May 15: Forty years old is a milestone in a person’s life. A time to reflect on what you have done and what is left to achieve. S.S.P. Chawrasia will wake up this morning on his fortieth birthday a long way from his birthplace of Kolkata. Over 7,500 kilometres away to be precise, in Antwerp, the latest stop in his adventure in Europe. If he is pondering how those forty years have developed and how the future may look, I am sure he will do so with a sense of pride and excitement. How do I know? Because I sat down with SSP for my “The Round Golf Podcast” to talk about his life and career.

And what a story. Chawrasia has lived and breathed golf over the forty years. He even grew up on a golf course. So how did the son of a greenkeeper overcome the odds become a six-time Asian Tour and four-time European Tour winner? I had read many things, some of which turned out to be stretching the truth somewhat. I am hoping this podcast will debunk the myths and also allow an international audience to see beyond the player. What shines out throughout the interview is a boy and now man who was determined to achieve his life dream. And it is clear, Chawrasia feels there is still more to conquer.

There won’t be any big celebrations in Belgium this week. There will be dinner tonight with his caddy Suriya. His wife Sumantini won’t be joining him until next week when Chawrasia is in England. But that is part of the sacrifice of what it takes to be an elite sportsman. There are no complaints from Chawrasia. He wouldn’t want it any other way.  In the meantime, I hope you can join him in his memories and celebrate one of the Asian Tour’s great stories by listening to this podcast.

To listen, click here 

Zhengzhou, Henan, China, May 15: Bowen Xiao of China hopes to rediscover his winning form by switching to a more competitive mindset at the US$300,000 Asia-Pacific Classic which tees off on Thursday.

The 28-year-old was recovering from a shoulder injury and he felt that he was adapting, rather than contending on the Asian Tour in the early part of this year. He has now put his woes behind him and is determined to put in a good performance at the St Andrews Golf Club.

Xiao earned his breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour in Xiamen last year and he’ll be looking to turn his season around on home soil at the Asia Pacific Classic, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association (CGA).

Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh

Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh will also be tweaking his approach in China. Last week, he felt that he may have over prepared for his National Open and put himself under too much pressure to win. The two-time Asian Tour champion is going to enjoy the process this week and he is optimistic about his chances at the Asia-Pacific Classic.

Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate Miguel Carballo of Argentina is enjoying an outstanding run in the Asian Development Tour (ADT), finishing in the top-10 four times in five starts. The 39-year-old is relishing his opportunity to compete on the Asian Tour and is looking forward to teeing off in China.

Apart from Carballo, top Qualifying School graduates to feature at the tournament include Shohei Hasegawa of Japan and Kurt Kitayama of the United States, who have both won on the ADT, as well as Ben Campbell of New Zealand, who finished tied-second in Bangladesh last week.

Other notable names in the field include the Thai trio of Prom Meesawat, Poom Saksansin and Rattanon Wannasrichan.

Bowen Xiao of China

Did you know:

• Bowen Xiao has never competed outside China before winning the Asian Golf Championship. He went to the Indonesian Masters in December 2017 for his first overseas tournament, where he finished tied-17th.
• He is the third Chinese player, after Lianwei Zhang and Wenchong Liang, to win on the Asian Tour.
• Xiao, a big Tiger Woods fan, is a self-taught golfer, which makes his victory at the Asian Golf Championship in Xiamen even more impressive.
• Siddikur Rahman is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He won in 2010 in Brunei and 2013 in India.
• He represented Bangladesh in golf at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was also the flag bearer for his country.
• Siddikur enjoyed a four-shot victory on the ADT in January this year over recently crowned Bangladesh Open champion, Malcolm Kokocinski.
• Miguel Carballo earned his Asian Tour card by virtue of his tied-20th finish at the Qualifying School.
• He turned professional in 2002 and is a two-time winner on the Web.com Tour, as well as a one-time winner on the Challenge Tour.
• Carballo came close to winning his maiden ADT title in Penang two weeks ago. He finished tied-second, two shots behind the champion, Nitithorn Thippong.

Players’ Quotes

Bowen Xiao (Chn)

I got to travel across Asia to compete after winning in Xiamen, which was fantastic for me. I have more opportunities to play, which is always great. But, what’s past is past. I’m now focusing on 2018.

In the first few tournaments that I played on the Asian Tour, I felt that my standards have elevated. But recently, the euphoria has died down and with that, my results haven’t been up to par. Now, I’m focused on rediscovering my form, making the weekend rounds at every tournament and retaining my Asian Tour card for next year.

I had a shoulder injury and at the same time, I was fine-tuning my swing. Perhaps, these are the reasons why I wasn’t performing well. Mentally, I felt that I was merely participating in the tournaments, instead of competing in them. I’ve switched my mindset and most definitely, I’m going to be even more focused going into Asian Tour tournaments like the Asia Pacific Classic.

I’ve played on this course when it hosted tournaments over the past two years and the experience will surely help me. The conditions have always been excellent. Good drives, and staying on the fairways are the keys to scoring well here. It gets tricky too if the wind picks up. This year, with the Asian Tour players competing, I’ll have to bring my “A” game to contend here in St Andrews.

Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh

Siddikur Rahman (Ban)

I was aiming to win my National Open last week, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way. My short game, which has always been my strong point, didn’t work too well. It wasn’t my week, but I’m not disappointed at all. I’m just looking ahead to future tournaments and learn from my mistakes.

Perhaps, I have put too much pressure on myself. I skipped the million dollar tournament in Korea in preparation for Bangladesh, and the pressure to do well may have bothered me. Furthermore, I know the breaks on the greens like the back of my hand, so when the ball didn’t go in, it really frustrated me and that probably affected my game.

This time, I’m going to enjoy the process and my game. So, I think that this week will be better than last week. I’m really excited and looking forward to the tournament.

The course has a good set up. It’s a little long for me, but the greens are soft. Which means, the ball will stay even with a long club. The course will be good fun.

Miguel Carballo (Arg)

This is my first time here in China and my second Asian Tour tournament after Bangladesh. The course is looking great! I’m grateful for the chance to be able to play on the main Tour.

I missed the cut last week, but this week will present a new opportunity and challenge, as the tournament is held in a different country and on a different golf course. Currently, I’m working on my chipping and putting, which hasn’t clicked for me recently. But overall, I’m feeling great and I can’t wait for the tournament to start.

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.

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, May 13: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat was kicking himself hard at THE PLAYERS Championship on Sunday.

Through 16 holes, the 28-year-old bolted up the leaderboard with an eagle and six birdies at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, charging into the top-five in the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament after starting the final round in tied-55th position.

Although the leaders had yet to begin their rounds, staying on the first page of the leaderboard would have edged him closer towards a PGA TOUR card. All he needed to do was to safely negotiate the tricky par-3, 17th hole, which got him on Saturday with a double bogey.

In full flight and with thoughts of matching the course record of nine-under 63 flashing through his mind, the Thai remained aggressive when he stepped on the 17th tee but he paid dearly with two misjudged strikes which found water that surrounds the island green, leading to a quadruple bogey seven which saw him sign for a five-under 67 and settling for tied-30th position on eight-under 280 total.

Although the long-hitting Kiradech birdied his closing hole, the blow up on 17 left him seething.  

“I don’t want to talk about it. 17 is  … I shoot like 6-over this week, which is the last two days. That two balls in the water, that got the PGA TOUR card away from me and it’s just a pain,” said a despondent Kiradech.

“It’s such a good start, everything was rolling like the way I want it to. I think I got my A game out starting early, and it kept going all day. There wasn’t a missed shot. I think the one bad shot was on the third hole when I pulled my 7-iron a little bit too long, but I got up-and-down for par,” said the Thai.

Kiradech explained he was in between clubs standing on the 17th tee box.

“I had 126 (yards) to clear the water and 31 to the flag. I hit my wedge, like full wedge I can carry like 125, 127, that’s the maximum. And I believe it’s downwind from the right. So I tried to hit it as hard as I can but I missed it. I mishit it and it went about two yards short. I decided not to go to the drop area because I feel like it’s so grainy and tight (lie) there, so I hit it from the tee again with another wedge but I tried to hit it soft and mishit it again (into water),” said Kiradech.

He picked up 26.87 FedExCup points, raising his season tally to 290 points as a non-member to secure his Special Temporary Membership which now allows him to accept unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season. Kiradech then needs to surpass the top-125 at the end of the season, which is anticipated to be around 365 points, to earn his PGA TOUR card for 2018-19.

“I know that I’m learning from playing on tougher golf courses, but the 17th hole is just one good shot and you can walk away with a two, it’s just a short par-3. But I think I was a little bit too aggressive and when you’re playing under pressure and, at one point of the game I was looking at the course record as well. I was like eight-under and I didn’t get birdie on 16, I don’t know, it just popped up in my mind, but it’s not a big deal,” he said.

Kiradech finished 10 shots behind winner Webb Simpson who won his first PLAYERS title by four shots after closing with a 73.

About THE PLAYERS Championship

THE PLAYERS Championship annually combines the best field in golf with the world-class venue that is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Grant Thornton LLP, Optum and Morgan Stanley are the exclusive Proud Partners of THE PLAYERS. Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $92 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, including a record $8.7 million generated in 2017. In April 2011, THE PLAYERS announced a new charitable focus, committing to generate $50 million for youth-related charities over 10 years. For more on THE PLAYERS and the surrounding area, visit THEPLAYERS.com or floridashistoriccoast.com.

Sentosa, Singapore, May 14: Players from the Asian Development Tour (ADT), led by Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski showed they can step up onto the bigger stage when opportunity knocks. 

Kokocinski’s battling spirit was for all to see when he overcame a three-shot deficit to clinch his maiden Asian Tour victory at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open last Saturday. 

And it was a cherished victory that spoke volumes of his determination to excel on the biggest stage of his career so far.

“This win means a lot to me. I don’t have a status on the Asian Tour before this week so I am really pleased with how I played here to win. I went back to the Qualifying School earlier this year but didn’t make the grade so I went to play on the ADT,” said the Swede.

Although he hails from Sweden, Kokocinski, whose parents are from Poland, has decided to call Asia home with Thailand his preferred abode since 2013.

The Swede failed to make the grade at the Asian Tour Qualifying School then but decided to embark on the arduous route to success which finally paid off with his win in Dhaka.

Prior to his victory, Kokocinski was an ADT regular where he showed great form by posting three runner-up results, including a second place finish and tied third place result at two ADT events staged at the Kurmitola Golf Club in Bangladesh earlier this year.

“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 have been in these situations before so I knew I had to focus on my shots to get the job done. I’m glad I pull in off this time,” said Kokocinski, who leads the ADT Order of Merit.

With his breakthrough on the Asian Tour, Kokocinski propelled to 36th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and also the seventh player after American Berry Henson, Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei, Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Poom Saksansin, as well as Malaysian duo Gavin Green and Nicholas Fung, to win on the Asian Tour after enjoying successes on the ADT.

Like Kokocinski who was making his first start on the Asian Tour, England’s Jack Harrison also savoured a memorable week in Bangladesh despite having to settle for tied-second place after taking the third round lead.

Harrison’s made his entry into the Habitat for Humanity standings in 59th place after earning US$25,950.

“I can’t complain with a tied-second place finish in my first start on the Asian Tour. A little bit disappointed for not getting the win but there is always a winner and a loser. Overall, it was a great week and I am very happy,” said the Englishman.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma continues to lead the Habitat for Humanity Standings with England’s Matt Wallace and Rahil Gangjee in second and third place respectively as the Asian Tour heads back to China for the Asia Pacific Classic this week.

Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings

Pos      Player Order of Merit (US$)

1            Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) $589,575.00

2            Matt WALLACE (ENG) $446,660.00

3            Rahil GANGJEE (IND) $283,018.87

4            Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) $265,573.14

5            Sihwan KIM (USA) $226,710.14

6            Paul PETERSON (USA) $215,758.57

7            Sanghyun PARK (KOR) $187,124.00

8            Daniel NISBET (AUS) $150,863.64

9            Scott VINCENT (ZIM) $145,208.76

10          Berry HENSON (USA) $140,613.57

11          Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) $131,214.35

12          Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) $123,306.08

13          Shaun NORRIS (RSA) $118,284.91

14          Khalin JOSHI (IND) $111,140.00

15          Yikeun CHANG (KOR) $110,826.17

16          Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $108,596.69

17          Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) $105,907.84

18          Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $100,469.67

19          Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $99,480.65

20          Jeunghun WANG (KOR) $91,100.00

Ends.

Contributed by: V. Krishnaswamy at the Players Championship  

Ponte Vedra, Florida, May 13: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat made two trips to the water on successive holes and a round that was looking great till then slipped out of his hands on the third day of the Players Championship.

The burly Thai, who has had two top-five finishes at the WGC this year and is close to getting to the PGA Tour, finished one-under-par 71 for the third day running after being three-under through 15 at which point he was five-under for the event.

He went into water on the par-five 16th but made par and again went into the water on the dreaded 17th’s Island Green for a double bogey. He ended at one-under for the day with a three-under total.

But Webb Simpson (68) did not let slip-up, though he much more subdued in comparison to the second round, though the focus on Saturday was on Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, who rose from the cutline to shoot 65 each and climb into top-10. Simpson ended at 19-under, which equalled the record for a 54-hole total and he holds the largest lead at seven in the history of PLAYERS.

Simpson is seven clear of Danny Lee (70) and nine ahead of Dustin Johnson (69), while five players were at nine-under. Among the seven at 8-under and 11 behind were Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, who shot 65 each and are capable of coming out with that or better yet again.

“I feel like I’m playing good, solid golf, but I’ve holed out a few times from off the green and made some long putts,” said Simpson, who had four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys in his 68.

“To get that score, you have to do that,” added Simpson.

“I have played very consistent golf, 71 for all three days. I think I’m almost there, hitting the ball better. I was three under before reaching 17 and hit a poor shot there. I ended up with one under,” said Kiradech.

“I feel better with how I struck the ball but disappointed I didn’t take advantage playing in the morning. I should have taken advantage with a low number. On the front nine, the wind was calm and I didn’t take advantage and on back nine, I messed up. Not every part of my game is sharp enough, I am not hitting it close enough,” added Kiradech.

“I turned in two-under which was a good result and I was aiming four or five under. But I hit into the water on 16, from where I made a good par save and then went into water again on 17. I’ve been trying so hard this week, try to go low tomorrow,” said Thailand’s number one.

In the morning, Woods and Spieth, starting at one-under for the event, finished the third day at eight-under.

Woods dominated the first 12 holes, during which he had eight birdies, but then the birdies dried up. His six-under 30 front nine, was his best nine-hole score at the Players and raised visions of a 59, just like it did when Webb Simpson was on a roll on Friday. Woods’ run came to an end when he bogeyed the par-four 14th. He had no birdies in his last six holes to finish at 65.

“Yeah, I mean to be eight-under through 12, realistically I probably could have got a couple more and got to 10 for the day. It wasn’t a bad tee shot at 14 and I don’t make birdie at 16. 17’s a sand wedge in there, but I’ll take it,” said a disappointed Woods.

While Woods was burning up the front nine, Spieth turned in two-under 34, but on the back nine, he had two hat-tricks of birdies. First from 11th to 13th and then again on the last three holes. But in between he dropped a shot on the par-four 14th.

“Yeah, especially with the putter. I think I was perfect inside of 10 to 15 feet today and anywhere inside, which was probably the first time this year. I actually drove the ball unbelievably well the first two days and I hit my driver really poorly today and shot seven-under. So, it just shows you where it actually matters and that’s on the greens,” said Speith.

Contributed by: V. Krishnaswamy at the Players Championship 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, May 11: The 16th hole at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass brought contrasting fortunes for Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Anirban Lahiri on the second day of THE PLAYERS Championship on Friday.

Meanwhile leader Webb Simpson flirted with a chance for a 59. After a front nine of 5-under 31, he parred 10th and then ran six birdies in a row to be 11-under through 16 holes. After finding putts from amazing distances for incredible birdies, Simpson was unable to land on the 24-metre wide Island green and went into the water to take a double bogey and finished at 9-under. It tied the course record and was 15-under, which gave a 5-shot lead, the largest in the event’s history dating back to 1974.

Kiradech’s brilliant eagle on 16th kept him in for the weekend as he finished at 2-under 142 with cards of 71 and 71. In contrast, in the morning wave, Lahiri after sliding from 5-under at one stage to 2-under with 3 holes to play, hit a bad chip and missed a 7-footer for a bogey on Par-5 16th. The cut fell at one-under and Lahiri missed by one to miss the weekend action for the third time in three starts.

Playing in the opposite sides of the draw, Lahiri went out in the morning first after shooting a 69 on the first day. In the second round he got off to a great start as he found birdies on sixth and seventh to move to 5-under and at that stage was T-7th, though much of the field had yet to start the second round.

But from the very next hole, the eighth Lahiri started slipping. Yet he hung in by tips of his fingernails, as it were, despite three bogeys in a row from eighth to 10th. He got a birdie on 12th to get to 2-under, which seemed a safe number to make the cut. A bad swing on Par-3 15th ended in a double bogey. Yet he had a chance at 1-under.

Then on the Par-5 16th, he had a poor chip and a hole that could to have yielded a birdie produced a bogey as he missed a seven-footer for par. That dropped him to even par and he stayed there with pars on 17th and 18th that played really tough on Friday.

Meanwhile, Kiradech Aphibarnrat had his back against the wall when he came to the 16th at even par. With three holes remaining, the Thai star was one shot outside the cut mark.

“I had 182 yards over the bunker and I’ve been hitting poor shots all day. I had nothing to lose. After eight pars and one bogey on my front nine, I knew it was a tough day and to hit the second shot on 16, it was like having my back against the wall. I knew one under total might get through and 16 was only the hole to get two strokes as 17 and 18 are difficult,” said Kiradech.

He produced the shot of his life, a five-Iron shot with 199 yards to the pin on the par-5 16th hole. It went over the water hugging the right side of the green and landed ended three feet of the hole for a near tap-in eagle. Pars on 17 and 18, ensured a second straight 71 and he lived to fight the weekend

“It was one of the best shots all day. I’ve not played good golf for two days and if you look at the stats, I think I have only like six or seven greens in regulations,” said the 28-year-old Kiradech, who stands at 2-under 142 in T55 position.

Kiradech enjoyed great support during his second round with fellow Thai sisters and LPGA stars Ariya and Moriya Jatunagarn walking all 18 holes with his group.

Tiger Woods made his sixth straight cut and seventh in eight starts in 2018 after a 71 in the morning to be one-under 143. But Woods had to wait for hours to know his fate and he was still outside the cut line till late in the evening both Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, playing together, made bogey on the 18th.

The third player in the group, Rory McIlroy was inside the cut line till he went into the water on the 17th for a double bogey that hastened his exit from the event.

Simpson had holed a 35-footer for eagle besides another 30-footer and a 27-footer for birdies among his nine birdies and an eagle. Then his sand wedge on 17th saw the ball hit the wooden frame on the front of the green, bounce high in the air and hit the back of the green with so much force that it rolled through the rough and fell into the water.

Simpson’s 63 gave him a five-shot lead over Charl Schwarzel (66), Patrick Cantlay (68) and Danny Lee (66), while Chesson Hadley (69), Charles Howell III (67) and Alex Noren (69) were Tied-5th.

Overnight co-leader and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson struggled to a 71 and was Tied-11th alongside Sergio Garcia (69) and Adam Scott (68).

Dhaka, May 12: Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski secured an inspiring victory after closing with a six-under-par 65 to win by three shots for his first Asian Tour title at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open on Saturday.

Kokocinski, a regular on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he leads the current Order of Merit, overturned a three-shot deficit after returning with his best efforts of the week to cap a winning total of 14-under-par 270 at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden

The 26-year-old Kokocinski, who is based in Thailand, takes home a winner’s prize purse of US$54,000, courtesy of his breakthrough win on the Asian Tour, which also marked his second professional victory since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2012.

Overnight leader Jack Harrison of England endured two closing bogeys for a 71, settling for a share of second place with fellow Qualifying School graduate Ben Campbell of New Zealand, who carded a 69, in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

American John Catlin capped back-to-back top-10 finishes on the region’s premier Tour after closing with a 66 to finish five shots back in tied-fourth place with Zamal Hossain Mollah, who emerged as the highest-ranked local player following a 69.

The Bangladesh Open welcomed a new title sponsor in AB Bank, leading bank in Bangladesh, in its fourth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week. The highly-acclaimed Kurmitola Golf Club, which hosted two other events on the ADT this season, continues to provide top-class hospitality as the home of the Bangladesh’s National Open.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden

Did you know?

• Malcolm Kokocinski is the second Swede to win in three weeks on the Asian Tour, following Alexander Bjork at the Volvo China Open.
• Kokocinski also became the third consecutive first-time winner at the Bangladesh Open, following Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong and Jazz Janewattananond in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
• Kokocinski missed only three fairways and needed only 25 putts on the greens for his closing round of 65.
• After missing the mark at the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January, Kokocinski returned to ply his trade on the ADT and has enjoyed a superb season on the secondary circuit, although without a win.
• The 26-year-old Swede leads the current ADT Order of Merit with a season’s haul of US$25,026, thanks to five top-10s in six starts this season.
• He claimed two of his five top-10s on the ADT at the Kurmitola Golf Club. He came in runner-up at the Dhaka Open in January and finished tied-third at the BTI Open two weeks ago.
• Kokocinski becomes the seventh player following American Berry Henson, Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei, Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Poom Saksansin, as well as Malaysian duo Gavin Green and Nicholas Fung, to win on the Asian Tour after enjoying successes on the ADT, which was inaugurated as the gateway to the Asian Tour in 2010.
• Kokocinski missed the cut in his first attempt at the Bangladesh Open in 2015. He finished tied-14th in 2016 and did not play in the last edition.
• Kokocinski first came to Asia in 2013 where he played on the ADT after failing to make the mark at the Asian Tour Qualifying School. He came through the Qualifying School for the first time after finishing fifth in 2016 but failed to retain his card for the following season after ending the season in 71st place on the Order of Merit.
• His best finish on the Asian Tour, prior to his breakthrough win, came at the 2016 Shinhan Donghae Open where he came in tied-fourth.
• Jack Harrison secured his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season after finishing tied-15th at the Asian Tour Qualifying School, which was played over five rounds (90 holes) across two courses in Thailand earlier in January. It was his second attempt at the Qualifying School since 2013.
• Harrison, who turned professional in 2011, is playing in his first start as an Asian Tour rookie this week. He also plays on the Sunshine Tour, where he enjoyed a tied-sixth place finish at the Cape Town Open in February.
• Like Harrison, Ben Campbell also came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January to earn his card for the 2018 season. It was his first time making the mark in four attempts since 2011.
• The 26-year-old Campbell is making his third start on the Asian Tour this season but playing in his first attempt at the Bangladesh Open this week.
• John Catlin is a two-time winner on the ADT. He finished third on the 2017 ADT Order of Merit to earn his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season.
• Zamal Hossain Mollah is playing on his home course this week. He secured his best ever result in his National Open after finishing tied-fourth this week. His previous best result was a tied-seventh place finish in 2016.

Players’ quotes:

Malcolm Kokocinski (Swe) – Final round 65 (-6), Total 270 (-14)

This win means a lot to me. I don’t have a status on the Asian Tour before this week so I am really pleased with how I played here to win. I have been playing well the last couple of months. I knew my game was good so I just had stick to my game plan and hit some good shots coming down the stretch.

I stayed patient out there. I was playing well all week so I knew a good round will come sooner or later. It was a big putt for me on the last hole. I knew Harrison was on -13 after looking at the leaderboard coming down the 18th. I’m glad I pulled off the putt. This will give me a lot of confidence for the future. The goal now is to win more trophies!

It’s really nice to perform under pressure. I knew a birdie on the last would put me up there. I wasn’t really thinking about winning. I was just focused on hitting good strokes to give myself a chance. I played in the last group for the first time on the Asian Tour yesterday and I didn’t play as good as I did today. I had a lot of lip-outs yesterday.

I guess playing in the second last group today helps lessen the pressure a bit. I am very happy with how I performed this week. I have been getting a lot of encouragements from my peers out here around the golf course this week as well as the members and staff of the club.

It was nice to be back at the Kurmitola Golf Club this week. This is my third time here this year. I came twice earlier for the ADT events and I played very well. That experience has definitely given me a lot of advantage and confidence.

Coming to play on the Asian Tour didn’t feel very different from playing on the ADT actually. I knew I was playing well so I just wanted to play my own game and not think about anything else. It’s been a great week. The people are very friendly here.

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 have been in these situations before so I knew I had to focus on my shots to get the job done. I’m glad I pull in off this time.

I would like to dedicate my win to my best friend Colin, who just had a new baby, and my parents back home, who are very happy for me, and all my friends. It’s been a couple of years in Asia. I have enjoyed all the travelling. The ADT is a good platform for me to get onto the Asian Tour and from the Asian Tour, I have more opportunities to get on the bigger Tours as well.

I am from Sweden but both my parents are from Poland. I started playing golf when I was 10 years old. I went to college in the United States and then came here to play on the Asian Tour in 2013 and I’ve been here since then.

Ben Campbell of New Zealand

Ben Campbell (Nzl) – Final round 69 (-2), Total 273 (-11)

It’s a great finish. I came into the week thinking I might be able to complete the tournament as I had a back injury. So to finish joint-second this week feels really good. I have a lot of positives to take out from this week. I chipped it really well.

My tee shots were good too although I lost it a little bit on the back nine. It was close and I look forward to heading to China next week for the Asia Pacific Classic. I hope to get some practice and do what I need to work on. It’s always good to get a good start to the season so I can’t complain.

I didn’t really get off to a good start today. It was tough around the greens. I knew I had to make some birdies but my chipping was good. I hit a lot of fairways too and gave myself a lot of chances.

Jack Harrison of England

Jack Harrison (Eng) – Final round 71 (even-par), Total 273 (-11)

I can’t complain with a tied-second place finish in my first start on the Asian Tour. A little bit disappointed for not getting the win but there is always a winner and a loser. Overall, it was a great week and I am very happy.

I was just trying to stay calm out there and I did that pretty nicely today. I kind of pushed a little bit too hard towards the end. On the 17th hole, I pulled my tee shot left to behind the trees and ended up making bogey. On the 18th, I put myself in a hopeless position to make par really.

Zamal Hossain Mollah of Bangladesh

Zamal Hossain Mollah (Ban) – Final round 69 (-2), Total 275 (-9)

I didn’t putt well today. It was disappointing. I could’ve finish way better if I had sunk a few more putts. I hit my tee shots and my second shots very good today but I wasn’t able to make putts, which was really a pity.

I was just aiming to play my best today. I was hitting it good. I couldn’t have easily post a six or seven-under-par round today if my putts had dropped. I will be happier if I can win the tournament but to finish tied-fourth for my best result in the Bangladesh Open, I’ll take it.

I have high expectations for myself this week because I’m playing on my home course. This is where I practise and hone my game. I would like to thank AB Bank for their support and also my home course Kurmitola Golf Club for their commitment in the Bangladesh Open.

Scores after round 4 of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 6642 Yards Kurmitola Golf Club course (am – denotes amateur):

270 – Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 68-66-71-65.

273 – Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 70-66-68-69, Jack HARRISON (ENG) 66-69-67-71.

275 – John CATLIN (USA) 67-70-72-66, Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (BAN) 69-65-72-69.

276 – Berry HENSON (USA) 69-68-71-68, Honey BAISOYA (IND) 71-67-69-69, Suttijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 71-64-70-71.

277 – Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 70-69-69-69, M DHARMA (IND) 66-71-68-72.

279 – David GLEESON (AUS) 69-73-72-65, Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 70-68-71-70, Mithun PERERA (LKA) 70-67-66-76.

280 – Kazuki HIGA (JPN) 68-71-73-68, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 69-72-71-68, Badal HOSSAIN (BAN) 71-67-73-69, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 68-71-71-70, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 71-66-72-71, Divyanshu BAJAJ (IND) 67-69-70-74.

281 – Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 71-72-69-69, Rashid KHAN (IND) 71-67-70-73.

282 – Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) 73-70-70-69, Chanachok DEJPIRATANAMONGKOL (THA) 73-69-71-69, Shakhawat SOHEL (BAN) 73-70-71-68, Jack WILSON (AUS) 74-69-72-67.

283 – Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA) 71-72-70-70, Janne KASKE (FIN) 74-67-72-70, Anura ROHANA (LKA) 69-69-74-71, Rory HIE (INA) 69-69-74-71, Paul HARRIS (USA) 70-66-75-72, Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 72-69-70-72, Veer AHLAWAT (IND) 71-71-74-67, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 70-68-71-74.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

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

Dhaka, May 11: England’s Jack Harrison put himself in prime position to win in his first start as an Asian Tour rookie when he posted a four-under-par 67 to lead by one shot following the penultimate round of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open on Friday.

The 27-year-old Harrison, who came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January, fired five birdies in his closing six holes to move atop the leaderboard with a 11-under-par 202 total at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Jack Harrison of England

Sri Lankan Mithun Perera overcame an opening bogey with eight birdies but slipped back with two other bogeys in his closing four holes to settle for a 66 in second place at the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its fourth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Qualifying School graduate Ben Campbell of New Zealand, who is making his debut appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open, carded a 68, thanks to three closing birdies. He trails by two shots in third place on 204.

Overnight co-leader Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden battled to a 71 to sit a further shot back in fourth place alongside Suttijet Kooratanapisan (70) of Thailand and India’s M Dharma (68).

Local hope Zamal Hossain Mollah, who held a share of the halfway lead, slipped four shots off the pace to tied-seventh place with Divyanshu Bajaj of India (70) on matching 206s. He remains the highest-ranked local player following the third round of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open.

Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka

Did you know?

• Jack Harrison secured his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season after finishing tied-15th at the Asian Tour Qualifying School, which was played over five rounds (90 holes) across two courses in Thailand earlier in January. It was his second attempt at the Qualifying School since 2013.
• Harrison needed only 25 putts around the greens for his commendable round of 67 today.
• Harrison is in the running to become the fastest rookie to win on the Asian Tour. Kane Webber and Todd Sinnott won their maiden Asian Tour titles in their second starts on Tour in 2006 and 2017 respectively.
• Harrison, who turned professional in 2011, also plays on the Sunshine Tour, where he enjoyed a tied-sixth place finish at the Cape Town Open in February.
• Mithun Perera turned professional in 2011. He is the son to Nandasena, a famous name on the old Asian circuit during the 1980s and 1990s.
• The 31-year-old Perera ended a two-year title drought when he claimed his sixth title on the Professional Golf Tour of India earlier in March.
• Perera is chasing to become the first ever Sri Lankan to win on the Asian Tour.
• Like Harrison, Ben Campbell also came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January to earn his card for the 2018 season. It was his first time making the mark in four attempts since 2011.
• The 26-year-old Campbell is making his third start on the Asian Tour this season but playing in his first attempt at the Bangladesh Open this week.
• M Dharma is a two-time winner on his domestic circuit. The 31-year-old, who hails from Bengaluru, turned professional in 2005.
• Dharma is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish when he played the ADT season-opener, also at the Kurmitola Golf Club, in January.

Players’ quotes:

Jack Harrison (Eng) – Third round 67 (-4), Total 202 (-11)

I had a good finish with five birdies in my last six holes but it wasn’t the most comfortable round out there. It was a real grind especially for the first 12 holes today. I kept the ball in play off the tee very well. I knew if I can keep doing that, I will have a few chances coming in but unfortunately, only a few putts dropped.

This is my first start on the Asian Tour since coming through the Qualifying School earlier this season. I am loving the good vibes out here, especially so when I am playing well. I am loving Dhaka so far. I love the course here, the people and everything else. It’s been fantastic. I am enjoying it.

I am just going to stick to the same game plan tomorrow and play my best, take advantage of my strength which is off the tees this week and hopefully win. I guess it’s all about decision making and not being too greedy around the course here. It can really bite you. You got to keep it in play and don’t try to go for the pins because if you miss, you won’t have a chance really.

Jack Harrison of England

Mithun Perera (Slk) – Third round 66 (-5), Total 203 (-10)

I didn’t finish well, dropped two shots on my last four holes but overall, I had a great round. I made eight birdies after the bogey on first. I played decent golf but missed a couple of putts today. I was happy to put myself in contention for tomorrow.

I was able to hit it close today. My iron shots were very good. My birdies were from about two to three feet. I three-putted the first hole for bogey and sank a 10-footer on the second for birdie to make it back. That helped me gained some momentum heading into the round.

It was tough to score today, given the windy conditions. I am happy with where I stand right now. There’s still one more day to go. I will try and beat the golf course tomorrow. I tell myself I am playing against myself and against the golf course, not the players.

The aim is to shoot an under-par round tomorrow. We will see how it goes.

Ben Campbell of New Zealand

Ben Campbell (Nzl) – Third round 68 (-3), Total 204 (-9)

I hit the ball really well today. On the front nine, I just couldn’t hole any putts but I stuck in there and happy with the way I finished the round. I knew I was playing well but I was even par and I felt like I should be four or five-under. I felt like I have left a few out there but it’s a nice way to finish and there’s always tomorrow.

I hit a good five-iron into the 16th hole and made a 15-footer for birdie. I made another birdie from four-feet on 17th and hit a nice iron-shot to about five -feet for birdie on 18th. It was just to give myself a chance to win if I get a good round tomorrow.

The week’s been good so far. It’s been tough with the rain delays but the course is in great shape. Took a bit of time to get used to the greens after all the rain but overall, it’s good. Hopefully tomorrow I can continue to do the same things and hole a few more putts.

M Dharma (Ind) – Third round 68 (-3), Total 205 (-8)

I started with a bogey on the first but bounced back immediately with a birdie on second. I made a few good birdies to turn in 32 but my back nine was really shaky. I am still hitting the ball good today, just made a few bad shots on my back nine.

It was windy out there and not easy to play at all. I made a long putt from about 20 feet for birdie on seventh. That was my highlight today. I managed to hit it close for the other birdies. I am very happy with how I have played so far.

I don’t want to have any expectations for the final round tomorrow. I just want to play my game. If I tell myself I have to shoot a certain number, I will be stressed. I just want to play my best and whatever happens, happens.

M Dharma of India

Scores after round 3 of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 6642 Yards Kurmitola Golf Club course (am – denotes amateur):

202 – Jack HARRISON (ENG) 66-69-67.

203 – Mithun PERERA (LKA) 70-67-66.

204 – Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 70-66-68.

205 – M DHARMA (IND) 66-71-68, Suttijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 71-64-70, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 68-66-71.

206 – Divyanshu BAJAJ (IND) 67-69-70, Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (BAN) 69-65-72.

207 – Honey BAISOYA (IND) 71-67-69.

208 – Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 70-69-69, Rashid KHAN (IND) 71-67-70, Berry HENSON (USA) 69-68-71.

209 – Lionel WEBER (FRA) 70-68-71, Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 70-68-71, John CATLIN (USA) 67-70-72, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 71-66-72.

210 – Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 68-71-71, Sydney CHUNG (USA) 70-69-71.

211 – Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 72-69-70, Badal HOSSAIN (BAN) 71-67-73, Paul HARRIS (USA) 70-66-75.

212 – Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 69-72-71, Amir NAZRIN (MAS) 67-73-72, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 71-72-69, Kazuki HIGA (JPN) 68-71-73, Rory HIE (INA) 69-69-74, Anura ROHANA (LKA) 69-69-74.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

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

Dhaka, May 10: Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun returned to complete 10 holes on Thursday morning and signed for a solid 65 to grab a share of the opening round lead with Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open.

Wang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei

Wang, who is making his debut appearance in Bangladesh this week, marked his card with seven birdies against a bogey to share the early honours with Rattanon, who completed his round on Wednesday, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

The duo holds a one-shot lead over M Dharma of India, Jack Harrison of England and Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng, who shared third place, at the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its fourth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Wang, 24, secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season after finishing in fourth place on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit last year. He is the only player representing Chinese Taipei in the 144-man field.

Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand 

Rattanon, a one-time winner on the Asian Tour, is chasing for glory again in the event where he came in tied-fourth last year. The 22-year-old Thai enjoyed a promising start to his campaign after taking advantage of a hot putter which saw him amass only 23 putts in his round of 65.

The opening round of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open was disrupted by a four-hour rain delay on Wednesday, resulting in a total of 72 players returning to complete their rounds on Thursday morning. The second round is in progress.

Did you know?

• Wang Wei-lun claimed his breakthrough on the ADT when he won the Charming Yeangder ADT on home soil last year. He also topped the money list on his domestic circuit in 2017.
• Wang ended the 2017 season in fourth place on the ADT Order of Merit, thereby earning his Asian Tour card for 2018.
• Rattanon Wannasrichan claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the Thailand Open for his first Asian Tour title 12 months ago. He is also a one-time winner on the ADT in 2015.
• Rattanon sits in a current 20th position on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to two top-five finishes in Myanmar and Japan.
• Rattanon hit six fairways and missed six greens in regulation but needed only 23 putts around the greens to cap a solid round of 65. His highlight of the day came on the par-five 14th hole where he chipped it in from 20 yards to save par.
• Rattanon enjoyed a tied-fourth place finish at the Bangladesh Open last year.
• M Dharma is a two-time winner on his domestic circuit. The 31-year-old, who hails from Bengaluru, turned professional in 2005.
• Dharma is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish when he played the ADT season-opener, also at the Kurmitola Golf Club, in January.
• Jack Harrison came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January. It was his second attempt since 2013. The 27-year-old, who turned professional in 2011, finished tied-15th in the 90-hole tournament to secure his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season.
• John Catlin needed only 23 putts around the greens today. He missed only two fairways in his commendable round of 67.
• Catlin is a proud graduate of the ADT. He ended the 2017 season in third place on the final Order of Merit and secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season. He is a two-time winner on the secondary circuit.
• Catlin has notched four top-10 finishes in five starts on the ADT this season, including a tied-eighth place finish at the Kurmitola Golf Club two weeks ago. He sits in second place on the latest ADT Order of Merit.
• Catlin secured his first ever top-10 result on the Asian Tour after finishing in eighth place on his own at The 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea last week.

Wang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei

Players’ quotes:

Wang Wei-lun (Tpe) – First round 65 (-6)

I came back to complete 10 holes today. My iron-play was really solid. I putted well too. My birdies were mostly from within 15 feet. It’s good to be in the lead, especially when it’s my first time here in Bangladesh but I’m not having much emotions about it yet. I just want to remain consistent and keep doing what I have been doing.

I got a late tee time yesterday and I only began my round after the rain suspension. I guess I had an advantage there. The greens were pretty hard when I played the practice rounds but it got softer after the rain.

I thought this golf course is pretty similar to the ones back home n Chinese Taipei. The greens are similar. I felt really comfortable out there. It’s going to be a long day today. I’m heading out to prepare for my second round now and we will see how it goes.

Tee shots are very important on this course. You need a little bit of luck on the greens as well. It’s not easy to read the lines. It’s been a good week in Bangladesh so far. I am pretty ok with the food here so it’s all good.

Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha) – First round 65 (-6)

My game was really good today. I made a great par save on the par-five 14th hole. That was the highlight of the day for me. I hit my driver out of bounds and missed the green with my fourth shot but I managed to chip it in from about 20 yards to save par. It was amazing.

I had a good start to the round. I birdied my two holes from the 10th and that got my game going heading into the round. I like this golf course because it feels like the golf course where I used to practise when I first started playing golf back home in Thailand. The conditions and the grass are similar.

I had a good result here last year so I am feeling very confident coming back here. You need to hit it good off the tees to play well here. Putting is important too. I putted really well today which helped a lot.

M Dharma of India

M Dharma (Ind) – First round 66 (-5)

I drove the ball really well today. I missed only three fairways and hit 14 greens today. I hit the ball really good and was able to hit it close to the pins as well. I three-putted on one hole but other than that, it was a great round.

On the second hole, I made a 25-footer for birdie. That kind of kick-started my round today. I birdied again from four-feet on the fifth hole and then sank another seven-footer for birdie on seventh. On the eighth, I made a 14-footer.

I played the two ADT events here earlier and I like this golf course. I finished well in the first ADT event here in January and I felt really confident coming back here this week. This is a ‘placement’ golf course. You need to be accurate off the tees.

If you miss the fairways, it’s going to be very tough to make pars. I am really pleased with the way I played today. I hope I can continue to do the same for the next three rounds.

Jack Harrison (Eng) – First round 66 (-5)

I played pretty steady from the start. I was three-under through four holes. I felt pretty good after that. Off the tee is key to keep the ball in play on this course. I just hit fairways and greens out there and made putts. If it stays like this for the rest of the week, I will be pretty happy.

It’s a testing golf course. You got to hit the fairways. You can’t play the course if you are not hitting it well off the tee. I think that’s the key. A lot of holes can be pretty tricky. A lot of water that you can’t really see off the tee.

I am just trying to win this week. I got through the Qualifying School and I just want to make the most out of every start I get this year. A friend of mine, Chris Cannon, who played here a few years back, kind of guided me through the course a little bit before I came here.

I am loving it here so far. I got here on Saturday, nice and early just so I can adjust to the time difference from back home. I have seen quite a bit of the place so far and it’s nice.

John Catlin of the United States

John Catlin (Usa) – First round 67 (-4)

It was a really good round. I like this course. I played here for the ADT event two weeks ago and I had a good finish. It’s just good to get some of those positive vibes out there today. Obviously, I played well last week which got my confidence going for this week.

I just went out there and trusted my game. I hit a lot of high quality shots. It was pretty windy out there so it was good to be able to hit the ball solid. I made about two long putts but other than that, most of them were pretty close. I made a birdie from 35-feet on the par-five seventh.

It was kind of low-stress out there which makes it a lot easier. It’s a narrow course so tee shots are key. My ball striking was much better today. It was a bit off when I played in Korea last week.

I didn’t have the chance to do anything about it since after last week so it felt good to be able to hit it a lot better today. Wedge-play could have been a little tighter today as well. It’s something I am working on. I will just keep doing the same tomorrow. Nothing changes.

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.