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14 FASHION TREND 56 COOL TAKEN TO NEW HEIGHTS! The latest news from ECCO is bound to send its fans and golfers in general making a beeline to the nearest stockist of the ECCO range of golf shoes. The new arrival is the Danish brand’s new Biom Cool Pro golf shoes and the hallmark of this new arrival is that it combines two innovative technologies for enhanced performance.

229

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 This year marks the 20th anniversary of this long-standing industry recognition event and after so many years, it reigns supreme on the Asia Pacific golf landscape.

The Asian Golf Awards is staged annually as a twin-event with the Asia Pacific Golf Summit. This year, both events will be staged at the prestigious, multi-award winning DLF Golf & Country Club in the futuristic cyber city of Gurugram which is close to the Indian capital city of New Delhi. Both events will be held on November 4 – 6.

8 SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM PUBLISHER | HAINAN – GOLF’S EMERGING MECCA When China decides to move on something, it does not waste time. If it is a matter that has to do with progress for the nation, there is simply no hesitation. It’s pedal to the metal and it’s all systems go! For example, just months ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proclaimed that the tropical island of Hainan would open to provide a major boost to golf tourism.

64 IM CREATES HISTORY! South Korea’s Sungjae Im created history when he was voted 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year.

38 JUNIOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT – CHINA TURNS ON THE TURBO! Golf is also being given a huge boost in China and the most highprofile undertaking is a multi-year partnership involving China’s giant Mission Hills Group and PacificPine Sport. This partnership has already witnessed the materialisation of two academies at the Mission Hills Shenzhen resort and a third academy at the Mission Hills Haikou resort on Hainan Island. With the academies humming along with their mission, ASIAN GOLF decided to visit the academy at the Shenzhen facility recently and the following is a special report.

70 THE ASIAN SWING – IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER! The PGA TOUR’s annual Asian swing is primed to be its finest yet this October with an all-star cast of golf legends, FedExCup champions and major winners ready to thrill and impact the game in a region tipped to be the next bastion for golf’s growth. The PGA TOUR’s Chuah Choo Chiang reports.

78 PGA TOUR: WILL ASIA HELP ELS WIN? The 2019 Presidents Cup is fast approaching and the respective captains of the two competing teams are engaged in evolving strategies aimed at winning the big clash. The legendary Tiger Woods is leading the American team while the big South African, Ernie Els will lead the Internationals into battle. Els has a mix of some veterans and some young guns with the youngsters coming mostly from Asia.

One wonders if the Asian players will prove to be Els’s ace cards? The PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang reports.

Mike Sebastian

INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR

Editor/Chief Executive Officer [mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]

Alan Campbell (China/Middle East) Correspondent

GLOBAL EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL

Angela Raymond

President [angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]

Gregg Patterson

President, Tribal Magic Inc.

Andrew Wood Founder/President, Legendary Marketing

James Prusa

Raquel Arcega

Executive Creative Art Director [raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]

President, James Graham Prusa Associates

James Cronk President, Cronk Group

Digital Services

Alice Ho

Tech-Know Integrators

Business Executive [alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Tony Meechai (Black Hat Golf Tips -Thailand Myra Paras

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Accounts Executive [myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]

Alice Ho

Email: alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP(2014) PTE LTD Singapore Post Centre Post Office, P.O. Box 532, Singapore 914018 Tel: +65 6323 2800 | Fax: +65 6323 2838 Company Registration No.: 201405689G

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of Asian Golf may be reproduced in any other publications, printed or published without the written permission of the publisher. Opinions in Asian Golf are the writers’ and are not necessarily endorsed by Asian Golf. Asian Golf accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials.

Manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by appropriate postage.

When China decides to move on something, it does not waste time. If it is a matter that has to do with progress for the nation, there is simply no hesitation. It’s pedal to the metal and it’s all systems go! For example, just months ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proclaimed that the tropical island of Hainan would open to provide a major boost to golf tourism.

THE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN FORMED ON THE BASIS OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOLFING ORGANISATIONS TO MUTUALLY RECOGNISE MEMBERSHIPS AND ATTRACT LEISURE AND BUSINESS GOLFERS.

– TENNIEL CHU

T

he mandate was given to the newly formed Hainan International Golf Alliance (HIGA) and leading the thrust forward was the giant Mission Hills Group of China led by its Group Vice Chairman Mr. Tenniel Chu. “The Alliance has been formed on the basis of strategic partnerships with golfing organisations to mutually recognise memberships and attract leisure and business golfers,” explained Mr. Chu, who is the President of HIGA. Hainan, already a well-established gateway to the Pacific and Indian Oceans will play a key role in leveraging all the assets on the island to bring together both public and private stakeholders to establish Hainan as the Pinnacle of Golf in Asia.

The alliance is a unique arrangement, arguably the first of its kind anywhere, and with all stakeholders pulling together, there’s going to be no stopping the big push. As it is, in the first half of 2019, Hainan welcomed close to 40 million visitors – increasing at 6% on-year and this impressive growth rate will be actively promoted by stakeholders and the Hainan Department of Tourism.

“There has been a huge boost in interest from overseas golfers and golf tour operators since the new reforms were announced for Hainan. There are currently 23 international cities outside of mainland China with direct flights into Haikou, many of them bringing golf tourists. With the new policies, we predict that the number of overseas golfers coming to Hainan will be boosted by a further 60 per cent in the next 12 months alone,” Mr. Chu said.

Visitors from 59 countries including Australia, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore,

Spain and the United States can now enter Hainan visafree for up to 30 days each time, according to new policies aimed at opening up the island known as ‘China’s Hawaii’.

Plans are already underway to launch a Hainan World Golf Festival which will utilise all 40-plus golf courses across Hainan Province, making it the perfect golf marathon for golfers.

As part of the big push to transform Hainan into an international golf hub, steps have been taken to establish it as the centre for active exchange of ideas at forums, summits and exhibitions, as well as recognition of talents through residence awards.

“I’m extremely proud to announce that after longdrawn discussions with the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG), the 14th edition of the Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) and Asian Golf Awards will be staged at Mission Hills Haikou in 2020,” Mr. Chu announced.

“Recognised as one of golf’s major business events, APGS and the Asian Golf Awards have taken the bold decision to place its total confidence and support of Mission Hills Haikou and to make it the permanent home of the two events,” he added.

Besides this development, Haikou will also be staging the 2021 Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

“With these two major events taking place on our turf, HIGA is well-positioned to make Hainan the Capital of Golf in Asia-Pacific,” Mr. Chu declared.

Under the leadership of Mr. Chu, HIGA is well on its way “to usher in the next growth chapter of Hainan’s golf tourism” and to help it realise its vision to become “The Pinnacle of Golf in Asia”.

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MORAL EXCELLENCE COMES ABOUT AS A RESULT OF HABIT. WE BECOME JUST BY DOING JUST ACTS, TEMPERATE BY DOING TEMPERATE ACTS, BRAVE BY DOING BRAVE ACTS. – ARISTOTLE This was stated by the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle more than 300 years before the birth of Christ. It has certainly stood the test of time and it has served as the guiding ethos for the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner of ASIAN GOLF, the Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) and the Asian Golf Awards. or this edition of ASIAN GOLF, the editorial thrust will be laser-focused on the Asian Golf Awards. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this longstanding industry recognition event and after so many years, it reigns supreme on the Asia Pacific golf landscape.

The Asian Golf Awards is staged annually as a twin-event with the Asia Pacific Golf Summit. This year, both events will be staged at the prestigious,

over the last two decades with many world class international tournaments being staged, Indian players playing and winning at the highest levels, and domestically the number of golfers having grown.

There is plenty more to be done and this is a fact that is recognised by all stakeholders in the country. With a motivation towards a brighter future, I believe, the APGS 2019 and the Asian Golf Awards are going to be milestone achievements in the history of golf in India.”

What Mr. Ohri has said speaks volumes for what

multi-award winning DLF Golf & Country Club in the

APGS and the Asian Golf Awards represent. For the

futuristic cyber city of Gurugram which is close to the

past twenty years, the Asian Golf Awards has set as

Indian capital city of New Delhi. Both events will be

its primary goal, a special mission to identify and

held on November 4 – 6.

recognise the “Best Amongst The Best” in the Asia

Commenting on both the events, Aakash Ohri,

Pacific golf industry. It is arguably the biggest and

executive director at DLF Home Developers, repre-

longest established recognition event of its kind

senting the host venue said, “As the DLF Golf & Coun-

anywhere in the world.

try Club celebrates its 20 years of existence, we are

Unlike most award programmes where a fee is

delighted to welcome the Asia Pacific Golf Summit to

charged to attend or to pay for the award received,

India for the first time. Having attended this Summit

this is not the case with the Asian Golf Awards. There

regularly since 2007, I understand the importance

are no monetary payments required. Attendance at

of these forums, from which I too have immensely

the Gala Awards dinner is by invitation to the qualified

benefitted from.”

winners and all awards presented are fully paid for by

He added, “India has grown as a golfing nation

the Asian Golf Awards Organising Committee.

THE ASIAN GOLF AWARDS IS

Also, success at the annual Asian Golf Awards is determined by an on-line poll that is conducted over a three-month period. The winners are ascertained on a

WIDELY REGARDED AS THE

vote – the same way some of the world’s great democratic

“OSCARS” OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY IN THE ASIA PACIFIC AND IT IS AN EVENT THAT MANY IN THE GOLF CLUB INDUS-

elections are conducted,” said Mike Sebastian, CEO of

TRY RECOGNIZE AS THE YARDSTICK BY

APGG, the owner and producer of both APGS and the

WHICH SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE OF

quantitative basis based on the number of valid votes received. “This is the most equitable way to run the annual poll and the final outcome is determined by the popular

Asian Golf Awards.

The Asian Golf Awards is widely regarded as the “Oscars” of the golf industry in the Asia Pacific and it is an

GOLF CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE MEASURED WITH.

event that many in the golf club industry recognize as the yardstick by which success and excellence of golf clubs

sary edition produced a record number of valid votes.

and individuals are measured with.

“The number of valid votes received this year smashed

“The Mission Hills Group regards the awards as

all previous records and our 20th Anniversary record hit

one of the most prestigious awards in the golf industry

287,223 votes. It just goes to show how popular the event

across the Asia Pacific Region,” is how Dr. Ken Chu, Group

has become,” explained Alice Ho, business manager and

Chairman & CEO of the Mission Hills Group and the most

coordinator for the Asian Golf Awards on-line poll.

powerful man in Asian golf describes the event.

Planning for the annual awards normally commences

There is a total of 47 categories and for 2019, which includes Asia Pacific Order of Zenith, the highest and most

early in the year and the voting is conducted on-line for

prestigious award reserved for a select few golf clubs in

a period of three months each year. For the 2019 awards,

Asia.

the voting was unprecedented. In fact, the 20th anniver-

Given the long and impressive history of the Asian Golf Awards, it was generally felt that the time had come for the creation of a special award that would seek out and honour the absolute best amongst the best. A unique award designed to recognise distinguished golf clubs and permanently enshrine these clubs in a hallowed class all their own. Hence, the creation of the Asia Pacific Order Of Zenith.

Commenting on the special award, Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the programme said, “Asia needs to develop a benchmark to measure excellence and the best way to do this is to create a peer group of clubs renowned for their commitment to excellence to serve as the yardstick for others.”

The first batch of golf clubs to be honoured with this very distinguished award were:

Õ Õ Õ Õ

Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) DLF Golf & Country Club (India) Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Blackstone Course (China)

Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ

Ria Bintan Golf Club (Indonesia) Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) Sky72 Golf & Resort, Ocean Course (South Korea) Thai Country Club (Thailand) TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Hirono Golf Club (Japan) Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club (Philippines) BRG Kings’ Island Golf Resort (Vietnam) Long Thanh Golf Resort (Vietnam)

Each of the premier clubs on the award list has distinguished and excelled itself in terms of operating a golf club noted for the quality of its golf course, its club house facilities and services and its commitment to deliver a quality golfing experience to both members and guests alike.

As the Asian Golf Awards gets ready to enter a new era, some reactions were sought from a select group of leaders from the golf club industry. A group that has always done well at the awards is the Mission Hills Group of China, the world’s largest golf resort with operations in Shenzhen and Dongguan on the Chinese mainland and Haikou on the island of Hainan. “The Mission Hills Group regards the awards as one of the most prestigious awards

For 2019, the Asia Pacific Order of Zenith will recognise

in the golf industry across the Asia Pacific Region. It

the following additions:

brings honour to the award-winning organization, and this

Õ Õ Õ

Yas Links Abu Dh habi (U UAE)

especially encourages much more initiatives to be created

Kota Permai Golff & Cou untry y Club (M Malays sia)

to enhance the golf industry developments,” said Tenniel

Tanah Merah Cou untry Club (Singapore)

Chu, Group Vice-Chairman of the Mission Hills Group.

ASIA NEEDS TO DEVELOP A BENCHMARK TO MEASURE EXCELLENCE AND THE BEST WAY TO DO

For 2019 The Mission Hills Group will be the proud recipient of a special award – The World’s Best Golf Resort. This award serves to recognize the group for operating 22 golf courses in Shenzhen, Dongguan and

THIS IS TO CREATE A PEER GROUP OF

Haikou (Hainan) against a sprawling backdrop spread

CLUBS RENOWNED FOR THEIR COMMIT-

out over 44 square miles that offers a total golfing,

MENT TO EXCELLENCE TO SERVE AS THE YARDSTICK FOR OTHERS.

shopping, entertainment, recreational, leisure, hotels, business centres, sports museums and dining experience that is unmatched anywhere in the world.

DR. PAWAN MUNJAL

DU SHA

CHAIRMAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO, Hero MotoCorp (India)

Chairman, Pacific Links International

The Asia Pacific Golf Group also owns the Asia

the ‘Hero Challenge’ – the innovative one-hole knockout

Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame and Asia Pacific Golf Life-Time

contest played under lights, at three prominent European

Achievement awards.

Tour events.

For 2019, two exceptional men will be inducted

The second inductee is Mr. Du Sha, founder and

into the Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame. The first is Dr.

Chairman of Pacific Links International which was estab-

Pawan Munjal, Chairman, managing director and CEO

lished in 2012. It owns golf clubs in the US and through

of Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest manufacturer of

its network of owned, affiliate and reciprocal clubs Pacific

motorcycles and scooters. Dr. Munjal co-hosts the ‘Hero

Links controls hundreds of golf clubs worldwide. As of

World Challenge’, at Albany in the Bahamas, a PGA sanc-

2018, Mr. Du Sha’s Pacific Links had access to over 700

tioned Tiger Woods invitational event – one of the most

golf properties located in 34 countries around the world.

high-profile golf tournaments in the world. He also hosts

It also offers concierge services to its members.

A TRAD DIT TION N CONT TINU UES!

Each and every year, we set out to seek out some deserving cases in the golf industry in Asia for special recognition. This year is no exception.

The following are our special awards for 2019 and there is no denying that each award recipient fully deserves the recognition bestowed upon them.

SPECIAL AWARD INDUCTEES

CHOO WEE KHIANG General Manager, NCI Golf Pte Ltd Marina Bay Golf Course / My Golf Kaki (Singapore)

ARJUN ATWAL Professional Golfer (India)

CHAMPIKA N. SAYAL Secretary General, Women’s Golf Association of India (India)

LE VAN KIEM Chairman, KN Holdings (Vietnam)

MADAME TRAN CAM NHUNG Vice Chairwoman, KN Holdings (Vietnam)

ALVIN CHAU Chairman, Suncity Group Holdings Limited (China)

MADAME NGUYEN THI NGA Chairman, BRG Group (Vietnam)

SAUDI GOLF FEDERATION

RISHI NARAIN Managing Director, Rishi Narain Sports Management (India)

DON LAM Co-Founder and Chief Executive OfďŹ cer of VinaCapital Chairman of the Board, Hoi An South Development Limited (Vietnam)

BANYAN GOLF CLUB HUA HIN, THAILAND

THE DLF GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB HAS ACTUALLY ENHANCED THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT BY CREATING AN OASIS THAT RELEASES CLEAN AIR AND PROVIDES A MICRO ECOSYSTEM CONDUCIVE TO ENHANCEMENT OF FLORA AND FAUNA.

aring for the environment has been at the core of DLF’s philosophy as it relates to its golf courses.

The idea is to not just create a beautiful golf course but one that is built on the foundation of environmental sustainability.

Internationally accepted best practices were followed during construction and are still followed to manage the running of the golf courses. The result is 200 acres of lush green expanse which depends on recycling resources and minimum use of natural resources. The DLF Golf & Country Club has actually enhanced the surrounding environment by creating an oasis that releases clean air and provides a micro eco-system conducive to enhancement of flora and fauna.

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The following is a preview of those organisations and individuals who have been successful in the 2019 Asian Golf Awards.

2019 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | BEST IN ASIA PACIFIC (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT)

BEST GOLF RESORT IN THE WORLD Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China)

Õ Nicklaus Design Õ Schmidt-Curley Design, Inc.

BEST GOLF DESTINATION IN ASIA PACIFIC

BEST RENOVATED COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ China Õ Thailand Õ Vietnam

Õ Laem Chabang International Country Club

BEST GOLF RESORT IN ASIA PACIFIC

BEST NEW COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Bali National Golf Club (Indonesia) Õ The Els Club Desaru Coast (Malaysia) Õ Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An (Vietnam)

Õ Chee Chan Golf Resort (Thailand) Õ Hoiana Shores Golf Club (Vietnam) Õ Parahyangan Golf (Indonesia)

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

BEST NEW 9-HOLE GOLF COURSE IN THE ASIA PACIFIC

(Thailand)

Õ Phokeethra Country Club (Cambodia)

Õ Saujana Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) Õ Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) Õ Siam Country Club (Thailand)

Õ KN Golf Links - Cam Ranh, Oasis Course

BEST CLUBHOUSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore) Õ Southlinks Golf Club (Philippines) Õ The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf

Õ Mission Hills Golf Club Dongguan (China) Õ Thai Country Club (Thailand) Õ TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

BEST MAINTAINED COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC Õ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Õ Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore) Õ Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore)

BEST PRO-SHOP IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Mission Hills Golf Club Dongguan (China) Õ Sky72 Golf & Resort, Classic Course (South Korea) Õ TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

BEST MANAGED GOLF CLUB IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) Õ Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) Õ Thai Country Club (Thailand)

BEST LOCKER ROOM (MALE & FEMALE) IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Lava Fields Course (China) Õ Thai Country Club (Thailand) Õ The Singapore Island Country Club (Singapore)

BEST COURSE ARCHITECT IN ASIA PACIFIC Õ Greg Norman Golf Course Design

(Vietnam)

BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Course Limited (Hong Kong)

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Õ Lotus Valley Golf Resort (Thailand) Õ Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore)

BEST GOLF CLUB EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC Õ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Õ Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China) Õ Nikanti Golf Club (Thailand)

BEST FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Õ Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) Õ Thai Country Club (Thailand)

BEST DRIVING RANGE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Õ Mission Hills Golf Club Dongguan (China) Õ Oxford Golf Resort (India) Õ Phothalai Leisure Park (Thailand)

BEST GOLF ACADEMY IN ASIA PACIFIC Õ DLF Golf & Country Club (India) Õ PGA of America Golf Academy at Mission Hills (China)

Õ MST Golf Academy (Malaysia)

2019 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS

TOP THREE NOMINEES | COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT)

BEST COURSE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

BEST COURSE IN MIDDLE EAST

BEST COURSE IN CAMBODIA

BEST COURSE IN MYANMAR

BEST COURSE IN CHINA (INCLUDING HONG KONG AND MACAU)

BEST COURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Õ Jerudong Park Country Club Õ Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) Golf Course Õ The Empire Hotel & Country Club Õ Angkor Golf Resort Õ Phokeethra Country Club Õ Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club Õ Evergrande Shadow Creek Beijing Õ Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Lava Fields Course

Õ Shanqin Bay Golf Club

BEST COURSE IN CHINESE TAIPEI Õ Miramar Golf Country Club Õ Ta Shee Golf & Country Club Õ Taiwan Golf & Country Club

BEST COURSE IN INDIA

Õ Clover Greens Õ Eagleton - The Golf Village Õ Oxford Golf Resort

BEST COURSE IN INDONESIA Õ Emeralda Golf Club Õ Rainbow Hills Golf Club Õ Riverside Golf Club

Õ Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course Õ Saadiyat Beach Golf Club Õ The Els Club Dubai Sports City Õ Bagan Golf Resort Õ Pun Hlaing Golf Club Õ Royal Mingalardon Golf & Country Club Õ Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club Õ Mt. Malarayat Golf & Country Club Õ Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate

BEST COURSE IN SINGAPORE

Õ Marina Bay Golf Course Õ National Service Resort & Country Club Õ The Singapore Island Country Club

BEST COURSE ON THE SUB-CONTINENT (INCLUDING BANGLADESH, NEPAL, PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA) Õ Karachi Golf Club, Blue & Red Courses (Pakistan)

Õ Kurmitola Golf Club (Bangladesh) Õ Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa (Sri Lanka)

BEST COURSE IN THAILAND

BEST COURSE IN JAPAN

Õ Amata Spring Country Club Õ Lotus Valley Golf Resort Õ Siam Country Club

BEST COURSE IN SOUTH KOREA

Õ BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort Õ KN Golf Links - Cam Ranh Õ Vinpearl Golf Nha Trangg

Õ Kasumigaseki Country Club, East Course Õ Kawana Hotel Golf Course Õ Yokohama International Golf Club Õ Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Õ Sky72 Golf & Resort, Hanul Course Õ The Club at Nine Bridges

BEST COURSE IN LAOS

Õ Lakeview Vientiane Golf Club Õ Long Vien Golf Club Õ SEA Games Golf Club

BEST COURSE IN MALAYSIA

Õ Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club Õ Saujana Golf & Country Club Õ The Els Club Desaru Coast

BEST COURSE IN VIETNAM

2019 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | SPECIAL CATEGORIES (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT)

BEST CLUB GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR Õ Derek Schade, Lotus Valley Golf Resort

(Thailand) Õ Desmond Tay, The Singapore Island Country Club (Singapore) Õ Jinder Aujla, Warren Golf & Country Club (Singapore) Õ Simon Yang, Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China)

BEST GOLF MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Õ Chavalit Surangsee, Thai Country Club (Thailand)

Õ Ong Seng Kiat, Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club (Malaysia)

Õ Stanley Ho, Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore)

BEST FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Õ Nattawat Thameurungkul, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

Õ Pichayapak Chamkrachang, Thai Country Club (Thailand) Õ Ramiriz Osman, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

BEST PROFESSIONAL GOLF COACH IN ASIA PACIFIC Õ John Wither, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Õ Kevin Smeltz, PGA Academy at Mission Hills Golf Club Shenzhen (China)

BEST GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

Õ Komson Thanavuth, Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China)

Õ Lee Chee Keen, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Malaysia)

Õ Rodney Mckeown, Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore)

BEST CADDIE OF THE YEAR

Õ Emia Nawarita, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Malaysia)

Õ Kanjanamas Suksamran, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

Õ Kim Ji You, Sky72 Golf & Resort (South Korea)

BEST MARCOMM MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Õ Bhanujsaya Dangsuwan, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

Õ Dennis Chong, Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) Õ Vivien Gnananantham, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Malaysia)

BEST HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR 1. Azhan Abdul Kadir, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) 2. Evelyn Wong, Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) 3. Kwandee Thanontip, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

BEST COURSE EQUIPMENT/AGRONOMY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Õ E-Z-GO Õ Rain Bird Õ Sports Turf Solutions

MOST POPULAR GOLF EQUIPMENT BRAND (DRIVER, WOODS/HYBRIDS, PUTTERS) Õ Callaway Õ PING Õ TaylorMade

MOST POPULAR GOLF BALL

Õ Bridgestone Õ TaylorMade Õ Titleist Pro V and Pro V1X

MOST POPULAR GOLF APPAREL/GOLF PAREL/ L/GO GOLF RIES SHOES/ACCESSORIES Õ Adidas Õ Footjoy Õ Nike

DR. KEN CHU Group Chairman & CEO Mission Hills Group China

TENNIEL CHU Group Vice Chairman Mission Hills Group China

DR. PAWAN MUNJAL Chairman, Managing Director & CEO Hero MotoCorp.

India

DU SHA Chairman Pacific Links International

KIM YOUNG-CHAN Founder & Chairman Golfzon Newdin Group South Korea

SANTI BHIROMBHAKDI President & CEO SINGHA Corporation Thailand

ENRIQUE ‘RICKY’ K. RAZON JR. Chairman and CEO Manila-listed Company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Philippines

TRINH VAN QUYET Chairman, Board of Management FLC Group Vietnam

Pacific Links Golf Network

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MADAME NGUYEN THI NGA Chairman BRG Group Vietnam

KIM YOUNG JE President & CEO Sky72 Golf & Resort South Korea

LE VAN KIEM Chairman KN Investment Group Vietnam

GAUTAM THAPAR President Professional Golf Tour Of India India

JIMMY MASRIN Chairman Asian Tour Indonesia

MASAHIRO KURAMOTO Chairman Japan Professional Golfers Association Japan

ALVIN CHAU Chairman Suncity Group Holdings Limited China

DON LAM Co-Founder and Chief Executive OfďŹ cer VinaCapital / Chairman of the Board Hoi An South Development Limited Vietnam

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For those of us who are keen China watchers, one cannot but be impressed with the commitment and scale that China places on anything that it decides to put its heart and soul to. Specifically, what the Middle Kingdom is doing to give a massive kick-start to making the nation a global force in soccer and basketball has to be seen to be believed. The scope and scale of what is happening in China in these two sports is mind-numbing.

Likewise, golf is also being given a huge boost and the most high-profile undertaking is a multiyear partnership involving China’s giant Mission Hills Group and PacificPine Sports – this will see the launch of three PGA Golf Academies in China.

T

he partnership between the PGA of America, one of the world’s largest sporting organisations and Mission Hills, the world’s largest golf facility with 22 golf courses across three locations, has already witnessed the materiali-

sation of two academies at the Mission Hills Shenzhen resort and a third academy at the Mission Hills Haikou resort on Hainan Island.

With the academies humming along with their mission, ASIAN GOLF decided to visit the academy at the Shenzhen facility recently. The man who is charged with developing this Academy into a world-class facility is Patrick Quernemoen, a 20-year PGA professional. “The PGA of America Academies at Mission Hills have been designed to introduce a new generation to the game within China and I know that the expertise and knowledge of our PGA teaching staff is unparalleled,” he emphasised.

PATRICK QUERNEMOEN

WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMES THAT CAN BE OFFERED AT NON-TRADITIONAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMES AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND MULTISPORT FACILITIES.

MISSION HILLS WILL

REMAIN OUR FLAGSHIP PROJECT WHILE THE MODEL PERFECTED THERE WILL BE INTRODUCED AT CENTRES IN CITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

PGA YOUTH PARTNERS WITH

SCHOOLS, GOLF COURSES AND DRIVING RANGES TO PROMOTE ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH THE GAME OF GOLF. After a guided tour of the facility, ASIAN GOLF sat

cities throughout the nation. PGA Youth partners with

down for an interview with Quernemoen, who is the COO

schools, golf courses and driving ranges to promote

of PacificPine Sports Group. The following are excerpts

athletic excellence, character development and academic

from that discussion:

achievement through the game of golf.

ASIAN GOLF: This partnership is without a doubt in China for the long haul – tell us what are the plans for the growth of the partnership in China going forward?

ASIAN GOLF: What is the mission of the academy – is it to grow the game of golf or is it to develop elite players?

PATRICK QUERNEMOEN: The Academy seeks to

follows - We are committed to building well rounded

be more than a traditional golf academy providing mostly

junior athletes physically, mentally, and emotionally

private instruction. We launched a unique Elite Full Time

through sports, education, and cultural exchange using

programme in China, combing both golf instruction and

golf as a core vehicle. We empower our student athletes

education, with the goal of our students playing collegiate

along with their families to achieve their full potential.

golf. Our other programmes provide a comprehensive

At the Grassroots level, our Training Programmes are

range of offerings to students at beginner levels of play

designed to attract a lot of beginner level juniors through

through to competitive golf on the international stage.

After School Activities and Weekend Programmes. We

QUERNEMOEN: Our Mission can be summed up as

Additionally, we have developed a number of

train them through our four level Training Programme to

instructional programmes that can be offered at non-

move them through the ranks with the goal of becoming

traditional facilities, such as after school programmes

Elite Players. It is our hope to bring many juniors into

and residential developments and multi-sport facilities.

the great game of golf while harnessing golf’s ability to

Mission Hills will remain our flagship project while the

develop perseverance, strength of character, stamina,

model perfected there will be introduced at centres in

grit and critical thinking.

WE LIKE TO USE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR BUILDING INTEREST IN GOLF. AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOLS ARE INTENDED TO BE A FUN AND NON-THREATENING WAY TO INTRODUCE YOUTH TO THE GAME OF GOLF.

USING GAMES, MULTI-SPORT EXERCISES AND A FOCUS ON OVERALL ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT, NEW PLAYERS CAN EXPERIENCE GOLF IN A FAMILIAR CONTEXT WITH AN ENGAGING FORMAT. ASIAN GOLF: Let’s examine some of the areas where the academy is expected to play a vital role in the growth of golf in China.

There’s no denying that with growing incomes and change in lifestyles, there is going to be a proportional growth in peoples’ aspirations to want to play golf. How is your operation going to be set up to address this interest in the game?

QUERNEMOEN: We are prepared to address this need with an aggressive expansion plan to meet the needs of students across the country. In the coming years, PGA Youth Development will be opening green grass learning centers and indoor centers throughout China to provide training opportunities for youth throughout Greater China.

ASIAN GOLF: With the expected inspirational spike in the interest of golf, what are you doing to develop junior golf?

QUERNEMOEN: We like to use many different ways for building interest in golf. After School Activities at schools are intended to be a fun and non-threatening way to introduce youth to the game of golf. Using games, multi-sport exercises and a focus on overall athletic development, new players can experience golf in a familiar context with an engaging format.

ASIAN GOLF: Given China’s huge population, it has the potential of having a massive pool of talent at the junior level. How do you plan to cope with the anticipated increase in junior golf nation-wide?

ASIAN GOLF: While you help to grow the game of golf in China, is there easy accessibility for golfers to play the game in China given that most clubs are private facilities?

QUERNEMOEN: China does present an excellent

a challenge; however, we focus a lot of our efforts on

growth opportunity. We are excited to witness the junior

attracting beginners through “near golf experiences”

development boom and PGA Youth Development is

allowing youth to enjoy golf in non-traditional venues

prepared to meet and adapt to these growing needs.

whether it be on a soccer pitch, basketball court or

Partnering with Mission Hills, the largest golf facility in

indoor facility and drive them to go to Mission Hills for

the world, is an excellent starting point to meet future

the on course opportunities.

QUERNEMOEN: Throughout Asia, accessibility is

capacity requirements. Our Mission Hills Academy will

Since the game’s reintroduction to the Olympics

always be our Flagship Academy, which will drive youth

in 2016 we have seen strong growth in support from

from the region to our four facilities within Mission

provincial and local governments to provide playing

Hills.

learning and playing opportunities for youth interested

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING WELL ROUNDED JUNIOR ATHLETES PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY THROUGH SPORTS, EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE USING GOLF AS A CORE VEHICLE.

WE EMPOWER

OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. OUR

AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, TRAINING PROGRAMMES ARE DE-

SIGNED TO ATTRACT A LOT OF BEGINNER

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND WEEKEND PROGRAMMES. WE TRAIN THEM THROUGH OUR FOUR LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMME TO MOVE LEVEL JUNIORS THROUGH

THEM THROUGH THE RANKS WITH THE GOAL OF BECOMING

ELITE PLAYERS. IT IS

OUR HOPE TO BRING MANY JUNIORS INTO THE GREAT GAME OF GOLF WHILE HARNESSING GOLF’S ABILITY TO DEVELOP PERSEVERANCE, STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, STAMINA, GRIT AND CRITICAL THINKING.

in the game. These initiatives have been strongly sup-

QUERNEMOEN: Elite player development is a small

ported by almost all golf courses in China with reduced or

piece of our greater plan. However, as true elite player

free access to play during non-peak times.

instruction is limited in Asia, we are committed to this type

ASIAN GOLF: Related to this, do you feel that the time has come for China to explore the development of public golf courses to cope with the expected growth in the game?

of training to help develop amateurs and professionals in

QUERNEMOEN: Ideally more public golf access will be available in the future in China whether that be full golf courses or park courses, and other near golf experiences.

As golf has become an Olympic sport and Feng Shanshan was awarded Bronze in the 2016 Olympics, there will be more emphasis on learning and golf training for years to come.

ASIAN GOLF: Shifting gears, how important is the development of elite players to your operation?

the region. Elite training also is a great complement to the grassroots initiatives we are launching and provides youth a pathway to many different opportunities in the future especially the ability to play collegiate golf in America, a pathway chosen by many successful Asian players.

ASIAN GOLF: Looking at your resources both in terms of facilities and instructors, how long do you reckon it will take for China to grow its pool of world-class professional golfers, both men and women alike?

QUERNEMOEN: We are already seeing Chinese perform well on the international scene with players on the PGA, LPGA, European and Korn Ferry tours to name a

ELITE TRAINING ALSO IS A GREAT COMPLEMENT TO THE GRASS-

few. The PGA Tours commitment to developing the PGA TOUR SeriesChina has provided Chinese professionals a direct pathway to the Korn Ferry and eventually the PGA Tour. The success of Li Haotong, Zhangxin Jun and Dou Zhecheng has proven the success of this model. We believe

ROOTS INITIATIVES WE ARE

this is the tip of the iceberg as the amount of youth playing the game now

LAUNCHING AND PROVIDES

Chinese performing at the top levels in the years to come with an increas-

YOUTH A PATHWAY TO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE ESPECIALLY THE ABILITY TO PLAY COLLEGIATE

is growing rapidly and will only increase in the future. We will see many ing number of champions coming out of China. We are excited to be a part of the development of these players and hope to help the development of professional training in China.

ASIAN GOLF: In this context, who makes up your current pool of instructors? Are they all PGA of America professionals?

AMERICA, A PATHWAY

QUERNEMOEN: As the Golf Academy is located in China is our goal to

CHOSEN BY MANY SUCCESSFUL

als. Our team consists of top Foreign PGA members and Chinese certiďŹ ed

ASIAN PLAYERS.

coaches. This team will only grow as the academy continues to develop,

GOLF IN

continue to train an elite team of both Chinese and foreign golf profession-

which will serve as a training base for coach development in the region.

ASIAN GOLF: What is the attitude and mentality of Chinese elite golfers undergoing instructions at the academy?

Kevin Smeltz, Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor / Director of Golf for PGA Youth Development: I have been lucky enough to have had an advisory board in the States consisting of some of the best Ph.D.’s in Neuroscience, biomechanics, and sports psychology. Our philosophy is in training is more geared around the research on what transfers to competition which typically revolves around making practice more like competition where every shot is a different problem to solve, different wind directions, different lies, different hazards, etc. Hitting the same club over and over at the same target has a time and a place but is overdone greatly by most golfers which is one of the reasons why they struggle to take their game to the course. In this way, it is a different concept than what a lot of people are used to. Given that this is different than what most are used to, elite golfers in China that we coach sometimes question this but through the proper explanationc have started to embrace this and actually found it more challenging yet engaging and pushes them to be better in an environment that cognitively challenges them vs. mind numbing repetition when you never hit the same club over KEVIN SMELTZ

OUR PHILOSOPHY IS IN TRAINING IS MORE GEARED AROUND THE RESEARCH ON WHAT TRANSFERS TO COMPETITION WHICH TYPICALLY REVOLVES AROUND MAKING PRACTICE MORE LIKE COMPETITION WHERE EVERY SHOT IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM TO SOLVE, DIFFERENT WIND DIRECTIONS, DIFFERENT LIES, DIFFERENT HAZARDS, ETC.

HITTING THE

SAME CLUB OVER AND OVER AT THE SAME TARGET HAS A TIME AND A PLACE BUT IS OVERDONE GREATLY BY MOST GOLFERS WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY STRUGGLE TO TAKE THEIR GAME TO THE COURSE.

and over in competition.

ASIAN GOLF: Are there plans to eventually set up a programme to train and certify Chinese coaches like what the PGA of America does in North America?

QUERNEMOEN: It is our plan to do coach training and academy certiďŹ cation as we want to help develop coaches in the region. This is something that we will be working on in the years to come with the PGA.

ASIAN GOLF: Look into your crystal ball and give us your take on the future of golf in China? All things being equal, it has what it takes to become the greatest nation in golf.

Your thoughts?

QUERNEMOEN: Even though there are limitations for playing golf in China, we feel that the sky is the limit for increasing the number of golfers and building champions. Chinese work hard and are focused on making it to the top. If we can be a part of their development and help direct them in the right way, we hope to see many more champions developed. As long as the sport development is organized well and continues to move in the right direction, China has a great opportunity to be a dynamic golďŹ ng nation.

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T

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THE NEW ARRIVAL IS THE DANISH BRAND’S NEW BIOM COOL PRO

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PERFORMANCE.

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ECCO FLUIDFORM™ Direct Comfort Technology

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Q

A BIOM® NATURAL MOTION® last, based on scans of more than 1000 athletes’ feet, mirrors the contours of the human foot, enabling it to move more naturally, closer to the ground, and forms like a second skin around the foot.

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South Korea’s Sungjae Im created history when he was voted 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year.

T

he 21-year old Im was the only rookie to advance to the TOUR Championship and finished the season tied for 19th in the FedExCup standings. With his Rookie of the Year honours, Im joins Stewart Cink (1996-97) as the only players to be named the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons.

For the season, Im made 26 cuts in 35 starts, becoming the first rookie in the

FedExCup era to play 35 or more events. He recorded seven top-10s, highlighted by three top-fives, with his best finish of the season coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, where he tied for third.

PGA TOUR’s Commissioner, Jay Monahan said, “His ‘Ironman’ season was remarkably consistent from start-tofinish, and his fellow players raved about his all-around game throughout the year. Like so many Korn Ferry Tour graduates, he arrived on the PGA TOUR prepared to compete with the world’s best, and his season was a reflection of a maturity beyond his 21 years.”

HIS ‘IRONMAN’ SEASON WAS REMARKABLY CONSISTENT FROM START-TO-FINISH, AND HIS FELLOW PLAYERS RAVED ABOUT HIS ALL-AROUND GAME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

LIKE SO MANY KORN FERRY TOUR GRADUATES, HE ARRIVED ON THE PGA TOUR PREPARED TO COMPETE WITH THE WORLD’S BEST, AND HIS SEASON WAS A REFLECTION OF A MATURITY BEYOND HIS

21

YEARS.

– JAY MONAHAN

Ernie Els, captain of the International Team for the Presidents Cup, has seen it all throughout a stellar career spanning over three decades and delivering a staggering 71 professional victories across the globe.

I

f there is anyone in the game who can truly say “Been there, done that”, it would be the towering World Golf Hall of Famer, who will lead 12 of the best International Team golfers in search of a rare victory over the all-powering United States Team at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia from December 9-15.

Delivering a Presidents Cup victory in his first stint as team captain

will be the jewel in the crown for Els as the International Team has won the

The 2019 Presidents Cup is fast approaching and the respective captains of the two competing teams are engaged in evolving strategies aimed at winning the big clash. The legendary Tiger Woods is leading the American team while the big South African, Ernie Els will lead the Internationals into battle. Els has a mix of some veterans and some young guns with the youngsters coming mostly from Asia. One wonders if the Asian prestigious event only once previously in 1998, coincidentally at Royal Melbourne, since the event’s inception in 1994.

Undoubtedly, the South African legend will count on local heroes Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and rookie Cameron Smith to rally the Australian crowds and put the points on the board but Els’ trump cards could well be in the three Asians who qualified amongst the top-8 for his team.

With Els poised to name four more picks in early November, there is hope another Asian star might get the nod to make the trip to Melbourne.

Amongst the current trio, Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama has the most Presidents Cup experience. At 27, the five-time PGA TOUR winner is already a battle-hardened veteran with three previous appearances.

players will prove to be Els’s ace cards? The PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang reports:

C.T. PAN

Then in debutants Haotong Li of China and Chinese

Els has shown his confidence in his Asian brigade.

Taipei’s C.T. Pan, Els knows he has two potential aces up

Since watching up close Li’s amazing final round of 63 at

his sleeves. Li, 23, is a two-time European Tour winner and

Royal Birkdale which helped the young Chinese finish third

loves a head-to-head fight as shown in his wins over Rory

at the 2017 Open Championship, he has become a big fan

McIlroy in Dubai last year and match play victories over

and even predicted Li could become World No. 1.

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka and Ryder Cup star Alex Noren

“He’s a strong player … he’s got a great game. He’s got

at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He also went

all the qualities of a world-class player and maybe become

toe-to-toe with Dustin Johnson in Saudi Arabia and despite

No. 1 in the world one day. He’s that kind of talent,” said an

finishing second, he did not bat an eyelid during the final

effusive Els.

day duel.

Pan, 27, steps into the Royal Melbourne cauldron as

“He’s got so much potential going forward. I like his style of play and he’ll be great in the team environment.

a PGA TOUR champion following a career-breakthrough

He’s quite a lively character and he’s quite outspoken in a

title at the RBC Heritage. Although he will be a rookie in

confident way. I am really excited to have him on the team.”

the Presidents Cup, the slightly built Pan has enjoyed some

Li, the first Chinese golfer to feature in the Presidents

success at Royal Melbourne previously where he finished

Cup, is fired up and wants to be on the winning side at his

T5 in the 2014 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship and

first crack. Els also believes Li’s presence will generate

played in all four rounds at the Australian Masters in the

unprecedented support from Chinese fans and viewers

previous year.

from the world’s most populous nation. “It’s my great

IT’S REALLY COOL, VERY

honour to be part of the team,” said Li. “Hopefully I can get some points. I’m very excited. To be fair, our team is not as

INTERESTING COINCIDENCE,”

strong as the U.S. Team. So, I just want to play our best and hopefully beat them.”

Els has played alongside Matsuyama often enough to fully back the Japanese strongman to deliver the goods despite a 4-6-3 career record for the International Team.

“He’s not been on a winning team, so I can see him being very keen to win. He’s had a few run-ins with the U.S. Team, so he’ll be ready to fight,” said Els. Pan caught Els’ attention with his RBC Heritage win

SAID

PAN. “IT WILL BE GREAT TO REPLAY

THAT HISTORY AND MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN, BEING THE FIRST

CHINESE TAIPEI PLAYER IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO TRY AND BE ON THE WINNING TEAM.

and after qualifying as the seventh-ranked player amongst the top-8, the captain reckons the first-timer from Chinese

things well. As a rookie and a person from Chinese Taipei,

Taipei could deliver a surprise to the Americans. “What a

it’s a big deal.”

win he had. Overall, he’s got a very sound game. He manages his game very well; he’s a good putter and he does all

For Pan, a return to Royal Melbourne is inspiring as Chinese Taipei produced one of the most stunning victo-

HAOTONG LI BEAT BROOKS KOEPKA AT THE WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY.

ries in the World Cup of Golf at the iconic Sandbelt venue in 1972 through the legendary Hsieh Min-Nan and Lu Liang-huan.

“It’s really cool, very interesting coincidence,” said Pan. “It will be great to replay that history and make it happen again, being the first Chinese Taipei player in the Presidents Cup. It’s good to have the chance to try and be on the winning team.”

Els plans to use the new blood – Abraham Ancer will also become the first Mexican to play in the Presidents Cup – as a catalyst to drive the International Team to a famous victory and also build for the future.

I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT … FOR THESE PLAYERS THAT COME FROM THESE DIFFERENT REGIONS. YOU KNOW, FROM CHINESE TAIPEI, CHINA, MEXICO. THESE PLAYERS, THEY HAVEN’T BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY’RE IN, AND THIS IS JUST GREAT STUFF.

“I think it is so important … for these players that come from these different regions. You know, from Chinese Taipei, China, Mexico. These players, they haven’t been represented in the Presidents Cup, and for the first time they’re in, and this is just great stuff,” said Els. “I mean, can you imagine all the people that’s going to be tuning in to the Presidents Cup? It’s just a whole world that’s going to be watching us for the first time. For what Mexico has done in golf, China has done for golf throughout the years, with the PGA TOUR going there and so forth, the growth of the game is just going to be staggering.”

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA (LEFT) WITH ADAM HADWIN IN THE 2017 PRESIDENTS CUP

20

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JUSTIN ROSE

GARY WOODLAND

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele are amongst some of the biggest names who will feature across Asia this fall which in turn have heightened expectations of a truly spectacular three-week stretch of world-class golf.

The PGA TOUR’s annual Asian swing is primed to be its finest yet this October with an all-star cast of golf legends, FedExCup champions and major winners ready to thrill and impact the game in a region tipped to be the next bastion for golf’s growth.

The who’s who in the modern game will make a beeline to three of Asia’s biggest and most prestigious events, THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in Korea, ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China. These mega tournaments offer close to US$30 million in combined prize funds and more importantly, crucial FedExCup points towards the new 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season which kicked off earnestly in September. The PGA TOUR’s Chuah Choo Chiang reports: RORY MCILROY

U

ndoubtedly, tournament organisers are anticipating strong turnouts from sports fans in Korea, Japan and China which they are convinced will inspire kids to learn the game which also

instils positive life’s values.

Koepka, the World No. 1, will start the ball rolling by defending his CJ CUP from October 17-20 in the company of inaugural winner Thomas, Mickelson and Spieth, with the latter two making their debuts in Korea’s lone PGA TOUR event. “I enjoy Asia. It’s always a fun place to go and everyone is very respectful and it’s a fun place to play. I felt it was important to win in Jeju last year especially after a year that I had,” said Koepka, the 2018 PGA TOUR Player of the Year.

In the following week, the TOUR heads to Japan for its first official PGA TOUR tournament, the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, which will be headlined by Tiger.

The sporting icon resumes his chase to match Sam Snead’s winningest record of 82 wins on the PGA

TIGER WOODS

TIGER’S FIRST RETURN TO ASIA SINCE 2012 WILL LIKELY SPARK TIGER-MANIA TOO AS THE AMERICAN LEGEND, WHOSE MOTHER IS THAI, CONTINUES TO BE LIKE THE PIED-PIPER CAPABLE OF ATTRACTING HORDES OF FANS WITH HIS MESMERISING GOLF SHOT. TOUR where he is one victory shy of the mark. Tiger faces a stellar field which includes McIlroy, the newly minted FedExCup champion and 2019 PGA TOUR Player of the Year.

Tiger’s first return to Asia since 2012 will likely spark Tiger-mania too as the American legend, whose mother is Thai, continues to be like the piedpiper capable of attracting hordes of fans with his mesmerising golf shot. The 43-year-old also has an

JUSTIN THOMAS

I LOVE THE VIBE AND ENERGY THAT THE CHINESE CROWDS BRING TO THE COURSE EACH YEAR. I THINK THE SCHEDULING CHANGES WITH THE MAJORS HAS MADE THE WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT EVENT FOR US. WITH NO MAJORS SCHEDULED AFTER JULY, EVERYONE WILL BE TARGETING TO WIN THE FINAL WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS OF THE YEAR. – BROOKS KOEPKA impressive track record in Asia, winning six times including twice in Japan.

“I’m excited to play in the inaugural ZOZO

in the region’s lone WGC tournament from October 31 to November 3.

“Winning is the ultimate satisfaction on

CHAMPIONSHIP, and return to Japan, one of my favourite countries. The fans in Japan really enjoy,

the PGA TOUR,” said the 25-year-old, a fourtime winner on the PGA TOUR. “The playoff

appreciate and understand golf, and I’m looking forward to competing there,” said the 43-year-old, who secured his fifth Masters title and 81st career

with Tony (Finau), that was the biggest memory.

Just the excitement of being in a playoff, the fans, and the celebration was incredible.”

PGA TOUR win in April.

Schauffele, who is amongst the new breed of stars, is fired up to successfully defend his WGC-

hai, a place where he finished second in 2017 behind Rose and thinks Asia’s only WGC

HSBC Champions title against the likes of Johnson, Koepka, 2018 FedExCup winner Rose and McIlroy

event is extra special this year. “I love the vibe and energy that the Chinese

Koepka is also slated to compete in Shang-

RORY MCILROY

BROOKS KOEPKA

JORDAN SPIETH

crowds bring to the course each year. I think the scheduling changes with the majors has made the WGC-HSBC Champions an even more important event for us. With no

The Asian swing will also offer the TOUR’s young guns a further opportunity to establish themselves with up-and-coming Collin Morikawa and Matt Wolff, who have

majors scheduled after July, everyone will be targeting to win the final World Golf Championships of the year.”

already won tournaments in their first year as a professional, and Korea’s Sungjae Im, voted the 2019 Rookie

While there is plenty to play for over the next three weeks in Asia which features 78-man fields with no halfway cut, the likes of reigning U.S. Open champion Gary

of the Year, determined to stamp their mark against the established stars. Other young players to look out for include Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, China’s Haotong

Woodland believes the players have also responded to a call of duty to help grow the game.

The revamped PGA TOUR Schedule, he said, has

Li, C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

The ultra-talented Thomas, for example, has used his

enhanced the importance of the Asian swing with top players keen to include them in their travel plans. “It’s huge now with the new schedule,” said Woodland. “With

success in Asia to lay the building blocks to a burgeoning career which now features 10 PGA TOUR wins and a FedExCup title. Like Woodland, he also wants to grow the

so many starts before the end of the year, you have to go over to Asia. There’s big money, no cuts and small fields.

sport by impacting youngsters.

“It’s fun to have the opportunity to grow your brand

The fans over there love golf, they are golf hungry and it’s good for us to get out of our norm, spread the game and do our part.”

and grow the game,” said the likeable American. “I’ve had some good success over there, hopefully I can channel some of those vibes in Asia.”

IT’S FUN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW YOUR BRAND AND GROW THE GAME,” SAID THE LIKEABLE AMERICAN. “I’VE HAD SOME GOOD SUCCESS OVER THERE, HOPEFULLY I CAN CHANNEL SOME OF THOSE VIBES IN ASIA.

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