June 3: Ian Snyman [main picture] is trying to keep his expectations in check but is hoping to continue with his red-hot form in the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic this week.

The mild-mannered South African has not finished outside the top-10 in his last three starts, a run that included his maiden Asian Tour title in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last month.

The 30-year-old comes to the stunning Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort as the highest-ranked player in the field. However, he is fully aware that a week like the one he had in Taiwan will be difficult to replicate. At Taifong Golf Club, Snyman made just three bogeys in the four rounds and said the flawless win had “very little amount of luck involved”.

“I haven’t had many weeks on Tour where I tend to make no mistakes, so it’s extremely difficult to replicate what I did in Taiwan,” said Snyman, now ranked 296th in the world.

“I think what I’ve been telling myself over the last few years is to have no expectation. So, I’m not trying to replicate it. I’m not trying to play unbelievable. I’m just sticking to the process. We’re only trying to hit fairways, and hit greens, and make some putts.

“We are just gonna go play golf and see what happens. I’m not trying to replicate Taiwan…maybe, I can play better, maybe I play worse. I don’t know and we will find out on Sunday.”

Tanapat Pichaikool of Thailand. Picture courtesy of IGPL.

Straight after finishing tied 10th in the KOLON Korea Open, Snyman flew to Japan and took part in the 36-hole US Open qualifier, where he missed punching a ticket to Shinnecock Hills by two shots.

“I didn’t practice too hard the last few days because I’m tired. It’s been a lot of golf. My body needed it, so I haven’t been doing a lot until playing 18 holes here on Monday. At the moment, I feel like I know what I’m doing with the swing. I am not having full sessions where I’m working on something specific. It’s just more maintenance, and I thought resting was the most important thing for me now.

“But we all know this game is weird. You think you’re in control, and then you’re not in control.”

One person who would be fully aware of the golf course and the challenges it poses is Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool, who shot rounds of 70, 67, 64 and 70 to win the am green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars 2026 on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) at the same course last week.

The deeper Asian Tour field would require a step-up from the 26-year-old from Bangkok, who grew up idolising Adam Scott, but Tanapat is feeling confident.

“The fact that I won here brings some good energy and good memories. I thought my tee shots were my main strength during the ADT week. I have a good idea of the golf course, but to be able to perform like last week, I will need to focus on what I can control,” said Tanapat, who has been working on his swing and equipment for the past few months.

“I think the 18th is going to be a critical hole. It is short par 5, which is very gettable. However, it can also punish you if your tee shot ends up in a bad spot.”

Sachin Baisoya of India. Picture courtesy of IGPL.

The tournament is co-sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL). The talented Sachin Baisoya is the current IGPL Order of Merit leader, ahead of Gaganjeet Bhullar, the most successful Indian player in the history of the Asian Tour.

Baisoya is hoping to conquer the windy conditions and fast-track his way to the Asian Tour.

“This is a very good partnership between the IGPL and the Asian Tour. Four of our top players at the end of the season get into the final stage of the Qualifying School, and we have an opportunity like this week, when the winner gets a card straightaway. So, this is a very crucial tournament,” said the 30-year-old, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is tied 15th at the 2018 Panasonic Open India.

“I am feeling good about my game. I am hitting it well and will probably need a good putting week. This golf course should be an interesting challenge because it is very windy.”

After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.