With lucrative events such as WGCs and Majors looming, the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) becomes all important. Here we follow the Asian Tour players that are making a charge up the rankings and their quest to play their way into these events via the OWGR.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, currently ranked number 41 on the OWGR after a tied-49^th position at last week’s Masters Tournament, is already eligible for all the above events.

By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional

With a tied-12^th finish at The Masters Justin Harding moves up to a career high ranking of 44 from 49 the previous week, improving his chances to secure an exemption to the US Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California June 13-16^th.

He needs to be inside the top 60 on the OWGR by either May 20^th or June 10^th, which are the cut-off dates for the OWGR exemptions.

Harding is playing in this week’s RBC Heritage on the PGA TOUR in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and has a chance to further improve on his ranking with many OWGR points on offer at Harbor Town Golf Links.

Jazz Janewattananond (THA)

Jazz did not play last week and slides down one spot in the rankings to 71 from 70 last week. He looks to have secured a special invitation to the US PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in New York, May 16-19 by being inside the top 100 on the OWGR on May 5.

The next important step on the OWGR for him will be breaking into the top 60 by either May 20 or June 10, for an exemption into the US Open Championship.

Kurt Kitayama (USA)

Kitayama did not play last week and but moves up one place in the rankings to number 106. His immediate challenge is breaking into the top 100 and a chance for a start in the US PGA Championship.Depending on his playing schedule, there are only two events between now and the cut-off date May 5 on the Asian and European Tours, Trophee Hassan II in Morocco and GS Caltex Maekyung Open/Volvo China Open (played same week) in Seoul/Shenzhen.

Ends.

By V. Krishnaswamy

Swamy is one of India’s leading sports writers, who has covered over 20 Majors and 250 international golf tournaments.

Augusta, April 14: Justin Harding making his maiden trip to Augusta slipped a little, but stayed within striking distance of the leaders as he was tied-seventh following a card of two-under 70 on the moving day at the Masters.

He was eight-under and five behind leader Francesco Molinari (66) at 13-under, two ahead of Tiger Woods (67) and Tony Finau (64).

Harding, who has risen from 712 at the start of 2018 to his current 49th, has for company World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (70), Matt Kuchar (68), Xander Scauffele (70) and Louis Oosthuizen (71). In the third round, Harding will play with Kuchar and Schauffele.

Kiradech Aphibarnarat, making his third visit, slided heavily from T-16 to T-43 after a round of 75 that included four-over 40 on front nine, Two birdies against one bogey improved it slightly, but overall it a rough day with five bogeys against two birdies.

Sunday promised a lot of electric action and an unusual draw sheet as the final 18 will be played in threesomes and from both tees. Play begins at 7.30 am, as there is a serious threat of severe thunderstorms, which forced Augusta National to re-draw its Sunday plans and they want to try and finish play before conditions become unplayable and dangerous with lightning.

On an action-packed moving day, none moved better than the calm and composed Molinari. The Italian is bidding to become the first reigning British Open champion to win the Masters since 2001. The last man was Tiger Woods.

Molinari now leads the same man, a winner of 14 Majors, by two shots. Sharing the second place with Woods, was Finau, one of the three players to shoot 64 on a day when the field average was 70.81. Molinari, who shot a career-best 67 on second day improved it to 66 and stretched his bogey-free run to 43 holes.

Brooks Koepka, who had a share of the lead on the first two days carded 69 to be placed third, while Webb Simpson (64) and Ian Poulter (68) hung right behind at nine-under in Tied-5th.

Ten players are within five shots of the lead and 23 out of the last 28 years, came from the final pairing.

Harding slips after good start

Harding, whose two early birdies even gave him a share of the lead, said, “It was a difficult day. I got off to a great start; actually, I thought it was me from that point onwards but it didn’t really turn out to be the case. It’s just a matter of fine margins around here. I think I probably hit it just about one inch too short on 4, which pretty much more than likely would have been a tap in par and maybe I don’t bogey 5.”

On his putting this week, he added, “Look, I’ve been putting good, I felt like I’ve had good speed on the greens and I’ve read them pretty well, so it’s just a matter of trying to give yourself as many chances as you can.

“Once I birdied 12 and 13 again I kind of figured it might just be the same sort of day as yesterday (four birdies in a row from 12-15) but I threw it away with a bad second shot into 14 and got lucky to come out of there with a bogey. The birdie on 17 was an absolute bonus and I managed to par 18. Which is good.”

He said he was planning to grind it out on the final day, too. “Each day is kind of its own little puzzle, today was a difficult one to solve, I thought that I was quite pleased shooting 70.”

Molinari, a picture of precision

Molinari once again was a picture of precision. He drilled 10 of the 14 fairways, 13 of the 18 greens and had 27 putts, some of them clutch ones as he was bogey free for second day running. His 80 putts are second to Harding’s 79.

Understated as ever, Molinari, who first came to Augusta in 2006 as the caddie for his brother Edoardo – then the US Amateur champion – said, “I hit the ball a little less well than yesterday. But I holed some really good putts at 4 and 5 to save par. I can only be happy about today.”

On playing again with Tiger, Molinari, who thwarted Woods at the Open in Carnoustie, added, “I think, to be honest, every tournament is different, and every time is a different story. He obviously loves this place, and he’s playing great golf. So I’m aware that it’s not going to be easy tomorrow, and you know, like I said, I can just do my best.”

“But it’s not like I can only worry about him. There’s a lot of guys I think in with a chance. We’ve seen today that you can shoot 7 , 8 under the way the course is playing.”

Woods’ surge brings crowds to its feet

A comeback, which began from his own event, the 2017 Hero World Challenge, saw Woods contend at Open and finish second at PGA Championships before winning the Tour Championships. But a Major, his fifth Green Jacket (14 years after his fourth one) and a 15th Major (11 years after his 14th) would finally signal that Tiger is back in every sense of the word.

With the tee times in groups of three and brought forward for all, Woods said he will need to get up at 3.45 am to start preparing for a 9.20 am tee off. “I need that time to get prepared.”
Earlier he told TV, “I’m playing for my fifth but I’m trying to win a golf tournament at the end of the day. I’ve just got to go out and execute. It’s going to be a great test for all of us.”

Finau sets the pace

Earlier, Finau 71-70 in first two rounds, exploded into action with three birdies to start the day followed by another on sixth and an eagle on eighth, at which point he was six-under through eight for the day. Birdie putts became a little reluctant and he managed only two more for 64.

Finau, from Salt Lake City, and the first player of Tongan-Samoan heritage on Tour, was the first to reach 10 under as he chases only his second PGA Tour win and a first major.

“I’m driving the ball nicely and I can attack the golf course if I’m driving well,” said Finau, who was one of three players to shoot 64. “I feel good, I feel comfortable.” Indeed, a far cry from the ankle he dislocated in the par-3 contest ahead of the 2018 Masters.

Ends.

By V. Krishnaswamy

Swamy is one of India’s leading sports writers, who has covered over 20 Majors and 250 international golf tournaments.

Augusta, April 13: Justin Harding and Kiradech Aphibarnarat held their own on a dramatic day when five players shared the 36-hole Masters lead but more than them it was a lurking Tiger Woods who made the news on Friday at the Augusta National. Harding at six-under was T-6^th and Kiradech at three-under was T-16^th.

The five who shared the lead were overnight co-leader Brooks Koepka (71), Open winner Francesco Molinari (67), 2015 PGA winner Jason Day (67), 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott (68) and the 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen (66). They were all at seven-under with Woods and three others at six-under.

Amidst this drama of an overcrowded leaderboard, was Harding, the field’s oldest Masters debutant, who was sharing the sixth place with World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele (65) and Woods at six-under. But for Harding’s bogey on the 18^th for the second day running, he may well have been in shared lead.

Each of the five players in the lead has at least one Major against their name, but in the group tied sixth is Woods, who has 14 Majors, while Johnson has one and Schauffele and Harding have none.

There may be just two players here from the Asian Tour, but they have played well enough to make everyone sit up and take notice. Harding, 33, and the oldest rookie in this year’s Masters field, who earned his maiden Masters call-up barely two weeks before the door was shut, and the burly Kiradech, 29, who is hoping to make his third Masters appearance count, are lying Tied-6^th and T-16^th respectively.

Harding, who for a while shared the lead with three others Molinari (67), Day (67) and Koepka (71) at seven-under had a chance to stay there despite missing the green in regulation. His third shot came within five feet but he missed the putt and bogeyed for the second day in succession.

Virtually unnoticed for the first 11 holes, which had one bogey, no birdies and 10 pars, Harding had slipped to two-under. Then he went on a rampage from 12^th to 15^th with four birdies in a row and added a fifth on 17^th to rocket up to shared lead at seven-under and then came the bogey on 18^th.

Harding said, “Look, it still gives me the giggles just being here. I’m trying to enjoy it the best I can. I obviously want to be able to execute my shots, regardless.  But I’ve got a couple of friends out here, family is out watching, as well.  We’re just having a nice time and enjoying the birdies.  Yeah, hope for sunshine and a good weekend.”

On what would he have said if someone had told him that he would be one off the lead after 36 holes, he said, “No, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, no.  I’ve played nicely, I really have.  Yesterday I thought I had a better control of my golf game.  I thought today I was a bit loose, especially with the driver. I have made mistakes, but I have put them in the right places. So I’m at least giving myself a chance.”

Kiradech, who admits being hurt by the first round 79 last year, has ensured he does not get hurt played a par round with three birdies and three bogeys. He said, “I’m happy with the result and even par on this golf course is not easy at all.

“I hit my irons quite well, quite sharp today.  But a lot of chance I missed the putts on the greens.  I missed the speed. I mean, it’s really difficult to change my mindset.  I always think these greens are like fast and quick, but after the rain picked up a couple days it slowed the greens down a little bit. So I had to adjust to the speed.”

A couple of days earlier Kiradech had talked about seeing himself in a Green Jacket, he laughed when reminded of it. “I hit more greens, my iron play was perfect, tee to green was lovely. I just I have to sink more putts and then hopefully that will happen, and they will have one (Green Jacket) my size.  We’ll see.”

Woods looking for first Major since 2008

Woods, who has not won a Major for 11 years, last won a Green Jacket in 2005 and his last Major came in 2008. The intervening years have seen personal problems, four surgeries, injuries, loss of form and confidence, but now he is on the threshold of an epic win at a stage, which he seems to own.

A happy Woods said, “I feel like I played my own way back into the tournament.  I was just very patient today, felt very good to be out there doing what I was doing.  This is now three straight majors that I’ve been in the mix and so it’s good stuff. “

Woods’ biggest worry was when he seemed to collide with an official on 14^th and could have hurt his ankle.

Woods said, “I’m fine.  It’s all good.  Accidents happen and move on.”

On the play he added, “Yeah, I missed a few putts out there but I’m not too bummed out about it because I hit them on my lines.  So I can live with that.  I can live with days when I’m hitting putts on my line and they just don’t go in, that’s the way it goes. But I also made some distance putts there at 9, 14, 15, those were, they were nice to make and if I keep hitting the putts on my line, they will start dropping.”

Day and Molinari had superb rounds of 67 each, while overnight co-leader Koepka overcame a nightmarish stretch between second and sixth where he dropped a double bogey and two bogeys. Koepka grinded it out well in the remainder of the round and finished with a birdie for 71 and still kept a share of the lead.

Day had a scare even before he hit his first shot on Thursday as he seemed to have injured his back as he picked up his daughter before going for his first round. He hung in; needed mid-round attention for his back but shot two-under 70. To that he added a brilliant 67 with six birdies and one bogey to get to seven-under.

Day summed up a simple strategy saying, “The goal is to try and take advantage of the par 5s here this week. You know, the par 3s can be difficult at times and then some of the par 4s, you need to get through.

”Over the last two days, I’ve played the par 5s nicely.  I think I’ve played them 7‑under, which is good.”

The Augusta National has never really brought out the best in Molinari, who first saw it while caddying for his brother, Edoardo in 2006. A T-19 in 2012 has been the best and has broken 70 only once in 24 previous rounds and his 67 on Friday was his career best at Augusta.

Bogey free for the day, the 2018 Open winner, Molinari, birdied third, eighth, ninth, 12^th and 15^th and then saved himself from a possible dropped shot on the 18^th.

The key for Molinari may well have been his short game. “The margins are so small that you can be as good as you want, but you still know there’s not a lot of room to miss. But definitely, yes, it’s been a part of my game that has improved a lot in the last 12 months, and this is a course that puts a lot of stress on the short game and the putting in general. I’m happy that so far I’ve done better than in the past, and hopefully I can keep doing the same.”

Right behind the trio at seven-under was World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, whose amazing play at the 13^th was probably the moment of the day. Johnson, who opened with a bogey, parred next eight and missed a few birdie enroute, but also saved some. On the back nine, had three birdies, of which the one on 13^th was a spectacular display of positivity and luck. His second shot got caught in the wind and dropped and dribbled into Rae’s Creek, forcing him to take his fourth shot. He hit it so perfect that he holed it for a birdie.

By. V. Krishnaswamy

Swamy is one of India’s leading sports writers, who has covered over 20 Majors and 250 international golf tournaments. And if he were to answer the divine call, he will be the first to jump on the plane to Augusta National, which is where he is this week.

Augusta, April 12: It was a solid start for the Asian Tour duo as Justin Harding and Kiradech Aphibarnrat playing on the opposite sides of the draw, shot three-under-par 69 each to lie tied-sixth. They were three behind co-leaders, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, who shot contrasting 66s.

Koepka, who has made it a habit to pack his ‘A’ game with his golf clubs while coming to the Majors, was bogey free. In contrast, the detail-seeking, DeChambeau, seen as a scientist and a golfer rolled into one, could afford three bogeys and yet card 66 with help from the day’s best haul of nine birdies.

Justin Harding of South Africa plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Harding, making his 11^th start in 15 weeks, was one of the last ones to make the field for the 2019 Masters but when he submitted the card following his first competitive round at the Augusta National, he was in sole lead at 69 despite a bogey on 18^th.

However, by the time the day ended Harding found himself three shots behind Koepka and DeChambeau.

In the morning, Harding was also the only player to get to four-under at any point. He did it with a birdie on 17^th, a gain he gave away on the final hole. He termed that as a ‘bit annoying’, but when prodded if he was happy with 69. Ever ready with a witty line, he said, “I’ll take it and run if I can ‑‑ we’re not allowed to run here at Augusta ‑‑ but I’m pleased.”

Phil Mickelson, who has three Green Jackets, turned in two-under and the gave away those gains on 10^th and 11^th, before picking five birdies in last seven holes in his 67 which put him at sole third and one ahead of World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter, who shot 68 each.

In the morning Harding’s 69 was matched by Jon Rahm and the 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, while in the afternoon, they were joined by Kiradech and Kevin Kisner, whose consistency makes him a dangerous customer each week.

As 10 players brought in cards in the 60s, another ten turned up with identical 70 each giving the leaderboard a look similar to that of a traffic jam.

The huge group of 10 included the 43-year-old Tiger Woods, who has four Greens Jackets and 14 Majors. But his last Masters win came in 2005 and the last Major in 2008. Woods missed a par putt from inside 10 feet and the bogey thwarted his attempt to get a score in the 60s.

Despite a closing  bogey Harding was satisfied with the start, as he said, “I was happy with it, I handled my emotions pretty well, a bit annoying on the last making bogey. But at the end of the day I’ll take it.”

Asked about the course, he first said, “I think the course is definitely playing better, the greens are obviously going to quicken up and become a little bit tricky.  You got to keep it below the hole and sometimes it’s easier to chip it to 10 feet than chipping it to four.”

And quickly added, “Look, I’m not experienced enough to be talking to you too much about the golf course, but I’m happy with the day and we’ll tee it up tomorrow and go.”

“I mean, as I said, you, we played the golf course in our brains a few times, having watched it on it TV, you know where to hit it, it’s just a matter of handling the nerves and executing the golf shots.”

World Number 42, Kiradech who went as high as No. 29 in the middle of last year, shot 79 in the first round last year, before sneaking into the weekend with a 70. So, he was happy with his round on Thursday as he said, “I am really happy with the way I started.  Three‑under here is not easy at all.  I know it’s a few shots behind, but it is one of the best rounds for me here.” It was his first round in the 60s in three visits to the Masters.

He added, “On the front nine, I didn’t want to get myself in trouble.  The front nine here is really important.  If you get hurt a lot, it just brings your confidence down. Everyone knows Augusta is really tough. I’m just keeping myself in play. I had a lot of opportunities to putt, many birdie chances.  On sixth, (it was) about six feet, but I just came away with par,” said Kiradech.

Speaking about his eagle, he added, “I had been waiting for my first birdie for quite a while. After 12 holes, one bogey and 11 par.  After the drive on 13, I ended up in the right rough but it was quite a good number for my three‑iron.  The greens are quite soft today so I landed it in the middle of the green, onto the slope and it brought the ball down close to the flag.  I got about 16 feet and holed the putt, which was one of the best putts (today).”

By. V. Krishnaswamy

Swamy is one of India’s leading sports writers, who has covered over 20 Majors and 250 international golf tournaments. And if he were to answer the divine call, he will be the first to jump on the plane to Augusta National, which is where he is this week.

Augusta, April 11: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, getting ready for his third start at The Masters is confident of a good showing, despite a mixed bag of results in 2019. Yet, there is no denying that he has the temperament to compete at the highest levels.

His first two Masters starts have yielded results of T-15 and T-44, while his last six World Golf Championship events have seen him finish inside Top-5 three times. He was also T-15 at US Open last year.

No Asian has won a Masters Green Jacket, but for now Kiradech seems to be the best bet. Kiradech’s record in big events has put him on a ‘must-watch’ list.

On his chances at Augusta, Kiradech said he still feels like he is learning about the Augusta National Golf Club. “This is my third time to the Masters. Honestly, I still feel I am learning the nuances and various subtleties that exist,” said Kiradech.

“Look, I am just 29. I am confident this is not my last visit to this beautiful place. I will come for many years and every time I come here, I feel I will be better equipped to handle the challenges. So I want to learn something everything I come here.”

He does make it clear, “A Green Jacket is my dream, but I am just working towards it at the moment.”

A day before the main event, Kiradech stayed relaxed by having former women’s world number one Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister Moriya, World No. 22, on the bag for a unique 2-caddy situation. The 29-year-old Kiradech and the Jutanugarn sisters grew up together playing golf back in Thailand and they know each other well.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand walks with caddies Ariya Jutanugarn and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand during the Par 3 Contest prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

He said, “Ariya was with me last year and she had so much fun at the Par 3 contest and walking the course, she insisted that she’d do it again this year,” said Kiradech.

But this time, Moriya also wanted to do the same. Unable to handle the dilemma of choosing one of the two sisters, Kiradech requested The Masters officials for permission to have two caddies instead of one. It was accepted and both sisters were with him as caddies.

“In fact, until this morning, we were not sure who’d be on the bag. I was allowed only one caddie and I had to request and plead with the Masters officials to give me permission to have both my sisters on the bag.”

“We had such a great time. Kiradech is like family and I am so happy to see him playing the biggest tournaments in the world. He has always been a big supporter for both of us and we want to do the same for him whenever possible,” said Ariya.

The sisters have also helped Kiradech settle down in Florida.

“They have been a great help and they tell me what to do including how to decorate my house,” he said with a laugh. “We live close by and we practice at the same course in Lake Nona.”

Kiradech, who has six wins to his name, secured his membership on the PGA Tour this year through his results in 2018.

“Moving to a new house, and that too in a different country, can be very challenging. But I have had such a comfortable time because they did everything for me. I live near their house and we all practice at Lake Nona. Half the things in my house have been purchased by them,” added Kiradech, who admits that the elder sister Ariya has been a big motivating factor for him.

He admitted, “I was happy on the European Tour and the PGA Tour seemed like a distant dream. And then I see this girl, who used to play with me and could not hit it past me despite using a tee halfway down the fairway, start winning everything on the LPGA Tour and also reach the No. 1 ranking. My thought was that if she could do it, I can do it too. So many Thai girls are doing well on the amateur and professional circuits, with Ariya and Moriya as their role models. We want our small country to feel proud of us.”

As for the sisters, they feel Kiradech has it in him to be among the best in the world and even win Majors. Maybe, contending at the Masters could be the first step.

The other Asian Tour member at the Masters this week is Justin Harding, who made it  by virtue of getting into the Top-50. He was ranked 49^th when the deadline ended and he got into the field.