If there’s one golf business event you
WWW.WORLDG
k GLOBAL GOLF CONFERENCE k GLOBAL GOLF TRADE SHOW k GLOBAL GOLF AWARDS k GLOBAL AGRONOMY SYMPOSIUM k GOLF TOURNAMENTS k GOLF TOURISM WORLD GOLF EXPO MARCH 16 - 18, 2021 MISSION HILLS, HAIKOU, HAINAN, CHINA
A GOLF BUSINESS CARNIVAL LIKE NEVER BEFORE. SIMPLY THE BEST!
u must attend in 2021, make it WGE!
GOLFEXPO.COM
MISSION HILLS GROUP
www.missionhillschina.com
ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP ZZZ DVLDSDFLÆ“FJROIJURXS FRP
ISSUE
240
OCTOBER 2020
PING’s new family of clubs is the G425 – the “G” prefix has a very long tradition with PING dating back to 2002 when the company launched the G2 series of clubs. With a pedigree and track record that you can take to the bank, the spanking G425s continue with PING’s commitment to bring golfers advancements in technology that lead to lower scores and more enjoyment on the golf course. The G425 package features three drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and cross-over.
16
8 SHARED THOUGHTS
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Planning for the inaugural World Golf Expo (WGE) in Haikou, Hainan is now at an advanced staged. A complete line-up of world class speakers and thought leaders in the business of golf have been expertly assembled to deliver what will be an event to kick off the next decade of the New Millennium. The dean of the global golf club industry, Gregg Patterson shares his thoughts on why WGE is so important.
62 THE SCOTTY-THOMAS SPECIAL! The limited edition putter is designed to the specifications of the putter that the 2020 PGA Tour Player of the Year Justin Thomas has used in winning 12 of his 13 PGA Tour titles – including the 2017 PGA Championship – and most recently, the 2020 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.
26 SPECIAL FEATURE 26 SIMPLY THE BEST! The first phase of the results for the inaugural Global Golf Awards is ready and the listing of the top three performers in each category (not in any order of merit) is published in this edition of ASIAN GOLF. All other results covering the different categories will be available in November.
34 HAINAN – WHERE GOLF AND PARADISE MEET!
34
If you are looking for a true golf paradise, stop searching! Paradise has been found and it is the idyllic tropical island of Hainan, squatting along the coastline of the Chinese mainland. The giant Mission Hills Resort in Haikou, is spearheading the thrust to help develop Hainan into a world class golf destination.
48 HAIL DECHAMBEAU! It was DeChambeau who had the final laugh at his critics and naysayers who were never kind to his unorthodox approach towards golf. The 27-year old super-star got final validation when he whipped the best of the best and was the only man on the field to be in red figures.
54 TALENT, LASER FOCUS AND SWAGGER GETS IT DONE! This is a special ASIAN GOLF tribute to Dustin Johnson – without doubt, golf’s super athlete.
68 THE AKSHAY BHATIA ERA! One golf pundit recently declared with absolute confidence by stating: “Collin Morikawa? Old news. Viktor Hovland? Flash in the pan. Matthew Wolff? Never heard of him. The PGA Tour now belongs to Akshay Bhatia!”
54
48
68
74 A CHINESE WUNDERKIND DESTINED FOR WORLD GLORY! Over a three-week period, 17-year old Yin Ruoying blazed through a powerful field of women golfers in the China LPGA Tour to win three professional tournaments back to back. On record, there may have only been one other person who has achieved three wins in three weeks and that was a young Tom Morris who pulled it off on the Scottish links in the 19th Century.
82 AN “ASIAN SWING” WITH AN ODD WESTERN TOUCH! The CJ Cup and Zozo Championship, will this time around be played at Shadow Creek in Vegas, Nevada and Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California – both highly acclaimed golf venues whose stature fit hand in glove with Asia’s flagship tournaments. The Asian-based tournaments were launched in 2017 and 2019 respectively to support the development of golf in their home countries and across Asia, dubbed as the fastest growing market in golf.
82
BETTER
BY EVERY MEASURE. At PING, we measure success in the lab and on your scorecard. Led by our most forgiving driver ever, the G425 Max, big performance gains were achieved across the new G425 family. The proven innovations engineered into G425 clubs deliver score-lowering results off the tee, from the fairway and into and around the green so golfers of all skill levels can enjoy the game more.
CUSTOM BUILT WITH ARCCOS CADDIE SMART GRIPS
3 DISTINCT DRIVERS Available in MAX (highest MOI), LST (low spin), or SFT (draw bias) models to fit your game.
OUR MOST FORGIVING DRIVER. EVER. Total MOI pushes 10,000 in the G425 Max, a new standard in long and straight. A 26g tungsten CG shifter increases MOI an average of 14% across the Draw, Neutral and Fade settings.
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]
Director, SKY72 Golf Resorts
James Cronk President, Cronk Group
IT Consultant
Alice Ho
Tech-Know Integrators
Business Executive [alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Alice Ho
Myra Paras
Email: alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com
Accounts Executive [myra@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.
NEW GOLF MEMBERSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE 1 YEAR · 5 YEAR · 10 YEAR GOLF MORE, PAY LESS THE CHOICE IS YOURS ! Activate your golf membership NOW and enjoy the rest of 2020 for FREE 3 month installment plans available with 0% interest* ENJOY MEMBER PRIVILIGES AT THAILAND’S AWARD-WINNING GOLF CLUB Best Golf Club Experience in Asia Pacific Best Food and Beverage Experience in Asia Pacific Discounts in golf club restaurants and pro shop Banyan Golf Academy members rates
Free to join Banyan Privilege Club with over 30 partners offering discounts at Be Well Medical center, water park, hotels, SPA’s, restaurants, coffee shops, car hire
The most active social calendar of events in town with weekly roll ups, Power Tee competitions, wine dinners, BBQ’s, signature club competitions and Free Banyan Golf Club handicap system and much more. online tee times Banyan Golf Club membership package
BE NE FI TS Number of persons Annual subscriptions Joining Fee 7% VAT
1 YEAR
5 YEAR
10 YEAR
Single
Single or Family
Single or Family
Included
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THB 120,000
THB 650,000
THB 1.1million
Excluded
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Installment Plan*
Yes
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Transferable
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Yes
*Terms and conditions apply
CONTACT US FOR A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM 0 3261 6200 email reservations@banyanthailand.com
BanyanGolfClubHuaHin BANYAN GOLF CLUB www.banyanthailand.com
GREGG PATTERSON
Normally, this Op-Ed column is written by the Publisher of ASIAN GOLF. However, we are breaking from tradition to showcase the thoughts of one man who most in the golf club industry regard as the Doyen of club management. A 35-year veteran of club management Gregg Patterson is the personification of a highly energized man-onthe go! He never stops thinking – always evolving, revolutionizing and changing for the better! Since retiring from the highly successful Beach Club in California, Patterson has devoted his time to education and training, and he carries out these multi-faceted functions through the company that he founded and is president of – TRIBAL MAGIC! The thrust of his Op-Ed is focused on the World Golf Expo at which he will be one of the featured speakers. Take it away Gregg!
THE WGE IS A CHANCE TO RECONNECT WITH THE OLD NETWORK AND TO GROW THE NEW-ANDEXPANDED NETWORK. MEETING OTHER OWNERS AND OPERATORS. TALKING TO UP-ANDCOMING NEW MANAGEMENT TALENT AND LISTENING TO FAST-TRACKING GENERAL MANAGERS. CONVERSING WITH UNKNOWNS DURING
SEMINARS.
TALKING TO STRANGERS. COLLECTING NAMES, EMAIL ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS. ARRANGING FOR A POSTCONFERENCE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY.
MAKING NETWORK HAPPEN.
I
’m buzzed by clubdom - and I’m hungry for MORE. Those of us who know the business know that there’s food to be had! Our operational hunger can be fed with a REALLY BIG multi-day “End the Hunger” meal at the World Golf Expo (WGE) in Hainan in 2021. This tribal gathering will be a delicious banquet of people and ideas. Hours and hours, days and days of nonstop consumption. Conference is our magic elixir. It nourishes the brain, delivers the BUZZ, and feeds the Hunger. Here’s why - when you’re hungry for clubdom, when you’re in the operational trenches, you need a banquet sized meal of stimulation. Five courses. Tasty. Balanced. Filling. The World Golf Expo in Hainan will deliver. Here’s the menu:
FIRST COURSE - CURIOSITY Curiosity makes LIFE endlessly interesting. The simple joy of asking What, When, Where and Why - and being around others who share the joy of asking - makes a retiree’s life better. The WGE will stimulate curiosity and satisfy the hunger to know - about people, the business, and the future. Curiosity provokes great questions that lead to great conversations that make the retiree more interesting, more like-able, and more stimulating to their spouse, their children, their grandchildren, and their club management friends. Conference energizes our curiosity. What are the BIG stories that have developed in the last twelve months? What are the big controversies that are stirring up the club community? Who are the up and coming superstars and what are the gifts they have and the issues they’ve mastered?
Who are the opinion leaders in clubdom and what are the opinions they’re trumpeting? What’s happening politically - who’s tussling with who on the board and what outcomes are they looking for with all their tussling? What’s the “Next New Thing” that’ll make successes of some and failures of others? Why did The WGE choose these speakers to speak about these subjects? Who’s lost their job, got a job or thinking about exiting clubdom? And why are some owners and managers here -and others are not? Managers and owners hunger for a big helping of curiosity and the WGE will deliver.
SECOND COURSE - NETWORK Network is about PEOPLE and we operators love to be around others who love what we love, who know where we’ve been and who’ve done what we’ve done. We hunger for a network of people who’ve been in the trenches - like us. Who’ve experienced the slings and arrows of victory and defeat - like us. We seek the comfort and counsel of others “Who Know Whereof We Speak”. Managers and owners are famished for the People Opportunity - the impromptu encounter, the accidental Big Bump Moment during coffee in the morning, during breaks in the hallways and during seminars. The WGE is a chance to re-connect with the Old Network and to grow the New-and-Expanded Network. Meeting other owners and operators. Talking to up-and-coming new management talent and listening to fast-tracking general managers. Conversing with unknowns during seminars. Talking to strangers. Collecting names, email addresses
and telephone numbers. Arranging for a post-conference
for “diving deep” into personal questions, concerns and
networking opportunity. Making Network happen. Owners and operators hunger for Network - and the WGE will deliver.
confusions. Owners and operators hunger for reflective opportunities - and the WGE will deliver.
THIRD COURSE - EDUCATION
FIFTH COURSE - THE BUZZ
We who-run-clubs hunger for “knowing more” about Clubdom - and we know that our “hunger to know”
Owners and operators need The BUZZ now more than ever - because The Virus has got us down, depressed,
doesn’t diminish with age. We’re famished for classes and teachers, seminars and workshops, Power Points and books, questions and answers, principles and practices.
fighting battles we’d never envisioned to keep operations working smoothly during The Madness. The WGE will be filled with people who have The Buzz
Education at the WGE - formalized and structured, impromptu and organic - will magnify our interest in and
for The Business. Creative people. Philosophical people. Tactical people. Energized professionals emitting an
enthusiasm for The Business. The more we know the more we like and the more we want to now. Owners and operators hunger for Education - and the
infectious, high energy BUZZ. Owners and operators will witness and absorb The Buzz when they listen to Keynote Speakers, do “caffeine
WGE will deliver.
and conversation”, debrief in the bar or engage in a round table discussion. Can’t avoid it - the BUZZ is everywhere, omnipresent, in everything and everyone.
FOURTH COURSE - REFLECTION Owners and operators arrive at conference with questions - personal “professional” questions and personal “personal” questions. Professional questions - What should I have done differently? What tools would I use to handle THIS crisis, now? How do I keep
Owners and operators hunger for The BUZZ - and the WGE will deliver.
GET FED The World Golf Expo will be a sumptuous, never-end-
my brain alive now that brains ain’t needed for operations? Personal questions - How do I make the most of my life between now and The End? How do I energize the
ing five course meal delivering BIG helpings of curiosity, network, education, reflection and The BUZZ. We who love clubdom, feel The Hunger. Sign up and GO.
relationship with my spouse now that we’ve got so much time together?
Prepare for dinner. Consume what’s delivered. Digest it properly.
Conference is a reflective opportunity, a time
And enjoy the journey!
“THE ONLY WAY TO DISCOVER THE LIMITS OF THE POSSIBLE IS TO GO BEYOND THEM INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE.” –ARTHUR C. CLARKE ASIAN GOLF has always looked forward to the launch of new clubs from PING. Over the years, we have never ceased to be amazed by the American club-makers incessant quest for new technologies that push the envelope of excellence beyond known boundaries of innovation. Quite understandably so because PING’s DNA is steeped in the realms of curiosity and seeking out ways of improving the customer experience. This commitment is one of the key cornerstones of PING’s ethos to keep searching to always build a better product. Loyal customers of the brand swear by this and show their loyalty by sticking new PING products into their golf bags, often sight unseen! The cycle for new PING clubs is back and the Arizona-based manufacturer has unveiled its latest family of clubs under the ubiquitous “G” series. Besides just rolling off the production line, the new clubs have created history by being launched in Asia before even hitting the stores in North America. Whatever the reasons may be for Asia taking precedence over the brand’s home country, to be first-time users is quite a bragging entitlement for Asia!
P
ING’s new family of clubs is the G425 – the “G” prefix has a very long tradition with PING dating back to 2002 when the company launched the G2 series of clubs. Eighteen years later, PING owners proudly claim that the quality and performance of the G2 irons challenge most new irons on the market. Quite a testimony to the clubs’ ability to stand the test of time. Since the G2, the series has evolved with the launch of nine families of clubs bearing the prefix “G” with the last being the G410 in 2019 – all products of evolution as opposed to revolution. Each club a little bit better than the last through solid design and engineering. With a pedigree and track record that you can take to the bank, the spanking G425s continue with PING’s commitment to bring golfers advancements in technology that lead to lower scores and more enjoyment on the golf course. The G425 package features three drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, and irons. In launching the G425, PING’s President, John K. Solheim said, “Our engineering teams have made significant performance improvements in the G425 family which we are confident will appeal to long-time, loyal PING players while attracting other golfers looking to play better and enjoy the game more, including those new to the game.” “We’re very excited to bring PING’s next generation of score-lowering custom fit, custom built equipment to golfers and based on our engineering philosophy, we don’t introduce a new product unless it’s measurably better than its predecessor. The G425 family exceeds that standard in both performance and appearance,” declared Solheim.
OUR ENGINEERING TEAMS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
G425 FAMILY WHICH WE
ARE CONFIDENT WILL APPEAL TO LONG-TIME, LOYAL
PING PLAYERS WHILE
ATTRACTING OTHER GOLFERS LOOKING TO PLAY BETTER AND ENJOY THE GAME
MORE, INCLUDING THOSE NEW TO THE GAME.
– JOHN K. SOLHEIM, PING’S PRESIDENT
The G425s have also proven to be major head-turners amongst PING’s brand ambassadors on tour. “Early feedback from our tour players has been extremely positive as they look to continually improve their games through advancements in their equipment,” Solheim said. He went on to add, “They are instantly attracted to the clean, premium look of the clubs and even more impressed with the performance.” ASIAN GOLF got a sneak peek at the new clubs and it goes without saying every single club from the driver to the cross-over irons and everything else in between are absolute stunners. Here’s a deep dive into each club, starting with the driver. There are three models, the G425 Max, the LST and the SFT. The G425 Max offers PING’s highest level of MOI, the highest in the company’s history and this is designed to provide golfers the most forgiving driver in golf! The LST (Low Spin Technology) and the SFT (Straight Flight Technology) are designed to best match a golfer’s swing and launch conditions. To achieve the new performance levels in the G425 Max (9º, 10.5º, 12º lofts), PING engineers combined key technologies from the G400 Max and G410 Plus. The resulting increase in MOI in the 460cc head comes mainly from a 26-gram tungsten movable weight, which is made possible by weight savings attributed to advancements in the driver’s dragonfly crown technology. The weight can be positioned at distinctive settings over a smaller area than G410 Plus/LST to help shift the centre of gravity lower and farther back without sacrificing performance elsewhere in the design. The CG-shifting weight can be secured in one of three settings – neutral, draw or fade – to influence forgiveness and shot shape for maximum performance. The average MOI increase is 14 percent across the three weight positions compared to the G410 Plus, with three combinations of weight position and loft exceeding a combined MOI of 10,000 (gm-cm²). The LST model (9º, 10.5º lofts) is designed with a pear-shaped head and measures 445cc to deliver spin reductions of approximately 200 rpm compared to the G410
THERE ARE THREE MODELS, THE G425 MAX, THE LST AND THE SFT. THE G425 MAX OFFERS PING’S HIGHEST LEVEL OF MOI, THE HIGHEST IN THE COMPANY’S HISTORY AND THIS IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GOLFERS THE MOST FORGIVING DRIVER IN GOLF!
LST and 500-700 rpm versus the G425 Max. The smaller head size of the LST employs a 17-gram CG shifter with three settings (Draw, Neutral, Fade) to fit the launch conditions best suited to the golfer’s swing and desired ball flight. For golfers who commonly miss their tee shots to the right, the 460cc SFT version (10.5º loft) is engineered with draw bias to help bring shots back on-line and into the fairway. It features a fixed 23-gram tungsten back weight that shifts the CG closer to the heel to promote a right-to-left shot bend of approximately 25 yards compared to the G425 Max model. A lighter swing weight (D1) also helps influence the ball flight correction. To help contribute to increases in swing speed and ball speed, all three models share proven PING driver innovations, including turbulators for reduced aerodynamic drag and the proprietary T9S+ forged face to accelerate face flexing for more distance. An internal rib structure in the Ti-8-1-1 body improves acoustics for a solid and pleasing sound. Each model also features the lightweight, 8-position hosel for loft (+-1.5º) and lie (up to 3º flatter) adjustments to further dial in ball flight. Next on deck are the G425 Fairway Woods and Hybrids. Both feature PING innovations known as Facewrap Technology and Spinsistency which combine to deliver more distance and spin predictability while offering numerous options to ensure proper gapping throughout a golfer’s bag. With the Facewrap design, a thin, high-strength maraging steel face extends into the crown and sole to provide increased flexing for faster ball speeds that result in greater distance and high launching shots. To bring more consistent spin performance, the faces of the fairway woods and hybrids are engineered with a complex face curvature that modifies the roll profile, mainly low on the face where the loft decreases approximately 2.5º to normalise spin and increase ball speed for more distance. Both player and PING Man robot testing revealed greatly improved distance results from Spinsistency, specifically low on the face, the most common miss-hit for
HYBRIDS
IRONS
fairway woods and hybrids. A tungsten sole weight strategically positioned in each club increases the MOI in the stainless-steel heads for added forgiveness. On the crown, a new 3-dot alignment feature provides golfers a visual cue to address the ball to best match their eye. The fairway woods are offered in Max 3W (14.5º), 5W (17.5º) 7W (20.5º), 9W (23.5º), LST (Low Spin) 3W (14.5º) and SFT (Straight Flight) 3W (16º), 5W (19º) and 7W (22)º options. The hybrids are available in 2 (17º), 3 (19º), 4 (22º), 5 (26º), 6 (30º) and 7 (34º). Both the fairway woods and hybrids are engineered with the lightweight, 8-position hosel for loft (+-1.5º) and lie (up to 3º flatter) adjustments to further dial in ball flight. Next on the test pad are the G425 Irons. In a departure from recent iron models, PING’s experts re-engineered the face of the G425 iron by employing a metal-wood-style, variable face thickness (VFT) design. This greatly increases flexing for measurable ball speed gains that launch shots higher and farther with the stop-
ping power to hold greens – a rare result with most of today’s distance-minded irons. In the process of creating the new face design, they developed a more compact head that sets a new standard for forgiveness for an iron its size. While shorter heelto-toe than the G410 model, it boasts a 3 percent higher MOI due to mass savings from the new face geometry that have been re-allocated to the toe and hosel weights, which expands the perimeter weighting and greatly tightens dispersion. Extensive finite element analysis was used to help develop a multi-material cavity badge that covers more of the face to damp undesirable frequencies and ensure a superb feel and pleasing sound. The G425 irons feature a performance-improving, water-repelling hydropearl chrome finish and are available in 4-9, PW, UW, SW and LW in Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec lofts. The grooves in the PW, UW, SW and LW are precision-milled to ensure control and touch into and around the green. Bringing up the rear is the G425 Crossover which
FAIRWAY WOODS
CROSSOVER
is engineered to bring golfers gap-filling, long-iron-type performance by delivering more distance and green-finding forgiveness. The thinner face and internal geometry deliver the ball speeds to hit high-flying shots that land softly and closer to the hole. Forgiveness is supplied by the toe and hosel weights that expand the perimeter weighting to increase the MOI. It is further distinguished by its functional and resilient stealth hydropearl finish that helps repel moisture and improve performance from all conditions. Available in 2 (18º), 3 (20º) and 4 (22.5º).
SMART DISTANCE
A.I. POWERED RANGEFINDER
CADDIE ADVICE
AUTOMATIC SHOT TRACKING
ADVANCED ANALYTICS
All the clubs come equipped with the Arccos Caddie Smart Grip (Golf Pride Lite 360 Tour Velvet) in one of four sizes (Red -1/32”, Aqua -1/64”, White/Std, and Gold +1/32”) is the standard grip on all G425 clubs. Golfers who purchase a set of six or more G425 irons in one transaction are entitled to eight free Arccos Screw-In sensors and a 90-day free trial of the Arccos Caddie App. Golfers who purchase one or more G425 driver, fairway wood, hybrid, iron (up to five) or Crossover are eligible for 14 free Arccos Screw-In sensors and the 90-day app free trial for a US $19.99 shipping and handling fee. After checking out the G425 family, we are proud to declare that these new arrivals from PING will go down as amongst the brand’s best!
For twenty years, golf clubs in Asia have been rated for excellence by the people who use the facilities and who generate the revenue to keep the club industry buzzing. The scorekeeper over this two-decade period was the revered Asian Golf Awards which helped celebrate the choice of golfers. Given the fast-growing importance of Asia in all fields of global human endeavour, the time has come to elevate the highly regarded Asian Golf Awards to a whole new level. Hence, the launch of the Global Golf Awards, the perfect stage and setting to showcase the preferred choice selection of golfers. The Global Golf Awards was run over 5 months and on-line polling which covered five distinct award categories covering all parts of the world. All results have been carefully tabulated and verified and starting with this month, ASIAN GOLF will reveal the top three performers grouped under the category – Asia Pacific – By Country.
I’m focused on being the best, making history.
A
– CANELO ALVAREZ, WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION
nytime that a project involves engaging with or covering the entire world, the challenge is
the fact that it was brand new territory, but the outcome exceeded all expectations.
daunting. Boxing champ, Canelo Alvarez knows exactly what it takes to be the best of the best in the world. He emerged as a relative unknown
According to the administrator of the on-line poll, Alice Ho, Business Manager of APGG, “Normally, we run the on-line poll for a period of three months, but due to the pan-
from his hometown in Mexico to become one of the highest paid and most successful professional boxers in the world. It is people like Alvarez who set the standard and benchmark for
demic, we had to extend the polling to cover a period of five months because a good number of courses were subjected to a state of lockdown.”
excellence and it is this quest to be the best that served as the guiding beacon to golfers throughout the world to help select
“When the on-line polling deadline expired at midnight on July 31, our computer system had confirmed that we had
their favourites in the Global Golf Awards. “We were unsure as to what the global support would be like when we launched the on-line poll,” said Mike Sebastian,
received a total of 107,360 valid votes,” Ho said. “Just so that there is no confusion, it is important to note that the outcome of the on-line voting is determined by
the CEO of the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG), the owner of the Global Golf Awards. This was a natural reaction given
the number of valid votes cast. “This poll is a qualitative poll where the popular vote matters – the highest number of valid
THIS POLL IS A QUALITATIVE POLL WHERE THE POPULAR VOTE MATTERS
– THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF votes cast will determine the top three winners in each voting category,” Ho explained. Besides the control measures in place, an e-mail was sent to every “nth” respondent to ascertain the validity of the name and e-mail address. The results of the country by country voting covering the Asia Pacific region will form the first phase of information released while the other categories will be announced in the November edition of ASIAN GOLF. It must be noted that the results published in the following pages are not based in any order of merit. “The final results will be made public during the grand Global Golf Awards Gala Banquet to be held on March 18, 2021,” according to Ho. This award event will be staged in conjunction with the World Golf Expo – www.worldgolfexpo.com - to be held at the giant Mission Hills Haikou Resort in Hainan. The following is a listing of the top three performers in each country, not based in any order of merit:
VALID VOTES CAST WILL DETERMINE THE TOP THREE WINNERS IN EACH VOTING CATEGORY.
COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY | NOT IN MERIT ORDER | BEST COURSE IN CHINESE TAIPEI BEST COURSE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM ★ Jerudong Park Country Club ★ Pantai Mentiri Golf Club ★ The Empire Hotel & Country Club
BEST COURSE IN CAMBODIA ★ Angkor Golf Resort ★ Phokeethra Country Club ★ Vattanac Golf Resort
BEST COURSE IN CHINA (INCLUDING HONG KONG AND MACAU) ★ Evergrande Shadow Creek Beijing ★ Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Blackstone Course ★ Shanqin Bay Golf Club
★ Miramar Golf Country Club ★ Ta Shee Golf & Country Club ★ Taiwan Golf & Country Club
BEST COURSE IN INDIA ★ Eagleton - The Golf Village ★ Oxford Golf Resort ★ Prestige Golfshire Club
BEST COURSE IN INDONESIA ★ Parahyangan Golf ★ Rainbow Hills Golf Club ★ Riverside Golf Club
BEST COURSE IN JAPAN ★ Hokkaido Brooks Country Club ★ Kasumigaseki Country Club ★ Kawana Hotel Golf Course
BEST COURSE IN SOUTH KOREA ★ Jack Nicklaus Golf Club
★ Sky72 Golf & Resort, Ocean Course ★ The Club at Nine Bridges
BEST COURSE IN LAOS ★ Lakeview Vientiane Golf Club ★ Long Vien Golf Club ★ SEA Games Golf Club
BEST COURSE IN MALAYSIA ★ Kota Permai Golf & Country Club ★ Saujana Golf & Country Club ★ The Els Club Desaru Coast
BEST COURSE IN MYANMAR ★ Bagan Golf Resort ★ Pun Hlaing Golf Club ★ Royal Mingalardon Golf & Country Club
BEST COURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES ★ Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club ★ Mt. Malarayat Golf & Country Club ★ Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate
BEST COURSE IN SINGAPORE ★ Marina Bay Golf Course ★ Sentosa Golf Club ★ Tanah Merah Country Club
BEST COURSE ON THE SUB-CONTINENT (INCLUDING BANGLADESH, NEPAL, PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA) ★ Karachi Golf Club, Blue & Red Courses (Pakistan) ★ Kurmitola Golf Club (Bangladesh) ★ Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa (Sri Lanka)
BEST COURSE IN THAILAND ★ Banyan Golf Club ★ Siam Country Club ★ Thai Country Club
BEST COURSE IN VIETNAM ★ BRG Kings’ Island Golf Resort ★ Hoiana Shores Golf Club ★ Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang
Hainan may not be the classic storybook version of paradise where everything was chocolate ice cream and kisses and wine. But it is indeed an exhilarating package of wonderment of some of the greatest golf courses in the world combined with the attractions of a giant amusement park, experiential sporting attractions mixed in with beaches to match the best in the world and resorts to die for. What really makes Hainan into a very special paradise is that it oЄers something for everyone – it is the total family get away and a place that makes one want to go back to again and again!
R
ecognising these fabulous attributes, the sprawling Mission Hills ec Resort in Haikou, the world’s largest golf resort has embarked on Re an exciting new mission to promote Hainan as a major golf tourism destination in the Asia Pacific. de Spearheading the global push to attract the world to Hainan
is Mr. Tenniel Chu, Group Vice-Chairman of Mission Hills who said, “H “Hainan, already a well-established gateway to the Pacific and In Indian Oceans will play a key role in leveraging all the assets on
th l d tto bring b i together t th both b the iisland public and private stakeholders to establish Hainan as the Pinnacle of Golf in Asia.”
AS TO INTO
AN
PART OF THE BIG PUSH TRANSFORM
HAINAN
INTERNATIONAL
GOLF
HUB, STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO
ESTABLISH IT AS THE CENTRE FOR THE ACTIVE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AT
FORUMS, CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS, AS WELL AS RECOGNITION
OF TALENTS THROUGH RESIDENCE AWARDS.
– TENNIEL CHU
HAINAN, ALREADY A WELL-
In the first half of 2019, Hainan welcomed close to 40
ESTABLISHED GATEWAY TO
million visitors – increasing at 6% on-year and this impressive growth rate will be promoted to attract leisure and business golfers. According to Mr. Chu, “To ride this growth wave, Mission
PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN LEVERAGTHE
Hills will focus on major markets like Japan, South Korea,
ING ALL THE ASSETS ON THE ISLAND
Australia and Southeast Asia.” As part of the big push to
TO BRING TOGETHER BOTH PUBLIC
transform Hainan into an international golf hub, steps have
AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO
been taken to establish it as the centre for the active exchange of ideas at forums, conferences and exhibitions, as well as recognition of talents through residence awards.
HAINAN AS THE PINNACLE OF GOLF IN ASIA. ESTABLISH
SEASIDE SCENERY, SANYA, HAINAN
NANSHAN BUDDHISM CULTURAL PARK, SANYA, HAINAN
IN KEEPING WITH THE CARE-FREE HOLIDAY MOOD THAT WE WANT TO OFFER, THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN
CAREFULLY ENGINEERED TO PROVIDE A CUSTOMER WITH A FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE THE MOMENT HE LANDS ON THE WEBSITE – FROM THEN ON, W WE WANT THE JOURNEY TO PARADISE TO BE AN UNFO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERI-
ENCE OF TOTAL LEISURE, DISCOV DISCOVERY AND FUN FOR EVERYONE.
– MOHAMMED JUMA BUAM BUAMAIM
MISSION HILLS, HAINAN (BLACKSTONE COURSE, HOLE #15)
MISSION HILLS, HAINAN (LAVA FIELDS, HOLE #3)
Later this year, a dedicated website will be launched to promote the Mission Hills initiative and it will be a onestop facility that will serve as a portal for international visitors to carry out three basic functions to start on their journey to paradise. “The website is a showcase for all all of Mission Hills golf courses and related attractions which will include hotels to enable customers to book their tee-times, book their hotel stay and to play in one hassle-free on-line facility together with a whole menu of other services,” explained Mohammed Juma Buamaim, founder and CEO of Golf Citizen, the partner providing all of the on-line data managing services. “In keeping with the care-free holiday mood that we want to offer, the website has been carefully engineered to provide a customer with a first class experience the moment he lands on the website – from then on, we want the journey to paradise to be an unforgettable experience of total leisure, discovery and fun for everyone,” Buamaim pointed out.
NBA MUSEUM
FC BARCELONA MUSEUM
MISSION HILLS CENTREVILLE HAIKOU
One of the breath-taking attractions of Haikou, the capital city of Hainan is Mission Hills’ massive Movie-
of any such club outside its home country. The fun experience does not stop there – there is the
Town, like Universal Studios. Launched in June 2014, it
NBA museum, which is a sprawling 2275-square-meter
brings to life China of epochs gone by - three sections,
facility that showcases the excitement of the basketball
namely Nanyang Street and 1942 Street and the city of
game and the rich history of the NBA.
ancient Beijing modelled after 1950s/1960s Beijing. For sports fans, there is the 4,000-square-meter
Mission Hills Haikou is well on its way “to usher in the next growth chapter of Hainan’s golf tourism and to
interactive Barça Experience which showcases FC Barce-
help it realise its vision to become “Golf’s Paradise In The
lona’s 120-year history and is the largest museum space
Asia Pacific.”
HAINAN, ALR WELL - ESTAB GATEWAY TO THE PACIFIC AND O CEANS WILL PLAY A KEY R LEVERAGING ALL THE ASSETS ON
LAND TO BRING TOGETHER BOTH
AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO
HAINAN AS GOLF IN ASIA.
LISH
THE
PINNA
WET ‘N’ WILD
READY A
BLISHED
INDIAN
ROLE IN THE IS-
H PUBLIC
O ESTAB-
ACLE OF
WEAR IT YOUR WAY
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TESTIMONIALS JOHN BLANCH GENERAL MANAGER THAI COUNTRY CLUB
VICKY JONES CHAMPIONSHIP DIRECTOR EUROPEAN TOUR
WANIDA IMPHRAI PRESIDENT OFFICE MANAGER RICOH
STEVEN O'CONNOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLUESCOPE
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The golfing gods were all smiling down in unison as Bryson DeChambeau walked down the fairways of “Satan’s” course, Winged Foot, to single-handedly conquer the sprawling real estate and send it into total submission! As DeChambeau delivered his knock-out blow to a course that gobbled up the game’s best players, the heavens must have been ringing out with the cheers and applause of geniuses like Einstein and forces of strength and power like Kratos. DeChambeau was an incredible study of focused calculations and concentration of power as he hammered his way to a convincing 6-under par victory to be declared the 2020 US Open Champion!
T
he man was such a pleasure to watch – so
shots off his driver, hitting the fairway most of the
different and so exciting!
time. Well done DeChambeau – you have shut up the
It was DeChambeau who had the final
experts once and for all! You have proved yourself.
laugh at his critics and naysayers who were
You have changed the shape of golf inside four
never kind to his unorthodox approach
competitive rounds! You have successfully turned
towards golf. The 27-year old super-star got final validation when he whipped the best of the best and was the only man on the field to be in red figures. No one will ever question his mathematical ap-
elite golf into a science. DeChambeau’s fiery form simply took the fight out of the 21-year old youngster Matthew Wolff. Playing with DeChambeau must have been a very unsettling
proach towards playing the game; no one will question his
experience for a kid who is being built-up for a stellar
scientific theories of the way golf clubs should be built and
professional career. Wolff’s dream of becoming the first
no one will ever question his decision to go with a driver
player since 1913 to win the US Open as a debutant was
with an extra-long shaft. Prior to the tournament start, the
shattered when he turned in a 75 for the fourth round.
so-called experts warned against the use of the driver at Winged Foot. DeChambeau scoffed at the experts and kept bombing
DeChambeau – you are a one of a kind. Celebrate and enjoy and keep us all enthralled with your unique brand of golf! ASIAN GOLF salutes you!
IT WAS DECHAMBEAU WHO HAD THE FINAL LAUGH AT HIS CRITICS AND NAYSAYERS WHO WERE NEVER KIND TO HIS UNORTHODOX APPROACH TOWARDS GOLF.
THE 27-YEAR OLD SUPER-STAR GOT FINAL VALIDATION
WHEN HE WHIPPED THE BEST OF THE BEST AND WAS THE ONLY MAN ON THE FIELD TO BE IN RED FIGURES.
NO MATTER HOW THE RULES OF GOLF ARE CHANGED TO
KEEP
DECHAMBEAU IN CHECK, LET IT
BE KNOWN THAT GIVEN HIS ANALYTICAL
INTELLECT, THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND GOLFER WILL FIND WAYS TO WIN. HE AVERAGED
AT THE US OPEN,
325-YARDS WITH HIS DRIVER
WHICH IMMEDIATELY THREW HIS CRITICS INTO A FRENZY, CALLING FOR GOLF’S GATEKEEPERS TO CONSIDER A BAN ON BIG, POWER HITTING!
Man! We certainly live in a contentious world. As a species, we seem to have arrived at a stage where we have a consensual agreement to disagree on anything.
P
erhaps one of the most controversial golfers today is the big hitting Bryson DeChambeau. He has not done anything wrong. He plays the game in accordance with the prevailing rules of golf. However, just because he is unorthodox in the equipment he uses, the way he plays the game and the power he packs behind his shots, he has automatically drawn golf’s pundits of doom and the never ending circle of gossipy naysayers to start taking pot-shots at the newly crowned US Open Champion. He has been on tour for five years and in that period, he has been picked on for time-wasting because of his habit of calculating every shot. For this, he got labelled as the “scientist”. His choice of playing with clubs with similar length shafts has also come under attack with some critics levelling ridiculous and often insulting comments. Granted that the 27 year old may not be the best liked golfer on tour, but it has to be conceded that he is refreshingly different and he is making an impact on golf and how it is played.
No matter how the rules of golf are changed to keep DeChambeau in check, let it be known that given his analytical intellect, this one-of-a-kind golfer will find ways to win. At the US Open, he averaged 325-yards with his driver which immediately threw his critics into a frenzy, calling for golf’s gate-keepers to consider a ban on big, power hitting! Reacting to this call to tame DeChambeau’s monster drives, the champ’s coach Mike Schy said, “Try to make it tough for Bryson and I’m telling you he will figure out how to beat you.” In an interview with the BBC, Schy said, “The reality is if you make it so Bryson can’t play he will figure it out. Well, there you have it. DeChambeau is not your average run-of-the-mill, card-carrying professional golfer. He is a thinker and a brainy guy and that’s what sets him apart from the rest of the pack. So, back off guys! This man is set to change golf, whether the rule makers like it or not. So, fasten your seat belts and get ready for a crazy, thrilling ride!
This is a special ASIAN GOLF tribute to Dustin Johnson – without doubt, golf’s super athlete. Everything about the demeanour of this 36-year old professional has to do with his serious commitment to golf. One look at Johnson sends out a resounding message that he is not the guy one wants to fool around with. The moment he gets on the golf course, he turns on his serious yet relaxed game face. His gait takes on the swagger of the late great John Wayne, the gunslinger who used to strike the fear of God in the bad guys of the celluloid world of the great Wild West. He is golf’s top dog! (Photo credit TaylorMade Golf/Getty Images)
SHORTLY
AFTER HAVING HIS NAME
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP’S TROPHY, JOHNSON SAID, “I WANT TO WIN. I WANTED TO BE A FEDEX CUP CHAMPION ….. IT WAS SOMETHING IN MY CAREER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE, AND OBVIOUSLY TODAY I GOT [IT]. I’M VERY PROUD OF THE WAY I PLAYED. ENGRAVED ON THE
J
ohnson had to battle against a
Victory at the FedEx Cup Play-offs,
highly talented posse of young
his first, was icing on the cake for a
guns bent on beating him in a
truncated 2020 season. Regardless of
duel to lay their hands-on golf’s
the shortened season, Johnson has ac-
richest reward – a US$15 million
complished much in his 13-year PGA Tour
prize and be crowned the 2020 FedEx Cup
career. He has to his name a total of 23
Champion. Those on his tail throughout
wins, six WGC victories and a U.S. Open
four days at the season-ending Tour
making it one of the best career records
Championship included young bucks like
of the modern era.
Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Sungjae Im
Shortly after having his name en-
and Xander Schauffele. In the final round,
graved on the Tour Championship’s trophy,
Johnson hightailed it and broke free of
Johnson said, “I want to win. I wanted to
the chasing pack and went on to grab the
be a FedEx Cup champion ….. it was some-
big prize with a convincing total score of
thing in my career that I would like to be,
21-under par, three strokes ahead of the
and obviously today I got [it]. I’m very proud
chasing duo of Thomas and Schauffele.
of the way I played.”
Minutes after Johnson’s victory, David Abeles, President of TaylorMade said, “Dustin was simply magnificent; this week and over the past several — what a Champion and future Hall of Famer!” Johnson is a TaylorMade brand ambassador and he relied on the following clubs to win the Championship: TaylorMade SIM driver TaylorMade SIM Max 7-wood TaylorMade SIM Max 3-wood TaylorMade SIM Max 5-wood
TaylorMade P•730 irons (3-PW) TaylorMade Milled Grind Wedges TaylorMade Spider Tour putter TaylorMade TP5X golf ball
TaylorMade SIM Max 3 Rescue As a point of interest to golfers, the TaylorMade SIM drivers have now won eight times on the PGA TOUR since the season re-started in mid-June, that’s 57% of the events. Also, in the same period, TaylorMade golf balls have won 50% of the PGA TOUR event.
DUSTIN — OF
WA S S I M P LY M A G N I F I C E N T ;
THIS WEEK AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WHAT A
FAMER!
C HAMPION
– DAVID ABELES
AND FUTURE
H ALL
1997
Tiger Woods
2019
1998
Vijay Singh
2018
WINNER
WINNER
John Catlin
Panuphol Pittayarat
2008
WINNER Lam Chih Bing
2006
WINNER Thongchai Jaidee
2017
WINNER
Rattanon Wannasrichan
2007
WINNER
Prayad Marksaeng
2005
WINNER Shiv Kapur
A FIRST CLASS TRADITION
Often voted as possessing the “BEST CLUBHOUSE IN ASIA” & “BEST COURSE IN THAILAND”, Thai Country Club is less than 45 minutes from downtown Bangkok and is renowned for having the friendliest staff of professionals in the Kingdom committed to providing the 1 Ì >Ìi w } Ý«iÀ i Vi° 9JGP KV EQOGU VQ GZENWUKXG IQNƂPI YKVJ KORGEECDNG JQURKVCNKV[ s YG RNC[ QHH UETCVEJ
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The legendary putter designer Scotty Cameron is not someone known to produce a special limited edition just like that. He is extremely selective when he decides to sit down and design a flatstick that is very special and it’s got to be for someone equally special. And that’s what the master craftsman has done for his latest limited edition offering.
T
he limited edition putter is
Commenting on the new release, Cameron
designed to the specifications of
said: “Justin is one of those unique players who
the putter that the 2020 PGA Tour
only comes around once or twice in a generation.
Player of the Year Justin Thomas
He first visited the Putter Studio as a young ama-
has used in winning 12 of his
teur when he played a Newport 2. He loved that
13 PGA Tour titles – including the 2017 PGA Championship – and most recently, the 2020 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational. Cameron has created exactly 2,020 Inspired by Justin Thomas putters for worldwide distribution.
traditional putter look. But even after getting his first tour win with the blade, he started to consider a change. He poked around our putter bag on the Tour Van and was initially drawn to the Futura X5 – the compact mallet shape really suited his eye.”
“After some back-and-forth discussions, I welded
ing the high-MOI wingback head style with a welded small
him a small slant neck as a prototype setup – and here
slant neck that promotes an arced putting stroke more
we are, 12 PGA Tour wins later and still counting with the
commonly associated with a blade.
same putter – including a major championship, two World
“This was an extremely cool project for me to work on
Golf Championships and a FedEx Championship. Players
with Scotty. When I first saw the 5.5, I immediately noticed
are always asking me for a welded-neck putter like JT’s.
how nicely it sits down on the green. The neck just makes it
It’s a special setup that deserves this kind of treatment,”
sit so square. In the beginning, I was only thinking it would
Cameron explained.
give me something different to look at for a couple weeks –
Each model incorporates the custom setup that Cameron crafted for Thomas in the summer of 2016 – combin-
yet here I am – four-something years later and still using it. So, I guess it’s worked out pretty well,” added Thomas.
JUSTIN IS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE PLAYERS WHO ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE OR TWICE IN A
GENERATION.
HE FIRST VISITED THE PUTTER STUDIO AS A YOUNG AMATEUR WHEN HE PLAYED A NEWPORT 2. HE LOVED THAT TRADITIONAL PUTTER LOOK. BUT EVEN AFTER GETTING HIS FIRST TOUR WIN WITH THE BLADE, HE STARTED TO CONSIDER A CHANGE. HE POKED AROUND OUR PUTTER BAG ON THE TOUR VAN AND WAS INITIALLY DRAWN TO THE FUTURA X5 – THE COMPACT MALLET SHAPE REALLY SUITED HIS EYE. – SCOTTY CAMERON
If the name does not ring a bell and if you shrug your shoulders with a quizzical reaction, you are forgiven. For that matter, many in the golf business have reacted with a similar nonplussed attitude. Who or what is an Akshay Bhatia? You get the drift – rather than dwell on digging into what or who is an Akshay Bhatia, we will cut to the chase and bring all of those amongst us yet to be familiarised with the name, up to speed!
hatia is an 18-year kid who blazed a trail of
When he was in high school and with the scalps of
glory when he played on the junior amateur
major amateur tournaments proudly displayed at his home’s
circuit in America. His achievements on the
mantlepiece, Bhatia took a decision that he was not going to
amateur scene is legendary – while in high
attend college and instead opted to turn professional at age
school Bhatia was the top-ranked junior player
17. His Asian American parents reacted positively by sup-
in the world, a two-time PGA Junior winner and runner-up
porting the kid’s dream to become a great player. After all,
at the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur. Now, you can begin to
at his age, he was already the world’s number one amateur
appreciate the pedigree of this scrawny kid and we don’t
junior.
say this in jest. He is actually a lanky and skinny fellow, but
In fact, earlier, Akshay confided in his father, Sonny
beneath his slight frame lurks the power and determination
Bhatia by sharing his dream: “Dad, how do I become the best
of a golf demon. He is no Bryson DeChambeau but when he
player in the world?” to which his father gave a short answer
puts club to ball, it’s time to rock and roll!
– PRACTICE! The elder Bhatia advised his son that to be the
DAD, HOW DO I BECOME THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD?” TO WHICH HIS FATHER GAVE A SHORT ANSWER
– PRACTICE! THE ELDER
BHATIA ADVISED HIS SON THAT TO BE THE BEST, AKSHAY WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FIRST ONE ON THE COURSE AND THE LAST ONE TO LEAVE.
“AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE DOES …. HE PRACTICES AND WORKS ON HIS GAME NON-STOP, ABSOLUTELY NON-STOP.
best, Akshay would have to be the first one on the course
developing physically and mentally but one Akshay watcher
and the last one to leave. “And that’s exactly what he does
revealed, “He started as a very young kid and has developed
…. he practices and works on his game non-stop, absolutely
over the years into a golfer who is destined to rank amongst
non-stop.” He added, “His goal is not just to be a PGA player
the best – if not the best!
…. he wants to be the number one player in the world.! Now 18, the latest “phenom” seems to be well on his way to realising his dream. One golf pundit recently declared with absolute confidence by stating: “Collin Morikawa? Old
In the final round of the 2020 Safeway Open, his eighth start on the PGA Tour, Bhatia, a left-handed player, finished tied for 9th and banked in a check for US$166,650!. Again, the pundits were full of praise for Akshay for
news. Viktor Hovland? Flash in the pan. Matthew Wolff?
shooting a six-under 66 on the big tour. What’s more impres-
Never heard of him. The PGA Tour now belongs to Akshay
sive, though, is that it came in his 16th career round on tour.
Bhatia!”
“It already feels like this kid has been around awhile and he
That’s saying a lot about an 18-year old who is still
literally hasn’t even gotten started yet,” said another pundit.
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The months of August and September were great moments in sports. While professional basketball players, football players, tennis stars and Formula One drivers performed to ghostly and empty courts, stadiums and tracks, the stellar achievements of a Chinese kid in China went almost unnoticed by the world’s sports media. Wonder if this was due to total ignorance or just the lack of interest to cover a world record by any reckoning. The kid who pretty much went unnoticed is Yin Ruoning, just 17 years old and graced with the charm and cherubic nature of a tender teenager yet to be exposed to the world. Not to worry because as Mia Hamm, Olympic gold medalist for soccer said: “Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back … play for her.” (Photo credit CLPGA Tour)
O
ver a three-week period, Yin blazed through
young Tom Morris who pulled it off on the Scottish links in
a powerful field of women golfers in the
the 19th Century. However, there is no proof to support the
China LPGA Tour. Her performance, focus,
record.
confidence, and skill level simply belied her age. To win one tournament against tough
But in the case of the Chinese wunderkind, there is a complete set of records. She won the Zhuhai Hollywood
competition is already highly commendable. But to win three
Mansion Challenge, the Golf Liquor Zhuhai Golden Gulf
professional tournaments back to back was a mind-blowing
Challenge, and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Orient Mas-
feat. On record, there may have only been one other person
ters in a three-week period in August and early September.
who has achieved three wins in three weeks and that was a
The first player to win her first three starts as a professional!
ASIAN GOLF’s China Correspondent Al Campbell caught up with Yin and after congratulating her on her stellar per-
wins. He said, ‘no one ever did that’. I am happy I did it today. I proved that,” exclaimed the excited teenager.
formance, she responded shyly: “To be honest, I don’t know.
Yin has indeed been proving herself for years since
It just happened.” She continued, “Actually, I didn’t think that
first coming to notice at the 2015 Hyundai Ladies Open. She
much about it. My friend and my coach said maybe you have
missed the cut as a 13-year-old but just making it to the
a chance to win three in a row, but I just went out and played
national championship was impressive considering she had
my game.”
only first picked up a club three years earlier.
Yin, who plays out of Shanghai’s Lake Malaren Golf
Joining the China national team would prove pivotal as in
Club, a 36-hole facility featuring a superb Nicklaus-designed
May 2018 she finished 24th at the Queen Sirikit Cup at Thana
championship course that has hosted the BMW Masters
City. Later that summer, she helped China to a team bronze
on four occasions, took her amazing feat in stride. “Three
at the Asian Games in Jakarta and finished equal 46th at the
straight wins definitely is a great achievement. It is an incred-
WATC-Espirito Santo Trophy in Ireland. That year, she ended
ible start for my professional career. In Zhuhai, Chris Feng,
with an equal fourth against the pros at the Women’s China
the [China LPGA Tour] operations director, said step on the
Open, three strokes behind winner Lee Min of Taiwan.
gas and try to win back-to-back. I said I wanted three straight
The Yunnan-born Yin came back stronger in 2019,
winning nine times in all. Her titles include the National
shots behind Kultida Pramphun of Thailand, she then put
Amateur Championship, the China Junior Masters and three
together consecutive rounds of 67 at The Dunes at Shenzhou
legs of the China Amateur Golf Open. Her only setback was
Golf Club West Course to get within a stroke of the lead
an equal-second at the China Amateur Open Final.
through 54 holes.
“The national team was great. It got me into a lot of
In the final, the teenager showed the pros how it was
tournaments all over the world. I was in the last group many
done by carding an even-par 72 under windy conditions to
times, so I really got to know how to approach such situa-
top the graduating class of 2020.
tions,” said Yin, who surprisingly didn’t receive any scholar-
“I am glad to be the leader of the CLPGA Qualifying
ship offers to US universities. “It’s tough to balance golf and
Tournament, but I am not so satisfied with my game today. I
school. I am studying [for my high-school diploma] online
should have been better if I didn’t make three bogeys,” said
and I will finish next year, I think. Maybe I’ll go to college.” Turning 17 on September 29, the arrival of 2020 meant that she was now old enough to turn pro. At the CLPGA Qualifying Tournament in January, Yin played like a pro, despite competing as an amateur. Opening with a 71 to sit five
THE NATIONAL TEAM WAS GREAT. IT GOT ME INTO A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I WAS IN THE LAST GROUP MANY TIMES, SO I REALLY GOT TO KNOW HOW TO APPROACH SUCH SITUATIONS,” SAID YIN, WHO SURPRISINGLY DIDN’T RECEIVE ANY SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS TO US UNIVERSITIES. “IT’S TOUGH TO BALANCE GOLF AND SCHOOL. I AM STUDYING [FOR MY HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA] ONLINE AND I WILL FINISH NEXT YEAR, I THINK. MAYBE I’LL GO TO COLLEGE.
a confident Yin following her win. At that time, Yin said “In 2020, I hope to win on the CLPGA Tour. Maybe I will turn pro after the 2020 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and Blue Bay Masters but not now.” Her words turned out to be a prophecy as she would indeed win on the CLPGA Tour – but only after a long wait. With the outbreak of the Covid19 virus cancelling tournaments and shutting golf down temporarily, not only in China but around the world, this did not stop the youngster. According to Jeffrey Kao, general manager of Lake Malaren Golf Club, Yin stayed in the club’s dormitory and practiced throughout the Chinese New Year and the mandatory shutdown.” As a Lake Malaren-sponsored player, Yin said having access to the club’s facilities was beneficial to her game. In addition, she works with exercise coach Zhang Xinyue and her Kunming-based swing coach Jim Johnson. “Fitness is really important for me, especially in improving my driving distance which is 20 yards further than before [averaging 270 to 280 yards]. I did a lot of squats to develop my core and strengthen my legs,” she said. She became a pro in August and came out strong at the China LPGA start of season tournaments. And since the threepeat, Yin is looking ahead with renewed confidence to keep on winning. Asked if her life has changed since her record setting play, Yin said, “My life is like that of any other teenager. After a round I usually call it a day. I will play digital games with my smart phone and have a good sleep with a blank mind.” It doesn’t matter what your background is or where you came from. If you have dreams and goals, that’s all that matters.
FOL LOW THE AC TI O N OF THE 2020-2021 PGA TOUR S E AS ON AT PGATO UR .COM
The PGA TOUR, the world’s richest and most powerful professional golf tour seems to be having a tough time growing its footprint on the giant Asian Continent. Instead of growing, it seems to be in a state of regression, albeit the recent pull-back from Asia was not totally the TOUR’s fault. The raging pandemic forced its hand to detour it’s plump CJ Cup and Zozo Championship from South Korea and Japan and send these events packing across the Pacific to the U.S. mainland. With the CIMB Classic in Malaysia flushed down the tubes, the PGA TOUR really has nothing to showcase on Asian soil, at least for now. The following is a report from the PGA TOUR’s Chuah Choo Chiang as he tracks down the move of the two events to their temporary surrogate venues. Pictures by Getty Images.
T
he CJ Cup and Zozo Championship, will this time around be played at Shadow Creek in Vegas, Nevada and Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California – both highly acclaimed golf venues whose stature fit hand in glove with Asia’s flagship tournaments. The Asian-based tournaments were launched in
2017 and 2019 respectively to support the development of golf in their home countries and across Asia, dubbed as the fastest growing market in golf. American superstar Justin Thomas, the TOUR’s 2020 Player of the Year, will look to reinforce himself as a CJ Cup expert following wins at the inaugural tournament in 2017 and last year at The Club @ Nine Bridges on Jeju Island. A trip to Shadow Creek, a Tom Fazio masterpiece, will no doubt provide the 27-year-old with a different kind of challenge in his defence on home soil against a field which will include the 2018 champion, Brooks Koepka.
BROOKS KOEPKA X
W JUSTIN THOMAS
W HIDEK
KIM,
ONE OF THE MANY UPCOMING SOUTH KOREAN TALENTS, JOOHYUNG WILL ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUB
SHOULDERS WITH THE GAME’S ELITE AT THE
CJ CUP. THE 18-YEAR-OLD WON THREE TIMES ON THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR AND ONCE ON THE ASIAN TOUR LAST YEAR, ALL WITHIN THE SPAN OF FIVE MONTHS.
KI MATSUYAMA
JOOHYUNG KIM
Although the venue will be different and the tournament’s name rebranded to The CJ Cup @ Shadow Creek, everything else will remain the same from October 15-18. The 78-player field will still comprise the highest-ranked player of Korean nationality from the Asian Tour Order of Merit, up to five players designated by the Korean PGA, the top three available players of Korean nationality from the Official World Golf Ranking and leading players from last season’s FedExCup final standings. One of the many upcoming South Korean talents, Joohyung Kim, will enjoy the opportunity to rub shoulders with the game’s elite at the CJ Cup. The 18-year-old won three times on the Asian Development Tour and once on the Asian Tour last year, all within the span of five months. Kim, whose father had played on the Korn Ferry Tour previously, has been touted as a rising star, with former Asian Tour winner-turned-golf pundit, Anthony Kang, predicting a bright future for the teenager. “It’s gone unbelievably fast … he’s got a very developed golf game. He’s got the complete game,” said Kang. Tiger Woods, who claimed a three-stroke victory over at the Zozo Championship against home-town hero Hideki Matsuyama to equal Sam Snead’s alltime PGA TOUR win record of 82 career titles is expected to be back in action to defend his title. Win No. 83 is certainly on the cards for Tiger as the 44-year-old fixes his focus on matching Snead’s long-standing record. “Well, it’s a big number. It’s about consistency and doing it for a long period of time. Sam did it into his 50s and I’m in my early to mid 40s. To have won this tournament in Japan, it’s just so ironic because I’ve always been a global player, I’ve always played all around the world and to tie the record outside the United States is pretty cool,” said Tiger. So, the “Asian Swing” is on. It will be a very different looking “Asian Swing” this year – that you much you can count on!