Golf
Column: Dustin Johnson no longer intimidating as a closer
Oct 31, 2017
SHANGHAI (AP) — No one ever can tell what’s going through Dustin Johnson’s head by looking at him. His expression was the same at the HSBC Champions when he was building a six-shot lead on Saturday and when he was losing it on Sunday.
Leave the emotions of the surreal moment to Henrik Stenson.
Suddenly one shot behind, Stenson drilled his 4-wood just short of the green at the par-4 16th and as he stood by his golf bag, he turned to the right and widened his eyes as far as they would go. It was a look that suggested, “What’s going on here?”
Johnson sure didn’t have many answers.
He left the 18th green with the same stoic expression that he had on the first tee when he began the final round with a six-shot lead. Instead of going to the trophy presentation on the third-floor balcony of the HSBC suite above the 18th green at Sheshan International, Johnson went into the scoring room to sign for a 77.
It was his highest closing round with the 54-hole lead since his 82 at Pebble Beach in the 2010 U.S. Open.
As collapses go, this was shocking for a couple reasons.
Johnson had made 22 birdies through three rounds. He had none on Sunday, and he wasn’t particularly close. The biggest putt he made all round was a 6-footer on the par-5 second hole to save bogey after driving into the water.
Even more surprising is that Johnson is No. 1 in the world with four victories this year. He is such an imposing figure that a trio of major champions behind him — Stenson, Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka — figured they were playing for second.
“Try and win the other golf tournament,” said Rose, who shot 67 and won the real thing.
As great as Johnson is — he is No. 1 in the world for a reason — this is happening far too often.
Pebble Beach was the first time Johnson played a final round with the lead, by three shots over Graeme McDowell. That was gone when Johnson made triple bogey on the second hole and then lost a ball in the bushes trying to drive the third green. Johnson learned that day to slow down.
There really hasn’t been another bad collapse since then. He had a two-shot lead at Doral in 2011 and finished second, although the seven players within three shots of him were all among the top 31 in the world ranking. The other times, he was tied for the lead.
Even so, for someone who has piled up 16 victories, one major and five World Golf Championships in 10 years on the PGA Tour, Johnson has not established himself as a great closer.
Not even close.
His record with at least a share of the 54-hole lead is hard to measure. By the book, he is 7-6, but three of those victories were only three rounds because of rain at Pebble Beach in 2009, high wind at Kapalua in 2011 and a hurricane at The Barclays in 2013.
Throw those out and he’s 4-6.
Johnson spoke just long enough Sunday to acknowledge some of the mistakes that led to his downfall, mainly chunking a short iron for his second shot on the par-5 14th that caused him to scramble for par, and chunking another one on the 15th that led to a plugged lie in a bunker and a bogey.
“That cost me two shots there,” he said.
And then he made bogey on the 16th — he made eagle there when he won the HSBC Champions in 2013 — by hitting his tee shot to the left into a buried lie in Bermuda rough and leaving himself such a bad angle that he could only ask for perfection on the next shot. He missed by a yard.
“So I gave a few away,” he said. “But tough conditions. I mean, it is what it is.”
Johnson is not the first No. 1 player to lose a six-shot lead. Greg Norman had what remains the most famous collapse because of the stage, Augusta National in 1996 when he shot 78 and finished five shots behind Nick Faldo.
Bobby Cruikshank shot an 80 to lose the 1928 Florida Open. Hal Sutton shot a 77 to lose the 1983 Anheuser-Busch Classic. Another player to lose a six-shot lead in the final round was Gay Brewer. He closed with a 73 in the 1969 Danny Thomas Diplomat Classic and was the victim of an Arnold Palmer charge. The other two on that dubious list were Sergio Garcia in 2005 at Quail Hollow and Spencer Levin in 2012 at Phoenix.
If there is cause for concern with Johnson, it’s his putter. He switched models when he won the BMW Championship last year and used that putter through three straight victories in the spring that took him to No. 1. He switched back to the putter that he used in 12 previous victories, including the U.S. Open. He brought a different putter with a mallet head to China, and that lasted one round. He took possession of a fourth putter 15 minutes before he shot 63 on Friday.
Will this collapse scar Johnson? Probably not. Johnson has a short memory, one of his many strengths.
Just don’t expect anyone chasing him on Sunday to think they’re playing for second, no matter how large the lead.
National Golf Association of the Philippines Chan and Constantino win Regionals
October 30, 2017
Aidric Chan (left) and Harmie Constantino hold their trophies after dominating their respective sides in Elite division of the 2017 NGAP Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championship.
Aidric Chan, 16 hobbled with a six-over 77 but still prevailed by six. While Harmie
Constantino, 16 beat Korean Shin Seo Yun by seven with a one-under 70. So they shared the
Elite division crowns in the 2017 NGAP Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championship.
Which was held at Beverly Place Golf Club in Mexico, Pampanga yesterday
16-year-old Chan of Ateneo took a team silver medal in the 2016 SEA Golf Championships
in the Men’s Team event. And more recently he won Silver at the prestigious Asian Juniors in
the Men’s singles in October in Gunsan Korea.
While Chan and Constantino are both still amateurs being under 18 years of age.
Furthermore, Constantino world amateur ranking is 282, while Aidric Chan is ranked 2257 in
the world rankings.
After blowing the field with a 68 and 67 in the first two days. Chan slackened a bit and
closed out with a 37-40 marred by six birdies. And a double bogey against a lone bogey. But
that hardly put a dent on his overnight 12-shot lead which proved to be too big for his rivals
to overcome.
National Golf Association of the Philippines
- Paolo Wong shot a 70 and finished fourth at 221
- While Lanz Uy also closed out with a one-under card for fifth at 224
- followed by Kuresh Samanodi (79-229),
- Kristoffer Arevalo (76-233),
- Pierre Ticzon (78-236),
- Don Petil (82-236),
- Leandro Bagtas (77-238).
Sources:
http://www.philstar.com/sports/2017/10/30/1753787/chan-constantino-cruise-ngap-regional-victories
http://www.ateneo.edu/ajhs/news/sports/chan-helps-ph-bag-silver-sea-golf-tilt
http://ateneo.edu/news/sports/aidric-chan-places-2nd-intl-golf-tourney
Rory vs Jason is coming to Manila! Golf Charity Match
Sept 28, 2016
RORY VS. JASON PRESS KIT CONTENT
ABOUT THE EVENT
Rory vs. Jason: Battle for a Cause is a charity exhibition match between two of the world’s biggest golf stars: five-time major winner Rory Mcllroy, and the current number one golfer in the world, Jason Day. Set to take place at Pradera Verde Golf Club (official partner venue for this event) in Lubao, Pampanga, this match-up marks the first time an international golf event of this stature is to be staged in the country. Happening on November 28 to 30, 2016, this will give Filipino golf enthusiasts the chance to not only meet and watch the two golf superstars in action, but to play in the same golf course as well. A gala dinner and charity auction will also be held to kickstart the historic event. Proceeds of the event will be raised for the benefit of a local charity. This world-class golf event is made possible by Mr. Salvador Zamora (official promoter and executive producer) and TV5 (official presenter).
ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE
The Pradera Verde Golf Course is undeniably the Philippines’ new prime destination for golfers. This 400-hectare gem boasts a championship layout in an inspiring environment filled with Earth’s natural beauty. Designed by Mike Singgaran, Pradera Verde is 36-hole golf course, with its 18-hole course now being a training ground for the country’s finest golfers. It is located at Barangay Prado Siongco in Lubao, Pampanga, about five minutes away from the Dinalupihan exit of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRODUCERS
Salvador “Buddy” Zamora, Promoter & Executive Producer
To most people, I am mostly known as a businessman and an entrepreneur. But to my family, friends and closest colleagues they know me for my passions in life. I love music and I actually have my own band. I am also a huge collector of guitars and other musical instruments. But what I would probably consider as my biggest personal passion in life is the game of golf.
As a businessman, it probably makes sense that I love golf. Everyone knows that the biggest business deals and negotiations happen on the green. But my affection for golf goes much beyond that. I’m not just a fan. I’m a student of the game. I travel the world following the greatest golfers just to see them play. And this is where I see a great opportunity for the Filipino. For years now I’ve kept telling myself, “Why not the Philippines?” This country has produced many golf greats. We also have some special young talent developing right now before our eyes. The potential for more golfing fans and players in the Philippines is there.
This event, Jason Vs Rory: Battle for a Cause, is our groundbreaking for a new era of golf in the Philippines. My vision is to continue bringing in world-class golfing events to the Philippines to thrill our golf enthusiasts and fans, giving them access to the game and the players that they love. More than that, I want to nurture and support our next generation of Filipino golfers by creating opportunities and venues for them to obtain the funding and training that they need.
Vincent “Chot” Reyes, Producer
TV5, with its tradition and commitment to excellence, has been home to monumental sporting events and coverage. With its multi-platform reach, TV5’s track record has proven itself to be of gold standard and an ideal partner for the biggest local and international sports activities. Together with our Chairman MVP and the PLDT/SMART group, we firmly uphold our belief in the importance of sports as an integral part of nation-building. We believe in the capability of sports to create strong and responsible citizens.
Over the years TV5 and the MVP group companies have brought to Filipino homes the thrill of different sports including golf which is what we are celebrating this time. As the premier sports channel, we strongly support this event and it is an honor to take part in a noble cause as two international golf superstars, world #1 and Fil-
Australian Jason Day and Rory Mcllroy battle for the benefit of their respective charities. We are one with you in your commitment to serve others through sports. This important event will definitely be another great addition to TV5’s popularity as the number one sports channel in the Philippines.
ABOUT THE PLAYERS
Jason Day
Born in Beaudesert, Queensland, Jason Day whose mother is a native Filipino is the number 1 golfer in the world.
Day turned professional in 2006 after winning the NEC Master of the Amateurs in Australia. On the PGA Tour he found immediate success, making the cut in five of his first six PGA Tour events.
He first contended in a major at the 2011 Masters where he birdied the last two holes but came up just short of eventual winner Charl Schwartzel. He has been a force on the PGA Tour since.
Day ascended the pinnacle of golf’s world rankings after winning his first major, the 2015 PGA Championship in record fashion beating then world number 1 Jordan Spieth. Day capped off a superb season by winning The Barclays and BMW Championship in the FedEx Cup playoffs to take the top spot from Spieth.
“I’m excited,” said the world number 1, “excited for my first visit to the Philippines and excited that I’ll be able to do some good for a charity.”
Day has amassed $ 35,397,915 in prize money from 15 professional wins. A superb iron player, Day tops the PGA stats for strokes gained-putting and is in the top ten around the green.
Rory McIlroy
The young man from Hollywood, Northern Ireland is a prodigious striker of the golf ball. He made waves on the European Tour as the youngest to ever earn a tour card. Rory has never been far from success thanks to his ability to move the golf ball.
He currently ranks first on the PGA Tour for strokes gained off the tee, tenth in driving distance with 306.2 yards, is second on Tour in birdie average and second in strokes gained from tee to green. McIlroy achieved the top spot in the world rankings in 2012 and held on until 2014. He is currently ranked third.
His long game has powered him to 12 European Tour wins and 11 wins on the PGA Tour, including four majors; the 2011 US Open and the 2012 PGA Championship, at both his winning margin was 8-strokes, the 2014 Open Championship, and the PGA Championship again also in 2014. McIlroy lacks only the Masters to complete the career grand slam to ensure his immortality in the game.
Like Day, McIlroy is looking forward to visiting the Philippines. “Yes, I’m really excited to be coming to the Philippines,” said Rory, “It’s a chance to see a country I’ve never visited and compete against Jason, a great friend and the top-ranked golfer in the world.”
“It’s also great to be able to help out some local charities while we’re here in the Philippines. I was really lucky to have had such strong family support as a kid, so I see myself as very fortunate to be able to give something back to disadvantaged young people and their communities.”
EVENT PROMOTERS
Dolphin Fire Group, Inc.
Dolphin Fire Group, Inc (DFGI) is an investments management firm that focuses on media investments and provides marketing services to its investee companies as well as other clients.
DFGI aims to establish itself as the premier producer of world-class golf events in the Philippines, and will bring the European Tour to Philippine shores in 2018.
CAA Sports
A leader in the global golf marketplace, CAA Sports Golf delivers custom solutions for brands to effectively achieve their marketing and business objectives. The team offers clients expertise in strategic planning, brand activation, media integration, negotiation, player activation, event management, and charity initiatives, and maintains long-standing relationships with the governing bodies. With offices in Jacksonville, New York, London, and Munich, CAA Sports Golf is involved in the planning and implementation of professional and amateur golf tournaments.
The four-time recipient of the award for “Best in Talent Representation and Management,” presented by the Sports Business Journal, CAA Sports represents more than 1,000 of the world’s best athletes. CAA Sports is a division of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
ALAGANG KAPATID
ALAGANG KAPATID FOUNDATION, also known as AKFI, is the corporate social responsibility arm of TV5. It is committed to promoting and supporting humanitarian causes. It is directed by a 5-member board headed by Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan and its Executive Director, Ms. Menchie Silvestre.
Alagang Kapatid Foundation adheres to this vision: To be a preferred media-based organization in the immediate delivery of effective and efficient support to disadvantaged people. It has two main programs: (1) Medical and Social Services and (2) Disaster Response, Recovery and Rehabilitation.
AKFI contributes to the medical needs of indigent patients in government health institutions through provision of medicines and guarantees letters. During disasters or calamities both man-made and natural, AKFI provides relief assistance to the most affected and least served areas.
Ready-to-eat food is provided during the first 24 hours relief operations. Relief goods such as rice, vegetables, fish, canned goods, locally available goods, and hygiene kits are provided as follow through assistance.
Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc., as the lead of the MVP Group of Companies’ Tulong Kapatid (composed of PLDT-Smart Foundation, Maynilad, Philex Mining and One Meralco Foundation), to date has assisted over 8,700 families through relief operations and over 2,500 individuals through soup kitchen initiatives.
PRESS RELEASE ARTICLE
Golf’s Biggest Names Battle for a Cause
Over the years, Filipinos have developed a love for golf – a sport that has been in the country for over a hundred years and has since been rising to prominence in the local sports scene. The Filipinos have evolved from being mere spectators and enthusiasts of the sport, to professionally competing with golfers around the world.
In recent times, the game’s popularity in the Philippines was propelled by a single event staged 20-years ago when Tiger Woods arrived in the country for an exhibition with local golf stars. This year, thanks to a man whose passion for the game is matched with the willingness to grow the game he so dearly loves, another landmark sports event is to be staged in the country that could launch golf into a new age of popularity.
Salvador Zamora (of Menlo Renewable Energy Corp or MREC), promoter and executive producer of this event, put the wheels in motion to have two of the biggest names in modern golf, Jason Day, the world’s number one golfer and Rory McIlroy, former world number one and five-time major winner, to stage an exhibition match at the brand new Pradera Verde Golf Club (official partner venue) in Lubao, Pampanga and it’s all in the name of charity.
While most of the money raised will go to both golfers’ foundations (Rory Foundation for McIlroy and the Brighter Days Foundation for Day), an agreement with both golfers has been reached to make sure the monies will be donated locally. This event also represents a chance for half-Filipino Jason Day (his mother, Dening, hails from Leyte) to reconnect with his roots.
Jason Day is dealing from a position of strength these days. He rose to the top spot in the world on the back of great golf made possible, in large part, to his prodigious ball striking abilities. Although Day is as long as they come but his real strength is on and around the greens where he leads the PGA Tour statistical categories for putting and scoring. He is a fighter and nowhere does it show more than on the golf course.
As invincible as he may seem, Day will have his hands full with former world number one (currently world number three), Rory McIlroy. The Ulsterman is the best driver of the golf ball in the world today. He is longer than Day with the driver which presents a lot of scoring possibilities. Where he has struggled recently is with the putter and around the green, both areas in which Day is dominant. McIlroy, however, recently picked up a new putter and a new putting coach in American Phil Kenyon. The move immediately paid dividends when Rory won the Deutche Bank Masters last week leading the putting stats to do so.
With both men at the peak of their respective games, the Rory vs. Jason match-up is definitely one for the books. Produced by Dolphinfire and CAA, the charity event will be on November 29, 2016, with the charity gala dinner and memorabilia auction happening the night before. VIP ticketholders will also be given the chance to play the course with the golf superstars on November 30, 2016.
Events Schedule
Nov 28, 2016 (Monday)
Shangri-la at the Fort, Manila • VIP Cocktails • Dinner Gala • Charity Auction
Nov 29, 2016 (Tuesday)
Pradera Verde Golf & Country Club • Media Press Conference • Jason Day Vs Rory Mcilroy Battle For A Cause: Exhibition Charity Match
Nov 30, 2016 (Wednesday)
Pradera Verde Golf & Country Club • Beat The Pros Challenge
Filipina golfers eye podium finish in Asian Games
MST Sports, Sept 19, 2014
DESPITE its 10th-place finish in the recent World Amateurs, Team Philippines’ chances to medal in this year’s Asian Games looks bright, according to national team coach Bong Lopez, three weeks before golf competition is fired off in the quadrennial games in Incheon, South Korea.
For one, Lopez said he had seen the level of play of two of the fancied teams in the fold—Korea and Japan—in the World Am in Japan and noted that Princess Superal, Miya Legaspi and Pauline del Rosario have what it takes to mix it up with the tall Koreans and the consistent Japanese.
Read the Full Article Here
Filipina Golfer Superal Sizzles with 60 leads, by 4
Article from Philippine Star by Dante Navarro
BAGUIO, Philippines - – Amateur Princess Superal came out a bit better than pro Chihiro Ikeda in their backside hunt for eagles and birdies that came like rain at Camp John Hay course here yesterday, firing a brilliant, bogey-free nine-under 60 and seizing a big four-stroke lead at the start of the P500,000 ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Two eagles at the backside of the par-69 layout spiked a fiery windup for the young, talented shotmaker from the ICTSI golf stable, who closed out with a seven-under 27 for that 60 – putting her well ahead of a stunned field, including Ikeda, who matched Superal’s two-eagle feat a flight behind but still trailed by four with a 64.
“I just had a good day. Solid drives, iron shots and putting,”
said Superal, humbled and not proud of her feat that came close to matching Carl Santos-Ocampo’s 58 on a par-68 yardage in last year’s ICTSI John Hay Invitational of the men’s pro circuit.
Although Superal fashioned out her latest exploit on a composite blue-white tee set-up, it still showed the brilliance in the diminutive 16-year-old lass, who birdied Nos. 1 and 6 then turned on the heat on a cold day with a solid iron game that set up short birdies on Nos. 10, 11 and 13.
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Gold medals ticket by judo bets to SEA GamesSUBJECT: INQUIRY REGARDING FEMALE GOLFERS ENTERED FOR OTHER SEA NATIONS
DATE: October 25, 2013
In regards to data on Female Golfers being sent by other SEA Nations I have the following data attached. I have highlighted all the SEA Games bound athletes in yellow high lighter.
Firstly to note there are only three countries who are ranked strong enough in SEA Women’s Golf according to data attached with ‘The World Amateur Golfing Rankings for Women’s’
As requested I obtained the list of the proposed team by National Golf Association (NGAP) of the Philippines from Paul Ycasas from the taskforce. ‘Attached’
Philippines has the Gold and Silver medallists at the ASEAN Youth Games ‘Attached’ Claire Amelia Legaspi and Princess May Superal. The other four athletes listed by NGAP Hoey, Uy, Del Rosario and Pagdanganan are not ranked on the world rankings.
It’s important to note that several of our top women’s golfers have recently turned professional ‘article attached’
Malaysia will be fielding Kelly Tan, Nur Durriyah Damian, Vivian Chang and Michelle Koh in their line-up all four of these athletes appear in the World Amateur golf rankings.
Thailand will be fielding Supamas Saengchan who finished with bronze behind Legaspi and Superal at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in Nanjing. Benyapa Niphatsophon and Ornnicha Konsunthea (8th in Asian Youth Games). ‘Article attached’ It’s important to note the article also stated that Thailand is not fielding its strongest women golfers who are based in the United States.
With this data evident Legaspi and Superal would performance credibly in individual events at SEA open age competition but as a whole the strength of the other four members as a team is questionable.
For your reference
REPORT AND RANKINGS
*Unsure why they opted not to send Superal she is Asian Youth Champ and Ranked 3rd in SEA against seniors according to the World Amateur rankings.
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 20, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - Due to the absence of a competitive team, the Philippines has decided to pull out of the golf competitions in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco broke the news yesterday, saddened by the fact that the country’s top female golfers had turned professional.
In the men’s side, two of the top players have cited their studies as the main reason they can’t join the Philippine team to the SEA Games.
“What I know is that we don’t have a golf team to the SEA Games. Most of our lady golfers turned professional,” said Cojuangco, who turned 79 yesterday.
The POC chief said the decision to pull out of the SEA Games was made by the National Golf Association of the Philippines under Tommy Manotoc.
Filipina golfers who turned pro this year are Dottie Ardina, Jayvee Agojo, Cyna Rodriguez and Chihiro Ikeda, leaving only Princess Superal of the ICTSI golf program as the only available player.
Asian youth champion Princess Superal ranked #3 in SEA is the only non-professional golfer left available for womens team in SEA Games.
Also reading the below article i must agree with the decision of the taskforce as the players presented are not certain medalists.
“But how can we be sure about that? Which team or which individual is sure of winning the gold?”
If we are not entirely sure isn’t that too much of a risk?
Full article here
Mens
| Athlete Name | Nation | Divisor | Points Avg | |
| 1 | Joe Sakulpolphaisan | Thailand | 48 | 906.25 |
| 2 | Anton Arboleda | Philippines | 45 | 892.78 |
| 3 | Itthipat Buranatanyarat | Thailand | 31 | 882.26 |
| 4 | Nattawat Suvajanakorn | Thailand | 47 | 873.94 |
| 5 | Danthai Boonma | Thailand | 54 | 869.44 |
| 6 | Rico Hoey | Philippines | 42 | 833.33 |
| 7 | Poom Saksansin | Thailand | 26 | 821.43 |
| 8 | Abel Tam | Malaysia | 63 | 813.10 |
| 9 | Tawan Phongphun | Thailand | 47 | 810.11 |
| 10 | Suradit Yongcharoenchai | Thailand | 36 | 809.03 |
| 11 | Jerome Ng | Singapore | 76 | 790.13 |
| 12 | Marc Ong | Singapore | 73 | 771.06 |
| 13 | Kasidit Lepkurte | Thailand | 34 | 770.59 |
| 14 | Melvin Chew | Singapore | 31 | 766.13 |
| 15 | Muhammad Wafiyuddin Abdul Manas | Malaysia | 44 | 755.68 |
| 16 | Rupert Zaragosa III | Philippines | 51 | 755.55 |
| 17 | Niklaus Chiam | Singapore | 50 | 743.00 |
| 18 | Kha Jei Low | Malaysia | 60 | 738.12 |
| 19 | Jobim Carlos | Philippines | 57 | 733.99 |
| 20 | Johnson Poh | Singapore | 38 | 709.21 |
Women’s
| Athlete Name | Nation | Divisor | Points Avg | |||
| 1 | Chirapat Jao-Javanil | Thailand | 35 | 1347.86 | ||
| 2 | Kelly Tan | Malaysia | 39 | 1139.10 | ||
| 3 | Princess Mary Superal | Philippines | 67 | 1121.08 | *Asian Youth Champion | |
| 4 | Cyna Rodriguez | Philippines | 43 | 1032.27 | ||
| 5 | Michelle Koh | Malaysia | 39 | 1009.62 | ||
| 6 | Regina De Guzman | Philippines | 40 | 992.50 | ||
| 7 | Supamas Sanghcan | Thailand | 37 | 964.86 | ||
| 8 | Benyapa Niphatsophon | Thailand | 50 | 939.00 | ||
| 9 | Yupaporn Kawinpakorn | Thailand | 36 | 911.81 | ||
| 10 | Loy Hee Ying | Malaysia | 36 | 911.11 | ||
| 11 | Charlotte Jaengkit | Thailand | 28 | 895.09 | ||
| 12 | Nur Durriyah Damian | Malaysia | 49 | 894.13 | ||
| 13 | Sherman Santiwiwattanapong | Thailand | 38 | 889.47 | ||
| 14 | Chonlada Chayanun | Thailand | 30 | 887.92 | ||
| 15 | Sasikarn On-iam | Thailand | 28 | 878.57 | ||
| 16 | Suchaya Tangkamolprasert | Thailand | 36 | 877.78 | ||
| 17 | Omicha Konsunthea | Thailand | 31 | 852.82 | ||
| 18 | Mai Dechathipat | Thailand | 30 | 850.83 | ||
| 19 | Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras | Thailand | 47 | 847.34 | ||
| 20 | Iman Ahmad Nordin | Malaysia | 46 | 834.78 | ||
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CONGRATULATIONS to PRINCESS MARY SUPERAL for winning the GOLD MEDAL in the Women’s Golf Singles; and to our Women’s Golf Team composed of Princess Mary Superal, Katrina Marie Briones and Clare Amelia Legaspi for winning the GOLD MEDAL in the Women’s Golf Team event!
16-year-old Superal was the silver medalist at the Asian Youth Champion earlier this year in Nanjing, China behind 14-year-old Mia Legaspi also the Philippines. She was added to the team when most of the countries current top women’s golfers decided to turn pro.
MABUHAY KA Princess, Katria, and Clare!
SEA Games 2013
In Golf, rankings were prepared and suggested that Princess Superal the Asian youth silver medalist would be competitive at SEA Games level as she was also ranked 2nd in South East Asia against seniors. Superal went on to win the individual gold medal. At 16 years of age, many name her as the best athlete of the meet for the Philippine Team.
Excitement wanes without Wie
Posted: 5:21 AM (Manila Time) | Jan. 19, 2004
Agence France-Presse
HONOLULU, Hawaii — The “Big Easy” was back in contention, but without the “Big Wiesy,” the third round of the Sony Open on Saturday seemed just a little flat.
Who would have thought the absence of a 14-year-old girl would detract from a PGA Tour event? But then Michelle Wie has shown she’s not just any schoolgirl golfer.
“It seemed boring out there today, not a lot of excitement,” America’s world No. 4 Davis Love admitted.
Wie shocked many by missing the cut Friday by just one stroke, carding a second-round 68 for a two-round total of even-par 140.
“She shot 68 in a PGA Tour event - it’s an incredible accomplishment,”
Love added of the Korean-American ninth-grader. “She’s proven in ladies’ events, in men’s events, that she can play at the top-level.
“There was an argument whether she should be playing or not, but I’m glad she played. I thought it was exciting. It’s the talk in the locker room, the guys that got out-hit and got beat.”
South African Ernie Els, nicknamed the Big Easy for the sweet, unhurried swing that Wie’s so resembles — earning her the nickname
the Big Wiesy — played a practice round with this week’s star attraction.
He was full of praise for the youngster and said he expected to see her back in the field here next year.
“I think she validated her exemption in this tournament,” said Els, who Was lying second to American Harrison Frazar after the third round. “It would be great if she could play again next year.”
Love remembered contemplating whether Annika Sorenstam — the world’s best woman golfer — would be able to compete at The Colonial last season. It seems like another lifetime ago.
“Just a year ago, we were wondering if a lady could play out here, and here is a 14-year-old,” he said. “Do you know of any other golfer with more potential under the age of 25?
“She’s got the talent to win almost any tournament she enters, but she’s still only 14 and still inexperienced. I think she’s the next Tiger Woods, but you just have to see what happens the next few years,” he added.
Love said his 15-year-old daughter, who rarely watches golf on TV, was glued to the telecast Friday night, as was his 10-year-old son.
“My son thinks that since he’s 10, in five years time he can be on tour,”
Love said. “That’s the influence (Wie) has and that’s why it’s good for the game that she plays, because she gets kids thinking that way.
“Do you think Michelle Wie would be thinking she could play on the PGA Tour if it weren’t for Tiger Woods? I don’t think so,” Love said.
“That’s his influence, and her influence will be just as great, especially for little girls.”
Tiger’s not the predator of old
JUNE 7, 2003
The Strait Times Interactive
|
POTOMAC (Maryland) - Tiger Woods no longer enjoys the same level of dominance over his rivals as he did two years ago and will be scrutinized more than usual when he launches his US Open title defense next week.
| Scenes of Woods agonizing over the mis-hit drives and missed putts have become common recently. — REUTERS |
The world No 1, who clinched it last year by three shots at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, has not won a Major title since then and his aura of invincibility has taken more than a few knocks recently.
Although he remains the game’s best player by some distance, his intimidation factor does not appear to be at the level it was 12 months ago, and knee surgery last December has forced him to reduce his playing schedule this season.
Remarkably, he managed to win three times in four starts when he returned to the PGA Tour earlier this year but he has played in only four tournaments since then with a solitary top-10 finish.
The doubts began to surface when he failed to clinch an unprecedented third consecutive US Masters title in April, having surged into contention with a brilliant third-round 66.
A poor decision to use a driver on the third tee at Augusta National on the last day cost him a double-bogey six, and any chance of going on to seal the victory. He had to settle for a share of 15th after a 75.
Since his forgettable day in Georgia, he has tied for 29th at the European Tour’s Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Germany and, more encouragingly, shared fourth at the Memorial on Sunday, when he was clearly boosted by a closing 65.
And he believes he is close to his best form as he prepares for the year’s second Major.
‘Things are starting to show some real positive signs,’ said the American. ‘I’m pleased with the way I have been practicing, hitting the ball on the range and playing on the course. I’m close to getting the swing where I need to have it.’
Always meticulous in his preparations for the Majors, he played Olympia Fields Country Club’s North Course for the first time last week. ‘It’s a different golf course and there are a lot of angles,’ he said. ‘You have to shape the ball. You have to make a decision on your carries, what line to take.
‘At Bethpage, it was straight ahead and go ahead. I think I will be using more three-woods than anything else off the tee.’
The par-70 North Course layout, unusually, has no par-five holes on its second nine and provides a notoriously tough finish with both the par-three 17th and par-four 18th played into the prevailing wind. ‘I think it’s going to force everybody to play more defensively,’ said the 27-year-old.
In keeping with tradition, the title-holder will be playing the first two rounds with the British Open champion, Ernie Els, and the US amateur champion, Ricky Barnes.
This means the world’s top two players will be going head-to-head over the first two days.
When Woods won three of the four Majors during 2000, two-time US Open winner Els was one of several leading players who clearly suffered psychologically from the ‘Tiger factor’.
The South African’s mental frailty deteriorated further at last year’s Masters when he self-destructed on the back nine after contending for the title. But all that appeared to change with his British Open victory at Muirfield last year.
Els signaled he could provide a genuine challenge to Woods at this year’s Majors after winning four titles in his first five starts of the season. The only slight concern has been his putting but the world No 2 is confident this will be rectified in time for Thursday’s tee-off.
Others quite capable of challenging strongly include Masters champion Mike Weir and two-time Major winner Vijay Singh.
— Reuters, AP
