted rounds of 72,70 and 64 for a three-day total of four-under-par 206 to remain eight shots back of Rory McIlroy, who leads the third round after a sensational 62 at the TPC Southwind.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and Japan’s Kodai Ichihara both returned with matching 75s to take a share of 56th in the penultimate round of the WGC event.
Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa posted a 66 to remain in 61st place.
Ends.
Overseas Watch: Ichihara makes move at WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational
July 27: Japan’s Kodai Ichihara bettered his opening round efforts by carding an even-par 70 to move nine places up the leaderboard to take a share of 36th place after the second round of the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational on Friday.
The Japanese, who carded a 71 in his first round at the WGC event, is among the 11 players that includes Thailand’s Poom Saksansin bunched in 36th place after compiling a two-day total of one-over-par 141.
He is 10 shots back of English leader Matthew Fritzpatrick who takes pole position after carding rounds of 67 and 64
Saksansin slipped after mixing his card with four bogeys, a double-bogey and three birdies for a 73 while South Africa’s Justin Harding signed for a 70 to take tied-47th place.
Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa returned with a 77 for a share of 61st place.
Ends.
Overseas Watch: Poom’s off to an encouraging start at WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational
July 26: Thailand’s Poom Saksansin got his campaign at the World Golf Championships- FedEx St Jude Invitational off to an encouraging start after he posted a first round two-under-par 68 on Thursday.
The three-time Asian Tour winner, who earned his place at the WGC event after winning the Indonesian Masters last year, mixed his card with three birdies and one bogey to take a share of 18th place and trail Spanish leader Jon Rahm by shots back.
Japan’s Kodai Ichihara, who qualified for the event after winning the 2018 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour, opened with a 71 to stay nine shots off the lead in tied-45th place.
South Africa’s Justin Harding posted a 72 for a tied-47th place while Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa returned with a 75 for 60th place after day one at the TPC Southwind.
Ends.
Sentosa, Singapore, July 23: Korea’s Sanghyun Park moved up eight rungs to 11th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit following his fine performance at The 148th Open, where 50% of the prize money earned by members were counted towards the money list.
A two-time Asian Tour winner in 2018, Park showed great resilience under testing conditions at Royal Portrush en-route to capping a tied-16th place finish in what is his second straight appearance at the year’s fourth and final Major.
The 36-year-old Park, who was named the 2018 Rookie of the Year after ending his season in second place on the Merit rankings, recorded rounds of 69, 72, 68 and 73 to settle for a two-under-par 282 total, some 13 shots back of winner Shane Lowry of Ireland.
Park secured his place at golf’s original championship for the second time after finishing in a tie for third place at the Mizuno Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series and held on the Japan Golf Tour in June.
Park, who enjoyed a fourth-place finish at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on home soil in April, took home a prize purse of US$126,312 after emerging as the best-placed Asian player at The 148th Open.
“I’m delighted to have made Asia and Korea proud. It was not easy playing under such wet and windy conditions as we are generally not used to that. But I managed to hang in there all week and I’m glad my efforts paid off,” said Park.
A total of five Asian Tour members made their Open debuts last week and Japan’s Yosuke Asaji was the only one to make the halfway cut. He signed for a closing 76 to end his campaign in tied-67th position, which earned him US$25,087.
The result also moved him up one spot on the Order of Merit, where he sits in third place with a current haul of US$285,181. The 26-year-old Japanese had claimed his Asian Tour breakthrough at the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup held on home soil in May.
Despite missing the halfway cut for the second straight year at The Open, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond continued to dominate the Merit rankings as he leads by more than US$200,000 over second-placed Scott Hend of Australia.
Asian Tour Order of Merit (Top-10)
Portrush, Northern Ireland, July 21: Korea’s Sanghyun Park took home the honours of being the best-placed Asian player after posting a final round two-over-par 73 to sign off from The 148th Open in tied-16th place on Sunday.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry swept aside all his closest rivals by closing with a 72 to lift his first Major title in front of the thousands of adoring Irish fans at Royal Portrush.
“It was amazing. It’s just hard to believe. I think there were a lot of people from where I’m from, I spotted a few people in the crowd, and I think a lot of people made the last-minute journey up here this morning because I was leading. And it was just was great out there today.
“Portrush have just been incredible. Obviously I’ve had success here in the past in amateur events. But to be able to win and celebrate with local people is obviously very nice,” said Lowry.
Lowry’s winning total of 15-under-par 269 saw him edge out England’s Tommy Fleetwood by a commanding six-shot after the Englishman posted a 74 to finish outright second.
Tony Finau of the United States closed with a 71 to take third place while world number one Brooks Koepka of the United States and England’s Lee Westwood shared fourth place with their 278 total.
Park, who finished second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2018, capped a memorable week at Royal Portrush as he surpassed the likes of Major champions such as Louis Oosthuizen, Henrik Stenson and Jordan Spieth with his final position on the leaderboard.
Starting the day tied for 19th place, the Korean traded two bogeys and a birdie on a cold and wind-swept day to close with a 282 total at Royal Portrush, where the year’s final Major was making its return to after 68 years.
“I’m delighted to have made Asia and Korea proud today. It was not easy playing under such wet and windy conditions and we are generally not used to that. But I managed to hang in there all week and I’m glad my efforts paid off,” said Park.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the 36-year-old as he had missed the cut in his Carnoustie debut last year.
Park ensured he would prolong his stay in his second appearance at The Open by accustoming himself to the weather conditions by playing at the Irish and Scottish Opens prior to his arrival to Royal Portrush.
“Although I missed the cuts in those two events, it was a very good learning experience. I got to learn how to hit my balls better into the wind and all the different aspects of controlling the ball better,” said Park.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat signed off with his best round at The Open with a 67 to take tied-32nd place while South Africa’s Justin Harding posted a 76 to take a share of 41st place.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who is the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, marked his best performance at a Major championship by closing with a 68 to finish tied-51st while Japan’s Yosuke Asaji closed with a 76 to share 67th place with American JB Holmes, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.
Ends.
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