Archive for the Asian Tour Category


Mickelson Tells Asia to Prepare for American Invasion

Phil Mickelson has been a notoriously poor traveller over the years, especially when it comes to taking part in tournaments in Asia. While his contemporaries such as Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and others have been happy to accommodate Asia when their schedules permit, Mickelson has chosen to stay in the United States with […]

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Vijay Triumphs At Korean Open

It was just like old times for former Masters champion Vijay Singh, who made a triumphant return to Asia with victory at the Korean Open at the weekend. Singh, who won in Korea back in 1995, closed with a two-over-par 73 to hold on for a two-stroke victory over last year’s winner Yang Yong-eun and […]

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Asia Braces for Golfing Bonanza

Asia is gearing up for a series of three tournaments that promises to bring some of the best golfers in the world to the region. The action starts in the first week of November with the Singapore Open, followed by the HSBC Champions tournament in China and ends with the Hong Kong Open. The Singapore […]

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Singh To Make Korea Move

While primarily catering to golfers in the region, Asian Tour officials are delighted when marquee players accept invitations to take part in their events. It is safe to say that organisers of next week’s Korean Open are over the moon that Fijian star Vijay Singh has signed on to take part in their tournament. The […]

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Asian Teams Vie For World Cup Places

Organisers of the Fortis International Challenge in Malaysia this month were hoping for a few big names for the qualifying tournament for November’s World Cup. However, their only hope of a big-name player, New Zealand, opted to go with Stephen Scahill and Richard Lee. Kiwi former US Open champion Michael Campbell is unable to represent […]

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Australasia Looking for Asian Solution

The Australiasian Tour is stirring with unease. Despite having a long history and enjoying joint sanction on tournaments with the European Tour, the Aussies are struggling to stay on their own. A footnote in an article in The Age newspaper recently contained strong indications that The Australasian Tour will soon become one with, or at […]

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Mental Toughness The Key as Lin Chases Down Aussie

Mental strength is often what separates champions from the less successful. Take the case of Australia’s Adam Le Vesconte. He sat on a four-shot lead after the third round of the Brunei Open on the Asian Tour but surrendered it on the final day, eventually handing victory to Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang. Is it complacency? Is […]

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Missing Out On Vijay’s Former Training Partner

The Johor Open ended on Sunday with Filipino-Japanese Artemio Murakami claiming a maiden Asian Tour title with a one-stroke victory over compatriot Tony Lascuna and Scotland’s Simon Yates. However, despite being there as a stringer for Reuters, I didn’t write a line about the tournament. My aim was to interview Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman […]

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Twiddling My Thumbs At The Johor Open

The Asian Tour has come to my neck of the woods this week. Well, sort of. It’s a four-hour drive from my home just outside Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru for the Iskandar Johor Open. I thought I’d make the journey so I could cover the tournament for Reuters, for whom I am on a […]

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Aussie Hend Looks Beyond Asian Tour

Scott Hend is among a host of Australians who are using the Asian Tour as a stepping stone for greater things. Hend is currently in third place in the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit as he tried to chase down leader Liang Wen-chong, of China, with half of the season still remaining. Hend has […]

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Mickelson Ready to Make HSBC Debut

As Phil Mickelson wonders whether or not his wrist is 100 per cent at the US PGA Championship, Asian golf fans will certainly hope that he is full fit by November. Lefty scored 73 in the first round, eight strokes adrift of leader Graeme Storm. Though his wrist felt good, a series of poor shots […]

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Asians Among Euro Contingent For PGA Championship

A recent article on the European Tour website highlighted the “record number of European Tour members” competing at this year’s US PGA Championship, the final Major of the year at Tulsa, Oklahoma. It claims to have 48 golfers due to take part at Southern Hills Country Club from August 9-12 but some of those names […]

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Playing Golf With Your Hero

A couple weeks ago, Jin Young Pak, one of my students, had the good fortune of living a life-long dream — she played golf with her hero. After two solid rounds at the Jamie Farr Classic on the LPGA Tour, she was paired in Saturday’s last group with Se Ri Pak. Now, I don’t think […]

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Asians Hope for KJ Glory

The British Open buzz in Asia is all about KJ Choi and his great performance so far at Carnoustie. South Korean Choi has been billed as the Asian most likely to win a Major, and he has certainly shown he can slug it out with the best during his career. Recently, he won his fifth […]

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Jeev Hoping for Hard Time at Carnoustie

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh leads the Asian assault on the British Open, with the 35-year-old hoping the Carnoustie course will play at its hardest. Talking to the Asian Tour website, Jeev said difficult courses bring out the best of his golf, using his 36th place at the treacherous US Open at Oakmont as proof. He […]

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