Carnoustie, Scotland, July 21: South African Shaun Norris reveled in a rare opportunity of playing alongside Tiger Woods in the penultimate round of The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Saturday.

Norris, a two-time Asian Tour winner, carded a second round three-under-par 68 to match the efforts of Tiger on even-par 142 total at the halfway stage of the year’s third Major championship.

Trailing by six shots heading into the third round, Tiger fired a 66 to mark his lowest round in a Major in sevens year and move to within four shots in tied-sixth place. Norris posted a commendable 69 to tie in 28th place.

“It was crazy, absolute crazy with so many people following just one person. There were a couple of holes where people were just standing 20 to 30 feet by his side. The crowd was fantastic. They kept quiet when they need to. They really respected us,” said the 36-year-old Norris.

Norris, who hails from Pretoria, South Africa, is playing in The Open for the second consecutive year. He earned his second start in a Major championship after finishing tied-third at the Joburg Open last December. He finished tied-62nd in his Major debut last year.

“I focused on my game but it was really nice to be playing in that kind of atmosphere. It’s amazing. He was really good fun to hang around. You can see he knows what he is doing out there. He’s on top of his game. I learn a lot from him today, just by watching him play.

“The first thing he said to me was ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ so I asked if he could sign some gloves for me for my friends back home, who are huge fans of Tiger. He also told me to keep going in my career,” Norris added.

Ends.

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 21: Malaysia’s rising star Gavin Green hopes to round off a memorable Major debut at The 147th Open at Carnoustie with a strong finish on Sunday. 

The 24-year-old Green marked his best efforts of the week after battling to an even-par 71 for a share of 61st place at the penultimate round of the year’s third Major championship.

He trails the leading trio of Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele by 12 shots with a three-over-par 145 total at the Carnoustie Golf Links.

“I am looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully I can go a couple under-par and improve my position as much as I can,” said the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion. “I hit it good again today and kept my irons in play. It was just a lot of positives today.”

“I came back with four straight pars on a tough stretch which was good. I gave myself looks. It was still a solid finish. I gave myself a lot of chances today but none of them really dropped. I am hitting it good so I am happy with the even-par,” added Green.

Green became the second Malaysian, following Danny Chia in 2010, to make the halfway cut in the world’s oldest Major championship. He carded rounds of 72 and 73 to make it right on the bubble. Chia came in tied-55th in what was his third attempt that year.

“My whole family is here with me. My grandmother and my aunties are here as well. It’s nice to have them here with me and watch me play in my first Major championship,” Green said. “Some Malaysians came out to watch me today as well so thank you to them too.”

Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat rued his poor ball-striking following a 74 but took making the halfway cut for the first time in his fifth attempt at The Open. He sits in 77th place on his own on 148.

“It was a big surprise to me when I found out that I made the cut yesterday because I wasn’t hitting the ball good. I just want to go out there and enjoy myself again tomorrow. No expectations, I just want to play the best I can and enjoy myself here at Carnoustie,” said Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013.

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.

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 21: India’s rising star Shubhankar Sharma celebrated his 22nd birthday at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Saturday, signing for a second straight even-par 71 to tie in 56th place following the penultimate round.

Sharma, a two-time Asian Tour winner, became the youngest Indian to make the halfway cut in a Major championship, just one day before turning 22. He described making his first Major cut in his Open debut as ‘The best birthday gift ever’.

“This is the best birthday present for myself, playing in The Open and making the cut. The weather was perfect today too. This is the best way I could’ve spent my birthday. I received a lot of well wishes and I am really happy to receive all the support that I’ve got,” said Sharma.

Starting the round eight shots off the pace, Sharma traded three birdies against three bogeys to trail leaders Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele by 11 shots on two-over-par 215 total in the world’s oldest Major championship.

“It was a great day. I would like to have played better than I did but I am very happy that I am playing the round today. I did my best yesterday to try and make it to the weekend. I thought I played pretty well. I just didn’t make enough putts.

“I couldn’t capitalize on the birdie on second but that’s golf. I am happy with the way that I am playing. My hitting was much better than the previous days. I will go try and get my putter going later and then just relax and look forward to dinner tonight,” added the amiable Sharma.

Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)

Sharma earned his spot in the year’s third Major after sealing his maiden Asian Tour victory at the Joburg Open last December, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.

He has since embarked on an extraordinary whirlwind rise in 2018, claiming his second win in two months at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. The young talent also enjoyed a top-10 finish in his World Golf Championships debut in Mexico in March.

That outstanding result earned him an invitation to The Masters where he made his Major debut. He would go on to earn his second Major appearance at the US Open after coming through the Qualifier.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Shaun Norris, who enjoyed a first career pairing with Tiger Woods on Saturday, returned with a 69 to trail by seven shots in tied-28th place. The South African is making his second consecutive appearance at The Open this week.

Japanese duo Yuta Ikeda and Masahiro Kawamura posted identical 71s to sit in tied-51st and tied-56th positions respectively.

Malaysia’s Gavin Green also carded a 71 to grab a share of 61st place on 145 while Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat slipped to 77th position following a 74.

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.

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 20: India’s rising star Shubhankar Sharma successfully made the halfway cut in his maiden appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Friday, one day before turning 22.

It is also the first time that Sharma, who opened his campaign with a two-over-par 73, made it through to the weekend rounds in a Major championship, having missed the mark earlier at The Masters in April and the U.S. Open in June.

Sharma battled against tough conditions in the morning to sign for a second round 71, trailing leaders Kevin Kisner and Zach Johnson by eight shots in tied-52nd place with a two-over-par144 total at the world’s oldest Major championship.

“I am so excited right now. After that tee shot on the 18, I thought I just need to make par because a lot of players have yet to play. My first aim was to hit the fairway on the 18th and then hit the green to give myself birdie opportunity.

“I made a brilliant second shot to about five to six feet and made the birdie putt. I am really proud of myself, considering I was three-over after nine and made three birdies on the last six holes to get back to even-par,” said Sharma, a two-time Asian Tour winner.

The young Indian had qualified for The Open after breaking through at the Joburg Open last December. He would go on to embark on a magical season in 2018, claiming several successful exploits on international stage before adding another feather to his cap by making the cut in his Open debut this week.

“I wasn’t thinking much when I stood on the last putt. The greens became very bumpy. You just hope that the ball stays on the line. It was a nerving moment for me at the end but very happy to birdie the last and make it to the weekend rounds.

“This is my favourite Major championship. I imagined myself playing in The Open since I was a kid. I am happy to make the cut in my first attempt. This is also the first time I made the cut in a Major. It is definitely a big moment for me. I am also turning 22 tomorrow so it will be a great birthday present for me,” Sharma added.

Anirban Lahiri, the other one of the two Indians in the elite field this week, posted a 74 to miss out on the weekend action at the year’s third Major championship.

Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia and Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat carded respective rounds of 73 and 71 to make the cut right on the bubble at three-over-par 145 at The 147th Open at Carnoustie.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Danthai Boonma of Thailand

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

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

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

Ends.

About Asian Tour

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Bengaluru, India, June 20: Thai stalwart Poom Saksansin hopes to become the 17th player to successfully defend a title on the Asian Tour when he heads to the US$350,000 TAKE Solutions Masters next month.

The baby-faced Poom broke local hearts last year when he defeated home favourite Khalin Joshi by two shots to win his second Asian Tour title at the Karnataka Golf Association golf course.

He will return to the scene of his victory with renewed confidence following a successful season so far highlighted by his EurAsia Cup heroics where he defeated Paul Casey in the Singles format.

Poom, who finished second at the Thailand Open and is ranked 27th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, will be joined by TAKE ambassadors S.S.P. Chawrasia, Khalin Joshi and Chiragh Kumar at the KGA course from August 9 to 12.

“It has been a good year so far. I have enough money on the Habitat for Humanity Standings to retain my Asian Tour card so I’m happy. I defended my title at the Indonesian Masters last year. Nothing felt different except that my photo was plastered everywhere. I did feel proud and it shows that I’ve made it. However, I also felt more nervous because people know who I am and they are looking at my performance,” Poom laughed.

After changing six different drivers, the young Thai is beginning to rediscover his best form ahead of his title defence.

“I’ve been hitting my driver good in recent weeks so I’m feeling more confident. The KGA course is very narrow so you need to hit it straight. I’m not a long hitter so I can’t use a three wood,” said Poom.

He remembers his victory last year vividly where he led from start-to-finish to break the Indian dominance on home soil. Prior to Poom’s victory, Indian golfers had won seven Asian Tour events staged in the country since 2014.                                                           

“Before the event started, I didn’t expect to win but my confidence started to grow as the week progressed. In the final round I didn’t feel much pressure because I played with my friend Khalin (Joshi) and Chikkarangappa S.” said Poom.

TAKE Solutions is a globally-recognised domain-leader in life sciences and supply chain management. This year, TAKE Solutions have raised the prize purse by US$50,000 after a successful edition last year.

The tournament is promoted and managed by Kreeda Events who specialise in presenting world class events.  Their aim is to build on the success of last year to develop the tournament into one of the leading events on the Asian Tour.       

For further information please contact:

Media enquiries:

Serene Loh, Asian Tour Communications  

M: +65 9797 4178

E: [email protected]

Ayonava Bagchi / Piyush Kant, Young Monk Communications

M: +91 98187 74606 / 98102 52379

E: [email protected]

TAKE Solutions Enquiries:

Rajeswari P

M: +91 99400 64483

E: [email protected] 

About TAKE Solutions

TAKE Solutions is a globally recognised domain expert offering end-to-end Life Sciences solutions and is committed to putting Indian golf and its players on the global map.  TAKE has been associated with golf for over fifteen years in efforts to create better infrastructure and greater playing opportunities in India and internationally.  TAKE supports SSP Chawrasia, Khalin Joshi and Chiragh Kumar.  Shubhankar Sharma, the two-time European Tour winner and the first Indian to ever lead both the European and Asian Tour Orders of Merit at the same time and Chikkarangappa S have also recently been supported by TAKE.

www.takesolutions.com @TAKEgolfing #TAKEgolfing

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It’s a rare opportunity. If you can have a good week here and get a win you get a two-year exemption in Asia…it could be life-changing for some of those guys.”
 
There’s no question Hend has a genuine liking for Fiji and the tournament; his travel itinerary just to take part is proof of his commitment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t be surprised if that time comes Sunday evening in Fiji, says Gavin Kirkman CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and along with Sports and Entertainment Limited owns the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.
 
“Scott Hend is a highly accomplished golfer recording 14 wins around the world and representing Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics so to have a player of his calibre returning to the play the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways shows the positive reputation the tournament has built on the world stage.
 
“The distance that players like Scott are travelling to tee up in the tournament is also a testament to the beauty and hospitality of Fiji; the players all love playing in the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.”

Carnoustie, Scotland, July 19: Young Indian talent Shubhankar Sharma got off to a battling start, signing for an opening two-over-par 73 in his debut appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.

Sharma, who turns 22 on Saturday, carded one birdie against three bogeys to trail leader Kevin Kisner of the United States by seven shots in tied-72nd position at the year’s third Major championship.

“I am very happy with my opening round, considering that I was three-over after 13 holes and last few holes are supposed to be tough but I finished one-under there. I was hitting the ball really well. I had a few birdie opportunities as well but didn’t manage to convert.

“I hit it good off the tee. I didn’t miss too many fairways which was nice. My putting wasn’t great. I could have made more. Playing in a Major, you just got to take every chance presented to you out there,” said Sharma, who leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

The young Indian has enjoyed a spectacular year so far, claiming his second Asian Tour title at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia in February, just two months after his breakthrough in South Africa.

Sharma also enjoyed a top-10 finish in his World Golf Championships debut in Mexico in March. That finish earned him an invitation to The Masters where he made his Major debut.

He would add another feather to his cap by earning his second Major appearance at the US Open after coming through the Qualifier.

“I think I just have to stay aggressive tomorrow. I made only one birdie today. I have to make more tomorrow. It has been really a dream debut for me at The Open.

“I had a great grouping and Tiger (Woods) was playing behind me. I think I have never seen so many people on the first tee before. I don’t think I have ever seen so many people at one hole at one time so it was really a great experience,” Sharma added.

Anirban Lahiri, the other Indian in the field, signed for a disappointing 76 but remained upbeat of his comeback chances on Friday.

“I didn’t get off a good start. It was only two or three holes in that I started to tidy things up a bit. I missed a lot of shots right. I am disappointed to go birdie-free today. I definitely left a lot of shots out there. I couldn’t take advantage of the par-fives as well.

“Obviously five-over-par is not the best start but I still feel like I can make a bunch of birdies tomorrow. A lot of work to do but I will need to do what I need to do for tomorrow,” said Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ends.

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.