Tour Insider: Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open
Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 2: Olle Nordberg provides his insights from the front lines ahead of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open which starts on Wednesday.
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open has been held at the Kurmitola Golf Club since 2015 and has been the stage of breakthrough victories for Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Jazz Janewattananond and Malcolm Kokocinski in the last three editions of the event.
Last year Malcolm Kokocinski fired a final round six-under-par 65 to beat Ben Campbell and Jack Harrison by three shots, and his record on this course last year was nothing short of spectacular.
In the two Asian Development Tour events held at Kurmitola GC earlier in the year, he finished second at the City Bank Amex Dhaka Open in January and tied-third at the BTI Open in April.
The previous year Jazz won this trophy in his first event back after losing his Asian Tour card in the end of 2016, securing his playing rights as a tournament winner for the rest of the season.
The players most likely to contend for the win or a top finish this week, based on current form or past record at Kurmitola Golf Club, could well be among the ones listed below:
- Jazz Janewattananond (THA)
Past champion and in second place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, he is also the highest ranked player in the field at number 73 on the OWGR ranking list.
Jazz has had a great start to the year with a win at the SMBC Singapore Open, a third at the Maybank Championship and a fourth at the 100th New Zealand Open.
Needs no further introductions and reasons why he is likely to be a top challenger for the trophy.
- Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE)
With his playing record mentioned above at Kurmitola last year it would not be surprising to see the Hua Hin based Swede in contention again on Sunday afternoon.
Kokocinski has struggled a bit in his last few events, but the return to Bangladesh could provide the defending champion a good chance to turn his fortunes around.
- Siddikur Rahman (BAN)
The local hero and number one golfer from Bangladesh, Rahman finished runner-up in his national Open to Jazz in 2017 and would dearly like to do one better this year.
He won the City Bank Amex Dhaka Open at Kurmitola last year on the ADT by beating Kokocinski by four shots and was tied-sixth at the BTI Open a few months later.
Local knowledge may also be an important advantage this week. Since this is his home course he will know exactly where to place the ball off the tees and how to read the greens.
The event has not seen a Bangladeshi player win the event previously and Siddikur is the top candidate to change that fact.
- Rashid Khan (IND)
Has had a good start to his 2019 campaign and playing very well lately. Khan was in a tie for 10th place in Delhi last week on the difficult DLF Gary Player course, and already has a win and a tied-third place under his belt so far this year on the Indian PGTI circuit.
Will be looking for a chance to get his Asian Tour card back with a win this week.
Going through the statistics records from the last two editions of this event, an important factor has been top finishers GIR performance. If history is of any guide this week, these players with a recent solid performance in the GIR statistic may well be contending for the title on Sunday.
- Doyeob Mun (KOR)
The winner of the 61st Korean PGA Championship last season, Mun is already a proven winner and a very good all-round player.
He also has one of the best GIR records on the Asian Tour and was placed 14th in 2018 with 71%. Currently ranked fourth in 2019 with 79.2% having played one event.
It would not be surprising to see him as an Asian Tour winner before the end of the year.
- Soomin Lee (KOR)
After having played the last few seasons mostly on the European Tour, Lee is now back on the Asian Tour where he made his debut in 2015.
His GIR stats are among the better on the Asian Tour, he was ranked ninth in 2018 with 71.7% GIR and is as of this week 13th in 2019 with 75% after one event played.
Having won once on the European Tour in 2016, the Shenzhen International, and twice previously on the KPGA Tour, he will be looking to add another title to his resume this week.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 1: Rejuvenated Carlos Pigem of Spain is seeking a fine showing to boost his confidence when he returns to competitive golf for the first time in four months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 which starts on Wednesday.
Pigem, who had uncharacteristically missed out on his 2019 Asian Tour card after finishing outside top-60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, took advantage of his much-needed break to regroup and recharge before starting over.
Despite coming off the longest break in his career, the 28-year-old Spaniard, a one-time Asian Tour winner in 2016, is raring to go as he resumes his chase for glory with a revamped swing at the US$350,000 event, which is his first start of the season on the Asian Tour.
Pigem will feature in the 150-man field spearheaded by 2017 winner Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, highest-ranked player in second place on the Merit rankings, as well as India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and Khalin Joshi, all winners on Tour, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
Also in the fray are Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who won the inaugural edition in 2015, Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng, who is making his debut appearance in the tournament this week, and Miguel Carballo of Argentina, a former player on the PGA Tour.
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 welcomed a new title sponsor in the National Bank Ltd, a public limited bank in Bangladesh.
The tournament is named after the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The highly-acclaimed Kurmitola Golf Club continues to provide top-class hospitality as the home of the Bangladesh’s National Open.
Did you know?
- Carlos Pigem is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He claimed his maiden title at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei in 2016.
- Pigem played the first two editions of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2015 and 2016 where he finished fourth and tied-19th respectively.
- Shortly after turning professional, Pigem signaled his arrival to Asia by finishing in tied-11th place to secure his Asian Tour card at the 2013 Qualifying School.
- Came close to winning on several occasions before finally breaking through on the Asian Tour in 2017. Made the most of early opportunities on the European Tour the same year with back-to-back top-10s at the Hero Indian Open and the Trophée Hassan II.
- Pigem, however, lost his playing rights on the Asian Tour after finishing in 98th place on the 2018 Habitat for Humanity Standings. It was the first time he has failed to end the season inside top-60 on the money list.
- He is returning to competitive golf for the first time in fourth months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open this week. He last played on the Asian Tour at the season-ending Indonesian Masters last December.
- Mardan Mamat of Singapore claimed his fifth Asian Tour title after leading from start to finish at the inaugural edition of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2015.
- Miguel Carballo, a former player on the PGA Tour, is the only Argentinean in the 150-man field this week. He came through the Qualifying School in 2018 and he is the only Argentinean member on the Asian Tour.
- The 40-year-old Carballo turned professional in 2002 and has previously won on the Challenge Tour and the Web.com Tour.
- He first played at the Kumitola Golf Club for an Asian Development Tour (ADT) event last year where he enjoyed a tied-third place finish.
- Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng is making his debut appearance at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open this week. It is also his maiden trip to the country.
- Prayad has claimed a total of 46 victories worldwide throughout his illustrious career, including 10 victories on the Asian Tour and 13 wins on the Japan Senior Tour, where he started to ply his trade three years ago.
New Delhi, India, March 28: Read what the players have to say following round one at the Hero Indian Open.
Stephen Gallacher (Sco) First round 67 (-5)
It was a perfect morning. Cool to start with and then it heated up later on in the round, and not too much wind, so it was perfect today.
I think you have to get it in play off the tee, there is just so much trouble. I think if you get the tee shot in place you can hit a couple of nice iron shots and take advantage of the par fours that are quite short, drive a couple, and knock it onto the par fives.
It is quite a strategic course. I don’t think you need to be the longest player on the Tour to play it, I think you’ve just got to plot your way around it.
I have started poorly to be honest, I’ve had a sort of big miss in the bag that has been costing me triples and doubles, so hopefully, I knew I was close last week, I played lovely but just didn’t get anything out of it, but coming back to a place where I’ve played well hopefully I can draw on some inspiration from last year.
Julian Suri (Usa) First round 67 (-5)
It was a good day. My caddie Dermot, he keeps encouraging me and calls me the Greatest Showman sometimes after the movie, so I had to give him a little show there. I got the all clear about four or fives weeks ago from the doctor and last week in Malaysia was my first event. With the heat there and all the conditions, the body felt great and the swing felt good too, and it’s obviously still a work in progress but to shoot a score like this, on a course like this, is a good sign going forward. It’s a great test. It’s very dramatic and provokes the imagination a little bit so I enjoy it.
Prom Meesawat (Tha) First round 68 (-4)
It is a very tough golf course, you have to keep your ball n the fairway and try and hit as many as greens as you can. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes, made a couple of bad tee shots but still kept it in play so I am very pleased with my round today.
I hit a really good drive on my 17th hole and was thinking I could get on the green in two shots. But it was a very tough pin position and I didn’t commit fully to the shot. I should have just laid up instead of going for it like how I did with my three-iron and ended up missing the green left.
I wasn’t too confident in my game coming into this week because I haven’t been hitting my driver very well. But I just tried to hit the fairway as much as I can and keep my ball in play. With my distance I could go for a lot of greens in two. I just need to be confident in my game and use my distance to my advantage.
Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) First round 68 (-4)
The conditions were perfect and this is a great golf course. If you hit alright from the tee, or out it in the short grass then it’s not that long, and the greens as good as they are you can hole putts. Very happy starting last year with five under, this year four under, hopefully I can go four better than last year.
I like great golf courses and I love to putt on good greens, and these are probably the best of the season. I didn’t play my best today from the tee but I allowed myself to keep the ball alive and not put myself into too much trouble, and trying to make birdies when I can.
Robert Karlsson (Swe) First round 68 (-4)
It was one of those things, I just got this feeling over the wedge. I saw Dean Burmester hit it just right of the flag, and thought this is the perfect distance for me, and when I was over the ball I thought ‘this could go in’ and when it when in I was like ‘yep’. So that happens sometimes. It’s not easy but it was just one of those shots.
On the eighth hole, I played really well, hit a driver and six iron to the back, and chipped it in from probably 25 feet, so that was great. I don’t think I have ever done two eagles in a row, I have done two in a round but not two back-to-back so that’s pretty cool.
This is one of the most brutal golf courses I have ever played, it’s fantastic because you get found out when you are doing good and when you are not doing so good. Any slight miss and it’s trouble. It is a fabulous week to be here and definitely one of the best courses we play condition wise that is going to test where you are.
Shubhankar Sharma (Ind) First round 69 (-3)
I think I played very well today didn’t make too many mistakes. I missed a couple of key putts on my front nine. Made a silly mistake on six and seven but apart from those holes I am pretty happy with how I finished.
(About his second shot on the par-five fourth hole) I hit it decent but not quite how I wanted to execute it. I ended up with a decent lie so fortunately I was lucky with where it ended up and hit it close enough to make an eagle.
The greens are a lot softer compared to last year. Three-under-par is a good score to start out the tournament especially on this golf course, you need to have a good start to keep the momentum going the next few days so I am pretty happy with how I did.
Scott Hend (Aus) First round 69 (-3)
After my 17th and 18th hole we thought we would be flying tomorrow night. I three-putted the 17th and hit two balls into the water hazard on hole 18 which was a bit of a nightmare. To come back after that was great, and I think so far this year this was the best round that I have played.
I just told myself to get over those holes and concentrate on what I was doing. It’s just one of those golf courses where if you hit a bad shot, you start getting defensive. And I just had to remind myself to not be defensive and keep playing how I have been playing. That’s the hardest part about it, you have to be strong mentally.
There wasn’t wind out there’s so I could still hit my three-wood and driver off the tees. I was quite fortunate with the conditions out there today.
I drove it on the green on hole nine and has a good two-putt for birdie, which were both really tough putts, so to have ended with three birdies after a bad front nine was a good way to give the round some sort of respectfulness.
Masahiro Kawamura (Jpn) First round 69 (-3)
My tee shots helped me a lot today. I missed some easy putts but overall pretty happy with my round. The last time I played here I missed the cut, so to come back this time and shoot under-par is great for me.
Hole number four I chipped in from 40 yards for eagle and that was the highlight of my round. I think my form is coming back and this time I think I am more mature with how I played. There is a lot of trouble out on this course but I was lucky to hit out of bounds once and only lose one ball in the water hazard. Hopefully I will keep hitting my driver good the next few days.
New Delhi, India, March 27: Australia’s Scott Hend hopes to continue his affinity with Asia when he challenges for back-to-back victories at the historic Hero Indian Open which starts on Thursday.
The big-hitting Hend, who claimed his 10th Asian Tour title in Malaysia last week, is looking to taste success in India for the first time in his career when he takes on the challenging Gary Player-designed course at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
Hailed as the most successful international player on the Asian Tour, Hend had claimed all his 10 victories in Asia, including three titles in Thailand, two in Macau and one each in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Singapore.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Shubhankar Sharma will have another shot at fulfilling his childhood ambitions as he takes aim at adding his name to the illustrious list of Indian winners at the US$1.75 million event.
The 22-year-old Sharma, the highest-ranked Indian on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), set a new course record after firing an eight-under-par 64 during the second round of the Hero Indian Open last year.
The talented Indian held a share of the lead heading into the final round last year but would eventually close with a disappointing 75 to settle for a tied-seventh place finish.
Armed with a more mature mindset and a better game plan this time around, Sharma hopes to redeem himself by putting up another title charge in his National Open.
Anirban Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, is thrilled to be back home for the first time this year after honing his skills on the PGA Tour, where he has made five cuts in his last seven starts so far this season.
Lahiri, who won the Indian Open in 2015, endured a long haul 19-hour flight from Florida before arriving in New Delhi this morning. He will have to fight off jet-lag to turn his season around at the event which he has enjoyed several impressive results in the past.
A stellar 144-men field from 28 countries will be vying for top honours at the Hero Indian Open, which celebrates its 55th edition this week..
Did you know?
- Scott Hend made his Asian Tour debut in 2007 and is now the second highest-earning player following Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee with accumulated earnings of US$5.04 million. He broke the US$5 million mark in career earnings on the Asian Tour after winning the Maybank Championship, where he took home a winner’s prize purse of US$500,000 last week.
- Hend ended a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour when he claimed his 10th victory at the Maybank Championship last week.
- He was the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016 thanks to his two victories in Thailand and three top-10 finishes.
- Hend missed the cut in his past two appearances at the Indian Open but his best finish at the event was a tied-12th result in 2012.
- Shubhankar Sharma is playing in his second event at home this year. He enjoyed a joint runner-up result on his local circuit in February.
- Placed 122nd on the OWGR, Sharma is the highest-ranked Indian in the field this week.
- The 2018 Arjuna Award recipient set the course record of eight-under-par 64 in the second round of the Hero Indian Open last year.
- He narrowly missed out on a win at his National Open after taking a joint-lead into the final round last year but struggled to a 75 to end up in tied-seventh.
- Sharma is the youngest Indian to play in all four Major Championships in 2018, following the footsteps of Jeev Milkha Singh in 2007 and Anirban Lahiri in 2015 and 2016.
- Anirban Lahiri, now a regular player on the PGA Tour, is a two-time International team member of the Presidents Cup. He has won seven times on the Asian Tour, four of his victories were won on home soil.
- Lahiri overcame an incredible seven-shot deficit to become the eighth Indian to win his country’s National Open in 2015. He went on to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit that same year.
- The Indian has enjoyed impressive results at his country’s National Open, finishing in the top-five five times in his past 11 appearances.
Ends.
New Delhi, India, March 27: Read what players have to say ahead of the Hero Indian Open.
Scott Hend (Aus)
It took a fair while for it to sink in that I had actually won, and I didn’t really enjoy it until yesterday morning when I was sitting at the airport in Bangkok on my way here. It was a pretty busy Sunday afternoon and Monday I had a really bad headache from heatstroke, didn’t even get a chance to celebrate, so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind trip here and now it’s time to enjoy it.
I find it a daunting golf course. I wouldn’t say tricky or difficult, it’s just that if you hit a bad shot here you are going to be penalised. If I don’t hit the ball how I want to, I am just going to make a double or triple bogey somewhere and it is a course where you can’t over power it. You still have to be in control of your golf ball and plot your way around the course.
I would like to have a sound tournament and play solid on this golf course. It is a tournament I haven’t figured out yet how to play. I’ve watched one of the shortest players on Tour win around here playing with S.S.P (Chawrasia) when he took it apart, and then I saw Matt Wallace play great here last year. So, SSP who just plots his way around the golf course and just breaks it apart, then you have Matt Wallace who was just pounding the golf ball everywhere, so somewhere in the middle there has got to be a key to playing the course well.
I am starting to get to where I want to be, I am not there yet but it is a slow progression.
I will play the golf course in a very defensive frame of mind. There are some holes out here that you can take advantage of and some you really have to be careful with, and par is a good score.
To win here in India with a lot of Indian friends, it would be special because in terms of national opens this is such a prestigious tournament, it has been going for such a long time and to get your name on that trophy would be an honour and a privilege.
Anirban Lahiri (Ind)
It’s always wonderful to be back home, having marsala for breakfast. I’ve just missed this. Every time I come back, I have happy memories, having played well in this tournament for a number of years. It’s also interesting to see all the young kids coming out and grown on tour. I always look forward to playing this event.
My game has been a bit inconsistent but it is moving in the right direction. I’ve had a couple of bad weekends, but I have managed to single out the problems which need to be fixed and I just need to pull it together and stay focused. I need to clean up my process on the weekend rounds. The problem with me is I always try too hard and losing my rhythm in that process.
Flying in straight from the US and having travelled so much the past few weeks my main focused is to keep my head in the right place.
This course is probably in the best shape that any of us has seen so far. Also in the sense of playability. It seems to be the most playable compared to all the other years we’ve played. The greens are also softer and the grass has settled down. It will be a great golf course, we’ll see how it goes because it really changes depending on if the tees are pushed back or pushed forward.
Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)
This was my home course for the longest time and it feels great to be back on familiar grounds and I stay very close to the golf course so all my family is here to watch me.
Obviously last year a lot of things were happening. I flew in straight from Mexico and then right after I flew to The Masters. So, I had to deal with jetlag and amidst all that I was still able to soot the course record and do pretty well. I am a lot more relaxed this time around and more focused so this year will be different.
The course is playing much better than last year. Most of the players I’ve spoken to have been happy with how the course is. I am obviously a lot more mature this year and really enjoying my game. I just want to get back into the groove again of playing at my best again.
It would mean the world to me, the Indian open is very special to us Indians, especially to win on a course that has supported me in my career.
And to join the past Indian winners that I have idolized since I was young has always been my goal. Hopefully everything goes well this week and we’ll see what happens.
Ends.
New Delhi, India, March 26: India’s Shiv Kapur will be counting on home advantage to steer him to a win at his National Open when he tees off for the Hero Indian Open on Thursday.
The 37-year-old Kapur has been suffering a dip in form where he has missed two cuts in his last four starts. However, he remains optimistic that the US$1.75million event will be his springboard to success.
Kapur still remembers fondly how he used to carry the score boards for Asian Tour veterans, Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh when he was still a kid.
Like how he used to admire their lofty positions on the leaderboard then, Kapur now a four-time Asian Tour winner, hopes he can see his name in that same position when the Hero Indian Open gets underway.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, coming off two top-five finishes in a row, will be riding on his superb form ahead of the event which enters its 55th edition on the Asian Tour this week.
The 23-year-old Thai has mapped out a more conservative strategy in his attempt to fulfill his personal goal of making the cut at the Hero Indian Open.
Kapur and Jazz will have their title ambitions put to the test by Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, South Africa’s Brandon Stone and England’s Aaron Rai, a recent winner in Hong Kong last November.
Did you know?
- Shiv Kapur ended an 11-year title drought when he won the Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei in 2017. He went on to win two more titles, including the Panasonic Open India, and became the only player to win three tournaments that season.
- His win at the Panasonic Open India was his first and only Asian Tour win on home soil so far.
- Kapur’s best finish at his country’s National Open was a tied-third result in 2010. He will be aiming to make the weekend rounds for the first time since the event was moved to the DLF Golf and Country Club in 2017.
- Kapur enjoyed four top-10 finishes in 2018, including a joint runner-up finish at the Royal Cup in July.
- He went to Purdue University and played in United States on the college circuit and he still regards his individual gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games as his biggest win of his amateur career.
- Jazz Janewattananond 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.
- Since then the Thai has not finished outside the top-10 and he will be the highest-ranked player this week at 71st place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
- The Thai’s best finish at the Indian Open is a tied-15th result and he will be aiming for his first top-10 finish this week in his seventh appearance at the prestigious event.
- Bernd Wiesberger’s last win came at the Shenzhen International in China in 2017 which was also his fourth European Tour victory.
- Brandon Stone is a three-time European Tour winner and a Rolex Series winner. He enjoyed his highest finish of 25th place on the Race to Dubai rankings last season.
- Aaron Rai claimed his first Asian Tour and European Tour title at the HONMA Hong Kong Open in November last year.
- The Englishman, who is of Indian heritage, has been wearing gloves on both hands to play since he was eight years old. He also uses iron covers for all of his eight irons.
Ends.
Shiv Kapur (Ind)
(About how his daughter has changed his life) Everything used to revolve around my golf schedule. Now my life revolves around my daughter’s schedule. I have to leave before sunrise and I have to get home before she takes her second nap so my live really has changed.
I missed the cut the last two years so I will obviously be doing things differently. Tee to green I’ve played it well the past two years it just hasn’t been able to do well on the greens. This year the greens are playing quite different so my focus this time around is to try and focus more on the greens, the more you play this course you just learn where to miss it. It’s the kind of golf course where you can get quite defensive just knowing there is trouble everywhere and you have to confront it. Visually it’s a very intimidating golf course but the actual landing area is quite generous.
Winning this would be the biggest win of my career. If and when it happens. The Asian Games I have always said was the biggest win of my career even though I have had wins on the Asian Tour since then. But to win a National Open is huge, I have been dreaming of it since I was a little kid. I walked inside the ropes scoring for Arjun and Jeev and dreaming one day that I’ll be that kid one day in their position.
Jazz Janewattananond (Tha)
My form has been really good but I just want to make the cut this year. I need to hit it better than last year if I want to do well. Different plan different year, this time around I just need to stick to fairways and greens and not break off that good momentum I am enjoying.
Mentally I am so much more confident. Last year I ended on such good note and I was just able to ride on the good momentum. I also had a new coach last year after not having someone look at my swing for so long so that helped a lot too. I am hitting it well and this year just feels different so I am looking forward to a good week ahead.
Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)
Just arrived yesterday. I haven’t been to India for five or six years so it’s nice to be back and I am looking forward to coming to a golf course that has been described as somewhat challenging, and something different to what we see on a regular basic.
I have been out there for nine holes this afternoon and it’s quite spectacular. I was here the last time when it was the old design, so incredible what has been achieved here – an amazing course in great condition – so looking forward to a strong test of golf here in India.
I have only seen the course on TV. I was aware of a few of the features one but other than that I didn’t know much, but as Aaron said, it is a fair course and it’s going to demand good shot making. You have got to say it is one of the best conditioned courses we will play on all year, so you just need to take those chances when they present themselves and get yourself through the harder holes.
Unfortunately, I was out from May until November and that was quite a tough break for me not having any golf to play over summer with the injury in my left wrist. I still feel the effects of it a little bit, but I’m not where I want to be, so my results have not been anywhere to what I expect of myself but at the same time I am kind of taking it easy, week by week, and taking the positives out of every round. I am quite happy with the progress in most parts of the game as I have had to restart in a lot of parts of the game, but I am really looking forward to hopefully improving even more in Delhi.
Brandon Stone (Rsa)
It’s my first time coming to India and so far, spectacular. I took my first tuk tuk ride yesterday which was a lot of fun, and my first time looking at the course today. Mr. Player has come up again with another very unique design.
My first look at the 17th hole and I wasn’t disappointed, alternative design so let’s say that, the course is in spectacular condition, so I think it’s going to be a very fun week. There is a strong field here this week, a lot of local talent, and I am sure they are going to be vying to get their name on the Hero India Open trophy.
I don’t think there is going to be a dull moment out there. I think the highlight passages from the week are going to be a lot different to the other weeks we have around the world. It’s definitely not a boring golf course by any means. Every par four is not 500 yards, super long and you just get up and bomb driver. The condition of the golf course is spectacular – ten out of ten – the ground staff have done an incredible job here and Mr Player is notorious for designing golf courses that test every facet of your game and this one is no different.
I remember watching the event last year and watching the shot that Matt Wallace hit on 18 to win and didn’t really think it was that good until I walked down the 18th fairway today and realised that was actually top class. I’m excited to be here for the event and hoping to put up a stern fight for the championship come Sunday.
I’ve had results on both the up and the down. I feel like my game is starting to turn to the best again, but the game of golf is so unpredictable that you never know. I could stand up on the first tee on Thursday and you could have that week where everything comes together and the game seems effortless, and you end up winning by six or seven shots, you just don’t know. There is obviously going to be a lot of competition this week putting their hands up for the trophy, so you have to prepare as best you can from Monday to Wednesday and see what happens coming into the weekend.
On Saturday I will most certainly be there. It has been on my bucket list the last few years, ever since the IPL came to South Africa, so to actually go to a game in India where I have a couple of mates that play for the Delhi Capitals, so I am quite envious I won’t be at the game tonight but at the same time we are going to be making a lot of friendships with the team at Hero tonight in getting this event underway.
Aaron Rai (Eng)
It is in incredible shape and is probably my favourite course in the world. It is very scenic to walk around, but more importantly it is a great course, a great test, so you have to be on.
It would be incredible. My grandparents from both my mum and dad’s side where born in India, so back home as well I family have Indian heritage, so to even compete in India is a blessing, so if it was to happen and go one step further that would be a privilege, especially around a course like this where you need to be on your mental, and physical game, so a long way to go but if that did happen it would be incredible and a dream come true.
It is in great shape. Probably Jack Singh Brar is the most prominent player, only 21 or 22 years of age, and had an incredible year on the Challenge Tour winning and was very consistent, and to do that in his first full season as a professional is very impressive so he is definitely one to watch out for.
Ends.
New Delhi, India, March 26: 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.
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, currently ranked number 41 on the OWGR, is already eligible for all the above events.
Last week’s Maybank Championship saw Scott Hend win his 10th Asian Tour event, and his third win in an event co-sanctioned with the European Tour. The US$3 million event is the richest tournament co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in Asia.
Hend took home a winner’s cheque of US$500,000 and propelled to the top of the Habitat for Humanity Standings where he leads with a current haul of US$507,792.
With this week being the final week to qualify for The Masters before the cut-off date on March 31, the players mentioned below will have everything to play for as they seek good showings to boost their world rankings at the Hero Indian Open and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
- Justin Harding
Harding did not play the Maybank Championship last week, electing to get some rest instead before travelling to Austin, Texas for the WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay. By not playing, he dropped one spot to 49th position in this week’s updated OWGR ranking list.
He is now only one position clear of the 50th place, which is the final spot to receive an invitation to The Masters Tournament on April 11-14th. He may need a good week in Austin to secure his place at the Augusta National. If he gets though his group in the round-robin format first stage of the event he will be safe, otherwise a nervous weekend awaits.
- Jazz Janewattananond
Jazz continued his run of good form since late last year and added another top finish to his 2019 campaign in Kuala Lumpur last week. A third-place finish at the Maybank Championship moves him up seven places to number 71, a new career high for the young Thai star.
A win at this week’s Hero Indian Open would likely move him to number 51 in the rankings best case scenario, but it is difficult to tell before the points for this week’s events are announced later this week.
His Masters hopes might still be alive in any case since The Masters committee does occasionally extend special invitations to international players, which is what happened to Shubhankar Sharma last year following his Maybank Championship win.
A win in India this week would certainly help his case in this regard.
- Kurt Kitayama
With a tied 41st place at the Maybank Championship Kitayama did not earn any OWGR points, however he still rose one spot up to 104th place this week. He is still only one good tournament away from breaking into the top 100, which should give him a special exemption into the US PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in New York May 16-19th. The cut-off date for being in the top 100 is May 5th.
- Scott Hend
With his brilliant win in Malaysia last week Hend moves up to number 134 on the OWGR, a gain of 113 spots and the first return to the top-150 since March last year. A solo-second place or win this week in India would see him back in the top 100 on the ranking list, where he was in late 2017.
March 26: Here’s what Scott Hend had in his bag when he won the 2019 Maybank Championship.
Driver: PING G410 Plus 9* Shaft: Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70 TX
Fairway1: Titleist TS2 16.5* Shaft: Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70 TX
Hb/Ut1: Titleist 818H2 19* Shaft: TrueTemper Dynamic Gold
Irons: Titleist 714 MB (4-P) Shaft: TrueTemper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedge1: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 50* F-Grind
Wedge2: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 54* M Grind
Wedge3: Titleist Vokey Design PROTO 60* T-Grind
Putter: Toulon Madison
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 x (2019)
Shoe: Raimondi
Cap: Bacchus
Bag: Bacchus
Glove: FootJoy
Note: No 3 Iron
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 25: Here’s five takeaways from the Maybank Championship where Australia’s Scott Hend ended a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
- The action was sizzling hot, on and off the golf course with temperatures reaching a scorching high of 34 degrees on most days during the week.
- The final round was set for a grandstand finish with the final group making their approach to the greens until the heavens opened and brought play to a halt for the first time in the week.
- The Maybank Championship attracted a large crowd over the four days including some from the wildlife.
- From Old Trafford to Nou Camp and Saujana Golf and Country Club, football legends Nemanja Vidic and Luis Garcia made their guest appearances and thrilled the fans, just like how they did at the stadiums before.
- All of Scott Hend’s wins have come from Asia and his victory at the Maybank Championship is his first in Malaysia.
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Tour Insider: Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open
By - sereneloh
[addtoany]
Olle Nordberg provides his insights from the front lines ahead of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open which starts on Wednesday.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 2: Olle Nordberg provides his insights from the front lines ahead of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open which starts on Wednesday.
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open has been held at the Kurmitola Golf Club since 2015 and has been the stage of breakthrough victories for Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Jazz Janewattananond and Malcolm Kokocinski in the last three editions of the event.
Last year Malcolm Kokocinski fired a final round six-under-par 65 to beat Ben Campbell and Jack Harrison by three shots, and his record on this course last year was nothing short of spectacular.
In the two Asian Development Tour events held at Kurmitola GC earlier in the year, he finished second at the City Bank Amex Dhaka Open in January and tied-third at the BTI Open in April.
The previous year Jazz won this trophy in his first event back after losing his Asian Tour card in the end of 2016, securing his playing rights as a tournament winner for the rest of the season.
The players most likely to contend for the win or a top finish this week, based on current form or past record at Kurmitola Golf Club, could well be among the ones listed below:
- Jazz Janewattananond (THA)
Past champion and in second place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, he is also the highest ranked player in the field at number 73 on the OWGR ranking list.
Jazz has had a great start to the year with a win at the SMBC Singapore Open, a third at the Maybank Championship and a fourth at the 100th New Zealand Open.
Needs no further introductions and reasons why he is likely to be a top challenger for the trophy.
- Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE)
With his playing record mentioned above at Kurmitola last year it would not be surprising to see the Hua Hin based Swede in contention again on Sunday afternoon.
Kokocinski has struggled a bit in his last few events, but the return to Bangladesh could provide the defending champion a good chance to turn his fortunes around.
- Siddikur Rahman (BAN)
The local hero and number one golfer from Bangladesh, Rahman finished runner-up in his national Open to Jazz in 2017 and would dearly like to do one better this year.
He won the City Bank Amex Dhaka Open at Kurmitola last year on the ADT by beating Kokocinski by four shots and was tied-sixth at the BTI Open a few months later.
Local knowledge may also be an important advantage this week. Since this is his home course he will know exactly where to place the ball off the tees and how to read the greens.
The event has not seen a Bangladeshi player win the event previously and Siddikur is the top candidate to change that fact.
- Rashid Khan (IND)
Has had a good start to his 2019 campaign and playing very well lately. Khan was in a tie for 10th place in Delhi last week on the difficult DLF Gary Player course, and already has a win and a tied-third place under his belt so far this year on the Indian PGTI circuit.
Will be looking for a chance to get his Asian Tour card back with a win this week.
Going through the statistics records from the last two editions of this event, an important factor has been top finishers GIR performance. If history is of any guide this week, these players with a recent solid performance in the GIR statistic may well be contending for the title on Sunday.
- Doyeob Mun (KOR)
The winner of the 61st Korean PGA Championship last season, Mun is already a proven winner and a very good all-round player.
He also has one of the best GIR records on the Asian Tour and was placed 14th in 2018 with 71%. Currently ranked fourth in 2019 with 79.2% having played one event.
It would not be surprising to see him as an Asian Tour winner before the end of the year.
- Soomin Lee (KOR)
After having played the last few seasons mostly on the European Tour, Lee is now back on the Asian Tour where he made his debut in 2015.
His GIR stats are among the better on the Asian Tour, he was ranked ninth in 2018 with 71.7% GIR and is as of this week 13th in 2019 with 75% after one event played.
Having won once on the European Tour in 2016, the Shenzhen International, and twice previously on the KPGA Tour, he will be looking to add another title to his resume this week.
Carlos Pigem of Spain is seeking a fine showing to boost his confidence when he returns to competitive golf for the first time in four months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 1: Rejuvenated Carlos Pigem of Spain is seeking a fine showing to boost his confidence when he returns to competitive golf for the first time in four months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 which starts on Wednesday.
Pigem, who had uncharacteristically missed out on his 2019 Asian Tour card after finishing outside top-60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, took advantage of his much-needed break to regroup and recharge before starting over.
Despite coming off the longest break in his career, the 28-year-old Spaniard, a one-time Asian Tour winner in 2016, is raring to go as he resumes his chase for glory with a revamped swing at the US$350,000 event, which is his first start of the season on the Asian Tour.
Pigem will feature in the 150-man field spearheaded by 2017 winner Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, highest-ranked player in second place on the Merit rankings, as well as India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and Khalin Joshi, all winners on Tour, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
Also in the fray are Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who won the inaugural edition in 2015, Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng, who is making his debut appearance in the tournament this week, and Miguel Carballo of Argentina, a former player on the PGA Tour.
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 welcomed a new title sponsor in the National Bank Ltd, a public limited bank in Bangladesh.
The tournament is named after the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The highly-acclaimed Kurmitola Golf Club continues to provide top-class hospitality as the home of the Bangladesh’s National Open.
Did you know?
- Carlos Pigem is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He claimed his maiden title at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei in 2016.
- Pigem played the first two editions of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2015 and 2016 where he finished fourth and tied-19th respectively.
- Shortly after turning professional, Pigem signaled his arrival to Asia by finishing in tied-11th place to secure his Asian Tour card at the 2013 Qualifying School.
- Came close to winning on several occasions before finally breaking through on the Asian Tour in 2017. Made the most of early opportunities on the European Tour the same year with back-to-back top-10s at the Hero Indian Open and the Trophée Hassan II.
- Pigem, however, lost his playing rights on the Asian Tour after finishing in 98th place on the 2018 Habitat for Humanity Standings. It was the first time he has failed to end the season inside top-60 on the money list.
- He is returning to competitive golf for the first time in fourth months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open this week. He last played on the Asian Tour at the season-ending Indonesian Masters last December.
- Mardan Mamat of Singapore claimed his fifth Asian Tour title after leading from start to finish at the inaugural edition of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2015.
- Miguel Carballo, a former player on the PGA Tour, is the only Argentinean in the 150-man field this week. He came through the Qualifying School in 2018 and he is the only Argentinean member on the Asian Tour.
- The 40-year-old Carballo turned professional in 2002 and has previously won on the Challenge Tour and the Web.com Tour.
- He first played at the Kumitola Golf Club for an Asian Development Tour (ADT) event last year where he enjoyed a tied-third place finish.
- Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng is making his debut appearance at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open this week. It is also his maiden trip to the country.
- Prayad has claimed a total of 46 victories worldwide throughout his illustrious career, including 10 victories on the Asian Tour and 13 wins on the Japan Senior Tour, where he started to ply his trade three years ago.
New Delhi, India, March 28: Read what the players have to say following round one at the Hero Indian Open. Stephen Gallacher (Sco) First round 67 (-5) It was a perfect morning. Cool to start with and then it heated up later on in the round, and not too much wind, so it was perfect […]
New Delhi, India, March 28: Read what the players have to say following round one at the Hero Indian Open.
Stephen Gallacher (Sco) First round 67 (-5)
It was a perfect morning. Cool to start with and then it heated up later on in the round, and not too much wind, so it was perfect today.
I think you have to get it in play off the tee, there is just so much trouble. I think if you get the tee shot in place you can hit a couple of nice iron shots and take advantage of the par fours that are quite short, drive a couple, and knock it onto the par fives.
It is quite a strategic course. I don’t think you need to be the longest player on the Tour to play it, I think you’ve just got to plot your way around it.
I have started poorly to be honest, I’ve had a sort of big miss in the bag that has been costing me triples and doubles, so hopefully, I knew I was close last week, I played lovely but just didn’t get anything out of it, but coming back to a place where I’ve played well hopefully I can draw on some inspiration from last year.
Julian Suri (Usa) First round 67 (-5)
It was a good day. My caddie Dermot, he keeps encouraging me and calls me the Greatest Showman sometimes after the movie, so I had to give him a little show there. I got the all clear about four or fives weeks ago from the doctor and last week in Malaysia was my first event. With the heat there and all the conditions, the body felt great and the swing felt good too, and it’s obviously still a work in progress but to shoot a score like this, on a course like this, is a good sign going forward. It’s a great test. It’s very dramatic and provokes the imagination a little bit so I enjoy it.
Prom Meesawat (Tha) First round 68 (-4)
It is a very tough golf course, you have to keep your ball n the fairway and try and hit as many as greens as you can. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes, made a couple of bad tee shots but still kept it in play so I am very pleased with my round today.
I hit a really good drive on my 17th hole and was thinking I could get on the green in two shots. But it was a very tough pin position and I didn’t commit fully to the shot. I should have just laid up instead of going for it like how I did with my three-iron and ended up missing the green left.
I wasn’t too confident in my game coming into this week because I haven’t been hitting my driver very well. But I just tried to hit the fairway as much as I can and keep my ball in play. With my distance I could go for a lot of greens in two. I just need to be confident in my game and use my distance to my advantage.
Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) First round 68 (-4)
The conditions were perfect and this is a great golf course. If you hit alright from the tee, or out it in the short grass then it’s not that long, and the greens as good as they are you can hole putts. Very happy starting last year with five under, this year four under, hopefully I can go four better than last year.
I like great golf courses and I love to putt on good greens, and these are probably the best of the season. I didn’t play my best today from the tee but I allowed myself to keep the ball alive and not put myself into too much trouble, and trying to make birdies when I can.
Robert Karlsson (Swe) First round 68 (-4)
It was one of those things, I just got this feeling over the wedge. I saw Dean Burmester hit it just right of the flag, and thought this is the perfect distance for me, and when I was over the ball I thought ‘this could go in’ and when it when in I was like ‘yep’. So that happens sometimes. It’s not easy but it was just one of those shots.
On the eighth hole, I played really well, hit a driver and six iron to the back, and chipped it in from probably 25 feet, so that was great. I don’t think I have ever done two eagles in a row, I have done two in a round but not two back-to-back so that’s pretty cool.
This is one of the most brutal golf courses I have ever played, it’s fantastic because you get found out when you are doing good and when you are not doing so good. Any slight miss and it’s trouble. It is a fabulous week to be here and definitely one of the best courses we play condition wise that is going to test where you are.
Shubhankar Sharma (Ind) First round 69 (-3)
I think I played very well today didn’t make too many mistakes. I missed a couple of key putts on my front nine. Made a silly mistake on six and seven but apart from those holes I am pretty happy with how I finished.
(About his second shot on the par-five fourth hole) I hit it decent but not quite how I wanted to execute it. I ended up with a decent lie so fortunately I was lucky with where it ended up and hit it close enough to make an eagle.
The greens are a lot softer compared to last year. Three-under-par is a good score to start out the tournament especially on this golf course, you need to have a good start to keep the momentum going the next few days so I am pretty happy with how I did.
Scott Hend (Aus) First round 69 (-3)
After my 17th and 18th hole we thought we would be flying tomorrow night. I three-putted the 17th and hit two balls into the water hazard on hole 18 which was a bit of a nightmare. To come back after that was great, and I think so far this year this was the best round that I have played.
I just told myself to get over those holes and concentrate on what I was doing. It’s just one of those golf courses where if you hit a bad shot, you start getting defensive. And I just had to remind myself to not be defensive and keep playing how I have been playing. That’s the hardest part about it, you have to be strong mentally.
There wasn’t wind out there’s so I could still hit my three-wood and driver off the tees. I was quite fortunate with the conditions out there today.
I drove it on the green on hole nine and has a good two-putt for birdie, which were both really tough putts, so to have ended with three birdies after a bad front nine was a good way to give the round some sort of respectfulness.
Masahiro Kawamura (Jpn) First round 69 (-3)
My tee shots helped me a lot today. I missed some easy putts but overall pretty happy with my round. The last time I played here I missed the cut, so to come back this time and shoot under-par is great for me.
Hole number four I chipped in from 40 yards for eagle and that was the highlight of my round. I think my form is coming back and this time I think I am more mature with how I played. There is a lot of trouble out on this course but I was lucky to hit out of bounds once and only lose one ball in the water hazard. Hopefully I will keep hitting my driver good the next few days.
Australia’s Scott Hend hopes to continue his affinity with Asia when he challenges for back-to-back victories at the historic Hero Indian Open
New Delhi, India, March 27: Australia’s Scott Hend hopes to continue his affinity with Asia when he challenges for back-to-back victories at the historic Hero Indian Open which starts on Thursday.
The big-hitting Hend, who claimed his 10th Asian Tour title in Malaysia last week, is looking to taste success in India for the first time in his career when he takes on the challenging Gary Player-designed course at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
Hailed as the most successful international player on the Asian Tour, Hend had claimed all his 10 victories in Asia, including three titles in Thailand, two in Macau and one each in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Singapore.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Shubhankar Sharma will have another shot at fulfilling his childhood ambitions as he takes aim at adding his name to the illustrious list of Indian winners at the US$1.75 million event.
The 22-year-old Sharma, the highest-ranked Indian on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), set a new course record after firing an eight-under-par 64 during the second round of the Hero Indian Open last year.
The talented Indian held a share of the lead heading into the final round last year but would eventually close with a disappointing 75 to settle for a tied-seventh place finish.
Armed with a more mature mindset and a better game plan this time around, Sharma hopes to redeem himself by putting up another title charge in his National Open.
Anirban Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, is thrilled to be back home for the first time this year after honing his skills on the PGA Tour, where he has made five cuts in his last seven starts so far this season.
Lahiri, who won the Indian Open in 2015, endured a long haul 19-hour flight from Florida before arriving in New Delhi this morning. He will have to fight off jet-lag to turn his season around at the event which he has enjoyed several impressive results in the past.
A stellar 144-men field from 28 countries will be vying for top honours at the Hero Indian Open, which celebrates its 55th edition this week..
Did you know?
- Scott Hend made his Asian Tour debut in 2007 and is now the second highest-earning player following Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee with accumulated earnings of US$5.04 million. He broke the US$5 million mark in career earnings on the Asian Tour after winning the Maybank Championship, where he took home a winner’s prize purse of US$500,000 last week.
- Hend ended a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour when he claimed his 10th victory at the Maybank Championship last week.
- He was the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016 thanks to his two victories in Thailand and three top-10 finishes.
- Hend missed the cut in his past two appearances at the Indian Open but his best finish at the event was a tied-12th result in 2012.
- Shubhankar Sharma is playing in his second event at home this year. He enjoyed a joint runner-up result on his local circuit in February.
- Placed 122nd on the OWGR, Sharma is the highest-ranked Indian in the field this week.
- The 2018 Arjuna Award recipient set the course record of eight-under-par 64 in the second round of the Hero Indian Open last year.
- He narrowly missed out on a win at his National Open after taking a joint-lead into the final round last year but struggled to a 75 to end up in tied-seventh.
- Sharma is the youngest Indian to play in all four Major Championships in 2018, following the footsteps of Jeev Milkha Singh in 2007 and Anirban Lahiri in 2015 and 2016.
- Anirban Lahiri, now a regular player on the PGA Tour, is a two-time International team member of the Presidents Cup. He has won seven times on the Asian Tour, four of his victories were won on home soil.
- Lahiri overcame an incredible seven-shot deficit to become the eighth Indian to win his country’s National Open in 2015. He went on to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit that same year.
- The Indian has enjoyed impressive results at his country’s National Open, finishing in the top-five five times in his past 11 appearances.
Ends.
Read what players have to say ahead of the Hero Indian Open.
New Delhi, India, March 27: Read what players have to say ahead of the Hero Indian Open.
Scott Hend (Aus)
It took a fair while for it to sink in that I had actually won, and I didn’t really enjoy it until yesterday morning when I was sitting at the airport in Bangkok on my way here. It was a pretty busy Sunday afternoon and Monday I had a really bad headache from heatstroke, didn’t even get a chance to celebrate, so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind trip here and now it’s time to enjoy it.
I find it a daunting golf course. I wouldn’t say tricky or difficult, it’s just that if you hit a bad shot here you are going to be penalised. If I don’t hit the ball how I want to, I am just going to make a double or triple bogey somewhere and it is a course where you can’t over power it. You still have to be in control of your golf ball and plot your way around the course.
I would like to have a sound tournament and play solid on this golf course. It is a tournament I haven’t figured out yet how to play. I’ve watched one of the shortest players on Tour win around here playing with S.S.P (Chawrasia) when he took it apart, and then I saw Matt Wallace play great here last year. So, SSP who just plots his way around the golf course and just breaks it apart, then you have Matt Wallace who was just pounding the golf ball everywhere, so somewhere in the middle there has got to be a key to playing the course well.
I am starting to get to where I want to be, I am not there yet but it is a slow progression.
I will play the golf course in a very defensive frame of mind. There are some holes out here that you can take advantage of and some you really have to be careful with, and par is a good score.
To win here in India with a lot of Indian friends, it would be special because in terms of national opens this is such a prestigious tournament, it has been going for such a long time and to get your name on that trophy would be an honour and a privilege.
Anirban Lahiri (Ind)
It’s always wonderful to be back home, having marsala for breakfast. I’ve just missed this. Every time I come back, I have happy memories, having played well in this tournament for a number of years. It’s also interesting to see all the young kids coming out and grown on tour. I always look forward to playing this event.
My game has been a bit inconsistent but it is moving in the right direction. I’ve had a couple of bad weekends, but I have managed to single out the problems which need to be fixed and I just need to pull it together and stay focused. I need to clean up my process on the weekend rounds. The problem with me is I always try too hard and losing my rhythm in that process.
Flying in straight from the US and having travelled so much the past few weeks my main focused is to keep my head in the right place.
This course is probably in the best shape that any of us has seen so far. Also in the sense of playability. It seems to be the most playable compared to all the other years we’ve played. The greens are also softer and the grass has settled down. It will be a great golf course, we’ll see how it goes because it really changes depending on if the tees are pushed back or pushed forward.
Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)
This was my home course for the longest time and it feels great to be back on familiar grounds and I stay very close to the golf course so all my family is here to watch me.
Obviously last year a lot of things were happening. I flew in straight from Mexico and then right after I flew to The Masters. So, I had to deal with jetlag and amidst all that I was still able to soot the course record and do pretty well. I am a lot more relaxed this time around and more focused so this year will be different.
The course is playing much better than last year. Most of the players I’ve spoken to have been happy with how the course is. I am obviously a lot more mature this year and really enjoying my game. I just want to get back into the groove again of playing at my best again.
It would mean the world to me, the Indian open is very special to us Indians, especially to win on a course that has supported me in my career.
And to join the past Indian winners that I have idolized since I was young has always been my goal. Hopefully everything goes well this week and we’ll see what happens.
Ends.
India’s Shiv Kapur will be counting on home advantage to steer him to a win at his National Open
New Delhi, India, March 26: India’s Shiv Kapur will be counting on home advantage to steer him to a win at his National Open when he tees off for the Hero Indian Open on Thursday.
The 37-year-old Kapur has been suffering a dip in form where he has missed two cuts in his last four starts. However, he remains optimistic that the US$1.75million event will be his springboard to success.
Kapur still remembers fondly how he used to carry the score boards for Asian Tour veterans, Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh when he was still a kid.
Like how he used to admire their lofty positions on the leaderboard then, Kapur now a four-time Asian Tour winner, hopes he can see his name in that same position when the Hero Indian Open gets underway.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, coming off two top-five finishes in a row, will be riding on his superb form ahead of the event which enters its 55th edition on the Asian Tour this week.
The 23-year-old Thai has mapped out a more conservative strategy in his attempt to fulfill his personal goal of making the cut at the Hero Indian Open.
Kapur and Jazz will have their title ambitions put to the test by Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, South Africa’s Brandon Stone and England’s Aaron Rai, a recent winner in Hong Kong last November.
Did you know?
- Shiv Kapur ended an 11-year title drought when he won the Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei in 2017. He went on to win two more titles, including the Panasonic Open India, and became the only player to win three tournaments that season.
- His win at the Panasonic Open India was his first and only Asian Tour win on home soil so far.
- Kapur’s best finish at his country’s National Open was a tied-third result in 2010. He will be aiming to make the weekend rounds for the first time since the event was moved to the DLF Golf and Country Club in 2017.
- Kapur enjoyed four top-10 finishes in 2018, including a joint runner-up finish at the Royal Cup in July.
- He went to Purdue University and played in United States on the college circuit and he still regards his individual gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games as his biggest win of his amateur career.
- Jazz Janewattananond 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.
- Since then the Thai has not finished outside the top-10 and he will be the highest-ranked player this week at 71st place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
- The Thai’s best finish at the Indian Open is a tied-15th result and he will be aiming for his first top-10 finish this week in his seventh appearance at the prestigious event.
- Bernd Wiesberger’s last win came at the Shenzhen International in China in 2017 which was also his fourth European Tour victory.
- Brandon Stone is a three-time European Tour winner and a Rolex Series winner. He enjoyed his highest finish of 25th place on the Race to Dubai rankings last season.
- Aaron Rai claimed his first Asian Tour and European Tour title at the HONMA Hong Kong Open in November last year.
- The Englishman, who is of Indian heritage, has been wearing gloves on both hands to play since he was eight years old. He also uses iron covers for all of his eight irons.
Ends.
Read what the players have to say ahead of the Hero Indian Open.
Shiv Kapur (Ind)
(About how his daughter has changed his life) Everything used to revolve around my golf schedule. Now my life revolves around my daughter’s schedule. I have to leave before sunrise and I have to get home before she takes her second nap so my live really has changed.
I missed the cut the last two years so I will obviously be doing things differently. Tee to green I’ve played it well the past two years it just hasn’t been able to do well on the greens. This year the greens are playing quite different so my focus this time around is to try and focus more on the greens, the more you play this course you just learn where to miss it. It’s the kind of golf course where you can get quite defensive just knowing there is trouble everywhere and you have to confront it. Visually it’s a very intimidating golf course but the actual landing area is quite generous.
Winning this would be the biggest win of my career. If and when it happens. The Asian Games I have always said was the biggest win of my career even though I have had wins on the Asian Tour since then. But to win a National Open is huge, I have been dreaming of it since I was a little kid. I walked inside the ropes scoring for Arjun and Jeev and dreaming one day that I’ll be that kid one day in their position.
Jazz Janewattananond (Tha)
My form has been really good but I just want to make the cut this year. I need to hit it better than last year if I want to do well. Different plan different year, this time around I just need to stick to fairways and greens and not break off that good momentum I am enjoying.
Mentally I am so much more confident. Last year I ended on such good note and I was just able to ride on the good momentum. I also had a new coach last year after not having someone look at my swing for so long so that helped a lot too. I am hitting it well and this year just feels different so I am looking forward to a good week ahead.
Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)
Just arrived yesterday. I haven’t been to India for five or six years so it’s nice to be back and I am looking forward to coming to a golf course that has been described as somewhat challenging, and something different to what we see on a regular basic.
I have been out there for nine holes this afternoon and it’s quite spectacular. I was here the last time when it was the old design, so incredible what has been achieved here – an amazing course in great condition – so looking forward to a strong test of golf here in India.
I have only seen the course on TV. I was aware of a few of the features one but other than that I didn’t know much, but as Aaron said, it is a fair course and it’s going to demand good shot making. You have got to say it is one of the best conditioned courses we will play on all year, so you just need to take those chances when they present themselves and get yourself through the harder holes.
Unfortunately, I was out from May until November and that was quite a tough break for me not having any golf to play over summer with the injury in my left wrist. I still feel the effects of it a little bit, but I’m not where I want to be, so my results have not been anywhere to what I expect of myself but at the same time I am kind of taking it easy, week by week, and taking the positives out of every round. I am quite happy with the progress in most parts of the game as I have had to restart in a lot of parts of the game, but I am really looking forward to hopefully improving even more in Delhi.
Brandon Stone (Rsa)
It’s my first time coming to India and so far, spectacular. I took my first tuk tuk ride yesterday which was a lot of fun, and my first time looking at the course today. Mr. Player has come up again with another very unique design.
My first look at the 17th hole and I wasn’t disappointed, alternative design so let’s say that, the course is in spectacular condition, so I think it’s going to be a very fun week. There is a strong field here this week, a lot of local talent, and I am sure they are going to be vying to get their name on the Hero India Open trophy.
I don’t think there is going to be a dull moment out there. I think the highlight passages from the week are going to be a lot different to the other weeks we have around the world. It’s definitely not a boring golf course by any means. Every par four is not 500 yards, super long and you just get up and bomb driver. The condition of the golf course is spectacular – ten out of ten – the ground staff have done an incredible job here and Mr Player is notorious for designing golf courses that test every facet of your game and this one is no different.
I remember watching the event last year and watching the shot that Matt Wallace hit on 18 to win and didn’t really think it was that good until I walked down the 18th fairway today and realised that was actually top class. I’m excited to be here for the event and hoping to put up a stern fight for the championship come Sunday.
I’ve had results on both the up and the down. I feel like my game is starting to turn to the best again, but the game of golf is so unpredictable that you never know. I could stand up on the first tee on Thursday and you could have that week where everything comes together and the game seems effortless, and you end up winning by six or seven shots, you just don’t know. There is obviously going to be a lot of competition this week putting their hands up for the trophy, so you have to prepare as best you can from Monday to Wednesday and see what happens coming into the weekend.
On Saturday I will most certainly be there. It has been on my bucket list the last few years, ever since the IPL came to South Africa, so to actually go to a game in India where I have a couple of mates that play for the Delhi Capitals, so I am quite envious I won’t be at the game tonight but at the same time we are going to be making a lot of friendships with the team at Hero tonight in getting this event underway.
Aaron Rai (Eng)
It is in incredible shape and is probably my favourite course in the world. It is very scenic to walk around, but more importantly it is a great course, a great test, so you have to be on.
It would be incredible. My grandparents from both my mum and dad’s side where born in India, so back home as well I family have Indian heritage, so to even compete in India is a blessing, so if it was to happen and go one step further that would be a privilege, especially around a course like this where you need to be on your mental, and physical game, so a long way to go but if that did happen it would be incredible and a dream come true.
It is in great shape. Probably Jack Singh Brar is the most prominent player, only 21 or 22 years of age, and had an incredible year on the Challenge Tour winning and was very consistent, and to do that in his first full season as a professional is very impressive so he is definitely one to watch out for.
Ends.
Olle Nordberg watches the Official World Golf Ranking and pens his thoughts for the week ahead.
New Delhi, India, March 26: 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.
By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, currently ranked number 41 on the OWGR, is already eligible for all the above events.
Last week’s Maybank Championship saw Scott Hend win his 10th Asian Tour event, and his third win in an event co-sanctioned with the European Tour. The US$3 million event is the richest tournament co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in Asia.
Hend took home a winner’s cheque of US$500,000 and propelled to the top of the Habitat for Humanity Standings where he leads with a current haul of US$507,792.
With this week being the final week to qualify for The Masters before the cut-off date on March 31, the players mentioned below will have everything to play for as they seek good showings to boost their world rankings at the Hero Indian Open and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
- Justin Harding
Harding did not play the Maybank Championship last week, electing to get some rest instead before travelling to Austin, Texas for the WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay. By not playing, he dropped one spot to 49th position in this week’s updated OWGR ranking list.
He is now only one position clear of the 50th place, which is the final spot to receive an invitation to The Masters Tournament on April 11-14th. He may need a good week in Austin to secure his place at the Augusta National. If he gets though his group in the round-robin format first stage of the event he will be safe, otherwise a nervous weekend awaits.
- Jazz Janewattananond
Jazz continued his run of good form since late last year and added another top finish to his 2019 campaign in Kuala Lumpur last week. A third-place finish at the Maybank Championship moves him up seven places to number 71, a new career high for the young Thai star.
A win at this week’s Hero Indian Open would likely move him to number 51 in the rankings best case scenario, but it is difficult to tell before the points for this week’s events are announced later this week.
His Masters hopes might still be alive in any case since The Masters committee does occasionally extend special invitations to international players, which is what happened to Shubhankar Sharma last year following his Maybank Championship win.
A win in India this week would certainly help his case in this regard.
- Kurt Kitayama
With a tied 41st place at the Maybank Championship Kitayama did not earn any OWGR points, however he still rose one spot up to 104th place this week. He is still only one good tournament away from breaking into the top 100, which should give him a special exemption into the US PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in New York May 16-19th. The cut-off date for being in the top 100 is May 5th.
- Scott Hend
With his brilliant win in Malaysia last week Hend moves up to number 134 on the OWGR, a gain of 113 spots and the first return to the top-150 since March last year. A solo-second place or win this week in India would see him back in the top 100 on the ranking list, where he was in late 2017.
Here’s what Scott Hend had in his bag when he won the 2019 Maybank Championship.
March 26: Here’s what Scott Hend had in his bag when he won the 2019 Maybank Championship.
Driver: PING G410 Plus 9* Shaft: Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70 TX
Fairway1: Titleist TS2 16.5* Shaft: Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70 TX
Hb/Ut1: Titleist 818H2 19* Shaft: TrueTemper Dynamic Gold
Irons: Titleist 714 MB (4-P) Shaft: TrueTemper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedge1: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 50* F-Grind
Wedge2: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 54* M Grind
Wedge3: Titleist Vokey Design PROTO 60* T-Grind
Putter: Toulon Madison
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 x (2019)
Shoe: Raimondi
Cap: Bacchus
Bag: Bacchus
Glove: FootJoy
Note: No 3 Iron
Here’s five takeaways from the Maybank Championship where Australia’s Scott Hend ended a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 25: Here’s five takeaways from the Maybank Championship where Australia’s Scott Hend ended a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
- The action was sizzling hot, on and off the golf course with temperatures reaching a scorching high of 34 degrees on most days during the week.
- The final round was set for a grandstand finish with the final group making their approach to the greens until the heavens opened and brought play to a halt for the first time in the week.
- The Maybank Championship attracted a large crowd over the four days including some from the wildlife.
- From Old Trafford to Nou Camp and Saujana Golf and Country Club, football legends Nemanja Vidic and Luis Garcia made their guest appearances and thrilled the fans, just like how they did at the stadiums before.
- All of Scott Hend’s wins have come from Asia and his victory at the Maybank Championship is his first in Malaysia.
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