Captain Atwal names dynamic young team for EurAsia Cup

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About the European Tour

The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2017, the European Tour International Schedule features a minimum of 47 tournaments in 26 countries, including eight Rolex Series events, all part of the Race to Dubai. Celebrating the global connectivity of the European Tour and Dubai, the Race to Dubai is a season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s Number One player, an honour which in 2016 went to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson for the second time, and which since 2009 has also been achieved three times by Rory McIlroy, as well as by Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald. Formerly known as the Order of Merit, points are accumulated based on prize money won, with the top 10 ranked players at the end of the season sharing a $5million Race to Dubai bonus pool. Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 26 Members celebrate a total of 52 Major Championship titles between them, enjoyed ten Members attaining the pinnacle of World Number One and has celebrated its diversity as players from 36 different countries have won on the Tour. The European Tour also manages the Challenge Tour, which featured 28 tournaments in 22 countries in 2016, and the Senior Tour, which featured 13 tournaments in nine countries in 2016. It is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, The Ryder Cup. The European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Emirates and Titleist as Official Partners.

About MMC Corporation Berhad

MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three divisions, namely ports & logistics, energy & utilities and engineering & construction. Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics. Internationally, MMC has an associate stake in Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia. Under the Energy & Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad. MMC’s Engineering & Construction division has further established itself in the sector with a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works package contractor for the 51km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and Line 2 project (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). Prior to this, MMC has successfully completed the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first-of-its-kind dual-purpose tunnel in the world. MMC continues to make inroads in the construction industry, securing key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, civil and infrastructure works for RAPID Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. Additionally, MMC has a 20% effective interest in Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) which has been appointed as PDP for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project. In other businesses, MMC owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a water treatment plant operator and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru; a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, MMC’s Group Property arm manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, namely Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and Northern Technocity in Kulim. The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC (NTC) developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.

Published on April 7, 2018

Beijing, April 7: China’s Bowen Xiao will be looking to impress his home crowd when he makes his third appearance at the prestigious Volvo China Open, which gets underway at the Beijing Topwin Golf and Country Club from April 26 to 29.

The 28-year-old Xiao, who joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2012, claimed his maiden professional win in a nail-biting fashion where he prevailed on the second extra hole against Australian Bryden Macpherson in his Asian Tour debut five months ago.

He will spearhead the local charge alongside past champion Haotong Li, as well as Wen-chong Liang and Ashun Wu at the CNY 20 million (approximately US$3,150,000) event, tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association, Asian Tour and the European Tour.

“The Volvo China Open is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournament in China. It’s an event every Chinese player wants to play. It feels different because you get to play alongside some of the top golfers in the world,” said Xiao, who hails from Shandong.

Xiao enjoyed a tied-17th finish at the Asian Tour season-ending event in Indonesia, two weeks after his breakthrough victory. Despite missing three cuts in a row this season, the talented Chinese is determined to bank on his home comfort as he takes aim at another good showing.

“This course is a good test for every aspect of your game, including your tee shots, iron-play and putting. You need to hit your irons well to get on the greens. I won’t set a fixed target for myself. I just want to play my best.

“I will not give myself any pressure to do well, just like how I managed to do so in Xiamen when I won last year. That helps me to play to my best capability,” added Xiao.

Young Indian talent Shubhankar Sharma and Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who sits in first and third place respectively on the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, will also feature in the storied event.

Also in the fray are former Asian Tour Merit champions Gavin Green of Malaysia, Scott Hend of Australia and Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee, as well as young Thai talent Phachara Khongwatmai and defending champion Alexander Levy of France.

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.

Published on March 28, 2018

Osaka, Japan, March 28: The action on the Asian Tour is set to resume when the region’s best players head to Osaka for the Panasonic Open Championship next month.

The Panasonic Open Championship is also the concluding leg of the Panasonic swing where the top-three finishers in the final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.

India’s Shiv Kapur currently leads the Panasonic Swing which is based on an aggregate points ranking earned by players at the following five tournaments- 2017 Thailand Open, 2017 Panasonic Open India, 2018 Maybank Championship (Malaysia), 2017 Indonesian Masters and 2018 Panasonic Open Championship.

A minimum of two events are required to be played inclusive of the Panasonic Open Championship in order to qualify for the Panasonic Swing bonus pool. There will be a x1.5 multiplier for points earned at the Panasonic Open Championship.

Having won the Panasonic Open India in emotional fashion on his home course in India last year, Kapur is hoping to repeat his magic at the Ibrakai Country Club (West course) where no less than 30 Asian Tour winners are expected to feature at the Panasonic Open Championship which is the third event to be sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this year.

“Winning in India last year and getting the monkey off my back is nice. Now, I can free-wheel a bit more rather than having this pressure of not having won a tournament for a long time.

“My form is pretty good. I managed to put myself in contention in Singapore and Malaysia, but I didn’t get the job done over the weekend. I’m glad to be able to ride on the momentum of winning three times in 2017,”said Kapur.

The Indian earned the distinction of being the only player to have won three times during the 2017 season and is highly rated as one of the contenders along with Australia’s Scott Hend, 2016 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and American Paul Peterson, who is currently fourth on the Habitat for Humanity standings.

“You have to keep expectations in check. My goal this year is to try to be a better golfer in 2018 compared to last year. If I feel that I’m improving my game and contending regularly, my goals are achieved even if I have no wins,” said the Indian.

All eyes will also be on the Japanese field that will be spearheaded by Yusaku Miyazato and Satoshi Kodaira, who finished first and second respectively on the JGTO money list in 2017, and Ryo Ishikawa, who was the youngest golfer to break into the world’s top-50 in 2009.

Panasonic Corporation which has supported the Olympic Games as an official worldwide partner for over 25 years, has also backed professional golf at the highest level in Asia through its title sponsorship of the Panasonic OPEN India since 2011 and the Panasonic Open Championship.

Ends.

Published on October 12, 2017

Kuala Lumpur, October 12: India’s Anirban Lahiri opened with a five-under-par 67 to stay in the mix at the CIMB Classic on Thursday.

Lahiri is bunched in tied eighth place together with Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, American Brendan Steele, Davis Love III, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello and Korea’s Sung Kang at the US$7 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour.

They are three shots behind Australian leader, Cameron Smith at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

While disappointed with his first round efforts which he put down to his putting, Lahiri is hopeful of closing the gap when the second round commences.

Phachara surprised even himself as he did not have a practice round and could only walk the course yesterday, having arrived home from Scotland on Wednesday.

The young Thai is playing for the first time at the CIMB Classic and it is only the second time in his professional career that he is teeing up in an event which has no cut.

Did you know?

Lahiri is a seven-time Asian Tour winner, who also holds a full PGA TOUR card. He finished 51st in the FedExCup in his second season on the PGA TOUR which was also his best finish to date.
Lahiri held a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2016 CIMB Classic, a tournament record, before eventually finishing tied-third.
The Indian will be making his sixth appearance at the CIMB Classic.
Lahiri made his second start in last month’s Presidents Cup as a Captain’s pick for the International Team.
Phachara is the youngest player at the age of 18 in the elite field this week. He was also the youngest player to play in The Open last year.
He arrived from Scotland on Wednesday afternoon and did not play a practice round at TPC Kuala Lumpur. He only walked the course.
Phachara opened with a bogey (10th hole) but fought back with four straight birdies starting from the 16th hole. He added two more birdies to enjoy a solid first day.
The Thai has two runner-up finishes this year in Singapore and Australia. He is currently ranked seventh on the Order of Merit but is still searching for a first Asian Tour victory.

Player’s Quotes

Anirban Lahiri (Ind) First round 67 (-5)

It is a good score and good start. A little disappointed, though as I didn’t have a very good back nine. Obviously got off to a red hot start and then couldn’t capitalize on the relatively scoring part of the golf course. Guilty of missing a lot of putts from around eight to 12 feet, didn’t really make anything in the last nine holes, had at least six of them. So disappointed, honestly. Feel like I should have closed two or three shots better, but it’s a good score to start and I’ll have to go on from here. I think that’s the toughest part of the golf course, 11, 12, 13, and if you can play those holes even par or under par you’re doing well. So obviously, like I said, I got off to a really good start and then I just didn’t capitalize on the shorter holes. The par 5s on the front, I only made one birdie. I didn’t birdie 16 or 17 from the fairway. You want to hit fairways and then you set up birdies, but I just didn’t make those putts. So kind of disappointed, like I said, to not have posted a better score, but you can see the scoring is going to be low so you just have to keep going. I don’t think it’s possible to be any more aggressive. You’ve got to play smart. As long as you’re on the fairway, we’ve got ball in hand all week so that helps as well because you can pretty much be assured of a clean ball and you can fire at the greens. Yeah, I think it’s going to be the same over the next three days and just try and make a bunch of putts. I kind of know what I need to do to handle it. I have my own ways, I know how much I need to hydrate and how much fuel I need to put in, so I think that experience is good for me. But when you play here more and more often, you’ll find all of us are professionals and we will adapt, so over a period of time we all get used to it. Having said that, I’m quite comfortable in these conditions so it doesn’t make a difference.

Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha) First round 67 (-5)

Today I didn’t think I could get five-under because it’s my first start at the CIMB Classic. On my first hole which was the par-five 10, I couldn’t hit my second shot into the green, and I made a bogey there. I was able to control the ball better after that and began to putt better. I’m not thinking too far ahead now. I just want to play like what I did today. I came without any expectations and I just want to play my best. There is less pressure too as there’s no cut for this event.

Ends.

About CIMB Group

The title sponsor of the CIMB Classic is CIMB Group. CIMB Group is one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations. CIMB Group offers a full suite of financial services and related products; has a market capitalisation of approximately USD 14 billion as of 30 June 2017 and about 38,000 employees located in 15 countries. Read more about CIMB Group at www.cimb.com

About Asian Tour

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About PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is the leading global platform in professional golf, showcasing the highest expression of excellence, both on and off the course. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, grow and protect the game of golf and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China. Its members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 24 countries (89 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1.1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2016, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $166 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.46 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Published on September 25, 2017

Sentosa, Singapore, September 25: South African Louis Oosthuizen, hungry for victory following so many near finishes, will compete in next year’s SMBC Singapore Open, organisers announced today.

The 2010 Open Championship winner, runner-up when he last played in Singapore and with a record haul of second placings in Major championships, is the latest star golfer to confirm for the tournament after it was recently unveiled that reigning US Masters champion Sergio Garcia from Spain will compete.

The US$1 million tournament will be played on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from January 18 to 21, and will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation. It will form the opening event of the season on both Tours.

In August, Oosthuizen made headlines after finishing joint second in the US PGA Championship – giving him the distinction of finishing runner-up in all four Majors.

He is only the seventh golfer to accomplish this feat, joining Craig Wood, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, and Phil Mickelson.

His record of runner-up finishes are: the 2012 US Masters, where he lost in a sudden death play-off, the 2015 U.S. Open, the 2015 Open Championship where he was defeated in a four-hole aggregate playoff, and this year’s PGA Championship.

Indeed, by his own admission he will be a driven man when he returns to Singapore as when he last played here in 2012 he narrowly lost out in a play-off to Italy’s Matteo Manassero.

Manassero prevailed in a gripping sudden-death play-off after he eagled the third play-off hole (the Serapong’s par-five 18). Oosthuizen had missed a five-foot birdie putt on the same hole to win on second extra-hole.

A year earlier, the South African claimed third place at Sentosa, having just missed out on a play-off by a shot.

“You could say I have some unfinished business in Singapore,” said Oosthuizen.

“I am really looking forward to getting back there and playing in the SMBC Singapore Open. It will be the perfect way for me to start the season, on a great golf course, where I have great memories and where I know I can win.”

The South African is an eight-time winner on the European Tour – including the 2012 Malaysian Open – and in South Africa he has triumphed on seven occasions.

“I am really focused on winning titles and competing week in and week out and in 2018 that hopefully means starting with the SMBC Singapore Open!” added the 34-year-old.

He was recently selected to represent the International team in this month’s Presidents Cup – an event he also played in 2013 and 2015.

Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng won last year’s SMBC Singapore Open, in what was the 51st edition of the prestigious tournament.

Ends.

Published on April 11, 2013

Manila, April 11: Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate Dodge Kemmer of the United States kept his emotions in check when he grabbed the first round lead with a six-under-par 66 at the Solaire Open on Thursday.
Kemmer returned with a clean scorecard highlighted by six birdies to hold a two-shot advantage over Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit at the inaugural US$300,000 Asian Tour event, which is title sponsored by the Solaire Resort and Casino.
Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei, a multiple Asian Tour winner and local hope Mars Pucay, who is searching for a first Asian Tour win, posted identical 69s to be among 12 players to shoot under-par at the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea, who is ranked fifth on the Order of Merit, registered a 70 to share fifth place with Australia’s Matt Jager, Daisuke Kataoka of Japan and Thai duo Rattanon Wannasrichan and Piya Swangarunporn.
Kemmer, who regained his Asian Tour card by finishing 21^st at Qualifying School after losing his playing rights last season, returned to form after reading psychology books to improve his mental strength.
Pawin Ingkhapradit of Thailand
“I get down on myself pretty easily. I’m trying to stay more level emotionally and that’s easy to do when you are playing well. It will be interesting to see if I can handle my emotions when I hit some adversity this week,” said the 25-year-old.
He struggled to ignite a title charge in his rookie season last year but hopes to turn the tide in his favour on the familiar Wack Wack East course.
“I really like this course when I played here last year. It is always easier to go out and play a good round when you are happy and excited to play the course. I knew I had it in me and luckily it worked out for me,” smiled Kemmer.
“I’m loving the Asian Tour more than I did last year, which was already a lot! I’m happy to be playing here. In the first year, you get used to everything. It is totally different from anything in America which I’m used to but I feel a lot more comfortable out here now,” he added.
Pawin, who secured a tied fifth result at the SAIL-SBI Open in India in March, felt comfortable on the Wack Wack greens, which were almost similar to the greens on his home course at the Army Golf Club in Thailand.
“I share the same home club as Thaworn (Wiratchant) and the greens are the same as Wack Wack,” he smiled. “All my birdie putts were from inside 10 feet. There was very little wind in the morning so that was good. I played here last year but I shot an 84 and 78 in the opening two rounds. Today I shot a 68 which shows how much I’ve improved as a golfer.”
Pucay, the best placed Filipino after day one, is determined to put a disappointing 2012 season behind him as he lost his Asian Tour card for the first time since 2008.
“It was very frustrating last year but I have a chance to make amends this week,” said the 43-year-old. “It is always a good score, anytime you shoot under-par at Wack Wack. I’ve played here since my amateur days so let’s hope that I can keep this momentum going.”
Chinese Taipei star Lin used a new putter to great effect as he sank five birdies against two bogeys to trail Kemm
Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei
er by three shots.
“I putted very badly last year. I averaged about 30 putts a round and you can’t win tournaments if you putt like that. I hit about 75% of fairways and greens last season but only my putting let me down,” lamented Lin, a five-time Asian Tour champion.
Scores after round 1 of the Solaire Open 2013 being played at the par 72, 7222 Yards Wack Wack GcC course (a- denotes amateur):
66 – Dodge KEMMER (USA).
68 – Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA).
69 – LIN Wen-tang (TPE), Mars PUCAY (PHI).
70 – Matt JAGER (AUS), BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR), Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN), Piya SWANGARUNPORN (THA), Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA).
71 – MO Joong-kyung (KOR), Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA).
72 – Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA), WANG Jeung-hun (KOR), LIN Wen-hong (TPE), Angelo QUE (PHI), Richard T. LEE (CAN), LIN Keng-chi (TPE), Rory HIE (INA), Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA), Yoshinobu TSUKADA (JPN), Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), Young NAM (KOR), KIM Gi-whan (KOR), Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG), Danny CHIA (MAS), Arnold VILLACENCIO (PHI), Carl SANTOS-OCAMPO (PHI).
Ends.
About Solaire Resort and Casino
Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines
Solaire Resort and Casino is the first to open in the highly anticipated Entertainment City project along the Philippine’s famed Manila Bay.
The first phase includes approximately 500 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites and bayside villas as well as resort-style pool facilities, bars and entertainment lounges. In addition, there is a state-of-the-art ballroom and meeting space, and a fully equipped spa and fitness center.
The resort also features a world-class dining experience at our signature, casual and quick serve restaurants. The new dining avenues are headed by world-renowned chefs and showcase a comprehensive selection of authentic local and international flavors to cater to even the most discerning palate.
And to give you the ultimate Las Vegas gaming experience, Solaire’s expansive 18,500 square-meter casino area stretches two levels of gaming space, including premium VIP salons and an outdoor themed casino and entertainment bar – all loaded with the most popular slot machines and table games, such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Pontoon and many more!
About the Solaire Open
The Solaire Open is a new event on the 2013 Asian Tour Schedule. It is title sponsored by the Solaire Resort and Casino and supported by DOT (Department of Tourism), Hyundai, the Official Mobility, Pru Life UK, the Official Insurer, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, the Official Coffee and Omega, the Official Timekeeper. The suppliers for the event include Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, the Official Hotel, Johnnie Walker, the Official Whiskey, Asahi Super Dry, the Official Beer, Srixon, the Official Ball, Panasonic, the Official Television Provider, Canon, the Office Solutions Provider and PepsiCo, the Official Water and Sports Drinks.
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. 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 Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Published on April 10, 2013

April 10: Scott Barr of Australia is ready to take up the challenge with his refined game plan at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club for the inaugural Solaire Open this week. In this latest blog, Barr talks about being motivated by countrymen Scott Hend and Wade Ormsby who won the last two Asian Tour events.
By Scott Barr
The Wack Wack golf course is a challenge, as always. The greens have undulations and the fairways are narrow. It’s a very strategic course. You’ve got to do your own planning to complete the course. It’s not a course that I’ve done great over the years but I’ve been refining my game plans a lot.
Hopefully I can do a lot better this year. I think there are two ways you can play on this course. You can either be aggressive or conservative. Over the years, I think I’m starting to take on the more conservative way now. Hopefully that will pay a little bit of dividends!
I’ve been playing consistent this year though I’m not breaking any records. I’m happy that I’m putting a lot better too. I’ll just need to pull through four days of really good golf together. I’m looking forward to see improvements in my game.
I took a week off last week to spend some time with my family. It’s really good to see my young son and my wife after being on the road for four consecutive weeks. I spent quality time at home last week, caught up with my friends and launched some business ideas with them which were pretty good.
You will probably be cooking a good steak with one of my products next time! (laughs)
My Facebook page and website have been running well. I’m trying to update everything I can and keep myself on top of things even though I’ve been busy. Although it’s a little time-consuming, I guess it’s good to keep my fans updated with how I’m doing. Some weeks I get good stories but some weeks I don’t. After all, it’s just a bit of fun.
Having seen Australians winning twice in a row is really a huge motivation for me. It’s good to see Australians playing well again on the tour. I’ll be pretty happy if I can hold the trophy this week!

Published on

Manila, April 10: Juvic Pagunsan hopes to cradle the inaugural Solaire Open trophy and a new born baby boy when he bids for a long-awaited second Asian Tour title at the US$300,000 event which starts on Thursday.
The Filipino star is gearing up for a pressure-packed week as his wife (Len) is expected to give birth to their second child within a fortnight.
“It is a bit of a pressure for me because I’m worried about my wife. She doesn’t have a driver so I’ll have to fetch her to the doctor. My daughter knows how to contact me when the time comes. It isn’t easy. I had to come early for a practice round today (Wednesday), play nine holes and return home to take care of my wife,” said Pagunsan.
Pagunsan, the first Filipino to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2011, remains steadfast that he can overcome the strong challenges from the elite field this week and end a six-year title drought on the region’s premier Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10^th season.
“I think we are all happy with this new event on the Asian Tour and in the Philippines. This new tournament is big for all of us. I’ll try my best to win. I’m hitting the ball good. I need luck to win. I’ve come close on so many occasions but I just need that stroke of luck to win again,” he said.
Mardan Mamat of Singapore
He is wary of the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club and rates the par three eighth hole, which has narrow fairways and an elevated green, as a ‘monster’.
“The par three eighth hole is very hard. It is a ‘monster’ hole for me. I think everybody will find it tough when they reach that hole. The greens are elevated and if you miss it, your ball might roll down the slope. Honestly, I don’t know this golf course as well as the other Filipino players. So I don’t think I have an advantage here,” added Pagunsan.
Mardan Mamat of Singapore, who is aiming to relive his winning memories at the 2012 Philippine Open, said Wack Wack is a planning course and does not always reward the long hitters.
“Most of my victories came on old courses and this is one of the courses which I like to play on. You need to have good course management. It is not all about power here. You need to know where you have to place the ball and not just hit it strong off the tees,” said the 45-year-old.
“It is more fun when you can shape the ball instead of just hitting it long. Hitting long balls is the key for most of the players but I like to make shots and think about what shots to hit. It is not always about hitting hard,” he added.
Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun, currently fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, China’s Hu Mu, who enjoyed a runner-up result in Chiangmai two weeks ago and Scott Barr of Australia are among the players from 22 countries vying for honours this week.
Hu, ranked 27^th on the Order of Merit, makes a return to the Wack Wack East course, a familiar course where he finished tied 33^rd at the Philippine Open last year.
Scott Barr of Australia
“I feel good coming back to this course. I’m familiar with the course since I played here last year. Staying in the same hotel, playing on the same golf course, it’s really nice coming back to play here,” said Hu.
“The course is really difficult. It seems to be catered for golfers who can drive the ball really well. Having played in a couple of Asian Tour events this year, I’ve learnt to take my time when I’m out on the course.”
Barr is inspired by the victories of countrymen Scott Hend and Wade Ormsby, who won the Chiangmai Golf Classic and Panasonic Open India respectively in the last two weeks.
“Having seen Australians winning twice in a row is really a huge motivation for me. It’s good to see Australians playing well again on the tour. I’ll be pretty happy if I can hold the trophy this week!” said Barr.
The rejuvenated Australian, who is coming into the Solaire Open after taking a week’s break, is planning a more conservative approach with hopes that it will lead him to a first Asian Tour win.
“I think there are two ways you can play on this course. You can either be aggressive or conservative. Over the years, I think I’m starting to take on the more conservative way. Hopefully that will pay a little bit of dividends!” he added.
Ends.
About Solaire Resort and Casino
Solaire Resort and Casino is the first to open in the highly anticipated Entertainment City project along the Philippine’s famed Manila Bay.
The first phase includes approximately 500 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites and bayside villas as well as resort-style pool facilities, bars and entertainment lounges. In addition, there is a state-of-the-art ballroom and meeting space, and a fully equipped spa and fitness center.
The resort also features a world-class dining experience at our signature, casual and quick serve restaurants. The new dining avenues are headed by world-renowned chefs and showcase a comprehensive selection of authentic local and international flavors to cater to even the most discerning palate.
And to give you the ultimate Las Vegas gaming experience, Solaire’s expansive 18,500 square-meter casino area stretches two levels of gaming space, including premium VIP salons and an outdoor themed casino and entertainment bar – all loaded with the most popular slot machines and table games, such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Pontoon and many more!
About the Solaire Open
The Solaire Open is a new event on the 2013 Asian Tour Schedule. It is title sponsored by the Solaire Resort and Casino and supported by DOT (Department of Tourism), Hyundai, the Official Mobility, Pru Life UK, the Official Insurer, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, the Official Coffee and Omega, the Official Timekeeper. The suppliers for the event include Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, the Official Hotel, Johnnie Walker, the Official Whiskey, Asahi Super Dry, the Official Beer, Srixon, the Official Ball, Panasonic, the Official Television Provider, Canon, the Office Solutions Provider and PepsiCo, the Official Water and Sports Drinks.
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. 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 Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Published on March 12, 2018

Sentosa, Singapore, March 12: Indian hotshot Shubhankar Sharma extended his advantage at the top of the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings after capping a commendable tied-seventh place finish at the US$1.75 million Hero Indian Open on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Sharma, who propelled into stardom with two victories over the last three months, had set a new course record at the DLF Golf and Country Club with a second round eight-under-par 64 before going on to cap his best result ever in his National Open.

He closed with a three-over-par 75 and a four-under-par 284 total to finish seven shots shy of making the play-off which saw Matt Wallace of England defeating countryman Andrew Johnston on the first extra hole to emerge victorious.

The young Indian talent had returned home in glory at the start of the week, having notched a tied-ninth place finish in his World Golf Championships debut at the WGC-Mexico Championship the week before, where he led by two shots in the second and third round.

Sharma continued to hog the headlines when he received a coveted invite to The 2018 Masters Tournament on Tuesday, thanks to his recent exploits. He had earlier earned a berth at The Open in July following his breakthrough win at the 2017 Joburg Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.

“I am disappointed but these things happen and it is not an easy course. Even though I started well, I made a few bad swings but, in the end, it was alright. I really enjoyed the tournament and I loved the support. I would like to thank everyone for coming out to support me.

“I am happy about the way I have been playing and that I am able to get myself into contention every week. I put in a lot of hard work, and I am happy with the way things have been. Disappointments are part of the game. It will just make me stronger. The next time I’m in this situation, I’ll do better,” said Sharma, who had held a share of the overnight one-shot lead heading into the final round.

Sharma moved up two rungs to a career-high 64th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) following his solid result at the Hero Indian Open, maintaining his status as the leading Indian player in the world.

By breaking into top-64 on the OWGR as of the cut-off date on March 12, Sharma earned his second WGC appearance at the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament, which will get underway at the Austin Country Club in Texas from March 21 to 25.

“I’m looking forward to playing the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament. It’ll be a good break from stroke play. The last time I won a match play event was six years ago at the All-Indian Amateur,” added Sharma.

Sihwan Kim of the United States made a huge leap from 50th to sixth position on the Habitat for Humanity Standings after recording his career-best result on the Asian Tour with a third-place finish in India.

“It was a difficult course and I didn’t expect the leaders to shoot so low. I had a number in mind this morning, and I achieved what I thought. I thought I had a pretty good chance to win, but with scores that low, that wasn’t the case.

“This result will get my confidence up, especially when playing on difficult golf courses. If I continue to play like this, then I’ll be fine. The conditions have been great and the people have been nice,” said the 29-year-old Kim, who came through the Qualifying School in 2017.

Reigning Asian Tour’s number one Gavin Green of Malaysia hopes to take the positives from his India outing where he finished tied-16th after closing with a 71. He moved to 16th place on the latest Merit rankings.

“It was an average week and I wished I had played better. I love India and I will want to come back next year. I’ve made changes to my game and it’s working out so far. I struck the ball a lot better last week and my short game got a little stronger. I just have to work on my drives, hopefully before my next event.

“I’ll be taking a nice break, then probably head over to Morocco and Spain. But for now, I’m going to chill out, have fun and enjoy my break,” said the 24-year-old Green, who became the first Malaysian to lift the Asian Tour Merit crown in 2017.

Sharma sits atop the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings with a current haul of US$548,125 while Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who claimed his third Asian Development Tour title in Brunei last week, occupies second place with US$251,173.

Paul Peterson, Daniel Nisbet and Berry Henson remained in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively on the Merit rankings following the conclusion of the Hero Indian Open, which is co-sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and the European Tour.

Ends.

Habitat for Humanity Standings – Top-20

Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)

1. Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) $548,125

2. Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) $251,173

3. Paul PETERSON (USA) $215,758

4. Daniel NISBET (AUS) $150,863

5. Berry HENSON (USA) $131,983

6. Sihwan KIM (USA) $124,137

7. Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) $123,306

8. Shaun NORRIS (RSA) $112,200

9. Khalin JOSHI (IND) $103,730

10. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) $93,435

11. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $85,999

12. Jarin TODD (USA) $83,945

13. Danthai BOONMA (THA) $82,712

14. Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $75,359

15. Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $67,131

16. Gavin GREEN (MAS) $60,025

17. Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) $48,391

18. Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) $47,842

19. Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) $46,161

20. Shiv KAPUR (IND) $44,650

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.

Please visit us at:

Shubhankar Sharma (Ind) Third Round 72 (even-par), Total 209 (-7)

Published on March 10, 2018

New Delhi, India, March 10: Shubhankar Sharma of India kept his emotions in check and carded an even-par 72 to grab a share of the lead with England’s Matt Wallace at the US$1.75 million Hero Indian Open on Saturday.

The 21-year-old stayed patient throughout the entire round. Sharma, a two-time Asian Tour winner, dropped five shots today which included a double bogey at the 17th hole. But, responded with five birdies to get to the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par 209 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Wallace carded a 70 to share first place with Sharma. He scored an eagle and four birdies against four bogeys. The pair will go into Sunday with a one-shot lead over Stephen Gallacher of Scotland, who is in lone third place after carding a 67.

Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, the halfway leader, had a day to forget as he signed for a 78. He is in tied-fourth with Austria’s Matthias Schwab (68) and England’s Andrew Johnston (73).

Andrew Johnston of England

Crowd favourite Johnston was scrambling throughout Saturday. The Englishman did not score any birdies but kept pace with the leaders with an eagle on the fourth hole, as well as numerous up-and-downs and long putts for pars.

Sihwan Kim of the United States adopted an aggressive, yet calculated approach to card a 72. He is in tied-seven and just three shots behind the leaders along with Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal.

Did you know:

Shubhankar Sharma is the highest-ranked player in the field. He is 66th on the Official World Golf Ranking list.
Before his win in Johannesburg, Sharma’s best result in 2017 was tied-fourth at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open 2017.
Sharma finished seventh on the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit. Last year, he earned US$381,149.
He won the All India Amateur Championship at the age of 16 and he was India’s number one junior prior to turning professional in 2013.
Matt Wallace enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory at the 2017 Open de Portugal at Morgado Golf Resort, a European Tour event.
He uses Manchester United mascot as a driver cover.
Wallace won five times in five consecutive starts on the Alps Tour, developmental professional golf tour based in Continental Europe.
Emiliano Grillo is a big fan of football team River Plate and he catches the games at the stadium if his schedule permits.
He was an accomplished junior golfer. For one, Grillo won the prestigious Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in 2009.
His best finish on the European Tour is second, at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2014.
Andrew Johnston is a one-time winner on the European Tour. He won the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation in 2016.
Sihwan Kim enjoyed three top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour in 2017. He was tied-ninth at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open 2017, eighth at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open and tied-sixth at the Indonesian Masters.
He finished 56th on last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit, securing his card for the 2018 season.
Only nine players broke par in round three of the Hero Indian Open.

Player interviews:

It was very windy today. The first two days were surprisingly calm. The course played really tough and I’m very happy with a 72. It was a mixed bag as everything happened. I holed out at the second, made a few good birdies and got a bad bounce on the 17th. I’m very pleased with the birdie at the last, which allowed me to grab a share of the lead. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

At the second hole, where I holed out, I had a bad lie in the bunker. It was downslope and I didn’t want to duff it, as I’ll have no chance of an up-and-down if that happened. I caught it just on the ball which went over. The ball just came out three yards in front and it went to the centre of the cup. At the fifth hole, as soon as I hit it, I knew I had a birdie chance.

I kept telling my caddie that this is our home course. You can’t overpower this course. So, I told myself, just hang in there. I will hit a few bad shots and I understand that it’s all part of the game. You just have to stay patient.

I was one-under-par after nine holes, which was crucial. I’m happy to be able to come back with birdies on seven and eight. The birdie on 10th was fantastic as the hole was played off the back tees. I have always played the 10th from the front tee box.

I made a few bad swings coming in, got a bad bounce on the 17th, but other than that, I think I played pretty solidly.

I smashed my driver on the 18th. I’m happy that I had a short club in. It was a pretty easy chip from the greenside rough. Even though I didn’t hit the chip perfectly, the ball still rolled next to the pin and I’m happy to make that putt.

I’m just looking forward to playing out there again. I just want to have fun. It’s the second week in the row I’m in the leading group. I’m going to draw from my experiences last week. I know it’s going to be a battle out there tomorrow and I’ll be ready for it.

Matt Wallace (Eng) Third Round 70 (-2), Total 209 (-7)

It was hard. I played really nice. That 17th hole was brutal today. I mean, we all played it differently and managed to find ourselves in the same position. I hit a lob wedge in there and couldn’t hold the green, so yeah, it was tough. The wind was gusting around in different directions. I’m pretty happy with my score.

Every hole is a test. Like I said yesterday, every hole is a double bogey waiting to happen. I just took every hole as it came and played it as well as possible. That eagle on nine was probably the highlight of my week, and year, so far.

I’m very happy. There are some brilliant players up there on the leaderboard. You know, there is going to be a charge tomorrow and someone is going to play well. I just have to go out there and try to execute like I did today and see how it goes.

I’m going to rock up tomorrow and do the same as I’ve done all week. It’s such a hard golf course that you have got to play well. I’ll try to get a good night of sleep tonight and go from there.

Andrew Johnston (Eng) Third Round 73 (+1), Total 211 (-5)

My round was not too bad. I felt that I didn’t play too well today, but I scrambled really well. I made a lot of good up and downs. It was not my best golf but being one-over-par still hasn’t put me out of the tournament. So, it was a good day.

You see the scoreboard and see a lot of people going backwards. The pins were tricky and the winds picked up. You just have to be patient. I made a chip-in for eagle and no birdies the whole round. It was a lot of scrambling. I made a lot of six to 10 footers for par.

I was happy to be level par after three holes. I hit two lovely shots at the fourth, and I hit a chip shot that went in, so happy days!

Being three off the lead is good!

In the final round, you have to wait and see where the pins and things like that and take it from there. You have to play your own game. If I have a day like yesterday (when he carded 66) tomorrow, then we’ll see what happens.

Sihwan Kim (Usa), Round three 72, Total 212 (-4)

Not bad. I made a few errors coming in. It was tough out there so I’m happy with the results. It was a grind out there. Whoever grinds better will win the tournament. You can’t get defensive on this course. You have to be aggressive but know where to miss it, what’s ok and what’s bad.

There were some good pin positions today. There were some that were challenging, but it was the same for everyone. Every green has a place where you can put it for birdie.

For tomorrow, we’ll see. I’ll just keep on playing aggressively and see how it goes.

I had two chip-ins. Those were on sixth and 16th. With the wind, I couldn’t get anything close to the hole. Those two chip-ins helped my round immensely.

Scores after round 3 of the Hero Indian Open 2018 being played at the par 72, 7379 Yards DLF GcC course (am – denotes amateur):

209 – Matt WALLACE (ENG) 69-70-70, Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) 73-64-72.

210 – Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) 72-71-67.

211 – Matthias SCHWAB (AUT) 71-72-68, Andrew JOHNSTON (ENG) 72-66-73, Emiliano GRILLO (ARG) 65-68-78.

212 – Sihwan KIM (USA) 70-70-72, Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP) 67-71-74.

213 – Aaron RAI (ENG) 71-73-69, Ricardo GOUVEIA (POR) 69-73-71, Paul PETERSON (USA) 67-73-73.

214 – Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) 74-68-72, Joost LUITEN (NED) 71-69-74.

215 – Clement SORDET (FRA) 72-72-71, Steven BROWN (ENG) 74-71-70, Jinho CHOI (KOR) 72-71-72, Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) 71-70-74, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-70-76.

216 – Anthony WALL (ENG) 71-73-72, Jarin TODD (USA) 72-74-70, Sebastien GROS (FRA) 69-71-76.

217 – CHAN Shih-chang (TPE) 71-71-75, Gavin GREEN (MAS) 69-73-75, Casey O’TOOLE (USA) 74-66-77, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 71-76-70.

218 – Gregory HAVRET (FRA) 73-72-73, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 68-76-74, Jeunghun WANG (KOR) 69-71-78, Jens DANTORP (SWE) 69-70-79.

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.

Please visit us at:

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, November 28: Team Asia Captain Arjun Atwal has announced a young and immensely talented team for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM with current Order of Merit leader Gavin Green, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, S.S.P. Chawrasia and Li Hao-tong representing Asia. Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai, Poom Saksansin, Malaysia’s Green and India’s Chawrasia make up […]

Team Asia will have a combined total of 58 titles won worldwide while six players in the 12-man team are still in their 20s. Phachara is the youngest at 18 and Tanihara is the oldest at 39.

The 23-year-old Green will represent Team Asia for the first time after a splendid 2017 season where he won his first Asian Tour title and finished runner-up three times.

Atwal will also rely on the experience of countrymen Lahiri, who represented Team Asia in the last two editions and Chawrasia who successfully defended the Hero Indian Open earlier this year.

China’s Zhang Lian-wei has also been picked as Vice-Captain by Atwal to help him lead Team Asia against Thomas Bjorn’s Team Europe.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Ends.

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