* Newly crowned Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood leads the ten automatic qualifiers

* Paul Casey and Alex Levy named as the two wildcards by Captain Thomas Bjørn

Kuala Lumpur, November 23: A full house of 12 European Tour winners, incorporating the 2016 Open Champion and six Ryder Cup players, make up the European Team named today for next year’s EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia.

Led by Thomas Bjørn – eight months before he also captains Europe in The Ryder Cup in France – the European Team will tackle Asia in the third staging of the biennial contest, which will once again take place at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from January 12-14, 2018.

Europe will be looking to retain the trophy they won in convincing fashion by 18 ½ – 5 ½ in 2016, but will face a strong Asian team on home soil captained, for the first time, by India’s Arjun Atwal.

Leading the ten automatic qualifiers from the 2017 Race to Dubai Rankings is Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who finished European Number One after a thrilling end to the season last weekend at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Joining Fleetwood as automatic qualifiers are his fellow Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton, Ross Fisher and Matthew Fitzpatrick, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, Ireland’s Paul Dunne, Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, and the Swedish duo of Alex Noren and Henrik Stenson.

Completing the European Team are the two wildcard selections named by Captain Bjørn, Englishman Paul Casey and Alex Levy of France.

Casey will bring vital experience of the match play realm through his Ryder Cup appearances which included being part of Europe’s back-to-back nine-point triumphs in 2004 and 2006, while Levy will bring his own particular brand of French flair, with golf fans in his home country hoping that he can go on to become the fourth Frenchman to play in The Ryder Cup in his home country next September.

Captain Bjørn, who played in the inaugural EurAsia Cup match in 2014 which ended in a 10-10 tie, said: “The interest from the players has been very strong and you can see that from the fact that the ten automatic qualifiers come from within the top 20 of the final Race to Dubai Rankings. That is a good indication of what the EurAsia Cup is becoming, and I think European golf is in a great place right now.

“I’m very encouraged by the make-up of the team and we are strong from 1 through to 12. I have some great experience in terms of six players who have experienced Ryder Cups, as well as the 2016 Open Champion in Henrik. But I also have some exciting young talent led by Tommy and Tyrrell.

“Obviously Tommy has had an amazing year and deserved to be crowned European Tour Number One last weekend. But Tyrrell has also had a great season, the highlights of which were his back-to-back wins in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Italian Open last month.

“As captain, I am looking forward to seeing how all 12 deliver on this particular stage. It’s a different kind of format to what they are used to week‑in, week‑out, so it will be interesting to see how they react to that environment.

“It’s a great honour for me to be captain and I’m looking forward to going to Malaysia in January to face what I know will be a very strong Asian team. We want to win the EurAsia Cup again and I believe we are going with a team very capable of doing that.”

Captain Bjørn also expanded on the reasons behind choosing Paul Casey and Alex Levy as his two wild card selections.

“It was a really hard task because there are so many good European players to choose from,” said the Dane. “All have legitimate claims and all are well qualified to be on this team, so it was a tough choice to have to make. But in the end, I went for Paul and Alex.

“Once Paul announced he was rejoining the European Tour, and therefore making himself available for selection, that decision was a no-brainer for me. He is a wonderful player with a lot of experience and I think the young guys can learn a lot from him.

“He’s also got a fantastic match play record and not just in Ryder Cups. He is comfortable with where he is in his life right now and him wanting to part of the EurAsia Cup team also shows his commitment to the European Tour and the road he is now on.

“Following on from that, I picked Alex as he is a player that has impressively risen through the ranks in the past few years. He has wonderful French character and flair as well as a lot of attitude and passion for the game. He is also very consistent which can be a great asset in match play.

“I have assembled a team which will hopefully go out and retain the EurAsia Cup, but I also have one eye on next September and selecting Alex will give him a feeling of being part of what a team event feels like, as I know it’s very much on his mind to try and make The Ryder Cup Team.

“Therefore, to get him into the fold, help him develop, and give him great opportunities for the future is important. But this is also deserved for what he’s delivered over the past couple of years. He got very close to qualifying for the team automatically and I think he definitely deserves his chance.”

The line-ups for the third EurAsia Cup will be completed on Tuesday November 28 when Arjun Atwal names his Asian team.

Broadcast footage of Captain Bjørn discussing Team Europe can be viewed and downloaded by following this link: https://mediahub.europeantour.com

NAME, COUNTRY and                      AGE          EUROPEAN                    RYDER CUP                 EURASIA CUP

RACE TO DUBAI FINISH                                      TOUR WINS               APPEARANCES              APPEARANCES         

Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain) (7)      33                        3                                              1                              0

Paul Casey (England) (N/A)           40                         13                                           3                              0

Paul Dunne (Ireland) (16)               24*                       1                                              0                              0

Ross Fisher (England) (6)                37                         5                                              1                              1                                             

Matt Fitzpatrick (England) (12)     23                         4                                              1                              1                                                             

Tommy Fleetwood (England) (1)  26                        3                                              0                              0

Tyrrell Hatton (England) (5)           26                         3                                              0                              0

Alex Levy (France) (21)                    27                         4                                              0                              0

Alex Noren (Sweden) (8)               35                         9                                              0                              0

Thomas Pieters (Belgium) (20)     25                         3                                              1                              0

Henrik Stenson (Sweden) (15)     41                         11                                           4                              0

Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (14) 32                          4                                              0                              1

Captain

Thomas Bjørn (Denmark)               46                         15                                           3                              1

* Paul Dunne will be 25 on November 26

About DRB-HICOM

DRB-HICOM Berhad (“DRB-HICOM”) is one of Malaysia’s leading conglomerates with core businesses in the Automotive, Services & Education, as well as Property sectors. With more than 90 active companies in its stable and over 59,000 employees group-wide, DRB-HICOM’s aim is to continue adding value and propelling the nation’s development. In the Automotive sector, DRB-HICOM is involved in the manufacturing, assembly and distribution of passenger and commercial vehicles, including the national motorcycle. In Services & Education, DRB-HICOM is involved in various businesses, including concession and financial-related services. In Property, DRB-HICOM is involved in residential and commercial developments.

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (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.

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About MMC Corporation Berhad

MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three divisions, namely ports & logistics, energy & utilities and engineering & construction. Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics. Internationally, MMC has an associate stake in Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia. Under the Energy & Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad. MMC’s Engineering & Construction division has further established itself in the sector with a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works package contractor for the 51km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and Line 2 project (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). Prior to this, MMC has successfully completed the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first-of-its-kind dual-purpose tunnel in the world. MMC continues to make inroads in the construction industry, securing key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, civil and infrastructure works for RAPID Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. Additionally, MMC has a 20% effective interest in Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) which has been appointed as PDP for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project. In other businesses, MMC owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a water treatment plant operator and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru; a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, MMC’s Group Property arm manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, namely Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and Northern Technocity in Kulim. The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC (NTC) developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.

By V Krishnaswamy  

Augusta, April 5: Shubhankar Sharma of India got through a challenging opening day by carding a five-over-par 77 at the Masters Tournament which teed off on Thursday.  

The 21-year-old, who was making his maiden Masters Tournament appearance, made three birdies but was ripped apart by eight bogeys, which included two bogey hat-tricks, one on each half of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Other Asian Tour members playing in the year’s first major tournament are Japan’s Yuta Ikeda (76) and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (79). They finished the first round in tied-62nd and tied-82nd respectively.

Asian Tour honorary member, Vijay Singh of Fiji, led the field twice when he was at three-under-par, but the 2000 Masters Tournament champion eventually ended with a 71, in tied-16th.

American Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters Tournament champion, led the field after carding a 66. He scored five birdies in a row from 13th to 17th  but bogeyed the last. Compatriots Tony Finau, who seemed to have recovered from his twisted ankle during the Par-3 Contest, and Matt Kuchar were two shots behind in second place.

Seven players, including China’s Haotong Li, shot 69 to share fourth place. The group also included former world number one Rory McIlroy and birthday boy, Swede Henrik Stenson.

Tiger Woods, making a comeback to the Masters Tournament after two years, carded 73 and was tied-29th. He had three birdies, none of them on par-fives, against four bogeys.

Sharma seemed to have settled himself in after any jitters he may have had of playing his first Masters Tournament as he made three steady pars. Then, came the first hat-trick of bogey from fourth to sixth. Two pars and then his first-ever birdie at Augusta suggested he might find his way back.

It was not to be as his subsequent birdies at the 13th and 15th were followed by bogeys. That never allowed the current Habitat for Humanity Standings leader any breathing space.

 “To be honest, I am not too happy with the round. I didn’t finish the way I wanted to, but it was fantastic out there, the atmosphere and everything.  On the back nine, I was playing steadily, but scoring three consecutive bogeys from 16th to 18th was bad.

“The putter did not work on the front nine, and the approach shots did not work on the back nine. It was a mix of both. On 16 was  I was trying to hit an easy 7-Iron, which I pulled and it was pin high but too far left.  I will still not be too hard on myself.  I made bogey, actually, a good bogey.  Although, both 17 and 18 were hard.”

He admitted: “The course was great. I think we had good scoring conditions today.  The pins were pretty decent and you had a good chance of attacking most of the pins on the course today.  It wasn’t too windy today and if it stays the same way tomorrow, I’ll be able to shoot a good score and see a good round tomorrow.”

Ikeda carded a 76 that had four birdies, but also four bogeys and two double bogeys. 

Kiradech, who was playing with a brand new driver after breaking his usual one two days ago, shot eight bogeys, four on each side of the course, against just one birdie. His 79 left him too much to do to stay on for the weekend.

“My driver just did not work, which inevitably gave me problems. I was not in the right places off the tee and that meant my approach shots left me with 30 to 35-foot putts,” said the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion.

In round two, Sharma will be teeing off at 9.25pm EDT, while Ikeda and Kiradech and will be teeing off at 9.36pm EDT and 12.43pm EDT respectively.

Augusta, United States, April 4: Indian star Shubhankar Sharma will continue his remarkable run in the world of golf when he contends in his first Major at the Masters Tournament.

Having upstaged some of the world’s biggest stars with his wins at the 2017 Joburg Open and the Maybank Championship in Malaysia this year and being in contention at the World Golf Championships- Mexico Championship, the 21-year-old is ready to prove he is worthy of his invitation to the year’s first Major.

“I was very surprised when I got the invitation. It is a dream come true playing here. It means a great deal to me as I’m representing the future of Indian golf,” said Sharma, who also leads the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Rankings and the Race to Dubai.

Sharma will have fellow Asian Tour members such as Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Japan’s Yuta Ikeda for company at Augusta National and like them, he is determined to play his part in putting Asian golf on the world map this week.

“We (India) have a lot of great players and we have a strong presence on the Asian Tour. A win at The Masters will do wonders back home.

“Every sport needs a hero and we have a few heroes but a Major winner has a different sound to it,” said Sharma.

Sharma will be the fourth Indian to play at the Masters Tournament after Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri.

While he is optimistic of creating another impact on the world stage with his game in top form, Sharma knows it is also crucial to stay focused before he can lay claim to the prized green jacket.

“If my game is good enough to win which I feel it is if I play my best, I will surely be in contention. The pressure here is a lot more but personally I don’t feel any burden. If I can get a win this week, it will be very good for the game in India.

He credited his amazing rise over the last few months to meditation and breathing exercise which was taught by his mother.

“You have to be like in a monk like state for five hours and keep on playing. My mum has been very instrumental in putting me on the path of meditation. Even though I haven’t done it as much as mum would like me to do it, I still try to concentrate on my breathing and try and stay in the moment,” said Sharma.

Sharma will tee off alongside 1987 Masters Tournament champion Larry Mize of the United States and Russell Henley, also of the United States in group 21 for the first round.

Ends.

Sentosa, Singapore, March 30: Indian star Shubhankar Sharma will finally realise his dream of playing at Augusta National when he makes his debut at the Masters Tournament next week. 

The 21-year-old is relishing the opportunity to make his first appearance in a Major championship after accepting an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament following his heroics at the WGC-Mexico Championship where he finished in tied ninth place.

As an aspiring golfer, Sharma recalled how he and his father woke up late at night to watch the Masters Tournament on television and remembering the layout of each hole at Augusta National.

“I think I’m suited for Augusta National. I actually know all the holes by heart. I can’t wait to get there and see if the holes look the same the way I see them on television and the way I played them in my mind over the years,” said Sharma.

“I know my best will be good enough to contend there. I’ll be heading there with confidence and I’ll have a lot of fun. It’ll be my first Major tournament and I’m really looking forward to it,” added the world number 68th.

Sharma has come a long way since starting his career on the Asian Tour in 2014. He burst onto the scene in December last year when he won the Joburg Open in South Africa with a 23-under-par winning total which included a 61 in the second round. He then followed up with another fantastic performance by winning the Maybank Championship in Malaysia in February after a closing 62.

He enjoyed a memorable debut at the WGC-Mexico Championship where he led in the second and third rounds and was praised by eventual winner Phil Mickelson, who played with the Indian in the final round.

Currently leading the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, Sharma hopes to continue his impressive streak.

“I’m really happy with what has happened to me so far. Obviously, the Asian Tour played a big role, as the Tour has given me the opportunity to compete and helped me develop my game to my current level. 

“It feels fantastic to see the hard work paying off. Things happened so fast for me. I won the Maybank Championship a month back. Now, I received an invitation to the Masters Tournament. A lot has happened since my win at the Joburg Open,” said Sharma.

The son of an Indian army colonel, Sharma was disappointed he did not take advantage of his two-shot lead heading into the final round of the WGC-Mexico Championship but the disappointment was swiftly erased when he received the Masters Tournament invitation.

“I was quite tough on myself throughout the flight back to India, as I didn’t finish the tournament the way I expect it, but as soon as I got the call, all the pain got washed away. I’m really happy to be able to play in the Masters Tournament. It’s every golfer’s dream to play in the Masters, and I’m no exception,” he said.

Sharma will become the fourth Indian player to compete in the Masters Tournament after Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri.

About the 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.

March 29: Four time Major winner and 2019 Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els will headline the 2018 Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways to be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from August 2 to 5.

Affectionately known as The Big Easy due to his fluid golf swing, Els, who is also an Asian Tour Honorary Member and International Ambassador, will be swinging easy on the course and taking it easy away from the course.

“I am delighted to be playing the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways. I have watched the TV coverage in the past and the beautiful golf course looks like an excellent challenge,” said Els.

“But I am also looking forward to visiting Fiji. As professional golfers we are very lucky to travel the world and Fiji is a place that I would like to explore once my work on the course is finished.”

Now in its fifth year, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has attracted a long list of world class players to the tropical nation with Els the most recent addition.

“We are very excited to welcome Ernie Els to our beautiful country for the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways,” said The Honourable Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources.

“Having a player of Ernie’s calibre compete in the Fiji International demonstrates the tournaments’ standing on the international golf schedule.

“Ernie is highly respected in the golf world and having his tick of approval for the tournament will continue to enhance Fiji’s reputation as a world class golfing destination.”

Tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour; securing Ernie Els for the 2018 tournament further demonstrates the advantage of the three tours’ involvement.

“We are very pleased to welcome and host Ernie in Fiji. Ernie is an incredibly talented player with a long and storied history in golf, his participation in the tournament will ensure the world’s attention is on the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways throughout event week,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Each year we have attracted players from all over the world to Fiji but Ernie will be the first South African player to tee it up in the tournament.  South Africa is a strong golf playing nation, having Ernie in the field will showcase to South Africans the potential of Fiji as a golfing destination.”

About the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways

To be held from 2-5 August 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, Nick Price, Robert Allenby, Heath Slocum, Liang Wenchong, and Anirban Lahiri.

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, Asian Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

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 the PGA of Australia and SEL, 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 the 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.

Kuala Lumpur, October 14: American Pat Perez fired a third round eight-under-par 64 under sweltering heat to extend his overnight advantage to four shots at the CIMB Classic on Saturday.

The American’s best finish at the Malaysian showpiece was a ninth-place finish at the 2012 edition. But having produced a masterclass in putting at the TPC Kuala Lumpur all-week, Perez remains well on course to become the oldest winner in the CIMB Classic at 41 years old.

Perez raced out with an outward 33 and continued his birdie blitz on holes 10 and 12 after the turn. A bogey on 13 did little to dent his title aspirations as the American would storm home with four birdies in his closing five holes.

Perez’s three-day total of 21-under-par 195 means he will head into the final round of the US$7 million event in pole position with compatriot Xander Schauffele in second place after carding a 67.

Korea’s Sung Kang, a one-time Asian Tour winner, returned with a 65 to take third place while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who has two top-five results in the event, and Keegan Bradley of the United States are tied for fourth on 201.

India’s Anirban Lahiri staged his comeback with a 64 to move into sixth place having started his round in tied-23rd place while Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond continued his fairy tale run with a 66 to end the day tied for seventh with Ollie Schniederjans of the United States.

Did you know?

• Perez set the 54-hole scoring record with a 21-under-par 195 total, one shot better than Justin Thomas’ and Brendan Steele’s scores last year.
• He credits a hot putter this week for his superb form. He tops the putting stats with an average of 1.5 putts. He has no three putts.
• Perez has only dropped two bogeys in 54 holes on the par-4 12th and 13th holes.
• This is his fifth appearance at the CIMB Classic. His best result in the tournament was in ninth place in 2012 but on a different golf course.
• Perez is coming off his best season on the PGA Tour where he won once and finished a career high of 15th on the FedExCup ranking.
• The signs look good for Perez as five out of seven players who have led or co-led after the third round of the CIMB Classic have gone on to win the event.
• Perez, 41, is in the running to become the oldest champion in the CIMB Classic. Bo Van Pelt is currently the oldest winner at the age of 36 when he won in 2011.
• The temperature soared to a high of 31 degrees Celsius at the TPC Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
• Like Perez, Schauffele has dropped only two bogeys this week on the par-four sixth hole (round two) and par-four first hole (round three).
• He fired an eagle, his second in the tournament, on the par-5 10th hole. He rifled a five-iron from 250 yards before holing an 18-foot eagle putt.
• Schauffele is making his first start at the CIMB Classic. He is also playing in his first event since being voted as the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after winning The Greenbrier Classic and TOUR Championship.
• Kang is aiming to become the first Asian to win the CIMB Classic. He trails Perez by five shots after trading seven birdies and one eagle against two bogeys. He birdied the last two holes to stay in the title hunt.
• He won his first Asian Tour title at the 2013 CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi on home soil.
• Matsuyama has finished inside the top-five at the CIMB Classic twice. He was fifth in 2015 and second last year. He is currently six shots back of the lead.
• He is the highest ranked player in the elite field in third place on the Official World Golf Ranking.
• Korea’s Whee Kim made an ace at the 208-yard par-3 15th hole, the first of his PGA TOUR career and the second of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR season. The-hole-in-one earned Kim a BMW 740Le xDrive Hybrid, which was presented to him by Han Sang Yun, Managing Director/CEO of BMW Malaysia after the round. This is the fourth consecutive year that an ace has been recorded at the CIMB Classic.

Player’s Quotes

Pat Perez (Usa), Third round 64 (-8), Total 195 (-21)

I didn’t really hit it that great but I putted good again. You know, I’m just kind of getting the most out of my game right now. It’s the same greens I won on in Mexico, so I really can see the line and I can see the ball in the wind here. It’s helped me, especially this. I can’t really explain, I’ve hit some good shots, I’ve hit some good putts, but things are just clicking right now. I didn’t look at the board. I wanted to get to 20 today, that was my goal, and then I know I needed my goal for the end is like 26 so I needed 13. I knew I had to do that again. These guys are so good and you can make so many birdies out here so fast and I know that. I’m not really worried about the board, I’m worried about the end number. So if I can get another six tomorrow, I might be tough to catch. I’m trying to stay alive out here, it’s so hot anyway. Of course everybody wants to win, it would be nice to do it, get the year started off right, but it is what it is. I’m going to go out and try to hit a little better, make some putts and we’ll see what happens.

Xander Schauffele (Usa) – Third round 67 (-5), Total 199 (-17)

I went up against a 64 and a 65 today, so I was the hack of the group today, but happy with how I played. It’s fun. You would much rather have the group chasing forward up the leaderboard than kind of stagnant. So it’s all good. You know, watching both those guys make putts is always a good thing visually for me. Like I said, you want to see guys making putts in front of you. Then you feel like the hole’s just a little bit bigger. I’m playing with Pat again, which was a lot of fun today. We’ll have to figure a number out tomorrow on the course probably.

Sung Kang (Kor) – Third Round 65 (-7), Total 200 (-16)

Yeah, I played pretty good today, and Pat really made a lot of putts today. So, I mean, I had some chances but I didn’t putt as well as, I mean, I should have. So hopefully tomorrow I putt a little bit better than today and have some good start. There’s a lot of birdie opportunities so I look forward to it. If he shoots 4 under it will be same score, so who knows. I’ll try my best tomorrow. Both days were pretty hot anyway so it doesn’t really matter to me.

Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Third round 63 (-9), Total 201 (-15)

I knew the guys atop the leaderboard were going to extend their lead and I was hoping to get 12, 15 under at the start of the day. I might have left a couple out there. There were a couple of shorter putts that I wasn’t able to convert, but all in all, I’m very happy with the round I played today. I’ll just go home, get some rest and tee it up tomorrow and do my very best. You know, with the way Pat is playing, I don’t know if he can be caught or not.

Ends.

About CIMB Group

The title sponsor of the CIMB Classic is CIMB Group. CIMB Group is one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations. CIMB Group offers a full suite of financial services and related products; has a market capitalisation of approximately USD 14 billion as of 30 June 2017 and about 38,000 employees located in 15 countries. Read more about CIMB Group at www.cimb.com

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (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.

Please visit us at:

www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com
www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf
www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf
www.youtube.com/theasiantour
www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

About PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is the leading global platform in professional golf, showcasing the highest expression of excellence, both on and off the course. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, grow and protect the game of golf and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China. Its members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 24 countries (89 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1.1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2016, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $166 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.46 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Beijing, March 29: China’s Changping Chen held on to his overnight lead to claim first place at the Volvo China Open Qualifying event in Kunming on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Chen, who fired a second-round one-under-par 71 to take the top spot, as well as compatriots Shaocai He (70) and Xu Wang (72), secured their spots at the RMB 20 million (approximately US$3.15 million) Volvo China Open which gets underway at the Topwin Golf and Country Club from April 26 to 29.

Born in Yunnan, Chen majored in basketball while he attended university but switched to playing golf in 2009 when he could not compete with the traditionally lofty basketball players because of his height. He lived in Yunnan for 20 years before moving away and settling in Chongqing because of better weather conditions to play golf.

“I’m lucky to be able to qualify for the Volvo China Open in my home province. I have two tournaments to play before the Volvo Open, so I hope my good form continues all the way to Beijing. Golf is a sport that toughens my mind and brings me the inner peace to tolerate the unfair things that occur in daily life, which is why I enjoy playing." said Chen, who has two daughters aged five and two.

The 36-year-old He, who is born in Kunming, has won five out of the seven times he played in Volvo Open Qualifiers, was calm and collected when he approached the final round of the qualifying event, held at the demanding golf course designed by Phil Mickelson.

“My goal is to make the weekend rounds in Beijing this year since I have not managed to do so in previous years. My biggest challenge at the Topwin will be with the driver as the course is very long and obviously favours the longer hitters," said He. 

The third and final spot went to 35-year-old Wang, who had qualified for the tournament three times before, and managed again this year after a nail-biting two-hole play-off. 

“I’m delighted to qualify this time as the Volvo China Open is once again taking place in my hometown of Beijing,” said Wang.

“I am very familiar with the course at Topwin and I hope to make the cut this year in front of the supportive local crowd. I have noticed a lot more teenagers and amateurs competing in the Volvo China Open Qualifiers, which makes me very optimistic about the future of golf in China. I gave up the opportunity to play in another tournament this week as I wanted to play in my National Open, so I am happy to have accomplished my mission," added Wang.

With the conclusion of the Kunming Jialize Qualifying, all four of this year’s Volvo China Open Qualifying events have been completed. Apart from Chen, He and Wang, nine other qualifiers have won a place in the 24th Volvo China Open which will be played at Beijing’s Topwin Golf and Country Club next month. They are Lien Lu-Sen of Chinese Taipei, John Michael O’Toole and Blake Snyder of the United States as well as Chinese golfers Dongyu Wang, Zeyu He, Jianfeng Ye, Zheng Ouyang, Chun Liu and amateur Peicheng Chen.

For more information please visit www.volvochinaopen.com

Ends.

Kuala Lumpur, October 13: Pat Perez took advantage of the cooler conditions by firing a superb six-under-par 65 to seize the second round lead at the US$7 million CIMB Classic on Friday.

The American bogeyed his third hole but benefited from a three-hour 40-minute thunderstorm as he returned with eight birdies to lead on 13-under-par 131 at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

Xander Schauffele, who was voted the 2016-2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, eagled the par-three fifth hole from 27 foot to stay a further shot back following a 67 in the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour.

Sung Kang (68) of Korea, a winner on the Asian Tour, overnight leader Cameron Smith (71) of Australia and Thomas Pieters (67) of Belgium shared third place on matching 135s to lie four shots back of the lead.

The 41-year-old Perez turned in 35 but four straight birdies from the second hole and two closing birdies moved him to the top of the leaderboard.

Schauffele stayed in the title hunt when he eagled the par-three fifth hole from 27-feet, his longest putt this week. He traded four birdies against a lone bogey to stay in second place for the second straight day.

Did you know?

• Perez enjoyed his best season on the 2016-2017 PGA Tour season where he won once and claimed six other top-10 finishes. The victory was his second on the PGA Tour.
• This is his fifth appearance at the CIMB Classic. His best result in the tournament was ninth at the 2012 showpiece albeit on a different golf course.
• Perez, 41, is in the running to become the oldest champion in the CIMB Classic. Bo Van Pelt is currently the oldest winner at the age of 36 when he won in 2011.
• Only two players have led at the halfway stage and gone on to win the CIMB Classic. They are Ben Crane (2010) and Justin Thomas (2015 and 2016)
• Schauffele is making his first start at the CIMB Classic. He is also playing in his first event since being voted as the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after winning The Greenbrier Classic and TOUR Championship.
• He dropped his only bogey after 36 holes on the par-four sixth hole. He fired six other birdies and one eagle in the second round.
• Schauffele has some Asian heritage. His father is half French and German but his mother is Taiwanese and grew up in Japan.
• Sung Kang won his first Asian Tour title at the 2013 CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi on home soil.
• He made his debut in the CIMB Classic last year where he finished in a share of 21st position. He is currently four shots back of the lead.
• The round of the day belonged to Paul Casey of England who shot a 63 highlighted by 10 birdies and one bogey. It was a welcome return to form for the world number 14 who opened with a 77. He is currently tied in 23rd place.

Ends.

Player’s Quotes

About CIMB Group

The title sponsor of the CIMB Classic is CIMB Group. CIMB Group is one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations. CIMB Group offers a full suite of financial services and related products; has a market capitalisation of approximately USD 14 billion as of 30 June 2017 and about 38,000 employees located in 15 countries. Read more about CIMB Group at www.cimb.com

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (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.

Please visit us at:

www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com
www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf
www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf
www.youtube.com/theasiantour
www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

About PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is the leading global platform in professional golf, showcasing the highest expression of excellence, both on and off the course. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, grow and protect the game of golf and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players. The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China. Its members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 24 countries (89 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1.1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2016, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $166 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.46 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Osaka, Japan, March 28: The action on the Asian Tour is set to resume when the region’s best players head to Osaka for the Panasonic Open Championship next month. 

The Panasonic Open Championship is also the concluding leg of the Panasonic swing where the top-three finishers in the final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.

India’s Shiv Kapur currently leads the Panasonic Swing which is based on an aggregate points ranking earned by players at the following five tournaments- 2017 Thailand Open, 2017 Panasonic Open India, 2018 Maybank Championship (Malaysia), 2017 Indonesian Masters and 2018 Panasonic Open Championship.

A minimum of two events are required to be played inclusive of the Panasonic Open Championship in order to qualify for the Panasonic Swing bonus pool. There will be a x1.5 multiplier for points earned at the Panasonic Open Championship.

Having won the Panasonic Open India in emotional fashion on his home course in India last year, Kapur is hoping to repeat his magic at the Ibrakai Country Club (West course) where no less than 30 Asian Tour winners are expected to feature at the Panasonic Open Championship which is the third event to be sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this year.

“Winning in India last year and getting the monkey off my back is nice. Now, I can free-wheel a bit more rather than having this pressure of not having won a tournament for a long time.

“My form is pretty good. I managed to put myself in contention in Singapore and Malaysia, but I didn’t get the job done over the weekend. I’m glad to be able to ride on the momentum of winning three times in 2017,”said Kapur.

The Indian earned the distinction of being the only player to have won three times during the 2017 season and is highly rated as one of the contenders along with Australia’s Scott Hend, 2016 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and American Paul Peterson, who is currently fourth on the Habitat for Humanity standings. 

“You have to keep expectations in check. My goal this year is to try to be a better golfer in 2018 compared to last year. If I feel that I’m improving my game and contending regularly, my goals are achieved even if I have no wins,” said the Indian.

All eyes will also be on the Japanese field that will be spearheaded by Yusaku Miyazato and Satoshi Kodaira, who finished first and second respectively on the JGTO money list in 2017, and Ryo Ishikawa, who was the youngest golfer to break into the world’s top-50 in 2009.

Panasonic Corporation which has supported the Olympic Games as an official worldwide partner for over 25 years, has also backed professional golf at the highest level in Asia through its title sponsorship of the Panasonic OPEN India since 2011 and the Panasonic Open Championship.

Ends.

Kuala Lumpur, October 12: India’s Anirban Lahiri opened with a five-under-par 67 to stay in the mix at the CIMB Classic on Thursday.

Lahiri is bunched in tied eighth place together with Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, American Brendan Steele, Davis Love III, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello and Korea’s Sung Kang at the US$7 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour.

They are three shots behind Australian leader, Cameron Smith at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

While disappointed with his first round efforts which he put down to his putting, Lahiri is hopeful of closing the gap when the second round commences.

Phachara surprised even himself as he did not have a practice round and could only walk the course yesterday, having arrived home from Scotland on Wednesday.

The young Thai is playing for the first time at the CIMB Classic and it is only the second time in his professional career that he is teeing up in an event which has no cut.

Did you know?

• Lahiri is a seven-time Asian Tour winner, who also holds a full PGA TOUR card. He finished 51st in the FedExCup in his second season on the PGA TOUR which was also his best finish to date.
• Lahiri held a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2016 CIMB Classic, a tournament record, before eventually finishing tied-third.
• The Indian will be making his sixth appearance at the CIMB Classic.
• Lahiri made his second start in last month’s Presidents Cup as a Captain’s pick for the International Team.
• Phachara is the youngest player at the age of 18 in the elite field this week. He was also the youngest player to play in The Open last year.
• He arrived from Scotland on Wednesday afternoon and did not play a practice round at TPC Kuala Lumpur. He only walked the course.
• Phachara opened with a bogey (10th hole) but fought back with four straight birdies starting from the 16th hole. He added two more birdies to enjoy a solid first day.
• The Thai has two runner-up finishes this year in Singapore and Australia. He is currently ranked seventh on the Order of Merit but is still searching for a first Asian Tour victory.

Player’s Quotes

Anirban Lahiri (Ind) First round 67 (-5)

It is a good score and good start. A little disappointed, though as I didn’t have a very good back nine. Obviously got off to a red hot start and then couldn’t capitalize on the relatively scoring part of the golf course. Guilty of missing a lot of putts from around eight to 12 feet, didn’t really make anything in the last nine holes, had at least six of them. So disappointed, honestly. Feel like I should have closed two or three shots better, but it’s a good score to start and I’ll have to go on from here. I think that’s the toughest part of the golf course, 11, 12, 13, and if you can play those holes even par or under par you’re doing well. So obviously, like I said, I got off to a really good start and then I just didn’t capitalize on the shorter holes. The par 5s on the front, I only made one birdie. I didn’t birdie 16 or 17 from the fairway. You want to hit fairways and then you set up birdies, but I just didn’t make those putts. So kind of disappointed, like I said, to not have posted a better score, but you can see the scoring is going to be low so you just have to keep going. I don’t think it’s possible to be any more aggressive. You’ve got to play smart. As long as you’re on the fairway, we’ve got ball in hand all week so that helps as well because you can pretty much be assured of a clean ball and you can fire at the greens. Yeah, I think it’s going to be the same over the next three days and just try and make a bunch of putts. I kind of know what I need to do to handle it. I have my own ways, I know how much I need to hydrate and how much fuel I need to put in, so I think that experience is good for me. But when you play here more and more often, you’ll find all of us are professionals and we will adapt, so over a period of time we all get used to it. Having said that, I’m quite comfortable in these conditions so it doesn’t make a difference.

Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha) First round 67 (-5)

Today I didn’t think I could get five-under because it’s my first start at the CIMB Classic. On my first hole which was the par-five 10, I couldn’t hit my second shot into the green, and I made a bogey there. I was able to control the ball better after that and began to putt better. I’m not thinking too far ahead now. I just want to play like what I did today. I came without any expectations and I just want to play my best. There is less pressure too as there’s no cut for this event.

Ends.

About CIMB Group

The title sponsor of the CIMB Classic is CIMB Group. CIMB Group is one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations. CIMB Group offers a full suite of financial services and related products; has a market capitalisation of approximately USD 14 billion as of 30 June 2017 and about 38,000 employees located in 15 countries. Read more about CIMB Group at www.cimb.com

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (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.

Please visit us at:

www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com
www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf
www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf
www.youtube.com/theasiantour
www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

About PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is the leading global platform in professional golf, showcasing the highest expression of excellence, both on and off the course. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, grow and protect the game of golf and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China. Its members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 24 countries (89 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1.1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2016, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $166 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.46 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.