High-level competition can certainly bring out the best in a sportsperson or at least, sharpen him into a better one.
Gavin Green of Malaysia recently concluded an intense three-week swing that brought him to the CIMB Classic, the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges and the HSBC-WGC Champions and finished the tournaments credibly in tied-61st, tied-67th and tied-38th respectively.
Highlights of the young Malaysian include opening rounds of six-under-par 66 at the CJ Cup and 65 at the HSBC-WGC Champions, proving that he has the skills to match up with the best golfers in the world.
While on the three-week swing, Green played alongside the elite such as 2017 PGA Championship winner, Justin Thomas, as well as 13-time European Tour winner, Paul Casey. The experience and competition will surely help him improve his game even further.
“Yes, three really good learning weeks,” he said, after the final round of the HSBC-WGC Champions. “I’m still learning obviously. It was tough out there. I played well a couple of days and then struggled for the next two days. I think I’ve got to learn to get four good rounds, or at least three good rounds.”
“I’ve really shown myself that over the whole three weeks, as it progressed, I’ve become better and better. Like I said, I think it’s just all a bit of experience and a bit of getting used to,” he added.
Green will be taking a one-week break before heading to the Philippines for the Resorts World Manila Masters.
The US$1 million event will be hosted by the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. A good result there will bolster his chances of winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) that he currently leads.
The top-five of the OOM remains unchanged after the Indonesian Open. David Lipsky of the United States and Scott Hend of Australian are in second and third place with earnings of US$461,179 and US$434,029 respectively. Indians S.S.P. Chawrasia (US$340,761) and Anirban Lahiri (US$320,150) are in fourth and fifth position.
The biggest movement came from Panuphol Pittayarat, who propelled from 23rd to 14th on the OOM after his commanding five-shot victory at the weather-hit Indonesian Open. He took home a winner’s purse of US$54,000.
“I came out this week with a new mentality to just enjoy golf and stick to my routine regardless of the result. Coming down the 18th hole, I totally did not know what I was shooting. I just took it one shot at a time,” said Panuphol. “I tried to play every hole the same way and not think about the result and it worked! I will keep that mentality going into the next couple of tournaments.”
This week, the Asian Tour will be heading to the Panasonic Open India, a US$400,000 Panasonic Swing event.
Asian Tour Order of Merit – Top-20
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
- Gavin GREEN (MAS) $542,536.06
- David LIPSKY (USA) $461,179.11
- Scott HEND (AUS) $434,029.6
- S.S.P. CHAWRASIA (IND) $340,761.61
- Anirban LAHIRI (IND) $320,150
- Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $305,925.43
- Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) $430,1852.41
- Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) $299,678.51
- Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) $284,489.61
- Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) $272,308.02
- Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) $232,971.27
- Richard T. LEE (CAN) $228,884.08
- Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) $218,810.98
- Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $210,903.82
- Younghan SONG (KOR) $208,231.59
- Jason NORRIS (AUS) $197,246
- Carlos PIGEM (ESP) $192,413.21
- Shiv KAPUR (IND) $182,719.62
- K.T. KIM (KOR) $180,466.93
- Todd SINNOTT (AUS) $179,545.89
