Phachara goals to emulate Jazz’s feat

Korean Kim seems to be for one more win at residence

CHEONAN: Phachara Khongwatmai will probably be aiming to comply with within the footsteps of fellow Thai Jazz Janewattananond when he tees off within the sixty fourth version of the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship on Thursday.

It was three years in the past to the week that Jazz triumphed at Woo Jeong Hills Nation Membership — the final time the match was staged on the Asian Tour.

Jazz went on to win the Asian Tour Order of Benefit that season.

With three top-six finishes to his title already this marketing campaign, Phachara is now wanting so as to add a second Asian Tour title to his resume, having made his breakthrough on the Laguna Phuket Championship late final 12 months.

Had been he to take action at Woo Jeong Hills, the place he tied for thirty first in 2019, not solely would Phachara consolidate his place within the prime 5 of the present Order of Benefit, but in addition increase his hopes of emulating the feats of Jazz in topping the season-end standings.

An added incentive for Phachara and all these within the beginning line-up is that the Korea Open is as soon as once more a part of the British Open qualifying collection.

The main two gamers, not already exempt, who end within the prime 10 will earn spots in subsequent month’s one hundred and fiftieth British Open at St Andrews.

Amongst Phachara’s essential challengers within the occasion, which is co-sanctioned with the Korea Golf Affiliation, are American Sihwan Kim and residential participant Kim Bi-O, the main two gamers within the newest Order of Benefit.

Sihwan Kim has already received twice this 12 months whereas Kim Bi-O secured his maiden Asian Tour success finally month’s Maekyung Open on residence soil.

A second triumph on the Asian Tour in what’s the tenth leg of the 2022 season will probably be particularly nice for South Korea’s Kim, who introduced his arrival on the massive stage on the Kolon Korea Open in 2010.

It should additionally mark his third triumph on residence soil this 12 months as he received the SK Telecom Open earlier this month.

Then aged 20 and in his first 12 months as an expert, Kim Bi-O was hailed as the good new Korean hope after ending joint second, two strokes behind compatriot YE Yang, who a number of months earlier had been topped as Asia’s first main winner following his defeat of Tiger Woods on the 2009 PGA Championship.

Yang is considered one of 5 main champions to have had his title inscribed on the Korea Open trophy because the occasion’s inauguration in 1958, alongside People Orville Moody and John Daly, Fijian Vijay Singh and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

Different notable winners embrace People Rickie Fowler and Scott Hoch, whereas Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy was runner-up in 2011 and 2013.

Because of Covid-19 associated journey restrictions for foreigners, final 12 months’s Korean Open have been performed as a home occasion on the Korean PGA Tour, with Lee Jun-Seok victorious.

The match was cancelled in 2020. Lee, who received once more on the native circuit on Sunday, will probably be brimming with confidence when he returns to defend his title this week.

Asian Tour commissioner Cho Minn Thant stated: “The Korea Open is considered one of our mainstay occasions and at all times a excessive level of the 12 months.

“With the sixty fourth Korea Open again on the schedule it reveals the Asian Tour is returning to full pace and, together with the Maekyung Open, means our members are capable of return to considered one of their favorite match locations.”