Southampton, New York, June 15: Young Indian talent Shubhankar Sharma battled to an opening four-over-par 74 on a tough scoring day where only four players broke par at the 118th U.S. Open Championship on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Sharma, who leads the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, marked his card with two birdies against six bogeys to trail the leading quartet by five shots in tied-37th place at the testing Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Sharma, who came through the sectional qualifier to earn his U.S. Open debut this week, dropped two shots in his opening four holes but recovered slightly with a birdie on the par-five fifth after sinking the putt from five feet and four inches.

The young Indian stumbled with a bogey on the next hole but would gain it back on the par-four ninth where he drained a monstrous birdie putt from about 14 yards right of the green to turn in 36 before dropping three more bogeys on his homeward nine.

Averaging 300 yards off the tee, Sharma hit 10 out of 14 fairways but found only seven greens in his round of 74 where he amassed a total of 28 putts. The two-time Asian Tour winner is making his second Major appearance at the U.S. Open this week.

He received an invitation to play in The Masters tournament earlier in April and has secured a coveted spot in The Open at Carnoustie next month, thanks to his breakthrough win at the Joburg Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series, last December.

Korea’s Byeonghun An, who represented Team Asia at the 2018 EurAsia Cup in January, emerged as the leading Asian player in tied-sixth place following a 71. Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat carded a 76 to tie in 66th place while England’s Matt Wallace settled a further shot back in tied-88th.

Ends.

Sentosa, Singapore, June 13: The prestigious Queen’s Cup will return for its 10th straight edition on the Asian Tour with a new presenting sponsor in Bangchak Corporation, one of Thailand’s leading energy companies, from June 28 to July 1, officials announced today.

The US$300,000 Asian Tour event, held in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, will be played for the first time at the highly-rated Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya, which hosted the Royal Cup last December.

Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung, who won by one shot to claim his first Asian Tour victory at the Queen’s Cup last year, will defend his title against a star-studded line-up when the storied event gets underway later this month.

Shiv Kapur of India will also be returning to the venue where he won the Royal Cup for his third victory of the season and became the only player to win three times on the Asian Tour in 2017.

Since its inception in 2009, the Queen’s Cup has welcomed many worthy champions such as 2016 Order of Merit champion Scott Hend of Australia and Thai veterans Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant, who have each won the title twice from 2012 to 2015.

Sakon Wannapong, Governor of The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) said: “The Sports Authority of Thailand is very pleased and honoured to be supporting the Queen’s Cup once again this year.  

“We believe that this prestigious event will continue to develop the game of golf in our nation and gain more interest among fans in Thailand and across the region. We also hope to boost the tourism in Thailand with the staging of the Queen’s Cup.”

Chanya Swangchitr, President of Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club said: “It’s our pleasure to host the Queen’s Cup, which has always been a highly-regarded event in Thailand. We look forward to welcoming both local and international golfers to compete at our championship course.”

Asian Tour Chief Executive Officer Josh Burack is confident that the long-running event will continue to play a key role in stirring up fervent support for the sport, especially with Bangchak Corporation coming on board as the presenting sponsor this year.

“We are pleased to work in close partnership with the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club once again. We would also like to thank the Bangchak Corporation for coming on board as the presenting sponsor for the event this year.

“The success achieved by Thai golfers on the Asian Tour and around the world has been tremendous to watch and we hope the staging of this prestigious event will help unearth more talented players in Thailand and across the region,” said Burack.

The Bangchak Corporation, a Thai energy company engaging in business alongside social and environmental stewardship, is no stranger to golf activities as it has been involved with golf for several years through individual sponsorship of professionals and junior golf development.

The Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak will mark the Tour’s third stop in Thailand this season, following the Qualifying School in January and the recently-concluded Thailand Open, where local rising star Panuphol Pittayarat claimed his second Asian Tour victory.

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.

June 13: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat is keeping his goals realistic at the U.S. Open which begins at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday.

Famed for its demanding and tough scoring conditions, the 28-year-old hopes to simply play in all four rounds at the year’s second major and finish in the top-30 this week. Anything more would be a bonus.

“This is only my second U.S. Open and we know this tournament is always very difficult. Anything inside the cut line, if I can make the top-30 on Sunday, it’ll be good for me,” said Kiradech, who missed the halfway cut in his debut appearance in 2016.

Two impressive top-five finishes at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play have pushed Kiradech onto the brink of becoming the first Thai to earn a full PGA TOUR card. He also finished T30 at THE PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament last month, and T13 at the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago.

The strong run of form has seen Kiradech earn 340 FedExCup points and a Special Temporary Membership on the PGA TOUR which now allows him to accept unlimited sponsor’s invitations for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. He then needs to equal or better the 125th ranked golfer on the final FedExCup points standing this season to gain his card, which is expected to be around 365 points.

While getting onto the PGA TOUR is his ultimate goal, the Thai is fully focused at the task ahead at Shinnecock Hills. “I played nine holes each day over the last two days and the course looks fantastic. Everybody recognizes it’s always going to be a tough course with high scores. But If you find plenty of fairways, you have a chance to hit it near the flags but if you make mistakes, it will hurt,” said Kiradech, a former Asian Tour No. 1.

Although he missed the weekend play at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic, which was only his second missed cut this year, the big-hitting Thai is pleased with his form. “I actually hit it good but my putting was over my usual standard and I didn’t get it done. My game is in good shape,” said Kiradech, who will play the first two rounds with China’s Haotong Li and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim.

“I’ve been sticking to my routine here and I’ve learned to not overdo things in big events. Just stay focused and stay calm. I’ve been playing good golf over the past few months.”

Kiradech, who won the ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Australia on the Asian and European Tour in February, also enjoyed being part of an International team dinner gathering on Tuesday following an invitation from team captain Ernie Els.

“It was an honour to be invited and meet the other prospective International team members. We don’t know who the 12 players will be for next year but it’s good to know each other better now, and to hear what Ernie has in his mind. I can see Ernie is really looking at every detail ahead of the 2019 Presidents Cup,” said Kiradech, who is ranked 31st in the world and currently the fourth highest ranked International team member after Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama and Marc Leishman.

He is determined to become the second Thai after close friend Thongchai Jaidee to feature in the Presidents Cup, which sees the International team facing a Tiger Woods-led United States at Royal Melbourne in December of 2019.

“It’s not about winning money, it’s about playing for the team, pride and having the honour to represent the International team. We represent billions of people, so it’s very important for me to get into the team, said Kiradech.

Other leading Asians in the field this week include Japan’s world No. 10 Hideki Matsuyama, India’s Shubhankar Sharma, South Korea’s Byeong Hun An and China’s Liang Wen-chong, a former winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Ends.

Sentosa, Singapore, June 14: It was a show of intent from a lineup of immensely-talented individuals. Team Asia was defeated by their European counterparts at the EurAsia Cup, but the Arjun Atwal-led squad certainly did not go down fighting. In fact, Team Asia even led the proceedings going into the singles matches before conceding their EurAsia Cup challenge, 10-14.

Despite the loss, there was an upbeat and palpable sense of optimism at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club, where the biennial event was held. Poom Saksansin impressed by beating veteran Paul Casey. He was also part of the team that demolished Henrik Stenson and Alexander Levy 5&4 in the opening Fourballs. 18-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai displayed maturity beyond his years by scoring two points for Team Asia.

If anything, the Asian Tour has so far mirrored the dogged performance put up by Poom, Phachara and the rest of Team Asia.

The Asian Tour has also come out swinging by setting for itself a lofty target of at least 32 tournaments in 2018. With the season reaching the halfway mark and the many tournaments added to the growing schedule, the Asian Tour is well and truly on its way to meeting its goal.

2018 has also welcomed a diverse and talented group of winners. Most certainly, the season is shaping up to be unpredictable and utterly fascinating. 

A Masterful Performance

The 2018 Asian Tour season opened spectacularly in the Lion City, at the US$1,000,000 SMBC Singapore Open. The prestigious tournament always has the knack of producing famous winners and this year was no exception. 2017 Masters Tournament champion, Sergio Garcia, romped to a dominant five-shot victory at the weather-disrupted tournament in Sentosa Golf Club.

The event was also memorable for Thai duo Jazz Janewattanaond and Danthai Boonma, who punched their tickets to The Open Championship this year after finishing in tied-fourth. The Singapore Open is part of The Open Qualifying Series, where four players who finish inside the top-12 and ties, who are not already exempt, will earn places in the field at Carnoustie from July 19 to 22, 2018. 

Coming full circle

The Tour travelled north for the US$750,000 LeoPalace21 Myanmar Open, where Paul Peterson of the United States masterfully orchestrated his first victory on the Asian Tour. He started the final round two shots off the lead and ended the day two shots ahead after posting a five-under-par 66 at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club. Peterson is thrilled to get a victory on the Tour that gave him a headstart in his professional career.

Said Peterson: “This victory is very special as the Asian Tour is where I started and to be able to get a win here really means a lot. I had to make that transition from Asia to Europe, and I was trying to play in as many events as I could. So, it just feels right that I’m finally able to have a win under my belt out here in Myanmar.”

Last man standing

The ever-impressive Kiradech Aphibarnrat added another feather to his cap after winning the A$1,750,000 (approx. US$1,250,000) ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth at the Karrinyup Golf and Country Club. The 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner was the last man to enter the tournament, and the last man standing. Kiradech flew into Australia the evening before the start of the event and did not get to play a practice round. He barely made the knockout matchplay round after surviving a tense, nine-man playoff on Saturday before beating Australian James Nitties to win the title on Sunday. It was Kiradech’s third victory on the Asian Tour.

“There were many times when I felt that I would be eliminated from the tournament. Winning any event is never easy. I pushed myself and I’m glad that things turned out the way it did,” said the champion, who recently accepted a PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership. 

Compatriot Prom Meesawat earned a bonus prize of A$25,000 (approximately US$18,900) after finishing in first place after the stroke play rounds.

Greatness Personified

Shubhankar Sharma displayed one of the most scintillating final-round performances on the Asian Tour at the US$3,000,000 Maybank Championship. While many faltered, the 21-year-old carded an impressive 10-under-par 62 in windy conditions at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Malaysia to win the tournament by two shots.

The victory was particularly impressive as Sharma was struggling in the opening two rounds. He was in 48th place going into the weekend, but he bounced back with a 66 in round three to put him within four shots of the lead before his heroics on Sunday. It was his second win on the Asian Tour.

Said Sharma: “The last two months have changed my life. I’ve been a member on the Asian Tour for a while and I will continue to be a member on the Asian Tour. I’ve always dreamt of winning and now I’m a two-time winner on the Asian Tour and European Tour.”

The victory was the start of a fantastic period for Sharma. He went on to play in the 2018 WGC-Mexico Championship, where he finished tied-ninth. His performance earned him an invitation to the Masters Tournament. He will also feature in the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and stands an excellent chance of qualifying for the PGA Championship. 

Amazing Overtaking

Like Sharma, Daniel Nisbet of Australia also played the round of his life at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand. He won the NZ$1,200,000 (approximately US$860,000) tournament after overcoming a massive, six-hole deficit by carded a resplendent nine-under-par 62 in the final round. 

Overnight leader Terry Pilkadaris of Australia enjoyed a five-shot lead going into Sunday, but he was not able to keep his place on top of the leaderboard as his putting touch eluded him on the day that matters most at Millbrook Resort. He only had one birdie during the round and signed for a 71 to settle for second place, two shots behind Nisbet.

A winning focus

Matt Wallace of England overcame the challenging course set up and the vociferous home crowd to win his first Asian Tour title at the US$1.75 million Hero Indian Open. He was in the final group with home course favourite, Shubhankar Sharma, who had a sizeable gallery following him. Wallace kept his mind on his game and carded a four-under-par 68 that got him into a playoff with compatriot and another crowd favourite, Andrew Johnston.

Wallace’s long and accurate drive gave him a significant advantage at the play-off hole, the 624-yard par-five 18th. He hit the green in two shots and made a birdie. Even with the majority of the crowd behind him, the effervescent Johnson could only muster a par and with that conceded the title to Wallace.

“This is one of the hardest golf course that I’ve played. I’ll learn from it and I’m looking forward to playing in similar conditions next time. This week has taught me a lot. Hopefully, it can be the start of a few things coming up,” said Wallace.

Iron will

The last time Rahil Gangjee won a title on the Asian Tour, Facebook was launched. Indeed, it has been a long time since the affable Indian was victorious on Asia’s premier circuit. Gangjee ending a 14-year barren spell on the Asian Tour by winning the Panasonic Open Golf Championship. He closed with a three-under-par 68 for a one-shot victory over Korea’s Hyungsung Kim and Junggon Hwang.

“It has been a very hard 14 years and the thing that surprises even myself is my will to keep going. Everyone will play their part in helping you out, the caddie, the mother, the father, the wife, friends. But more than anything else, you have to want it,” said Gangjee.

The JP¥150,000,000 (approximately US$1,370,000) tournament also saw the crowning of the 2017/18 Panasonic Swing champion, Shiv Kapur. The Indian was a model of consistency, having made the cut in all five events on the Panasonic Swing and finishing in the top-20 in four of them. Kapur won a bonus prize of US$70,000 and an exemption into an event on the European Tour this year.

Swede Victory

Alexander Björk made a breakthrough in his professional career by winning his first Asian Tour and European Tour title at the CN¥20,000,000 (approximately US$3,178,000) Volvo China Open. He carded a final-round seven-under-par 65 at the Topwin Golf and Country Club to win by one shot and with that, became the first golfer from Sweden to win China’s national open.

The Volvo China Open is the second tournament on Asia’s premier circuit after the signing of the Strategic Partnership between the China Golf Association and the Asian Tour in March 2017.    

Play-off Perfection

Sanghyun Park won the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship, maintaining Korea’s iron grip on the illustrious tournament. He did not have it easy though, as he had to beat compatriots Yikeun Chang, Junggon Hwang and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar in a play-off before lifting the coveted trophy.

Bhullar was the first player to bow out at the first extra hole. Hwang was next to fall out after he carded a bogey while Park and Chang birdied. At the third extra hole, Park had one hand on the trophy as Chang was left with an uphill task to sink a 15-foor par putt, which he missed. Park made no mistake of his from inside 10 feet at the Namseoul Country Club.

Developing into a champion

In professional golf, it is always about seizing opportunities and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski did just that. The Asian Development Tour (ADT) regular, who had limited playing chances on the Asian Tour, qualified for a spot on the AB Bank Bangladesh Open and ended up winning the US$300,000 tournament.

Kokocinski closed with a six-under-par 65 to win by three shots for his first Asian Tour title, as well as exemption until the end of 2019.

Said Kokocinski: “I went back to the Qualifying School earlier this year but didn’t make the grade so I went to play on the ADT. I have had some good results on the ADT so I decided to stay in Asia and see what the year has to offer. My experiences from playing on the ADT has helped a lot. I’m glad I pull in off this time.”

Sharp Improvement

Hard work pays, evident by John Catlin’s success on the Asian Tour. Since missing the cut in Manila in 2016, the American put in extra effort on every aspect of his game. For that, he was rewarded with a third-place finish on the ADT Order of Merit in 2017 and a win at the US$300,000 Asia-Pacific Classic this year.

Catlin had a nervous start to his final round, as he dropped two shots in his front nine. He bounced back with three birdies before signing for a three-under-par 69 to win the tournament by two shots.

Said Catlin: “This victory validates all the hard work that I’ve put in since missing the cut in Manila in 2016. Winning on the ADT is nice, but the main Tour is a step up and as we all know, this is the main Tour on the continent. So, to be able to get into the winners’ category on the Asian Tour is huge.”

Happy Father’s Day

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat won the US$300,000 Thailand Open after overcoming a nervy end to his tournament. He dropped two shots in his final six holes but managed to hold on to his lead at the end of the round.

The victory was a special one for the Thai hotshot, as he was playing on his home course and with his dad watching in the gallery. It was Panuphol’s second victory on the Asian Tour.

“It’s amazing. I can’t put it into words. It means a lot to win the title in front of my dad. He’s been with me ever since I picked up the game when I was eight. He’s been my best coach and my everything. I don’t know how to feel walking up to the 18th green, but I am really very happy. I always want him to see me win and I have done it now,” said Panuphol of his father.

Chachoengsao, Bangkok, June 11: Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat enjoyed an encouraging head start in Panasonic Swing race after his latest win at the Thailand Open took him to the top of the rankings.

The victory on home soil earned Panuphol 1,800 points and placed him in the top spot of the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing rankings. Compatriot Poom Saksansin, who finished second on Sunday, is in second place with 1,100 points while another Thai, Sarit Suwannarut is in third on 630 points.

The 25-year-old Panuphol had to endure a nervy end at the Thai Country Club as he dropped two shots in the final six holes of the tournament.

However, he held on valiantly for his second victory on the Asian Tour by closing with a winning total of 13-under-par 267 to capture his National Open by one shot.

The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.

The inaugural Panasonic Swing saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the series with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.

Following the series-opening Thailand Open, the next leg of the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing will take place at the Panasonic Open India in October. The Panasonic Swing will then head to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.

Leading players on the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing rankings

1            Panuphol PITTAYARAT   (THA)                 1800.00

2            Poom SAKSANSIN   (THA)                         1100.00

3            Sarit SUWANNARUT   (THA)                     630.00

4            Natipong SRITHONG   (THA)                     500.00

5            Chapchai NIRAT   (THA)                             410.00

6            Jazz JANEWATTANANOND   (THA)           253.60

6            Thanyakon KHRONGPHA   (THA)             253.60

6            Scott VINCENT   (ZIM)                                253.60

6            Scott HEND   (AUS)                                     253.60

6            David GLEESON   (AUS)                              253.60

11          Kurt KITAYAMA   (USA)                              168.00

11          Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI   (THA)      168.00

13          Jake HIGGINBOTTOM   (AUS)                   141.50

13          Chikkarangappa S.   (IND)                          141.50

13          Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT   (THA)         141.50

13          Pawin INGKHAPRADIT   (THA)                   141.50

17          Prom MEESAWAT   (THA)                          126.00

18          Rahil GANGJEE   (IND)                                 111.33

18          Rory HIE   (INA)                                            111.33

18          Doyeob MUN   (KOR)                                   111.33

18          Miguel CARBALLO   (ARG)                          111.33

18          Jack HARRISON   (ENG)                               111.33

18          Charng-Tai SUDSOM   (THA)                      111.33

About Panasonic Swing

The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.

The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.

The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.

The second edition of the Panasonic Swing kicked off at the 2018 Thailand Open, which was staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.

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.

Cheonan, Korea, June 12: Australia’s Daniel Nisbet believes he is ready for another Korean challenge as he returns to the Land of the Morning Calm for the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship next week.

Since his Asian Tour breakthrough in New Zealand in March, Nisbet has not played to his true potential with two missed cuts and a forced retirement in Korea last month.

He made his first cut since emerging victorious in the South Pacific by finishing tied-60th in Thailand last week.

While acknowledging his uncharacteristic slump could partly be due to his inexperience in his rookie season on Tour, the 27-year-old is confident of recapturing his winning form at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club where the 61st Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship will be held from June 21-24.

“The experience on the Asian Tour has been good so far. It has also been an eye-opener as they are many good players out here and I just have to keep up with them,” said the 27-year-old.

“I love going back to Korea as their golf courses are pretty spectacular. Woo Jeong Hills is a very tough and demanding course. It has a different kind of grass and the ball reacts a little differently over in Korea. You got to be on top of your game to do well there,” added Nisbet.

Apart from the course conditions, the Australian knows the heat and humidity in certain parts of Asia will play a significant role in defining his 2018 season.

“I’m trying to stay fit and healthy to play the full schedule. When you come up here to Asia, you got to be relatively fit to play the pro-am and also the four days out on course.

“You don’t want to be using all the energy at the start of the week and feel tired over the weekend,” said Nisbet.

Nisbet has set his sights on a grandstand finish at the end of the season and knows a good result at the Kolon Korea Open will steer him towards his lofty goals.

“I’m looking forward to it (Kolon Korea Open). My goals are always subjected to change. But obviously after that win in New Zealand, I want to stay inside the top-10 on the money list and hopefully get to play in the bigger events,” said Nisbet.

Other Asian Tour heavyweights expected to create an impact at the Kolon Korea Open include defending champion Yikeun Chang of Korea, India’s Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar as well as Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, a one-time Asian Tour winner, who recently bounced back from a wrist injury to clinch a record sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title last month.

The Kolon Korea Open is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korean Golf Association and is also part of The Open Qualifying Series.

Two spots will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties in the event.

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.

Singapore, June 12: Multi-lingual and highly talented, Daniel Chopra has been a regular on the Asian Tour for decades. His affinity with Asia started with his childhood.

From Sweden to England, by the age of eight, he ended up settling and growing up in India. Daniel talks of those Indian experience, becoming one of the country’s top amateurs.

Chopra explains how Jeev Milkha Singh played a massive role in his career, making a gesture that set him on his path to those successes in the United States of America.

Daniel doesn’t just play a good game, he talks a good game too. And it makes for a fascinating interview. Video game practise rounds, being the showman, the hurt of his European Tour nickname, celebrating with Arnold Palmer are among a number of topics we cover. There’s the victories with his record-breaking web.com week, becoming a PGA Tour champion and on the brink of the Ryder Cup team. And the near misses that led to a loss of form. 

And why he ended up celebrating his chosen “round” with bottles of champagne in the company of Arjun Atwal.