HK Golfer - November / December 2020

HK GOLFER NOVEMBER 2020

CANTLAY TAKES ZOZO / K.J. CHOI: AN ASIAN GOLFING LEGEND KOKRAK WINS CJ CUP / THE MASTERS: FOUR BURNING QUESTIONS

LETTER FROM THE HKGA I trust you are enjoying the reopening of our courses and golfing facilities. As we have seen throughout 2020, Hong Kong’s courses and driving ranges were as fully utilised as they could be under the Government’s social distancing measures, which truly underlines the popularity of golf in our city. Once again, I would like to thank all stakeholders for demonstrating the highest level of resilience and professionalism in the face of the challenges that are totally beyond our control.

The highly anticipated China National Golf Championship, which was supposed to be held in September, was postponed to 1621 November. The venue has been changed from Shannxi to the Yangjiang Taojing Golf Club in Guangdong. The same field has been invited to play in the rescheduled event and our five-strong team of Sophie Han, Ho Ho Yue, Tommy Lin, Kevin Wu and Cyrus Lee have already confirmed their participation. Our team is in good form and at the time of writing this letter, Sophie, age 13, had just finished second in the Match Play Competition after finishing third a few days earlier in the Stroke Play Competition of the China Amateur Classic, which is a highly regarded event that is played by amateurs of all ages and not just juniors, to add to her series of good results in the summer. Ho Ho, Kevin and Cyrus also performed well in the various legs of the China Amateur Open. Ho Ho finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in Guangdong and Shanghai, before finally winning his first title in Beijing. Kevin and Cyrus finished top-10s in the same tournaments.

Our players in the US also registered great results in amateur events and playing as amateurs in professional events. Just to name a few: Taichi Kho finished 3rd at the GCAA Amateur Series at Illinois. Alex Yang came in 9th and 26th respectively at the Western Amateur Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club and the Junior Players Championship at TPG Sawgrass. In between these two amateur events, Alex finished 7th at the Temecula Creek Championship which is a professional event under the Golden State Tour. Leon D’souza finished 42th and 73rd respectively in the Arizona Open and the Southern California Open, both of which are professional events.

The 62nd edition of the Hong Kong Open, the longest running professional sporting event in Hong Kong, has been postponed from the last week of November due to COVID-19 since the international players, including the usual top ranked star players, are unable to come to Hong Kong due to the lengthy quarantine requirements. Every effort is being made by the HKGA and the HKGC, the promoter and the host Club of the Open to restage our banner event as early as possible in the

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new year. Together with the European Tour and the Asian Tour, we remain resolutely committed to the staging of the event. I am confident that our collective effort will eventually be rewarded, as we were for the past edition. I would also highlight that the entire Hong Kong Government, including the Home Affairs Bureau, the Tourism Board and the Tourism Commission, have been as helpful and encouraging as possible for one of the most important Hong Kong international events to take place.

The opening created by the postponed Hong Kong Open in November did give us some benefits. As readers may recall, despite all the challenges, we successfully concluded our Close Championships for Men, Ladies and Seniors in 2020. The Junior Close has had to be postponed on a couple of occasions due to the pandemic. Thanks to the constant and generous support of the HKGC, we have now managed to secure the precious tee times, as they are in high demand, for the Junior Close to take place in the last week of November when the HK Open was originally scheduled. As such, for 2020, I can proudly report that we are in a position to conclude all our four major Close Championships even in a most disrupted year.

I am also pleased to report that we are on schedule to complete the HSBC Junior Series 2020 with five legs scheduled. Two of these have already been played between the reopening of the courses and the time of writing this letter. I must thank HSBC for their trust and support for us, and the same goes to the other major sponsor Mercedes Benz and our many other sponsors in various capacities. Their respective contributions are vital to the success of our programmes, especially during these challenging times.

As we are approaching December, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all of you, our stakeholders - including members of our host clubs, our sponsors, partners, officials, volunteers, management and staff - a healthy and joyous festive season.

Yours Faithfully,

KENNETH LAM HKGA President

Sophie Han

Kevin Wu

Yin Ho Yue

Tommy Lin

Cyrus Lee

CONTENTS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER 2020

2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 8 HKGA HAPPENINGS 10 THE 852: KHO ON A ROLL

he grew up in a farming family, to the golfing mecca that is the PGA TOUR. As Choi prepares to transition from a standout PGA TOUR career to the PGA TOUR Champions, he takes time to reflect on his life, success on the fairways, and contribution to the game in a career which has seen him amass eight victories, 68 top-10s and more than US$32 million in earnings.

22 THE TOUR: THE 2020 MASTERS: FOUR BURNING QUESTIONS

Patrick Cantlay came from behind, pushing aside early contenders Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm, to claim a victory that he felt was long overdue.

34 THE GOLF GURU Expert tips for The Senior Player, The High Handicapper, and The Pro. 40 THE VIEW: BLOSSOMING IN INDIA

12 ASIA ACTION: SHARMA BACK ON FORM

14 GLOBAL GLANCE: KOKRAK BIRDIES NO. 18 TO WIN CJ CUP Jason Kokrak delivered what was the putting performance of his career in a final round 8-under 64 that catapulted him to a final 20-under to triumph over Xander Schauffele by two shots at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK. 16 LIVE UNDER PAR: AN ASIAN GOLFING LEGEND

Over the past two decades, K.J. Choi has paved the trail for Korean golf with his incredible journey from Wando Island, Korea, where

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52 WEAR IT: FOR GOOD MEASURE

World-renowned bespoke tailor Ascot Chang has been keeping the art of classic Shanghai men’s shirt making alive and in the family for over 70 years.

56 WATCH IT: CONQUERING THE DEEP

The most unusual fall schedule in PGA TOUR history will continue at The Masters, the second of six major championships during the 2020-21 season, in November. All eyes will once more be on Bryson D e Chamb eau, b ut plent y of competitors are expected to rise to the challenge, including defending champion and 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods.

Following on the success of the acclaimed portfolio of super luxury residences The Aralias and The Magnolias, The Camellias is the latest residential development from DLF, India’s leading property developer.

48 LOVE IT: CAMERAS FOR CONNOISSEURS

28 COVER STORY: CANTLAY RALLIES TO TAKE ZOZO TITLE

As Tiger Woods struggled to chase a record 83rd victory at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP at Sherwood, one of his favourite hunting grounds,

Rolex recently introduced the new generation of its Oyster Perpetual Submariner and Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date, watches that exe mp lif y th e hi s to r i c link s between Rolex and the world of diving.

64 THE NINETEENTH: PRESIDENTIAL PLAYERS

Is it a vintage cameras shop? Is it a museum? Or is it a photo gallery?

The short answer is that f22 at The Peninsula Hong Kong is a delightful marriage of all three, bringing together an exquisite collection of vintage cameras and captivating collections well-curated photo art and photographic coffee table books.

CONTRIBUTORS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER 2020

Chuah Choo Chiang

Senior Director of Communications at the PGA Tour, Chuah Choo Chiang is HK Golfer’s storyteller for the PGA Tour events in Asia.

Jason Kwok

Jason has been a Hong Kong PGA Professional since 1995, an Asian Tour Player, and was the Head Professional at the Discovery Golf Club from 2007 to 2015.

Rowano Pierotti

A Scot of Italian descent, Rowano is based in his hometown of Glasgow.

A keen amateur golfer and parttime writer, he is passionate about the finer things in life, including classic cars. He is seen regularly playing on the many courses of Bonnie Scotland where he lives with his wife and three children.

Brad Schadewitz

Lead Coach and former National Coach of the HKGA, and holder of the 2017 Top 25 Elite Junior Coach in the U.S.A. title, Brad’s most notable success to date has been coaching the first player ever to represent Hong Kong in the Olympic Games.

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An Asian Tour player from 2000 to 2008, James played in 2003 World Cup for Hong Kong. He is also a multiple Order of Merit Winner in the HKPGA. James is currently the Asian distributor for several major golf brands including Peter Millar, G/Fore, Fenix, Evnroll and PRG.

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HKGA

HAPPENINGS

by Ann Tsang / Images courtesy of the HKGA

HONG KONG PLAYERS ON FORM HK National squadders Ho Ho Yue, Kevin Wu and Cyrus Lee did Hong Kong proud on the various legs of the China Amateur Open. Ho Ho finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in Guangdong and Shanghai, before finally winning his first title in Beijing, whist Kevin and Cyrus both finished in the top-10s in the same tournaments.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong golfers playing in the US also delivered great results in both amateur events and playing as amateurs in professional events. Taichi Kho finished 3rd at the GCAA Amateur Series in Illinois, whilst Alex Yang took 9th and 26th place respectively at the Western Amateur Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club and the Junior Players Championship at TPG Sawgrass.

Alex continued his fine form finishing 7th at the Temecula Creek Championship, a professional event under the Golden State Tour.

JUNIOR ACTION October 9 saw the rescheduled first tournament in the HSBC Junior Golf Series 2020 take place at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Deep Water Bay. A perfect day for golf, the weather was sunny and dry and a great time was had by all.

CATEGORY WINNER

SCORE

BOYS 13 - 14

Marco Sebastian Lau Chi Ho

29

BOYS 11 - 12

Andreas Yuk Kwan Lau

30

BOYS 9 - 10

Darren J.R. Zhou

34

BOYS 6 - 8

Jacko Sze Chun Hin

35

GIRLS 13 - 14

Hazel Ching Hei Leung

34

GIRLS 11 - 12

Emma Hiu Lam Kwan

34

GIRLS 9 - 10

Isabella Jiang Pang

32

GIRLS 6 - 8

Sonya Nga Yan Wong

38

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NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 9

THE 852

KHO ON A

ROLL

by Ann Tsang / Image: Courtesy of the HKGA

H

ong Kong National team member Taichi Kho scored yet another great finish at the South Bend GCA A A mateu r Cha mpionship played at Sout h Bend Country Club Indiana in early October finishing Runner-Up with scores of 71-65-66 (-11), just two strokes behind winner Palmer Jackson from Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Eligible participants included varsity Men’s and Women's college golfers from the 2019-20 school year, those who are scheduled to be on a varsity roster in the 2020-21 school year, college age individual amateur golfers who meet playing standards as defined by the Amateur Series, as well as non-college age amateurs.

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Taichi Kho

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ASIA ACTION SHARMA BACK ON FORM India’s Shubhankar Sharma c lo s e d w it h a bi rd ie to comfortably ensure weekend action in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the third Rolex Series event of the European Tour’s 2020 Race to Dubai.

Sharma, who marked his season’s best finish yet with a tied-26th place finish at the Scottish Open the previous week, traded f ive birdies against three bogeys for a 70 to tie in 45th place.

T h e T- 2 6 f i n i s h t h a t concluded with a four-under 67 in North Berwick was also Sharma’s best in his nine starts since the European Tour re-started. As the Indian admitted, his result was especially good after a rough Saturday. “As for playing a lot, I am feeling very fresh and happy that I am getting to play so many events. Sitting in India not being able to play was not easy. I still have some more events and I am looking forward to them.”

Paul ELLIS / AFP

12 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

GLOBAL GLANCE KOKRAK BIRDIES NO. 18 TO WIN CJ CUP Jason Kokrak delivered what was the putting performance of his career in a final round 8-under 64 that catapulted him to a final 20-under to triumph over Xander Schauffele by two shots at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK. T he w in wa s a d rou g ht breaker for the 35 year-old American following 232 starts without a win and only six top-three finishes.

Caddie David Robinson was also instrumental in Kokrak’s result, as it was he who suggested a change to a longer 36-inch putter recently.

“I would characterize it more D-Rob's work. He reads them pretty dang good. And I did a good job of hitting the spots where we were trying to putt it to,” said Kokrak after gaining an incredible 10.293 strokes on the greens.

Matthew Stockman/ Getty Images/AFP 14 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

Jason Kokrak hits out of the fifteen fairway during the final round of the CJ Cup @ Shadow Creek on October 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada

LIVE UNDER PAR

AN ASIAN

GOLFING

LEGEND

by Choo Chuah Chiang / Images: Getty Images

Over the past two decades, K.J. Choi has paved the trail for Korean golf with his incredible journey from Wando Island, Korea, where he grew up in a farming family, to the golfing mecca that is the PGA TOUR. As Choi prepares to transition from a standout PGA TOUR career to the PGA TOUR Champions, he takes time to reflect on his life, success on the fairways, and contribution to the game in a career which has seen him amass eight victories, 68 top-10s and more than US$32 million in earnings.

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Choi celebrates his winning putt at the 2011 PLAYERS Championship NOV 2020 | HK| HK GOLFER 17 NOV 2020 GOLFER

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HK Golfer: With more than 470 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, eight wins, including the 2011 PLAYERS Championship, and almost 70 top-10s, when you look back over your career, what goes through your mind?

K.J. Choi: When I first came to United States, many people said, “He will come back in a year, he can’t hold on for that long, he can’t compete with those players because he is weaker, and he will never be more talented than those players.” When I look back at those moments, I have drawn out my best every day. If other players practiced for two hours, I did three hours. I always tried to practice more than the others and I was obsessed about overcoming what people thought of me. Through those hours of hard work and with God’s help, I was able to play on the PGA TOUR for 21 years.

When I look back at my career now, there are really some records to commemorate and I’m very honoured and proud to be one of the Korean players to play on The TOUR. HKG: Among your wins, does any particular one stand out amongst the rest?

KJC: The first win – the 2002 Compaq Classic of New Orleans was probably the most memorable. My wife and I had been watching the PGA TOUR on television, seeing players celebrate with their families, and we wondered if I could experience that one day. I told her if I would win, maybe not a kiss, but I promised her a hug. And when it came true, we hugged each other on the 18th green. We just had to. There were perhaps some tough times to achieve the second and third wins, and subsequently all the way to eight wins. Now they are all memorable, but the first one still stands out.

HKG: You were the first Korean to play on the PGA TOUR and the first to win in America. How special was that feat?

KJC: When I first came to play in the U.S., I doubted if I could win. I questioned if a Korean player could win on the PGA TOUR. To be honest, most of my thoughts were negative, but I pushed and worked hard to reach my goal. When that moment came, it enhanced Korean players’ status as top golfers. I was really proud.

HKG: Your last victory was THE PLAYERS Championship in 2011. What do you remember most about winning the TOUR’s flagship event?

KJC: In 2000, when I first came to Jacksonville and practiced at TPC Sawgrass, I always saw the flags of winners being raised up for the year and I wondered when I would be able to raise our Korean flag. In 2011, when I started the first round at THE PLAYERS, I just wanted to make the cut because playing at TPC was always uneasy for me. You have to shape the ball around there, which was hard for me. I also never had a top-10 there. When I did make the cut, I always finished in the 50s or 40s on the leaderboard. When I got to the 2011 PLAYERS, I freed up my mind and aimed to simply make the cut, and when we made it to the weekend, we aimed for top-10. The third round was suspended and we had to play 27 holes on Sunday, which was tough. After completing the third round, I was tied for second. Interestingly, prior to the event,

NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 19

Choi with Jack Nicklaus

my caddie, Andy (Prodger) said, “I don’t think you can go back to Korea this Sunday; I don’t know why, but I just feel it.” If I look back now, I think Andy might have been saying, “It is maybe KJ’s time to win this event,” even though I’ve never had a top-10 at THE PLAYERS. During the final round on the 16th hole, David Toms found water and Andy said to me, “We don’t know how this will end, so let’s give it our best shot.” And then in the playoff, I finally won. Of all my wins, I cried the most there. I was genuinely thrilled. I think all the players around the world desire to win THE PLAYERS. It was made all the more meaningful by the fact that I was also the first Asian, as well as the first Korean player to win this. I was proud and excited and I got to share that moment with many fans.

HKG: In any sporting career which spans over an extended period of time, there are inevitable ups and downs. Is there anything that you regret?

KJC: Overall, I think I’ve had a decent career. But four years ago, my health was not great. I had problems with my muscles, which affected my game. The Korean fans’ expectations were also getting higher and my health and game couldn’t keep up with that. So that was the time when I thought (that) players needed to be cautious with injuries and take care of ourselves. I don’t have any regrets in my golf career. The game is still fun for me; when I hold an iron or a driver, I want to hit the ball to the pin. I live a challenging life and, maybe because I’ve had this experience from my youth, my passion is still burning, just like a happy kid in a playground. I’m trying to slow down a bit now and move onto the PGA TOUR Champions.

HKG: You’ve met many golfing legends. Tell us about your relationship with Jack Nicklaus, whose book ‘Golf My Way’, you used to learn the game.

KJC: I think you all know that when I first came to play on the 20 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

PGA TOUR in 1999, I had only seen Jack in the book. And when I first met him in person, he was so welcoming, like how a father would welcome his son. I think Jack and I played a round together in 2002, and there were spectators all over the golf course! That was the first time I had experienced that number of fans in a regular golf event. I was nervous (and finished T32), but the warmth that Jack showed me was like my father’s, which made me proud.

HKG: When you first came out on TOUR in 2000, you were the first Korean golfer. Now, there are so many young Korean golfers and much of that is due to your success. Are you excited for the future of Korean men’s golf?

KJC: That is right. When I first came out, no-one joined me nor dreamed that I would be here. I think it was about 10 to 13 years ago when Korean players started to come out to the PGA TOUR. When I meet them in the dining room or in the locker room, I’m truly proud. They’ve got more to show in the future, and when I see them performing well, it reminds me of my first time out there. I’m proud to watch them succeed. And since society has advanced with technology, food, coaching and science, everything has changed from the time that I first started. I’m a bit jealous about what they have, but I’m totally happy and delighted to watch them.

HKG: Growing up on Wando Island where your parents were rice farmers, did you ever imagine your life transforming into what it is today?

KJC: It was fate that I became a golfer after quitting weightlifting when I was in high school. Actually, I tried to rejoin the weightlifting team, but at that time, a golf team was being formed, and there was a recruitment drive for it. The selection process was simple - they picked members from the weightlifting team, including myself. There were a total of 10 applicants, with the head coach lining us all up, and then we were told to stand on

Choi won The Players Championship 2011 in a playoff over David Toms to win the US$1.71 million winner's share of the purse

the right side for the weightlifting team and on the left for the golf team. I was told to stand on the left side, so I became a golf team member. I still wonder why the coach told me to go to that side. At first, I told him that I didn’t know anything about golf, so I should be in weightlifting. He insisted that I be on the golf team, so that’s why I am a professional golfer now. The feelings and emotions of the first time I grabbed a golf club and hit a ball, it still lingers in my mind like a burning candle. Although it is a completely different sport from weightlifting, some of the feelings during my first encounter with golf are indescribable. I kept those feelings and that passion in my mind. It wasn’t easy to become a golfer from a farming family. My parents still don’t know too much about my job and career; they are still humble farmers who worry about what they have to do every day and think about their families. In this environment, I’m so lucky to be a professional golfer, not a farmer, and play on the PGA TOUR. I didn’t expect that I would be able to do this for 21 years and accomplish all this great stuff. It seems to be God’s grace. I never imagined all these things happening; it’s truly a miracle.

HKG: You received the 2013 Charlie Bartlett Award for unselfish contributions to the less privileged communities via the K.J. Choi Foundation. Do you recall when you first thought about giving back to the community?

KJC: It wasn’t an easy journey from my hometown to get out and play golf as a professional. I didn’t achieve this by myself. My parents couldn’t afford my golf clubs, training, lesson fees and green fees, and I couldn’t expect them to. However, many people in my hometown helped me out. They gave me their used clubs and balls and sometimes gave me money for my practice. I also did part-time jobs at the driving range and a car wash to save money for practice.

Because of this, I feel I should also help others, just as I received a

lot of financial and mental support from so many people. I now support about 40 to 60 young and talented students and golfers through scholarships and I host charity events for them. I also support various relief efforts when hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and accidents occur, and I guess that’s why I received the Charlie Bartlett Award. I have dedicated myself to helping kids and trying to pass on my knowledge and skills about golf and life to them. I enjoy this side of my foundation work. I take a lot of pride in these charitable activities and I’m very happy when I hear good things about the kids. It’s a priceless pleasure.

HKG: The Presidents Cup was held in Korea in 2015 and the TOUR launched THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in 2017. How special is it to be part of the growth of golf in your home country?

KJC: Yes, I’m definitely proud of this. THE CJ CUP will be on the PGA TOUR for 10 years, providing opportunities to young Korean players and giving top-class golf exposure to them. I personally appreciate the CJ Group for their hard work and commitment.

Also, the Presidents Cup organising committee thankfully chose Korea as the host country in 2015 and it was a successful event that surprised all Asian people and countries. With this event, young Korean players started to have bigger dreams and motivation to be PGA TOUR players.

HKG: What do you hope people will remember you for when it comes to your legacy in the game?

KJC: There are a few things that people talk about when they think of K.J. Choi, such as me changing grips and having success, always wearing visor caps, and so on. Of all these words, the phrase I like best was, “K.J. Choi, he worked really hard.” I like this because it acknowledges that I have worked hard for my entire life. I think that is my legacy.

NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 21

THE TOUR

THE 2020 MASTERS

FOUR

BURNING QUESTIONS

by Chris Cox/PGA TOUR Images: Getty Images

T

he most unusual fall schedule in PGA TOUR history continues at The Masters Tournament, the second of six major championships during the 2020-21 season, in November. All eyes will once more be on Bryson DeChambeau. The 27 year-old took home the season’s first major title in September at Winged Foot, but plenty of competitors are expected to rise to the challenge, including defending champion and 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods. Will DeChambeau’s season of dominance continue, or will another player stand in his way? Is Tiger Woods healthy enough to compete? Just how different will the conditions be at Augusta National in the fall, and what changes are in store for the course? These are the four most pressing questions ahead of The Masters.

WHAT IS AUGUSTA NATIONAL ACTUALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE? First, let’s discuss what we do know: On Masters Sunday, expect the sun to begin setting around 5:30 pm local time in Augusta, almost two-and-a-half hours before it does in April. And there won’t be any fans in attendance for the first time in the tournament’s history, so don’t expect to see a packed gallery on the 18th green.

Beyond that is anyone’s guess. The grounds crew at Augusta National overseeded in October, as aerial photos showed its traditional brown patches give way to a luscious, green paradise. The images were a welcome sight for those anxious to once more see Augusta National pop with colour, especially considering the Club’s spring azaleas will likely be traded in for the fall colours of yellow, orange and brown.

“My guess is that you will see more Bermuda, but it will still be Augusta National and it will still be pure,” Zach Johnson told USA Today. “It will still be green and it will still be a Major championship, and the playability of the course will still be based on Mother Nature, not the grass. It’s Augusta National. You’re going to have great lies; the greens will be pure. It will still be unbelievable.”

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Brendon Todd

NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 23

Bryson DeChambeau

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FORGET THE COLOURS. IS BRYSON DECHAMBEAU GOING TO WIN HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE MAJOR? By now, even the most casual of golf fans likely k nows a ll about Br yson DeCha mbeau’s wild 2020. But for those living under a rock, here is a quick refresher. The Dallas resident added 40 pounds of weight to his frame this year in order to generate more driving distance, then quickly reaped the rewards of that physical change by winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Doubters weren’t so easy to dispel, however, so DeChambeau took matters into his own hands in September at the U.S. Open, where he overpowered Winged Foot en route to a six-stroke victory for his first Major championship.

Now he ha s his sig hts set on another one.

“You’ve seen what I looked like compared to what I am now. Hopefully it’s an inspiration to a lot of people that if you really put your mind to it you can change yourself, and for the better,” said DeChambeau.

“There will obviously be people who doubt what I do. That’s totally fine; that’s fuel for my fire. I appreciate that because it makes me think of how I can get better quicker to show people… Einstein was always called a crazy man or somebody that was def ying what was actually possible until he started to prove or people started to prove his theories correct. Then everybody started to love them.”

Now, after leading the TOUR in both Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and driving distance, DeChambeau has even higher expectations for the remainder of the season, beginning at Augusta National.

The SMU product made waves at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October when he teased introducing a 48inch driver shaft at Augusta National, 2.5 inches longer than the standard length.

“I sti l l need to get some t hings worked out, but so far it’s been pretty amazing. There are speed improvements, speed gains, and it’s exciting; it really is something crazy that I never thought was even possible. The numbers that it’s producing are staggering, way more than what I’m doing right now.”

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DOES TIGER WOODS STILL HAVE HIS AUGUSTA MAGIC? The oddsmakers might already be pencilling in DeChambeau as their favourite, but expect Tiger Woods to have something to say about that come tournament week. This is Tiger Woods, after all, the same Woods that captured the world’s attention two years ago when he won The Masters for the first time in 14 years, beating Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson by one stroke.

Woods has made just seven starts in 2020 on the PGA TOUR, none since missing the cut at the U.S. Open, and has finished no better than a tie for 37th since January. The fivetime green jacket winner made one start ahead of his title defence, at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD. But Woods at Augusta is a different story. The 12-stroke victory in 1997. The Tiger Slam in 2001. Back-to-back the following year. The playoff win over Chris DiMarco in 2005.

Better beware. Augusta National is Tiger Territory, whether it be with fans or without.

“Augusta will be very different now. When I first went there and had a chance to play in ‘95 and seeing it with no fans, it was eye opening how much room there is,” Woods said. “When you put 40,000 people on such a small piece of property, it gets confined. But this will be very different. This will be a fun Masters, and I’m looking forward to defending.”

HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON? Hope begins anew on the PGA TOUR each fall, as members old and new alike begin the next season with a fresh start in mind. FedExCup points are wiped clean, and every player has an equal chance at qualifying for the playoffs.

Consider the case of Brendon Todd, who recovered from a serious case of the yips to win twice last fall and ultimately qualified for the season-ending TOUR Championship. The 35 year-old had been on a five-year winless drought and, at one point, stood outside the top 2,000 in the world rankings.

All that changed last fall, when he won the Bermuda Championship and the Mayakoba Golf Classic last November.

“I think a lot of it for me was just the self-belief I had and all the previous success I’ve had,” Todd said. “I’ve won at the highest level of junior golf, the highest level of college golf and I’ve won at all levels of pro golf before I had the struggles. And I had already been through a slump like that in 2010, so while it did last longer, and I did consider maybe looking for other things to do, I always knew if I got my game back, I would know how to play at this level; it’s just a matter of can I hit the ball between the trees?”

Will Todd land between the trees in Augusta, or is another Cinderella script ready to be written? Is this the year that Rickie Fowler wins a major? Will Jordan Spieth reawaken the echoes of Masters past?

Even better, will our November champion repeat next April at the 2021 Masters? Only time will tell.

History awaits in the wildest PGA TOUR fall season yet.

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Tiger Woods

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ON THE COVER

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Patrick Cantlay

CANTLAY

RALLIES TO TAKE

ZOZO TITLE

by Chris Cox and post-event courtesy of The Tour Images: ZOZO Championship

As Tiger Woods struggled to chase a record 83rd victory at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP at Sherwood, one of his favourite hunting grounds, local boy Patrick Cantlay came from behind, pushing aside early contenders Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm, to claim a victory that he felt was long overdue.

I

t wasn’t supposed to end like this for Tiger Woods. Not here at Sherwood Country Club. How could it?

For 15 years, Woods called this place in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains his home away from home.

And for good reason. On six different occasions, the World Golf Hall of Famer departed here a winner, beginning in 1999 with a win over David Duval in primetime TV and continuing five more times between 2001 and 2011 at his Hero World Challenge event.

So, when significant changes to the fall portion of the PGA Tour schedule required Woods to relocate his World Challenge to a more centralised location, a record crowd of nearly 25,000 turned out one last time to watch him leave Sherwood a winner.

It was the storybook ending everyone felt certain would be told for the No. 1 player in the world.

E xc ept it d id n’t. I n ste ad, Z ac h Johnson erased a four-shot deficit with eight holes to play, a comeback he capped at the 72nd with a miracle hole out for par from a drop area, which forced a playoff. Johnson would go on to win on the first extra hole when Woods missed a five-footer for par to extend the playoff, a stark turnaround from the previous year when it was Woods who birdied the final two holes to erase Johnson’s one-shot advantage.

“I love this place. I’ve got two seconds and now a win, so I love Sherwood,” Johnson said. “I’ll certainly miss this golf course. I like it because there’s a lot of riskreward. There’s a lot of strategy involved in where you hit it and how you hit it. I don’t feel like it necessarily favours the longest guy.”

Now, seven years later, Woods got his chance at redemption when the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP temporarily

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Tiger Woods

called Sherwood home in late October. The second-year event, which Woods won in 2019 for his record-tying 82nd PGA Tour victory last October, landed in California when officials from the PGA Tour and ZOZO Inc. determined that the unprecedented challenges of travelling to Japan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic were too much to overcome this season.

“Sherwood Country Club and its members are honoured to host this year’s ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD and welcome golf’s greatest players as our guests for the week,” said Rob Oosterhuis, PGA, General Manager and CEO of Sherwood Country Club. “We are greatly appreciative to ZOZO Inc., for this unique privilege. Our staff are excitedly preparing the club in anticipation of this extraordinary event and look forward to once again working closely with the PGA Tour. Sherwood’s scenic Jack Nicklaus Signature design will provide an exceptional background for a memorable week of golf during an unforgettable time.”

Woods, of course, understood this Nicklaus course better than almost anyone. And that intimate knowledge made him an early favourite to successfully defend his ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD title, and potentially become the leading all-time winner on the PGA Tour, but it wasn’t to be.

Sherwood and its residents provided Woods with the early support he needed to grow his TGR Foundation into a vehicle

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for larger community outreach. That, more than anything, endeared the facility and its members to Woods.

“Sherwood, the board here, all the volunteers that come out and support us in rain, wind, cold or perfect sunny SoCal days,” Woods said in 2013. “They come out to support our event and have made this as special as it has been. I’d say, quite frankly, if we didn’t have this event, we wouldn’t have the learning centre in Orange County. We also wouldn’t have been able to open learning centres around the country. This event has been our mainstay over the years, and it has allowed us a platform to talk about what we’re trying to do for our kids.”

That backing is what made Woods’ final round defeat in 2013 all the more painful. Is a chance at redemption and a record-breaking 83rd Tour victory in the cards for the World Golf Hall of Famer this time?

Woods made just seven starts during the 2019-20 PGA Tour season, winning in his debut at ZOZO before carding a tie for ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January. But the season ended with little fanfare beyond that for the 44 year-old, who finished no better than a tie for 37th in any of the four starts he made following the Tour’s return to play in June.

He ended the season by shooting 11-over across four rounds at the BMW Championship, tying for 51st and failing to make the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

His first start of the 2020-21 campaign would come two weeks

Jon Rahm

later at the U.S. Open, which took place after the writing of this story. “(I’m) trying to clean up my rounds and trying to miss the ball in the correct spots,” Woods said after the BMW Championship. “As I said, I haven’t done that. I won’t be able to play on rye again until I get to the U.S. Open, so these last two weeks were nice to (prepare) on rye.”

And while returning to the friendly confines of Sherwood Country Club may have potentially proved useful to Woods, the competition that stood in his way was stronger than ever.

Instead of the customary 18-player field at the Hero World Challenge, Woods had to contend with a stacked 78-man field primarily comprised of the leading players from the previous season’s FedExCup standings.

That was to include Dustin Johnson, who won both The Northern Trust and Tour Championship to take home his first career FedExCup, until the 23-time PGA Tour winner and course record holder at Sherwood (a 61 in 2014) announced his withdrawal from the tournament after testing positive for COVID-19.

Day one at Sherwood saw Colombian Sebastian Munoz take a one-shot lead over Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Thomas with an 8-under 64 that included eight birdies, one double bogey, three bogeys and only five pars.

Thomas inched his way to the top of the leaderboard on

Friday with a 7-under 65 on Friday and a one-shot lead, and followed up with a 5-under 67 on Saturday. The American birdied his opening two holes but low scores from the chasing pack saw him overtaken at the top. Then birdies at 16 and 17 gave him a five-under 67 and a slim lead over world number two Jon Rahm, who shot 63.

On the final day of play, what had been shaping up as a duel between Rahm and Thomas, the Nos. 2 and 3 players in the world, was scuppered by Patrick Cantlay, who surged past both of them with three straight birdies — a 3-wood to the fringe on the par-5 13th that set up a simple two-putt, a 7-iron to 18 feet on the next hole and the most exquisite shot of his final round on the par-3 15th.

With a three-quarter 7-iron to a front pin over a tiny rocklined lagoon, the ball landed next to the hole and rolled out to 10 feet for Cantlay’s ninth birdie of the round, and only the fifth birdie at No.15 on Sunday. “That’s a hard hole and to make a birdie,” he said. “It was just one of those swings where you make the swing exactly how you picture it in your head.”

That gave him a three-shot cushion, and his challengers never caught up. Cantlay finished at 23-under 265. No one else was within four shots of him.

Thomas, who started the round with a one-shot lead, had to scramble for par on the last two par 5s, and hit into hazards on consecutive holes down the stretch. His tee shot to the

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Justin Thomas

15th plugged into thick grass, and Thomas did remarkably well to hack out to 30 feet and make bogey.

Cantlay, in the group ahead of Thomas and Rahm, didn’t realise that he had a three-shot lead and went after another birdie with a wedge to the par-5 16th, pulling it slightly into a tree and leading to his second bogey of the round.

Thomas drilled a drive and was in perfect position with a 4-iron. But he sent that out to the right, trying to avoid a shot left of the green, and it bounced off a tree and into the creek. “Pathetic,” he said as he watched it sail to the right. “So afraid to hit it left.”

A f ter t he pena lt y drop, he had to play a marvellous pitch-and-run off hard pan to get upand-down for par.

But he needed birdies, and that didn’t come for Thomas until he needed to hole out from the 18th fairway for an eagle. His approach landed 4 feet next to the hole for a birdie and a 69. It was his first birdie since the sixth hole.

32 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

“You could say a lot of things — making one birdie on my last 12 holes, shooting even par on the back nine, playing the par 5s 1 under,” Thomas said. “But I know I made a lot of really key putts when I felt like I needed to. But again, it just (stinks) when you’re right there and you don’t get it done.”

Cantlay has no weaknesses in his game except for the victory tally. He had gone for more than a year since his last victory, when he rallied from three behind at Muirf ield Village to win the Memorial Tournament. His other win was in Las Vegas in 2017 when he came from four shots back and won in a playoff.

The win marked the third victory of Cantlay’s career, and the first in his home state of California.

All three required making up deficits of three shots or more in the final round.

“I put in a lot of work and try to do the right things all the time,” said the American. “So when it all does come together, it’s really rewarding because it’s all that hard work paying off.”

FO LLOW T HE AC TIO N O F TH E 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1 P G A TO U R SE ASON AT P G ATOU R .COM

©2020 PGATOUR, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

GOLF GURU | SENIOR GOLFER

UNEVEN

LIES 2.0

REMEMBER THESE KEY POINTS WHEN CONFRONTED WITH SLOPING LIES: 1. Adjust your posture and set up to fit the slope.

2. Use a ¾ swing to maintain balance and ensure better contact.

3. Know how the ball f light may be influenced by the slope.

34 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

by Brad Schadewitz

UPHILL LIE Of all the sloping lies, the uphill lie is the easiest to make good contact, but it also presents its own challenges in hitting a quality shot. The main two things to remember with the uphill lie are:

1. With your set up matching the slope, this will add loft to the club, so the shot will fly higher and shorter than normal. So you may take one more club than normal (hitting an 8-iron instead of a 9-iron).

2. You must be aware that swinging on an upslope doesn’t allow you to get to your lead side as well at impact so the ball will tend to draw more off an upslope.

DOWNHILL LIE The keys to remember for a downhill lie are:

1. Again, set your body tilt lines to match the slope with more weight on your lead side. Move the ball back in your stance as this will help with catching the ball first.

2. Make sure your downswing path matches the slope, as your instinct will be to fall back and try to lift the ball up in the air. The ball will tend to fly much lower so it will be difficult to use a lower lofted club. It may be better to club up (hitting an 8-iron rather than a 7-iron).

PRO TIP: When faced with a downhill lie, make your practice swings stepping forward with your trail foot in the follow-through. This will help ensure that you’re swinging down and through following the down slope.

NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 35

GOLF GURU | HIGH HANDICAPPERS

YOU SHOULD HAVE TWO

PUTTERS

BY JASON KWOK HONG KONG PGA

36 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

I

just played a round away from my home course, the Hong Kong Golf Club, which has been in perfect condition since the weather improved. The greens have been fast and smooth.

However, on this particular course, the greens were bumpy, slow and sticky. And my putter just did not suit those conditions.

They were similar to our greens in summer, which are slower and grainier.

My gamer has a soft face which also gets the ball rolling quickly and works great on fast greens.

I also have alternate putter, which has a harder metal face and which tends to start the ball faster than the gamer.

As you can see from the left page images, for some 10-foot putts, I used the white balls with my gamer and the coloured balls with my alternate. I tried to hit all putts with the same stroke.

Trying to use the same stroke with each, the coloured balls end up further past the hole than the white.

On the right page is the same experiment with a 20-foot putt with similar results.

To choose your alternative putter, figure out if your home course is slower or faster than the average course that you visit.

Then you should have both in your bag when you travel, and you can enjoy playing in varying greens conditions.

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GOLF GURU | PRO TIPS

PUTTING WITH

by James Stewart

VISUALISATION

I

was always a pretty good putter as a junior; it was just something I practiced a lot when I was a kid, and this is definitely something I would advise all parents to encourage their youngsters to do, as it helps them create a natural feel and improve their visualisation.

Putting should be the part of the game that everyone enjoys and I hope that my tips will help you become more effective on the greens.

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In today’s game of golf there is no right or wrong. If you look at the strokes of some of the best putters in the world, you’ve got left hand below right, right hand below left, long putters, short putters, claw grips, fingers down one side, and so on. There are so many different styles even within the world’s top 10.

The key is to be comfortable in your style. To be able to do this, you have to visualise the putt, read your line and pace,

and then make the stroke. I am a feel putter, so I like to read the putt, stand over the ball and then make the stroke.

In my mind, if you are worrying about your putting technique then you are already likely to hit a poor putt. So, I think the more natural you keep it, the more relaxed you’ll be.

If your visualisation skills are working and you can see the line of the putt, then it frees you up to go ahead and execute the stroke. Face technology on putters has also improved over the

years. I choose to use an Evnroll putter as they’ve been proven to improve off centre hits due to their groove technology. My distance control has improved drastically since switching. If you struggle with distance control and inconsistency, I would highly recommend you also try an Evnroll.

NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 39

THE VIEW

BLOSSOMING IN

INDIA

Following on the success of the acclaimed portfolio of super luxury residences The Aralias and The Magnolias, The Camellias is the latest residential development that is blossoming in the garden of DLF, India’s leading property developer.

40 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

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DLF Golf Links, The Lake

T

he Camellias is setting a pioneering benchmark for an unparalleled luxury lifestyle and residential living located within DLF5 Golf Links in Gurgaon, a leading financial hub in India, home to Fortune 500 companies and an enticing commercial, retail and lifestyle attractions, supported by a well-established infrastructure and connectivity.

Overlooking more than 200 acres of the award-winning DLF Golf & Country Club which extends into over 1000 acres of the Aravalli forests, The Camellias is an unprecedented development meticulously crafted by six of the very best Grand Masters of luxury design. As India’s first residential development accredited with LEED Platinum certification by the USGBC for its sustainability and energy conservation efforts, The Camellias redefines the standard of luxury living by delivering a combination of exceptional architecture and interior design furnishings, a multisensory landscape design, one of the world’s finest Clubhouses, and an unmatched golf experience in Asia.

Individually commissioned by the DLF team, the exceptional international design and creative talent behind The Camellias spans from Mumbai to New York and London to Los Angeles and Bangkok. The project has been designed by six of the world’s most acclaimed innovators, designers and bold creative thinkers collectively referred to as ‘The Grand Masters’ - Shawn Sullivan, Studio Leader of the Rockwell Group, Gerdo Aquino, Principal of SWA, Jay Wright, Founder of The Wright Fit, Ingo Schweder, Founder of GOCO Hospitality, Arnold Chan, Founder of Isometrix Lighting+Design and Hafeez Contractor. Collectively, The Grand Masters are a group of avant-garde curators of some of the most widely admired architectural projects in the world.

The Camellias comprises 16 towers containing 429 units in total, with one unit per floor. The Residences are divided into four categories including Classic, Signature, Imperial and Presidential, 42 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

ranging in size from 7,300 square feet (approximately US$3.7 million) to 16,000 square feet (approximately US$8.2 million).

The project also boasts some of the largest and most luxurious Penthouses in the country, including 12 at 13,000 square feet and two at 16,000 square feet.

The high ceiling and column-free design brings abundant natural lighting to the residences, and owners can enjoy fresh air from the balconies and spectacular views of the lush internal central landscape, manicured greens, two golf courses and the linear park winding around the DLF Golf and Country Club on one side, complemented by the city’s glittering skyline on the other. Lighting also plays an important role in setting the most comfortable and relaxing environment by day and night, which the team from Isometrix Lighting + Design from the UK has taken into careful consideration. Each residence can be designed individually to reflect each owner’s taste and features, ensuring that no two homes are alike, or buyers can opt for fully-fitted bespoke apartments.

Each apartment features significantly large and wellproportioned decks extended up to almost 12 feet from the indoor spaces where residents can entirely immerse in nature, allowing for multiple seating arrangements perfect for celebrating various occasions with family and appreciating the picturesque surroundings.

With the Water Garden as the centrepiece of the entire landscape, internationally renowned landscape architecture firm SWA has ingeniously employed water as the core element of the open space design, connecting both the indoor and outdoor life.

Dedicated to offering the most indulgent and extensive choice of leisure activities to its residents, The Camellias features one of the world’s finest Clubhouses designed by three internationally acclaimed design and architecture firms including Rockwell Group and The Wright Fit from New York, specialising in the hospitality

Aerial view of DLF Golf & Country Club

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Island hole, Gary Player course, DLF Golf & Country Club

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Living room

area and fitness design, while Goco Hospitality from Bangkok has curated the finest wellness facilities. The group of design talent has worked together to bring a world class retreat of relaxation, entertainment, wellness activities and culinary pleasures.

Representing a true oasis complete with fine dining and leisure activities, The Clubhouse encompasses seven energy zones, each of which is dedicated to a unique experience and activities.

THE SOCIAL ENERGY ZONE For celebrating togetherness, this zone is where friends can relax over a glass of wine, socialise or host an event. It offers residents refined gastronomic experiences in a restaurant serving Indian, Pan-Asian, and European/Mediterranean offerings.

THE RELAXED ENERGY ZONE For mental wellbeing, this zone features a meditation garden, a beautiful yoga space and a full Pilates studio.

THE REGENERATIVE ENERGY ZONE With various indoor and outdoor swimming pools, this is a zone for the transformation of the mind and body. Natural and specially curated materials, such as the Sukabumi stone that lines the outdoor swimming pools, known to contain purifying properties, not only look impressive, but also help to heal from within.

THE RENEWED ENERGY ZONE The spa brings together a rejuvenating collection of experiences – from the Turkish hammam with invigorating scrubs to

46 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

contemporary vitality pools. The rhassoul treatments and floatation pool are also perfect therapies to combat the stress of urban life.

THE CREATIVE ENERGY ZONE This zone is multi-dimensional, equipped to offer a 65-seat stateof-the-art movie experience, as well as a diverse range of artistic and cultural programmes.

THE ACTIVE ENERGY ZONE A purpose-built fitness and health complex with an elevated boxing ring, a rock-climbing wall and a turf field.

THE COMPETITIVE ENERGY ZONE For entertainment and sport with friends and family, this zone is the ideal spot to challenge a friend to a spirited game of bowling and then celebrate a win over a beer at the sports bar.

GOLF DRIVE COMMUNITIES Situated on the exclusive Golf Drive, a six-lane road shaded by a canopy of lush green trees and exquisite landscaping, The Camellias is set within the DLF Golf Course community flanked by two signature award-winning golf courses.

The DLF5 Golf Links is an island of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of a thriving metropolis. The soothing green views of the golf course extend beyond The Camellias ranges to create an infinite backdrop. Winding along Golf Drive, connected by stone bridges and vibrant plant life, is a beautifully landscaped

Dining room

park aptly christened ‘The Sanctuary’. Spread over 6.8 hectares, The Sanctuary comprises a walking track that extends over 2 kilometres, and features unique outdoor experiences including The Meadows, The Sculpture Garden, The Woodlands, The Palmerie and The Sacred Grove.

DLF GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Built in 1999, DLF Golf & Country Club is the highlight of DLF Golf Links, boasting three large man-made lakes and two courses designed by golfing legends, Arnold Palmer (9 holes and India’s first course to offer night golf) and Gary Player (18 holes). DLF Golf & Country Club is rated as the best golf course in India and was conferred the ‘Asia Pacific Order of Zenith’ by the Asia Pacific Golf Group in 2018, recognising it as one of the best golf courses across the region where some of the most marquee Indian and European Tour golf tournaments are held.

The Golf Academy at DLF Golf & Country Club provides golf instruction to its members, juniors, corporates and to many top amateurs and professionals in the country.

DLF took a lead in creating not only an excellent golf facility, but also a township around golf, which has become a model to follow across the country. The course features a scenic parkland design with dramatic landscape enhanced by ambient lighting.

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM DLF5 was designed to be a sustainable community that embraces and respects the environment. The team followed internationally sustainable practices and standards in every aspect and stage

of the project.

The design and development of The Camellias follow fundamentally sustainable principles, from incorporating ethically sourced, lasting materials into the overall architectural and engineering design, construction and operations to ensuring an eco-friendly environment.

The two golf courses are irrigated by recycled water and are home to diverse flora and fauna including thousands of fullygrown trees. Besides providing a green canopy of over 200 acres in an otherwise barren landscape, DLF5 has set an example in conservation by facilitating the successful transplantation of more than 1,000 mature trees.

With a reservoir capacity of 8 million litres of water, the three large man-made lakes of the DLF Golf & Country Club are designed to make this exclusive habitat spectacular and sustainable. These lakes are filled with treated water from the state-of-the-art centralised DLF5 Sewage Treatment Plant which is capable of recycling 14 million litres of water daily.

The Club has enhanced the surrounding environment by creating an oasis that releases clean air and provides a micro ecosystem conducive to the further flourishing of flora and fauna.

Like gorgeous blossoms on an emerald green vine, the exclusive communities of DLF5 Golf Links - The Aralias and The Magnolias - stand proudly as the most exquisite residences in this neighborhood. As the newest addition to this exclusive locale, The Camellias promises to further elevate this experience, enhancing the beauty of this exclusive and highly coveted community.

For further information, please visit https://bit.ly/3hqAiki

NOV 2020 | HK GOLFER 47

48 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

LOVE IT

CAMERAS FOR

CONNOISSEURS

by Ann Tsang Images: Courtesy of f22 foto space

Is it a vintage cameras shop? Is it a museum? Or is it a photo gallery? The short answer is that f22 at The Peninsula Hong Kong is a delightful marriage of all three, bringing together an exquisite collection of vintage cameras and captivating collections well-curated photo art and photographic coffee table books.

O

pened in February 2020 and occupying two corner spaces in the prestigious Peninsula Arcade, the f22 Peninsula boutique and gallery provide a striking second home for the original f22 foto space in Hong Kong’s Wanchai district, which since 2017 has hosted successful exhibitions by celebrated local and overseas photographers including Jing Huang, Simon Go, Palani Mohan, Elliott Erwitt, Wing Chan, Sergey Melnitchenko, Mar Sáez and Martin Parr. f22 has also been accoladed with a number of prestigious awards for its innovative interior design.

It is also a sister establishment to the F11 Foto Museum in Happy Valley, opened in 2014, inside a lovingly-restored three-storey Art Deco building from the 1930s. Together, f 22 and F11 Foto Museum – all named after aperture settings on camera lenses – now offer a special and unforgettable experience for visitors and collectors from all over the world.

Designed by LA AB Architects, f22 Peninsula brings customers back to the 1920s, a golden era that marked the prevalence of Art Deco, the birth of Modernism in art and architecture, and more

importantly, the opening of The Peninsula Hong Kong and the birth of the first Leica camera.

Inside the 16 metre-long shop window, visitors are greeted by a stunning circular reception with a brass countertop inspired by the film counter of the Leica I Model A. Hovering above the counter centrepiece is an exquisite brass ceiling lamp crafted in the fashion of the Leica Elmar lens from the 1928 vintage, honouring the opening year of The Peninsula hotel.

In keeping with the modern and artisanal spirit of the Art Deco movement, the ceiling, flooring, and furniture at f22 Peninsula have been made of carefully curated dark hardwood imbued with well-crafted mouldings and bespoke brass details.

Together, the design creates a warm and cosy space, somewhat akin to the relaxing and exclusive ambience of an English private club.

A highlight of the f22 Peninsula space is the heritage display of the remains of a broken column from the 1930s. With the help of conservation experts, this special moulding feature made of layers of white plaster and wood is now conserved in a bespoke glass and wood cabinet.

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The space is divided into three zones, each with its own distinctive character. There is a gallery of vintage cameras and lenses, being some of the rarest and best examples from around the world – all of which are for sale to discerning and well-heeled collectors. Many are from the highly coveted German brand Leica, but other illustrious brands such as Rollei and Hasselblad are also well represented.

Another focal point is a huge ‘Fake Leica’ camera model built by Chinese artist, Liao Yibai._Other examples of ‘Fake Leica’ in this size exist in a very limited quantity (including one at F11), but this is the only version in the world that is plated in 24-carat gold.

The shop also provides a wide selection of limited edition cameras sourced from all over the world. The camera accessories on offer are amongst the best on the market, often hand-crafted by the most experienced artisans from countries including Italy, Japan, and the USA. All display items are meticulously curated in walls of wood and glass cabinets with ERCO lighting, much in the fashion of how valuable artefacts are displayed in museums.

“The highly selectively and hand-picked collection reflects not only the most notable camera models in the world, but also the finest examples of their vintage,” states Founder and Owner of f22 and F11, Douglas So. “We want to offer only those in mint or near mint original condition,” he stresses.

There is a special VIP area for distinguished guests, 50 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

where clients can enjoy privacy and comfort while taking a closer look at their favourite pieces. Museum pieces of the highest quality are also on display for the enjoyment of VIP patrons.

This room was designed to incorporate a collection of vintage furniture carefully sourced from around the globe, including a carved oak bench from the 1920s, a brass chandelier and Thonet armchairs from the 1930s, and a contemporary version of the Club 1910 Sofa, to name just a few. There is also a transformable privacy screen designed to adjust the visibility of the room from the Arcade.

The coupling photo gallery in the basement level, on the contrary, features a minimalist modern design, with white walls, concrete f looring, and a black-tinted mirror ceiling, making a visual connection to the contemporary design of the f22 foto space in Wanchai. The basement gallery also has an open shopfront to engage visitors to the Arcade. A delicate monogram of f22 is hung on the wall with a back-lit octagon glow.

Each night, the gallery is secured by a black-painted steel shutter gate - a contemporary reinterpretation of Hong Kong’s traditional craft and commonly found in local shops.

Visitors can enjoy photo exhibitions all year round, and the prints are available for purchase. f22 Peninsula, Ground Floor & Basement, Shop No. W16&18, BW11&13, The Peninsula Arcade, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tel: 6511 2218

NOV 2020 2020 || HK HK GOLFER GOLFER 51 51 MAR

WEAR IT

FOR

GOOD

MEASURE

by Alexandra Chiu / Images: Courtesy of Ascot Chang

World-renowned bespoke tailor Ascot Chang has been keeping the art of classic Shanghai men’s shirt making alive and in the family for over 70 years.

I

n 1936, 14 year-old Ascot Chang left his family home in rural China, where his parents worked as farmers, and headed towards the glitz and glamour of Shanghai – known then as the ‘Paris of the East’ – to apprentice under a shirt maker.

At that time, the city’s tailors that catered to its growing Western population were predominantly Chinese and quickly rose to fame as they dressed Shanghai’s fashionable and influential elite.

Having mastered the finest details of tailoring for over a decade under his si fu (master), Ascot Chang moved south to the Kowloon peninsula in 1949 with just US$10 in his pocket. He went straight into business, initially knocking on doors, before his skyrocketing popularity prompted him to finally open his first store on Kimberley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1953. Alongside men’s shirts, Chang produced intricately crafted luxurious robes, pajamas and boxer shorts, filling a unique niche in the local market at the time. Chang’s founding principle – “my customers select their

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own style. I give the style substance” – continues to this day.

With Tony Chang, Ascot’s son, and Justin Chang, Tony’s son, now at the company’s helm, Ascot Chang remains a family-run business with the character and heart that shot it to success in its early years.

T he be aut y of t he dy i n g a r t of family-run businesses is that customers are treated like family. Ascot Chang’s meticu lous attention to deta il a nd loving, thoughtful approach to shirt ma k ing, cou nting each client a s a unique individual rather than a number, is a touch that has been miraculously translated to its 14 stores across Asia and the United States.

Even when it comes to measurements, Ascot Chang knows that it isn’t just about numbers. “We observe the client’s posture, and ask him about the kind of lifestyle he plans to wear the shirts in,” says Tony. “From this, we create an initial pattern which we’ll adjust until the client is satisfied with the fit.”

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Br i n g i n g Sh a n g h a i men’s t a i lor cr a f t sm a n sh ip to international acclaim, the family opened the first American Ascot Chang store in New York in 1987 closely followed

by Beverly Hills in 1989, quickly garnering the attention of the country’s highbrow from politicians to trendsetters and industry leaders including the likes of President George H.W. Bush, financier Henry Kravis, NBA player Grant Hill and film director John Woo. As most bespoke offerings go, Ascot Chang doesn’t skimp when it comes to options, providing its clients with a dizzying albeit spectacular and inspiring selection of over 6,000 fabrics with varying weights, weaves, colours and patterns.

The company categorises its fabrics based on price; naturally, the better the quality of the yarn, the more expensive the fabric will be. The store’s swatch books feature fabrics from the likes of Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Albini, Thomas Mason, and one of the world’s most expensive, David and John Anderson.

Once a fabric has been selected, the client is shown more than 25 different collar styles – spread, pointed, rounded, button down, high, stiff, and everything in between, with highly trained staff in-store to help clients choose the most flattering design for their face shape. Buttons are made only of pure Australian Mother-of-Pearl with the option of white or charcoal and hand-sewn personal monogramming in 30 thread colours is optional.

While exquisite custom made men’s shirts are still at the company’s heart and soul, Ascot Chang stores serve as a onestop shop for the dapper gentleman with an assortment of ready-to-wear or custom suits, jackets, slacks, pajamas and robes, as well as pure silk ties, elegant scarves, braces, socks, cufflinks and cashmere sweaters in striking colours.

As a New York Zagat reviewer once famously exclaimed: “If you meet a man in an Ascot Chang shirt, marry him!”

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WATCH IT

CONQUERING THE

DEEP Images: Courtesy of Rolex

Rolex recently introduced the new generation of its Oyster Perpetual Submariner and Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date, watches that exemplify the historic links between Rolex and the world of diving.

Its commitment to undersea exploration led Rolex to take an active part in filmmaker and explorer James Cameronʼs ‘Deepsea Challenge’ expedition in 2012, in partnership with the National Geographic Society. ©Mark Thiessen/ National Geographic

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The Oyster is the worldʼs first waterproof wristwatch thanks to its hermetic Oyster case. ©Rolex/Jean-Daniel Meyer

R

olex was one of the f irst brands to accompany exceptiona l individua ls in their ventures and explorations. Aware of the mutual benefit to both parties and seeing the world as a living laboratory, Founder Hans Wilsdorf equipped them with Oyster watches on their expeditions.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the pocket watch was the most common and practical way for people to tell the time. Wilsdorf, who began his career in 1900 working for a watch company in La Chauxde-Fonds, observed how lifestyles were changing and particularly the rise in popularity of sports and outdoor pursuits. The man who was to found Rolex a few years later realised that pocket watches were not suited to these new kinds of use. A man of vision, he decided he would create watches to be worn on the wrist that their owners could count on for reliability and accuracy in their modern, active lives.

One of the main challenges facing Wilsdorf was to find a way to protect the watches from dust and moisture, which can cause clogging or oxidization if they find their way inside the case. In a letter in 1914, he spoke of his intentions to Aegler, the firm in Bienne which would later become the Manufacture des Montres Rolex S.A.: “We must find a way to create a waterproof wristwatch.”

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In 1922, Rolex launched the Submarine, marking the first step in Wilsdorf ’s efforts to create a completely sealed watch case that was convenient to use.

The Oyster case, the fruit of these efforts, was patented four years later in 1926. A system of screwing down the bezel, case back and winding crown against the middle case ensured that the case was hermetically sealed and protected the inside of the watch from harmful elements. Wilsdorf chose to call the watch – as well as its case – the “Oyster” because of the fact that “like an oyster, it can remain an unlimited time underwater without detriment to its parts.” This invention marked a major breakthrough in the history of watchmaking.

To promote the exceptiona l qua lities of his Oyster watch, the following year Wilsdorf decided to do something innovative. Learning that Mercedes Gleitze, a young secretary from Brighton, England, was preparing to swim across the English Channel and, if successful, she would become the first British woman ever to achieve this feat, Wilsdorf asked her to carry an Oyster with her to demonstrate that the watch was completely waterproof. After Gleitze’s gruelling swim in the bitterly cold waters, a journalist for The Times newspaper reported that she “carried a small gold watch, which was found to have kept good time throughout.”

On 7 October 1927, Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel in fifteen and a quarter hours equipped with a Rolex Oyster. ©Rolex

JUST BELOW THE SURFACE Just as changing lifestyles prompted Rolex to invent a waterproof case, the brand next turned its attention to the design and development of wristwatches that met the needs of the new deep-sea diving professionals.

In 1953, the Submariner was created: the first divers’ wristwatch guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet).

Rolex then went on to make further technical advances that rendered the Submariner waterproof to a depth of 200 metres (660 feet) in 1954, and 300 metres (1,000 feet) in 1989. The version with date, introduced in 1969, would be waterproof to a depth of 300 metres (1,000 feet) by 1979.

MASTERING WATERPROOFNESS To te st t he reliabi lit y of it s t imepiece s, Rolex a sked professional divers to wear them on their missions, afterwards gathering impressions and suggestions for ergonomic or technical improvements. This procedure became an integral part of the Rolex development process. Among the people with whom the brand worked to test the Submariner was French underwater photographer, engineer and explorer Dimitri Rebikoff. In testing the watch, over five months Rebikoff carried out 132 dives, which took him to depths of

between 12 and 60 metres. His report was very positive: “We are able to confirm that this watch has not only given entire satisfaction in diving conditions which were extremely tough and particularly dangerous for the material used, but it has also proved to be an indispensable accessory for all diving with independent equipment.”

Rebikoff particularly highlighted the usefulness of the graduated rotatable bezel, which considerably increases divers’ safety by enabling them to check the amount of time they spend underwater. He also underlined the robustness of the watch, which spent many hours in seawater and received several impacts in the course of the dives.

A GLIMPSE OF THE DEEP Certain sub-aquatic scientific projects and expeditions also presented ideal opportunities for Rolex to test its watches in real-life conditions. In 1960, the brand teamed up with one such project - an expedition led by Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh. On 23 January, on board the bathyscaphe Trieste – designed

by Jacques’ father, Auguste Piccard, a Swiss physicist and explorer with whom Rolex had worked since the early 1950s – Piccard and Walsh achieved a feat by descending to the deepest part of the world’s oceans, the Mariana Trench in the

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Submarine 1922. The design of the Submarine required the outer case to be opened to access the winding crown. ©Rolex/ Le Studio Production

Pacific Ocean. Affixed to the outside of the submersible was an experimental Rolex watch called the ‘Deep Sea Special’, which accompanied the two men to an extreme depth of 10,916 metres (35,814 feet). The domed crystal on this prototype was designed to withstand the enormous pressure exerted at such a depth. When the Trieste resurfaced after some eight and a half hours under the sea, the watch was found to have kept perfect time, which validated the technical choices made by the brand during its design. It would be decades before any such expedition would be repeated.

A WATCH FOR SEA DWELLERS During the 1960s, techniques were developed that made extended dives possible at ever greater depths. One of these new methods, designed for divers working on undersea infrastructures, for example, was “saturation” diving. A special mix of breathing gases with a high helium content makes it possible for divers to stay under the sea for periods of several days or even weeks, and avoid the toxic effects on the human body of pressure at great depths. It also involves keeping the divers in an environment with a pressure equivalent to that of the water at their working depth. To do this, the divers stay for several days or weeks at a time in a pressurised habitat – a hyperbaric chamber – which they leave only to carry out their dives. It also means that they need

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only undergo a single decompression process at the very end of the mission. Depending on the time spent underwater and the working depth, decompression can take anywhere up to several days.

In the hyperbaric chambers, the watches worn by the divers gradually fill with helium, a gas with atoms so tiny that they can penetrate the waterproof seals. During decompression, this helium remains trapped in the watch case with the attendant risk of creating a pressure differential in relation to the chamber. The gas in the watch case is unable to escape as quickly as the external pressure is dropping, which can damage the watch or force the crystal out of the case. In 1967, Rolex patented the helium escape valve, a safety release valve that activates automatically when the pressure inside the case is too high, allowing the surplus gas to escape.

That same year, Rolex launched the Sea-Dweller, a divers’ watch guaranteed waterproof to 610 metres (2,000 feet), and to 1,220 metres (4,000 feet) in 1978.

Equipped with a helium escape valve, it was the ideal tool for saturation divers, the explorers and pioneers of the deep sea. As a natural progression, the brand partnered with the underwater habitat project Tektite in 1969 for which four aquanauts spent 58 days below the surface. They were equipped with Rolex watches.

The following year as part of Tektite II, Sylvia Earle led an

1953 First Submariner. The first diversʼ wristwatch waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), the Submariner marked a major step forward in the history of Rolex and of deep-sea diving. ©Rolex/Jean-Daniel Meyer

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With a subtly redesigned case, the new 2020 Submariner is now equipped with a movement at the forefront of technology. ŠRolex/Alain Costa

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all-female mission. The marine biologist – a Rolex Testimonee since 1982 and National Geographic Society Explorer-inResidence from 1999 – wore a Rolex watch during the two weeks spent working in a sub-aquatic habitat.

I n 19 67, R ole x b e g a n a p a r t ne r s h ip w it h H YC O (International Hydrodynamics Company), a Canadian firm specialising in the development of submarines.

Rolex Sea-Dweller watches were attached to the outside of HYCO submersibles on various missions. After one dive of around four hours at a depth of 411 metres (1,350 feet), HYCO sent Rolex its conclusions regarding the Sea-Dweller’s performance: “During all the phases of testing the watch performed beautifully.”

In 1971, Rolex formalised its partnership with COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d ’Expertises). This French marine engineering firm based in Marseilles agreed to equip its divers with Rolex watches and report back regularly on the watches’ performance so that the brand could further enhance their reliability and functionality. In parallel to its offshore interventions, COMEX also conducted tests in view of developing new technologies to assist its operations. Among these were hyperbaric chambers that reproduced the pressure exerted at depth and posed great difficulties for divers and equipment.

In 1988, COMEX organised the Hydra VIII expedition, during which six saturation divers descended to 534 metres (1,752 feet), setting a world depth record for open-sea diving that still stands today. All were equipped with SeaDweller watches. A few years later, in 1992, for the Hydra X experiment, a COMEX diver reached a simulated depth of 701 metres (2,300 feet) in a hyperbaric chamber. For the 43 days of his mission he also wore a Sea-Dweller watch.

THE DEEPEST DEPTHS Rolex continues to defy underwater pressure by never ceasing to perfect its watches. In 2008, the brand presented the Rolex Deepsea, whose patented case architecture – the Ringlock system – enables it to withstand the pressure at a depth of 3,900 metres (12,800 feet). The system comprises a slightly domed sapphire crystal, a nitrogen-alloyed steel compression ring and a case back made from a titanium alloy. The unidirectional rotatable bezel of the Rolex Deepsea is fitted with a 60-minute graduated black Cerachrom insert that allows divers to safely monitor their immersion time. The properties of this high-tech ceramic produce an insert that is exceptionally strong, virtually scratchproof, and whose colour, unaffected by ultraviolet rays, remains stable over time. This watch for the extreme depths is also equipped with another exclusive invention that enhances its legibility: the Chromalight display. An innovative luminescent material emitting a blue glow is applied to the hands, hour markers and the capsule on the bezel.

The luminosity duration is almost double that of a standard phosphorescent material, and the intensity of the glow is more consistent over the emission time.

In accordance with the standard for this type of watch, all Rolex divers’ watches are tested at their guaranteed waterproofness depth plus an additional 25 per cent. This effectively means that in the laboratory, within a hyperbaric tank developed jointly by Rolex and COMEX, the Rolex Deepsea (which is guaranteed waterproof to 3,900 metres) is subjected to the pressure exerted at 4,875 metres deep.

The Rolex Deepsea wa s the inspiration behind the Rolex Deepsea Challenge, the experimental divers’ watch that, on 26 March 2012, attached to a manipulator arm of the submersible piloted by explorer and filmmaker James Cameron, descended to the place last visited by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in 1960: the Mariana Trench.

Guaranteed waterproof to the extreme depth of 12,000 metres (39,370 feet), the watch included all of the brand’s technical innovations in terms of waterproofness, and, in the test phases, successfully withstood the pressure exerted at 15,000 metres. At this depth, the Ringlock system’s central ring is subjected to a pressure equivalent to a weight of 20 tonnes.

A NEW GENERATION In 2020, Rolex presented the new generation of its Oyster Perpetual Submariner and Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date. Both watches feature a redesigned, slightly larger case of 41 mm and a broader bracelet. The Submariner is equipped with calibre 3230, unveiled by the brand this year, and the Submariner Date incorporates calibre 3235, a movement that includes a date function in addition to the time and has been brought to the Submariner range for the first time.

True to the original aesthetics of the model, the new Submariner in Oystersteel ha s a black dia l a nd black rotatable bezel with Cerachrom insert. A yellow Rolesor version (combining Oystersteel and 18 ct yellow gold) of the Submariner Date presents a royal blue dial with a rotatable bezel and a blue Cerachrom insert. Two versions of the Submariner Date, one in Oystersteel and the other in 18 ct white gold, bring distinctive colour combinations, with the dial and Cerachrom insert in different hues. The first watch blends a black dial with a green bezel, while the second offers a black dial and a blue bezel. The 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert allows divers to confidently monitor their dive times.

The moulded, recessed graduations and numerals are coated with platinum or yellow gold via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition), whilst the bezel’s knurled edge offers excellent grip, to comfortably set dive time even when wearing gloves.

Since being patented in 1926, the perfectly hermetic Oyster case continues to be emblematic of Rolex watches.

Its components have undergone changes over time to further reinforce the watch’s waterproofness and to meet the needs of divers as diving materials and techniques developed, allowing them to descend to ever greater depths…

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THE NINETEENTH

PRESIDENTIAL

PLAYERS Image: Courtesy of Globe Photos

Former U.S. President Richard Nixon and actor Jackie Gleason attempt a ball retrieval with the help of a diver

A

s we move into the month of what is possibly the most highly anticipated American Presidential Elections of all time, it seems fitting to look back over history and the numerous U.S. Presidents who had a passion for the great sport of golf.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was so passionate about golf that he had a practice putting green installed on the White House grounds and even occasionally wore his spikes in the Oval Office.

Lyndon Johnson, whose swing was often compared to the action of a man killing a snake, frequently used the golf course to discuss legislation with both friends and foes.

Many a picture tells the story of Richard Nixon and golf, including the one above with Jackie Gleason, a frequent playing partner at pro-ams.

In the early 30s, Gerald Ford played on the Michigan football team, but as a golfer, he became best known as a danger to the spectators in the galleries.

George Bush I played what might feasibly described as speed 64 HK GOLFER | NOV 2020

golf, his cart stopping just long enough for him to jump off, make a swing, then onto the next tee.

George II played like his father, but after he declared war on Iraq, he at least had the sense not to be seen playing while soldiers were dying overseas (unlike the insensitive moron currently in office).

Bill Clinton was prone to taking a mulligan after most of his shots and then cheekily used the best of them when calculating his final score.

Barack Obama is the first left-handed Presidential golfer and was criticised for playing more than 250 rounds during his term of office, a number nowhere close to that of Woodrow Wilson, who played more than 1,000 rounds and even had balls painted black so he could play in the snow.

I’m going to forego making any comment about the current U.S. President, but I will tell you that yes, Joe Biden is a golfer and a pretty decent one at that. My only hope at this point in time that he sinks his opponent into a very large tin cup, never to return‌

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