Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Thailand, June 6: Rashid Khan of India hopes to end a four-year title drought when he contends at the US$300,000 Thailand Open which starts on Thursday. 

The lanky Indian enjoyed an amazing season in 2014 when he won two Asian Tour titles in India and Thailand. He has been  through some lean years since but hopes to turn the corner at the Thai Country Club, a venue where he last played  10 years ago.

The 27-year-old Khan will look to high-flying countryman Shubhankar Sharma, who just qualified for next week’s U.S. Open, for inspiration when he goes up against the elite field led by title holder Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert will also feature in his National Open after winning a  record sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title in Thailand a fortnight ago. Prior to the ADT win, the 29-year-old Pavit rested for four weeks to recover from a wrist injury.

Also returning from injury is Scott Hend of Australia, the 2016 Asian Tour number one. He is slowly returning to form after a bulging disc in his back kept him out of the game for five weeks starting from the middle of March.

The nine-time Asian Tour winner, who finished tied 14th at  the Italian Open last week, will feel at home at the Thai Country Club, a venue where he regularly practices when he is in Asia.

Did you know?

• Khan won two titles at the 2014 SAIL-SBI Open in India and 2014 Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand. He earned a three-year multiple winner’s exemption which ended at the end of last year. He finished in 39th place on the 2017 Order of Merit to earn full playing rights this season.
• He has struggled with illnesses and injuries over the years but the biggest setback he suffered was when he got into a motorcycle accident which kept him out of the game for a month in 2016.
• Khan said his driver has been a huge letdown in his game and he might opt to use a three-wood off the tees at the Thailand Open this week.
• The last time Khan played at the Thai Country Club was in 2008 when he qualified for the Volvo Masters of Asia after winning the Faldo Series.
• Pavit sensationally won his first Asian Tour title at the 2016 Macao Open when he defeated Anirban Lahiri of India on the first play-off hole.
• He is aiming for a second Asian Tour title at the Thailand Open this week and will be buoyant by his sixth ADT win two weeks ago. He currently holds the most number of victories on the ADT.
• Since the Thailand’s Open inauguration in 1965, only four Thai players have won their National Open.
• Hend is one of the most successful international golfers on the Asian Tour. He has won nine Asian Tour titles, three of which are from Thailand. He is also the first Australian to win the Order of Merit crown.
• He made the long trip to Thailand after finishing tied 14th at the Italian Open last week.
• Hend finished tied sixth at the Thailand Open last year and was six shots back of the champion Rattanon, who finished on 21-under-par 263. He expects another low scoring week.
• The Thai Country Club will be played as a par-70 course as opposed to last year’s par-71.
• The Thailand Open will also offer a hole-in-one prize of 10,000 Dragon Coins "DRG" to the first professional who aces the 16th hole. Dragon, the world’s entertainment token which offers the best digital payment solutions, will enter its first foray into golf sponsorship at the Thailand Open.

Players’ quotes:

Rashid Khan (Ind)

I’m playing this golf course after 10 years. The last time I played here was in 2008 (Volvo Masters of Asia) after I won the Faldo Series. I was quite surprised when I reached the golf course because it looked so familiar. Took me two days to find out I played here before!

I’ve been struggling with my driver for a very long time. The driver technology has changed so much. Now you have to fix the bolts here and move the nuts there so it is very confusing.

I have tried so many different things to improve on my driving. I have tried so many things that I’ve forgotten what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m planning to find a new coach to help me fix this problem soon. I hope my driver works tomorrow but if it doesn’t I will use my three wood.

My irons are okay and my short game is perfect but on this course, you must find the fairways.

The last few years have been frustrating. When I’m playing good golf, I get food poisoning, fall sick or get into a bike accident. It is heart breaking because you practise so hard and bad things like this tend to put a lot of negative thoughts in your mind.

I feel that I’m very close to my best game. Last week I shot 12-under at the Delhi Golf Club in a practice round so I feel that my game is there. I just need to feel comfortable with the driver.

Shubhankar (Sharma) and I used to play on the PGTI and on the Asian Tour. Now he is playing on the PGA Tour. It gives me a lot more motivation and because of his success, I’m practicing more. I used to chill at home but now I’m training more and spending 10 hours at the golf course. Everybody struggles in their game including Tiger Woods. I have to stay positive if I want to play my best golf again.

Scott Hend of Australia

Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha)

The win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) two weeks ago was very special because I’m the brand ambassador for Betagro. It is also very special because I just returned from a wrist injury and it was my first tournament in four weeks.

I feel very confident at the moment. When I was injured, I didn’t touch my golf clubs for four weeks. That’s the first time that I didn’t touch my clubs at all. I felt fresh in my mind and I took the time to work out more.

I really wanted to play golf so badly and I gave it my all at the ADT event. I didn’t expect to win because I wasn’t 100% healed. Luckily I shot a 62 in the third round and that obviously helped a lot.

This week, I feel really good. It will be a tough week but I’m a long hitter so I have an advantage here. I’m very happy to play in the Thailand Open because I didn’t play here last week. It is always nice to play at home, people are cheering for you so it is a very special week.

Winning on the Tour is not easy even on the ADT. The competition is so strong now. The most important thing is to keep your card on the main Tour and don’t think about winning every week. That will only put pressure on yourself.

Scott Hend (Aus)

My back is starting to feel better. I’m starting to feel the golf club a bit better. It is just a matter of getting some confidence. It is always difficult for anybody from any sport to have an injury and not play for a long time. It is a slow process.

I had a bulging disc in my back. I hurt it in New Zealand and tried to play in India. Then I went home to see my physiotherapist and chiropractor and decided to have a MRI. It is not a golf injury but probably from go karting. I had the longest break in my 20-year golf career because I didn’t touch a club in five weeks.

It is a tough thing for me to be on a break. I’m the sort of person who wants to play every single week so for me not to play and practice was excruciating. This is like a home course to me. When I’m in Asia, I practice and play here. The golf course, in my opinion is one of the best in the region.

No, my game is not 100%. We are getting there. It is a long season and we are only half way there. There’s a lot of stiff competition here. Look at Rattanon last year, he played extremely well. There are low scores out here and if you are not on top of your game, you are not going to win. 

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 is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be 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 Thailand Open

The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.

Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).

Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.

The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.

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 7: Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s success on the international stage has been rewarded with a Special Temporary Membership for the remainder of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season.

Kiradech, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, needed to earn 269 non-member FedExCup points to become eligible for Special Temporary Membership, equal to the number of points earned by the player at 150th in last season’s FedExCup standings. 

The 28-year-old is the first native of Thailand to accept PGA TOUR membership. In eight PGA TOUR starts in 2017-18, he has two top-five finishes – a pair of tied-fifths at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He surpassed the required total of 269 non-member FedExCup points following a tied-30th at THE PLAYERS Championship. Most recently, he finished tied-13th at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, bringing his total to 340. 

Kiradech came into the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season ranked 147th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Following his tied-13th finish at the Memorial, he climbed to 31st.

In 34 career starts on the PGA TOUR, Kiradech has collected five top-10s, highlighted by a tied-third showing at the 2013 CIMB Classic.

Kiradech is the winner of five international titles, most recently the 2018 ISPS HANDA World Super 6 in Perth, Australia on the Asian Tour. He has also won the 2011 SAIL OPEN and the 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open on Asia’s premier circuit.

As a Special Temporary Member, Kiradech is eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the 2017-18 season as he attempts to earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2018-19 season through the Non-member FedExCup Points List.

To earn his card for 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season, Kiradech will need to match or surpass the points earned by the 125th on the FedExCup Standings at the end of the current season.

Sentosa, Singapore, June 5: Young Indian talent Shubhankar Sharma found success in his third attempt at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier on Monday after finishing in a share of fifth place to secure a coveted spot in the year’s second Major championship next week.

Sharma, who leads the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, signed for a three-under-par 69 at the Brookside Golf and Country Club and a four-under-par 68 at the Lakes Golf and Country Club to end his campaign two shots back on seven-under-par 137 total.

The 21-year-old Sharma, a two-time Asian Tour winner, will make his debut appearance at the 118th U.S. Open Championship which gets underway at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, from June 14 to 17. He will also be the fifth and youngest Indian to play in the prestigious tournament.

Sharma had earlier made his Major debut at The Masters tournament in April after receiving an invite. He also booked his place at The Open in July when he claimed his breakthrough win at the Joburg Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series, last December.

“It was a great day for me. It was a long one with 36 holes but I am glad I played the Brookside in the morning as it is tougher with smaller greens and I grinded it out for a 69," said Sharma. “It was a nervy ending on the 18th (in second round) as I hit to the left off the tee and it took a bad bounce and went into the rough. I had a terrible lie and I had to hit with one foot in the bunker with 150 yards to the front of the green. I hit a nine-Iron, which stayed short and again in the rough, thick lie. But I made a great up and down. I hit a good chip to 10 feet and holed it for par. At that stage I did not know the scores and felt that I needed to make par to have any chance.”

"I played well in the afternoon. I was four-under after the front nine, including a nice eagle. But I made a double on Par-3 after I pulled my tee shot into the water and the missed an up and down. That stopped my progress, but I recovered with a birdie on 15th, where I hit my second shot from 90 yards to six feet and holed the birdie putt. On the par-five 16th, I hit my second shot to 12 feet and made a two-putt birdie. Then came the 18th, and I am glad I held out,” Sharma added.

England’s Matt Wallace, who sits in second place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, will be making his second straight appearance at the U.S. Open next week after grabbing one of the 14 spots on offer at the Sectional Qualifying held at the Walton Heath Golf Club.

Wallace signed for an opening five-under-par 67 at the New course and posted a two-under-par 70 at the Old course to finish three shots back of countrymen Andrew Johnston and James Morrison on seven-under-par 137.

Chinese veteran Liang Wen-chong is also set to feature in the U.S. Open after coming through the qualifier in Japan earlier in May.

Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Haotong Li of China will also spearhead the Asian challenge at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club by virtue of being inside top-60 on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) as of May 21.

Ends.

Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Thailand, June 5: Young talent Rattanon Wannasrichan aims to become the second Thai player to win multiple Thailand Open titles when the event gets underway on Thursday.

The 22-year-old became the fourth local player to win his National Open last year and will be eyeing a successful title defence at the Thai Country Club, which he rates as his favourite course.

Thai legend Boonchu Ruangkit is the only local player to win the prestigious event twice in 1992 and 2004.

Rahil Gangjee of India

There will be extra motivation for Rattanon to do well this week as the Thailand Open marks the start of the 2018-2019 Panasonic Swing race which will see players battle it out in an aggregate points ranking at five selected tournaments across Asia.

Joining the young Thai in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event are Rahil Gangjee of India, who is the highest ranked player in third place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and newly-crowned Asian Tour champion, John Catlin of the United States.

Gangjee is still feeling the after-effects of ending a 14-year wait for a second Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in April. His confidence is still high but the 39-year-old prefers to keep his expectations low.  

The 28-year-old Catlin won his first Asian Tour title at the Asia-Pacific Classic in China last month and is relishing the opportunity to contend at the Thailand Open. The American is confident of doing well in the country where he has set-up base since coming to Asia two years ago.

Did you know?

• Rattanon became only the fourth Thai player to win his National Open after after Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013) to win the prestigious tournament since its inception in 1965.
• Rattanon is one of the highly rated young golfers to emerge from Thailand. He won his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the 2015 Taifong Open in Chinese Taipei before securing his first Asian Tour win last year.
• He won the Thailand Open with a winning total of 21-under-par 263 total and only dropped four bogeys the entire week. He held at least a share of the lead since the opening round last year.
• Rattanon said the Thai Country Club is his favourite course because of the hot weather.
• He represented Thailand during his amateur days and won the team and individual gold medals at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
• Gangjee is adopting a different approach this week and will keep his expectations low. He said “If my expectations go down low, it is okay because that’s when I play my best golf.”
• He is ranked third on the Habitat for Humanity Standings where he trails the leader and countryman Shubhankar Sharma by slightly more than US$300,000.
• Gangjee’s future took a turn for the better when he won the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in April. Prior to the win, he missed five cuts and retired twice in seven appearances.
• Catlin sharpened his game on the ADT before going on to win on the Asian Tour last month. He is also a two-time ADT winner.
• At the age of 27, Catlin believes Thailand is his ‘home away from home’ as he has been based in Hua Hin in the last two years.
• Before turning professional, Catlin earned the honours of being named an All-American in two of the four years he spent at the New Mexico University.

Players’ quotes:

Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha)

It feels good to be back here. I want to try and win again. If I can putt as good as I did last year, I believe I have a chance. The greens are quite firm this year and it will be difficult to get up-and-down around the greens. If you hit the greens, you will have a better chance at getting birdies.

I came close to winning the 2017-2018 Panasonic Swing but I was nervous on the last day of the Panasonic Open Golf Championship (final Panasonic Swing event). I didn’t win but I did earn a bonus of US$30,000 so I was very happy with that.

When I smile, I don’t feel nervous. I feel relaxed. I just want to follow the same game plan and hope to sink my putts. Last year I hit many fairways and my putter was really hot. Last year, I was very proud when I became only the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open. It is a very good record for me because it was also my first Asian Tour title.

If I win, I think I’m lucky but I really want to try and win it again this year because I really like this golf course. It is not my home course but I like the hot weather here.

The players at the press conference

Rahil Gangjee (Ind)

It has been unreal (on his win at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan). There was enough excitement when I got home. We had a nice big party, all my friends came and even though it was after a week, it still felt unreal. I still feel excited when people remind me about the final day in Japan.

Confidence is the key thing in golf. It is like a chicken and egg situation. You play well and get confidence or you have confidence and play well? The key word is ‘confidence’ whichever way you get it. It must be there in your game.

I absolutely did not expect to win, let’s be truthful. It was about a year and half since I played decent golf and there was something lacking in the game. I started working on things which I haven’t in the past and had time to reflect during the quiet weeks.

My expectations were way down. It is something which I don’t mind. If my expectations go down low, it is okay because that’s when I play my best golf. When you don’t have expectations, you feel relaxed and you play the way you need and supposed to play.

I felt my expectations were a bit high in recent weeks but it was something which I addressed immediately. I’m on the path to get rid of expectations. For me, having that expectation and putting pressure on myself doesn’t work.

I’m not chasing anything anymore. If it happens, it happens. It was a long time since I won and over that period you look back and you ask yourself what’s going on? I’ve played well and kept my Tour card every year but you look back at the bigger picture and you tell yourself that you need to do things differently.

This mind-set comes with age. Experience is the biggest teacher. If somebody had told me this when I was 24, I might not have known how to put it into action. When you are young got the power of the world behind you and you want to just beat everybody. As you get older, you realise that you have to play a certain way to be able to beat everybody.

John Catlin (Usa)

Thailand always feels  like a home away from home ever since I came here two years ago. It was a very easy transition for me. The people here are friendly and the food is good. It has been a great home base for me. As long as I’m playing the Asian Tour, I will definitely be based in Thailand.

The win in China was huge. My goal in the beginning of the year was to win on the Asian Tour so it was good that I did it so early in the season. I’m really excited to keep going. Anytime you put yourself in the winner’s circle, it’s awesome and it gives you a lot of confidence.

The hard work has definitely been showing dividends. I kept telling myself to stay patient and hit the shot you feel comfortable with. You never know when the win will come and when it does, it feels fantastic.

The ADT is great. It is a four-day tournament and it gives you Official World Golf Ranking points. For me it was huge playing on the ADT because it gave me the comfort of travelling around Asia and playing on different grasses. I felt a lot more confident playing on the Asian Tour this year because the ADT prepared me for it.

The win is huge… monstrous for my confidence. I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to win again and say it to myself that I’ve been here and I’ve done it.

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 is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be 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 Thailand Open

The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.

Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).

Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.

The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.

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.

Sentosa, Singapore, June 4: Japan’s Kodai Ichihara booked his place at The 147th Open next month after securing his maiden Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) victory at the JGT Championship Mori Building Cup Shishido Hills on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Ichihara, who turned professional in 2001, broke through in style when he closed with a five-under-par 66 and a 12-under-par 272 total to win by one shot over countryman Ryuko Tokimatsu at the Shishido Hills Golf Club.

Ichihara, a former Japan Challenge Tour champion, took home a winner’s prize purse of ￥30 million (approx. US$273,900) and propelled to second place on the JGTO Order of Merit following his victory.

With the leading two players on the JGTO’s money list (as of June 4) qualifying for The Open, Ichihara will head to Carnoustie for his third appearance in golf’s oldest Major championship alongside Merit leader and Major debutant Tokimatsu.

Ichihara made his debut appearance at The Open in 2012 after coming through the International Final Qualifier. He missed the halfway cut in his first attempt but returned to The Open four years later via the Qualifying Series and finished tied-79th.

The Open Qualifying Series will resume at the Kolon Korea Open, a co-sanctioned event by the Asian Tour and the Korean Golf Association.

Two spots will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties in the event, which will take place at the Woo Jeong Hills from June 21 to 24.

Other Asian Tour members who have already qualified for the year’s third Major championship are reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia, Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat and India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the current Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Ends.

Bangkok, June 1: A strong line-up of Asian Tour stars comprising of 13 players inside the top-20 of the Habitat for Humanity Standings will challenge for the Thailand Open title next week.

Rahil Gangjee will be the highest-ranked player in the elite field where he currently sits in third place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings. He will be joined by new Asian Tour winner John Catlin and an in-form Sihwan Kim of the United States at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10.

Australia’s Scott Hend, the 2016 Asian Tour number one, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, Berry Henson of the United States and Indian stalwart Gaganjeet Bhullar will also feature in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event which also marks the start of the new 2018/2019 Panasonic Swing series.

Thailand will also be well represented in her National Open by defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan, Jazz Janewattananond, Danthai Boonma, Panuphol Pittayarat and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who won his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title last week.

Korean-American Kim is enjoying a splendid season on the Asian Tour so far. The 29-year-old finished tied third at the Hero Indian Open in March and followed up on that performance with a fourth-place finish at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan in April. 

Kim is playing in his second full season on the Asian Tour and he hopes to land his first victory. He is currently ranked fifth on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and is determined to improve on his tied 15th place finish at the Thailand Open last year.

“If I can play well, things will take care of itself. I’ve had good results and that will get my confidence up. If I continue to play like how I did in India and Japan, then I’ll be fine,” said Kim.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden

New Asian Tour winner Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden, who is based in Hua Hin, Thailand, is determined to continue his winning form.

The Swede played primarily on the ADT earlier this year where he secured three runner-up finishes before going on to win his first Asian Tour title at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open last month.

“The victory in Bangladesh means a lot to me. I didn’t have a status on the Asian Tour so I’m pleased with how I won. I have had some good results on the ADT so I decided to stay in Thailand and see what the year has to offer,” said Kokocinski.

The Thailand Open will also see a charity drive initiated by the Asian Tour’s Sustainable Development Partner, Habitat for Humanity. The non-profit organisation, which focusses on providing low-income families in need of decent shelter, will raise funds by selling their merchandise at the Thai Country Club.

Ends.

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 is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be 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 Thailand Open

The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.

Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).

Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.

The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.

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.

Sentosa, Singapore, May 31: Promising talent Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand will brace himself for new challenges when he makes his debut appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie in July.

The 22-year-old Jazz, who earned the coveted berth by finishing tied-fourth at The Open Qualifying Series at the SMBC Singapore Open in January, is excited to make his first Major appearance at the venue where he watched his idol Tiger Woods in action in 2007.

“My father brought me to watch Tiger play in The Open at Carnoustie when I was around 10 years old so earning my Major debut to play at the same venue this year makes me feel really special. It has been a long journey since.

“I’m just trying to gather as many information as I can before I head there. It’s going to be a different kind of golf tournament for sure. I have never played there before so I need to expect the unexpected, go there with an open mind and see what I can do,” said Jazz.

Jazz reckons that playing in the unfamiliar conditions will be his biggest test when he tees off in the year’s third Major championship from July 19 to 22.

“I’ve been asking around to find out how it is like to play on a links course. I played with Thongchai (Jaidee) and Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) during a practice round at the Volvo China Open last month and they gave me some advice on what I should be prepared for,” he added.

Jazz turned professional at the end of 2010. Earlier that year, he played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour by becoming the youngest ever player, at the age of 14 years and 71 days, to make the halfway cut at the Asian Tour International.

He failed to retain his Asian Tour card for the first time at the end of 2016 but a breakthrough win at the 2017 Bangladesh Open saw him turned his career around and eventually finished the season in a career-high ninth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“It’s difficult to find something that’s similar to the links course here. The weather is different and the ground is firmer. Everything is going to be different. Sometimes, when a big event comes, you try and do something different. But it doesn’t necessarily work all the time.

“I just want to give it my best. I will prepare to my best capability and see what happens. My parents will be heading over to Carnoustie with me so I am looking forward to it. Playing in a Major tournament is every professional golfer’s dream. I can’t wait to be there,” Jazz said.

This July, Jazz will represent his country alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat, world number 30, and Danthai Boonma, who also secured his Major debut after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opener in Singapore in January.

Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia and India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the current Habitat for Humanity Standings, will also feature at The Open, golf’s oldest Major championship.

Other players expected to spearhead the Asian Tour challenge at The Open include 2015 Order of Merit champion Anirban Lahiri of India, South African Shaun Norris, Japan’s Yuta Ikeda and Mashiro Kawamura.

The upcoming Kolon Korean Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korean Golf Association, will be 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, which will take place at the Woo Jeong Hills from June 21 to 24.

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.

Bangkok, May 30: Indian star Rahil Gangjee will take aim at the US$300,000 Thailand Open next week, which will mark the start of the 2018/2019 Panasonic Swing race on the Asian Tour.

Gangjee finished second on the 2017/2018 Panasonic Swing ranking after sensationally winning his long-awaited second Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open Championship in Japan in April.

The bubbly Indian, who is currently ranked third on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, hopes to get off to a fast start in the latest Panasonic Swing race when he tees it up at the Thailand Open which will be played at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10.

Gangjee will be joined at the Thailand Open by nine-time Asian Tour winner Scott Hend of Australia and defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan, who finished a notable third on the 2017/2018 Panasonic Swing ranking.

Newly-crowned Asian Tour winners John Catlin of the United States and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski will also feature in the prestigious event alongside local hopes Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who won his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title last week, and the talented Jazz Janewattananond.

Gangjee ended a 14-year title drought on the Asian Tour at the Panasonic Open Championship in April which also concluded the 2017/2018 Panasonic Swing and was won by his close friend Shiv Kapur.

The victory last month was a huge relief for Gangjee, who prior to the win had uncharacteristically missed several cuts. He also had to fight tooth-and-nail in the 2017 season to narrowly retain his Asian Tour card by finishing 60th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“It has been 14 years. I’ve been in such situations a few times but obviously have not been able to convert my chances. It has been a very hard 14 years and the thing that surprises even myself is my will to keep going,” said a delighted Gangjee after his win in Japan.

Gangjee earned a x1.5 multiplier of Panasonic Swing points at the Panasonic Open Championship and his second place finish came with a bonus of US$50,000 while the winner Kapur took home US$70,000. Rattanon settled for US$30,000 after he finished third on the Panasonic Swing.

The Panasonic Swing, which was launched in 2017, is based on an aggregate points ranking earned by players at selected tournaments across Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking, which ends at the 2019 Panasonic Open Japan, will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.

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, May 31: Former World Number one and four-time major champion Ernie Els is looking forward to exploring the Pacific paradise of Fiji when he makes his debut at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from August 2 to August 5.

Els will make it a family affair when he travels to Fiji for the first time to play in the tournament tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour.

“I’ve never been to Fiji so when I was contacted to see if I’d like to play I thought why not, it’s going to be late July and early August, should be nice and warm so I may as well check out Fiji,” said Els.

“I’m really looking forward to it; I’m taking my daughter and my wife so we’re all really looking forward to the trip,” added Els.

A consummate professional, Els will be doing his research on the Vijay Singh designed Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course before teeing it up at the picturesque venue.

He’s well aware of some of the challenges the 18-holes can present, in particular the gusting winds on the holes exposed to the Coral Sea.

“I’ll do some homework on the course in Fiji, Vijay has played there and Brandt Snedeker has played there, I did watch a little bit one year when the wind was blowing unbelievably,” added Els.

“Hopefully the wind stays away a little bit but I’ll find some information on it before I get there and go through the course.”

The South African has one of the most glittering resumes in professional golf and has recorded wins on both the European Tour (28) and PGA TOUR (19) throughout his career which has taken him across the world and to the upper echelons of the sport.

“I’ve been to quite a few spots in my playing career, I’ve played professionally since I was 20-years-old and I’m 48 now so it’s been quite a while.

“I’m not sure how many continents or countries I’ve been to, I haven’t quite taken count like my countryman Gary Player has, he could probably tell you exactly where he’s been,” said Els.

He’s now reached another milestone in the game and was named Captain of the International Team for next year’s Presidents Cup to be held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 9 to December 15.

It has slightly changed how “The Big Easy” approaches tournaments he plays in with one eye now on the performances of potential International Team members.

“It’s a little bit different now, my capacity as a player has changed a little bit, I’m getting closer to 50 and I’m a Presidents Cup Captain so I’m really looking around at players,” Els said of his new a role.

“So I’m looking forward to changing my role from a player to a Presidents Cup Captain, I still love competing and I still love playing and I’m looking forward to giving you guys a good show in Fiji,” he added.

Els and the International Team will have their work cut out for them to break the dominance Team USA has over the Presidents Cup.

In the 12 editions of the tournament, the U.S. has won 10 times with the Internationals recording a victory in 1998 and a tie in 2003, Els a playing member of the Internationals on both those occasions.

“To topple the U.S. is going to be an immense task, they’re in-form, they’ve won the Ryder Cup, they’ve won the Presidents Cup so they’re pretty confident,” added Els.

“If you’ve watched the last couple of weeks especially on the U.S. Tour and last week at Wentworth, some of the International boys have really done well.”

The top-8 players (excluding those eligible for the European Ryder Cup team) from the Official World Golf Ranking at a nominated date will automatically qualify, leaving Els and his team to select four additional players to make up a squad of 12.

He won’t be short of players to pick from should the form of eligible players across the golfing world hold up in time for the December 2019.

“Satoshi Kodaira won at Hilton Head and then we’ve had some really good finishes by Marc Leishman, obviously Jason Day has been off the charts winning and it seems like he’s ready to win a major this year, Louis Oosthuizen is a top-5 player, Emiliano Grillo has played well.

“The core group of guys are starting to play well, we’re waiting for Hideki (Matsuyama) to come around and Adam Scott looks like he’s finding form. We’ve got eight players that have got to qualify then four picks, so I think I’m going to be in a healthy state come next year when we start making picks.

“We need to chip away at them, we’ve got four days next year to do that and the mission is to win 15 and a half points and we’ll be ready.”

About the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways

To be held from 2-5 August 2018 the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course which boasts breathtaking views of the Coral Coast and is home to the Natadola Beach Land Estate. Enticed by the tropical destination, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has attracted some of the world’s best golfers since its inaugural staging in 2014 including Fijian hero and three-time Major champion Vijay Singh, 2017 champion Jason Norris, 2016 champion Brandt Snedeker, 2015 champion Matt Kuchar, 2014 champion Steven Jeffress, Steven Bowditch, Boo Weekley and Nick Price.This year’s tournament is set to feature four-time Major champion and Captain of the International Team for the 2019 Presidents Cup, Ernie Els. In 2018, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways continues to have a global presence confirming its position as an integral tournament in the South Pacific region, with the tournament being tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour. A Pacific paradise, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways also boasts some of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 8th hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf, whilst socialising on the beach More than just a golf tournament, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific region, with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to introduce and grow the game in Fiji. Owned by SEL and the PGA of Australia, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is proudly supported by the Fijian Government, Tourism Fiji and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa as the official resort of the tournament.

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.

Sentosa, Singapore, May 28: Kiradech Aphibarnrat underlined his credentials as the leading Thai player in the world when he closed with a five-under-par 67 to finish four shots back in tied-fifth position at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.

Kiradech, Asia’s number in 2013, fired one eagle and a birdie in his opening four holes but dropped two shots on the fifth and 11th holes. The big-hitting Thai, however, stormed home gallantly with two pairs of back-to-back birdies in his closing six holes for a 13-under-par 275 total at the Wentworth Club.

“I got off to a really good start. I am really happy with the way I started today. I gave myself a lot of chances but in the middle of the round, I was just struggling as I wasn’t driving the ball well. But overall, I am happy with my tied-fifth result.

“This golf course is really difficult. I tried to stay calm and play shot by shot and keep the ball in play which is the most important. The wind is what makes it difficult. It’s coming from everywhere. I just wanted to keep the ball in play and keep it low,” said the 28-year-old Kiradech.

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand

Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee, a record three-time Order of Merit champion on the Asian Tour, marked his first top-10 result in 2018 after carding a bogey-free 68 to finish seven shots back of winner Francesco Molinari of Italy at the BMW PGA Championship.

Over at the Fort Worth Invitational in the United States, talented Shubhankar Sharma of India enjoyed a tied-20th place finish at the Colonial Country Club after returning from a five-week break.

The 21-year-old Sharma, who leads the 2018 Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, signed for a closing three-under-par 67 and a six-under-par 274 total to end his campaign 14 shots back of winner Justin Rose of England.

His compatriot Anirban Lahiri, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2015, battled to a 69 to settle four shots back of Sharma in tied-58th place on 278.

Ends.