Published on August 11, 2019

August 11: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat continues to stand a mathematical chance of breaking into the top-70 on the FedEx Cup points list despite carding a five-over-par 76 at The Northern Trust Open on Saturday.

The 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion’s three-day total of three-over-par 216 saw him slipped to a share of 79th place.

However, as a 54-hole cut was not made despite more than 78 players making the 36-hole cut, Kiradech’s slim hopes of progressing into next week’s BMW Championship next week remains much alive.

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Overseas Watch: Kiradech faces uphill battle after 73 at The Northern Trust

August 10: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat stumbled to a two-over-par 73 in the second round of The Northern Trust on Friday, knowing fully well he requires a good weekend to extend his run in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs.

The 30-year-old Asian star, who opened with a 67 on Thursday, carded a birdie against a bogey and double bogey at Liberty National Golf Club to slip to tied-61st place with his two day total of two-under-par 140.

American star Dustin Johnson shot a 67 to seize the halfway lead by one shot on 130, with  Jordan Spieth trailing in second place in the first of three Playoffs event which the FedExCup champion will earn a US$15 million payday.

Playing in his first full season on the PGA TOUR, Kiradech, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, entered the week in 76^th place on the FedExCup points list and needs to finish in a projected 27^th place this week to break into the top-70 and qualify for next week’s BMW Championship in Chicago.

After a strong start in the first round, the Thai struggled to cope in tougher windy conditions in his afternoon round and could have benefited with a behaving putter as he  missed numerous opportunities.

“The golf course was much more difficult. When the winds pick up, it’s totally a different  course here. I hit a lot of good shots but the putts didn’t want to drop, like in the last two holes where I left it like inches to the cup,” said Kiradech.

“I’ve still got a chance in the last two days to climb up the leaderboard and my aim is to finish top-25. The way I’m playing, I still have a chance. I know what I need to do and it depends on whether I can play my own game and if my body is strong enough to play the  last two rounds. My knee is getting worse every day but I just need to keep fighting,” added Kiradech.

Overseas Watch: Kiradech opens with a 67 at The Northern Trust

August 9: Despite struggling with a knee injury, Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat carded a solid four-under-par 67 to tie in 18th place following the opening round of The Northern Trust on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Thai, who is featuring in his first FedEx Cup Playoffs this week, fired five birdies against a bogey to trail leader Troy Merritt by five shots at the Liberty National Golf Club.

Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013, had qualified for the US$9.25 million Northern Trust, the first of three play-offs events, after finishing in 76th position on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup points list.

Kiradech, who is also the first ever Thai player to earn a PGA Tour card, needs a fine showing at The Northern Trust to break into top-70 on the points list and advance into the BMW Championship next week.

“I hit the ball solid and rolled the putts better, although some putts didn’t drop,” said Kiradech, who navigated his way around the greens in 27 putts en route to his opening 67.

“You have to keep the ball on the fairway and keep it in position. I think I played better than the score today but overall, it’s a good start.”

“My knee’s a bit swollen, so hopefully the treatment from the physios will help,” he added.

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Published on August 8, 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, August 8: Thailand’s Prom Meesawat is planning to make another strong impact when he tees up for the first time at the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship, which will take place at the Damai Golf and Country Club in Kuching next week.

Prom’s 2019 season has been a mark of consistency so far. The Thai has claimed three top-10 results and missed only two cuts in eight starts to sit in 12th place on the Order of Merit with his current haul of US$109,800.

The 35-year-old, who made his long-awaited second appearance at The Open at Royal Portrush last month, also won a title on his domestic circuit earlier in March and secured his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory in Brunei in April.

Prom is determined to ride on that momentum as he takes aim at breaking into top-four on the Merit rankings by October 21, which is the qualifying cut-off for the prestigious World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions.

“The game is feeling good. I’m always working hard to ensure that my game stays at the best level. The immediate goal right now is to qualify for the WGC-HSBC Champions at the end of October,” said Prom, nicknamed the ‘Big Dolphin’ due to his burly physique and because he comes from the coastal town of Hua Hin, south of Bangkok.

“I got the season off to a strong start, finishing tied-fifth in Singapore to earn a spot at The Open. I have won at home and on the ADT this season, so I hope to get a win on the Asian Tour as well. I would be happy if I can finish inside top-10 at the end of the season,” he added.

Prom, chasing for a third Asian Tour victory and first since 2014, will headline the event alongside countryman and Order of Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond, as well as Australian Scott Hend, the most successful international player with 10 wins on the Asian Tour.

Ben Leong, Nicholas Fung and Danny Chia, all proven winners on Tour, will spearhead the local charge when the popular event returns for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from August 15 to 18.

The Sarawak Championship, which is supported by the Sarawak State government, will see a total of 156 players from 22 countries vying for top honours at the full-field Asian Tour event, which will be the Tour’s second stop in Malaysia this season.

Other notable players in the field include American Micah Lauren Shin, India’s Shiv Kapur, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Sadom Kaewkanjana, who became the first ever rookie to win in his first start on Tour at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in April.

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Published on August 2, 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, August 2: Australian Scott Hend, deemed as the Asian Tour’s most successful international golfer, is set to lend his star credentials to the Sarawak Championship, which will return for its second straight edition on the region’s premier Tour in a fortnight.

Hend, the first Australian to lift the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown in 2016, will be looking for another successful run in Malaysia when he makes his debut appearance in the US$300,000 event, slated to take place at the Damai Golf and Country Club in Kuching from August 15 to 18.

The 45-year-old Hend had earlier claimed his 10^th Asian Tour victory and first in three years in Malaysia in March. That victory saw him break the US$5 million mark in career earnings on the Asian Tour to become the second highest-earning player following Thai star Thongchai Jaidee.

Hend, who claimed all his 10 victories in Asia, is also the fourth player after Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant (18), Thongchai (13) and Prayad Marksaeng (10) to obtain 10 wins or more on the Asian Tour.

“After winning the 2016 Order of Merit, I thought it would be great if, at some stage, I can get the chance to contend for the title again. It will be an exciting battle with Jazz playing well and my drive to try and win the title again.

“The Sarawak Championship will be the start of a busy stretch for me and I hope to close the gap on Jazz with a good result there,” said Hend, who broke through in Indonesia in 2008 before claiming eight titles in four years from 2012.

Sitting in second place on the current Asian Tour Order of Merit, the big-hitting Hend will have another shot at chasing for the Merit crown as he aims to close the gap on leader Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand with a fine showing in Sarawak.

“2019 has been a year of recovery for me. I was injured last year and have been working hard to get back some form. It was nice to win in Malaysia and prove to myself that all the hard work is worth the troubles and sacrifices,” Hend added.

Hend will spearhead the talented cast alongside Jazz, a four-time Asian Tour winner, as well as India’s Shiv Kapur, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, American Micah Lauren Shin and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana.

Supported by the Sarawak State government, the Sarawak Championship will see a total of 156 players from 22 countries vying for top honours at the full-field Asian Tour event, which will be the Tour’s second stop in Malaysia this season.

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Published on

Greensboro, North Carolina, August 2: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat fired an opening six-under-par 64 to trail leading Korean duo Byeonghun An and Sungjae Im by two shots at the Wyndham Championship on Thursday.

Kiradech, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, hit eight of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation en-route to his 64 which helped him grab a share of seventh place at the Sedgefield Coutnry Club.

On the par-four 13th, Kiradech’s 121 yard approach to three feet set himself up for his first birdie of the day.

After a drive to the left side of the fairway on the 501-yard par-four 14th hole, Kiradech had a 170 yard approach shot which set himself up for another birdie.

Kiradech made a third straight birdie on the 545-yard par-five 15th after hitting the green in two and two putting. He would go on to make the turn in 32.

On the par-four second, Kiradech’s 171 yard approach to three feet set himself up for yet another birdie to move to four-under for the round. But a bogey on the 428-yard par-4 fourth saw him slip to three-under.

After a drive to the right intermediate rough on the 529-yard par-five fifth hole, Kiradech hit an approach shot from 238 yards to 14 feet and made that eagle putt to move to five-under for the round.

Kiradech coolly rolled in a 17-foot putt for birdie on the 223-yard par-three seventh before closing with two consecutive pars to finish six-under.

India’s Anirban Lahiri returned with a 67 while American Paul Peterson, who topped the Monday qualifier to earn his spot, signed for a 68.

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Published on July 31, 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, July 31: Rising star Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand will headline the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship when the event returns to the Asian Tour for its second straight edition from August 15 to 18.

Jazz, who leads the Order of Merit with his current haul of US$738,093, came in joint runner-up last year after firing a birdie and an eagle in his closing three holes for a solid eight-under-par 64 to finish one shot shy of winner John Catlin of the United States.

Having already bagged two Asian Tour titles this season, the 23-year-old Thai is looking to ride on his soaring confidence as he challenges for the title again at the Arnold Palmer-designed Damai Golf and Country Club located in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak.

“I remember Sarawak being a very nice place. There’s a beautiful beach there and I enjoyed playing that course last year. I had great fun competing for the title with my friends that week too and although I didn’t win the tournament, I was happy that I finished strong to give myself a chance,” said Jazz.

Jazz marked the start of his epic rise when he completed an amazing career turnaround with his breakthrough title in Bangladesh two years ago. That win was especially sweet for the Thai as it came shortly after losing his Tour card for the first time in his career. Jazz would later go on to claim his second title on home soil in 2018.

Jazz continued his remarkable rise by breaking into the world’s top-100 after winning his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open in January. He would notch three other top-10 results before securing his fourth victory at the Kolon Korea Open last month.

The fast-emerging Asian Tour star rose to a career-high 52nd place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) following his win in Korea but slipped to his current 53rd position after missing the halfway cut in his second attempt at The Open a fortnight ago.

Earlier in May, Jazz also served notice of his immense talent when he came in tied-14th in what was his debut appearance at the PGA Championship. It was the best-ever result by a Thai player in that Major tournament.

“I am currently back in Hua Hin, enjoying a few weeks off with my friends and family before heading to Sarawak. The Sarawak Championship will be the start of another busy stretch for me. Hopefully I can kickstart that stretch with a good result in Sarawak,” Jazz added.

Jazz, arguably the hottest player on the Asian Tour this season, is currently in the running to automatically qualify for the International Team for the Presidents cup. He is also chasing to lift the Merit crowns on both the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour at the end of the season.

Supported by the Sarawak State government, the Sarawak Championship will see a total of 150 players from 22 countries vying for top honours at the full-field Asian Tour event, which will be the Tour’s second stop in Malaysia this season.

Other notable players in the talented field are Micah Lauren Shin of the United States, India’s Khalin Joshi, Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei, as well as Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit.

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Published on July 24, 2019

July 24: After embarking on different journeys to the world stage following their successes in Indonesia, South African Justin Harding and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin are set to spearhead the Asian Tour challenge when they tee off for the World Golf Championships – FedEx St Jude Invitational on Thursday.

Poom, a three-time Asian Tour winner, lifted the Indonesian Masters trophy for the second time in three years last December and became the second player after Lee Westwood (2011, 2012 and 2015) to win the event more than once.

Thanks to his victory at the 2018 Indonesian Masters, which is the flagship event of the Asian Tour, the 26-year-old Poom earned a start at the WGC – FedEx St Jude Invitational which will be held at TPC Southwind this week. It will be his second appearance in a WGC event.

Poom put on a solid display of golf to fend off the challenges from his more illustrious rivals at the Indonesian showpiece, where he closed with a four-under-par 68 to win by three shots with a four-day total of 20-under-par 268.

It was a class act by Poom as he showed that he would not be cowed into submission against an elite field which included marquee players Rose and Henrik Stenson, who were ranked number one and 27th respectively on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) then.

Like Poom, Harding also claimed his maiden Asian Tour victory in Indonesia. He signaled his arrival in Asia by winning the 2018 Indonesia Open where he played on a sponsor’s invitation. It was his first ever start in Asia.

Harding qualified for WGC – FedEx St Jude Invitational by virtue of being inside top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) prior to the first qualifying cut-off date on July 15.

Harding’s career has been on a rapid rise since his breakthrough in Indonesia 12 months ago. He broke into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career after claiming his second straight win at the Royal Cup in Thailand.

The 33-year-old Harding went on to notch four top-10 finishes before ending his rookie season in third place on the 2018 Order of Merit. He took his career up another level earlier in March when he secured his first victory on the European Tour at the Qatar Masters.

He followed up that victory with a runner-up finish at the Kenya Open the week after and broke into the world’s top-50 where he later qualified for The Masters. Harding continued to gain prominence by putting up a superb showing to finish tied-12th in what was his Augusta debut.

Indonesia has long been one of the key markets of the Asian Tour. Events such as the Indonesian Masters and the Indonesia Open have grown from strength to strength over the years, providing players from not just within the region but across the globe with numerous opportunities to rise onto the world stage.

Poom and Harding will feature in the elite field at the WGC – FedEx St Jude Invitational alongside two other Asian Tour members Mikumu Horikawa and Kodai Ichihara, who earned their starts following respective wins at the 2019 JGTC Mori Building Cup Shishido Hills and 2018 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour.

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Published on July 23, 2019

July 23: The golf world may not be too familiar with Poom Saksansin but PGA TOUR stars Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson certainly know all about the baby-faced Thai golfer nicknamed the “Assassin”.

The 26-year-old Poom will tee up in the US$10.25 million World Golf Championships-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind starting on Thursday with every intention of upstaging the stars in Memphis, a historical city known as the home of Blues, Soul, and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Poom earned his place in the elite field after winning the BNI Indonesian Masters in December for his third Asian Tour title. While his recent form has been off key and causing him to sing the blues, the likeable Thai is determined to make the most of his second WGC appearance.

“Playing in this big event is a big opportunity for me, especially when the prize money is high and the field is very strong,” said Poom with the help of a translator.

Last year, Poom stood out as a hero for Team Asia in their defeat to Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia. He first partnered Korea’s Sung Kang, who is also in the field this week, to defeat Stenson and Frenchman Alex Levy 5 & 4 in the fourball format and then stunned Casey 1-up in the singles.

“We need to rename him ‘Assassin’ instead of Saksansin,” joked Stenson, who is a six-time PGA TOUR winner including the 2007 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Poom’s victory was especially sweet as he grew up idolising Stenson.

Casey, a three-time PGA TOUR winner, recalls his encounter against the Thai. “He flatly beat me …. putted brilliantly and dusted me off at the last. And I was playing very nicely that week. I was trying to get a clean sweep of points. But that just shows how good he is, and I’m a good match play player,” said the Englishman.

Poom, who finished a commendable T24 in the 2017 WGC-HSBC Champions in China, knows he needs to regain some semblance of his best form after hitting a road bump recently, thanks to a misbehaving driver.

“My form is not on track at the moment but I’m doing everything I can to improve my game. I need my driver to work again,” said Poom, who has hit 54% of fairways on the Japan Tour and 64%  on the Asian Tour this season.

“For me, WGC is big event. As there is no (halfway) cut, there will be less pressure, so it should be a good time to perform. I’m hoping to have a good time in Memphis,” added the Thai, who is currently ranked 249^th in the world after starting the year at 140^th position.

While countrymen Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the first Thai to play full-time on the PGA TOUR, and Jazz Janewattananond have emerged as the country’s leading golfers in recent times, Poom is keen to get into the act and take his game onto the big stage on a regular basis.

“Kiradech is showing Thai golfers can get to the PGA TOUR and he’s inspiring the kids,” said Poom, who is the lone Thai representative in the field this week.

He learned to play the game at the age of 10 and started beating his father regularly when he was 12. Poom represented Thailand and helped the team win the gold medal in the regional Southeast Asian Games in 2011 and 2013 before turning professional.

Poom harboured dreams of playing collegiate golf in the U.S. but failed the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). “I got straight A’s in most of my studies but not English. I would sleep in that class,” he said with a laugh.

With the opportunity to show what he is capable of doing this week, Poom is looking forward to playing in front of the Memphis fans. “When I watch golf on TV, I love the fans. It is exciting for golfers when there are big crowds. I want to be playing in front of big crowds all the time if I can,” said Poom.

Published on July 21, 2019

Portrush, Northern Ireland, July 20: Korea’s Sanghyun Park largely flew under the radar and emerged as the highest placed Asian by posting a three-under-par 68 to join Americans Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas and Scotland’s Russell Knox in tied-19th place at The 148th Open on Saturday.

The unassuming Korea, who was named the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2018 after winning twice on home soil last year, charged out of the blocks quickly with three birdies in his opening five holes.

He continued to plot his way towards the top of the leaderboard with birdies on holes 10 and 14 but was pegged back by a pair of bogeys on 15 and 16 at Royal Portrush.

Park, who made his Open debut at Carnoustie last year but missed the cut, then parred his last two holes to sign for a three-day total of four-under-par 209. 

“I felt it was very difficult to putt in the wind today. I made several mistakes in my back-nine especially with my club selection but it’s okay, there’s still another day tomorrow and I’m enjoying my major experience,” said Park.

After hauling himself back into contention in the second round, South Africa’s Justin Harding, who started the day just two off the lead, slipped 18 places down to tied-23rd after a 74.

The two-time Asian Tour winner mixed his card with four birdies, three bogeys and two double-bogeys for a 210 total.

“I did well yesterday but I felt miserable again today. I made a double on five which was a hole which I could have made a birdie. That was a setback which hurt me badly. And then I made bogey on 12 which was not nice as it was a birdie hole and made another double on 15. 

“I haven’t had much luck from the bunkers this week and at the end of the day, it was not a round I was looking for,” said Harding.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry broke away from the chasing pack with a four-shot lead heading into the final round after signing for a 63.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood returned with a 66 to take second place while American JB Holmes is in third place after carding a 69.

Like his second round, Japan’s Yosuke Asaji signed for another 71 to take a share of 50th place while Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and India’s Shubhankar Sharma both struggled with matching 77s to end the day in tied-68th and 72 place respectively

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Published on

Portrush, Northern Ireland, July 20: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat hobbled through the third round of The 148th Open in pain before signing for a six-over-par 77 at Royal Portrush on Saturday.

The 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion conceded he was far from his best after struggling through pain in his knee at the year’s fourth and final Major.

The Thai only averaged 35.71% in fairways hit as he could not find the right trajectory under windy conditions at the demanding par-71, 7,344 yards course.

“I’m still hitting the ball well but I just cannot apply the right pressure to the ball. I don’t have enough power to hit the ball further with the wind. 

“I haven’t been hitting my driver well all day. The iron play is still excellent but not the driving,” said Kiradech, who compiled a three-day total of five-over-par 218.

While he knows he still has another 18 holes to play and improve on his position on the leaderboard, Kiradech is looking forward to recuperating and getting back to his best when the week is over.
 
“I’m feeling the pain in the knee and I got to go back and rest. I’m looking forward to a good break so that I can recover and play well again. When your body is not ready, it’s really difficult,” said Kiradech. Ends.

Published on July 20, 2019

Portrush, Northern Ireland, July 20: India’s Shubhankar Sharma believes he still has enough gas left in his tank to surmount one last charge after returning with a disappointing third round six-over-par 77 at The 148th Open on Saturday.

Sharma, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, started promisingly with a birdie on the second hole but double-bogeyed the fifth hole to drop back to even-par. 

He got a reprieve with another birdie on nine but was left to stare at a disastrous card as he dropped seven shots in his next six holes after the turn.

“I played pretty decent in my front-nine but I lost my swing in the back-nine. I chose the wrong holes to lose my swing especially on holes 10 and 11 where you cannot afford to do that. 

“Basically, I made a lot of bad drives on my back-nine which cost me,” said Sharma.

India’s sole representative at Royal Portrush finally closed with a birdie on the 18th to settle for a three-day total of six-over-par 219.

“I just want to get back to where my game should be and finish off strongly. It was a bad day in the office today and hopefully tomorrow will be better. I’m happy to still be playing on a Sunday,” said Sharma.

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