Surprise-package Seungsu Han halfway to dream win in Kolon Korea Open
Seungsu Han continued to show no fear on day two of the Kolon Korea Open maintaining his lead after carding a two-under-par 69 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
The little-known Korean’s seven under par total and three-shot lead make light of the scale and importance of this event and the mighty challenge that the golf course presents.
His compatriot Jaekyeong Lee is in second place following a 68, while Canada’s Richard T. Lee (67), Australian Brendan Jones (69), Koreans Junghwan Lee (69) and Jeongwoo Ham (70) and Ian Snyman from South Africa (71) are in a tie for third, four behind the leader.
The KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,075,000) event is the 10th stop of the season on the Asian Tour, the jewel in the crown of Korean golf, and part of The Open Qualifying Series. The leading two players on Sunday make it through to golf’s eldest Major – being played at Royal Liverpool Golf Club next month.
Jaekyeong Lee.
Han was joint first-round leader here last year before falling away thereafter but this time round, and no doubt enlightened by that experience, he is moving in the right direction.
He may be inexperienced at this level – this is also only the fourth time he has played this tournament – but he played with conviction and confidence today fighting back after losing the lead with a bogey on 10 with birdies on 13, 16 and 17.
“It was not easy because the course was so difficult,” said Han, who led with a 66 on day one and was in the second from last group out today.
“I can’t wait to go back and rest. The score is not so important, it’s that I played well for two days. I’m feeling a little bit of pain, but I’m trying not to worry about it. I think I’ll be fine after resting.”
The Korean has won once in Japan and Korea during a 14-year professional career, and so a win for him at the weekend would be one of the biggest upsets in the 65-year history of the event.
Birdies on 16 and 17 saw Jaekyeong Lee make his late dash to the top.
He won the Matchplay event on the Korean PGA Tour this season and today showed he is equally as strong playing strokeplay.
Brendan Jones.
The Korean made four birdies and a bogey and for the second day on the trot had the par four penultimate hole to thank for being pivotal.
“I recorded birdies on the 17th hole for two consecutive days,” he said.
“I was lucky in both rounds. In the first round, I chipped in for birdie. And today my approach ball hit the ball of my playing partner Miguel Tabuena. I wish I have luck in the third and final rounds as well!”
He is a two-time winner in Korea and is both focused and philosophical about the weekend.
“Victory is determined by heaven,” he said.
“The goal is to finish number one on the Korean Tour this season and earn a place in the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School Final. And I want to go to The Open championship, too. I have been there as a spectator thanks to The KJ Choi Foundation once. I’ll be a player this time. I will be patient tomorrow.”
Only 12 players finished under par today for two rounds – indicating the course’s level of difficulty and demanding set up.
Defending champion Minkyu Kim returned a 69 yesterday but will be disappointed with his 74 today which put him at one over, but still in the hunt.
Only seven players have successful defended this tournament since its inauguration in 1958, they are: Koreans Changsang Han, Yoonsoo Choi, Sangmoon Bae, and Kyounghoon Lee, Chinese-Taipei’s Chen Tze-ming and Americans Scott Hoch and Orville Moody, who had the distinction of winning the first three editions.
Chanmin Jung recorded a 75 to finish on six over and miss the cut by one – a disappointing week for one of Korean golf’s biggest hitters, who hit the headlines earlier this year following a shock win in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
Jeongwoo Ham.
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent had an unusually poor week adding a 73 to his first round 80 to miss the cut. Last year’s winner of the International Series Order of Merit showed his class on the last hole though, making an eagle on the par five, for a touch of inspiration ahead of his trip to LIV Golf Valderrama next week.
All pictures courtesy of KGA Tournament Committee.
Australian Brendan Jones (main picture) and Jeongwoo Ham from Korea have the clubhouse lead mid-way through day two of the Kolon Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
Jones, winner of this year’s New Zealand Open, fired a two-under-par 69, while Ham came in with a 70.
They are three under for the KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,075,000) event – which is the 10th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.
Korean Kyongjun Moon returned an excellent 67 and is next best placed at one under, with half the field, including overnight leader Seungsu Han from the United States, still on the course.
Veteran Jones claimed New Zealand’s national Open in March for his first victory in four years, it was also the 48 year old’s first triumph on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, a surprising statistic considering he has won on 15 occasions in Japan.
Jeongwoo Ham. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.
And he still looks to be in fine form this week. He started on hole 10 and made the turn in even with a birdie and a bogey before shifting gear on the next half with birdies on two, three and five before dropping a shot on seven.
Ham, playing in the group behind Jones, picked up three birdies verses two bogeys.
His strong start to the tournament comes as no surprise as Woo Jeong Hills is his home club and he lives in Cheonan, the main city in the area.
The 28 year old has won once before on the Korean PGA Tour, at the Hyundai Insurance Kj Choi Invitational in 2021.
Defending champion Minkyu Kim returned a 69 yesterday but will be disappointed with his 74 today which puts him at one over, still very much in the hunt.
Only seven players have successful defended this tournament since its inauguration in 1958, they are: Koreans Changsang Han, Yoonsoo Choi, Sangmoon Bae, and Kyounghoon Lee, Chinese-Taipei’s Chen Tze-ming and Americans Scott Hoch and Orville Moody, who had the distinction of winning the first three editions.
Korean-American Seungsu Han took route 66 on the opening day of the Kolon Korea Open today – impressively taking the lead on five under at the notoriously challenging Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, in Cheonan, south of Seoul.
South African Ian Snyman fired a 68, while Koreans Minkyu Kim, the defending champion, Inhoi Hur, Jeongwoo Ham and Sungjoon Park plus India’s Chikkarangappa S and Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po returned 69s.
Han is a winner on both the Japan Golf Tour and the Korean Tour, but today’s round will rank amongst one of his finest in a tournament every Korean dreams of winning.
Remarkably, he was also joint first-round leader last year following a 68 before finishing in tie for 42nd after a disappointing Sunday score which was 10 shots worse than his opening day effort.
Six birdies and just one dropped shot helped him post a rare round in the mid-60s at Woo Jeong Hills – a ball-strikers course with limited room for error where the winning total last year was just four under for four days.
Ian Snyman. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.
“I didn’t feel well this morning,” said the 36 year old, who warmed up for this week by tying for 12th in last week’s Hana Bank Invitational – a event jointly-sanction by the Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour
“I think it led to a good result because I was able to empty my mind and play. I want to play hard until the end because it’s a big tournament. Woo Jeong Hills is always difficult, the layout is difficult, as is the course set up. So, I think I have to play patiently from beginning to end.”
A professional for 14 years, and a graduate from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, he won the Casio World Open in Japan in 2017, and on the Korean PGA Tour he claimed the LG Signature Players Championship in 2020.
Snyman, playing just his second season on the Asian Tour, was equally as happy to get the better of Woo Jeung Hills, which has hosted this tournament since 2003, the year American John Daly lifted the trophy.
He said: “Tough golf course, very hard to hit fairways, some of these fairways are eight yards wide! I just tried and played to the bigger side of the fairways and hit a bunch of three woods off the tee. Being in the fairway is everything out here. That was the game plan, it worked, putted great.”
He cruised into the lead with four birdies before his only dropped shot of the day came on 16.
Minkyu Kim. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.
“To be honest this year has been pretty average, I am struggling to put four rounds together,” said Snyman.
“It has been three good rounds then I will shoot a two over, and I feel on the Asian Tour, especially this year because the depth is so deep, if you shoot a two over on an average difficulty golf course you go from eighth to 35th in a heartbeat. I need my whole game to click, usually there is one thing off.
“I was in relaxed mode out there, got my buddy caddying for me for the first time in a pro event, and we are just taking it easy, enjoying Korea, eating some Korean BBQ, trying all the other dishes, it’s been good.”
Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, winner of the International Series Vietnam in April, which was his first victory in the pro game, shot a 70, while Ji-ho Yang from Korea, who was triumphant in the Hana Bank Invitational last Sunday, signed for a 72.
Filipino Miguel Tabuena, the highest ranked player here on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in second place, came in with a 73, as did Chanmin Jung, the burly Korean who won this year’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
Zimbabwean star Scott Vincent – older brother of Kieran and winner of last year’s International Series Order of Merit, currently enjoying success on the LIV Golf League – signed for an uncharacteristic 80.
Korean Yubin Jang – the leading amateur in the field according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 92nd place – finished the day as the leading amateur after shooting a 71. Nine amateurs are competing.
Inhoi Hur. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.
This week’s tournament is part of The Open Qualifying Series and will see the leading two players make it through to The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, 20-23 July.
Korean Bio Kim and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, both playing this week, have already secured their places in golf’s oldest Major, thanks to strong performances at the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club. They had poor days, with the former carding a 76, and the latter an 80.
The 65th staging of the Kolon Korea Open brings with it a treasure trove of storylines thanks to an exceptional starting line up this week at Woo Jeung Hills Country Club – located in Cheonan, just over an hour drive south of Korea’s capital Seoul.
The opportunity to win one of the region’s most illustrious competitions coupled with the chance to claim one of the two places up for grabs in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club has meant the tournament is strong in depth.
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent returns to what is the 10th event of the season on the Asian Tour, after a hugely impressive run on the LIV Golf League – highlighted by a fourth-place finish in Singapore.
He is joined by his brother Kieran, who claimed the International Series Vietnam in April and is one of five winners from the Asian Tour this year competing here, along with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho (World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club), Miguel Tabuena (The DGC Open presented by Mastercard) from the Philippines and Australian Brendan Jones (New Zealand Open).
Miguel Tabuena.
Tabuena, who has not finished worse than 22nd in six starts in 2023, is the leading player competing from the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), sitting in second place; while Kieran Vincent is the top golfer from the International Series OOM. He is in third place on that Merit list, which sees the winner at the end of the season earn passage onto the 2024 LIV Golf League – a feat achieved by his brother Scott last year.
The other Asian Tour winner from this season is Korea’s shining new star Chanmin Jung, who recorded a surprise victory in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May.
The strapping 23 year old, nicknamed ‘Korea’s Hulk’, is bidding to become only the second player to win the Maekyung event and Kolon Korea Open in the same season. His compatriot Sangmoon Bae, did the double in 2009.
Defending champion Minkyu Kim, who beat fellow Korean Mingyu Cho in a play-off last season, is back this year along with five other former winners: Junseok Lee (2021), Seunghyuk Kim (2014), Yikeun Chang (2017), Minchel Choi (2018), and veteran Jong-duck Kim (1997).
All eyes will also be on Korea’s Ji-Ho Yang who won the Hana Bank Invitational on the Japan Golf Tour last week while one of the country’s most successful golfers Bio Kim is here looking to claim the title for the first time.
Bio Kim and Kho have the advantage of having already booked their tickets to The Open after top-four finishes in the World City Championship.
In addition, the tournament features nine amateurs, led by reigning Korea amateur champion Hyunuk Kim, Minhyuk Song, who tied for second in the Maekyung tournament, Wooyoung Cho, winner of the Golfzon Open on the Korean PGA Tour this year, and Yubin Jang, the highest ranked amateur in the field according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 92nd place.
Chanmin Jung pictured winning the GS Caltex Maekyung Open earlier this year.
Korea’s Daesub Kim is the only amateur to have tasted victory in Korea’s national Open; he triumphed twice, in 1998 and 2001, and completed his hat-trick as a professional in 2012.
All have some way to go to catch Korean Changsang Han, who has been victorious in this event a record seven times in the 1960s and 1970s – a remarkable achievement for the former caddie who went on to become Chairman of the Korean PGA.
Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann will be aiming to maintain their major momentum when they line-up in the Asian Tour’s inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship.
Spaniard Garcia and Chile’s Niemann both made the cut in last week’s US Open at Los Angeles Country Club and are looking to continue their good form in the second half of 2023.
Garcia’s fellow former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Chile’s Mito Pereira have also confirmed their places in the starting line-up at Fairmont St Andrews from August 24-27.
The US$1.5 million St Andrews Bay Championship will be the 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the sixth stop on The International Series.
Joaquin Niemann pictured at the International Series Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“As our first tournament in the country that gave golf to the world, the St Andrews Bay Championship promises to be a momentous week for us,” said Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO.
“It’s fitting, therefore, that we should have Major champions such as Sergio and Charl and players of the calibre of Joaquin and Mito to grace this auspicious occasion.”
Garcia, who tied for 27th in Los Angeles last week, has appeared regularly in Asian Tour events over the past two decades and has the distinction of having won titles in no fewer than six different countries – China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Part of the Asian Tour’s 2023 ‘UK Summer Swing’, the St Andrews showpiece will be preceded by the International Series England, at Close House in Newcastle.
The Asian Tour’s elite-level International Series comprises 10 events, featuring elevated prize funds and welcoming top golfers from every continent and Tour.
On his International Series debut in February, Garcia tied for fifth in Oman, alongside Niemann.
Following the first four International Series events of 2023, American Andy Ogletree leads the way in the overall standings with Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Australian Wade Ormsby in pursuit.
Callum Nicoll, Director of Golf & Estates at Fairmont St Andrews, said: “We’re thrilled that established stars such as Sergio, Charl, Mito and Joaquin will be competing in this historic and world-class event at Fairmont St Andrews.”
Charl Schwartzel at the International Series Qatar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Stretching to 7,320 yards, the Torrance Course at Fairmont, set among 520 acres of stunning Scottish coastline with views of St Andrews Bay, is sure to provide a tough test.
Sculpted by European Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance, the layout has previously hosted the DP World Tour and European Seniors Tour as well as being a venue for Open Qualifying.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Nitithorn Thippong will be looking for redemption when he tees off in the Kolon Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club on Thursday – having had an impressive run at the title last year before being struck by sickness on Sunday.
Opening rounds of 69, 74 and 68 saw him in contention throughout the week and meant he was just three off the lead starting the final day in the country’s most-esteemed tournament, which has made its regular home at the Woo Jeong Hills venue since 2003.
Nitithorn, the young Thai star nicknamed “Fever” who was red-hot last year when he won both his Asian Tour titles – The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore – shot a six-over-par 77 on the last day after a calamitous run of holes from the eighth, which he double bogeyed and followed up with six bogeys and no gains on the second half.
Much to his disappointment he tied for 22nd, eight shots behind the score that saw Koreans Minkyu Kim and Mingyu Cho tie for the lead to force a three-hole play-off, won by the former.
It also meant Nitithorn missed out on one of the two places available in The Open, something which is also a target for all the competitors this week, as the event is again part of The Open Qualifying Series.
However, the story does not end there.
Nitithorn Thippong.
Said Nitithorn: “When I woke up for the final round, I felt a bit sick, but still I had the patience that I could do it because my goal was to be at The Open. Unfortunately, I had a fever, but I played really well on the first seven holes, and I was really focused on my game.”
Having played the first seven holes in two under, one of The Open tickets was within his grasp, but as his health struggled so did his score.
“I knew that I had to be like, super focused that day, because my body was not active,” he said.
“But after the eighth hole where I made a double bogey, it can happen but you… I don’t know how to say it, after eight holes I tried to be like, keep focused, keep patient, but my body wasn’t working anymore, not responding anymore. Like on the 14th tee I said to my caddie, I cannot walk anymore. But okay, just hit it until I finish, that’s all I could do at that time.”
The reason for the unfortunate turn of events was soon to be revealed.
Said Nitithorn: “Yeah, I went to do a test after the round, I tested positive for COVID-19, so I felt so sorry for everyone. I felt bad that I didn’t play as well as I expected, but I had already done my best, you know. So yeah, I had already done my best and had a good chance to be at The Open, but this year maybe I can do it.”
This week he is fully committed to taking his revenge on the difficult Woo Jeong Hills layout, encouraged by his tied 11th at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at Nam Seoul Country Club in Korea earlier this season.
“The first year that I played in Korea, even the Maekyung Open, the course is quite difficult. But for me, I really love difficult courses because you have to hit the ball in the fairway, and you have to be patient on every shot,” said the 26 year old.
“I got beaten by the course on the first year, so I just said to myself that’s okay, next time I’ll beat it. This year, I have already beaten Nam Seoul so I’m gonna try to beat Woo Jeong Hills, that’s my goal.”
To the victor the spoils. With a mature final-round display and an explosive extra-time finish, Minkyu Kim (main picture) grabbed the glory at the 64th edition of the Kolon Korea Open.
Four years after making global headlines with victory in the D+D Real Czech Challenge to become the European Challenge Tour’s youngest winner at the age of 17, Kim finally triumphed on home soil for the first time.
“I can’t believe I’ve actually won,” said Kim, who had posted seven top-10s in his previous 10 starts.
“I’ve come close to winning before (in Korea) and I wondered if I would ever win. I felt good on the back nine and started to feel I had a chance.”
While 21-year-old Kim celebrated his success at the notoriously demanding Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, it was difficult not to spare a thought for Mingyu Cho.
Minkyu Kim. Picture courtesy KGA.
Twelve years Kim’s senior and a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Cho was left to fathom how another significant triumph eluded him after two bites at the cherry.
Three shots ahead of Kim in a share of the third-round lead with fellow-Korean Taehoon Ok, Cho had a 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole of regulation to overhaul clubhouse leader Kim, who had surged to the top of the standings with a closing 69.
With his courageous effort narrowly missing the cup, Cho signed for a one-over 72, matching Kim’s 72-hole aggregate of four-under-par 280, a score illustrating the degree of difficulty of the course.
Despite the disappointment of failing to close the deal, a play-off with Kim presented Cho with a second opportunity to add his name to the illustrious list of past Korea Open champions, including YE Yang, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and John Daly.
Once more, though, fortune would conspire against Cho.
While the vast majority of golf tournaments that require a play-off opt for a sudden-death solution, the Kolon Korea Open plumps for a mini tournament format with the combined score of each player over three additional holes being adopted.
In this case it proved to be a cruel quirk of fate for Cho who would have been crowned champion on the second extra hole, the 17th, if sudden-death was being used to determine the outcome.
Mingyu Cho. Picture courtesy KGA.
Instead, Cho, on the back of pars at 16 and 17, arrived at the tee of the par-five 18th with a one-stroke advantage over Kim, who made bogey at 17.
An errant drive from Cho forced him to punch his ball back into play, while Kim struck two mighty blows through the back of the green.
With the momentum having switched, Cho’s third found the edge of the green from where he struck a poor chip to 25 feet and was unable to save par.
That left the way clear for Kim who gleefully got up-and-down for the most important birdie of his career, that two-stroke final-hole swing in his favour proving decisive.
Cho could only shrug. “Winning is a difficult task. I will move on,” said Cho, who at least had the not inconsiderable consolation of securing one of the two spots on offer for The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July. “I’m now planning to go and play in Europe for the first time. I’m sure, I’ll learn a lot.”
Like Cho, Hyungjoon Lee and American Jarin Todd were left with regrets.
Playing in the penultimate group, Lee looked set for victory when he headed to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead only for his hopes to fall apart with a double-bogey seven after going out-of-bounds.
He had to content himself with a joint-third finish alongside Todd, one stroke shy of joining the play-off.
Following the second round, Todd was asked about his prospects. He said: “I’d rather take The Open spot than the win this week, because it’s going to be at the Old Course at St Andrews and it’s on every golfer’s bucket list.”
Although he missed out this time, Todd and his fellow Asian Tour members were simply pleased to have the Kolon Korea Open back on the calendar following a two-year hiatus due to Covid.
Story from the 2022 Asian Tour Yearbook.
The Asian Development Tour (ADT) will return to one of its most popular and regular destinations this year after confirming today that four events in Indonesia have been included on the schedule.
The Indonesia Pro-Am Presented by Combiphar & Nomura – an innovative and exciting new event benefitting from the support of a duo of strong, existing tournament partners – and three established events, the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, the OB Golf Invitational and The 2nd Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE, will be staged mid-season adding to an increasingly expanded schedule.
The first event – which in addition to the individual tournament will feature a Pro-Am competition – will be played at Gunung Geulis Country Club from August 16-18. Total prizemoney will be US$125,000, while there is a pot of US$25,000 for the Pro-Am. The venue’s West and East Courses will be utilised.
The US$125,000 BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament – won last year by impressive Thai golfer Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the 2022 ADT Order of Merit (OOM) winner following a hat-trick of victories – will return to Damai Indah Golf, BSD Course, from 23-26 August. This year will mark the eighth edition of the tournament.
Sutteepat Prateeptienchai, won last year’s Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament and the ADT Order of Merit title. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
In 2019 Tom Kim, the young Korean star now ranked 22nd on the Official World Golf Ranking, and a two-time winner on the PGA Tour competing in this week’s US Open, claimed the Ciputra event – firing a warning shot to the world of golf that he was coming. Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament
The US$70,000 OB Golf Invitational, first played in 2018, will be hosted by Sentul Highlands Golf Club, a new venue for the event, from 6-8 October.
The country’s rising star Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra (main picture) triumphed in the event last year, helping to launch an outstanding start to his professional career, as he also won the inaugural PIF Saudi Open later in the year, before finishing third on the Final ADT OOM to secure, along with Suteepat, full playing privileges on this year’s Asian Tour – a reward bestowed on the top-10 finishers on the Merit list. The young Indonesian has also been in fine form this season, securing the Singha Phuket Open in May – the ADT’s season-opening event, jointly sanctioned with the All Thailand Golf Tour.
The 2nd Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE – which, like the Indonesia Pro-Am and OB Golf Invitational, is promoted by OB Golf, the organiser of the country’s most lucrative golf tournament the Indonesian Masters, on the Asian Tour and part of The International Series – completes the four events and will be hosted by Imperial Klub Golf, from 11-13 October. The purse will be US$70,000. Australian Harrison Gilbert lifted the trophy in 2022.
“This is another important announcement for the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s incredibly important feeder circuit, that continues to flourish and confirm its essential position across our platforms,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
Australian Harrison Gilbert pictured after winning last year’s Indo Masters Golf Invitational.
“OB Golf are a long standing and wonderfully supportive partner, and we also thank Ciputra, the Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia, and the respective sponsors and venues for their much-welcomed involvement.
“The addition of a Pro-Am style tournament is also an exciting development that will add another level of excitement and interest in the Tour. Further schedule updates will be announced in due course.”
The next event on the ADT is the inaugural ADT – All Thailand Partnership Trophy, which will be staged at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club, Mountain/Ocean Course, 6-9 July.
Berry Henson, the effervescent American who has made his home on the Asian Tour with great success for more than a decade, makes his debut in the US Open tomorrow and the build up to playing in the biggest and most important tournament of his life has clearly exceeded even his lofty expectations.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” said Henson, who grew up just two hours drive from this week’s famous venue, The Los Angeles Country Club.
“I was telling my team this week that it’s kind of been like having the lead for like seven days straight. Haven’t been sleeping that good. Obviously, the attention has been amazing. I’m very blessed, very humbled and honoured to be here at the U.S. Open for my first Major championship.”
Nine days ago, the 43 year old, a winner on both the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour (ADT) who is based in Hua Hin, Thailand, qualified for the third Major of the year by finishing second at the sectional qualifier at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey, with rounds of 64 and 71.
Berry Henson. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He is one of seven Asian Tour members playing this week – a group that includes Thailand’s in-form golfer Gunn Charoenkul. Korea’s Joohyung Kim, the 2021 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and now a star on the PGA Tour where he has won twice, is also competing.
However, it is Henson, whose nickname is the Hensonator, who has captured the headlines and appeared on network television, not least because media have latched onto the fact that when he is not competing in tournaments and at home in the US, he is a part-time Uber driver.
He said: “The Hensonator Nation is going to be very strong this week. I’ve got so many friends, so much support in the California/Southern California area, and they’re coming out in droves. I’ve been getting definitely a lot of messages trying to get tickets, and it’s going to be an exciting week.
“I can’t wait to really get it going, but I feel like I came here on Saturday, got to play a few practice rounds through the course, feel comfortable with it.”
Those practice rounds included playing with Americans Phil Mickelson, a six-time runner up in this event, and Bryson DeChambeau, the 2010 US Open champion.
“I played Saturday with Phil (Mickelson) and I just had no clue what to do on lines and it is very difficult to play the first time around,” Henson said. “We played the next day and we had a little game and that got me to kind of seeing the lines a little clearer and picking the shots that I will be hitting this week.”
Henson tees off tomorrow at 6.45am local time with Japan’s Ryutaro Nagano and American Hank Lebioda, starting from tee 10, with a very clear mind set.
Berry Henson. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “You know, I think my number one goal this week is to stay humble. The U.S. Open is definitely going to expose all aspects of your game, and this is a new experience for me. It’s a Major championship. There’s going to be a lot of different things that happen this week.
“I’m trying to get myself as prepared as I can. I’ve asked so many questions. I got to play with Phil two days in a row, which was amazing. He was amazing. Gave me so many nuggets. I’m just trying to get comfortable.
“I think being humble, getting comfortable, enjoying the experience, and letting my game talk, and hopefully it does this week, and I can only take away positives from this week. It’s just going to be a win-win all the way around. My team is so excited to be here. I’m excited to be here. The USGA has been amazing to me.”
Both of his two wins in Asia came in his first year here in 2011: first in the Clearwater Masters on the ADT, where he triumphed by seven, and then two weeks later at the prestigious Philippine Open.
Although he has not tasted victory in Asia since then he has been one of the Tour’s most consistent performers, a quality that lends itself perfectly to the demands of US Open courses.
“I’m a grinder,” he says.
“I’ve been doing this for 20 something years. I feel like I have that type of mentality. I make a lot of pars. I can get up-and-down from the trash can. I don’t get down on myself and just enjoy what the course gives me.”
Global golf stars are lining up to take on ‘The Toon’ at the acclaimed Close House in Newcastle for the US$2million International Series England from August 17-20.
Lee Westwood, the former world number one with 44 career victories – including nine on the Asian Tour – spearheads a cohort of 10 LIV Golf players set to play for the crowds on the Colt Course at Close House.
Joining the Majesticks Team co-captain from the 2023 LIV Golf League are 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and this year’s PIF Saudi International winner Abraham Ancer. Alongside Ancer’s recent triumph in which he claimed a two-shot winning margin and a share of the US$5 million purse, McDowell will also be looking to improve on his single Asian Tour triumph coming back in 2008 in South Korea.
Despite being born and raised in Worksop and an ardent Nottingham Forest FC fan, Westwood, popularly known as ‘Westy’, moved to the region a number of years ago and struck up a long-standing partnership with Close House as its Tour Professional.
The 7th hole of Close House’s Colt Course.
Westwood said: “I’ve had the privilege of playing at home in tournament situations before, and there is truly nothing quite like it. Local excitement is building nicely with some of players confirmed.
“I’ve been embraced by the people of Northumbria since I set up home there; their passion for sport is unrivaled and the full field will feel that during the tournament week – the atmosphere will be tremendous.”
Tickets to the International Series England are available now from SeeTickets here with prices starting from £10 with concessions for under-16s and over-65s.
Seven-time Asian Tour winner and LIV Golf player Anirban Lahiri will also embark on his second International Series campaign of the year following an impressive runner-up finish in April in Vietnam, which was won by Kieran Vincent – the younger brother to Scott who earned his place in the 2023 LIV Golf League by topping The International Series 2022 Order of Merit.
Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and American Jason Kokrak also make International Series returns after teeing up in the first event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 schedule in Oman. Meanwhile, England’s Richard Bland, Brendan Steele of the United States and South Africa’s Dean Burmester will make their debuts.
Signalling the halfway point of The International Series 2023 season, the event at Close House will be pivotal for players looking to climb The International Series Order of Merit (OOM), currently led by the only two-time International Series winner, Andy Ogletree.
Anirban Lahiri made his International Series debut in Vietnam, impressively finishing second. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
There will be a fierce contest to finish within the top-32 places in The International Series OOM come the end of the season. While the player in number one spot will punch his ticket directly to the ultra-lucrative 2024 LIV Golf League, the remaining 31 players will secure entry into the LIV Golf Promotions Event to vie for three further places.
Among those leading the charge to dethrone the current number one are several of the Asian Tour’s brightest stars including a quartet of Thai golfers Gunn Charoenkul, Chonalatit Chuenboonngam, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai, who all currently sit within the top 10 in The International Series OOM and are looking to secure their first International Series wins.
Head of The International Series, Rahul Singh, said: “Having the likes of Lee Westwood, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer and other LIV Golf stars confirmed for International Series England is demonstrative of the growing strength of The International Series and the allure of the fabulous Lee Westwood Colt Course at Close House.
“We are returning to England’s North East after being made to feel so welcome last year, despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic. We are ready to renew the fervour this year and welcome spectators to what stands to be the biggest International Series event yet.”
The tournament, which was inaugurated last year, is the 11th event of the season on the Asian Tour schedule.
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