Pakistani golfers haven’t exactly made a name for themselves on the international circuit, but that could soon be changing. Story by By Joy Chakravarty – at the International Series Thailand.

The last – and only – champion on the Asian Tour from the country was the legendary Taimur Hussain  way back in the 1998 Myanmar Open.

Ahmad Baig, a 26-year-old from Lahore, is turning heads and forcing everyone to take notice.

Already a two-time champion on the Asian Development Tour this year, Baig smashed a spectacular seven-under-par 63 on the Moving Day of the US$2 million International Series Thailand. Baig is tied second at 14-under par going into what promises to be a massive Sunday for the man from Lahore.

Baig bookended his bogey-free round with three birdies and added another in the middle. It was imperious ball-striking as he found 13 out of 14 fairways and hit 17 greens in regulation.

Ahmad Baig. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

On Friday, he had finished eagle-birdie and carried that form into Saturday.

“I really hit the ball well and also made a few putts. Once that happens, you do end up with a nice score,” said Baig, who is currently second in the ADT Order of Merit and almost guaranteed a full card on the Asian Tour for 2025.

What’s even more impressive is his speed. He is strongly built, and he is fast and furious.

Baig’s ball speed is 182 miles per hour, and his swing speed is 124mph. Just to get an idea of how good those numbers are, the average ball speed on the PGA Tour is approximately 171mph and the swing speed is 116mph.

“I always had the speed. I could hit the ball long even in my amateur days. But what has changed is that I have put on weight and muscle, and I am usually hitting it straight,” he added.

Veteran caddie Rene Smorenberg, who was on Sihwan Kim’s bag and had a ringside view of Baig’s round, was seriously impressed.

“Woah…that was some round, and that boy is some talent. Hits it a long way and did not miss anything today. I’d say he is one of the best talents I have seen on the Asian Tour in a while,” said Smorenberg.

Baig is also backing his ball-striking with some magical short game. On Saturday, he brought the grandstand on the 18^th to raptures by almost holing out his second shot from 159 yards. And for those interested in knowing what he hit from there, it was just a mere three-quarter flick of a pitching wedge.

Right now, Baig’s only dream is to get an Asian Tour card at the end of the season. If he can replicate his form on Sunday here at Thai Country Club, that might happen a lot sooner. He is just three shots behind the big-hitting American Peter Uihlein, and a win fast-tracks a membership for him.

“I have always dreamed of playing against these big names. Because of my two wins on the ADT, I feel a lot more comfortable on the big stage. This year has taught me that if I play to my potential, I can compete against most players,” said Baig, who learned his golf while watching YouTube videos of Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, and Rory McIlroy.

Baig still doesn’t have a coach, but in the last year and a half, he has secured a few sponsorship support in Pakistan that has helped him focus solely on his golf.

“I had only one coach – Sujjan Singh in Dubai. I was sent there for a month by a Pakistani businessman a few years ago, and Sujjan helped my game a lot. But then COVID happened, and I have been without a coach again,” said Baig.

“But I have a few sponsors now, including Aguila Golf, which has been a key to my playing well. They take care of my expenses. Now that I do not have to think about money, I can focus solely on my golf.”

Baig will be part of the leaders group on Sunday, paired with his good friend Rayhan Thomas, the Dubai-based Indian with whom he played on many MENA Tour events, and leader Uihlein.