Veteran Kennedy embracing capricious conditions
Brad Kennedy is savouring the prospect of once more battling the elements and the unique contours of the Old Course when he tees-off in the final round of the 150th Open Championship on Sunday.
Embracing the capricious conditions, the veteran Australian returned a creditable third-round even-par 72.
“To birdie the last for a 72 … there are definitely some positives I can take away for tomorrow. Again, I’m just really having to show what I can do when I need to,” said the 48-year-old, winner of the 2020 New Zealand Open.
At four-under through 54 holes, Kennedy finds himself in a share of 35th position, alongside fellow Asian Tour members Sadom Kaewkanjana and Joohyung Kim, among others.
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand
Thai Sadom signed for a 74 while Korean Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, had a 72. He also had the satisfaction of bettering American Patrick Reed, his playing partner for the third day in succession, by four strokes.
Going into Sunday, the challenge for them all is to keep fighting and finish strongly.
“You’re really just battling the elements and battling the contours of the greens to try and give yourself a chance to not be too far away (from the pins),” said Kennedy.
“Tomorrow really for me is if I can hit the shapes, hit the targets that I need to. I know there’s a good score out there. Whatever that is, I don’t know.
“I’m starting to get comfortable with the course, with my targets. The pins are so tough to get to. You’ve just got to be on the same plateau. Otherwise it’s a 30-foot putt all day.
“I think I had 300 foot of putts the last four holes. It’s just playing to the great way that links is built,” added Kennedy.
Not all of his fellow-competitors would echo the Australian’s sentiments, but for the young Asian players it’s pretty much a new experience – and one from which they’ll inevitably benefit in the long term.
On Saturday, though, it proved a struggle.
Following rounds of 67 and 68 respectively on Friday, Sadom and Yuto Katsuragawa had genuine hopes of challenging the leaders going into the final round. It did not work out that way.
Sadom, winner of January’s SMBC Singapore Open, churned out 15 pars, but was three-over and without a birdie on his card playing 18. At least he had the pleasure of making a three at the last to finish the day on a positive note.
Katsuragawa ran up a seven at the long fifth and was four-over through 13. He made his first birdie of the day at the par-five 14th and also eked out a three at 18 where he drove the green and two-putted.
He’s now tied for 55th, but will have the motivation to finish as the leading Japanese, ahead of last year’s Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who had two sevens in a 76 that leaves him at plus-three for the week.
England’s Laurie Canter, the fifth Asian Tour member to make the cut, carded a 74 and is in joint 69th place on even-par 216.
Joohyung Kim of Korea
Joohyung Kim will have a third successive day in the company of former Masters winner Patrick Reed.
Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, fired a one-under-par 71 in the second round of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews on Friday.
With a 36-hole total of four-under 140, the talented 20-year-old enters the weekend in a share of 25th place, nine strokes off the pace being set by Australian Cameron Smith.
Kim will tee-off his third round at 1.25 pm local time (8.25 pm Singapore time) – alongside American Reed, with whom he was also paired for the first two rounds.
Kim was one of the five players from the Asian Tour’s 16-strong contingent in the starting line-up to survive the half-way which came at even-par 144.
Also looking forward to making their mark over the weekend at the home of golf are Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana (138, tied 12th); Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa (139, tied 18th); Australian Brad Kennedy (140, tied 25th) and England’s Laurie Canter (142, tied 46th).
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand
Sadom, winner of January’s SMBC Singapore Open, tees-off at 2.40 pm (9.40 pm Singapore time) with England’s Barclay Brown, the leading amateur.
Canter has an 11.50 am time alongside Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, while Katsuragawa partners Mexican Abraham Ancer at 2.20 pm. Kennedy will set out at 1.15 pm with Victor Perez of France.
“I’m a fair way back, but this place can do anything,” said 48-year-old Kennedy, winner of the New Zealand Open on the Asian Tour in 2020.
“The key for me around any tournament I’m playing now is to see how far can I push myself mentally to be able to hit the shots that are required to play under pressure. It feels like I’ve probably taken another step this week,” he added.
While Canter, Katsuragawa, Kennedy, Kim and Sadom will savour their time at St Andrews, there was disappointment for those that made an early exit.
It was especially galling for New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, South African Justin Harding and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, all of whom failed by a single stroke to make it through.
Three-under for the day through 14 holes, Campbell appeared well set but was derailed by bogeys at 15 and 17 as he signed for a 71 to go with his opening 74.
After a first-day 69, Vincent remained well positioned for much of day two only to see his good work undone by a double-bogey six at the 16th. Unable to find a birdie on either of the last two holes, he was left to rue what might have been.
Steering clear of the hazardous pot bunkers which dot the Old Course will continue to remain the prime objective for Sadom Kaewkanjana as he steps up his bid to create history over the weekend.
With a bogey-free five-under-par 67 in the second round of the 150th Open Championship, the 24-year-old Thai has thrust himself into contention for one of the biggest prizes in golf.
“It’s very amazing for me to be in this position,” said Sadom, who settled for a share of 12th place on six-under 138, making the halfway cut in what is his Open Championship debut.
Amazing indeed has been the way in which Sadom has battled back after slipping to one-over through 11 holes of the opening round. In the subsequent 25 holes, he’s nine-under.
“My first target was to make the cut,” said Sadom, who secured his ticket to St Andrews courtesy of his victory in January’s SMBC Singapore Open.
Now that he’s comfortably achieved that feat, his attention will turn to bettering the performance of Thongchai Jaidee, his idol and mentor. In 2009, Thongchai tied for 13th at Turnberry, to date the best finish by a Thai in the Open.
One of the finest players in the history of the Asian Tour, Thongchai was due to arrive in the United Kingdom last night ahead of his appearance in the Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles next week.
With Sadom flying high, Thongchai will make a detour to St Andrews to offer words of encouragement to his young compatriot.
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand
“I’m looking forward to seeing Thongchai and getting advice from him. He’s my idol and has helped me a lot,” said Sadom, who knows that one of the keys to keeping alive hopes of a top-10 finish will depend on his ability to avoid the punishing sand traps around St Andrews.
“In the first two rounds I haven’t been in a single bunker,” he said. “I’ve been feeling confident on every shot. On the back nine in the second round I changed my gameplan. Because the wind direction changed, I was aiming further left off the tee and that worked.”
After four straight pars, Sadom went into red figures with a two-putt birdie at the long fifth. He picked up another stroke at the ninth where he got up-and-down after driving through the green.
On the back nine, he holed from 10 feet and 30 feet respectively for birdies at 14 and 16 before draining a 12-footer on the home green, to roars from the galleries lining the adjoining street.
In total, 16 Asian Tour members qualified to line-up in the 150th Open Championship.
He may have begun the week as a rank outsider, little-known beyond the borders of his home country. But as the second round of the 150th Open Championship was drawing to a close, the name of Yuto Katsuragawa was featuring prominently on the leaderboard at the home of golf.
Wielding a hot putter, the 23-year-old followed up an opening 71 with a four-under-par 68 over the fabled Old Course at St Andrews.
With more than half the field having completed 36 holes, Major championship debutant Katsuragawa found himself in a share of 15th position at five-under 139 – four strokes off the clubhouse lead being set by American Dustin Johnson.
“I’m surprised to be doing so well. I didn’t expect this,” admitted the Asian Tour member, who earned his starting spot here by finishing second in January’s SMBC Singapore Open.
“This is my first time in Scotland and my first time in Europe. I really came here just for the experience. I’m loving the atmosphere,” added Katsuragawa, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation’s Money List after a brilliant run of form in the past few months.
Yuto Katsuragawa of Japan
As well as winning the ISPS Handa Championship, he finished runner-up at the Token Homemate Cup and tied for second at the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup, co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.
Holding court with the Japanese media after his second round, Katsuragawa made it clear that he’s keeping his expectations in check, at least publicly.
“I’m just glad to be here and to be part of the Japan team. For the weekend, I won’t be thinking about winning. I’ll just be focusing on each shot and trying my best,” he said.
With the cut projected to be made at even-par 144, several of the Asian Tour contingent were facing upto an early exit.
Among them were South African Shaun Norris (147), Japan’s Shugo Imahira (152) and Australian Jediah Morgan (155).
However, as early evening descended, Brad Kennedy, Joohyung Kim, Scott Vincent and Sadom Kaewkanjana were all well positioned to book their places for the final two rounds.
Veteran Australian Brad Kennedy surprised even himself with a brilliant first-round birdie spree in the 150th Open Championship.
On a day when many of the world’s best players struggled to come to terms with the firm and fast conditions at St Andrews, 48-year-old Kennedy quickly found his range, snaring eight birdies en route to a four-under-par 68.
“I didn’t expect that today,” admitted Kennedy, a long-standing Asian Tour member who won the 2020 New Zealand Open.
Outscoring his playing partners – South African Ernie Els (70) and Spain’s Adri Arnaus (74) – Kennedy raced to four-under through six holes. He would add four more birdies to offset four bogeys and ended the day in a share of sixth spot.
He said: “We had a really nice breeze early on this morning and I managed to hit some great iron shots into some tough pins.
“I’ve been playing nicely in Japan. I had a few good weeks of prep back home and I really wanted to come out and see how far I could push myself in terms of what shots I wanted to hit and how to hit them. I’m really happy with the progress so far.”
Brad Kennedy of Australia
Runner-up in the Malaysian Open in 2003 and 2004 and third in the Singapore Open in 2006, Kennedy has made the cut in both his Asian Tour appearances this season, finishing joint 14th in the PIF Saudi International and sharing 43rd place at the APGC Diamond Cup in Japan.
Having been one of the early starters on day one, Kennedy was looking forward to a lie-in on Friday when he’ll tee-off at 2.26 pm local time (9.26 pm Singapore time).
Kennedy was one of five players from the 16-strong Asian Tour contingent to better par in the opening road at the final Major of 2022.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, winner of the International Series England at the start of last month, both returned three-under 69s.
Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana and Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa both signed for 71s to put themselves in a strong position to make the cut that will be made following Friday’s second round.
Joohyung Kim cut a disconsolate figure as he trudged off the 18th green at St Andrews. Despite signing for a three-under-par 69, the 20-year-old Korean was left to rue an untidy finish to his round, prompted by being handed a ‘bad time’.
For much of the opening morning at the 150th Open Championship, a broad smile had adorned the face of the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion. But his mood darkened after receiving a warning on the par-three 11th for taking too long over a shot.
“It was unfortunate. I needed to regroup and refocus but after that I felt I was rushing everything in order to stay on time,” said Kim.
Joohyung Kim of Korea
Nonetheless, he seemed to remain in control of his emotions when adding a fifth birdie of the day at the 15th. From there, though, his fortunes faltered as the threat of another bad timing loomed.
A dropped shot at the 16th – his first of the day – was followed by another bogey at 17, where he missed the green with his approach and failed to get up-and-down.
There was further frustration at the 18th, playing downwind and one of the easiest holes on the course where birdies were common currency.
Short of the green with his tee shot, Kim pitched onto the putting surface but could not convert the birdie opportunity.
Muttering to himself, there was no mistaking his disappointment and anger as he strode to the scorers’ hut.
Nonetheless, when he reflects on his first round in an Open Championship, Kim will have much to be pleased with.
“I hit a lot of good shots. Until the 18th hole I felt I played great,” said Kim, who was among the early pace-setters after picking up shots at the third, fifth, seventh and ninth to turn in four-under 32.
On the back of a third-place finish in last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, Kim has soared to 39th in the Official World Golf Ranking and is feeling increasingly comfortable among the game’s elite.
Having ended as the leading Korean in 23rd spot at last month’s US Open, the next test for Kim is to see if he’s able to bounce back from today’s late adversity with another sub-70 return in round two at St Andrews.
Joohyung Kim of Korea
“I believe I can be up there – and that’s what I’ll be aiming for,” he said.
With almost half of the field having completed their first rounds, Kim was in joint seventh place, five strokes behind runaway leader Cameron Young of the United States, but just two adrift of second-placed Australian Cameron Smith.
Among those at four-under 68 was American Kurt Kitayama, who followed up his runner-up finish at last week’s Scottish Open with a bogey-free performance.
Kitayama is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He triumphed at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2018. Prior to his breakthrough in Mauritius, Kitayama won the PGM Darulaman Championship on the Asian Development Tour.
With a birdie-birdie finish, Sadom Kaewkanjana ensured his first Open Championship round ended in red figures.
“I’m very happy to birdie the last two holes,” said the 24-year-old Thai after signing for a one-under-par 71 over the Old Course at St Andrews.
“To be playing in the 150th Open Championship is a thrill for me. I was quite nervous at the start,” said Sadom, who appeared to be staring at an early exit after double-bogeys at the sixth and 11th saw him go to three-over.
But the winner of this year’s SMBC Singapore Open battled back gamely with birdies at 12 and 14 before staging a grandstand finish, holing a 15-footer at the Road Hole 17th and two-putting for a fifth birdie of the day after driving the green on the home hole.
Teeing-off at 6.46 am (local time) in the second flight of the day, Sadom set himself a 3.30 am wake up call.
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand
Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he settled his early nerves with five straight pars before coming unstuck at the par-four sixth where he misjudged his pitching wedge approach and four-putted.
“I found it a little difficult with the wind, but I’m happy to shoot under par and feel more confident of making the cut now,” he said.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, playing in the same group as Sadom, will have his work cut out to progress to the weekend after carding a 74 that included a double-bogey six at 17.
One stroke better off is Korean Minkyu Kim, fifth in the current Asian Tour Order of Merit standings.
The 21-year-old, who booked his ticket to Scotland by winning last month’s Kolon Korean Open, was unable to take advantage of a solid start.
From a position of strength at one-under through 12, bogeys at 13 and 16 took the wind out of his sails.
In total, 16 Asian Tour members qualified to line-up in the 150th Open Championship.
Ends.
Four of the top-five players from the current Asian Tour Order of Merit standings will be aiming to make the most of a magical opportunity when they tee-off at the ancestral home of golf in the 150th Open Championship today.
American Sihwan Kim, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Koreans Joohyung Kim and Minkyu Kim are all determined to stamp their mark at the fabled St Andrews links after qualifying for the final Major of 2022.
Sihwan Kim of United States
“It feels so good to be playing my first Major,” said Sihwan Kim, who secured his starting spot thanks to a fourth-place finish in January’s SMBC Singapore Open, part of the Open Qualifying Series.
Inspired by the knowledge that a visit to St Andrews lay ahead of him, he scored his maiden Asian Tour victory at the International Series Thailand in March. Riding the crest of a wave, Sihwan Kim then won the following month’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge.
On the back of those triumphs, he leads the Order of Merit with earnings of more than US$500,000. For now, though, the 33-year-old’s focus of attention is firmly on the Old Course.
“I’ve played St Andrews a couple of times before. It’s pretty special to be back for The 150th Open,” said Kim, who tees-off at 9.47 am local time (4.37 pm Singapore time), alongside fellow-American Jason Kokrak and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.
Equally excited about making their Major championship debuts are Vincent and Minkyu Kim, fourth and fifth respectively on the latest Merit list.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe
“At the start of the year, one of my goals was to qualify for a Major and I have managed to do that,” said 30-year-old Vincent, who won the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in May, beating Anthony Quayle in a play-off. The win also gained him an exemption into the 2022 Open Championship.
A week later, Vincent won the International Series England at Slaley Hall in Northumberland. He carded a final-round 66 to win by one shot over Travis Smyth and claim his first Asian Tour victory.
“I’m really excited about playing my first Major, especially at St Andrews, the Home of Golf. It will be so special,” said Vincent, who sets out at 9.36 am in the company of Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and Frenchman Victor Perez.
For his part, Minkyu Kim booked his Scotland ticket courtesy of winning last month’s Kolon Korean Open.
The 21-year-old, who spent two years on the Challenge Tour in Europe after turning pro in 2017, said: “As a kid I grew up watching The Open. I just can’t express how happy I am to be competing in The 150th Open.
“Everyone talks about St Andrews. It’s such a historic golf course and I’m happy to be here for this historic occasion.”
Minkyu Kim of Korea
Minkyu Kim has a 7.19 am start, where he’ll be partnered by England’s Ashley Chesters and South African Garrick Higgo.
Two groups behind them will be Joohyung Kim. The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion who is third in this year’s standings will be with Americans Tom Hoge and Patrick Reed, the former Masters Tournament winner.
Of the dozen-strong Asian Tour contingent, first out on the course will be Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana and New Zealander Ben Campbell who are drawn with English amateur Barclar Brown for the 6.46 am slot, the second group of the tournament.
Winner of the SMBC Singapore Open, Sadom said: “This is a dream come true. It’s my first Major. I am so happy and excited to be playing my first Open championship at the Home of Golf, St Andrews. It is very special to me.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand
Buoyed by a third-place finish at the Genesis Scottish Open last week, Korean prodigy Joohyung Kim is aiming to upstage his more illustrious compatriots for the second Major championship in succession.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion made waves last month when he marked his maiden appearance in the US Open by finishing as the leading Korean player in 23rd place.
Having propelled to a career-high 39th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) following his strong performance at The Renaissance Club on Sunday, Kim is setting his sights on emulating that performance at The 150th Open this week.
Lining up at St Andrews against the best players in the world is especially poignant for the 20-year-old who was denied the opportunity of making his Open debut last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kim said: “I had the opportunity to play in The Open last year but could not because of Covid. So, it means so much to have a second chance.
“My first Open is going to be a special one. For sure, I’m not going to miss this one!”
At the start of 2020, Kim finished fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series, securing his place in The Open that year.
However, with the worldwide spread of Covid, The Open was cancelled in 2020. Although Kim’s exemption was extended to the 2021 event, travel restrictions meant he was unable to take up the chance that he yearned.
The disappointment of missing out in such unfortunate and unprecedented circumstances only served to strengthen Kim’s resolve to qualify for the 2022 edition.
With a typically gutsy performance at Sentosa Golf Club in January this year, Kim ended joint runner-up at the SMBC Singapore Open – a result that not only guaranteed him a ticket to St Andrews but also ensured him of the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.
His solid form has continued in the first half of 2022 with four top-five finishes on the Asian Tour, lifting him into third place in the current Order of Merit standings.
Having broken into top-50 on the OWGR which will earn him an invite to Augusta National for the 2023 Masters Tournament if he stays inside the mark at the end of the year, Kim’s attention is just focused on tackling the Old Course at St Andrews now.
Kim said: “It’s The Open. It’s a Major championship and for me to qualify for it again, that was a goal. I’m so happy to be here.”
Ends.
Branden Grace continued the South African domination in LIV Invitational Series, winning the Portland tournament by two shots following the low round of the tournament – a seven-under par 65.
Birdies on 15th, 16th and 17th holes gave him a three-shot cushion coming up the difficult par-4 18th hole of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. However, a solid par ensured his win at 13-under par and the winning cheque of $4 million as he finished two shots of LIV debutant Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, who sank a 45-footer birdie putt on the final hole to reduce the margin of victory.
The inaugural LIV event in London was won by Grace’s compatriot Charl Schwartzel.
Grace’s team, the all-South African quartet Stinger, could not replicate the win at Centurion Club and finished second. The team championship was bagged by the Dustin Johnson-led 4 Aces GC, which benefited from a sparkling round of five-under par 67 by Patrick Reed.
NORTH PLAINS, OREGON – JULY 02: Team Captain Dustin Johnson (2nd R), Pat Perez (L), Talor Gooch (2nd L) and Patrick Reed (R) of 4 Aces GC celebrate with the team championship trophy during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on July 02, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jamie Squire/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Reed’s round included a late eagle on the 17th hole and a birdie on the 18th. A lip-out denied him a birdie on his closing hole, the first of the course, which could have edged him a shot ahead of Johnson in solo third place. Both the Americans, past Masters champions, were tied third at 9-under par.
Another South African, Justin Harding, was the best-placed member of the Asian Tour, tied for the eighth place at two-under par after being inside the top-5 for most part of the final round. A double bogey on the 15th followed by a bogey on the 16th saw him slip late in the round.
“I played a really good round of golf and hit just two bad shots. And that penalised me with a double and a bogey. It’s what it is. I am happy with the way I am playing, but this could have been so much better,” said Harding, who finished second in the 2018 Order of Merit.
Order of Merit leader Sihwan Kim did not have the best final round, but despite a three-over 75, he finished on tied 11th place with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.
NORTH PLAINS, OREGON – JULY 02: (L-R) Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC and Justin Harding of Crushers GC look on from the fourth tee during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on July 02, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
“I did not hit the ball as well as I did yesterday and I also thought that luck was not on my side. Every time it was a close call, I always ended up on the wrong side,” said Kim, who was tied 43rd in London.
Starting the round two shots behind his playing partners Ortiz and Johnson in the leading group, the 34-year-old Branden Grace turned it around with a fantastic birdie on the toughest hole of the golf course – the long, par-4 13th. A perfect fade with the driver was followed by a superb four-iron to 15 feet, and he made the putt.
“I thought I played pretty flawless. And that birdie on the 13th was the key,” said Branden Grace, who had also closed with a 65 in London to finish third in the inaugural LIV event.
“When I needed to do something special, I managed managed to pull it out. It was just a great day, and the crowd was fantastic. I have never felt like this before with everyone shouting ‘Grace, Grace’. I guess this is how Tiger (Woods) feels when he plays. Everybody here is having a blast.”
NORTH PLAINS, OREGON – JULY 02: Sihwan Kim of Iron Heads GC watches his shot on the fourth tee during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on July 02, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
With three birdies in his first four holes, Mexico’s 31-year-old Ortiz had opened a four-shot lead at the stage, but he cooled down after that and could only add another birdie on the 18th hole.
Branden Grace was hitting the ball well from the beginning of his round, but every aspect of his game was spot on in the second nine. And when he got into trouble, like on the 16th hole with his second shot, he managed to chip in for another birdie from an improbable position with hardly any green to use.
World No17 Johnson, the highest-ranked player in the field, struggled early in his round and finished with a one-under par 71 round.
The LIV Invitational Golf moves next to the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for the third event from July 29-31. England’s Paul Casey was announced as LIV’s latest signing and he is expected to become a part of captain Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers team there.
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