Former US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel completed a brave wire-to-wire victory in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London at Centurion Club today.

The South African added a final day two-over-par 72 to his opening rounds of 65 and 66 to finish with a 54-hole total of seven under and win by one shot from compatriot Hennie Du Plessis, who closed with a 70.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: Charl Schwartzel of Stinger GC celebrates with teammate Louis Oosthuizen of Stinger GC on the 18th green during day three of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Branden Grace from South Africa completed a clean sweep of the top-three places by the Springboks after closing with a 65 to take third place along with American Peter Uihlein, in with a 69, two behind the winner, on a day which once again saw an innovative 2.15pm shotgun start for the elite 48-man field.

The South African players success meant their Stinger GC team, which also included Louis Oosthuizen, won the team competition by 14 shots from Crushers GC, which consisted of Uihlein, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Travis Smyth from Australia and England’s Richard Bland. Three of each team’s scores counted towards the team total today, unlike the first two days when two scores went towards the team total.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: (L-R) Individual winner Charl Schwartzel walks alongside teammates Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis of Stinger GC during day three of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

In what was the richest golf tournament ever played, Schwartzel received the biggest winner’s cheque of all time, an incredible US$4 million and earned US$750,000 for his share of the team’s US$3 million cheque.

It is his first victory since his success in the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour in 2016.

Schwartzel started the day with a three-shot lead and was in control until a double-bogey six on the 12th reduced his five-shot lead to three but he was able to hold on to a memorable victory.

“Honestly it’s a relief,” said Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011.

“It was tough finishing. I made a bad mistake on 12 which put me on the back foot. I needed to stay calm. I had this thing in my hands and made it a bit more difficult than it should have been, but I am proud of how I hung in there, it’s a great feeling.

“Hennie played some fantastic golf. At 25 years old he has a bright future. Played real good. I am proud of him, and I am proud of my team mates. This is a historical moment.”

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: Hennie Du Plessis of South Africa tees off on the 1st hole during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

The next LIV Golf Invitational Series event will take place in Portland, in the United States, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club from June 30-July 2.

The Asian Tour’s next stop is the Kolon Korea Open, at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, from June 23-26 – an event last played on the Asian Tour in 2019 when Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was victorious.

Ends.

Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai flew the Asian Tour flag with distinction today carding three-under-par 67s in the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club in London, to finish the first round in joint third place.

They narrowly trail Charl Schwartzel from South Africa who leads after a 65, helped by an eagle on 18, while his countryman Hennie Du Plessis came in with a 66.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Scott Vincent of Smash GC tees off on the 1st hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Vincent is attempting to win for the third straight week having claimed the International Series England on Sunday, for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, a week after claiming the Mizuno Open in Japan.

He was paired in one of the marquee groups today with Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson but handled the pressure with ease.

“It was great out there,” said Vincent, who made seven birdies, including four in the last five holes, and four bogeys.

“It was something that I was very excited to experience. What an honour to play with two of golf’s best players and to see how they operate on the course. Just class guys they are. I really enjoyed myself today. It was fun playing with them and they are really nice guys.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Dustin Johnson of the United States, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Phil Mickelson of the United States walk up the 15th fairway during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“I was really nervous on the first tee. I hit a great shot there. I was just trying to make good contact on the ball. It’s hard to follow DJ. I wished I went first but I was very happy. It was a great shot. I executed very nicely.”

The 30 year old, who at the weekend also became the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour, began his round on the first, in an innovative new tournament format that saw all 48 players tee off following a 2.15pm shotgun start.

He added: “I made some good putts out there. I really took care of the par threes on the back nine. That really got me going. All in all, great day, great experience. Golf has been really good for me the last couple of weeks. But you never know how it’s going to show up in an event like this. Today was a great day, I did a lot of things I wanted to do well. That’s the plan going forward.”

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC tees off on the 3rd hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Phachara, just 23 years old, started his round on hole 10, with Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and South African JC Ritchie, and was immediately into his usual aggressive stride with four birdies in the first six holes. He led for much of the day before dropping a shot on his last hole, the ninth, before Schwartzel’s eagle.

“I feel great because before I started I did not feel I could be three under. To get to three under in this condition I am pretty happy,” said the Thai star.

“I was okay playing today; I have played in many big events so I am used to it. The golf course is difficult on the front nine but easier on the back nine. If I can make a good score on the front nine then I can go under on the back nine and post a good score. The back nine is three par fives and you can reach with your second shots.”

Phachara has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year: he won the Laguna Phuket Championship in December, which was his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, and was runner-up at the International Series Thailand in March.

He added: “I am playing well, I am just older now, my game plan is better, my swing is better, everything is better. I know so much about golf now because I have been a pro for about eight years.
“My game plan is just hit it to the flag and make birdies and when you miss just make a par. Maybe I can win this week, maybe I can’t, but I have a little chance.”

South Africans Justin Harding and Branden Grace carded 68s to lie in equal fifth, while Johnson returned a 69 along with Mickelson, and England’s Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter.

A team component is also an exciting feature of this week’s inaugural event and saw Stinger GC take the early lead thanks to strong performances by its members, Schwartzel, Du Plessis, Grace and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Spectators look on as Charl Schwartzel of Stinger GC lines up a putt on the fourth green during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

A total of 13 players from the Asian Tour will compete in the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club near London, this week and none are happier than the five players who qualified for the event at the 11^th hour at the International Series England on Sunday.

“I’m really happy, very happy. I almost cried, it’s a big move for me,” said Itthipat Buranatanyarat.

“I played really good to shoot five under. Before I warmed up my confidence was a bit low, but my caddie said just do it, and that was good for me to hear at that moment.

“I just think about taxes! No, I’m joking, but that is really so much prize money. I am happy to play with players like Dustin Johnson, and some of the other top world ranking players coming, I excited to play with them.”

The Thai golfer secured his place in the tournament via the cumulative International Series Order of Merit along with Australian Travis Smyth, and Ian Snyman from South Africa.

Viraj Madappa from India and Kevin Yuan of Australia claimed their berths as the two highest-finishers on Sunday.

All five were helped by the fact that eligible players above them on the Merit list and final results were exempt through other categories.

Team Crushers GC: Richard Bland, Peter Uihlein, Phachara Khongwatmai and Travis Smyth, pictured with Greg Norman at the LIV Golf Invitational – London Draft (Photo by Tristan Fewings/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Scott Vincent for example won the International Series England but had already earned a place by being in the top-300 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

The Zimbabwean finished one ahead of Smyth, who had started the final round with a one stroke lead.

“Love it, can’t wait to be a part of it, meet everyone involved: Greg Norman, LIV Golf, everyone. Cannot wait,” said Smyth.

“Right from the get go, round one, when I started playing well, I thought this is good, I want to have a good week. I felt more pressure mid tournament as opposed to the final round as I’m in a position where I have not earned as much as the other guys. I find it more stressful when I am around the cut line and to compete and have a chance to win didn’t feel like as much pressure. I am pretty proud the way I handled it; I don’t feel the nerves got the better of me; I didn’t feel like adrenaline ruined any of my shots.”

Madappa is the sole representative of India in the tournament and is also still processing everything that has happened.

“It’s all happening superfast. It’s still kind of sinking in,” said Madappa.

“But I’m super excited to be part of a new format. It’s going to be exciting to see what it brings to golf, because I think it’s a great opportunity to play against a very elite field. So, it’s going to be exciting to play.

“We’re honestly not used to seeing so much money being put into golf. But I think it’s only gonna be great for us. I think when we compete it’s still a case of going out to try and win the event.”

The other Asian Tour regulars competing this week are Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, Australian Wade Ormsby, Sihwan Kim from the United States, South African Justin Harding and Kinoshita Ryosuke from Japan.

The LIV Golf Invitational, which will see 48 players competing over three days, also features a team format with 12 teams of four.

The draw for the teams was made on Tuesday night with captains selecting their teams.

Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat attend a press conference ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in London. (Picture by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images).

Phil Mickelson from the United States, whose team is called HY Flyers GC, chose Ratchanon, Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star, along with Harding and American Chase Koepka – the brother of Brookes Koepka.

Said Ratchanon: “I just can’t believe this. I am a 15-year-old kid still at school playing for six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson. It’s like I am in a dream.”

All 48 players compete against each other in a traditional stroke play format, with the lowest 54-hole total from the no-cut event being the winner, who will earn US$4 million.

For the four-man team format for the first two rounds the best two stroke play scores will count for each team. For the third and final round, the best three scores will count, with the lowest overall team score after 54 holes being named the team winner. US$5 million will be shared between the top-three teams.

A proven three-time winner on the Asian Tour, Australian Wade Ormsby has a chance this week to do something he’s never done before: play for a winners’ check of US$4 Million. Story by Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.

He’s playing the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – which starts Thursday at Centurion Club and will offer up a brand-new format with both an individual and a team competition – and it is an opportunity that Ormsby is relishing.

“It’s exciting, it’s going to be great for golf. It’s a new event so not really sure what to expect, but it’s going to be big I think so I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m really happy to be part of it.”

Having finished tied ninth last week at the International Series England at Slaley Hall, closing the event with a three-under-par 68 on a very demanding golf course, his game is rounding into form nicely.

Said Ormsby: “Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, had a lot of opportunities, if I had not made some mistakes, I think that I probably could have been right in contention. So that’s always a good sign. So yeah, it’s nice to have a little bit of form, especially going into a big event like that. I’m excited to get down there and get stuck into it and see what’s going on.”

The new format of 48 players over 54 holes for a purse of US$20 Million, plus another US$5 million in a team competition, will add to the drama and excitement during the tournament.

Wade Ormsby is a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open.

“I think it’s going to be fantastic, a new exciting format for golf can only be like a good thing, like an addition to the traditional format that we’ve got. I think we just really want to get down there and see how it’s gonna play out and see what it’s all gonna be like you know, because it’s all new for all of us so it’s gonna be cool,” he added.

While all top tour players compete to win titles and trophies, the lucrative prizemoney on offer this week is also an obvious draw and incentive for the competitors.

“It’s a huge amount of money, it’s great for any player to have the ability to play for this kind of money. I think the only event ever on that kind of level has been the Players Championship earlier this year. So yeah, it’s a huge opportunity for everyone playing to make that kind of money. I’m just looking forward to it. Just want to get down there and play well, and kind of get into this team spirit and whatever else that brings. It’s just a new format, so it’s gonna be different,” said the Australian.

The 42 year old, a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open,  will also be one of the few players in the field that have played the course before, which could definitely work in his favor.

“I played the GolfSixes at Centurion on the European Tour in 2018, so I’ve played six of the 18 holes and got a general feel for what the place is like and the turf and everything. I think it’s going to suite me if there’s a little bit of rough around and has a bit of emphasis on hitting fairways and plays little bit tricky.”

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh courageously survived the cut this week at the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, after a mad dash from the US to just make his first-round tee time, writes By Olle Nordberg, Asian Tour Contributing Editor.

It’s a trip of enormous significance and meaning for the two-time Asian Tour number one as Singh was one of the pioneers of Asian golfers coming to Europe, and also played the Compaq European Grand Prix here at Slaley Hall in 1999 – during his second full season in Europe.

Coming back to the course this week more than 20 years later, he is full of praise for the first Asian Tour event ever to be played in England.

“Oh, I think it’s an awesome event,” said Jeev Milkha Singh.

“I played here in 1999 on the European Tour and I’ve come back here now after, I don’t know, I can’t even count the years. I just love the golf course; I think we couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better venue. The crowds are amazing, I think the whole setup is amazing. I think this is a very demanding golf course, with sloping greens which requires precision golf and a lot of feel on the greens.

“I think it’s great for Asian Tour to have an event here, my thought process is that golf is a global sport, and I think wherever we can have tournaments, anywhere in the world, we should. The Asian Tour used to have events only in Asia, and the European Tour would come to have events in Asia with us in our co-sanctioned events. But us coming to the UK and playing an Asian Tour event for the first time is great to see, and hopefully in the future we do have more tournaments which can be played anywhere in the world.”

Asked if he had ever imagined the Asian Tour venturing into England when he first started playing in Europe in 1998 Jeev Milkha Singh said: “Not really, honestly. If we talk about having an event in Europe, an Asian Tour event, I never thought about it. But you know, it’s a start and I’m happy that we have an Asian Tour event here because the weather is so hot in Asia at this time of the year anyway, so it’s better to be coming to play in the UK, the weather’s perfect. Maybe cold for a few players, but I think it’s much better than being in the heat and we should make the most of it.”

Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Playing in unfamiliar territory can be quite a challenge for players not used to playing in Europe in early summer, with weather and course conditions very different from most countries in Asia. A three-time winner on European soil, Jeev Milkha Singh managed to overcome these obstacles during his time on the European Tour and offered this advice to Asian Tour players facing this for the first time:

“I think the main things which the Asian players need to work on is obviously playing in the cold, that’s one. Second is playing in the rain, third playing in the wind. Normally the greens here are quite soft, and you need to make sure you have good distance control. Most of these courses with the wind and the undulation of the greens, you’ve got to make sure you have the right yardage so that you can fly the ball to the hole. And that’s all I can say, otherwise these guys are good enough to play anywhere in the world.”

Having turned 50 in December last year, Jeev Milka Singh is now starting to shift his focus towards the senior tours, and he is planning to play the European Legends Tour most of the summer.

He says: “Now I’m going to be based in Sunningdale outside of London from this week onwards. I’m going to be playing at the Sunningdale Golf Club, they were nice enough to extend playing rights to me and my son, I’m going to be playing and practicing there. And from there I’ll just fly out every week on Wednesdays to senior events in Europe, starting with the Jersey Open next week. I’ll fly out on Wednesday and come back on Sunday. After that it’s the Farm Foods Ian Woosnam Invitational, another senior event, before two weeks off and then play Switzerland, Germany, The Senior Open and The JCB Championship.

“In August I’ll be back in Asia again, I’ve got an exemption on the Japan Senior Tour, so I’m gonna start playing there too. The way I put it to everybody is, it’s my second innings and I think we are fortunate in this game that it gives you a second chance after 50. I’m a rookie on tour again so I got to make use of it.”

Singh is happy with the state of his game this week especially after making it through to the weekend, following an arduous journey.

He competed in the Senior PGA Championship in Michigan last week, and on Tuesday he played a Champions Tour qualifier in Des Moines, Iowa.

Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Basically, it was a long trip for me. On Tuesday after my Champions Tour qualifying, I flew from Des Moines to Chicago, Chicago to JFK, got there Tuesday night at about midnight. I woke up at about six o’clock in the morning and took a flight to Heathrow. Got in at about 1AM to London, spent five hours trying to sleep in bed, but didn’t get much sleep. Maybe I got two hours of sleep. Thursday morning I took the 9:30am flight out of Heathrow to Newcastle, I got here at 10:40 in the morning but the luggage didn’t come for a while.

“I got to the hotel at the airport at about 11:30am and asked them when the last shuttle was, it was at 12. I couldn’t get a room so I changed to my golfing clothes in the restroom, took the 12 o’clock shuttle and got here at 12:40. My tee time was at 1:46, so I registered, got a yardage book and tried to arrange a caddy. Did that. I hit a few balls and then straight on to the tee. I was really tired. So, it was tough.”

He shot a five-over-par 76 that first day but rebounded magnificently with a 69 on Friday to finish on the three over cut line.

It was a battling performance reminiscent of his six victories on the Asian Tour and a warning shot to the senior game that a new a kid is on the block.

Justin Harding took route 66 to surge into contention in the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle, along with teenage star Joohyung Kim.

The South African, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, made a big move during the second round, climbing to six under par for the tournament.

And it served to put behind him the frustrations of a bogey-bogey finish to his opening round.

Justin Harding, 36, said: “I’m in a good spot. I was a bit grumpy after yesterday’s finish – I felt like if I’d got in at three-under-par I would’ve been happy.

“I hit a lot of good shots today. I made a couple of putts but felt like I gave myself a bucket-load of chances. It could’ve been a little bit better had a few gone in – but I’m happy where I’m at tournament-wise.”

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Justin Harding shone on the front nine – the loop where scoring has been hardest for the field. He made birdies at the second (his 11th), sixth (his 15^th) and eighth (his 17^th) to add to a trio of gains on his outer loop on the Hunting Course.

Justin Harding added: “I felt like I gave myself a chance on almost every hole coming in. We made three, so it was fine – I’m happy with it.

“The only one that I was having to grind on was four, which is the converted par five. That’s just a strong golf hole.”

Korea’s Kim, last season’s Asian Tour number one, tagged a 69 to his opening effort of 67.

The 19 year old said: “I wish I had a couple more, but I felt like I played pretty solid for the first two days – and you can’t win it today.”

Kim also revealed how much he enjoyed the experience of playing alongside former US Open champion Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland over the first two days.

He said: “You can just kind of see why he’s Graeme McDowell, major champion. You get to see the way he plays, the carries himself around. It’s a different class and I felt like I learned a lot from him. It was definitely a pleasure.”

Hot on their heels one behind is Kosuke Hamamoto (65) and Kasidit Lepkurte (70) from Thailand (65), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (68), South African Neil Schietekat (68), India’s Shiv Kapur (70), and first-round leader Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei (72).

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- L-R- Scott Vincent of Zimbababwe and Shiv Kapur of India pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Kapur said: “All things considered, I’m happy. I got off to a good start today. I didn’t quite hold it – a couple of three-putts on my back nine. But the front nine is the trickier side and a couple of tucked pins.

“But that’s always going to happen – to go blemish-free over 36 holes would’ve been a bit of a bonus. Overall, I’m in a good position. Hopefully the body can keep up at the weekend.”

American Sihwan Kim played his way to within striking distance of the leaders with a solid 68.

The Asian Tour Order of Merit leader moved to four under par for the tournament and for the second day in succession showed a steely touch with the putter.

It was evident on Slaley Hall’s last green where he holed a clutch 15-footer to take momentum into ‘moving’ day tomorrow.

Kim, 33, said: “Every putt’s important and I’ve been making a lot of putts the last two days, so hopefully that will keep on going.

“If you just hit it in the fairway and get really hot with the putter on the weekend, you could just run away with this thing. Obviously, it’s easier said than done, but at the same it is possible.”

Kim’s playing partner Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat comfortably made the halfway cut on his debut in the UK, courtesy of a second-round 70 that left him at one-under.

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland pictured on Friday, June 3, 2022, during round two of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The 15-year-old Thai sensation displayed his battling qualities as he recorded three back-nine birdies.

He said: “I played much better than yesterday. It still wasn’t really my day though – I couldn’t really hole any putts. But, overall it was a pretty good round.

“I’m five behind. I’ve put myself back in contention from way further behind before – Black Mountain, for example. I’m hoping I can really make some putts tomorrow – and good ball-striking. But I’m pretty happy with where I am.”

McDowell carded a 69 and is just off the lead on three under.

“Really hit it solidly for the past two days. I just struggled to get the ball in the hole as the greens are a little bit slower, which they need to be as Slaley Hall is on quite a bit of a slope,” said McDowell.

“I really like the way I have been playing the last three or four months, it’s really about that last piece of the puzzle, which is just confidence. Coming over here this week I am feeling comfortable being back in the UK and seeing a golf course like this and seeing the ball behave itself, the confidence is coming back. I am really enjoying my time. The weather has actually been quite pleasant to us. Nice to be there and there abouts going into the weekend.”

Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun upstaged a stellar field at the inaugural International Series England today to take the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.

The little-known golfer, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017, birdied his last three holes at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle, to finish the day ahead of six players who carded 67s: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and India’s Shiv Kapur and S.S.P. Chawrasia.

“My family gave me some advice before I flew here,” said Chang.

“My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently.”

The signs have been there that the 28 year old has been threatening something special as when the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year, after a two-year gap because of the pandemic, he confidently made the cut in all four of the final events of the 2020-22 season.

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He added: “Coming into this week, I wasn’t thinking too much. I have been playing well this season, but I know I can do better. The weather was much cooler than I expected. I was actually more concerned about the weather, so I prepared myself for bad weather conditions, but today’s condition is actually not too bad.”

Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz said he has really benefited from catching up with his coach Pete Cowen this week.

“My game is getting better, training the right way since beginning of the year. Hitting good, just waiting for the scoring to come back,” said Jazz.

“I haven’t seen my coach Pete Cowen much. I saw him in Dubai but that was a while ago, and I saw him at the British Masters, and he is here this week with G-Mac [Graeme McDowell] so it has been really great, as obviously it’s just me and G-Mac so I can have as much time with him as possible.”

The 2019 Asian Tour number one was in impressive form: he made nine pars on the front and toured the back nine in four under with birdies on 10, 11, 14 and 16.

“We are just getting back to what we were doing in 2019.Working out why I was swinging it great in 2019 and what I am doing now. It’s really hard to explain. It’s a lot of small things. It’s like one of those games when you have a picture and you have to spot the small things. But mostly it’s timing. When you don’t see your coach for a while you just start getting lose.”

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Last year’s top ranked player on the Asian Tour Kim three putted 18 for a bogey to slip back into the pack but he was content with his round considering the foreign conditions.

Said the 19 year old: “It was great. I actually had some hard situations that I made par with. Obviously, it would have been nice to have two putted 18. It’s just the first round, I have a lot of golf to play. Leading after the first round doesn’t mean I am going to lead on Sunday. It got really cold out there in the afternoon, so it was tough, especially over the last six holes. It is the kind of situation we don’t normally have in Asia, but I think I adapted really well.”

American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.

Kim said: “Man, I pretty much made the best out of my round. Not really that good off the tee, but I just grinded – and made some decent putts.

“I made some bombs today, so that kind of kept my round going. I’ve got to get some work in after lunch and see how it goes.”

Ratchanon, who started on 10, made an incredible start with two birdies either side of an eagle in his opening three holes. That eagle came as a result of a stunning drive and thee-wood followed by a chip-in.

NEWCASTLE-ENGLAND-Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 yr old amateur golfer of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

But a couple of loose drives at his 12th and 14th holes saw three strokes go and there was another mistake at the last.

He said: “Ball-striking was pretty bad. I’ve hooked three of my drives that have cost me four strokes. On three, it was probably so unlucky – it just went right in the trunk of the tree. Then five, an easy par four, I pulled it into the water. And the last hole – on nine. I definitely need to change up five and nine. I might even try my back-up driver!”

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, came in with a 70.