Danthai stays positive despite disappointing start at The Open
Carnoustie, Scotland, July 18: Indian stalwart Anirban Lahiri believes the feel-good factor will stand in his favour when he makes his sixth attempt at The 147th Open at Carnoustie starting Thursday.
The 31-year-old Lahiri, who was crowned the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion in 2015, hopes to bank on his familiarity with the prestigious tournament as he bids for the Claret Jug at the year’s third Major championship.
“There is a feeling of familiarity at The Open. This is the Major championship which I have played the most number of times. I was telling my caddy that I even recognised one of the security guards here. I don’t feel out of place at The Open. Everything is set up like it has always been so it feels really nice to be back,” said Lahiri.
Lahiri, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, made his Major debut at The Open in 2012 where he came in tied-31st. He finished one rung better in 2015 to mark his best result at the world’s oldest Major championship.
Also in his breakout year in 2015, Lahiri clinched a solid tied-fifth finish at the PGA Championship for his career-best result in a Major championship.
"For me, the more important thing is to play well. I want to do better than what I have done before. I know I can do that because I have contended in Majors in the past. I am getting a lot of confidence from the golf I am playing right now.
“It is not the typical Open, which used to be wet and cold so that makes me more comfortable. The course also reminds me a bit of the Delhi Golf Club, where one can keep hitting two-Irons and keep the ball in play,” Lahiri added.
Lahiri has been plying his trade on the PGA Tour since 2015. He has captured three top-10 finishes so far this season.
“It has not been the typical preparation for me. I usually play the Scottish Open and then The Open but this time, I came straight from the United States.
“Also for logistical reasons, I have played only 18 holes. Normally I would have played 36 by now. But having said that, I am still very comfortable in that I have not overplayed. There is no nervousness,” he said.
Lahiri will fly the Indian flag alongside rising star Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, at The 147th Open.
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 18: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat will be looking to produce his best outing at The Open when he tees off for his fifth appearance in the world’s oldest Major Championship on Thursday.
Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013, has never made the halfway cut in his last four appearances at The Open, which is also the only Major championship that he has yet to make it to the weekend rounds.
Placed 30th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Kiradech hopes to set the record straight when he plays alongside World number three Justin Rose and defending champion Jordan Spieth in the opening round on Thursday.
“I will try and play my best this week. If I can put up a good showing, it will be a perfect birthday gift for myself,” said Kiradech, who turns 29 on Monday. “I am playing with Rose and Spieth tomorrow. I want to make the Asians feel proud by playing well alongside them.”
The big-hitting Kiradech has enjoyed a superb season so far, claiming his third Asian Tour title and fourth European Tour victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February and taking home his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory in Brunei the following month.
Kiradech also came in tied-fifth at both the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play in March. In his last Major appearance at the US Open in June, Kiradech enjoyed a 15th place finish, which matched his best result in a Major championship.
The popular Kiradech will spearhead the Thai challenge alongside debutants Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma at The 147th Open at Carnoustie.
“I am looking forward to this week. I will just stay focused and try to keep the ball in play. Carnoustie is one of the toughest courses for The Open. I have to make sure I missed at the right spots to give myself opportunities to get up and down and avoid the bunkers out there,” he said.
Kiradech sang high praises for compatriot Jazz, who recently claimed his second Asian Tour victory at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak on home soil by four shots.
“I played with Jazz yesterday and we enjoyed a good round. We’re sharing a house this week. Jazz is one of the up and coming golfers from Thailand and I think he has a bright future. This boy has the game and the skills to challenge at the highest level.
“I like the way he carries himself on the golf course. I feel like he has no fear at all, although he’s playing his first Major championship this week. I would love to see him play well. He just need to get used to the course, learn more about it and he will have a good chance,” he added.
Danthai, a one-time Asian Tour winner, is hoping to make it a week to remember when he gets his Major debut underway this week.
“I am enjoying the experience so far. This is my first time in Scotland and also my first time playing on a links course. The course’s pretty intimidating with the strong winds and firm greens but I will focus on playing shot by shot and stick to my strategy,” said the 22-year-old Danthai.
Danthai, a double-gold medalist at the 2012 South East Asia (SEA) Games, earned his Asian Tour breakthrough at The World Golf Classic Championship in Singapore three years ago. He has also notched back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour, two weeks prior to his Major debut.
“I’m very excited to play in my first Major this week. My parents are here in Scotland for the first time and they are enjoying themselves too. A lot of superstars are here. I would love to see Tiger Woods, for sure.
“I played my practice round with some top players like Louis Oosthuizen and Gary Woodland yesterday and it was a great experience. I learned a lot from them. I am not thinking much about the results. I just want to enjoy myself this week,” Danthai added.
Ends.
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 18: Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Gavin Green is ready to fly the flag for Malaysia when he tees off for his debut Major appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Green, who sealed his place by winning the prestigious Merit title last season, is the third and youngest Malaysian, following Iain Steel (1996) and Danny Chia (2005, 2008 and 2010), to qualify for the world’s oldest Major.
“I’m excited, of course! You can feel the buzz in the air and I’m just going to go out there, try to enjoy myself and do the best that I can. I’m just trying to stay a little grounded and not get too excited.
“I have my entire support team here with me including my swing coach, my mental coach and my physio. My dad will be on the bag for me and that’s good as we’ve been working together pretty well the past few events,” said Green, who is the only Malaysian in the field this week.
Prior to turning professional in 2015, Green has enjoyed an illustrious career which saw him become the first amateur to win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) following his victory in 2014.
He added two more wins to his successful exploits on the region’s secondary circuit in 2016 and eventually finished second on the final Order of Merit to earn his Asian Tour card for what would be a breakout year for him in 2017.
After notching four top-10 results, which included three runner-up finishes, Green broke through at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters before going on to lift the 2017 Order of Merit crown, thanks to a season’s haul of US$582,463.
“It’s very humbling to be able to represent Malaysia in a Major like The Open. I am very happy to have the opportunity to do so and I hope that I can continue to make the country proud.
“Whenever I see the Malaysian flag flying in the tournaments that I play in, I will feel very privileged to be able to represent the country,” added the young Malaysian.
Coming off a tied-19th place finish at the Scottish Open last week, Green is relishing the challenge of playing in his first Major championship. He will have his father, Gary, on his bag and his mother, brother and grandmother supporting him from outside the ropes when he vies for top honours this week.
“Walking up the 18th and seeing the famous leaderboards is pretty special! We stood on the 18th green a bit and just took in the peaceful atmosphere and I could just imagine how fantastic it would be when the stands are full of spectators!
“The course’s impressive! When the wind blows, it will be very challenging. Playing in Europe has definitely been an eye opener. You learn to appreciate the game so much more as you learn to handle the different courses. I am definitely practicing harder and improving on the variety of shots I have in the bag,” Green said.
Green will feature in the elite field alongside India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban, as well as Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, highest-ranked Asian Tour player in 30th position on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
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 17: Young Thai Jazz Janewattananond hopes to cap a memorable return to Carnoustie by putting up a good showing in his debut appearance at The 147th Open which starts on Thursday.
When Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia in a play-off to win The Open at Carnoustie in 2007, a 10-year-old Jazz, who was in Scotland for The Junior Open then, caught the action live with his father from the grandstand seats.
11 years on, Jazz returned to Carnoustie for his first attempt at golf’s oldest Major championship. The 22-year-old Jazz had earned the coveted spot after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening Singapore Open in January.
“It’s great to be back in Carnoustie. My dad brought me here to watch Tiger Woods play The Open in 2007. We were amongst the spectators here when Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia to win that year.
“My dad plays an important role in my career. He was the one who brought me into the game when I was young. It’s great to be back here with him and to have him watch me play in my first ever Major championship,” said Jazz, a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Jazz first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.
Three weeks prior to his Major debut, Jazz clinched a sensational second victory at the Queen’s Cup on home soil where he triumphed by four shots after firing five straight birdies from the 10th for a closing 67.
The talented Thai went on to claim a joint runner-up finish at the Sarawak Championship in Malaysia the following week, thanks to a superb final round of a 64.
“After Sarawak, I took a few days off before coming here to practise. The weather was still pretty warm the last few days but it is getting colder now. The golf course is looking good. It’s amazing to be able to play in such a big event. The course set-up is great.
“The greens are firm and fast. It’s going to play tough. It’s been very overwhelming for me so far, playing in the first Major in my career this week. There are grand stands everywhere. I’m nervous yet excited at the same time,” Jazz added.
Jazz’s breakthrough on the Asian Tour came at the 2017 Bangladesh Open. The victory was especially sweet for him as he finished outside the top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School.
Jazz will represent Thailand in the year’s third Major championship alongside fellow debutant Danthai Boonma and 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who sits in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as the highest-ranked Thai player in the world.
Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia will also feature in The 147th Open at Carnoustie alongside India’s Anirban Lahiri, England’s Matt Wallace, South African Shaun Norris and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, all winners on the Asian Tour.
Ends.
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 17: India’s rising star Shubhankar Sharma will realise a long-time dream when he makes his debut appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie, which gets underway on Thursday.
The 21-year-old Sharma clinched a sensational breakthrough on the Asian Tour by winning the Joburg Open last December to earn a coveted spot for the year’s third Major championship.
“That victory will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was my first win and I was literally playing ‘alone’ in South Africa. I will always remember the love and warmth I got from the local fans that week and, of course, the avenues it has opened up for me in life. Teeing it up for The Open is the best spin off. I am really excited to be here,” said Sharma who was the only Indian in the 240-man field at the tri-sanctioned event in Joburg.
“Playing in The Open has been my ‘only’ dream, at one point of time, when I started playing golf. I have watched all the past editions on television and I would keep replaying the videos until I feel as if I have been played in The Open before,” added Sharma.
After his maiden win in South Africa, the young Indian went on to secure a second Asian Tour title at the lucrative Maybank Championship in Malaysia two months later.
He continued to take the golfing world by storm when he claimed 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.
Sharma, who leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity standings with a current haul of US$589,575, added another feather to his cap by earning his second Major appearance at the US Open after making the mark in the Qualifier.
“Playing in the Masters has been an out-of-the-world experience and the circumstances under which I got there, getting a sponsors’ invite, made it all the more beautiful. My whole family and friends were there with me too. Qualifying for the US Open was also great, as I earned that by getting through the qualifier.
“Both these experiences have been unique and enriching. I am extremely lucky that I am getting all these opportunities early in life,” added Sharma, the world’s highest-ranked Indian in 87th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Despite not making the cuts in his last two attempts at a Major championship, Sharma remains positive as he relishes his third Major appearance and also his first attempt on laying his hands on the Claret Jug this week.
“My game is alright at the moment. There are always small issues here and there in golf. Apart from that, I am good for the week and I am hoping to give a good account of myself out there. The Scottish Open last week was the first ever event I played on links course.
“The Open is going to be the second. I felt comfortable on the course last week. I assume Carnoustie is also going to be similar and I should come good. I am quite positive on my chances.
“Playing in Europe is different for the simple reason that the conditions are different from Asia. You have to play here to get the feel of everything. I am learning and I have done well so far,” added Sharma.
Sharma will be flying the Indian flag alongside 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Anirban Lahiri at golf’s oldest Major championship. He will also have his father Mohan Lal and his coach Jesse Grewal watching him from outside the ropes 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.
Carnoustie, Scotland, July 17: Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura is looking to soak up the experience when he tees off for his debut appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Kawamura earned his spot for the year’s third Major championship after finishing joint second on home soil at The Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in May, which offered four places as part of The Open Qualifying Series.
“This is my first time playing in The Open. I am very glad and excited to be playing in such a prestigious tournament. My parents are here with me this week. I am looking forward to the week and I will try my best to play well,” said Kawamura.
The slightly-built Japanese, who claimed his Asian Tour breakthrough at the 2013 Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, made his Major debut at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay after getting through a qualifier.
“I am looking forward to the challenge this week. I know that links golf is very different. I have seen the Carnoustie course from television before and it looks tough. I think it’s pretty similar to Chambers Bay so hopefully I can apply my knowledge and experience from there.
“This is my first time in Scotland. I came earlier (on Tuesday) and played a few other courses including the St. Andrews old course. I’m enjoying the week so far. Made a few new clubs for this week and it’s all working well. We’ll see how it goes this week,” added Kawamura.
Kawamura has enjoyed a relatively good season on the Asian Tour in 2018, notching three top-10 finishes to sit in a current 24th position on the Habitat of Humanity Standings.
He will be one the 10 players representing Japan at The 147th Open at Carnoustie, golf’s oldest Major championship. Other Japanese Asian Tour members in the elite field include Yuta Ikeda, Kodai Ichihara and Hideto Tanihara.
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 17: American Johannes Veerman is ready for another shot at glory at when the Royal Cup gets underway at the Phoenix Golf and Country Club next week.
Having enjoyed three consecutive top-10s in his last three starts, Veerman is confident of mounting a strong challenge at the US $500,000 event.
Royal Cup 2018 Official Press Conference
(From left to right) Chinnarat Phadungsil, Somsak Udompornsin (Marketing Director of Wangson Image Co.,Ltd.), Wanchai Meechai (Senior Tournament Director of Asian Tour), Chaicharn Aeimjaroen (Vice Governor of Chonburi), Chanya Swangchitr (President of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club), Lt.Gen. Dr. Perapong (Chairman of Advisory Committee of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club), Prarat Suwannamaytakorn (Director of Professional Sports Promotion and Development Division of Sports Authority of Thailand), Sattaya Supupramai
The 26-year-old American will face stiff competition from a host of strong Asian Tour stars including defending champion Shiv Kapur of India and compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar who has been knocking on the door for his ninth Asian Tour victory, having finished second twice in his last six starts.
After getting off to a slow start in his 2018 season where he missed the cut in eight of his first 11 starts, things started to click for Veerman at the end of June where he enjoyed his first top-10 finish in Thailand.
With signs of a resurgent in form, the American has vowed to stay patient in his pursuit of a maiden Asian Tour victory.
“I am approaching this tournament with confidence but not arrogance. Golf is a very humbling game, I know I am playing well but a lot of players are in form too. Gaganjeet for example is playing well too so I know I will have my work cut out for me next week.
“But if I just stick to my game plan and take it one shot at a time, I don’t see why I can’t have another strong finish,” said Veerman who finished 24th on the Order of Merit in 2017 to keep his Tour card for 2018.
Veerman, who got married at the end of May this year, will enjoy the company of his wife Angela on his bag yet again as he returns to the land of smiles .
“I actually have fun playing golf when she is around and I can be relaxed but stay competitive. She has been awesome and I love having her around,” said Veerman.
Playing on the Lake course instead of the Ocean course, a total of 156 players consisting of 75 Asian Tour players, 40 Thai players, 10 PGA of Australasia players, 5 Japan Golf Tour players, 16 invite spots, and 10 players from the Monday Qualifier will gather for the prestigious event which will be held in conjunction with the 66th birthday celebration of King Rama X.
“I like that golf course and it is a good test of golf. I’ve played half the course already and it’s a little tight on some spots. There are a couple of holes where you don’t necessarily have to use your driver, cause if you do you bring danger into play. I’m playing well and I am excited for it,” said Veerman.
Also in the field is former Asian Tour number one, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh along with Thai stars Phachara Khongwatmai, Prom Meesawat and Panuphol Pittayarat, and newly-crowned Asian Tour winners American John Catlin, South Africa’s Justin Harding and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski.
Chanya Swangchitr (President of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club)
The Royal Cup will be broadcast live on True Sport HD 3 on True Visions during 1pm-4pm local time on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission tickets for spectators are available at the ticket booths near the public entrance of the golf club at 100THB/person/day from July 26 to 29. Free admissions are available for spectators aged under 18 and over 60 years old and gates will open at 8am daily.
The Royal Cup 2018 is sponsored by Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), P.Overseas Steel PLC, PTT Group, True Visions, Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, Advanced Info Service PLC, Port Authority of Thailand.
Ends.
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.
Hong Kong, July 17: HONMA will be the title sponsor of the newly named Honma Hong Kong Open, when the US$ 2 million purse tournament returns to the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling from 22nd to 25th November this year.
The Japanese golf equipment manufacturer takes on the sponsorship of one of Asia’s most prestigious golf tournaments as HONMA and the Hong Kong Open look to celebrate their respective 60th year anniversaries.
Established in Sakata, Japan in 1959, HONMA is one of the world’s leading premium golf brands, synonymous with intricate craftsmanship, dedication to performance excellence and exceptional product quality. Its renowned ‘Made in Japan, SAKATA’ stamp is recognised by golfers around the world.
Dating back to the same year, the Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event and along with the Masters Tournament at Augusta National and the European Masters at Crans-Montana, is the only professional golf tournament to have been held at the same venue for more than 55 consecutive years.
The tournament, which was won in thrilling fashion by Wade Ormsby of Australia last November, will continue to be played on the Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite Championship Course in Fanling, and will be tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.
The 2018 edition of the Honma Hong Kong Open presents both organisations with an opportunity to celebrate each other’s history and provide a world-class sporting spectacle for the people of Hong Kong and golf fans around the world, as Liu Jianguo, Chairman, HONMA explained:
“HONMA is proud to be named title sponsor of the Honma Hong Kong Open for the 2018 edition. HONMA and the Hong Kong Open are two unique organisations with a great history. We are excited about the increasing popularity of golf in Asia, with the number of golf fans in Asia growing by some 34% over the past five years. We look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the tournament and the founding of HONMA and to working together with the Hong Kong Golf Club to make this year’s event a very special occasion in the tournament’s esteemed history.”
Martin Hadaway, Captain of Hong Kong Golf Club said, “The Hong Kong Golf Club is pleased to welcome HONMA to the Hong Kong Open. 2018 promises to be a very special year in the history of the tournament as the Hong Kong Golf Club celebrates 60 years of bringing the best golfers in the world to Hong Kong to compete in this prestigious tournament. We share HONMA’s passion for the game and look forward to celebrating this important milestone with them. Over the last two years the tournament has made significant steps to make the Hong Kong Open accessible to everyone in Hong Kong with free access on Thursday and Friday continuing in 2018.”
Yoshihiro Nishi, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association, added, “We welcome HONMA to the golf community in Hong Kong. Their sponsorship of the 2018 Honma Hong Kong Open is testament to their reputation as one of the leading brands in the golf industry and we look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of both organisations in November this year. We thank them for their support of the tournament, while also extending our thanks to our partners at the European Tour and the Asian Tour for their continued support of this wonderful event."
Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Director of International Policy, said: “We congratulate the Hong Kong Golf Club and HONMA on their 60th year anniversaries and we look forward to another exciting edition of the Honma Hong Kong Open.
“Last year’s Hong Kong Open marked the start of the European Tour’s 2018 Race to Dubai and it’s fitting that a tournament of this stature continues to be the curtain raiser for the new season. We look forward to once again working with our sanctioning partners, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association, to staging another world-class event.”
The Honma Hong Kong Open will be staged at Hong Kong Golf Club from 22nd to 25th November 2018 and marks the start of the European Tour’s 2019 season, while offering valuable season-ending points for the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
The Honma Hong Kong Open is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours as well as the Hong Kong Golf Association. For more information see www.honmahkopen.com
The Honma Hong Kong Open has also been recognized as an “M” Mark event to help enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolizing an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.
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