Queenstown, New Zealand, February 28: Korea’s K.J. Choi returns to New Zealand for the first time in 23 years, ready to show how far he has come when he steps up to the tee at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open which starts on Thursday. 

Choi first visited New Zealand as an aspiring 24-year-old professional attending a golf winter training camp in the country then. Almost two decades later, the 47-year-old, who once reached a career high of fifth place on the Official World Golf Ranking in 2008, is arguably one of highest profile players to compete at Millbrook Resort & the Hills this week.

The Korean acknowledged the expectations of the fans and is looking forward to putting up a performance befitting of his reputation as one of the most successful golfers to come out of Asia.

Defending champion Michael Hendry also makes his return to familiar winning ground having made history by becoming the first New Zealander in 14 years to win his National open last year.

While he only has one top-10 finish to show for this year, Hendry believes he will have the form to contend at the highest level when the tournament tees off tomorrow.

Thailand’s Pannakorn Uthaipas, who topped the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit in 2017, is excited with his first start at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open after a fantastic ADT season on the Tour’s secondary circuit which has presented him with numerous playing opportunities this year.

Did you know?

• K.J. Choi grew up in a farming family on the island of Wando, off the southern coast of Korea and was a powerlifter at his local high school.
• In his early golfing years, Choi would take a two-hour bus ride at 5am each morning to the golf course where he would practise until dark and then return home.
• Choi’s first professional win came two years after he turned professional when he won the Korean Open in 1996.
• Choi became the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card in 2000 and went on to record eight wins there including the Players Championship in 2011.
• He credits Jack Nicklaus for playing an influential role in his career. He said reading Nickaus’ book, "Golf My Way" book early in his golf career assisted him in becoming the golfer he is today.
• He founded the K.J. Choi Foundation in 2007 with the mission of helping Korean children and communities, but his reach has extended to global aid for hurricane and tsunami victims today.
• Michael Hendry became the first New Zealander in 14 years to win their National Open title last year.
• He also enjoyed seven top-10s in Japan and finished 17th on the Japan Tour Order of Merit in 2017.
• Pannakorn had a year to remember in 2017 where he notched one victory and four top-10s to clinch the ADT Order of Merit.
• In doing so, he became the second Thai after Pavit Tangkamolprasert in 2014, to win the accolade. 

Players’ Quotes:

K.J. Choi (Kor)

This is my first time playing the New Zealand Open and it has been absolutely wonderful since the first day. The people could not have been more amazing and hospitable to me. I’m sure there will be lots of fans out there and I’m really looking forward to meeting them. I first came here in 1995 for winter training and I remembered playing on several tree-lined courses. The trees were very thick and it was pretty difficult to avoid those trees. But I told myself if I train really hard here and do well, I can go far in my game when I get back on Tour. I had first turned professional at that time and I really pushed myself very hard. Those memories have continued to stay with me even until today. I wanted to get my career started at that time and whenever I look at the local golfers here now, they remind me of how far I’ve come. While a lot has changed, my work ethics continue to remain the same.

Michael Hendry (Nzl)

My form hasn’t been great but I feel I have played better than my results. I have been working particularly hard and was happy with how I played today. Confidence levels and expectations are always changing but it takes a certain amount of pressure off. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone that I can win it because I’ve done it. That said I would love anything in the world to win it again and I have done pretty well defending golf tournaments. It’s amazing even when you haven’t been playing your best what good memories and confident thoughts can do when you come to venues you have played well at before. If you know deep down that you are good enough on your day that counts for a huge amount.

Pannakorn Uthaipas (Tha)

I think my mental game is stronger now. I told myself to keep things simple and not overthink on the course. Playing on the ADT has given me a lot of experiences and I was able to hone my skills. It’s very exciting and this place is simply beautiful. I’ve been practising a lot before I came here as I’m the ADT Order of Merit champion and I’ve to show that. Hopefully, I can play well this week and have something to show for.

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.

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New Delhi, March 28: India’s most successful golfer, Jeev Milkha Singh has signed up for his maiden appearance at the Panasonic Open India next week with the aim of finally winning his first Asian Tour title on home soil.
Singh, a two-time Asian Tour number one, confirmed his participation in the third edition of the US$300,000 tournament at the venerable Delhi Golf Club, a course which he has never won previously.
Long regarded as the flag bearer for Indian golf, Singh has won six times on the Asian Tour and multiple times on the Japan and European Tours, including last year’s Scottish Open. His two Order of Merit triumphs came in 2006 and 2008 on the Asian Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.
“Panasonic has done a lot for golf in India and Japan. I’ve played in the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan previously and I’ve done well there, so I’m looking forward to my first time at the Panasonic Open India,” said Singh.
“I’m going to play at the Delhi Golf Club after such a long time. I think I last played there some five years ago (at the Hero Indian Open where he finished fourth in 2008). I’m looking forward to that. In April, the course will be firm and hard and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I’ve finished second a few times at the Delhi Golf Club so it won’t be bad to win. It would be nice. It’s very different golf course. I don’t carry my driver on this course … just a three wood and three iron. It’s an amazing course, a demanding course. You have to hit it well and mentally you have to be strong to win on that course.”
Mr. Manish Sharma, MD- Panasonic Marketing India said: “In recent years, Panasonic has observed a growing need and enthusiasm for Golf in the country and we are delighted to have India’s global ambassador, Jeev Milkha Singh, playing in the Panasonic Open India. Jeev is well known as the most successful and recognisable golfer in India. I am sure his presence will be a great boost for the tournament and we can be sure of a large turnout of golf fans during the week. This venture is also a part of Panasonic’s corporate vision and mission to support sports at the highest level”
Singh included the Panasonic Open India onto his early 2013 schedule to ensure he achieves the minimum number of tournaments required to keep his Asian Tour card for 2014.
“I’ve got to get my numbers up on the Asian Tour this year. I couldn’t do it last year due to injuries. This is my last year of exemption on the Asian Tour (through his Order of Merit triumph). Although I have my career earnings ranking to count on, I want to get my numbers up and keep my full exemption going,” said Singh, who was conferred an Asian Tour Honorary Membership in 2009.
Singh believes the staging of world-class tournaments such as the Panasonic Open India, which is one of four to be played on the Asian Tour annually, is the perfect platform for India’s emerging talents to enhance their burgeoning reputations.
“Indian golf is the fastest growing sport in our country. The young boys are doing really well and people recognize that. Sponsors recognize that too. A lot of new guys are taking up the game, big corporate wigs play the game and they love it. And they put in the money to help the game grow in this country,” said Singh.
“There is a lot of talent coming out from the country. Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Rai … they are world class. They can play anywhere in the world and they can do really well,” said Singh.
The top-three players at the Panasonic Open India will be extended invitations to the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, which will be held in Osaka, Japan in September.

The Panasonic Open India will be beamed live throughout four days on the Asian Tour Media’s global television platform which reaches over 200 countries and 650 million homes.
About the Panasonic Open India 2013
The Panasonic Open India, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), will return for its third edition from April 4 to April 7. Local hero Digvijay Singh will defend the title at the US$300,000 event held at the Delhi Golf Club. The Asian Tour event will be title sponsored by Panasonic India Pte Ltd and supported by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism and the Government of India. The Tournament will be played once again at the Host Venue Delhi Golf Club. Other sponsors include Homestead (Platinum Sponsor), Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla (Official Hotel), Srixon (Official Ball), 4moles.com (Digital Media sponsor), BentBrass Golf (Official Apparel), GolfPlus Monthly (Magazine sponsor) and Inetol Headwear.
The tournament is organized and promoted by the Asian Tour. Get the latest news and tournament information on www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com and www.4moles.com. You can also follow us on www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf and www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf
About Panasonic India
Panasonic makes available in India its wide range of consumer electronics, home appliances and B2B products including TVs, DVD players, home theatre systems, cameras, camcorders, car audio systems, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, automatic cookers, vacuum cleaners, printers, security solutions and the like. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand in India, please visit http://panasonic.co.in.

About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. 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 Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Canon (Official Imaging Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Saxo Capital Markets (Official Statistics Partner), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Mexico City, February 26: A casual observer likely would not have realized the history made solely from the moment alone. A stoic Dustin Johnson, with a short tap-in and a quiet fist pump. It appeared, on the surface, like any other win under his belt.

But when Johnson raised the venerable Gene Sarazen Cup in 2017—its classic, yet intricate blue-and-gold design glistening under the Mexico City sun—he etched his name in the history books. With his victory in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, he became just the fifth player in the storied history of the game to win his first tournament as the world’s No. 1-ranked player.

Johnson is back this week to defend his crown at Club de Golf Chapultepec. With a diverse field from across the globe set to challenge him, will history repeat itself or give way to a new victor?

“Obviously it’s a big tournament,” he said of last year’s event. “Most of the best players in the world are here.”

It could be an Asian who stakes his claim to that big tournament. With seven players from five different Asian countries in the field, the group is primed to appear at the top of the Sunday leaderboards.

One player who won’t have a shot at the title, however, is Hideki Matsuyama. Despite being slated to participate in the weeks leading up to the event, Matsuyama will no longer play, likely as a result of the nagging wrist injury that has plagued him since he withdrew midway through the Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February.

“The pain in my left-thumb area started on 13th hole yesterday,” he said at the time. “I did some treatment last night, but the pain was still there this morning when I practiced. I decided that it was not worth forcing myself to continue to play and worsen the injury, so I was disappointed that I had to withdraw. As much as I wanted to continue to play and with the three-peat in mind, the pain was just too much."

With the absence of Matsuyama—ranked No. 5 in the world—Asia will be without a PGA TOUR player in the Mexico Championship field. But others are ready to shine in his place.

Asian Tour Order of Merit champions Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) and Gavin Green (Malaysia), as well as young talents Li Haotong (China), Shubhankar Sharma (India) and Japan’s Yuta Ikeda, Satoshi Kodaira and Yusaku Miyazato will all be on hand to take their shot at the championship. With a roster like that, the scales could tip in favor of the Asian entrants in Mexico City.

Li brings the most PGA TOUR experience to Mexico, having competed on the PGA TOUR Series-China in 2014 before moving on to the Web.com Tour. He’s made the cut in all three PGA TOUR events he’s played this season, including at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions last October. In his most recent appearance at the Genesis Open in February, he aced the par-3 sixth hole with a 6-iron from 189 yards, en route to a T53 finish.

Sharma also enters riding a bit of momentum, as the 21-year-old captured the Maybank Championship in February while also winning the Sunshine Tour’s Joburg Open in December 2017.

“Probably one of the biggest differences between the Asian players and the American [and] European players up until now has been actually the physical difference,” Matsuyama said earlier this year. “But of late, a lot of the Asian players are training better, getting stronger physically, also in stature.

“Hopefully I can continue to train hard and to narrow that gap between the European and American players, and all of Asia,” he added. “I hope the other Asian players are working hard, too.”

An Asian golfer has never won the Mexico Championship. Matsuyama looked like a contender to change that, as he responsible for Asia’s only two victories in the World Golf Championships, winning the Bridgestone Invitational in 2017 and the HSBC Champions in 2016. It will be up to players like Li and Sharma to change that now.

In all, 65 players from 19 different countries will navigate the narrow, tree-lined Club de Golf Chapultepec as they vie for the first World Golf Championships tournament of the calendar year, including 38 from outside the United States. England claimed the first World Golf Championships event of the season in a stunner, when Justin Rose rallied Sunday from eight shots back of Johnson to win the HSBC Champions last October in Shanghai.

At 2,225 meters above sea level, players in the Mexico Championship are already standing high before play even begins. Time will tell if it will be one of Asia’s best standing higher than the rest at the end.

About the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championships

The World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship is regulated and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours and due to its great importance it annually attracts the top golfers from across the globe including those from the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour. The other World Golf Championships include Dell Technologies Match Play (Austin, Texas, U.S.), Bridgestone Invitational (Akron, Ohio, U.S.) and HSBC Champions (Shanghai, China).

Dustin Johnson of the U.S. will be the defending champion when the Mexico Championship returns with a total purse of USD$10 million to Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City for its second year and as the second of four World Golf Championships of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season on February 28 – March 4, 2018.

For more information visit www.wgcmexico.com, as well as the tournament’s social media accounts @WGCMexico (in English with international scope) and @TVAztecaGolf (in Spanish with international and Latin American scopes).

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value, to create social capabilities to improve the communities’ conditions; and environmental value, by reducing the negative impact related to its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com) Azteca America (us.azteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), AdvanceAmerica (www.advanceamerica.net), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and Enlace TP (www.enlacetp.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and are part of its Sustainability Index. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

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. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 25 countries (84 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 226 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2017, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $180 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.65 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.

Chiangmai, March 28: Carlos Pigem turned his attention to golf after breaking a few bones in football and it is a decision he does not regret after getting off to a flying start in the opening round of the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Thursday.

The Spaniard is among a pool of young guns which includes Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit and Jazz Janewattananond, who are tied on four-under-par 68 at the inaugural US$750,000 full field Asian Tour event.

“I’m really happy with how I played. I played good from tee-to-green. It was very good that I finished with birdie on the last,” said Pigem.

The 22-year-old Pigem, who earned his Asian Tour card as an amateur at the Qualifying School in Thailand earlier this year, is enjoying a rather successful rookie season after finishing tied 24th and 21st at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open and SAIL-SBI Open respectively.

“I like the courses, the weather and the golf organisation by the Asian Tour. I saw that Javi Colomo did well in Asia last year so I decided to try it out. I’m happy I followed him. He did really good things last year and it was a good opportunity for me.

“I played well in Myanmar and India. I made the cut there and I’m happy. I’ll try to do something better in this tournament,” he said.

Coming from a football crazy country, it is no surprise Pigem started playing football during his younger days as a goalkeeper which resulted in a few broken bones!

“I started playing football when I was six years old! I was a goalkeeper and I broke some bones in my finger a couple of times so my father said stop and start playing golf,” added Pigem, who favourite football club is Barcelona FC.

The unheralded Pawin, 21, is the surprise package on the first day of the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT when he outgunned multiple Major winner Ernie Els, who shot a 69.

“I’m very happy. I hit many fairways and greens. I putted very well. I only had one three putt (bogey on the 12th hole) so that was good. It is okay for today. Six birdies on this golf course is very good.

“When I first practised on this golf course I thought it was very difficult but there was no wind today,” said Pawin, who graduated from the Boonchu Golf Academy before turning professional three years ago.

He is determined to better his tied fifth result at the SAIL-SBI Open in India earlier this month. “My game is okay and my confidence is very high at the moment so I hope to play better.”

Ends.

Queenstown, New Zealand, February 27: Korea’s Y.E. Yang, who once defied all odds to become the first Asian male golfer to win a Major in 2009, is looking to resurrect his career with a strong performance at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open which starts on Thursday.

Yang, an Asian Tour honorary member, has not reached the dizzy heights of 2009 where he defeat former world number one Tiger Woods to lift the PGA Championship.

The 46-year-old enjoyed a career high of 19th place on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) in 2010 but has not returned to the winner’s circle since that year where he won twice in China and Korea.

Yang missed the weekend cut in his maiden appearance at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open last year and is hoping for a better showing at one of New Zealand’s leading sporting events this week.

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat is eager to notch his second Asian Tour win following his breakthrough in Indonesia last year. The stocky Thai, nicknamed ‘Coconut’ by his parents, believes he has the game to contend at the highest level, having started his early 2018 season with two top-25 finishes in Singapore and Malaysia.

American Berry Henson is also optimistic of his chances at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open, having shown his impressive comeback from injury with three top-10s in four starts on the Asian Tour this year.

Henson, who took on a part-time job as an Uber driver during his rehabilitation period, will be seeking his first win since 2011 when he lifted his maiden title in the Philippines. 

Did you know?

• Yang remains the only male Asian to have won a Major when he overcame a two-shot deficit going into the final round of the PGA Championship to eventually finish three shots ahead of Tiger Woods, his playing partner.
• Ranked as high as 19th on the OWGR in 2010, Yang will be starting the week in 803rd place on the world rankings.
• Yang’s best result in 2017 was a tied-sixth finish at the Volvo China Open- an event which the Asian Tour will be returning as one of the sanctioning partners next month.
• Panuphol turned professional in 2007, at a young age of 14. He started plying his trade on the Asian Tour in 2009 and has not missed out on his playing rights since 2011.
• He has never finished outside the top-60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings for the last seven year and ended his 2017 Asian Tour season in 20th place on standings.
• He also won his first Asian Tour title at the Indonesia Open last year.
• Berry Henson returned to competitive golf last December after being sidelined by a wrist injury for 18 months.
• Henson made his comeback by finishing strongly with a string of impressive results in Singapore (T8), Myanmar (Fourth) and Malaysia (10).
• The American made about 1,500 Uber trips during his rehabilitation period for charity and to also earn some side income.

Players’ Quotes:

Y.E. Yang (Kor)

This will be my second time competing at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open and I’m looking forward to doing well. Queenstown is a very beautiful place and this is a very good golf course especially when the sun’s out. I’ve been playing mostly in Japan last year and have been playing in a couple of events on the PGA Tour too. But I’m focusing more on Japan now and playing on a couple of the Asian Tour too. It has been a long time since I won that Major at the PGA Championship and it really brings back beautiful memories for me. This is golf and hopefully, I can enjoy another good victory again.

Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha)

I’ve known New Zealand to be a very beautiful country and that’s what brings me here. It’s a long way to New Delhi after this week but I’m not complaining. We travel round the world as professional golfers and being here now just makes you feel so happy. My game has been great since my win in Indonesia last year. I feel very confident each time I tee up for a tournament and this week is no different. I’m very happy the Asian Tour is back in New Zealand as a full co-sanctioning partner as it gives us players more opportunities to travel round the world and play golf, which is something I always enjoy. I’ve played on similar golf courses like this before and hopefully they will provide me with the experience to do well this week.

Berry Henson (Usa)

I made 1,500 Uber rides in the year as I needed to kill some time because all I was doing was going to the gym and rehab. I had to keep my mind occupied. But I did enjoy driving Uber for charity and it also paid for my car rental expenses. There were so many moments when I didn’t think I could play golf again. I was looking at other options. I thought I had to do something else. It was depressing but I needed time for my body to heal. It was hard for me to stay patient. It took a long time and I slowly kept recovering and healing. Once I started seeing the pain decrease and that’s when the excitement started to come back in.

I got this second opportunity and I really want to take advantage of it. I’m super appreciative that the Asian Tour gave me my medical category. I’ve heard so many good things about this event. I’m excited and I love pro-am formats. I have a host family next week and they are really excited to have me. I’m staying with Jarin Todd as well. They’ve made it really comfortable for us.

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.

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

Chiangmai, March 28: Thailand’s Prom Meesawat charged into the early first round lead with a six-under-par 66 in the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Thursday, putting the shade on Ernie Els of South Africa who returned a 69 with a short putter in hand.

Prom, seeking a first Asian Tour victory since his maiden title in 2006, got off to a roaring start where he was six-under through 10 holes at the immaculate Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai before the birdies dried up.

Little-known Thai Pawin Ingkhapradit shot a 67 to lie one back with four others – Carols Pigem of Spain, Bryce Eaton of South Africa, Australia’s Matthew Stieger and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – carding 68s in the US$750,000 full-field Asian Tour event.
Ernie Els

Four-time Major champion Els, using a short putter in a long while in preparation for an impending ban against anchored style putting, was bogey free in his round which included three birdies. His 69 was matched by amongst others, playing partner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Chinese Taipei’s brothers Lin Wen-tang and Lin Wen-hong and India’s Shiv Kapur.

“It is a great start. I still left a bunch of birdies on my back nine (he started from the 10th tee). But it was still a good round. My irons were pretty good,” said a delighted Prom.

“I missed a short putt on the fourth hole. That was an easy putt. The first nine holes are very tricky. Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) and I were working with our caddies during the practice round and we kind of realised the front nine greens are very tricky.”

Prom is hoping to emulate close friend Kiradech who won the Maybank Malaysian Open on Sunday. “He is a good player and partner. He is a good young boy and I love seeing him winning a tournament especially when it was co-sanction with the European Tour. I can say that he will be the best Thai player in the future,” said Prom.

“I always get off to a fast start in the first round but can’t maintain the momentum. I have another good start now so I want to try and keep it up and have another good three days.”

South Africa’s Ernie Els was happy with his back-in-play short putter after touring the Alpine course without a bogey. The four-time Major winner needed 29 putts and was pleased with the short stick.

“I thought it was good,” said Els of his short putter. “I missed quite a few but I felt comfortable with it. I made some good ones on my front nine. I missed some greens so I had to up and down a few times and there were some good putts which I had to make. I’m working hard at it when I’m away for tournaments. It felt good today.”

Els believes he is capable to firing a low round at the Alpine course to give himself a chance of winning a first title in 2013.
“The course is wonderful. It’s in unbelievable great shape. I was trying to really squeeze a lot out there today but didn’t quite happen. Made three birdies and no bogeys. It was quite a comfortable round. But I feel there’s a good round out there and I’ll keep searching,” said Els, who is nicknamed “The Big Easy”.

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Choi makes long-awaited return at ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open

Queenstown, New Zealand, February 28: Korea’s K.J. Choi returns to New Zealand for the first time in 23 years, ready to show how far he has come when he steps up to the tee at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open which starts on Thursday. 

Choi first visited New Zealand as an aspiring 24-year-old professional attending a golf winter training camp in the country then. Almost two decades later, the 47-year-old, who once reached a career high of fifth place on the Official World Golf Ranking in 2008, is arguably one of highest profile players to compete at Millbrook Resort & the Hills this week.

The Korean acknowledged the expectations of the fans and is looking forward to putting up a performance befitting of his reputation as one of the most successful golfers to come out of Asia.

Defending champion Michael Hendry also makes his return to familiar winning ground having made history by becoming the first New Zealander in 14 years to win his National open last year.

While he only has one top-10 finish to show for this year, Hendry believes he will have the form to contend at the highest level when the tournament tees off tomorrow.

Thailand’s Pannakorn Uthaipas, who topped the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit in 2017, is excited with his first start at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open after a fantastic ADT season on the Tour’s secondary circuit which has presented him with numerous playing opportunities this year.

Did you know?

• K.J. Choi grew up in a farming family on the island of Wando, off the southern coast of Korea and was a powerlifter at his local high school.
• In his early golfing years, Choi would take a two-hour bus ride at 5am each morning to the golf course where he would practise until dark and then return home.
• Choi’s first professional win came two years after he turned professional when he won the Korean Open in 1996.
• Choi became the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card in 2000 and went on to record eight wins there including the Players Championship in 2011.
• He credits Jack Nicklaus for playing an influential role in his career. He said reading Nickaus’ book, "Golf My Way" book early in his golf career assisted him in becoming the golfer he is today.
• He founded the K.J. Choi Foundation in 2007 with the mission of helping Korean children and communities, but his reach has extended to global aid for hurricane and tsunami victims today.
• Michael Hendry became the first New Zealander in 14 years to win their National Open title last year.
• He also enjoyed seven top-10s in Japan and finished 17th on the Japan Tour Order of Merit in 2017.
• Pannakorn had a year to remember in 2017 where he notched one victory and four top-10s to clinch the ADT Order of Merit.
• In doing so, he became the second Thai after Pavit Tangkamolprasert in 2014, to win the accolade. 

Players’ Quotes:

K.J. Choi (Kor)

This is my first time playing the New Zealand Open and it has been absolutely wonderful since the first day. The people could not have been more amazing and hospitable to me. I’m sure there will be lots of fans out there and I’m really looking forward to meeting them. I first came here in 1995 for winter training and I remembered playing on several tree-lined courses. The trees were very thick and it was pretty difficult to avoid those trees. But I told myself if I train really hard here and do well, I can go far in my game when I get back on Tour. I had first turned professional at that time and I really pushed myself very hard. Those memories have continued to stay with me even until today. I wanted to get my career started at that time and whenever I look at the local golfers here now, they remind me of how far I’ve come. While a lot has changed, my work ethics continue to remain the same.

Michael Hendry (Nzl)

My form hasn’t been great but I feel I have played better than my results. I have been working particularly hard and was happy with how I played today. Confidence levels and expectations are always changing but it takes a certain amount of pressure off. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone that I can win it because I’ve done it. That said I would love anything in the world to win it again and I have done pretty well defending golf tournaments. It’s amazing even when you haven’t been playing your best what good memories and confident thoughts can do when you come to venues you have played well at before. If you know deep down that you are good enough on your day that counts for a huge amount.

Pannakorn Uthaipas (Tha)

I think my mental game is stronger now. I told myself to keep things simple and not overthink on the course. Playing on the ADT has given me a lot of experiences and I was able to hone my skills. It’s very exciting and this place is simply beautiful. I’ve been practising a lot before I came here as I’m the ADT Order of Merit champion and I’ve to show that. Hopefully, I can play well this week and have something to show for.

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.

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New Delhi, March 28: India’s most successful golfer, Jeev Milkha Singh has signed up for his maiden appearance at the Panasonic Open India next week with the aim of finally winning his first Asian Tour title on home soil.Singh, a two-time Asian Tour number one, confirmed his participation in the third edition of the US$300,000 […]

New Delhi, March 28: India’s most successful golfer, Jeev Milkha Singh has signed up for his maiden appearance at the Panasonic Open India next week with the aim of finally winning his first Asian Tour title on home soil.
Singh, a two-time Asian Tour number one, confirmed his participation in the third edition of the US$300,000 tournament at the venerable Delhi Golf Club, a course which he has never won previously.
Long regarded as the flag bearer for Indian golf, Singh has won six times on the Asian Tour and multiple times on the Japan and European Tours, including last year’s Scottish Open. His two Order of Merit triumphs came in 2006 and 2008 on the Asian Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.
“Panasonic has done a lot for golf in India and Japan. I’ve played in the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan previously and I’ve done well there, so I’m looking forward to my first time at the Panasonic Open India,” said Singh.
“I’m going to play at the Delhi Golf Club after such a long time. I think I last played there some five years ago (at the Hero Indian Open where he finished fourth in 2008). I’m looking forward to that. In April, the course will be firm and hard and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I’ve finished second a few times at the Delhi Golf Club so it won’t be bad to win. It would be nice. It’s very different golf course. I don’t carry my driver on this course … just a three wood and three iron. It’s an amazing course, a demanding course. You have to hit it well and mentally you have to be strong to win on that course.”
Mr. Manish Sharma, MD- Panasonic Marketing India said: “In recent years, Panasonic has observed a growing need and enthusiasm for Golf in the country and we are delighted to have India’s global ambassador, Jeev Milkha Singh, playing in the Panasonic Open India. Jeev is well known as the most successful and recognisable golfer in India. I am sure his presence will be a great boost for the tournament and we can be sure of a large turnout of golf fans during the week. This venture is also a part of Panasonic’s corporate vision and mission to support sports at the highest level”
Singh included the Panasonic Open India onto his early 2013 schedule to ensure he achieves the minimum number of tournaments required to keep his Asian Tour card for 2014.
“I’ve got to get my numbers up on the Asian Tour this year. I couldn’t do it last year due to injuries. This is my last year of exemption on the Asian Tour (through his Order of Merit triumph). Although I have my career earnings ranking to count on, I want to get my numbers up and keep my full exemption going,” said Singh, who was conferred an Asian Tour Honorary Membership in 2009.
Singh believes the staging of world-class tournaments such as the Panasonic Open India, which is one of four to be played on the Asian Tour annually, is the perfect platform for India’s emerging talents to enhance their burgeoning reputations.
“Indian golf is the fastest growing sport in our country. The young boys are doing really well and people recognize that. Sponsors recognize that too. A lot of new guys are taking up the game, big corporate wigs play the game and they love it. And they put in the money to help the game grow in this country,” said Singh.
“There is a lot of talent coming out from the country. Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Rai … they are world class. They can play anywhere in the world and they can do really well,” said Singh.
The top-three players at the Panasonic Open India will be extended invitations to the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, which will be held in Osaka, Japan in September.

The Panasonic Open India will be beamed live throughout four days on the Asian Tour Media’s global television platform which reaches over 200 countries and 650 million homes.
About the Panasonic Open India 2013
The Panasonic Open India, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), will return for its third edition from April 4 to April 7. Local hero Digvijay Singh will defend the title at the US$300,000 event held at the Delhi Golf Club. The Asian Tour event will be title sponsored by Panasonic India Pte Ltd and supported by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism and the Government of India. The Tournament will be played once again at the Host Venue Delhi Golf Club. Other sponsors include Homestead (Platinum Sponsor), Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla (Official Hotel), Srixon (Official Ball), 4moles.com (Digital Media sponsor), BentBrass Golf (Official Apparel), GolfPlus Monthly (Magazine sponsor) and Inetol Headwear.
The tournament is organized and promoted by the Asian Tour. Get the latest news and tournament information on www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com and www.4moles.com. You can also follow us on www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf and www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf
About Panasonic India
Panasonic makes available in India its wide range of consumer electronics, home appliances and B2B products including TVs, DVD players, home theatre systems, cameras, camcorders, car audio systems, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, automatic cookers, vacuum cleaners, printers, security solutions and the like. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand in India, please visit http://panasonic.co.in.

About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. 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 Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Canon (Official Imaging Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Saxo Capital Markets (Official Statistics Partner), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Mexico City, February 26: A casual observer likely would not have realized the history made solely from the moment alone. A stoic Dustin Johnson, with a short tap-in and a quiet fist pump. It appeared, on the surface, like any other win under his belt.   But when Johnson raised the venerable Gene Sarazen Cup […]

Mexico City, February 26: A casual observer likely would not have realized the history made solely from the moment alone. A stoic Dustin Johnson, with a short tap-in and a quiet fist pump. It appeared, on the surface, like any other win under his belt.

 

But when Johnson raised the venerable Gene Sarazen Cup in 2017—its classic, yet intricate blue-and-gold design glistening under the Mexico City sun—he etched his name in the history books. With his victory in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, he became just the fifth player in the storied history of the game to win his first tournament as the world’s No. 1-ranked player.

 

Johnson is back this week to defend his crown at Club de Golf Chapultepec. With a diverse field from across the globe set to challenge him, will history repeat itself or give way to a new victor?

“Obviously it’s a big tournament,” he said of last year’s event. “Most of the best players in the world are here.”

 

It could be an Asian who stakes his claim to that big tournament. With seven players from five different Asian countries in the field, the group is primed to appear at the top of the Sunday leaderboards.

 

One player who won’t have a shot at the title, however, is Hideki Matsuyama. Despite being slated to participate in the weeks leading up to the event, Matsuyama will no longer play, likely as a result of the nagging wrist injury that has plagued him since he withdrew midway through the Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February.

 

“The pain in my left-thumb area started on 13th hole yesterday,” he said at the time. “I did some treatment last night, but the pain was still there this morning when I practiced. I decided that it was not worth forcing myself to continue to play and worsen the injury, so I was disappointed that I had to withdraw. As much as I wanted to continue to play and with the three-peat in mind, the pain was just too much."

 

With the absence of Matsuyama—ranked No. 5 in the world—Asia will be without a PGA TOUR player in the Mexico Championship field. But others are ready to shine in his place.

Asian Tour Order of Merit champions Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) and Gavin Green (Malaysia), as well as young talents Li Haotong (China), Shubhankar Sharma (India) and Japan’s Yuta Ikeda, Satoshi Kodaira and Yusaku Miyazato will all be on hand to take their shot at the championship. With a roster like that, the scales could tip in favor of the Asian entrants in Mexico City.

 

Li brings the most PGA TOUR experience to Mexico, having competed on the PGA TOUR Series-China in 2014 before moving on to the Web.com Tour. He’s made the cut in all three PGA TOUR events he’s played this season, including at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions last October. In his most recent appearance at the Genesis Open in February, he aced the par-3 sixth hole with a 6-iron from 189 yards, en route to a T53 finish.

Sharma also enters riding a bit of momentum, as the 21-year-old captured the Maybank Championship in February while also winning the Sunshine Tour’s Joburg Open in December 2017.

 

“Probably one of the biggest differences between the Asian players and the American [and] European players up until now has been actually the physical difference,” Matsuyama said earlier this year. “But of late, a lot of the Asian players are training better, getting stronger physically, also in stature.

 

“Hopefully I can continue to train hard and to narrow that gap between the European and American players, and all of Asia,” he added. “I hope the other Asian players are working hard, too.”

 

An Asian golfer has never won the Mexico Championship. Matsuyama looked like a contender to change that, as he responsible for Asia’s only two victories in the World Golf Championships, winning the Bridgestone Invitational in 2017 and the HSBC Champions in 2016. It will be up to players like Li and Sharma to change that now.

 

In all, 65 players from 19 different countries will navigate the narrow, tree-lined Club de Golf Chapultepec as they vie for the first World Golf Championships tournament of the calendar year, including 38 from outside the United States. England claimed the first World Golf Championships event of the season in a stunner, when Justin Rose rallied Sunday from eight shots back of Johnson to win the HSBC Champions last October in Shanghai.

 

At 2,225 meters above sea level, players in the Mexico Championship are already standing high before play even begins. Time will tell if it will be one of Asia’s best standing higher than the rest at the end.

 

About the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championships

The World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship is regulated and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours and due to its great importance it annually attracts the top golfers from across the globe including those from the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour. The other World Golf Championships include Dell Technologies Match Play (Austin, Texas, U.S.), Bridgestone Invitational (Akron, Ohio, U.S.) and HSBC Champions (Shanghai, China).

 

Dustin Johnson of the U.S. will be the defending champion when the Mexico Championship returns with a total purse of USD$10 million to Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City for its second year and as the second of four World Golf Championships of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season on February 28 – March 4, 2018.

 

For more information visit www.wgcmexico.com, as well as the tournament’s social media accounts @WGCMexico (in English with international scope) and @TVAztecaGolf (in Spanish with international and Latin American scopes).

 

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value, to create social capabilities to improve the communities’ conditions; and environmental value, by reducing the negative impact related to its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com) Azteca America (us.azteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), AdvanceAmerica (www.advanceamerica.net), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and Enlace TP (www.enlacetp.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and are part of its Sustainability Index. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

 

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. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 25 countries (84 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 226 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2017, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $180 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.65 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.

 

Chiangmai, March 28: Carlos Pigem turned his attention to golf after breaking a few bones in football and it is a decision he does not regret after getting off to a flying start in the opening round of the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Thursday. The Spaniard is among a pool of young […]

Chiangmai, March 28: Carlos Pigem turned his attention to golf after breaking a few bones in football and it is a decision he does not regret after getting off to a flying start in the opening round of the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Thursday.

The Spaniard is among a pool of young guns which includes Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit and Jazz Janewattananond, who are tied on four-under-par 68 at the inaugural US$750,000 full field Asian Tour event.

“I’m really happy with how I played. I played good from tee-to-green. It was very good that I finished with birdie on the last,” said Pigem.

The 22-year-old Pigem, who earned his Asian Tour card as an amateur at the Qualifying School in Thailand earlier this year, is enjoying a rather successful rookie season after finishing tied 24th and 21st at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open and SAIL-SBI Open respectively.

“I like the courses, the weather and the golf organisation by the Asian Tour. I saw that Javi Colomo did well in Asia last year so I decided to try it out. I’m happy I followed him. He did really good things last year and it was a good opportunity for me.

“I played well in Myanmar and India. I made the cut there and I’m happy. I’ll try to do something better in this tournament,” he said.

Coming from a football crazy country, it is no surprise Pigem started playing football during his younger days as a goalkeeper which resulted in a few broken bones!

“I started playing football when I was six years old! I was a goalkeeper and I broke some bones in my finger a couple of times so my father said stop and start playing golf,” added Pigem, who favourite football club is Barcelona FC.

The unheralded Pawin, 21, is the surprise package on the first day of the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT when he outgunned multiple Major winner Ernie Els, who shot a 69.

“I’m very happy. I hit many fairways and greens. I putted very well. I only had one three putt (bogey on the 12th hole) so that was good. It is okay for today. Six birdies on this golf course is very good.

“When I first practised on this golf course I thought it was very difficult but there was no wind today,” said Pawin, who graduated from the Boonchu Golf Academy before turning professional three years ago.

He is determined to better his tied fifth result at the SAIL-SBI Open in India earlier this month. “My game is okay and my confidence is very high at the moment so I hope to play better.”

Ends.

Queenstown, New Zealand, February 27: Korea’s Y.E. Yang, who once defied all odds to become the first Asian male golfer to win a Major in 2009, is looking to resurrect his career with a strong performance at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open which starts on Thursday. Yang, an Asian Tour honorary member, has not […]

Queenstown, New Zealand, February 27: Korea’s Y.E. Yang, who once defied all odds to become the first Asian male golfer to win a Major in 2009, is looking to resurrect his career with a strong performance at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open which starts on Thursday.

Yang, an Asian Tour honorary member, has not reached the dizzy heights of 2009 where he defeat former world number one Tiger Woods to lift the PGA Championship.

The 46-year-old enjoyed a career high of 19th place on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) in 2010 but has not returned to the winner’s circle since that year where he won twice in China and Korea.

Yang missed the weekend cut in his maiden appearance at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open last year and is hoping for a better showing at one of New Zealand’s leading sporting events this week.

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat is eager to notch his second Asian Tour win following his breakthrough in Indonesia last year. The stocky Thai, nicknamed ‘Coconut’ by his parents, believes he has the game to contend at the highest level, having started his early 2018 season with two top-25 finishes in Singapore and Malaysia.

American Berry Henson is also optimistic of his chances at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open, having shown his impressive comeback from injury with three top-10s in four starts on the Asian Tour this year.

Henson, who took on a part-time job as an Uber driver during his rehabilitation period, will be seeking his first win since 2011 when he lifted his maiden title in the Philippines. 

Did you know?

• Yang remains the only male Asian to have won a Major when he overcame a two-shot deficit going into the final round of the PGA Championship to eventually finish three shots ahead of Tiger Woods, his playing partner.
• Ranked as high as 19th on the OWGR in 2010, Yang will be starting the week in 803rd place on the world rankings.
• Yang’s best result in 2017 was a tied-sixth finish at the Volvo China Open- an event which the Asian Tour will be returning as one of the sanctioning partners next month.
• Panuphol turned professional in 2007, at a young age of 14. He started plying his trade on the Asian Tour in 2009 and has not missed out on his playing rights since 2011.
• He has never finished outside the top-60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings for the last seven year and ended his 2017 Asian Tour season in 20th place on standings.
• He also won his first Asian Tour title at the Indonesia Open last year.
• Berry Henson returned to competitive golf last December after being sidelined by a wrist injury for 18 months.
• Henson made his comeback by finishing strongly with a string of impressive results in Singapore (T8), Myanmar (Fourth) and Malaysia (10).
• The American made about 1,500 Uber trips during his rehabilitation period for charity and to also earn some side income.

Players’ Quotes:

Y.E. Yang (Kor)

This will be my second time competing at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open and I’m looking forward to doing well. Queenstown is a very beautiful place and this is a very good golf course especially when the sun’s out. I’ve been playing mostly in Japan last year and have been playing in a couple of events on the PGA Tour too. But I’m focusing more on Japan now and playing on a couple of the Asian Tour too. It has been a long time since I won that Major at the PGA Championship and it really brings back beautiful memories for me. This is golf and hopefully, I can enjoy another good victory again.

Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha)

I’ve known New Zealand to be a very beautiful country and that’s what brings me here. It’s a long way to New Delhi after this week but I’m not complaining. We travel round the world as professional golfers and being here now just makes you feel so happy. My game has been great since my win in Indonesia last year. I feel very confident each time I tee up for a tournament and this week is no different. I’m very happy the Asian Tour is back in New Zealand as a full co-sanctioning partner as it gives us players more opportunities to travel round the world and play golf, which is something I always enjoy. I’ve played on similar golf courses like this before and hopefully they will provide me with the experience to do well this week.

Berry Henson (Usa)

I made 1,500 Uber rides in the year as I needed to kill some time because all I was doing was going to the gym and rehab. I had to keep my mind occupied. But I did enjoy driving Uber for charity and it also paid for my car rental expenses. There were so many moments when I didn’t think I could play golf again. I was looking at other options. I thought I had to do something else. It was depressing but I needed time for my body to heal. It was hard for me to stay patient. It took a long time and I slowly kept recovering and healing. Once I started seeing the pain decrease and that’s when the excitement started to come back in.

I got this second opportunity and I really want to take advantage of it. I’m super appreciative that the Asian Tour gave me my medical category. I’ve heard so many good things about this event. I’m excited and I love pro-am formats. I have a host family next week and they are really excited to have me. I’m staying with Jarin Todd as well. They’ve made it really comfortable for us.

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.

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

Chiangmai, March 28: Thailand’s Prom Meesawat charged into the early first round lead with a six-under-par 66 in the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Thursday, putting the shade on Ernie Els of South Africa who returned a 69 with a short putter in hand. Prom, seeking a first Asian Tour victory since […]

Chiangmai, March 28: Thailand’s Prom Meesawat charged into the early first round lead with a six-under-par 66 in the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Thursday, putting the shade on Ernie Els of South Africa who returned a 69 with a short putter in hand.

Prom, seeking a first Asian Tour victory since his maiden title in 2006, got off to a roaring start where he was six-under through 10 holes at the immaculate Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai before the birdies dried up.

Little-known Thai Pawin Ingkhapradit shot a 67 to lie one back with four others – Carols Pigem of Spain, Bryce Eaton of South Africa, Australia’s Matthew Stieger and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – carding 68s in the US$750,000 full-field Asian Tour event.
Ernie Els

Four-time Major champion Els, using a short putter in a long while in preparation for an impending ban against anchored style putting, was bogey free in his round which included three birdies. His 69 was matched by amongst others, playing partner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Chinese Taipei’s brothers Lin Wen-tang and Lin Wen-hong and India’s Shiv Kapur.

“It is a great start. I still left a bunch of birdies on my back nine (he started from the 10th tee). But it was still a good round. My irons were pretty good,” said a delighted Prom.

“I missed a short putt on the fourth hole. That was an easy putt. The first nine holes are very tricky. Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) and I were working with our caddies during the practice round and we kind of realised the front nine greens are very tricky.”

Prom is hoping to emulate close friend Kiradech who won the Maybank Malaysian Open on Sunday. “He is a good player and partner. He is a good young boy and I love seeing him winning a tournament especially when it was co-sanction with the European Tour. I can say that he will be the best Thai player in the future,” said Prom.

“I always get off to a fast start in the first round but can’t maintain the momentum. I have another good start now so I want to try and keep it up and have another good three days.”

South Africa’s Ernie Els was happy with his back-in-play short putter after touring the Alpine course without a bogey. The four-time Major winner needed 29 putts and was pleased with the short stick.

“I thought it was good,” said Els of his short putter. “I missed quite a few but I felt comfortable with it. I made some good ones on my front nine. I missed some greens so I had to up and down a few times and there were some good putts which I had to make. I’m working hard at it when I’m away for tournaments. It felt good today.”

Els believes he is capable to firing a low round at the Alpine course to give himself a chance of winning a first title in 2013.
“The course is wonderful. It’s in unbelievable great shape. I was trying to really squeeze a lot out there today but didn’t quite happen. Made three birdies and no bogeys. It was quite a comfortable round. But I feel there’s a good round out there and I’ll keep searching,” said Els, who is nicknamed “The Big Easy”.

Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) – First round 65 (-7) Today was okay. I’m happy. For the first holes, I couldn’t putt. I didn’t have a good feel. After I finished the fifth hole, I changed my grip to cross-handed grip and then kept making birdies. On five, it was from one pin, made a putt from […]

Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) – First round 65 (-7)

Today was okay. I’m happy. For the first holes, I couldn’t putt. I didn’t have a good feel. After I finished the fifth hole, I changed my grip to cross-handed grip and then kept making birdies. On five, it was from one pin, made a putt from two pins on the sixth hole, about 4 feet on seventh, eight was close and nine was from about 15 feet.

When I won the Thailand Open, I was using the normal putting grip. But the feel wasn’t good this afternoon. The greens here are very quick. I talked to my caddie and we checked the lines together on every hole. Normally, I read my own lines.

I think on 12, I left my first putt short. It was a slow putt up the hill but I got back the birdie on 14 which was an easy two-on. This course is good. I feel comfortable here as it’s very tree lined, very similar to Japan and the greens are very quick.

I changed my Callaway irons early this year and I also switched to the Srixon golf ball which is giving more distance.

I’m 47 this year. I’ve kept fit, I don’t drink and I don’t smoke. I sleep early every night, go to bed at 9pm and then wake up at 5.30am. When I’m home, I just play golf and practice a bit. At the start of the year, I practiced really hard, hit a lot of golf balls but when we’re into the season, I don’t hit so many balls. My golf swing is always the same, so I don’t really need to practice too much.

Jonathan Moore (Usa) – First round 66 (-6)

It was a really fun round. I didn’t know where my game was going this week. I haven’t played my best over the last two or three weeks. I felt like what I did today sort of worked. I was trying to get into the rhythm. I think the mistakes I made in the last couple of weeks was trying to avoid trouble instead of committing and hitting my shots. I wasn’t hitting things into trouble but I wasn’t hitting any good shots previously. Today I just kind of sent my ball on its way and see what happens.

At times I tend to hold on a little bit too tight. It has been a tendency of mine over the years. Some days or some weeks I have some better stretches. It is more of the things in between my ears than the course or certain things. Today went better so I’m thankful for that.

Hu Mu (Chn) – First round 66 (-6)

It felt great. I know the course is playing tough but I saw a six-under in the early round so that was what I was aiming for. The front nine plays a little bit tougher because it is playing longer. I had a few birdie looks but it all lipped out. On the back nine I started holing some putts.

Every time I’m in Thailand I play well. The course suits my game and my eye. I was happy with my driving. I drove my ball well and found seven fairways. It doesn’t seem much but I kept the ball in play and kept myself out of trouble. My short game was good. I hit only 11 greens but made 24 putts.

I’ve been in contention in the last couple of events. I just want to keep building on that, keep my confidence up and get ready for the weekend.

Prom Meesawat (Tha), First Round 66 (-6)

Q. Must be happy with how you played?
It is a great start for a first round. I still left a bunch of birdies on my back nine (started 10th tee). But it was still a good round.

Q. You had eight straight pars returning home. Were you trying too hard?
My irons were pretty good. My driver has been good in the last few events but it wasn’t up to my standard today.

Q. You could have gone lower?
I missed a short putt on the fourth hole. That was an easy putt. The first nine holes is very tricky. Kiradech and I were working with our caddies during the practice round and we realised the front nine greens are very tricky. It is easier on the back nine. It is still a good start.

Q. How do you find your season so far?
I have two top-30s in the last two events. I always get off to a fast start in the first round but can’t maintain the momentum. I have another good start now so I want to try and keep it up and have another good three days.

Q. Nice to see Kiradech winning last week as well?
He is a good player and partner. He is a good young boy and I love seeing him winning a tournament especially last week when it was co-sanction with the European Tour. I can say that he will be the best Thai player in the future. He has good distance and short game. It is still a long way to go but he will make it.

Q. Both of you share the same coach (‘Pro Jiew’ Boonyarit Euasilapasart)?
He worked with Kiradech when he started playing golf. I didn’t work with him but he just helped me during junior golf tournaments. I started working with him since last year. I also work with my dad so it is good. It is good to share the same coach as Kiradech. When we are travelling and I have a problem with my game then we can help each other solve it.

Pawin Ingkhapradit (Tha) – First round 67 (-5)

Q. Good round.
I’m very happy. I hit many fairways and greens. I putted very well. I only had one three putt (12th hole) so that was good. It is okay for today. Six birdies on this golf course is very good.

Q. You like this golf course?
When I first practised here I thought it was very difficult but today there was no wind.

Q. You must be happy to play better than Ernie Els?
(Laughs) I’m very lucky today. I saved par on many holes and minimized my errors so I feel that I’m very lucky.

Q. When did you turn professional?
Three years ago when I was 18 years old. I trained in Boonchu’s academy and he said that I was ready to turn professional so I did.

Q. How did you start playing golf?
I started playing golf 10 years ago. My father played golf for 30 years so I followed him. He is not a professional but he loves golf. Now I love golf.

Q. How’s your game so far?
My game is okay. I finished tied fifth at the SAIL-SBI Open in India. My confidence is very high at the moment so I hope to play better.

Carlos Pigem (Esp) – First round 68 (-4)

Q. Good effort?
I’m really happy with how I played. I played good from tee-to-green. It was very good that I finished with birdie on the last.

Q. You are enjoying some good form?
Yes, I played well in Myanmar and India. I made the cut there and I’m happy. I’ll try to do something better in this tournament.

Q. Are you comfortable in Asia?
I like the courses, the weather and the golf organisation by the Asian Tour. I saw that Javi Colomo did well in Asia last year so I decided to try it out. I’m happy I followed him. He did really good things last year and it was a good opportunity for me.

Q. When did you turn professional?
I turned professional this year. I earned my Asian Tour card as an amateur then I turned professional. This is my third professional as a professional.

Q. What is it about Asia that you like?
I like everything! I like the people. They are very kind. I’m very happy here.

Q. How did you start playing golf?
I started when I was six years old near a sea. There was a nine-hole course and I played there. It was fun so I didn’t stop.

Q. Didn’t play football?
I started playing football when I was six years old! I was a goalkeeper and I broke some bones in my finger a couple of times so my father said stop and start playing golf.

Q. Which is your favourite football club?
Barcelona of course.

Ernie Els (Rsa) – First Round 69 (-3)

How did the short putter feel today?
I thought it was good. I missed quite a few but I felt comfortable with it. I made some good ones on my front nine. I missed some greens so I had to up and down and there were some good putts which I had to make. I’m working hard at it when I’m away for tournaments. It felt good today.

Could have been lower, but are you pleased with 69?
The course is wonderful. It’s in unbelievable great shape. Trying to really squeeze a lot out there today but didn’t quite happen. Made three birdies and no bogeys. It was quite a comfortable round. I feel there’s a good round out there and I’ll keep searching.

What will you do now?
I’ll do my normal, hit some balls and do some putting practice. I’m doing a clinic now, so I’ve got a busy afternoon but we’ll get ready for tomorrow afternoon.

Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) – First round 69 (-3)

Q. Thoughts on your round?
I played solid but my putter was stuck. I think I could easily be six or seven under but I couldn’t putt. The greens are very tricky. Sometimes I don’t have confidence with my putting stroke. Apart from that I have no complains with my game.

Q. You are using a short putter now?
I’m trying it. It feels a bit different and I don’t feel confident. I might change to the old one (long putter) tomorrow. The course is tricky. It is very sloppy. I’m playing very good and gave myself a lot of chances.

Q. Nice to see a lot of Thais up there?
Prom putt very well and I think he likes the course. Kiradech will do well as well. I enjoyed my round and I’m looking forward to the next three days.

Q. Key is to putt well here?
Absolutely. The course is fine. If you hit a good shot, you have a good chance to attack and have a chance to score.

Shiv Kapur (Ind) – First Round 69 (-3)

Happy with that?
I played quite solid, didn’t make many mistakes. Just started off badly with a bogey on 11 but after that I played solid golf. Think the greens are quite tricky. They are grainy and quite sloppey and the pins were tucked in some spots. Overall I gave myself some chances and would have liked to shoot a couple better but it was nice to shoot the birdie on the last.

Is this the kind of course where you need to play more on it to know it better?
I think it’s the kind of course where you need to be patient. It’s generous off the tee but the greens are small targets and you’ve got to hit a lot of good iron shots. And sometimes, you have a wedge or nine iron coming in and you can get frustrated if you don’t get a birdie. But the challenge will be the pins as it’ll get harder and harder as the week goes on. If you get to know the mountain effect and how the greens are, that is something that needs some adjusting to. The highest hill that you have, the slope of the greens will go away from the mountain. Sometimes if you see a putt which is left to right break, but because of the hill on the other side, it won’t break as much or breaks more. That’s some local knowledge which you need to get used to. I think as the tournament goes on, players will know the course better and there’s a low score to be had.

Is this a reflection of the way you’ve played the last few weeks?
I’ve been playing quite solid the past few months. Been in good form. Been close and had a couple of wins. If I can keep at it, now I know what it takes to get over the line, so if I can get into contention, I will be in a better position than say six months ago.

You must be happy to come back to Thailand?
Obviously with the Volvo Masters win, I’ve had some success here in the past. Nice climate, nice food and nice country. If they have more tournament’s in Thailand, I’ll be very happy.

Siddikur (Ban) – First round 69 (-3)

Q. A good round?
I’m very happy because this is a long course for me. I didn’t start very well but made up with a couple of nice birdies. Overall, it was very good and I’m happy with my shots. My driver wasn’t good last week but today I found almost all the fairways.

Q. What did you tell yourself after the first hole bogey?
It was a misunderstanding with my caddy. It was easy to make up and down but because of my temper I missed my par putt (four feet). It was a silly mistake from me. Overall it was okay.

Q. How did you calm yourself down?
I told myself that things like this happen. That’s when I calmed down.

Q. This is a long golf course so what do you need to overcome that?
These greens are grainy and tricky. I need to hit more long clubs in my second shots. I really focussed on my approach shots and it has been working nicely for me.

Y.E. Yang (Kor) – First Round 69 (-3)

I dropped a few shots and in that aspect it is a bit disappointing. But I’m still within striking distance of the leader and it is only the first round so that’s satisfactory. It is really hard to get a sense of what the speed of the greens is. Sometimes I hit it hard and sometimes I hit it slow so the results vary. The greens are taking me off guard. If I can get used to that then I can play better.

Mardan Mamat (Sin) – First round 70 (-2)

Q. Tough day in office?
I started from the back nine and played pretty good there (-2). Then I struggled on my second nine. I three putted on the first hole but managed to get some birdies on the way home.

Q. What happened on the back nine?
I just made some mental errors. I didn’t make good decisions on my clubs. That was my error but I’m sure my round will get better.

Q. What do you need to do to get a good score here?
Keep the ball in play and get on the green. The course condition is good. You just need to make good decisions out here and hole many putts.

Q. What about putting?
When you are playing on a good golf course like this it will come down to putting. The green are rolling good so it will be nice if you can hole some putts.

  ASIAN TOUR   CAT. 1 ORDER OF MERIT WINNERS CTRY 1 SCOTT HEND AUS       CAT. 4 A TOURNAMENT WINNERS   2 PAUL PETERSON USA 3 PANUPHOL PITTAYARAT THA 4 POOM SAKSANSIN THA 5 TODD SINNOTT AUS 6 PAVIT TANGKAMOLPRASERT THA 7 MARCUS FRASER AUS       CAT. 6 SPONSOR INVITES […]

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