A comment by Jordan Spieth, arguably one of the most articulate and thoughtful athletes on the PGA Tour, was probably lost amidst the noise that has been surrounding the professional game in recent months. It was prophetic and if proven true, may well be a game-changer for Asian golf.
During the CJ Cup in South Carolina recently, the three-time major champion was asked about Korean phenom Tom Kim, who has achieved instant stardom by sandwiching a stunning pair of PGA Tour victories with a standout Presidents Cup debut at Quail Hollow that International Team captain Trevor Immelman hailed Kim as “a tremendous gift to our sport.”
Spieth somewhat likened the rapid rise of the 20-year-old to the Korean wave of success on the LPGA Tour, which began over two decades ago, and was coincidentally sparked by another 20-year-old then. Pak Se-ri, a World Golf Hall of Famer, has for long been credited for changing the face of women’s golf with her brilliance, charm and spectacular emergence during the late 1990s which drove Korean women to dominate on the LPGA Tour.
“Got an unbelievably bright future as a lot of these young Koreans,” Spieth said of Tom Kim during The CJ Cup, which was launched as Korea’s lone PGA Tour event in 2017 but has since been staged in the U.S. due to the challenges of Covid-19.
“Seems like right now, you have this progression that you've seen on the LPGA Tour over the last 10 years is starting to happen on the PGA Tour, with young and talented Korean players that are coming out and not afraid to win at an early age. Si Woo (Kim) might be one of the most talented individuals in the game of golf and it's always been fun to watch him play. So I think the future's really bright."
As of November 1, three Koreans – Tom Kim (15th), Sungjae Im (20th) and K.H. Lee (35th) – are ranked inside the world’s top-50. Si Woo Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner including becoming the youngest Players Championship winner in 2017, is ranked 73rd. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, who has long been Asia’s top-ranked golfer, sits in 19th position and appeared in the Presidents Cup alongside the Korean quartet.
Whether Tom Kim’s meteoric ascend will create a new momentum for the men’s game in Korea and across Asia, as Pak once did for women’s golf, is yet to be seen but there are parallels and early indication to suggest another boom may well occur in the Far East.
The first two LPGA tournaments which Pak won in 1998 were amazingly major championships and of historic proportions. When she claimed the LPGA Championship, she was only 20 and six weeks later, she became the youngest U.S. Women’s Open champion. In contrast, Kim’s two titles on the PGA Tour may not be major wins but he earned his place in the history books by becoming the second youngest golfer ever to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21, and was even younger than a certain Tiger Woods in doing so.
“It's crazy,” said Kim of his life-changing wins. “Beating Tiger is, I mean, it's amazing for me. I've just got to keep playing well and hopefully I'll have a lot more in the bag. I mean, I'm playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year-old. I'm a five-year-old at Disneyland for sure.”
Rory McIlroy, the 2022 FedExCup champion, is amongst the many who have joined the Tom Kim Fan Club and is confident the youngster will enjoy an illustrious career in the U.S. The Northern Irishman, however, warned of early comparisons to Woods, who has been the needle for professional golf for the past 25 years.
“Yeah, look, over the last 50 years there's only been one other player to come out and win twice before his 21st birthday, so he's (Kim) made a really good start. But, you know, we don't need to make comparisons quite yet, just let him turn into the person he's going to be and I think that will be good enough to have a hell of a career,” said McIlroy.
Kim’s exploits have seen TV ratings in Korea enjoying spikes. When he won the Shriners Children’s Open in October, ratings were up in comparison to other Korean male winners and the tour’s media partner, JTBC Digital’s viewership registered record figures, while the re-airing of the final round action posted the highest viewership ever among all other re-airs from the past two seasons. In short, Tom Kim was moving the needle in Korea, and broadcasters believe the popularity gap between the men and women’s golf was narrowing.
More importantly, Kim is also moving his peers with his infectious personality and charisma, aside from a terrific knack for winning. “Tom's like the Energizer bunny, just keeps going. Although he's a star already, I think he's going to be a superstar soon,” said countryman K.H. Lee, who partnered Kim to a Foursomes win over Scottie Scheffler-Sam Burns at the Presidents Cup. “He's got great energy. Although he's young, he brings a lot of positive vibe and he's got leadership.”
Aside from the Korean quartet who featured in the International Team, Byeong Hun An, once a top-50 player in the world, and rookie S.H. Kim have also forced their way onto the PGA Tour from the Korn Ferry Tour. Through the Past Champions category, Sung Kang, Seung-yul Noh and Sangmoon Bae, all in their 30s, will also fly the Korean flag, making it the nation with the highest number of members from an Asian country.
The positive tide is spurring other Asian aspirants to shoot for the stars too, as the likes of Chinese Taipei’s Kevin Yu, and China’s Carl Yuan and Marty Zecheng Dou feel they too can create their own moments on the PGA Tour. Dou, who was 21 when he made his tour debut in 2018, said: “Tom is only 20 years old and what he has achieved is something I cannot even imagine when I was 20. He is a good example for junior golfers. His wins and confidence make him so competitive. For me, it means there is pressure as there are many great young players out on tour now.”
Trevor Immelman thoroughly enjoyed being in a front-row seat watching Kim strut his magic at Quail Hollow as the young Korean emerged as the International Team’s unlikely talisman with his bravado, fearless attitude and wild celebrations. One particular moment, that will forever be replayed at every Presidents Cup, stood out when Kim set up the winning birdie in a memorable Fourball triumph with Si Woo Kim over Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele on Saturday afternoon.
"He has an ability to be a global superstar, this kid. We've seen he has the game. But what I've learned about his personality and his heart and what he stands, man, I am a huge fan,” said the South African. “I thought something that was so cool on the final hole … he's about 240 yards out. He's probably 60 yards behind his opponents. He's over the ball. I look back, I see the who's who of American golf in golf carts behind him. I see Thomas, I see Spieth, I see Finau, I see Homa, I see Morikawa, all of them sitting on carts 15 yards from him. And this kid pures a 2-iron to 10 feet and makes the putt. To me, that's impressive stuff.”
No one, though, will take away the impact that K.J. Choi had created in 2000 when he became the first Korean golfer to earn a PGA Tour card and subsequently won an astounding eight times to jointly hold the record for most victories by an Asian golfer. As the lone Korean on the tour then, Choi faced numerous challenges including the language barrier, loneliness and even food options. Now into his 50s and competing on PGA Tour Champions, he stands proud seeing a new generation of young stars plying their trade with success on the world’s pre-eminent golf circuit.
“25 years ago, many Korean people go there, to America, and they can't beat anybody. English is so bad, and hitting ball is not too good, and a little different,” Choi said in his self-taught English. “Now it's the mindset, okay K.J., he did it. We can go. It's possible. Now they're practicing. I'm very proud of my younger players.”
Y.E. Yang will forever hold his distinguished place in history as Asia’s first male major champion following a memorable PGA Championship triumph over Woods in 2009, which Hideki Matsuyama has since emulated the major feat with his own Masters success in 2021 that sparked Matsuyama-mania in Japan. Now, the race is on as to whom will become the first Asian to win the prestigious season-long prize, the FedExCup, and also become Asia’s first World No. 1.
Kim has hinted those would be his goals in the coming years. “I mean, I haven't achieved the goals that I've wanted yet. The two wins and playing on the PGA Tour is just one of those steps. There's always alternate goals that you want to achieve and I'm just working towards that and these are just stepping stones.
"I'm grateful for what I have now, but I still have a lot what I want to do and I want to accomplish."
Chuah Choo Chiang writer is senior director, marketing & communications – APAC for the PGA TOUR and is based in Malaysia
Scott Vincent has enjoyed a season of many highs and, with the year drawing to an exciting conclusion, the next few months could lead to life-changing consequences.
With just four events on the Asian Tour remaining, including the International Series Morocco which starts today, the Zimbabwean is ranked first on the International Series Order of Merit (OOM) and fifth on the Asian Tour OOM. With lucrative purses still to play for, finishing top of both is a realistic possibility.
But despite the stakes being high, Vincent is staying typically grounded and not looking beyond the job at hand this week at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
“I try not to think about it,” he said. “Obviously, it is there, and people talk about it. For me it’s not a priority, I am just trying to work on being present, being here. This is one of the steps in my career, this is where I am now.
“I am focusing on the very next thing I have to do, which is a press conference I have to be at shortly. And, of course, any opportunity I have to come back and play in Africa it is a great thing,” added the 30-year-old with the distinctive long, blonde flowing hair
The tour journeys next to the International Series Egypt next week, before heading to the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open and the Indonesian Masters, which is also an International Series event.
Vincent leads the International Series OOM with earnings of USD407,025 from the four International Series events played so far, by about USD80,000 from American Sihwan Kim. On the Asian Tour OOM, he trails leader Bio Kim from Korea, who has won USD586,570, by close to USD180,000.
But all that could quickly change, as the Morocco, Egypt and Indonesian events boast purses of USD1.5 million (with the winner earning USD270,000).
“My game comes and goes, it is a work in progress and we try and stick to our routines and work the best with what we have. I am constantly working on it, trying to improve, trying to make my game the best it can be,” noted Vincent.
In early June he recorded his breakthrough Asian Tour victory at the inaugural International Series England. It was his second victory in two weeks as he also claimed the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour, which secured him a place in The Open Championship for his first Major.
Thanks to his fine season and success in the International Series England, Vincent has been able to play on the LIV Golf Series – which ended last week with the LIV Golf Series Team Championship in Miami.
“Just coming from last week, I haven’t fully digested it. Off the top of my head, those guys who are the best in the world, like Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson, they are able to do what they do more consistently at a very high level and very often. I have got to find ways to do that very consistently,” shared Vincent.
Vincent is the highest ranked player from his country on the Official World Golf Ranking in 86th position and is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Zimbabwe’s all-time greats Nick Price, Mark McNulty, Tony Johnstone and Dennis Watson. Securing his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in 2016, he placed fifth on the OOM in 2018 after finishing in the top-10 nine times including three runner-up positions.
Thai phenom Atthaya Thitikul thinks she still has a lot to learn despite reaching No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings this week.
“It is very special to get to the top but it is much harder to retain it. I still have a lot to learn from all the legends and current players both on and off the course.
"I will continue to work hard for my family, my team, my fans and my country."," said Thitikul, whose sixth place finish in the BMW Championship in Korea on Sunday proved enough for her to supplant Jin Young Ko as World No 1.
The 19-year-old becomes the 16th player and seciond from Thailand follwing Ariya Jutanugarn to reach No. 1. Thitikul is also the second player to reach the top spot in her LPGA Tour rookie year, after Sung Hyun Park in November 2017.
Additionally Thitikul is only the second player under 20 to reach No. 1 at 19 years, 8 months and 11 days, joining Lydia Ko. Ko was 17 years, 9 months and 9 days when she first reached No. 1 in February 2015. and 18 years, 6 months and 2 days the second time she ascended to the top in October 2015.
Thitikul has two victories so far in 2022, becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner at the JTBC Classic presented by Barbasol and adding another win at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. She has also recorded 12 additional top-10 finishes this season, including three at Majors.
The Thai talent currently leads the LPGA's Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings with 1,487 points, is third in scoring average on tour (69.432) and fourth in the race to become Rolex Player of the Year (129 points).
Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Thitikul became the youngest player ever to win the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa del Sol in 2021 while also securing Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors.
At 14 years, 4 months and 19 days, Thitikul also became the youngest golfer to ever win a professional golf tournament with her victory at the LET’s Thailand Championship in 2017.
Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat is looking forward to making his Asian Tour return in this week’s USD1.5 million International Series Morocco, noting that he is 'at his happiest' for the past few years.
The former Asian Tour number one has not competed on the circuit since 2019, choosing to focus on the PGA Tour - but he returns to his home tour on Thursday when he tees-off at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
“I got here yesterday (Monday) and first thing I did was spent a lot of time with Prom (Meesawat) and some other Thai players - and it hit me that it was nearly 15 years ago, the first time we came out on tour and how we played together and went out on tour together,” he said.
“We had a lot of chat, talking about the past and the old times, and I think so far this is the happiest week in the past few years, I am at my happiest and enjoying it so far," added the four-time Asian Tour winner.
Aphibarnrat is in confident mood at the famous venue, which hosted The Hassan II Golf Trophy for four decades.
“My form is excellent,” said the Thai, winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2013. “I am playing with confidence and playing solid golf, and I’m very comfortable playing with my friends and feeling I am back where I belong, it is my first time on the Asian Tour for a long time.”
The 33-year-old rose up through the ranks on the Asian Tour after turning professional 14 years ago – with his most recent victory coming in the ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth in 2018. In June that year he also became the first Thai golfer to earn a card on the PGA Tour, although he has since lost his playing privileges there.
“I haven’t been on the Asian Tour for a while, but I have been keeping an eye on it and it has been going from strength to strength so hopefully I can return with a win for myself, my friends on tour and my friends back home,” noted Aphibarnrat.
The last time Aphibarnrat competed on the Asian Tour was at the Thailand Masters in December 2019 and he returns at a time when the circuit is booming, helped by the introduction of the ground-breaking International Series events, launched earlier this year with LIV Golf.
On the International Series, he said: “It is great, it gives a great opportunity to the new generation, there are a lot of younger players and a lot of new stars of the game and the International Series is helping them to build their careers and judging by the new players, I think the Asian Tour is doing things the right way.”
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open will make a welcome return to the Asian Tour schedule this season. The event, which was last staged in 2019, will be played at its regular home Kurmitola Golf Club in Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka, from November 24-27 and will offer a purse of USD400,000.
Postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament will make a popular return as the penultimate event of the 2022 season and will play a crucial role in determining the winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
The tournament has the reputation of providing breakthrough wins for the next generation of Asian Tour stars such as Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who triumphed in the tournament three years ago, for his maiden success on the Asian Tour. In 2017, his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond also lifted his first Asian Tour trophy there which kick started a monumental run which included another five wins and the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in 2019.
Singaporean Mardan Mamat was victorious in 2015 which was the first year the event was played on the Asian Tour. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar won in 2011 and Bangladesh’s most famous golfing son, Siddikur Rahman, triumphed in 2010. The Bangladesh Open was first played in 2009 as part of the Professional Golf Tour of India.
“The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open is an essential part of the Asian Tour schedule and so we are absolutely delighted it will return this year," said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.
“The tournament presents everything that the Asian Tour is trying to achieve in terms of staging tournaments in new, untapped markets and helping to encourage golf at grass roots level. It’s a relatively new event with a very bright future.”
General S. M. Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army and President, Bangladesh Golf Federation, said: “We are proud to organise the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open at Kurmitola Golf Club in the name of ‘The Father of the Nation’ who was a sports loving person.
“After two difficult years when we were unable to stage our National Open, we are overjoyed to see the tournament return during the current calendar year. Bangladesh being a promising golf country is honoured to be able to host such international sporting events on this scale. This Asian Tour event will be a tremendous boost for the game of golf in Bangladesh.”
Siddikur, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, will once again lead to the local challenge. While his victory in the event happened before it joined the Asian Tour, he did come close to winning in 2017 when he was runner up.
Remarkably, the Bangladesh star learned the game as a caddie at Kurmitola Golf Club and has an incredible track record in tournaments there. He has claimed two Asian Development Tour events at Kurmitola - the 2011 Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters and the 2018 City Bank American Express Dhaka Open.
