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Lu starts well at Royal Cup


Published on July 26, 2018

Pattaya, Thailand, July 26: Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-Chih overcame fatigue to sign for an opening four-under-par 66 on a scorching day at the ongoing Royal Cup on Thursday.

Lu, a four-time Asian Tour winner, marked his card with seven birdies against three bogeys to grab a share of the clubhouse lead following the morning session of the US$500,000 event, held in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.

Local trio Chinnarat Phadungsil, Pol Kemmarat and Chaiphat Koonmark, as well as Argentinean Miguel Carballo matched the opening efforts of Lu after returning with identical 66s at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.

Starting from the 10, Lu fired three birdies in his opening seven holes before dropping a shot on the eighth. The 39-year-old recovered brilliantly with four straight birdies before stumbling with two bogeys on his way home.

Riding on a hot putter, Lu needed only 25 putts around the greens to mark his lowest round so far this season.

He had sensationally lifted the Mercuries Taiwan Masters trophy for the third time in 2016, four years after undergoing a surgery to remove a brain tumour.   

Follow the Royal Cup live on https://www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com/results/Royal-Cup-t1120/1/live.

Ends.


Published on

Fiji, July 26: Three of the top seven Chinese golfers in the world have booked their tickets to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.

Teeing off at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course next week Wu Ashun, Xiao Bowen and Liu Yanwei will all be contesting the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and European Tour tri-sanctioned tournament.

Ashun, the second highest ranked Chinese player in the Official World Golf Rankings, will make his second appearance in Fiji after he teed it up in the inaugural Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.

While he missed the cut in 2014, he returns with great excitement to play the Natadola Bay layout which will look vastly different thanks to the Vijay Singh re-design completed last year.

“I have great memories of Fiji, it is a very beautiful country and the course location, on the seaside, offered great views to enjoy while playing golf,” said Ashun.

“I remember it was very windy and a challenging course, but I have heard the changes made by Vijay Singh are very good and I look forward to playing the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course again.”

Joining Ashun, is his countryman, Xiao Bowen who broke through for his first career victory last year at the Asian Tour’s KG S&H City Asian Golf Championship.

While this year has been more of a challenge for the 28-year-old, who played outside of China for the first time just last year, he is hoping to recapture his winning form in Fiji.

“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to play golf in Fiji. It looks very different to China and I look forward to experiencing another country,” said Bowen.

“However I do have work to do in Fiji, a good result at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways would be a big boost to my results this season.”

Liu Yanwei of China

The final tournament invite to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways was given to 21-year-old Liu Yanwei.

“I am honoured to receive the final invite into the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways and am very much looking forward to playing my best golf at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course,” said Yanwei.

One of the largest golfing nations in the world, China is also a key tourism market for Fiji and the Fijian Government look forward to welcoming some the leading Chinese players to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.

“China is a key tourism market for Fiji and as we look forward to continuing Fiji’s expansion into the golf tourism industry it makes sense for us to welcome these fine Chinese golfers to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways,” said The Honourable Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources.

“Broadcasted around the world, the tournament provides significant exposure for Fiji as a golf destination and we hope that Chinese golf fans will be tuning in to support their countrymen as they look to become the 2018 Champion.”

The addition of the Chinese contingent bolsters the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways field which will be headlined by Major Champion and Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els as well as local hero and fellow Major Champion Vijay Singh. 

“The Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is truly an international tournament both in the number of countries it is broadcast to and the nations represented by the players in the field,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“We look forward to welcoming Wu Ashun back to Fiji and showcasing the beautiful country to Xiao Bowen and Liu Yanwei for the first time. We are confident, that like all players who have attended the tournament, they will return home thoroughly impressed by Fiji making them excellent ambassadors for golf in the country.”

About the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways

To be held from 2-5 August 2018 the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course which boasts breathtaking views of the Coral Coast and is home to the Natadola Beach Land Estate. 

Enticed by the tropical destination, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has attracted some of the world’s best golfers since its inaugural staging in 2014 including Fijian hero and three time Major champion Vijay Singh, 2017 champion Jason Norris, 2016 champion Brandt Snedeker, 2015 champion Matt Kuchar, Steven Bowditch, Boo Weekley, Nick Price, Robert Allenby, Heath Slocum, Liang Wenchong, and Anirban Lahiri.

In 2018, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways continues to have a global presence confirming its position as an integral tournament in the South Pacific region, with the tournament being tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour.

A Pacific paradise, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways also boasts some of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 8th hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf, whilst socialising on the beach.

More than just a golf tournament, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific region, with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to introduce and grow the game in Fiji.

Owned by SEL and the PGA of Australia, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is proudly supported by the Fijian Government, Tourism Fiji and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa as the official resort of the tournament.


Published on July 25, 2018

Pattaya, Thailand, July 25: Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee hopes to return to winning ways when he headlines the US$500,000 Royal Cup which gets underway on Thursday.

The 48-year-old Thai hopes to end a title drought since his last professional win two years ago in France. The last time he tasted success on home soil was in 2006, and he is relishing the opportunity to contend for the prestigious trophy against the young and upcoming Asian Tour stars at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.

The Royal Cup will be Thongchai’s first tournament in Thailand this season after playing mostly in Europe where he enjoyed one top-10 result.

Defending champion Shiv Kapur returns to his favourite hunting ground where he won the Royal Cup last year for his third victory in 2017. He admits that he is struggling to find his best form as he is still recuperating from tendinitis in his right wrist.

Young Thai Phachara Khongwatmai is hoping to shine in front of the home crowd. He is working with his new coach Jamie, and will adopt a patient approach as he searches for a first Asian Tour title.

The Royal Cup is held in conjunction with His Majesty King Rama X’s 66th birthday which falls on Saturday.

Did you know?

  • Thongchai Jaidee is the highest earning golfer on the Asian Tour, surpassing US$5 million in career earnings since his debut in 1999.
  • Thongchai is regarded as one of the Asian Tour’s most decorated players thanks to an unprecedented three Order of Merit crowns and 13 career victories.
  • His last win on homeground was at the Volvo Masters of Asia 2006 where he won with an 11-under-par 277 total.
  • Shiv Kapur enjoyed his best season on the Asian Tour in 2017 when he became the only player to win three times on the Asian Tour that year.
  • Kapur is currently 39th on the Habitat for Humanity standings. He finished 10th on the Order of Merit in 2017 following his win at the Royal Cup.
  • Shiv’s daughter Veda, has watched him play four times on Tour already and will celebrate her first birthday on the 8th of August.
  • Phachara Khongwatmai was a member of Team Asia at the 2018 EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM where he won his fourball and foursome match with partner Hideto Tanihara of Japan.
  • Phachara’s best finish on the Asian Tour this year was a tied-12th at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
  • He has had four wins on the All Thailand Golf Tour and his most recent victory on homesoil was at the 19th Singha Masters this year.
  • The Thai became the youngest winner of a professional tournament when he won the Singha Hua Hin Open in 2013 as an amateur at the age of 14 years old.

Player’s quotes:

Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)

I feel great to be back home after playing in Europe all year. The Royal Trophy is an important tournament for Thai players and I just want to show my support for home events. I want this tournament to come back every year and provide opportunities for these young professionals.

My year hasn’t been bad, I have been travelling so much but I am still enjoying the competition, so I still give my best no matter where I am.

I admit it is harder to win tournaments now with all the young players coming up so I just try and enjoy myself and my time on tour. The most important thing is to enjoy playing at my age.

I’ve played so many years and with all my experience I want to share it with all these younger players. I watched them grow from young juniors and they all just need more experience if they want to start winning tournaments.

It is so difficult right now since everyone is playing well and it is way more competitive than my time. Work ethic is very important and working out in golf now plays a bigger emphasis than before. There is all these new equipment and new technology so improving is easy if you put your mind to it.

Shiv Kapur (Ind)

It has been a pretty frustrating couple of months with my injuries, so to come back to a place where I have had success is great. It has only been six months so the positive memories are still fresh. This golf course sets up well for my eye so when I stand on the tee box I have definitive lines that I want to hit. Pretty optimistic about the week.

I am not at a 100% right now. I have tendinitis so it doesn’t go away overnight. I’d like to block it (injuries) out of my mind and just play my game. It doesn’t affect me in my golf swing so my results do not get affected, it is just something I need to protect so that it doesn’t flare up and become a bigger injury.

I have a bit of an advantage knowing that I have done it before. Walking through those doors just gives me a spring in my step. Coming back to defend a title is not something you get to do everyday in your career and this is a special year for me with two events to defend my title.

I don’t think there is an added pressure being the defending champion, obviously people expect you to do well, I expect myself to do well. But I think of it as, if you’ve done it once before then you can do it again, it’s just about finding the right form. I hope this week will be the turnaround for me and kickstart the rest of my season.

Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha)

I am happy to be home after travelling so much around Europe. All my friends are here and I grew up playing golf with all these Thai players.

I don’t think about winning when I go into a tournament, whether it is an Asian Tour event or a European Tour event. I just try and stick with my process and try my best every time. The grass and the weather is so different in Europe so it was a huge transition for me. But I’m born here and I have played golf for close to 10 years now so I know I can do well on Thai courses.

My game is better because I started seeing a new coach in Europe. I’ve been seeing him for close to five weeks now and my swing is sounder since we started working together and overall, I am very confident with my game and excited to put up some good scores.

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

Fiji, July 25: Every week is an opportunity in professional golf though some weeks are bigger opportunities than others. For Lucas Herbert, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is one of those weeks.

It’s been a hectic 2018 season for the 22-year-old Victorian who began the year with no playing status outside Australia but by the mid-point of July has played two Majors and earned cards on two international Tours.

A promising amateur who was ranked as high as third in the world before turning professional in late 2015, Herbert really began to come into his own at the back end of 2017.

He parlayed a runner-up finish to Jason Scrivener at the NSW Open into a T6 result at the Australian Open where he played both Saturday and Sunday alongside Jason Day, an experience he says has been a huge help in 2018.

“I was pretty nervous going into that Saturday round,” he says. “We spoke about it amongst my team and it probably matured me about three years that weekend.

“The exposure to him and then playing well…I felt like I belonged and if he’s top-10 in the world then I know I can be right there and I got a lot out of that.

“Going forward with that knowledge has been so helpful this year in getting up around the lead and helping me feel like I belong out there.”

That feeling of belonging can be one of the most difficult transitions to make going from the top of the amateur game to the bottom of the Professional game and more than one promising career has faltered at this hurdle.

Herbert, though, is embracing the challenge that is week-to-week professional play and the bigger the stage the more he enjoys it.

He even had the bravado to barge his way into a practice round with Tiger Woods at The Open at Carnoustie.

“I was expecting to get brushed, to be honest, because I’d already been brushed by a couple of others,” he says with a laugh.

“I put my name down with Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka but they moved to a different time so they could play with another couple of their regular practise guys.

“Then I put my name down next to Rory but he moved his name as well so I was onto my third top player to try and get a round with.

“I put my name down next to Tiger and I was stoked that it actually happened. I went up to him on the practise green and introduced myself and shook his hand, told him what I’d done and said if he didn’t want to play with me it would be no drama.

“But he was great about it. He turned up about 15 minutes late to the tee so even at that stage I wasn’t really expecting to play with him but it did happen and it was great.”

Lucas Herbert at Carnoustie

Herbert said he learned a lot from the 14-time Major winner, particularly about preparing for big events, but came away most impressed by one of Woods’ most famous attributes: his iron-clad belief in himself.

“It was pretty amazing to see up close,” he says. “We were getting ready to hit off one of the tees there on the Tuesday and a guy from the crowd yelled out ‘Tiger, what are your chances this week?’ and without blinking an eye he just said ‘I’m going to win.’

“He didn’t even turn around. It was almost as if he was thinking ‘What did you think I would say?’

“He didn’t say it the way some 15-year-old kid might say it if they just got just got their first start in a pro tournament and they were asked what they thought their chances were. He believed it, genuinely and 100 per cent.

“It was…I don’t know, there was just something about the way he said it. And then of course, he nearly did win so it worked.”

Herbert, too, has great – and growing – confidence in his abilities and knows some people find that off-putting.

But he says he is driven by the desire to succeed and if that sometimes comes off as cocky then so be it.

“I’d like to think I’m maturing as a person,” he says, somewhat reflectively. “Not too many people seem to dislike me a lot.

“I understand that my personality is what it is and there will be some people who don’t like me and some will think I’m cocky.

“But I don’t know that cocky is a bad personality trait to have in people and I quite admire it. People who are cocky and who will go to the next level in their field are people I admire because not everybody is prepared to do that.”

All of which points to a potentially big week for Herbert at Natadola Bay as he looks to parlay some good results from limited starts in Europe into a full-fledged card for next season.

One of the biggest disappointments of finishing bogey, double bogey at Carnoustie was the Race to Dubai points it cost him and with uncertainty about how many more starts he will get in 2018 the week in Fiji looms large in his plans for next year.

“I need to get into the top 110 (he’s currently 122nd) but I’m not sure how many starts I’ll have to do it,” he says.

“I will get to play the Dunhill Links because of my position on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit but there are no guarantees beyond that.

“So the Fiji International is a pretty important week for me in the big picture and I’m really looking forward to the chance to perform.”

Herbert has played the tournament twice previously though never made the cut, a statistic he finds a little surprising.

“I really like the golf course and I feel like it sets up well for my game,” he says. “The fairways are quite wide and there are two driveable par-4’s and the par-5’s are in reach for me.

“I haven’t played my best there before but everything feels a bit different this year. I’ve played a lot more tournament golf for a start and have a lot more experience than before.

“In the past, I’ve arrived with not a lot of tournament play under my belt and some financial pressure to perform as well but that’s all different this year so hopefully the result will be different as well.”

There’s no question Herbert has the physical tools to contend and after what he’s already achieved in 2018 there’s no reason he can’t be at the business end of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.

That is certainly his intention and despite the high stakes nature of the week he is embracing the challenge.

“This is what Professional golf is,” he says. “Everyone experiences pressure in their jobs, whether it be an important meeting they have to go to or project they’ve got to manage.

“It’s the same for me. I’ve got a pretty important three months coming up for me and I’ve just got to nail it.”

In its short history the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has had a knack for identifying winners with great stories to tell, from Steven Jeffress in 2014 to perhaps Australian golf’s most popular victory with Jason Norris last year.

If Herbert’s name were to find its way onto the trophy it would fit nicely in that category, the maiden win of a player who seems destined for the world stage.

“Lucas is a great example of the extraordinarily talented young players Australia is producing at the moment,” says Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. 

“I think all of us are looking forward to watching his career unfold and it’s exciting to have him back in Fiji.

“He’s fantastic with the media and the fans and he proved he can do all of that and still produce top class golf when he went close at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth so it will be exciting to see what he does at Natadola Bay.”

About the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways

To be held from 2-5 August 2018 the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course which boasts breathtaking views of the Coral Coast and is home to the Natadola Beach Land Estate. 

Enticed by the tropical destination, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has attracted some of the world’s best golfers since its inaugural staging in 2014 including Fijian hero and three-time Major champion Vijay Singh, 2017 champion Jason Norris, 2016 champion Brandt Snedeker, 2015 champion Matt Kuchar, 2014 champion Steven Jeffress, Steven Bowditch, Boo Weekley and Nick Price.

This year’s tournament is set to feature four-time Major champion and Captain of the International Team for the 2019 Presidents Cup, Ernie Els.

In 2018, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways continues to have a global presence confirming its position as an integral tournament in the South Pacific region, with the tournament being tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour.

A Pacific paradise, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways also boasts some of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 8th hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf, whilst socialising on the beach.

More than just a golf tournament, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific region, with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to introduce and grow the game in Fiji.

Owned by SEL and the PGA of Australia, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is proudly supported by the Fijian Government, Tourism Fiji and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa as the official resort of the tournament.


Published on July 24, 2018

Pattaya, Thailand, July 24: Newly-crowned Asian Tour winner and member Justin Harding of South Africa is hoping to ace another stern test with his intelligent game plan at the Royal Cup which begins on Thursday.

The 32-year-old clinched his maiden Asian Tour title just two weeks ago in Indonesia and is hoping to continue that winning run after surviving a long-haul flight that finally brought him to the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.

Harding will spearhead the strong international challenge in the 156-men field with 32 other Asian Tour winners including Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Australia’s Todd Sinnott who are determined to end their lean spells this season.

Chia, a two-time Asian Tour winner, has had a long history with battling injuries, after a shoulder injury in 2013 nearly ended his career. The Malaysian revealed he is suffering from a hip injury this year due to his busy schedule on the Japan circuit and the Asian Tour but will keep his head up high this week and rely on his course knowledge to put up a good showing at the US$500,000 event.

 Sinnott has also been juggling his time between several Tours this season and has yet to enjoy a top-10 finish on the Asian Tour this year.

The 26-year-old, who won his maiden Asian Tour title in Myanmar in his rookie season last year, plans to stay positive despite enduring a frustrating start to his season.

The Royal Cup is the Tour’s fourth stop in Thailand this year and is held in honour of His Majesty King Rama X who will celebrate his 66th birthday this Saturday.

Did you know?

  • Justin Harding is a seven-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and currently leads their Order of Merit for the 2018-2019 season.
  •  Harding made his mark on the Asian Tour at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open 2018 where he won by one-shot with his winning total of 18-under-par 270 total.
  •  Harding immediately took up membership on the Asian Tour following his win in Indonesia and currently sits on 32nd place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
  •  The South African played college golf at Lamar university in Texas.
  •  Danny chia became the first Malaysian to win on the Asian Tour with his victory at the 2002 Taiwan Open.
  •   Chia captured his second Asian Tour victory at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2015, a year after undergoing a neck surgery to repair a compressed nerve problem which was paralyzing his left arm.
  •  He has been splitting his time between the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour this year having qualified on the Japanese circuit with a 19th place finish in the Final Qualifying Tournament held in Ibaraki.
  • Todd Sinnott turned professional in 2015.
  • Sinnott won the 2017 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open by three shots after only earning his Asian Tour card two weeks prior to his triumph.
  • The Australian has had a lean spell since his win and has only made three cuts in his seven starts this season.

Player’s quotes:

Justin Harding (Rsa)

I’ve been playing well and I won three tournaments on the Sunshine Tour and one on the Asian Tour already. I have just been playing more intelligent golf. My team back home sat me down and we just looked at my statistics to try and eliminate mistakes I am making to play more sensibly.

I’m still playing aggressively but with a little more intelligence now. I’ve been finding myself on the leaderboard more often now that I am playing smart golf. I’ve always been pretty good as a front runner and I have matured a little bit more this year in approaching tournaments so that’s been working for me.

This is my first visit to Thailand, I have only ever been to Asia once before I played in Indonesia. It was the travelling back and forth that was the toughest part. The grass is a little different in Asia and is probably the trickiest part of the game that I have had to adjust to.

I’ve never travelled so much, so I battled a little last week in Kenya, I feel fine this week but I hope the jetlag doesn’t kick in later. Adjusting to the heat in Asia was a challenge, coming from cold weather back home and then back to humidity, I’m just trying to keep myself hydrated and exert as little energy as possible.

But I don’t see a huge difference competition-wise on both Tours. I played with a couple of guys in Indonesia and they play really good golf. It’s still the same game we’re playing, the biggest different is who has a better game plan for the week.

We had an event in Kenya on the Sunshine Tour last week so I decided to fly from Indonesia to Kenya and then come back this week so it’s been a lot of travelling. I haven’t completely settled down but it’s nice that I have friends on Tour like Keith (Horne) and Lyle, to get advice from. It’s just a matter of getting comfortable in a different environment.

Danny Chia (Mas)

I took some time off last week as I had to get some treatment on my hips which have been giving me trouble and I sprained my knee a couple of weeks ago. I feel like I am burning myself out from playing too much golf this year and that’s why my injuries are starting to come back. I have had a busy schedule, splitting my time between the Japan Tour and the Asian Tour and I didn’t pace myself.

I have been doing some physiotherapy and exercise to try and get my body back on track before this week but it’s been a process. Still feeling a bit stiff but and I have not had the time to target the problem and get treated. I am taking another week off next week to get it sorted out.

I think the biggest struggle this year has been adjusting to different greens. It’s a much tougher setup in Japan. The greens are faster than what I am used to so I had to force myself to adapt quickly. I started to hit the ball better in the last two months but then the injury kicked in again. Pretty much been the story of my life having to deal with injury after injury.

It’s tough but it’s something I have to live with. I am 46 this year so I have to start looking out for my body and not stress is as much as I did when I was younger. I’ve been through so many tough times in my career and this is just another bump in the road. Once I get my body sorted out I can have peace of mind to play my game.

It’s not a long golf course this week. I would say distance control and precision with where you land your ball on the greens are key to playing well. The greens are tricky too so I’ll be spending the most time on that before the tournament starts on Thursday.

Todd Sinnott (Aus)

I played a practice round with Travis (Smyth) today and he’s played here before so I have been relying on him today for tips. The greens here are small and the golf course is good, better than what I thought it would be. Green speeds seem to be different on both nines but I’m excited to play it this week. The course really suits my game, there are a couple of drivable par fours so I’ll be pretty aggressive.

My game hasn’t been great in recent times. But I just sat down with my coach Marty Joyce, and we’ve been working on a lot of technical stuff. The past week I have been back home practicing everyday and putting in the work so I am coming into this week pretty confident. I just need to stick to the process and let the results come.

I know exactly what I need to fix and it has been a frustrating period but everything happens for a reason and I just want to move forward and start getting some good results.

I have played four events on the Japan Tour, a little bit on the PGA Tour of Australasia and some Asian Tour events. So, I have been splitting myself between all three Tours. The courses in Asia are more suited for my game and my schedule will mostly be Asian Tour events and a couple on the Japan circuit for the second half of the year.

My friend from back home is on my bag this week and he’s really smart so I trust him. We train together when I’m home and he knows my game and we just work really well together.

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

Fiji, July 24: The 2017 ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open champion Michael Hendry heads up a strong group of 12 New Zealanders mixed with proven winners and exciting young talent in the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.

Hendry has been plying his trade on the Japan Golf Tour where he was a winner in 2015 and will join fellow Japan Tour winner and countryman David Smail, as well as Mark Brown, Daniel Pearce, Josh Geary, Gareth Paddison, Michael Long, Ben Campbell, Kieran Muir and Harry Bateman at the Fijian showpiece which is tri-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour.  

Talented amateurs and now first year professionals Ryan Chisnall and Nick Voke round out the Kiwi challenge at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.

Hendry became the first New Zealander to win their national Open since Mahal Pearce in 2003 which he followed up with a second place finish in the Japan Tour’s Gate Way to The Open – The Mizuno Open, enough to see him make his major debut at the 146th Open Championship.

He replicated that same Japanese result in 2018 to make a second straight appearance in the prestigious tournament.

“It was another amazing experience, anytime you can book a spot in a Major against the world’s best golfers is always going to be pretty special,” said Hendry.

“I’m looking forward to carrying some of those good vibes over to Fiji and hopefully get a good result there. It’s quite close to home so it’s a great chance to pop over to New Zealand, refresh a little bit before getting stuck back into the season overseas.”

There’s a sense of unfinished business for Hendry returning to Fiji, he finished runner-up to American Brandt Snedeker in the 2016 edition of the tournament.

“I have played well there before, there were a few changes Vijay Singh made to the track and I had my first look at those last year.

“Hopefully I can put it all together this time and go one better than I did in 2016.”

Hendry has been one of the most consistent performers on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia recording top-5 finishes on the money list in the last two seasons, a strong performance at the AU$1.25 million Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways would put him in good stead for a third strong result on the Order of Merit.

“It’d be great to win that Order of Merit title, it opens so many doors through the exemptions you receive with it,” added Hendry.

“There’s a couple of guys who have already gotten off to great starts this season so it’ll be difficult to catch them but a good result in Fiji would be the first step.”

The even dozen New Zealanders add to the international flavour the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has established over the past five years.

“We have so many talented New Zealander golfers who are part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and it’s great to see them so well represented in the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“As a proud sporting nation, New Zealand enjoys a strong relationship with its Pacific neighbours and it’s fantastic to see that relationship continue with both Fiji and golf in general.”

Ends.


Published on July 23, 2018

Pattaya, Thailand, July 23: Lyle Rowe of South Africa fired a sparkling six-under-par 64 to finish as the top player in the Royal Cup Qualifier on Monday.

Rowe, who graduated from Asian Tour Qualifying School this year, secured one of the 10 tickets on offer to the US$500,000 Royal Cup which gets underway at the Royal Gold Golf and Country Club this Thursday.

Korea’s Joohyung Kim and India’s Honey Baisoya finished two shots back to settle for second place on matching 66s.

Other players who qualified for the Royal Cup are Thailand’s Weerawit Sakuncharoenrat, Thanarat Srisathaporn and Kammalas Namuangruk who finished in fourth place on 67 while Thai duo Nutdanai Nuangjaknin and and Pitipat Pitimana-aree tied in seventh place following matching 68s.

Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach and Thailand’s Pijit Petchkasem shot 69s to claim the final two berths for the Royal Cup.

A total of 79 players took part in the Royal Cup Qualifier. The second edition of the Royal Cup will be held in conjunction with the 66th birthday of King Rama X’s birthday this Saturday.

Pos

Player

Nat

Tot

+/-

Thru

1

Lyle ROWE

RSA

64

-6

F

2

Joohyung KIM

KOR

66

-4

F

2

Honey BAISOYA

IND

66

-4

F

4

Weerawit SAKUNCHAROENRAT

THA

67

-3

F

4

Thanarat SRISATHAPORN

THA

67

-3

F

4

Kammalas NAMUANGRUK

THA

67

-3

F

7

Nutdanai NUANGJAKNIN

THA

68

-2

F

7

Pitipat PITIMANA-AREE

THA

68

-2

F

9

Mitchell SLORACH

SGP

69

-1

F

9

Pijit PETCHKASEM

THA

69

-1

F

CUT

         

11

Nirun SAE-UENG

THA

70

Par

F

11

Tanon INMEE

THA

70

Par

F

11

Witthawat AMSAWANG

THA

70

Par

F

11

Arthitayapong SRIPATRPRASITE

THA

70

Par

F

11

Seddhachoke POOMPUAY

THA

70

Par

F

11

Panuwat  BULSOMBATH

THA

70

Par

F

11

Thammasack BOUAHOM

THA

70

Par

F

18

Nelson COGELS

BEL

71

1

F

18

Sira BOONGUER

THA

71

1

F

20

Kittiporn JAVANAPONG

THA

72

2

F

20

Thitipat LEM

THA

72

2

F

20

Poovadol LEE-ARTHARN

THA

72

2

F

20

R.J. CARACELLA

AUS

72

2

F

20

Wolmer MURILLO

VEN

72

2

F

20

Paranchai RUPAMARN

THA

72

2

F

20

Ye Htet AUNG

MYN

72

2

F

20

Woraphon NUMER

THA

72

2

F

20

Krittin SUNTHORNNON

THA

72

2

F

29

Krittitee SUNTHORNNON

THA

73

3

F

29

Napat LIM

THA

73

3

F

29

Poosit SUPUPRAMAI

THA

73

3

F

29

Parathakorn SUYASRI

THA

73

3

F

29

Tantakorn AYUTHAYA

THA

73

3

F

29

Atthachai JAICHALAD

THA

73

3

F

35

Jehoo RYU

KOR

74

4

F

35

K P LIN

TPE

74

4

F

35

Jacob FLECK

USA

74

4

F

35

Wachirawit SAORON

THA

74

4

F

35

Seungsoo LEE

KOR

74

4

F

35

Yuttavit SRICHUMPOL

THA

74

4

F

35

Sithtipong SRIPATRPRASITE

THA

74

4

F

35

Jomyoot GETTONG

THA

74

4

F

43

Sukrit HANVISAI

THA

75

5

F

43

Pattarapong SUPPAPANT

THA

75

5

F

43

Lerd BHAKDIBHUMI

THA

75

5

F

43

Watchara PAPHAKEEREE

THA

75

5

F

43

Matt KILLEN

ENG

75

5

F

48

Johan KLEEBMEK

THA

76

6

F

48

Vorapop CHAIPIPAT

THA

76

6

F

48

Thanakrit CHAISINLAPIN

THA

76

6

F

48

Jatutis IAMSAARD

THA

76

6

F

48

Wachirawit SURIYAWONG

THA

76

6

F

48

Marc PEROTTI

MON

76

6

F

48

David YANG

TPE

76

6

F

48

Pattara YOTEE

THA

76

6

F

56

Poj PRAJAKTANATHORN

THA

77

7

F

56

Kukdo KIM

KOR

77

7

F

56

Alvin CHEUNG

HKG

77

7

F

56

Thachadol PONGTUBTIM

THA

77

7

F

60

Kaenpeth YODSPACK

THA

78

8

F

60

Natchapol SRINON

THA

78

8

F

60

Pisan KLAHAN

THA

78

8

F

63

Jerram CHUDLELCH

AUS

79

9

F

63

Manutswe SEANGSRISIN

THA

79

9

F

65

Jittakorn NUAMTHANONG

THA

80

10

F

65

Eunki MIN

KOR

80

10

F

67

Akkamet SANGUANSANTIGUL

THA

81

11

F

67

Thitithuch JAIDEE

THA

81

11

F

67

Thammalak BOUAHOM

THA

81

11

F

70

Ken SUGIYAMA

JPN

82

12

F

70

Thongchai KOKKUNTOD

THA

82

12

F

70

Rattanapol SATIARUCHIKANON

THA

82

12

F

70

Peeratol SIRIPHAN

THA

82

12

F

70

Nutthawan JINDAYUI

THA

82

12

F

75

Joh TAKEUCHI

THA

89

19

F

75

Jaejin LEE

KOR

89

19

F

77

Jonghoon LIM

KOR

95

25

F

78

Roberto GALLETTI

USA

RTD

F

78

Yanapat CHAROENPATTANASATIT

THA

RTD

F

 


Published on

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 23: Francesco Molinari became the first Italian to win a Major championship when he closed with a two-under-par 69 to seal a two-shot victory at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Sunday.

The 35-year-old Molinari stayed bogey-free in the last 36 holes, highlighted by eight birdies, to lift the Claret Jug with a winning total of eight-under-par 276 at the Carnoustie Golf Links.

“Just disbelief, to be honest,” said Molinari. “It’s amazing to stand here with the Claret Jug. I knew I was coming in with some good golf.

“My record around here was terrible so I wasn’t too optimistic about this week. I just focus on hitting good shots day by day. To go the weekend bogey-free, it’s unthinkable. I am very proud of today.”

Molinari, who played alongside Tiger Woods, sank a five-footer for birdie on the last to take the clubhouse lead and was left to endure an anxious wait on the practice green.

“Playing with Tiger was another challenge because of the crowds and everything. But I felt really good this morning. I felt like I was ready for the challenge. Obviously conscious that it could have gone either way, but I knew I was going to do my best.

“I couldn’t watch Xander play the last two holes, to be honest. That’s why I went to the putting green. I probably would have felt sick watching on TV. Big credits to my wife who watches me all the time. I don’t know how she does it. I couldn’t do it,” Molinari added.

Schauffele settled for a closing 74 to share second place with Justin Rose (69), Rory Mcilroy (70) and Kevin Kisner (74) in the year’s third Major championship, which saw a record-breaking attendance of 172,000 this week.

Ends.


Published on

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 22: Shubhankar Sharma of India rounded off a memorable birthday week at The 147th Open at Carnoustie with a closing two-over-par 73 to finish in tied-51st place at the world’s oldest Major championship.

The young Indian, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Saturday, nailed two birdies in his opening five holes but dropped shots on the eighth, 11th, 13th and 15th holes to end his campaign 12 shots back of winner Francesco Molinari of Italy at the Carnoustie Golf Links.

Despite falling off the pace, Sharma is looking on the bright side of things, having made his first Major cut in his debut appearance at The Open, a tournament which he had dreamt about playing since he was a kid.

“It was a tough finish for me but I started off well. I was hitting it good and then I lost my concentration in the middle and made some bogeys. I was trying hard to get the momentum back towards the end of the round.

“I was happy to give myself a birdie putt on the last even though I didn’t make it. I kept trying till the end. It’s a great tournament and definitely a good learning curve for me. I’m satisfied with the way I played,” said Sharma, who leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Apart from learning to love links golf, Sharma also reckoned that he has grown as a player after gaining all the invaluable experiences from his Open debut this week.

“I haven’t played too much links course before. This is only my third time so I am happy with the result. It’s very different from what we usually play back home in Asia. A lot of learning this week. I felt like I’ve just grown as a player this week.

“I can’t wait to come back again next time. I will draw on the experiences that I got. Felt a little pressure on the second day when I was outside the cutline. I really wanted to play the weekend because it was my birthday yesterday. I didn’t want to be sad on my birthday,” Sharma laughed.

Sharma earned his spot at The Open after winning the Joburg Open last December. He went on to claim his second victory two months later at the Maybank Championship and broke into top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time in his career.

He continued his remarkable rise at the World Golf Championships in Mexico where he came in top-10 in his first attempt. That spectacular finish earned him an invitation to The Masters and he would go on to qualify for the US Open in June.

Fellow Open debutant Masahiro Kawamura of Japan emerged as the best-placed Asian Tour player at the year’s third Major after he closed with a second straight 71 to finish in tied-39th place.

Yuta Ikeda of Japan ended his campaign with a 74 to match the week’s efforts of Sharma while reigning Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia, who also closed with a 74, settled for a share of 61st place alongside a host of players, including South African Shaun Norris.

Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat fought hard for a closing 74 to finish in tied-75th place at The Open. Kiradech, who is turning 29 on Monday, took pride in his battling performance after making the weekend rounds for the first time in his fifth attempt at The Open this week.

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 July 22, 2018

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 22: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat ended his campaign with a second consecutive three-over-par 74 on Sunday but took pride in a battling performance which saw him make the cut for the first time in his fifth attempt at The 147th Open at Carnoustie.

The big-hitting Kiradech, who is turning 29 years old on Monday, marked his card with four birdies against two double-bogeys and three bogeys to finish in tied-75th position on nine-over-par 293 total at the year’s third Major championship.

“My ball striking was much better although I didn’t get off to a good start. The plan was to go out there and enjoy every single minute since it is the first time I am playing in the weekend at The Open. It’s been such great fun,” said Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013.

Kiradech admitted he was battling against fatigue after playing 10 weeks in a row but believes a much-need rest is all he needs to regain his good form for the upcoming WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship.

“I always enjoy playing in The Open. I know I am not playing my best golf this week. My swing is not 100% and it’s definitely not my ‘A’ game. I think I have played a little bit too much. I need to rest to prepare for the upcoming World Golf Championship and the last Major,” he added.

Kiradech, who sits in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), has enjoyed a superb season, claiming his third Asian Tour title and fourth European Tour victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February before 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 ever result in a Major championship.

“I think I have achieved the goals that I have set for myself this year. The next step for me is to try and maintain my form and also try to keep my PGA Tour card. It’s not going to be easy at all. I will have to plan my schedule better and stay consistent in my game,” Kiradech said.

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.