Jazz and Danthai embrace learning curve despite early exits at The Open

Published on July 21, 2018

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 21: Thai duo Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma hailed their Major debut as a learning experience after missing the halfway cut at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Friday.

The Thai pair, both winners on the Asian Tour, earned their tickets to the year’s third Major championship following their tied-fourth place results at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.

Jazz carded rounds of 74 and 76 while Danthai signed for rounds of 78 and 74 to miss the mark set at three-over-par 145 at the Carnoustie Golf Links. Kiradech Aphibarnrat is the only Thai to make it into the weekend after battling to a 71 to sit right on the bubble.

“It’s still a very good experience for me even though I missed the cut. I didn’t expect too much because it’s my first Major this week. I just came here to see what’s going on around and how it actually feels to be playing in a Major,” said the 22-year-old Jazz.

“It was an eye-opener. Playing in Asia is just so different. There are so many things that I can improve on. Playing against so many good golfers, you kind of see what you need to do and what you don’t. It’s a very good learning experience. It’s hard to put it in words.

Jazz secured his second Asian Tour title at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak last month. He followed up that victory with a joint runner-up finish at the Sarawak Championship in Malaysia, two week’s prior to his Open debut.

“The week’s not done yet. I will still be here watching some golf over the weekend and hopefully learn something. It’s been an amazing week. I really hope I can come back here again,” he added.

Danthai Boonma of Thailand

Danthai, who claimed his maiden Asian Tour win at The World Classic Championship in 2015, admits nerves in his opening round but will take home the positives from his Major debut.

“I thought I played really good in the second round. I felt better with my game. I kind of feel more confident out there today. Yesterday I was quite nervous. Today, I managed to focus shot by shot and just play my game.

“It’s been a wonderful experience for me. The course is different from what we used to play in Asia and the vibes here are just so different. I really enjoyed myself this week. This experience will definitely help in my game moving forward,” said the 22-year-old Danthai.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Pattaya, Thailand, July 21: Pavit Tangkamolprasert hopes to complete the Thai dominance in Asian Tour events on home soil when he contends at the Royal Cup next week.

The 29-year-old Pavit is determined to emulate the success of recent winners Panuphol Pittayarat and Jazz Janewattananond, winners of the Thailand Open and Queen’s Cup respectively, to reaffirm Thailand’s dominance on the Asian Tour.

Pavit will line-up alongside three-time Asian Tour number one, Thongchai Jaidee, Prom Meesawat, who finished runner-up in last year’s Royal Cup and Natipong Srithong at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.

American John Catlin, the only player to win twice on the Asian Tour in 2018, will lead the strong international challenge which includes defending champion Shiv Kapur of India, compatriots Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jeev Milkha Singh, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, South Africa’s Justin Harding and Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh.

After winning his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title on home soil in May, Pavit will now set his sights on claiming a second Asian Tour title since 2016 at the Royal Cup.

“Since my win (on the ADT) I have gained a lot more confidence to compete this year and I am still hunting for my second win now that my wrist is at 100%. I have been doing a lot of physiotherapy and have also been working out a lot more to build my arm muscles and that has been key to helping me recover faster,” said Pavit.

Currently ranked 35th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, Pavit is ready to launch a title assault after taking a week’s break to prepare for the Royal Cup.

“My goal this season is to finish inside the top-30 on the Habitat for Humanity standings so that I can get into every event next year. I have been playing well since the Kolon Korea Open but playing four weeks straight and having to adjust to playing on different green speeds has been tough. This break was much needed and I will be fully recharged once Royal Cup comes,” added Pavit.

Measuring at 6,716 yards, with the front-nine being played on the Lake course and the back-nine being played on the Mountain course, the Royal Cup will held in conjunction with King Rama X’s birthday which falls on July 28, Saturday.

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Published on July 20, 2018

Fiji, July 20: Australia’s Scott Hend will be hoping to complete his ‘unfinished’ business and settle an old score at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways which will get underway at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course in a fortnight.

Hend, who is the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016, began the final round in 2017 sharing fourth place and just three shots behind 54-hole leader Wade Ormsby.

One of the most experienced and successful players in the field, he rightly felt he had a genuine chance to take the title but having done all the hard work to get himself into position things did not go his way in the final round.

An adventurous front-nine of one-over that included just one par – Hend amassed five bogeys against two birdies and an eagle – all but ending his chances, an aggravating end to an otherwise encouraging week.

“From tee to green I probably hit the ball as good as I had for the whole week and to not convert on the Sunday and win the tournament was very frustrating,” said Hend.

“The pressure was really on to win because I think if I had won that tournament I definitely would have got the pick for the Presidents Cup.

“I got into position and I guess my putter let me down on Sunday. I just couldn’t hole the putts and Norrey (eventual winner Jason Norris) played fantastically and holed the putts he had to hole and shot some great scores to win.”

Hend is no stranger to Fiji having played there early in his golf career but said when he returned for the first time in many years in 2017, he was pleasantly surprised how far the country – and golf in Fiji – had come.

“I was really excited and pleased to see the quality of the Natadola Bay course when I arrived last year,” added Hend.

“Fiji has always been a special place and it hasn’t lost any of that magic. You stay in the hotel there and have breakfast looking out over the ocean and it’s just an island paradise.

“But the golf course there is also a quality golf course. The way it’s been designed – it’s a really good design and very playable.”

Hend says the Natadola Bay layout, and the strong winds which often blow across the course, suit his style of play and he is confident and keen about his return trip this year.

“The real key to the golf course is the wind. If it gets windy then the guy who’s striking the ball quite well and can manoeuvre it about, he’s the guy who will be up there at the end,” he said.

“That’s what we saw last year with the wind. The proficient ball strikers sort of came to the top a little bit.

“I played with Jason on the Saturday and he was striking the ball quite cleanly so it didn’t surprise me he was up there. Then he also had the putter rolling so when you get those two things together, it usually all falls into place.”

While returning to Fiji is a trip down memory lane in some ways for Hend he said he also recognises the tournament is a significant opportunity for many of those in the field.

“The field strength for Australian golfers and the opportunity for those guys are fantastic,” he said.

“The guys who play the pro-am circuit and are looking to advance their careers, a tournament like this is really, really big.

“It’s a rare opportunity. If you can have a good week here and get a win you get a two-year exemption in Asia…it could be life-changing for some of those guys.”

There’s no question Hend has a genuine liking for Fiji and the tournament; his travel itinerary just to take part is proof of his commitment.

He will play the Porsche European Open in Hamburg the week before then beginning a long and adventurous route to the South Pacific ahead of Thursday’s tee time.

“Sunday night I fly Hamburg to London then London to Singapore then Singapore to Fiji,” added Hend who will fly direct from Singapore to Nadi on Fiji Airways.

“It’s a fair trip but at least you know it’s going to be nice and relaxing once you get there!”

Hend will be among the favourites when the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways tees off at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from August 2-5 and rightly so.

In a season which has seen him not quite at his best thanks to an injury flare-up he has been steadily building back to form and feels he is ready to contend again.

“The hardest part about winning is actually getting yourself in position,” he says.

“Sooner or later, if you get there enough, you hope once or twice it all falls your way but just trying to get there is the hardest part.

“Golf tournaments are so competitive these days that there are not many times you can go out and shoot even par or 1-under in the last round and just win. You have to keep pushing.

“But I’ve done a lot of hard work this year and sooner or later it’s going to fall into place. It’s just a matter of timing and you’ve got to be persistent with it.”

Don’t be surprised if that time comes Sunday evening in Fiji, says Gavin Kirkman CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and along with Sports and Entertainment Limited owns the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.

“Scott Hend is a highly accomplished golfer recording 14 wins around the world and representing Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics so to have a player of his calibre returning to the play the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways shows the positive reputation the tournament has built on the world stage.

“The distance that players like Scott are travelling to tee up in the tournament is also a testament to the beauty and hospitality of Fiji; the players all love playing in the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.”

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Carnoustie, Scotland, July 19: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat endured a day of mixed emotions as he signed for an opening three-over-par 74 at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.

The 28-year-old Thai, who was crowned the Asian Tour number one in 2013, fired two birdies against a double-bogey to turn in level par. He dropped four shots in his next seven holes but gained an unexpected birdie on 17 after his third shot from 80 yards found the bottom of the cup.

“Definitely not a good start to the week, shooting three-over in the opening round,” said Kiradech. “I had a good start today, birdied the first and missed by a little bit for birdie on the second. I just miscalculated that shot which landed in the bunker, resulting in a double-bogey unfortunately.”

“Managed to turn in level par but I can only say there are too many bunkers on the back-nine. (laughs). I made a good comeback on the 17. It was a great shot. It was good to finish with that birdie coming back,” added Kiradech, a three-time Asian Tour winner and a four-time European Tour champion.

Kiradech, who played alongside defending champion Jordan Spieth and world number three Justin Rose, lamented his poor ball-striking where he found only four fairways but kept up his hopes of making a comeback on Friday.

“I was just trying to stay consistent out there. I hope I can continue to do that tomorrow, keep the ball in play and just get it low tomorrow. It was good fun out there with Justin (Rose) and Jordan (Spieth). All of us weren’t having a good day out there. Justin and I weren’t striking the ball well but I am sure we will go out there and gain it back tomorrow,” he said.

Fellow compatriot and Major debutant Jazz Janewattananond matched the efforts of Kiradech after marking his card with four birdies against a double-bogey and five bogeys.

“It was a long round today. I started off alright but it got quite bad later but I managed to keep my head in it. It’s a tough golf course and it’s also my first Major championship. I have never played links course before so to finish three-over-par, I’m pretty happy.

“Another round tomorrow, things could be different, you never know. I just have to be calm about it and see what happens. I made a long putt on hole 11 for birdie. It was about 40 feet or more. It was a really tough hole because it’s straight into the wind,” Jazz said.

The Thai duo were among those tied in 90th place, eight shots behind leader Kevin Kisner of the United States. Danthai Boonma, the other Thai debutant in the field, posted a 78.

“It has been awesome playing in my first Major. It’s kind of weird. You see so many good guys out here. In the locker, you might meet Tiger Woods while changing your shoes and Dustin Johnson might just walk past you at the range, it’s pretty mind-blowing,” said a thrilled Jazz.

Ends.

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Published on July 19, 2018

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 19: A nervous Danthai Boonma of Thailand kept his chin up after signing for an opening seven-over-par 78 in his debut appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.

After a disappointing start, the 22-year-old Thai admits he must learn from his mistakes and regroup.

“I feel like I hit the ball pretty good and my putting wasn’t that bad but the score wasn’t what I expected. I had a disappointing finish today, dropping five shots in my last four holes. I got into trouble on the 16th, hitting my tee shot into the bunker and then lost my momentum there.

“I know it wasn’t going to be easy as it’s my first time playing in a Major championship. It was still a very good experience. I am still very excited and a little bit nervous. I got to play along former Open winner Mark (Cakcavecchia) so that was good too,” said Danthai.

Danthai was disappointed not to take advantage of the sun-baked day at the Carnoustie Golf Links and will look to bounce back after receiving support from his family and friends in Thailand.

“I will stick to the same game plan tomorrow and just have fun out there. I just want to enjoy the game and gain more experience out there. It wasn’t that windy actually. The weather and the playing conditions were pretty nice today. It’s a shame I didn’t take advantage of it.

“My good friends Natipong (Srithong) and Thitiphun (Chuayprakong) are all supporting me from back home and I really appreciate that. I will aim to do my best again tomorrow and we will see how it goes,” added the smiley Thai.

Japan’s Yuta Ikeda signed for a commendable 70 while South African Shaun Norris, who played alongside Danthai, returned with a 74.

Danthai, a one-time Asian Tour winner, earned a coveted spot in golf’s oldest Major championship after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.

He is representing Thailand alongside fellow debutant Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, highest-ranked Asian Tour member in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

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Published on July 18, 2018

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 18: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat will be looking to produce his best outing at The Open when he tees off for his fifth appearance in the world’s oldest Major Championship on Thursday.

Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013, has never made the halfway cut in his last four appearances at The Open, which is also the only Major championship that he has yet to make it to the weekend rounds.

Placed 30th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Kiradech hopes to set the record straight when he plays alongside World number three Justin Rose and defending champion Jordan Spieth in the opening round on Thursday.

“I will try and play my best this week. If I can put up a good showing, it will be a perfect birthday gift for myself,” said Kiradech, who turns 29 on Monday. “I am playing with Rose and Spieth tomorrow. I want to make the Asians feel proud by playing well alongside them.”

The big-hitting Kiradech has enjoyed a superb season so far, claiming his third Asian Tour title and fourth European Tour victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February and taking home his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory in Brunei the following month.

Kiradech also came in tied-fifth at both the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play in March. In his last Major appearance at the US Open in June, Kiradech enjoyed a 15th place finish, which matched his best result in a Major championship.

The popular Kiradech will spearhead the Thai challenge alongside debutants Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma at The 147th Open at Carnoustie.

“I am looking forward to this week. I will just stay focused and try to keep the ball in play. Carnoustie is one of the toughest courses for The Open. I have to make sure I missed at the right spots to give myself opportunities to get up and down and avoid the bunkers out there,” he said.

Kiradech sang high praises for compatriot Jazz, who recently claimed his second Asian Tour victory at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak on home soil by four shots.

“I played with Jazz yesterday and we enjoyed a good round. We’re sharing a house this week. Jazz is one of the up and coming golfers from Thailand and I think he has a bright future. This boy has the game and the skills to challenge at the highest level.

“I like the way he carries himself on the golf course. I feel like he has no fear at all, although he’s playing his first Major championship this week. I would love to see him play well. He just need to get used to the course, learn more about it and he will have a good chance,” he added.

Danthai, a one-time Asian Tour winner, is hoping to make it a week to remember when he gets his Major debut underway this week.

“I am enjoying the experience so far. This is my first time in Scotland and also my first time playing on a links course. The course’s pretty intimidating with the strong winds and firm greens but I will focus on playing shot by shot and stick to my strategy,” said the 22-year-old Danthai.

Danthai, a double-gold medalist at the 2012 South East Asia (SEA) Games, earned his Asian Tour breakthrough at The World Golf Classic Championship in Singapore three years ago. He has also notched back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour, two weeks prior to his Major debut.

“I’m very excited to play in my first Major this week. My parents are here in Scotland for the first time and they are enjoying themselves too. A lot of superstars are here. I would love to see Tiger Woods, for sure.

“I played my practice round with some top players like Louis Oosthuizen and Gary Woodland yesterday and it was a great experience. I learned a lot from them. I am not thinking much about the results. I just want to enjoy myself this week,” Danthai added.

Ends.

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Carnoustie, Scotland, July 18: Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Gavin Green is ready to fly the flag for Malaysia when he tees off for his debut Major appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Green, who sealed his place by winning the prestigious Merit title last season, is the third and youngest Malaysian, following Iain Steel (1996) and Danny Chia (2005, 2008 and 2010), to qualify for the world’s oldest Major.

“I’m excited, of course! You can feel the buzz in the air and I’m just going to go out there, try to enjoy myself and do the best that I can. I’m just trying to stay a little grounded and not get too excited.

“I have my entire support team here with me including my swing coach, my mental coach and my physio. My dad will be on the bag for me and that’s good as we’ve been working together pretty well the past few events,” said Green, who is the only Malaysian in the field this week.

Prior to turning professional in 2015, Green has enjoyed an illustrious career which saw him become the first amateur to win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) following his victory in 2014.

He added two more wins to his successful exploits on the region’s secondary circuit in 2016 and eventually finished second on the final Order of Merit to earn his Asian Tour card for what would be a breakout year for him in 2017.

After notching four top-10 results, which included three runner-up finishes, Green broke through at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters before going on to lift the 2017 Order of Merit crown, thanks to a season’s haul of US$582,463.

“It’s very humbling to be able to represent Malaysia in a Major like The Open. I am very happy to have the opportunity to do so and I hope that I can continue to make the country proud.

“Whenever I see the Malaysian flag flying in the tournaments that I play in, I will feel very privileged to be able to represent the country,” added the young Malaysian.

Coming off a tied-19th place finish at the Scottish Open last week, Green is relishing the challenge of playing in his first Major championship. He will have his father, Gary, on his bag and his mother, brother and grandmother supporting him from outside the ropes when he vies for top honours this week.

“Walking up the 18th and seeing the famous leaderboards is pretty special! We stood on the 18th green a bit and just took in the peaceful atmosphere and I could just imagine how fantastic it would be when the stands are full of spectators!

“The course’s impressive! When the wind blows, it will be very challenging. Playing in Europe has definitely been an eye opener. You learn to appreciate the game so much more as you learn to handle the different courses. I am definitely practicing harder and improving on the variety of shots I have in the bag,” Green said.

Green will feature in the elite field alongside India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban, as well as Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, highest-ranked Asian Tour player in 30th position on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

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Published on July 17, 2018

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 17: Young Thai Jazz Janewattananond hopes to cap a memorable return to Carnoustie by putting up a good showing in his debut appearance at The 147th Open which starts on Thursday.

When Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia in a play-off to win The Open at Carnoustie in 2007, a 10-year-old Jazz, who was in Scotland for The Junior Open then, caught the action live with his father from the grandstand seats.

11 years on, Jazz returned to Carnoustie for his first attempt at golf’s oldest Major championship. The 22-year-old Jazz had earned the coveted spot after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening Singapore Open in January.

“It’s great to be back in Carnoustie. My dad brought me here to watch Tiger Woods play The Open in 2007. We were amongst the spectators here when Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia to win that year.

“My dad plays an important role in my career. He was the one who brought me into the game when I was young. It’s great to be back here with him and to have him watch me play in my first ever Major championship,” said Jazz, a two-time Asian Tour winner.

Jazz first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.

Three weeks prior to his Major debut, Jazz clinched a sensational second victory at the Queen’s Cup on home soil where he triumphed by four shots after firing five straight birdies from the 10th for a closing 67.

The talented Thai went on to claim a joint runner-up finish at the Sarawak Championship in Malaysia the following week, thanks to a superb final round of a 64.

“After Sarawak, I took a few days off before coming here to practise. The weather was still pretty warm the last few days but it is getting colder now. The golf course is looking good. It’s amazing to be able to play in such a big event. The course set-up is great.

“The greens are firm and fast. It’s going to play tough. It’s been very overwhelming for me so far, playing in the first Major in my career this week. There are grand stands everywhere. I’m nervous yet excited at the same time,” Jazz added.

Jazz’s breakthrough on the Asian Tour came at the 2017 Bangladesh Open. The victory was especially sweet for him as he finished outside the top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School.

Jazz will represent Thailand in the year’s third Major championship alongside fellow debutant Danthai Boonma and 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who sits in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as the highest-ranked Thai player in the world.

Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia will also feature in The 147th Open at Carnoustie alongside India’s Anirban Lahiri, England’s Matt Wallace, South African Shaun Norris and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, all winners on the Asian Tour.

Ends.

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Pattaya, Thailand, July 17: American Johannes Veerman is ready for another shot at glory at when the Royal Cup gets underway at the Phoenix Golf and Country Club next week.

Having enjoyed three consecutive top-10s in his last three starts, Veerman is confident of mounting a strong challenge at the US $500,000 event.

Royal Cup 2018 Official Press Conference

(From left to right) Chinnarat Phadungsil, Somsak Udompornsin (Marketing Director of Wangson Image Co.,Ltd.), Wanchai Meechai (Senior Tournament Director of Asian Tour), Chaicharn Aeimjaroen (Vice Governor of Chonburi), Chanya Swangchitr (President of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club), Lt.Gen. Dr. Perapong (Chairman of Advisory Committee of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club), Prarat Suwannamaytakorn (Director of Professional Sports Promotion and Development Division of Sports Authority of Thailand), Sattaya Supupramai

The 26-year-old American will face stiff competition from a host of strong Asian Tour stars including defending champion Shiv Kapur of India and compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar who has been knocking on the door for his ninth Asian Tour victory, having finished second twice in his last six starts.

After getting off to a slow start in his 2018 season where he missed the cut in eight of his first 11 starts, things started to click for Veerman at the end of June where he enjoyed his first top-10 finish in Thailand.

With signs of a resurgent in form, the American has vowed to stay patient in his pursuit of a maiden Asian Tour victory.

“I am approaching this tournament with confidence but not arrogance. Golf is a very humbling game, I know I am playing well but a lot of players are in form too. Gaganjeet for example is playing well too so I know I will have my work cut out for me next week.

“But if I just stick to my game plan and take it one shot at a time, I don’t see why I can’t have another strong finish,” said Veerman who finished 24th on the Order of Merit in 2017 to keep his Tour card for 2018.

Veerman, who got married at the end of May this year, will enjoy the company of his wife Angela on his bag yet again as he returns to the land of smiles .

“I actually have fun playing golf when she is around and I can be relaxed but stay competitive. She has been awesome and I love having her around,” said Veerman.

Playing on the Lake course instead of the Ocean course, a total of 156 players consisting of 75 Asian Tour players, 40 Thai players, 10 PGA of Australasia players, 5 Japan Golf Tour players, 16 invite spots, and 10 players from the Monday Qualifier will gather for the prestigious event which will be held in conjunction with the 66th birthday celebration of King Rama X.

“I like that golf course and it is a good test of golf. I’ve played half the course already and it’s a little tight on some spots. There are a couple of holes where you don’t necessarily have to use your driver, cause if you do you bring danger into play. I’m playing well and I am excited for it,” said Veerman.

Also in the field is former Asian Tour number one, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh along with Thai stars Phachara Khongwatmai, Prom Meesawat and Panuphol Pittayarat, and newly-crowned Asian Tour winners American John Catlin, South Africa’s Justin Harding and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski.

Chanya Swangchitr (President of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club)

The Royal Cup will be broadcast live on True Sport HD 3 on True Visions during 1pm-4pm local time on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission tickets for spectators are available at the ticket booths near the public entrance of the golf club at 100THB/person/day from July 26 to 29. Free admissions are available for spectators aged under 18 and over 60 years old and gates will open at 8am daily.

The Royal Cup 2018 is sponsored by Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), P.Overseas Steel PLC, PTT Group, True Visions, Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, Advanced Info Service PLC, Port Authority of Thailand.

Ends.

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Hong Kong, July 17: HONMA will be the title sponsor of the newly named Honma Hong Kong Open, when the US$ 2 million purse tournament returns to the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling from 22nd to 25th November this year.

The Japanese golf equipment manufacturer takes on the sponsorship of one of Asia’s most prestigious golf tournaments as HONMA and the Hong Kong Open look to celebrate their respective 60th year anniversaries.

Established in Sakata, Japan in 1959, HONMA is one of the world’s leading premium golf brands, synonymous with intricate craftsmanship, dedication to performance excellence and exceptional product quality. Its renowned ‘Made in Japan, SAKATA’ stamp is recognised by golfers around the world.

Dating back to the same year, the Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event and along with the Masters Tournament at Augusta National and the European Masters at Crans-Montana, is the only professional golf tournament to have been held at the same venue for more than 55 consecutive years.

The tournament, which was won in thrilling fashion by Wade Ormsby of Australia last November, will continue to be played on the Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite Championship Course in Fanling, and will be tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.

The 2018 edition of the Honma Hong Kong Open presents both organisations with an opportunity to celebrate each other’s history and provide a world-class sporting spectacle for the people of Hong Kong and golf fans around the world, as Liu Jianguo, Chairman, HONMA explained:

“HONMA is proud to be named title sponsor of the Honma Hong Kong Open for the 2018 edition. HONMA and the Hong Kong Open are two unique organisations with a great history. We are excited about the increasing popularity of golf in Asia, with the number of golf fans in Asia growing by some 34% over the past five years. We look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the tournament and the founding of HONMA and to working together with the Hong Kong Golf Club to make this year’s event a very special occasion in the tournament’s esteemed history.”

Martin Hadaway, Captain of Hong Kong Golf Club said, “The Hong Kong Golf Club is pleased to welcome HONMA to the Hong Kong Open. 2018 promises to be a very special year in the history of the tournament as the Hong Kong Golf Club celebrates 60 years of bringing the best golfers in the world to Hong Kong to compete in this prestigious tournament. We share HONMA’s passion for the game and look forward to celebrating this important milestone with them. Over the last two years the tournament has made significant steps to make the Hong Kong Open accessible to everyone in Hong Kong with free access on Thursday and Friday continuing in 2018.”

Yoshihiro Nishi, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association, added, “We welcome HONMA to the golf community in Hong Kong. Their sponsorship of the 2018 Honma Hong Kong Open is testament to their reputation as one of the leading brands in the golf industry and we look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of both organisations in November this year. We thank them for their support of the tournament, while also extending our thanks to our partners at the European Tour and the Asian Tour for their continued support of this wonderful event."

Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Director of International Policy, said: “We congratulate the Hong Kong Golf Club and HONMA on their 60th year anniversaries and we look forward to another exciting edition of the Honma Hong Kong Open.

“Last year’s Hong Kong Open marked the start of the European Tour’s 2018 Race to Dubai and it’s fitting that a tournament of this stature continues to be the curtain raiser for the new season. We look forward to once again working with our sanctioning partners, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association, to staging another world-class event.”

The Honma Hong Kong Open will be staged at Hong Kong Golf Club from 22nd to 25th November 2018 and marks the start of the European Tour’s 2019 season, while offering valuable season-ending points for the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

The Honma Hong Kong Open is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours as well as the Hong Kong Golf Association. For more information see www.honmahkopen.com

The Honma Hong Kong Open has also been recognized as an “M” Mark event to help enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolizing an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.

Ends.

Back to News Archive

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Carnoustie, Scotland, July 21: Thai duo Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma hailed their Major debut as a learning experience after missing the halfway cut at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Friday. The Thai pair, both winners on the Asian Tour, earned their tickets to the year’s third Major championship following their tied-fourth place results […]

Danthai Boonma of Thailand

Danthai, who claimed his maiden Asian Tour win at The World Classic Championship in 2015, admits nerves in his opening round but will take home the positives from his Major debut.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

Pattaya, Thailand, July 21: Pavit Tangkamolprasert hopes to complete the Thai dominance in Asian Tour events on home soil when he contends at the Royal Cup next week. The 29-year-old Pavit is determined to emulate the success of recent winners Panuphol Pittayarat and Jazz Janewattananond, winners of the Thailand Open and Queen’s Cup respectively, to […]

Pattaya, Thailand, July 21: Pavit Tangkamolprasert hopes to complete the Thai dominance in Asian Tour events on home soil when he contends at the Royal Cup next week.

After winning his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title on home soil in May, Pavit will now set his sights on claiming a second Asian Tour title since 2016 at the Royal Cup.

Currently ranked 35th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, Pavit is ready to launch a title assault after taking a week’s break to prepare for the Royal Cup.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

Fiji, July 20: Australia’s Scott Hend will be hoping to complete his ‘unfinished’ business and settle an old score at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways which will get underway at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course in a fortnight. Hend, who is the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016, […]