Hend continues to lead international success on the Asian Tour
Sentosa, Singapore, March 25: Australian Scott Hend cemented his status as the most successful international golfer on the Asian Tour after claiming his 10th victory and first in three years at the US$3 million Maybank Championship on Sunday.
Thanks to a winner’s prize purse of US$500,000, Hend propelled to the top of the Habitat for Humanity Standings and broke the US$5 million mark in career earnings on the region’s premier Tour following his play-off success at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.
With accumulated earnings of US$5.04 million since making his debut in 2007, the 45-year-old Hend is now the second highest-earning player following Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a record three-time Order of Merit champion, on the Asian Tour’s Career Money List.
Thai legend Thaworn Wiratchant, who holds an unprecedented 18 wins on Tour, sits in third place with US$4.57 million in earnings while India’s Anirban Lahiri and Prayad Marksaeng, also of Thailand, took fourth and fifth with US$3.90 million and US$3.86 million respectively.
Hend’s achievements over the past decade have been highly-commendable, especially in Asia, where he had claimed all his 10 victories, including three at events co-sanctioned with the European Tour.
He broke through in Indonesia in 2008 and won eight titles across Singapore (1), Thailand (3), Macau (2), Hong Kong (1) and Chinese Taipei (1) between 2012 and 2016. Hend became the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016, thanks to two victories and three top-10s.
“I’m leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the moment and it gives me a good chance to win it again. It’ll be another fantastic achievement and I would like to do it again,” said Hend, who also became the fourth player to surpass US$1 million in earnings in a single season in 2016.
Hend’s victory in Malaysia was made special with his good friend and long-time caddy Tony Carolan by his side.
“I’m a grinder and a fighter. So is my caddy Tony. We both have the same mental attitude. It doesn’t matter how old we are, we work hard at what we do. Just takes a bit of luck to win. Obviously, I had a bit of luck on the play-off hole. If you don’t have any luck you won’t win,” Hend added.
The big-hitting Hend is now the fourth player after Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant (18), Thongchai Jaidee (13) and Prayad Marksaeng (10) to obtain 10 wins or more on the Asian Tour.
Hend took over the driver’s seat on the Habitat for Humanity Standings with earnings of US$507,792 while previous leader Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, who enjoyed a third-place finish in Malaysia, slipped to second with a current haul of US$427,600.
Australian rookie Zach Murray also slipped to third place following a tied-41st place finish in Malaysia while American Johannes Veerman, who took home his career’s biggest prize purse of a U$150,000 thanks to his fourth-place finish, propelled to fourth place on the money list.
The Asian Tour will head to India for the prestigious Hero Indian Open this week. The US$1,750,000 event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, will be held at the DLF Golf and Country Club from March 28 to 31.
Leading 20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
1. Scott HEND (AUS) $507,792.25
2. Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $427,600.44
3. Zach MURRAY (AUS) $189,140.71
4. Johannes VEERMAN (USA) $158,720.00
5. Scott VINCENT (ZWE) $71,245.03
6. Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $54,826.67
7. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $53,518.10
8. Nicholas FUNG (MAS) $51,160.16
9. Chikkarangappa S. (IND) $48,843.74
10. David LIPSKY (USA) $47,100.00
11. Paul PETERSON (USA) $45,039.20
12. Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) $41,648.48
13. Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) $40,560.00
14. Angelo QUE (PHI) $38,120.00
15. Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $37,869.98
16. Doyeob MUN (KOR) $37,150.00
17. Gareth PADDISON (NZL) $36,327.27
18. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) $35,765.50
19. Shaun NORRIS (RSA) $33,220.00
20. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) $29,400.00
I’m leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the moment and it gives me a good chance to win it again. It’ll be another fantastic achievement and I would like to do it again.
Ends.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 24: Australia’s Scott Hend returned to winning ways by clinching his first Asian Tour title since 2016 with his dramatic play-off victory over Spain’s Nacho Elvira at the Maybank Championship on Sunday.
Hend held a slender one-shot lead heading into the final hole but late drama ensued when a clap of thunder disrupted Elvira’s approach into the 18th green. The skies opened soon after leaving officials with no choice but to suspend the play at 2.49pm (local time)
When play resumed at 4.30pm, Elvira drained a monstrous 30-feet birdie putt to force a play-off with Hend, who had no answer to the Spaniard’s remarkable birdie effort.
After more than 90 minutes of delay, Hend and Elvira were back at the tee box on 18.
Hend got a lucky break when his tee shot at the first extra-hole hit the base of a tree and ended up on the fairway, while Elvira’s ball went into the fairway bunker.
The Australian hit another tree with his second shot and went into the greenside bunker. Hend splashed his shot out from the bunker to within three feet of the hole which he coolly rolled in to clinch the Maybank Championship and banish memories of his previous play-off defeats in Switzerland in 2016 and 2017.
Elvira’s runner-up finish was his second in as many starts after he ended his recent campaign in Qatar in a tie for second in his last outing.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond enjoyed yet another top-10 finish by closing with a 69 to take third place while Johannes Veerman of the United States bettered his previous best result of 12th position in 2017 by signing off with a 66 to finish in fourth place.
Did you know?
- With this victory, Scott Hend moved into second place on the all-time career-earnings list, and becomes the second player to break the US$5 million mark on the Asian Tour.
- Scott Hend has appeared in every edition of the Maybank Championship since it was first played in 2016. His best previous result was 29th in 2017.
- He is the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in 2016
- All of Hend’s wins have come in Asia.
- Hend is the fourth player after Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng to obtain 10 wins or more on the Asian Tour.
- Nacho Elvira was making his third appearance consecutive appearance at the Maybank Championship and the first time he has made the cut.
- It was also the first time he held the 54-hole lead on the European Tour.
- Jazz Janewattananond has appeared in every edition of the Maybank Championship since it was first played in 2016. His best previous result was a tied-39th finish last year.
- He broke into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career after claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening event in Singapore in January.
- That victory also earned him a coveted spot in The Open, where he made his Major debut last year.
- Johannes Veerman is born to an Indonesian mother and an American father. He resides in Texas but had spent 13 years living in Asia.
- Veerman came through Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2016 and went on to enjoy a dream rookie season.
- He bagged three consecutive top-10 finishes on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) before securing his breakthrough win at the Taifong Open.
- He became the third American to lift the ADT Order of Merit crown in 2016 with that victory and as well as five other top-10 finishes.
Ends.
By Calvin Koh, Head of Press Operations and Media Partnerships
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 24: A split second was all it took to turn Shaaban Hussin’s life upside down.
Shaaban’s promising golf career was immediately shattered the moment he was thrown onto the road shoulder of a highway in Malaysia in the early morning of March 31, 2016.
That horrific motorcycle accident nearly left him for the dead. His left foot was so badly crushed and had to be amputated from the knee down.
All his dreams were also broken just like his left arm.
The months that followed left Shaaban having to deal with a myriad of emotions that included wanting to end his life.
Fast forward three years later, I caught up with Shaaban at the Maybank Championship and he is literally back on his feet again.
An inspiring figure, the 2001 SEA Games Gold Medalist and Malaysia’s number one amateur in 2001 and 2002, felt right back at home at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, in the company of good friends, ‘just playing in the tournament and waiting to tee off’.
He said: “I am really happy to see my old friends out again this week. My old pals like Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung are very happy to see me too.
“Yesterday I met Prayad Marksaeng and Prom Meesawat and some other players from Chinese Taipei. They were very encouraging and I felt confident again after speaking to them.”
Adversity might have set him back momentary but courage has restored his ability to find new meaning in his life again.
Fitted with a prosthetic leg now, he is also a golf coach to juniors who attend his training classes which start from 8.30am till 6.30pm.
“I try not to put myself down despite what has happened to me. At least I still have something to do now. I still can help in the development of golf.
“I want to see the juniors improve and make Malaysia proud. I have played enough tournaments to share with them my life experiences.
‘Never give up’ is what I always tell my juniors. That’s my motto in life.’
I’m glad I got the chance to catch up with this gentleman who has defied all odds to become a truly inspirational figure today.
Ends.
New Delhi, India, March 22: Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond hopes to get lucky in his third attempt at tackling the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club when he heads to the Hero Indian Open next week.
The 23-year-old Thai has been riding on a rich vein of form, claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opener in Singapore in January and finishing inside the top-10 on six other occasions in his last nine starts on the Asian Tour.
He will spearhead the strong Thai challenge, which will be a major force to be reckoned with, alongside Tour winners Poom Saksansin, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Panuphol Pittayarat and veteran Prayad Marksaeng at the US$1.75 million event.
An elite 156-man field from 28 countries, consisting of more than 40 Tour winners and seven Order of Merit champions, will be vying for top honours at the prestigious event, which will once again be promoted by the Indian Golf Union, who joins the Asian Tour and European Tour in co-sanctioning the tournament.
Jazz, who sits atop the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity standings, came in tied-34th in his first attempt at the DLF Golf and Country Club when he played the Hero Indian Open in 2017 before missing the halfway cut on the same venue and in the same event last year.
“It’s a tough course, everyone knows that. It’s a beast, very narrow and tough, so I’ll be happy to even just make the cut this time,” said Jazz, whose best finish at the event came in 2016 where he finished tied-15th on a different course.
Placed 78th on the latest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Jazz stands an outside chance to qualify for The Masters next month. The talented Thai, who is currently playing in the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, needs to break into the world’s top-50 following the Hero Indian Open next week.
Alternatively, he could potentially earn an invite to The Masters, just like reigning Order of Merit champion Shubhankar Sharma last year, should he perform well in Malaysia and India these two weeks.
“My game is a lot different coming into these two weeks so I can’t wait to try and conquer the DLF course this time around. I missed the cut last year but I’m still looking forward to a new challenge next week,” added Jazz.
Also relishing the challenge at the Indian showpiece is two-time Asian Tour winner Panuphol, who has been in a relatively consistent form so far this season.
“It is a huge event for me so I am really looking forward to next week. I have been pretty consistent this year, although I admit it’s not my best golf. But I have put in the hard work and I am excited to take on big events like the Hero Indian Open,” said the 26-year-old Panuphol.
Missing out on a top-10 finish last year after making a double-bogey on the 14th hole in the final round, Panuphol will seize his chance at redemption on the notorious par-four that has been ranked as the toughest hole in the tournament for the last two consecutive editions.
“It is an interesting golf course, I would say it’s very challenging but fun to play as well. I would love to play well because it is a huge event. I made a double-bogey on hole 14 and bogeyed the 17th on the final day last year, if not I could have had a top-10 result so hopefully I will do better this time,” added Panuphol, who settled for an eventual tied-16th result.
A host of former winners of the event will also add to the strength of the field. They include Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, China’s Liang Wen-Chong, Australia’s David Gleeson and India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia, Anirban Lahiri, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal.
Ends.
Shenzhen, China, March 21: The 25th anniversary edition of the RMB 20 million Volvo China Open will once again be tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours when the tournament is staged at The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen from May 2-5.
The 2019 event will be the 16th staging since the Volvo China Open became a European Tour event in 2004 and the second in succession as a tri-sanctioned tournament.
Sven De Smet, Chairman of Volvo China Open Board said he was pleased to see the event maintain its tri-sanctioned status. “As the first global brand to sponsor international professional golf in mainland China, Volvo has always been committed to promoting the game of golf in both China and Asia,” he said.
“After 24 years of development, the Volvo China Open has become well-established as the jewel in the crown of Chinese golf as well as an important component of Volvo’s brand promotion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.
“Our long-term direction is to constantly improve the level and quality of the event. Having the Volvo China Open tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours will again maintain the high level of fields and world ranking points. In addition, the live TV broadcast will cover more regions via the European Tour and Asian Tour networks and reach millions of computers, tablets and smart phones through more internet platforms, which further expands the influence of the event and the brand of Volvo. This is undoubtedly a win-win co-operation.”
With its return to the Asian Tour in 2018, the Volvo China Open added even more power to the tour with the likes of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shubhankar Sharma playing in China’s Open Golf Championship. And Zhang Xiao Ning, President of China Golf Association is looking forward to another memorable chapter in the flagship event.
“The Volvo China Open has grown into an important international golf event not only in Asia but also globally, which has effectively promoted the popularity of golf in China as well as highlighted the progress of local professionals. The 25th anniversary has significant meaning and I expect the Chinese players to perform at their best and strive to provide the fifth home-grown champion in the history of China’s National Open Golf Championship.”
With a quarter of a century behind it, the Volvo China Open is Volvo’s longest-running current golf sponsorship and European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley appreciates the Swedish brand’s involvement with the professional game.
“Volvo has an illustrious history with the European Tour and we are proud that the Volvo China Open continues to honour that tradition,” said Pelley. “This year’s edition will mark the 88th occasion that Volvo have been a title sponsor of a tournament on our International Schedule and we thank them, not only for their continued commitment to our game, but also their unwavering support of the European Tour.
“We are also proud of our strong relationships with the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association and this tournament provides a perfect example of the significance and importance of our global alliances.”
Speaking on behalf of the Asian Tour, Acting Chief Executive Officer Cho Minn Thant added: “We are delighted that the Volvo China Open will be part of the Asian Tour for the second year in a row. An event such as this in China makes our international schedule truly complete and our thanks go to the China Golf Association and Volvo for their support of the Asian Tour.
“Our best players are looking forward to competing against top class European Tour and Chinese players in Shenzhen and hope they will be able to emulate the victory of predecessors such as Jeev Milkha Singh and leave their name on the trophy at one of Asia’s top tournaments.”
Ends.
Media Information
The 25th staging of the Volvo China Open will take place from May 2nd to 5th, 2019 at The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. The event is organized by China Golf Association, co-promoted by Volvo and Mitime Golf and Tri-sanctioned by China Golf Association, European Tour and Asian Tour, with a total prize-fund of RMB 20 million. Volvo was the first western brand to engage with golf in China in 1995, and this will be Volvo’s 88th tournament on The European Tour, and the 138th men’s professional golf tournament sponsored by Volvo worldwide.
For more information please visit www.volvochinaopen.com
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of professional golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. The Tour is officially recognised by the Official World Golf Rankings and provides its events with valuable ranking points for participants to be recognised on the world stage. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), Titleist (Official Web Partner), FootJoy (Supplier), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore, Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur. The Tour is an affiliate of The R&A.
A walk down memory lane with three-time Asian Tour champion and golf commentator Anthony Kang, who tamed the Cobra course at the Saujana Golf and Country Club for his career’s biggest victory 10 years ago.
By Anthony Kang
I stood on the tenth tee of Saujana Golf and Country Club with a two stroke lead just past 1:30 PM on Sunday, February 15, 2009 with an overwhelming conviction that I was going to win the Maybank Malaysian Open. Like a fanatic, a radical, or an extremist, I could not be convinced out of my belief. I turned my head 90 degrees to the right to look at the 18th green, the hospitality marquee, and the crowd standing behind the ropes and I was positive, without question, that I would walk off that green as the champion.
A little over two hours later I arrived at the right half of the 18th fairway, a dog leg right par 5, where my tee ball sat 260 yards away from the front edge of the green. Tied for the lead at -16, I endured a decision as I waited for the group ahead to clear the green … lay up or go for the green.
From the right half of the fairway on this hole, which bends right, a direct line to the green was non-existent. The ball had to start at least 15 yards to the left of the left border of the green and it had to cut. If the ball took off even one yard to the right, it would clatter into the trees immediately ahead and leave me with a third shot in excess of 200 yards, at best, or no shot to the green at all. Miss the green to the left because the ball did not cut and I am left with a down hill chip with a severe curve from left to right, like standing at the top of a spiral staircase, out of the thick and gluey rough. Over-cut the ball and rows of dense palm trees, extending the entire length of the hole on the right, await to catch my ball. A baseball coach would be proud of how many balls those palm trees nab out of the sky.
The most serious concern, however, was the cross bunker in the center of the fairway just 15 yards shy of the green, which left a 50 yard bunker shot to the hole … no man’s land. 245 yards was the carry distance to clear the bunker but a light breeze was against me. The carry distance of my three wood, a 14 degree Ping G10 at the time, was 255 yards … Can I fly the ball at least 245 yards into this breeze?
Attempt to go for the green and bogey was a definite possibility just as much as a birdie. Lay up and I saw no birdie, just par.
The intensity of my conviction, that I will win, had never been this high prior to this moment, or since for that matter. In that situation of anxiety, with adrenaline pumping though my body ferociously and a rapid beating heart, as if I ran from the tee to the ball in the fairway, I asked myself a question internally. ‘When will I have a chance to hit a shot like this?’ No answer was necessary. I did not want look back to this moment and regret not hitting that shot. I needed to hit that shot.
A 50 yard bunker shot on a peaceful afternoon at my home course is an unpleasant experience. A 50 yard bunker shot at the final hole of a major tournament with title implications, the scrutinizing attention, and the ceaseless pressure could be an excruciating one. Much like standing naked on the stage in a sold out theater, I would be completely exposed. That was the risk I had to take if I was going to win and there was no other way.
Fast forward ten years to now and I play tournaments sparingly, am a part of the broadcast team during live Asian Tour events, and have written a couple of articles for the Asian Tour website. If I were asked on that Sunday in Malaysia ‘where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ my answer would be ‘playing the PGA Tour and getting ready for The Champions Tour.’ The thought of an ineffective golf game was not fathomable, TV commentary was never on my radar, and writing articles was not in my universe.
The reality is, my golf game is not competitive and my past golf is easily brighter than my future golf but I am still a part of the organisation that has provided myself an abundance … the Asian Tour.
Perhaps because I hit that shot, I was afforded the opportunity to sit next to Dom Boulet, the ‘Voice’ of Asian Golf and a man I consider my mentor, and Richard Kaufman, who possesses a remarkably diligent work ethic which I try to emulate. Working with them, the ultra smooth Tim Low, and the resolute individuals that comprise the Asian Tour Media have opened my eyes to not only the TV production of golf, but the business of golf.
Everyone has a story to tell but maybe because I hit that shot, I was given the opportunity to keyboard my thoughts and put it on a screen for golfers to read. The creative team responsible for Asian Tour’s website content has also enabled me to observe golf from another context.
Through these endeavors, I have gained a greater perspective, knowledge, awareness and an appreciation for the decisions and the actions of the personnel behind the scenes that make a golf tournament possible. The unseen man power and the unnoticed work hours required, to stage a smooth and successful event, is staggering. A Ferrari is a visually stunning vehicle but little thought goes into the engine parts that work in unison to provide the power and the speed. No thought goes into the nuts and bolts that hold the engine parts together. Now I am grateful for the nuts and bolts that create a platform for professional golfers.
By the way, the three wood second shot at the 18th on that Sunday at Saujana cleared the bunker by two yards, maybe one, and bounced on to the green. I hit the shot of my life to win the Malaysian Open.
Maybank is a tremendous supporter of golf and has graciously enriched the lives of golf professionals worldwide, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, with over US $31 million in prize money since 2006.
I will always be thankful towards Maybank for providing an occasion where, financial benefits aside, I made a bit of history and an invaluable memory.
Melbourne, Australia, March 20: Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els announced Korea’s K.J. Choi, South Africa’s Trevor Immelman and Canada’s Mike Weir as his final three captain’s assistants for the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia for a third time from December 9 to 15, 2019. Els previously named Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy as captain’s assistant in late November.
Choi will return as an assistant for the second time after serving as vice captain to Nick Price when the Presidents Cup made its debut in Korea in 2015. A three-time Presidents Cup competitor (2003, 2007, 2011), Choi owns a six-eight overall record and posted a three-two mark in 2011 at Royal Melbourne, where he partnered with fellow captain’s assistant Ogilvy to win two Four-ball matches.
“I’m personally very happy and honored,” Choi said. “You need amazing teamwork to win the Presidents Cup. It’s our role as captain’s assistants to bring together players of different nationalities and have them blend well together. It’s our role to have them open up to us and help relieve some of the pressure they might feel.”
Choi’s more than 20 professional victories worldwide included eight career PGA TOUR titles, which were highlighted by his dramatic playoff win at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2011. Considered Asia’s most successful golfer to date, Choi spent 40 weeks inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
“As the most successful Asian golfer on the PGA TOUR, K.J. certainly commands a lot of respect amongst our players and I believe he will fire up our guys at Royal Melbourne,” Els said. “K.J. has a calm demeanor, which will be a valuable asset in our team room and out on the golf course during the heat of battle. I’ll be counting on K.J. to impart his vast experience of being a three-time International Team member as well as a captain’s assistant when we map out our strategies during the competition.”
Els also tabbed fellow South African Immelman, who will make his debut as a captain’s assistant with two Presidents Cup berths on his resume (2005, 2007); he and Els shared one Presidents Cup appearance together in 2007. In 2017, Immelman served as the first-ever International Team Captain for the Junior Presidents Cup, which debuted at Plainfield Country Club just days prior to the Presidents Cup at Liberty National.
“I’m very excited. I can’t wait really. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to play in ’05 and ’07, and it was a very enjoyable time in my career,” Immelman said. “For me, I probably know [Ernie] better than any of the other people on TOUR and so hopefully that’s what I can bring to the team is the fact that I really understand the captain. I know his history, I know his record, I obviously hold him in great esteem and so maybe I can be a good conduit from players to the team captain.”
Immelman is a two-time PGA TOUR winner whose career is highlighted by his victory at the 2008 Masters, where he edged Tiger Woods by three strokes. He also teamed with Rory Sabbatini in 2003 to win South Africa’s most recent World Cup of Golf title.
“I have known Trevor for a very long time and trust him fully to know that he will be an integral element in our team,” Els said. “As a fellow competitor, Trevor is as steely as they come and I am sure this attribute will rub off positively onto our players. When I played in the same team as Trevor in 2007, he was one of our most determined players and I know he will contribute to our cause in Australia.”
Weir will return for his second stint as a captain’s assistant after serving for Nick Price at the 2017 Presidents Cup. He has competed in five Presidents Cups (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and was a teammate of Els four times. The eight-time PGA TOUR winner is 13-9-2 all-time at the Presidents Cup and one of five International Team members with 10 or more match wins in the competition. In 2007, the Presidents Cup was staged in Canada for the first time, and Weir put on a show for his Canadians fans with a 3-1-1 record that was capped by a thrilling one-up victory over Tiger Woods in Singles.
“The Presidents Cup has been a big part of my career. I grew up playing a lot of team sports and when I made my first Presidents Cup team in 2000 it was really one of the highlights,” Weir said. “So it’s been special to still be part of the team as an assistant to Nick and now Ernie. We have a long history. We’re basically the same age, we’ve played a lot of golf together so it’s going to be really fun to try to get the Internationals over the line this time.”
Of his eight PGA TOUR victories, Weir’s most triumphant moment came with his breakthrough playoff win at the 2003 Masters – one of three titles he collected that season.
“I’ve played on the same International Team with Mike on four occasions and he’s one of the most passionate guys I know when it comes to the Presidents Cup,” Els said. “I also worked alongside Mike as a captain’s assistant in 2017 and he brought a considerable amount of experience and input into our team room and provided a positive influence on our players. His presence will be invaluable as we seek to regain the Presidents Cup.”
Nairobi, Kenya, March 18: In-form Justin Harding of South Africa continued his rise on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as he breaks into top-50 for the first time in his career after capping a solid joint runner-up finish at the Kenya Open on Sunday.
Harding, who propelled to 52nd place on the world ranking following his European Tour breakthrough in Qatar a fortnight ago, rode on his fine form to close with a five-under-par 66 and a 15-under-par 269 total to finish one shot back of winner Guido Migliozzi at the Karen Country Club.
Starting the day with a four-shot deficit, Harding reeled in eighth straight pars before making a birdie on the ninth for the fourth time last week. He added another birdie on the 11th and nailed an eagle from 10 feet on the next to move into a share of the lead but slipped back with a bogey on 13th.
The 33-year-old South African recovered with birdies on 15th, thanks to a stunning approach, and 17th, after sinking a 20-footer, to cap another solid result on the European Tour, which would now put him in a good position to qualify for The Masters in Augusta next month.
“I think I’m probably still going to have to have a decent result come the Match Play but I’ve at least given myself a decent shot at Augusta. I thought I played quite nicely. Didn’t get everything out of the front nine, couple of bad chips on six and seven which were naughty, but gave myself a chance coming down the stretch.
“It was another good week, pretty pleased. I battled, probably from hole one, with club selection and the wind swirling around so to have come out and posted 15 under, I’m pleased. I had a good week last week and another one this week so I’m sitting quite nicely first season on the European Tour,” said Harding, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar was left to rue a missed opportunity for his second European Tour title as he returned with a battling 69 to settle for fifth place on his own on 270.
The 30-year-old Indian, who started the day just two shots back, had marked his card with seven birdies against two double-bogeys and a bogey. His fifth-place finish would be his first top-10 result on the European Tour since the Czech Masters in August last year.
Ends.
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By - sereneloh
[addtoany]
Australian Scott Hend cemented his status as the most successful international golfer on the Asian Tour after claiming his 10th victory and first in three years at the Maybank Championship.
Sentosa, Singapore, March 25: Australian Scott Hend cemented his status as the most successful international golfer on the Asian Tour after claiming his 10th victory and first in three years at the US$3 million Maybank Championship on Sunday.
Thanks to a winner’s prize purse of US$500,000, Hend propelled to the top of the Habitat for Humanity Standings and broke the US$5 million mark in career earnings on the region’s premier Tour following his play-off success at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.
With accumulated earnings of US$5.04 million since making his debut in 2007, the 45-year-old Hend is now the second highest-earning player following Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a record three-time Order of Merit champion, on the Asian Tour’s Career Money List.
Thai legend Thaworn Wiratchant, who holds an unprecedented 18 wins on Tour, sits in third place with US$4.57 million in earnings while India’s Anirban Lahiri and Prayad Marksaeng, also of Thailand, took fourth and fifth with US$3.90 million and US$3.86 million respectively.
Hend’s achievements over the past decade have been highly-commendable, especially in Asia, where he had claimed all his 10 victories, including three at events co-sanctioned with the European Tour.
He broke through in Indonesia in 2008 and won eight titles across Singapore (1), Thailand (3), Macau (2), Hong Kong (1) and Chinese Taipei (1) between 2012 and 2016. Hend became the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016, thanks to two victories and three top-10s.
“I’m leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the moment and it gives me a good chance to win it again. It’ll be another fantastic achievement and I would like to do it again,” said Hend, who also became the fourth player to surpass US$1 million in earnings in a single season in 2016.
Hend’s victory in Malaysia was made special with his good friend and long-time caddy Tony Carolan by his side.
“I’m a grinder and a fighter. So is my caddy Tony. We both have the same mental attitude. It doesn’t matter how old we are, we work hard at what we do. Just takes a bit of luck to win. Obviously, I had a bit of luck on the play-off hole. If you don’t have any luck you won’t win,” Hend added.
The big-hitting Hend is now the fourth player after Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant (18), Thongchai Jaidee (13) and Prayad Marksaeng (10) to obtain 10 wins or more on the Asian Tour.
Hend took over the driver’s seat on the Habitat for Humanity Standings with earnings of US$507,792 while previous leader Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, who enjoyed a third-place finish in Malaysia, slipped to second with a current haul of US$427,600.
Australian rookie Zach Murray also slipped to third place following a tied-41st place finish in Malaysia while American Johannes Veerman, who took home his career’s biggest prize purse of a U$150,000 thanks to his fourth-place finish, propelled to fourth place on the money list.
The Asian Tour will head to India for the prestigious Hero Indian Open this week. The US$1,750,000 event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, will be held at the DLF Golf and Country Club from March 28 to 31.
Leading 20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
1. Scott HEND (AUS) $507,792.25
2. Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $427,600.44
3. Zach MURRAY (AUS) $189,140.71
4. Johannes VEERMAN (USA) $158,720.00
5. Scott VINCENT (ZWE) $71,245.03
6. Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $54,826.67
7. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $53,518.10
8. Nicholas FUNG (MAS) $51,160.16
9. Chikkarangappa S. (IND) $48,843.74
10. David LIPSKY (USA) $47,100.00
11. Paul PETERSON (USA) $45,039.20
12. Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) $41,648.48
13. Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) $40,560.00
14. Angelo QUE (PHI) $38,120.00
15. Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $37,869.98
16. Doyeob MUN (KOR) $37,150.00
17. Gareth PADDISON (NZL) $36,327.27
18. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) $35,765.50
19. Shaun NORRIS (RSA) $33,220.00
20. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) $29,400.00
Catch up on all the highlights from the final round of the Maybank Championship.
Read what players have to say following the conclusion of the 2019 Maybank Championship.
I’m leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the moment and it gives me a good chance to win it again. It’ll be another fantastic achievement and I would like to do it again.
Ends.
Hend wins his 10th Asian Tour title and first since 2016 at the Maybank Championship.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 24: Australia’s Scott Hend returned to winning ways by clinching his first Asian Tour title since 2016 with his dramatic play-off victory over Spain’s Nacho Elvira at the Maybank Championship on Sunday.
Hend held a slender one-shot lead heading into the final hole but late drama ensued when a clap of thunder disrupted Elvira’s approach into the 18th green. The skies opened soon after leaving officials with no choice but to suspend the play at 2.49pm (local time)
When play resumed at 4.30pm, Elvira drained a monstrous 30-feet birdie putt to force a play-off with Hend, who had no answer to the Spaniard’s remarkable birdie effort.
After more than 90 minutes of delay, Hend and Elvira were back at the tee box on 18.
Hend got a lucky break when his tee shot at the first extra-hole hit the base of a tree and ended up on the fairway, while Elvira’s ball went into the fairway bunker.
The Australian hit another tree with his second shot and went into the greenside bunker. Hend splashed his shot out from the bunker to within three feet of the hole which he coolly rolled in to clinch the Maybank Championship and banish memories of his previous play-off defeats in Switzerland in 2016 and 2017.
Elvira’s runner-up finish was his second in as many starts after he ended his recent campaign in Qatar in a tie for second in his last outing.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond enjoyed yet another top-10 finish by closing with a 69 to take third place while Johannes Veerman of the United States bettered his previous best result of 12th position in 2017 by signing off with a 66 to finish in fourth place.
Did you know?
- With this victory, Scott Hend moved into second place on the all-time career-earnings list, and becomes the second player to break the US$5 million mark on the Asian Tour.
- Scott Hend has appeared in every edition of the Maybank Championship since it was first played in 2016. His best previous result was 29th in 2017.
- He is the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in 2016
- All of Hend’s wins have come in Asia.
- Hend is the fourth player after Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng to obtain 10 wins or more on the Asian Tour.
- Nacho Elvira was making his third appearance consecutive appearance at the Maybank Championship and the first time he has made the cut.
- It was also the first time he held the 54-hole lead on the European Tour.
- Jazz Janewattananond has appeared in every edition of the Maybank Championship since it was first played in 2016. His best previous result was a tied-39th finish last year.
- He broke into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career after claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening event in Singapore in January.
- That victory also earned him a coveted spot in The Open, where he made his Major debut last year.
- Johannes Veerman is born to an Indonesian mother and an American father. He resides in Texas but had spent 13 years living in Asia.
- Veerman came through Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2016 and went on to enjoy a dream rookie season.
- He bagged three consecutive top-10 finishes on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) before securing his breakthrough win at the Taifong Open.
- He became the third American to lift the ADT Order of Merit crown in 2016 with that victory and as well as five other top-10 finishes.
Ends.
Calvin Koh speaks to one of the most inspiring golfers he has met on Tour
By Calvin Koh, Head of Press Operations and Media Partnerships
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 24: A split second was all it took to turn Shaaban Hussin’s life upside down.
Shaaban’s promising golf career was immediately shattered the moment he was thrown onto the road shoulder of a highway in Malaysia in the early morning of March 31, 2016.
That horrific motorcycle accident nearly left him for the dead. His left foot was so badly crushed and had to be amputated from the knee down.
All his dreams were also broken just like his left arm.
The months that followed left Shaaban having to deal with a myriad of emotions that included wanting to end his life.
Fast forward three years later, I caught up with Shaaban at the Maybank Championship and he is literally back on his feet again.
An inspiring figure, the 2001 SEA Games Gold Medalist and Malaysia’s number one amateur in 2001 and 2002, felt right back at home at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, in the company of good friends, ‘just playing in the tournament and waiting to tee off’.
He said: “I am really happy to see my old friends out again this week. My old pals like Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung are very happy to see me too.
“Yesterday I met Prayad Marksaeng and Prom Meesawat and some other players from Chinese Taipei. They were very encouraging and I felt confident again after speaking to them.”
Adversity might have set him back momentary but courage has restored his ability to find new meaning in his life again.
Fitted with a prosthetic leg now, he is also a golf coach to juniors who attend his training classes which start from 8.30am till 6.30pm.
“I try not to put myself down despite what has happened to me. At least I still have something to do now. I still can help in the development of golf.
“I want to see the juniors improve and make Malaysia proud. I have played enough tournaments to share with them my life experiences.
‘Never give up’ is what I always tell my juniors. That’s my motto in life.’
I’m glad I got the chance to catch up with this gentleman who has defied all odds to become a truly inspirational figure today.
Ends.
Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond hopes to get lucky in his third attempt at tackling the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club at the Hero Indian Open.
New Delhi, India, March 22: Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond hopes to get lucky in his third attempt at tackling the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club when he heads to the Hero Indian Open next week.
The 23-year-old Thai has been riding on a rich vein of form, claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opener in Singapore in January and finishing inside the top-10 on six other occasions in his last nine starts on the Asian Tour.
He will spearhead the strong Thai challenge, which will be a major force to be reckoned with, alongside Tour winners Poom Saksansin, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Panuphol Pittayarat and veteran Prayad Marksaeng at the US$1.75 million event.
An elite 156-man field from 28 countries, consisting of more than 40 Tour winners and seven Order of Merit champions, will be vying for top honours at the prestigious event, which will once again be promoted by the Indian Golf Union, who joins the Asian Tour and European Tour in co-sanctioning the tournament.
Jazz, who sits atop the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity standings, came in tied-34th in his first attempt at the DLF Golf and Country Club when he played the Hero Indian Open in 2017 before missing the halfway cut on the same venue and in the same event last year.
“It’s a tough course, everyone knows that. It’s a beast, very narrow and tough, so I’ll be happy to even just make the cut this time,” said Jazz, whose best finish at the event came in 2016 where he finished tied-15th on a different course.
Placed 78th on the latest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Jazz stands an outside chance to qualify for The Masters next month. The talented Thai, who is currently playing in the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, needs to break into the world’s top-50 following the Hero Indian Open next week.
Alternatively, he could potentially earn an invite to The Masters, just like reigning Order of Merit champion Shubhankar Sharma last year, should he perform well in Malaysia and India these two weeks.
“My game is a lot different coming into these two weeks so I can’t wait to try and conquer the DLF course this time around. I missed the cut last year but I’m still looking forward to a new challenge next week,” added Jazz.
Also relishing the challenge at the Indian showpiece is two-time Asian Tour winner Panuphol, who has been in a relatively consistent form so far this season.
“It is a huge event for me so I am really looking forward to next week. I have been pretty consistent this year, although I admit it’s not my best golf. But I have put in the hard work and I am excited to take on big events like the Hero Indian Open,” said the 26-year-old Panuphol.
Missing out on a top-10 finish last year after making a double-bogey on the 14th hole in the final round, Panuphol will seize his chance at redemption on the notorious par-four that has been ranked as the toughest hole in the tournament for the last two consecutive editions.
“It is an interesting golf course, I would say it’s very challenging but fun to play as well. I would love to play well because it is a huge event. I made a double-bogey on hole 14 and bogeyed the 17th on the final day last year, if not I could have had a top-10 result so hopefully I will do better this time,” added Panuphol, who settled for an eventual tied-16th result.
A host of former winners of the event will also add to the strength of the field. They include Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, China’s Liang Wen-Chong, Australia’s David Gleeson and India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia, Anirban Lahiri, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal.
Ends.
The 25th edition of the Volvo China Open will take place at The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen from May 2-5.
Shenzhen, China, March 21: The 25th anniversary edition of the RMB 20 million Volvo China Open will once again be tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours when the tournament is staged at The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen from May 2-5.
The 2019 event will be the 16th staging since the Volvo China Open became a European Tour event in 2004 and the second in succession as a tri-sanctioned tournament.
Sven De Smet, Chairman of Volvo China Open Board said he was pleased to see the event maintain its tri-sanctioned status. “As the first global brand to sponsor international professional golf in mainland China, Volvo has always been committed to promoting the game of golf in both China and Asia,” he said.
“After 24 years of development, the Volvo China Open has become well-established as the jewel in the crown of Chinese golf as well as an important component of Volvo’s brand promotion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.
“Our long-term direction is to constantly improve the level and quality of the event. Having the Volvo China Open tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours will again maintain the high level of fields and world ranking points. In addition, the live TV broadcast will cover more regions via the European Tour and Asian Tour networks and reach millions of computers, tablets and smart phones through more internet platforms, which further expands the influence of the event and the brand of Volvo. This is undoubtedly a win-win co-operation.”
With its return to the Asian Tour in 2018, the Volvo China Open added even more power to the tour with the likes of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shubhankar Sharma playing in China’s Open Golf Championship. And Zhang Xiao Ning, President of China Golf Association is looking forward to another memorable chapter in the flagship event.
“The Volvo China Open has grown into an important international golf event not only in Asia but also globally, which has effectively promoted the popularity of golf in China as well as highlighted the progress of local professionals. The 25th anniversary has significant meaning and I expect the Chinese players to perform at their best and strive to provide the fifth home-grown champion in the history of China’s National Open Golf Championship.”
With a quarter of a century behind it, the Volvo China Open is Volvo’s longest-running current golf sponsorship and European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley appreciates the Swedish brand’s involvement with the professional game.
“Volvo has an illustrious history with the European Tour and we are proud that the Volvo China Open continues to honour that tradition,” said Pelley. “This year’s edition will mark the 88th occasion that Volvo have been a title sponsor of a tournament on our International Schedule and we thank them, not only for their continued commitment to our game, but also their unwavering support of the European Tour.
“We are also proud of our strong relationships with the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association and this tournament provides a perfect example of the significance and importance of our global alliances.”
Speaking on behalf of the Asian Tour, Acting Chief Executive Officer Cho Minn Thant added: “We are delighted that the Volvo China Open will be part of the Asian Tour for the second year in a row. An event such as this in China makes our international schedule truly complete and our thanks go to the China Golf Association and Volvo for their support of the Asian Tour.
“Our best players are looking forward to competing against top class European Tour and Chinese players in Shenzhen and hope they will be able to emulate the victory of predecessors such as Jeev Milkha Singh and leave their name on the trophy at one of Asia’s top tournaments.”
Ends.
Media Information
The 25th staging of the Volvo China Open will take place from May 2nd to 5th, 2019 at The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. The event is organized by China Golf Association, co-promoted by Volvo and Mitime Golf and Tri-sanctioned by China Golf Association, European Tour and Asian Tour, with a total prize-fund of RMB 20 million. Volvo was the first western brand to engage with golf in China in 1995, and this will be Volvo’s 88th tournament on The European Tour, and the 138th men’s professional golf tournament sponsored by Volvo worldwide.
For more information please visit www.volvochinaopen.com
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of professional golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. The Tour is officially recognised by the Official World Golf Rankings and provides its events with valuable ranking points for participants to be recognised on the world stage. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), Titleist (Official Web Partner), FootJoy (Supplier), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore, Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur. The Tour is an affiliate of The R&A.
A walk down memory lane with Anthony Kang, who claimed his career’s biggest victory at the Saujana Golf and Country Club 10 years ago.
A walk down memory lane with three-time Asian Tour champion and golf commentator Anthony Kang, who tamed the Cobra course at the Saujana Golf and Country Club for his career’s biggest victory 10 years ago.
By Anthony Kang
I stood on the tenth tee of Saujana Golf and Country Club with a two stroke lead just past 1:30 PM on Sunday, February 15, 2009 with an overwhelming conviction that I was going to win the Maybank Malaysian Open. Like a fanatic, a radical, or an extremist, I could not be convinced out of my belief. I turned my head 90 degrees to the right to look at the 18th green, the hospitality marquee, and the crowd standing behind the ropes and I was positive, without question, that I would walk off that green as the champion.
A little over two hours later I arrived at the right half of the 18th fairway, a dog leg right par 5, where my tee ball sat 260 yards away from the front edge of the green. Tied for the lead at -16, I endured a decision as I waited for the group ahead to clear the green … lay up or go for the green.
From the right half of the fairway on this hole, which bends right, a direct line to the green was non-existent. The ball had to start at least 15 yards to the left of the left border of the green and it had to cut. If the ball took off even one yard to the right, it would clatter into the trees immediately ahead and leave me with a third shot in excess of 200 yards, at best, or no shot to the green at all. Miss the green to the left because the ball did not cut and I am left with a down hill chip with a severe curve from left to right, like standing at the top of a spiral staircase, out of the thick and gluey rough. Over-cut the ball and rows of dense palm trees, extending the entire length of the hole on the right, await to catch my ball. A baseball coach would be proud of how many balls those palm trees nab out of the sky.
The most serious concern, however, was the cross bunker in the center of the fairway just 15 yards shy of the green, which left a 50 yard bunker shot to the hole … no man’s land. 245 yards was the carry distance to clear the bunker but a light breeze was against me. The carry distance of my three wood, a 14 degree Ping G10 at the time, was 255 yards … Can I fly the ball at least 245 yards into this breeze?
Attempt to go for the green and bogey was a definite possibility just as much as a birdie. Lay up and I saw no birdie, just par.
The intensity of my conviction, that I will win, had never been this high prior to this moment, or since for that matter. In that situation of anxiety, with adrenaline pumping though my body ferociously and a rapid beating heart, as if I ran from the tee to the ball in the fairway, I asked myself a question internally. ‘When will I have a chance to hit a shot like this?’ No answer was necessary. I did not want look back to this moment and regret not hitting that shot. I needed to hit that shot.
A 50 yard bunker shot on a peaceful afternoon at my home course is an unpleasant experience. A 50 yard bunker shot at the final hole of a major tournament with title implications, the scrutinizing attention, and the ceaseless pressure could be an excruciating one. Much like standing naked on the stage in a sold out theater, I would be completely exposed. That was the risk I had to take if I was going to win and there was no other way.
Fast forward ten years to now and I play tournaments sparingly, am a part of the broadcast team during live Asian Tour events, and have written a couple of articles for the Asian Tour website. If I were asked on that Sunday in Malaysia ‘where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ my answer would be ‘playing the PGA Tour and getting ready for The Champions Tour.’ The thought of an ineffective golf game was not fathomable, TV commentary was never on my radar, and writing articles was not in my universe.
The reality is, my golf game is not competitive and my past golf is easily brighter than my future golf but I am still a part of the organisation that has provided myself an abundance … the Asian Tour.
Perhaps because I hit that shot, I was afforded the opportunity to sit next to Dom Boulet, the ‘Voice’ of Asian Golf and a man I consider my mentor, and Richard Kaufman, who possesses a remarkably diligent work ethic which I try to emulate. Working with them, the ultra smooth Tim Low, and the resolute individuals that comprise the Asian Tour Media have opened my eyes to not only the TV production of golf, but the business of golf.
Everyone has a story to tell but maybe because I hit that shot, I was given the opportunity to keyboard my thoughts and put it on a screen for golfers to read. The creative team responsible for Asian Tour’s website content has also enabled me to observe golf from another context.
Through these endeavors, I have gained a greater perspective, knowledge, awareness and an appreciation for the decisions and the actions of the personnel behind the scenes that make a golf tournament possible. The unseen man power and the unnoticed work hours required, to stage a smooth and successful event, is staggering. A Ferrari is a visually stunning vehicle but little thought goes into the engine parts that work in unison to provide the power and the speed. No thought goes into the nuts and bolts that hold the engine parts together. Now I am grateful for the nuts and bolts that create a platform for professional golfers.
By the way, the three wood second shot at the 18th on that Sunday at Saujana cleared the bunker by two yards, maybe one, and bounced on to the green. I hit the shot of my life to win the Malaysian Open.
Maybank is a tremendous supporter of golf and has graciously enriched the lives of golf professionals worldwide, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, with over US $31 million in prize money since 2006.
I will always be thankful towards Maybank for providing an occasion where, financial benefits aside, I made a bit of history and an invaluable memory.
Melbourne, Australia, March 20: Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els announced Korea’s K.J. Choi, South Africa’s Trevor Immelman and Canada’s Mike Weir as his final three captain’s assistants for the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia for a third time from December 9 to 15, 2019. […]
Melbourne, Australia, March 20: Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els announced Korea’s K.J. Choi, South Africa’s Trevor Immelman and Canada’s Mike Weir as his final three captain’s assistants for the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia for a third time from December 9 to 15, 2019. Els previously named Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy as captain’s assistant in late November.
Choi will return as an assistant for the second time after serving as vice captain to Nick Price when the Presidents Cup made its debut in Korea in 2015. A three-time Presidents Cup competitor (2003, 2007, 2011), Choi owns a six-eight overall record and posted a three-two mark in 2011 at Royal Melbourne, where he partnered with fellow captain’s assistant Ogilvy to win two Four-ball matches.
“I’m personally very happy and honored,” Choi said. “You need amazing teamwork to win the Presidents Cup. It’s our role as captain’s assistants to bring together players of different nationalities and have them blend well together. It’s our role to have them open up to us and help relieve some of the pressure they might feel.”
Choi’s more than 20 professional victories worldwide included eight career PGA TOUR titles, which were highlighted by his dramatic playoff win at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2011. Considered Asia’s most successful golfer to date, Choi spent 40 weeks inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
“As the most successful Asian golfer on the PGA TOUR, K.J. certainly commands a lot of respect amongst our players and I believe he will fire up our guys at Royal Melbourne,” Els said. “K.J. has a calm demeanor, which will be a valuable asset in our team room and out on the golf course during the heat of battle. I’ll be counting on K.J. to impart his vast experience of being a three-time International Team member as well as a captain’s assistant when we map out our strategies during the competition.”
Els also tabbed fellow South African Immelman, who will make his debut as a captain’s assistant with two Presidents Cup berths on his resume (2005, 2007); he and Els shared one Presidents Cup appearance together in 2007. In 2017, Immelman served as the first-ever International Team Captain for the Junior Presidents Cup, which debuted at Plainfield Country Club just days prior to the Presidents Cup at Liberty National.
“I’m very excited. I can’t wait really. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to play in ’05 and ’07, and it was a very enjoyable time in my career,” Immelman said. “For me, I probably know [Ernie] better than any of the other people on TOUR and so hopefully that’s what I can bring to the team is the fact that I really understand the captain. I know his history, I know his record, I obviously hold him in great esteem and so maybe I can be a good conduit from players to the team captain.”
Immelman is a two-time PGA TOUR winner whose career is highlighted by his victory at the 2008 Masters, where he edged Tiger Woods by three strokes. He also teamed with Rory Sabbatini in 2003 to win South Africa’s most recent World Cup of Golf title.
“I have known Trevor for a very long time and trust him fully to know that he will be an integral element in our team,” Els said. “As a fellow competitor, Trevor is as steely as they come and I am sure this attribute will rub off positively onto our players. When I played in the same team as Trevor in 2007, he was one of our most determined players and I know he will contribute to our cause in Australia.”
Weir will return for his second stint as a captain’s assistant after serving for Nick Price at the 2017 Presidents Cup. He has competed in five Presidents Cups (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and was a teammate of Els four times. The eight-time PGA TOUR winner is 13-9-2 all-time at the Presidents Cup and one of five International Team members with 10 or more match wins in the competition. In 2007, the Presidents Cup was staged in Canada for the first time, and Weir put on a show for his Canadians fans with a 3-1-1 record that was capped by a thrilling one-up victory over Tiger Woods in Singles.
“The Presidents Cup has been a big part of my career. I grew up playing a lot of team sports and when I made my first Presidents Cup team in 2000 it was really one of the highlights,” Weir said. “So it’s been special to still be part of the team as an assistant to Nick and now Ernie. We have a long history. We’re basically the same age, we’ve played a lot of golf together so it’s going to be really fun to try to get the Internationals over the line this time.”
Of his eight PGA TOUR victories, Weir’s most triumphant moment came with his breakthrough playoff win at the 2003 Masters – one of three titles he collected that season.
“I’ve played on the same International Team with Mike on four occasions and he’s one of the most passionate guys I know when it comes to the Presidents Cup,” Els said. “I also worked alongside Mike as a captain’s assistant in 2017 and he brought a considerable amount of experience and input into our team room and provided a positive influence on our players. His presence will be invaluable as we seek to regain the Presidents Cup.”
Justin Harding of South Africa continued his rise on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as he breaks into top-50 for the first time in his career after capping a solid joint runner-up finish at the Kenya Open.
Nairobi, Kenya, March 18: In-form Justin Harding of South Africa continued his rise on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as he breaks into top-50 for the first time in his career after capping a solid joint runner-up finish at the Kenya Open on Sunday.
Harding, who propelled to 52nd place on the world ranking following his European Tour breakthrough in Qatar a fortnight ago, rode on his fine form to close with a five-under-par 66 and a 15-under-par 269 total to finish one shot back of winner Guido Migliozzi at the Karen Country Club.
Starting the day with a four-shot deficit, Harding reeled in eighth straight pars before making a birdie on the ninth for the fourth time last week. He added another birdie on the 11th and nailed an eagle from 10 feet on the next to move into a share of the lead but slipped back with a bogey on 13th.
The 33-year-old South African recovered with birdies on 15th, thanks to a stunning approach, and 17th, after sinking a 20-footer, to cap another solid result on the European Tour, which would now put him in a good position to qualify for The Masters in Augusta next month.
“I think I’m probably still going to have to have a decent result come the Match Play but I’ve at least given myself a decent shot at Augusta. I thought I played quite nicely. Didn’t get everything out of the front nine, couple of bad chips on six and seven which were naughty, but gave myself a chance coming down the stretch.
“It was another good week, pretty pleased. I battled, probably from hole one, with club selection and the wind swirling around so to have come out and posted 15 under, I’m pleased. I had a good week last week and another one this week so I’m sitting quite nicely first season on the European Tour,” said Harding, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar was left to rue a missed opportunity for his second European Tour title as he returned with a battling 69 to settle for fifth place on his own on 270.
The 30-year-old Indian, who started the day just two shots back, had marked his card with seven birdies against two double-bogeys and a bogey. His fifth-place finish would be his first top-10 result on the European Tour since the Czech Masters in August last year.
Ends.
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