GAGANJEET BHULLAR Discusses his journey powered by The all-new Hyundai TUCSON - Golf Plus Monthly
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EDITOR’S
LETTER
OCTOBER 2022
Vol.-XV, Issue - 10
Editor-in-Chief: Anil Dev
Editorial Board:
Amit Luthra
Col. R. Dewan (Retd.)
Contributing Editors:
Brandon de Souza
Digraj Singh
Farzan Heerjee
Gaurav Bajaj
Maj. D.N. Dass
Michael Wilson
Gaganjeet Bhullar with Anil Dev, Editor-in-Chief, GolfPlus Monthly
Raja Danish Aman
Randy Williams
Ridhima Dilawari
THE COMPLETE MAN! Deputy Editor:
Charu Dewan
Ferry Monné
Creative & Newsdesk Team:
he issue in your hand has Gaganjeet which also features the Eisenhower Cup.
T
Deepak, Pushpendra & Akansha
Bhullar featured on the cover. The cover We have the recap in the instructions section Place of Publication:
story is about his life and also about the with our popular feature ‘Play Better’ with a Golf Plus: 436, Sector-37,
Noida 201301 (U.P.), India
launch of The all-new Hyundai TUCSON. quick fix-Hit your target, back to the basics Tel.: +91-120-4570554
The all-new Hyundai TUCSON has and set up for a more solid strike. While I Marketing Department
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Comfortable interior, integrated technology, game one practice hack which I found worked
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which would easily make it stand out amongst a definite goal.
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the other SUV’s just like the subject of our The Team at Golfplus Monthly wishes all our subscription@golfplusmonthly.com
cover story. Gaganjeet’s golf journey from readers a prosperous Diwali! Printed at:
the onset stands him out as a star. Born in a HT Media Limited
small town with limited access to modern golf Plot No. 8, Udhyog Vihar,
Greater Noida - 201306, U.P.
facilities his single-minded dedication to the on 1st October, 2022
game brought out the star in him. The journey Owner, Printer & Publisher:
itself has been fulfilling with winning a Silver Anil Dev
in Asian Games, lowering the age of Arjuna
Awards for golf by being awarded at the age of Editor-in-Chief
26, winning 10 times on the Domestic Tour and editor@golfplusmonthly.com
10 Times on the Asian Tour. Giving back to ©2010 GolfPlus Article and features, including
humanity by way of adopting a whole village illustrations can only be reproduced with the
permission of the Editor. We regret we cannot be
in Punjab sets him apart as the complete man! MEDIA ASSOCIATES MEDIA PARTNER liable for the safe custody or return of any solicited
or unsolicited material, whether typescripts,
The issue is replete with golf news from the photographs, transparencies, artwork or computer
discs. Contributors are advised to keep copies of
various tours round the world including the all material submitted. Page Nos. 35 to 39 printed
coverage of various events on the domestic under license from Bauer Consumer Media
Limited (Todays Golfer/Golf World)
tour the Professional Golf Tour of India. Read Send address changes to: 436/37 Noida 201301,
Uttar Pradesh, India
about the Amateur Tour in the IGU section
4 GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022
This Month
Dipak Kanunga Mail in details of your achievement
Golf
Kalhaar Blues & Greens and join the elite GolfPlus Ace Club:
Club, Ahmedabad editor@golfplusmonthly.com
C K Malik
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Club, Ahmedabad
Feature SLEEP YOUR WAY TO TRUE ALIVENESS Question: Sadhguru, I tend to have a lot of you will say, “That’s nice, Sadhguru. I really productive process so that you will need less visions in my sleep. I was wondering if you want to just be. But what is the take-away from sleep. If you sleep in absolute relaxation, the could talk about that. this sathsang?” For most human beings, the only gene expression and other processes in the body Sadhguru: Once, a burglar was caught stealing, area that they have not managed to corrupt in will happen more quickly and more efficiently. and he was taken to the court. On the surface, their lives is death. Even if they try, they cannot That means you will wake up sooner. this man was well-to-do, so the judge asked corrupt it because no matter what they think If you are inefficient in wakefulness, it is not him, “You have enough in life. Why are you they know, 99.999% of the human beings do not good, but we will bear with you. But if you stealing from other people?” The burglar used know a thing about death. Suppose death comes are inefficient even in sleep, death will be the Inner Engineering Online class that he to you right now, whatever theories and books the only answer, because that is the only area had done and said, “Well, you know, the wise that you have read, whatever near-death and where you cannot be inefficient. When you have always said, ‘Whatever a man may have, out-of-body experiences you have heard about – die, you die. If you learn to simply sleep, to he always wants more.’” The judge looked at everything will just evaporate. You actually do “simply be” in wakefulness will be the next him and said, “Okay. I give you 10 years. If you not know anything – death is one clear, blank, step. To “simply be” means that your physical want more, tell me.” uncorrupted space. presence has become a doorway to the beyond. At least in sleep, don’t look for more. It would We want to bring this quality into your life, that What is beyond can find expression through be fantastic if you did not look for more in your life is uncorrupted. Sleep is a good area to this doorway. Otherwise, as a person, you are wakefulness either – simply be. If that is not start with because in sleep, you are simulating like a stone block between what is physical and possible for you right now, at least in sleep, do not death, or at least you are acting dead. Do not what is beyond. In that state, living is difficult, ask for more – simply sleep. If you could simply corrupt that by trying to have visions or the sleeping is difficult – everything is difficult. be right now, that would be too wonderful. But like. You can make sleep into a phenomenally To live in this vast existence all by yourself 10 G o l f P l u s O C T O B E R 2022
Feature
without being connected to anything bigger than stones are very alive – a lot more alive than many
yourself is a terrible difficulty. human beings. “Sleeping like a log” would be a
Therefore, you believe something to solace better expression, because a log is dead – it is
yourself – “God loves me.” If God loves you not a tree anymore. This is not about sleeping Aliveness is far
so much and you love him so much, you must like a log, but about sleeping in a live manner –
being awake and asleep at the same time. If you
more fundamental than
go. It is not good to keep lovers apart – they
must meet. This whole idea that someone from bring even a small percentage of this element youthfulness. When just
above can love you has destroyed humanity. into your sleep, you will naturally become those two cells met,
Because people treat each other the way they meditative over a period of time. Meditation not
as an act but as a quality will become a part of
aliveness happened. In
do, love cannot happen here; it can only come
from above, and they can only love the one that your existence. 48 days’ time, a
they cannot see. When I say that you are in the We have tried to bring this aspect into your life much bigger boost
lap of the Creator, do not think you are being in so many ways, starting with the Shambhavi to aliveness
lovingly nurtured and start dreaming how God Mahamudra. Shambhavi means twilight – you
is stroking your head and putting you to sleep. are between day and night, night and day.
happened.
Your being in the lap of the Creator is not my Twilight means you are asleep, but you are
idea – it is the reality. awake; you are awake, but you are asleep. days, it is just cells. Somewhere between 40
Sleep is a state where you are on the edge Changing the quality of our sleep – not the to 48 days, it becomes a different dimension of
between the world of sounds and the world of quantum – is the necessary foundation for aliveness where it can create itself. From then
silence, but you can only move into the world someone to become a yogi. In wakefulness, on, the fetus is a life by itself. It is only drawing
of silence when you are aware. You can move you must be fully awake but if you check the nourishment. Are there doctors here who can
through the world of sounds and forms unaware, parameters of the body, it must be asleep. In speak about the medical parameters, why there
but you cannot move into the world of silence, sleep, your body should sleep, your mind should is a difference between what is happening in
which is devoid of any vibration, devoid of any sleep, but you must be awake. the first 48 days after conception and what is
forms, in unawareness. If you enter that space If for 30 days, you wake up clearly feeling happening later in the womb?
where there are no forms and no structures in that you are much younger and more alive Participant: The fertilization occurs in the
unawareness, you are as good as nonexistent. than when you went to bed at night – in 30 fallopian tube and from there, the fertilized
Right now, your awareness is such that suppose days’ time, you will have become receptive; ovum travels to the uterus. After around 48
we drop you somewhere in outer space where you will have developed a non-resisting way days, it gets implanted into the endometrium
you cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or touch of being awake. There is a difference between and becomes a separate organism. The placenta
anything, after some time, you will not know being alive and being alert. Being alert means is created underneath the embryo. The blood
whether you exist or not. This is what happens resisting everything. When you are alive, you vessels from the placenta and the blood vessels
in sleep. Your existence is only contextual, not are open. When you are alert, you are closed. of the mother exchange the nutrition. The
existential. This is why, if you lose the context Mental alertness makes you a security guard. nutrition comes through the placenta into the
of your life, you will wonder why you are alive. You are on guard so that life does not happen growing embryo. It is a separate system. Even
If you lose some context that you have set up for to you. You are quite efficient at protecting if the mother is starving, still the fetus can very
yourself – in the form of a job, wealth, home, yourself against life – this is what alertness leads well grow.
or relationships – suddenly, you do not know you to. “Does this mean I should not be alert?” Sadhguru: Aliveness is a much more
why you exist. You are a contextual creature Aliveness is the nature of life. You should not fundamental process than awareness, alertness,
– you are not yet an existential creature. The be anything other than life. You must be able to agility – all these things come later. The most
whole spiritual process is about becoming an keep some distance between your aliveness and fundamental thing is to be alive. That is all the
existential creature with a firm footing in the everything else. If you do this, your aliveness goal of spiritual process is, to go to the most
creation, not just floating in a context. will not be opaque; your aliveness will not be fundamental aspect of what this mechanism is –
We want to use sleep as a platform for sedate; your aliveness will not ramp down as aliveness. Not working on mental alertness, not
awakening, to become one with all that is years go by. In fact, your body may get older, trying to improve your knowledge, not trying to
real – not as a way to become inert, dead, and but your aliveness will ramp up. Aliveness is gather this or that, just making yourself as alive
away from all that is real. When you sleep, you not virility of the body. Once there is a distance as you can be. Once you are a full-fledged life,
sleep as a part of the earth. Suppose you sleep between your aliveness and your body, your everything that you need to know about life, you
outside on the grass, you are like a little mound aliveness will find a much bigger expression, will naturally know.
on the earth. If you sleep long enough, you will because the compulsions of the body will not Aliveness is not an acquired state – it is your
become a mound. mask your aliveness anymore. nature. “Just being” means being absolute life –
Changing the quality of sleep does not mean Aliveness is far more fundamental than not a mind, not a thought, not an emotion, not an
sleeping like a stone. But actually, a stone is youthfulness. When just those two cells met, ideology, not a philosophy, not a belief system,
the wrong example, because in my experience, aliveness happened. In 48 days’ time, a much not a gender, not a race, not a caste, not a creed
bigger boost to aliveness happened. Up to 48 – just life. If you touch life on this level, you will
know by experience that life and the source of
life are packed inside each other.
RANKED AMONGST THE FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN INDIA, SADHGURU If you sit here just as a piece of life, there will be
no separation between yourself and the Divine.
IS A YOGI, MYSTIC, VISIONARY AND A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING If you cannot simply be yet, at least when
AUTHOR SADHGURU HAS BEEN CONFERRED THE PADMA VIBHUSHAN BY THE you are asleep, simply sleep. It will do many
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA IN 2017, THE HIGHEST ANNUAL CIVILIAN AWARD, miraculous things. If only you could be awake
and asleep at once, you would be in the lap of
ACCORDED FOR EXCEPTIONAL AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. the Divine for always.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 11WATC Men - Eisenhower Cup
31 Aug to 3rd Sept 2022
PLAYERS
Milind Soni Rayhan Thomas Raghav Chugh
T
he Men’s World Amateur Team Championships were held from 31st Aug to 3rd Sep 2022. This was the 32nd edition of the
championships. The French Golf Federation hosted the World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) this time at Le Golf National
(Albatros Course) and Golf de Saint-Nom-La- Brèteche (Red Course).
The World Amateur Team Championships is an international amateur golf competition held every two years and organized by the
International Golf Federation. The organization, formerly known as the World Amateur Golf Council, is made up of national golf
governing bodies of 146 nations. Each team consisting of two or three players will play four days of 18-hole stroke play. The team score
for the round is the sum of the two lowest scores from each team. The team’s final score for the competition is the four-day (72-hole)
total.
The Indian Players were Milind Soni, Rayhan Thomas & Raghav Chugh
The players were accompanied by Maj Gen Bibhuti Bhushan (Retd.), Director General, IGU.
12 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 13
Junior
ALL THAT GLITTERS ARE THE GOLDEN ARCHES
The McDonald’s Western India IGU Junior and Amateur Tour takes the region by storm
he ‘McDonald’s Western India IGU
T Junior and Amateur tour’ has created a
stir in the region bringing the top junior
and amateur golfers as well as the club
golfers on one platform and create a
tour which is highly competitive. The juniors
and amateurs compete for the overall prizes and
order of merit points while they also compete
in the respective age categories. For the first
time the tour has a category for Mid amateur ,
seniors and super senior golfers.
The tour which launched at the Poona Golf
Club this September with the ‘Pune Open
Golf Championship’ was followed by an event
at the Oxford Golf Resort ‘The Oxford Golf
Resort Championship’ . In all the calendar
has 10 events played at the top golf courses in
Western India spread over 5 cities (Mumbai,
Pune, Ahmedabad, Lonavala and Baroda).
The venues for the events will range from the
ever challenging Kalhaar Blues and Greens,
the picturesque Aamby Valley City, Gaekwad
Baroda Golf Club, the stunning and challenging
Bombay Presidency Golf Club , shotmakers
delight The Willingdon Sports Club and the
Gulmohar Greens Golf and Country Club to
mention a few.
The tour is operated and managed by Evolution
Sport one of the leading golf companies in the
country . Leading the tour and person behind
it is Mr Amit Nigam (Tour Commissioner) is
super keen to make this tour a success and give
the kids and amateurs a platform to showcase
their talent on a larger scale. ‘I would like
to thank our partners, sponsors and the golf
courses for supporting the tour which has
always been our dream. Growing the tour in an
organized manner will provide a more holistic
environment to grow the game in the region.’
The tour has support from various partners in
the nutrition, golf, technology and banking
space. Omnihealth and Setu are partners
on the tour who are nutrition partners and
provide vitamins for children. HDFC bank is
the banking partner, Cobra & Puma golf are
the equipment partners for the tour provided
excellent goody bags and prizes for the children
and Garmin is the technology partner offering
great value deals on all their products and
highlighting their newest technology in Golf
such as the R10 & G80 launch monitors.
Vice President of the IGU Mr Brijinder Singh
says ‘We are pleased the Western India Tour lots of activities in Western India The IGU and available to all those who want to learn
is underway and the participation of so many being the governing body for golf in India will and play. ’
golfers is encouraging. This is just the start for be doing all that is can to make golf accessible McDonald’s who is the title partner has made
14 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022Junior
its first big foray into the game and plans on Westlife Development. merit list winners (top 5 for category A, B
doing more than its share to grow the game in and amateurs) and Top 4 in C make it to the
What really is a Feeder Tour and
the region. “We are delighted to be associated national finals and National circuit next year.
why is it important -
with the “Western India Junior & Amateur What this does as well is release and ease up
Feeder Tour’. As an organization and as a A Feeder tour is conducted in the region the pressure on the parents and children to
brand Mcdonald’s, we believe in the overall among all the top golfers within the region only rely on Monday qualifying to get a spot in
wellbeing of the community in which we to get all of them to compete and make order the National Tournaments. Along with giving
operate, wherein sports plays an important of merit points. The National tour which this impetus to the best juniors in the region it
role. With these youngsters bonding together is growing and saturated needs a filtering provides a platform to all those who are in the
and getting closer to realize their aspirations, system and the feeder tour provided just rapidly growing junior programs the chance to
we are sure that this tour will be a huge that. The feeder tour is conducted in all for play their first few events and learn the basics
success.” - Akshay Jatia, Executive Director regions (North, South, East & West) where about tournament golf.
Results
The scoring from the two events didn’t disappoint. Given below is the results of the events.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 15COVER STORY Hyundai TUCSON I would say the one in Fiji, a co-sanctioned event on the European Tour was special as I had to compete with the likes of Ernie Else. 16 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022
COVER STORY Hyundai TUCSON
MY PERFECT DRIVE
Editorial Anil Dev // Photographs Saurabh Chhabra // Location Panchkula Golf Club, Panchkula, Haryana
B
orn in Kapurthala in the state Tour. Gaganjeet Bhullar likes to do her Farida. Naureen is an Army child and
of Punjab in India to Harbhajan things in Tens-He has won Ten titles has played Golf as a kid.
Singh and Sarabjeet Kaur both on the Asian Tour and Ten titles on
working for the Indian Railways. He the Professional Tour of India. GP: The toughest challenge you
was India’s number one amateur
GolfPlus Monthly catches up with have faced and how did you
in 2004 and 2006 and was part of
the ever pleasant Arjuna Awardee overcome it?
the Indian team that won the silver
to see what drives him! We got a
medal at the 2006 Asian Games. GB: I started playing golf in Kapurthala
little personal, a little professional and was a good ball striker but my biggest
He started his professional career and also technical with the all new challenge was putting as I did not have
on the Professional Golf Tour of Hyundai Tucson! access to great putting greens. As you
India where he has yet to miss a cut. are aware in Golf putting plays a major
He played in seven events in the GP: Your Personal Life? role. I had to put in a lot of hard work over
2006-07 season and never finished GB: I got married to Naureen in the years and changed my technique to
lower than T-18. He has wins on the December 2017 and we are blessed with overcome this challenge to become one of
Challenge as well as the European a one year old daughter, we have named the best putters in Asia!
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 17COVER STORY Hyundai TUCSON
GP: Your Journey into the GP: Your Experience of playing time, name one thing you would
Amateur Golf? for your Country at the Asian like to change and why?
GB: I joined the categorised amateur Games. GB: On the first thought there are so
tour at the age of 16 and made my GB: Oh it was the best moment in my many things, but then one thinks that
mark on the Amateur circuit. I was No.1 life. I had already represented India do we really want to change them?
in the rankings in the 1st year, No.4 in in the Namura Cup and Eisenhower But one thing I would change would
the 2nd year and again back to being Cup but winning a medal in the be my work ethics. I wish I had started
on top the 3rd year. I was the youngest Asian Games was something else. My working with technology much earlier
number one on the IGU Tour. parents are both athletes, they and building a support team which would
their friends have represented India have helped my game much earlier.
GP: Your experience of turning in Olympics and other games, it was
a proud moment for them, a moment
professional. GP: Tell us about your
close to my heart.
GB: It was a great experience, in fact Foundation?
an experience I was looking forward to. GP: The most memorable win GB: We started supporting the
I had an option to go the US like most
of the kids or turn Pro which I did. The
and why? underprivileged kids facilitating 4-5 lads
GB: Hard to pick out one as all were to play golf. But then the expenses on
decision was right as I was mentally
great for me but to rank them I would each kid were enormous. I then decided
ready to take on the ‘Big Boys’ and that
say the one in Fiji , a co-sanctioned to adopt a whole village in Punjab and
is what I did!
event on the European Tour was helped them with Drinking Water, Solar
special as I had to compete with the power and Bio energy to try and make
GP: Challenges you faced likes of Ernie Else who was 2 strokes a larger impact on humanity.
moving from the Amateur tour behind me and the course being a
tough one didn’t help. I had to pull GP: What does Gaganjeet
to the Professional World.
out all my wits and strategize to get
GB: Honestly there were no transitional that one. The other win was the recent plan in the coming future for
pangs as I was mentally ready for it. Indonesian event on the Asian Tour Gaganjeet?
The fact that in my last year as an which ended my 3 year draught. It was
GB: At 34 I still have a lot of Golf
Amateur I played a number of events special also as it was my first win as a
and belief left in me. I plan to work
on the Professional tour really helped. father, a perfect gift for my daughter!
with technology and data to improve
Turning Professional actually felt
my performance and to take it to a
comfortable and good. GP: If you were to go back in different level.
18 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022COVER STORY Hyundai TUCSON
THE DRIVE
Being from Punjab where all boys
love Cars and Bikes what is your
favourite type of vehicle?
GB: I am an SUV guy through and through, I
like the space, driving comfort and the safety
offered. Even after a long drive one doesn’t feel
tired at all.
The features you liked the most in
The all-new Hyundai TUCSON
GB: I like the overall look and the features in
The all-new Hyundai TUCSON. And would like
to share as per my ranking.
I love the modern looks specially the dark
chrome parametric front grille and jewel-like
surfaces are a reflection of futuristic design.
The overall look is very sporty and aspirational
just like the game of golf.
The Virtual cockpit looks very impressive
specially the 26.03 cm (10.25”) HD audio
video navigation system with Hyundai Bluelink Gaganjeet Bhullar and the Arjuna!
connected car technology.
Hyundai SmartSense with level 2 ADAS Gaganjeet Bhullar received the Arjuna
provide unparalleled safety.
Last but not the least the RDE compliant 2.0
award by President of India Pranab
litre diesel engine with an 8-speed automatic Mukherjee at an age of 25! He became the
transmission and the HTRAC All Wheel Drive
(AWD) with multi terrain modes deliver an
seventh golfer to receive the Arjuna since
exhilarating driving experience, all the muscle its introduction in 1961. He also broke the
for a perfect drive!
I can’t wait to get my hands on one and drive
jinx as it was after a gap of 7 years that a
to my next tournament! Golfer got the Arjuna award.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 19Official PGA TOUR Content
RORY MCILROY
WINS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN EPIC
COMEBACK OVER SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Whirlwind season ends for Northern Irishman with third career FedExCup
It was hardly the start Rory McIlroy a distant 10 strokes behind the FedExCup Indeed. He fought back on Thursday, shooting
had envisioned. His opening drive leader, Scottie Scheffler. a back-nine 31 and finishing with a 67 to
on Thursday at the TOUR Championship The gritty Northern Irishman must be a glass- stay in the mix, and by Sunday, McIlroy had
careened over the boundary fence and out of half-full kind of guy, though. And McIlroy worked his way into the final group with
bounds, eventually leading to a triple bogey. wasn’t about to let the stumble dictate the Scheffler, albeit six shots in arrears.
Making matters worse, a bogey followed direction he would take in the Playoff finale at The battle between the world No. 1 and the
at the second, and suddenly, McIlroy was historic East Lake Golf Club. third-ranked McIlroy for the PGA TOUR’s
20 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022Official PGA TOUR Content
Images Courtesy : GettyImages
“I feel like Scottie
deserves at least half
of this today. He has
had an unbelievable
biggest prize on a sun-drenched afternoon
didn’t disappoint, either. It was, as McIlroy
tightly. “I feel like Scottie deserves at least
half of this today. He has had an unbelievable
season. I feel sort of
would later say, a “spectacle,” as entertaining season. I feel sort of bad that I pipped him to bad that I pipped him
a match as they come. the post, but he’s a hell of a competitor. He’s
As McIlroy doggedly pushed forward on an even better guy. to the post, but he’s a
Sunday, Scheffler, a four-time winner this
season, began to flounder. McIlroy tied for the
“It was an honor and a privilege to battle with
him today, and I’m sure we’ll have many
hell of a competitor.
lead with an improbable 31-footer at the 15th more. I told him we’re 1-all in Georgia today: He’s an even better
hole and took sole possession at the next when He got The Masters; I got this.”
the Texan couldn’t get up-and-down from a The dichotomy of the way he started the
guy.
greenside bunker. tournament and the way he finished was not
Two scrambling pars later and McIlroy lost on McIlroy, either. He couldn’t help but
became the first three-time winner of the remember the resiliency shown just four and thought, I’ve got no chance now; what
FedExCup, earning U.S. $18 million in the weeks earlier when Tom Kim started the am I doing here? But I just sort of, I guess,
process. He closed with a 66 and finished at Wyndham Championship with a quadruple proved that I was in a really good mindset
21-under while Scheffler shot 73, making just bogey to fall 13 shots off the pace before for the week, and I didn’t let it get to me too
one birdie all day, and tied for second with going on to win. much and just stuck my head down and got
Sungjae Im. “I guess it just shows you anything’s to work.”
McIlroy was nothing if not magnanimous in possible, even when you’re a few behind or The 2021-22 season was another standout one
victory. He hugged Scheffler’s mom and dad a few in front in the tournament,” McIlroy for McIlroy, whose third victory of the year
and wife, who were standing near the scoring said. “Anything can happen. I’m going to brings his career total on TOUR to 22. He’s
area, telling them their man deserved the title, remember this week mostly for that. Your still looking for his fifth major championship
too. Then he said as much on television as he mind can go one of two ways when you start – and first since 2014 – but the consistency of
was interviewed by NBC’s Mike Tirico. like that, and automatically I thought about four top-10s, including second at The Masters
“What a week, what a day,” McIlroy said as Tom Kim at Greensboro. and third at the Open Championship, has to
he gripped the gleaming silver Tiffany trophy “I could have easily thought the other way be heartening.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 21Official PGA TOUR Content
“I guess it just shows -- Harry (Diamond, his caddie) said it to me particular,” he said. “… I’ve been in the thick
you anything’s on the 18th green today. He goes, all the good of things. I guess every chance I get, I’m
golf you played this year, you deserve this,” trying to defend what I feel is the best place to
possible, even when McIlroy said. play elite professional golf in the world.
you’re a few behind “Look, it’s really cool to do something in golf “It’s in some ways fitting that I was able to get
that no one has ever done before. Obviously, this done today to sort of round off a year that
or a few in front the history of the FedExCup isn’t as long as has been very, very challenging and different.”
in the tournament, the history of some other tournaments, but to As eye-popping as the money on offer at the
be walking out of here three times a champion, TOUR Championship was, as well as what
anything can it’s very, very satisfying and something that will be offered at the elevated events in the
I’m incredibly proud of.”
happen. I’m going to future is, though, McIlroy will be the first to
In some ways, and with all due respect to say it’s the competition that fuels him. Not
remember this week Scheffler, McIlroy was the perfect winner dollar signs.
at East Lake. He and Woods were at the
mostly for that. heart of a players-only meeting at the BMW
“There’s a lot of cool things that come along
with winning the FedExCup,” McIlroy said.
Championship that was the catalyst for some “The trophy, I have three sterling silver
of the sweeping changes that PGA TOUR Calamity Jane replicas in my house, which is
Commissioner Jay Monahan announced in really cool. To think about here at East Lake
Atlanta a day before the Playoff finale began. and Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur player
McIlroy likened this season to his 2019 Those changes include additional elevated to ever play the game, the sort of history and
campaign, when he won THE PLAYERS events for 2023 that will feature purses of at traditions of the game of golf. He sort of
Championship and RBC Canadian Open least $20 million and are designed to bring exemplified all that.
before beating Brooks Koepka—then the top- the game’s top players together 20 times a “Look, the money is the money. It’s great,
ranked player in the world—at East Lake. year. McIlroy is a member of the PGA TOUR and we are professional golfers, we play golf
And not even McIlroy’s good friend Tiger Policy Board and has emerged as its most for a living. That is a part of it. But I think at
Woods has won three FedExCup crowns. ardent spokesmen. this point in my career, the winning and the
“I played great golf. I had some good wins “Look, it’s been a tumultuous time for journey and the emotions and who I do it with
but didn’t pick off a major, but I felt like the world of men’s professional golf in mean more than the check.”
22 G o l f P l u s O C T O B E R 2022Official PGA TOUR Content
HOW THE PGA TOUR ROOKIE
WON THE PGA TOUR’S REGULAR
SEASON FINALE
MASTER THE MIND LIKE TOM KIM
DECONSTRUCTING THE WINNING MOMENT OF THE WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP By Chris Cox/PGA TOUR
The record book was clear –the feat with a quadruple bogey, famed golf instructor “He’s got a great personality. You can see
had never been done before. History Todd Anderson got his first up-close look at he’s an easygoing, fun-loving kid that has fun
suggested it was a near improbability. the Korean sensation. And after their opening playing golf,” Anderson said. “He obviously
But one week after Joohyung “Tom” Kim introduction, the longtime coach of Billy takes it seriously, but he has a good time, he
became the first player to ever win on the Horschel was anything but surprised by the enjoys it, he laughs, he smiles and he embraces
PGA TOUR after opening the tournament young star’s history-making accomplishment. playing, and I think that’s one of the things
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 23Official PGA TOUR Content that he’s got going for him. He’s kind of a fun- to get a fresh bag. As he turned back around, practice area may not be groundbreaking news, loving guy, at least that’s the perception that Anderson recalled, Kim “got down to hover but it’s nevertheless noteworthy for a fresh- he’s given off.” over the balls and protect them from Billy faced PGA TOUR rookie to feel comfortable Anderson and Kim didn’t leave much taking them.” enough doing so in his first start as a member. discussion to the 20-year-old’s shocking run “I joked, ‘Gosh, Tom, your balls go better than Then again, few should be surprised at the Wyndham Championship trophy, or his Billy’s goes. He said back, ‘Well I want Billy considering what Kim has accomplished these subsequent clinching of a PGA TOUR card to hit them for me.’ last few months. It began in Scotland, where a for the upcoming season. But the Director of “He just seems like he’s got the kind of third-place finish at the Genesis Scottish Open Instruction at the PGA TOUR Performance personality that he enjoys playing, enjoys and a tie for 47th at The Open Championship Center at TPC Sawgrass, home of THE competing, doesn’t beat himself up too much. earned him Special Temporary Membership PLAYERS Championship, still gleaned plenty I think he’s going to be good for the game, onto the TOUR. of insight into Kim’s steady demeanor. just his style and how much fun he has, how He needed a win at the regular season finale, On the driving range at the FedEx St. Jude appreciative he is to have the opportunity.” the Wyndham Championship, to both earn Championship, Horschel took one of Kim’s Players laughing with one another at the his card for 2022-23 as well as claim a spot balls out of his practice pile rather than walk in the FedExCup Playoffs. And he did just 24 G o l f P l u s O C T O B E R 2022
Official PGA TOUR Content
that, closing with a 9-under 61 to become the
second-youngest win on TOUR since World
War II.
And he did it all despite making a quadruple
bogey on the first hole, becoming the first
player to do so since hole-by-hole stats were
first kept in 1983. Only four other players
made a quad or worse on any hole in any round
before going on to win (Adam Scott, 2016
Honda Classic; Phil Mickelson, 2009 TOUR
Championship; David Toms, 2003 Wells Fargo
Championship; David Graham, 1983 Houston shockingly hit his second into the water,
Open). settling for bogey.
“It was funny, the way he described it was like Horschel, who started the postseason at No.
he wasn’t too concerned,” Anderson said. “He 69 in the standings, went on to win each of
just said, ‘You know what, I’ve got a bunch of his next two starts at the BMW and TOUR
holes left.’ There was no sense of urgency, it championships, winning his first FedExCup in
wasn’t like he hit the panic button. the process.
“I think that’s the most important thing. Yeah, Naturally, he credited his mental approach (and
he got off to a bad start, made a quad, but still Anderson, of course) to the career-altering
had 35 holes left to play. He still went out with week.
the mindset of trying to improve from it as
“The mental mindset, I just changed the way I
opposed to thinking, ‘Oh gosh, I just started out
acted out on the golf course,” he said after beat
with an 8, what’s going to happen from here?’”
Rory McIlroy and Jim Furyk to win the TOUR
The biggest challenge facing players after Championship. “Being a little bit less hard
an inauspicious start is simply to stay in the on myself, being accepting of the golf shots,
present, Anderson said. That applies to players however they turned out.
“HE COULD HAVE LET on the PGA TOUR all the way down to those
“The other thing was I got one of the best
THAT SHOT DEFINE just picking up the game.
teachers in the game of golf. I don’t think
“You can’t look back and you can’t look ahead, anyone can come close to what he does. He’s
HIM, COULD HAVE all you can really control is the shot at hand,” just not a swing coach, he’s a short game coach,
GONE THE NEXT he said. “So you have to stay in the moment,
and just because you made an 8 on the first hole
he’s a putting coach, he talks to me about the
mental side of the game. Todd Anderson is
WEEK AND PLAYED doesn’t mean it has to be a bad round. You still just unbelievable. There’s not a better guy in
have plenty of holes coming back, you could
TERRIBLE AND FEEL put some good shots together and have some
this business and I think if you went up and
down the range, talked to players and coaches,
SORRY FOR HIMSELF, good holes and still have a decent round.” they would say the same exact thing that I’m
BUT HE SAID, ‘NO, With the bad hole behind you, ask yourself one saying.”
question: How are you going to react to the Anderson is quick to point out that it was
I’M PLAYING WELL.” situation? Horschel who made all the mental adjustments
“Are you going to let that define you, and are necessary to win. Just like how Kim did at the
Todd Anderson you going to become tentative and scared?” Wyndham Championship.
Anderson posited. “Or are you going to say, “He could have let that shot define him, could
‘You know what? That was a fluke. I’m just have gone the next week and played terrible
going to forget about that hole, I’m just going and feel sorry for himself,” Anderson said.
to start fresh on this next hole, I’m going to “But he said, ‘No, I’m playing well. I hit a bad
try and play this hole well, the next shot and shot at the wrong time but I’m going to go out
hopefully next hole well, and just keep building and play great this week.’
from there.’”
“And that’s what you’ve got to do, you’ve just
Anderson is quick to point out one of his own got to let go and not give it extra value. Yeah,
personal favorite stories of resilience. that happened, I’m human, I’m going to make
In the second leg of the 2014 FedExCup mistakes. But I’m not going to let it define me.
Playoffs, at the Deutsche Bank Championship, I’m going to go ahead and try to clear the head
Horschel needed a birdie at the last par-5 and start from here and try to play well from
to force a playoff with Chris Kirk only to here going in.”
Todd Anderson is the Director of Instruction at the PGA TOUR Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, home
of THE PLAYERS Championship. The 2010 National PGA Teacher of the Year has seen his students amass
more than 50 victories across the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour, including two FedExCup titles. He is
currently rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 20 golf instructors in the United States.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 25On the PGA Tour
JORDAN SPIETH AND DAD SHAWN TO PLAY PNC CHAMPIONSHIP
Jordan Spieth will debut at the PNC
Championship this fall alongside his
dad Shawn, the 13-time PGA TOUR
winner announced.
Spieth, 29, is fresh off a scintillating performance
at last week’s Presidents Cup, where he
compiled a 5-0-0 record, including four wins
partnered with Justin Thomas. The U.S. Team
defeated the International Team by a 17.5-12.5
margin, moving to 8-0-0 on home soil in the
biennial competition. The PNC Championship,
contested in December at The Ritz-Carlton Golf
Club in Orlando, features two-person teams
consisting of PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR
Champions players, alongside a family member.
John Daly teamed with his son John Daly II
to win last year’s PNC Championship title,
two strokes ahead of Tiger Woods and his son
Charlie.
Two years ago, Thomas teamed with his dad The PNC Championship, originally known as Raymond Jr., and two alongside son Robert.
Mike to win the PNC Championship title belts; the Father/Son Challenge, was first contested The event features a two-person scramble
the Spieths will arrive in Orlando motivated to in 1995, with Raymond Floyd winning five of format, with a winning score of 20 under or
join the Thomas duo in the winner’s circle. the first seven iterations – three alongside son better in all tournament iterations.
KOREAN STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO GOLF LEGEND CHOI
Charlotte, North Carolina: Korea’s K.J. Choi has
been walking with a spring in his step and wearing
a big smile since arriving at Quail Hollow Club for
this week’s Presidents Cup.
A trailblazer for Asian golf, the 52-year-old Choi, who is
one of four assistants to International Team captain Trevor
Immelman, is simply proud of the fact the team which will face
the United States starting Thursday will feature a record four
Korean players, and matches the five Asians who competed at
Royal Melbourne in 2019.
When Choi arrived in the U.S. in late 1999, he was the
first Korean to earn a PGA TOUR card through Qualifying
School and some 20-plus years later, the number of Koreans,
and Asian golfers, has grown immensely with an array of
champions emerging as well.
K.H. Lee, who will make his Presidents Cup debut this week,
led to the tributes by acknowledging Choi paved the way for
him and fellow International teammates Sungjae Im, Si Woo
Kim and Tom Kim. Choi owns a record-tying eight PGA
TOUR titles, with his most significant triumph being the 2011
PLAYERS Championship.
“When I was growing up, he was on the PGA TOUR ... kind
of a legendary figure, almost a mystical figure. He’s somebody
we definitely looked up too. He’s opened the door for us to be one of my idols. So when I came here, I played a lot of practice rounds with him and
here,” said Lee, who is a two-time TOUR winner. have dinner with him. It was like a dream come true.
“As soon as I got to the PGA TOUR, he took all of us under his “Now, it’s like everyone’s tried to get on TOUR. I think we keep getting many players
wing. He became a big brother figure, he’s had a really good to come out here. We have very good players, so it’s very good to have a lot of the same
impact. I remember him telling me I have a lot of years ahead, country players on TOUR.”
and just to really think of the long term and put in the hard Kim gave an example of how Choi helped him emulate the latter’s triumph at the
work, do your thing and good things will happen.” TOUR’s flagship event. “In the 2017 PLAYERS, that week before the first day, we
Si Woo Kim, a three-time winner, added: “K.J. is the first one played a practice round together and he gave me some tips of that course (and Kim won).
and then Y.E. Yang, and we’re trying to follow them. K.J. was He’s always trying to help Korean players,” said Kim
26 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022On the PGA Tour
PGA TOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
First player in PGA TOUR history to win Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, PGA TOUR Rookie
of the Year and PGA TOUR Player of the Year
First player in PGA TOUR history Year in 2020. By being named PGA TOUR
to win Korn Ferry Tour Player of Player of the Year, he is the first player to win
the Year, those three awards, doing so in the span of four
PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year and PGA seasons. The awards were established in 1990.
TOUR Player of the Year “On behalf of the PGA TOUR, congratulations
The PGA TOUR announced that Scottie to Scottie on his remarkable season and his
Scheffler has been named the 2022 PGA TOUR unprecedented achievements,” said PGA TOUR
Player of the Year as voted by the TOUR’s Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Undoubtably,
membership for the 2021-22 season. Scheffler, one of the highest compliments a player can
the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf receive is the endorsement from his peers,
Ranking, led the TOUR with four victories this and the fact that Scottie’s season was both
season, including his first major championship dominant and consistent spoke volumes to the
title at the Masters Tournament. membership. And as gratifying as it has been
to see his development on the course over the
Scheffler, who spent four years on the men’s
last several years, we are equally thankful that
golf team at the University of Texas, received
Scottie has embraced the role as an ambassador
the Jack Nicklaus Award for winning PGA
of the PGA TOUR and the game of golf. With
TOUR Player of the Year during an appearance
young stars like Scottie leading the way, the
on ESPN’s College GameDay before the
Longhorns football team hosted No. 1 Alabama PGA TOUR is in great hands for many years
in Austin. In receiving 89 percent of the votes, to come.”
Scheffler was selected for the honor over Scheffler held the lead in the FedExCup
the other two nominees: Rory McIlroy and standings for 24 weeks, including the final
Cameron Smith. 23 weeks of the FedExCup Regular Season,
Scheffler, 26, was the Player of the Year on the and went on to finish in a tie for second at the
Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 and won the Arnold TOUR Championship, receiving $5.75 million
Palmer Award as PGA TOUR Rookie of the in FedExCup Bonus Money.
MAX HOMA WINS WILD FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP
Max Homa pitched in from 33 feet, Danny Willett three-putted
from 3 1/2, and it was over. With the stunning birdie-bogey
exchange at the par-5 finishing hole at Silverado Resort & Spa,
Homa had successfully defended his Fortinet Championship title.
“That was crazy,” he said after a final-round 68 that netted his fifth PGA
TOUR victory by a shot over Willett and three shots over rookie Taylor
Montgomery (64). “I still don’t really know what happened. It was one of
those weekends you just had to hang around.”
Homa has now won three times in just over a year and will head into this
week’s Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club as arguably the fastest rising
player on the U.S. Team.
His wife, Lacey, who is expecting the couple’s first child, a boy, in early
November, followed the action despite the weather. Although this was the
fifth win for Homa and caddie Joe Greiner, it was the first witnessed by
Greiner’s fiancé, Mayla. For most of afternoon at soggy Silverado it looked
like Homa would finish second. He had hit his second shot into the front
bunker on 18 when Willett knocked his approach tight.
“It was probably the most unexpected finish,” said Greiner. “As a caddie
you’re always expecting the unexpected, but once Danny hit his approach
to three or four feet, I felt our chances of making the bunker shot were
pretty low. I just told (Homa) to hit it on the green and make the putt to at
least make him have to make it to win.” patience all week. Greiner preached patience all day. And it paid off, albeit
A shot behind with five, four, three, two, one hole remaining, Homa told in a way no one could have expected.
himself that the moment he tried to force the issue would be the moment After he won the 2021 Fortinet, Homa admitted he sometimes had a hard
he played his way out of contention. His coach, Mark Blackburn, preached time with self-belief.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 27ON THE ASIAN TOUR
IT’S KAZUKI TIME AT SHINHAN DONGHAE OPEN
Japan’s Kazuki Higa showed just why
he is currently ranked the number one
player in Japan when he birdied the final two
holes to win The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open
at Koma Country Club in Nara, near Osaka.
On a memorable final day at one of Korea’s
premier tournaments, he holed a pressure-
packed 15-foot birdie putt on the short,
driveable par-four 18th to return a six-under-
par 65 for a tournament total of 20 under, and
a two-shot victory over Tirawat Kaewsiribandit
from Thailand, Korean Mingyu Cho and
Yonggu Shin from Canada.
Tirawat, who started the day with a three-shot
advantage and held a narrow lead for much of
the day, closed with a 72 – which featured an
incredible albatross – while Cho fired a 66, and
Shin a 68.
The event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian,
Korean and Japan Tours, and this year marked
the first time in its history it had been played
in Japan.
Korea’s PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim, playing
in the final group, returned a 70, to end three
behind the winner, in a tie for fifth, along with Higa’s bid for victory came at the very death. par-five 17th to draw level before the under-
the 2019 champion Jbe Kruger from South Playing in the penultimate group and trailing pressure Thai golfer bogeyed the 16th to fall
Africa, who signed off with a best of the day 63. Tirawat by one with two to play he birdied the one behind.
CLOSE TO PERFECT GOLF SEES SMYTH WIN FIRST ASIAN TOUR TITLE
Australian Travis Smyth finally got
the monkey off his back and won his
maiden title on the Asian Tour when
he recorded an impressive two-shot victory
in the US$700,000 Yeangder TPC at Linkou
International Golf and Country Club, in
Taipei.The 27 year old from Sydney drew
on a season of strong performances and near
misses to fire his second successive six-under-
par 66 for a tournament total of 19 under,
with defending champion Lee Chieh-po from
Chinese-Taipei finishing runner up after an
equally fine 67.
Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan (67),
Nicholas Fung from Malaysia (67), American
Berry Henson (68), and Bjorn Hellgren from
Sweden (69) tied for third, five behind the
winner.Smyth started the day with a one-shot
lead and proved uncatchable after he birdied
four out of the first six to make the turn in
four under before virtually wrapping things
up by making three birdies in a row from the
10th. With a healthy lead the surprise double
bogey he made on the 15th, which were his
only dropped shots of the day, was not too
damaging particularly as he responded with who picked up a cheque for US$126,000. like there, I just want to get back. I want to be
his final birdie of the day on the next. “I got so close, I felt like I let it go in England the player that I believe I can be, and winning
“Feels amazing!” said an overjoyed Smyth, and to play some LIV events, feel what it’s this week is one step along the journey.”
28 G o l f P l u s OCTOBER 2022ON THE JAPAN TOUR
OTSUKI RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS WITH ANA OPEN VICTORY
Four times is certainly the charm for he last clinched the Kansai Open for his second
Tomoharu Otsuki as he finally returned JGTO victory in May 2019.
to winners’ circle after three years when He also came close to winning at the Golf Nippon
he captured the ANA Open Golf Tournament in Series in 2020 and Vatelin Tokai Classic last year.
stunning fashion. This year, Otsuki settled for second-best on three
The 32-year-old Otsuki, a three-time runner- occasions at the Golf Partner Pro-Am, BMW
up already this year, sensationally eagled the Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building
first extra hole at the par-four 18th to beat Ryo Cup and Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega
Ishikawa at the Sapporo Golf Club in Hokkaido. Sammy Cup.
Otsuki had earlier overcome a five-shot deficit by “This win is very special for me as it has been three
firing six birdies for a flawless closing six-under- years since my last win on the JGTO. Finishing
par 66 to set up a playoff with Ishikawa after both second on three occasions including losing in the
were tied on 19-under 269 in the regulation play. playoff at the Golf Partner Pro-Am was a bitter “I didn’t feel like I was putting very well this
Ishikawa, who started the day six shots behind pill to swallow. So, holding this trophy today week but overall, I’m really happy with how
penultimate stage leader Yuta Ikeda, powered to simply means a lot to me,” said Otsuki, who is in things turned out,” said Justin.
the summit with a brilliant 65 that contained two his 12th full year as a professional. Australia’s Adam Bland also finished with a
eagles, three birdies and three bogeys. Ryuko Tokimatsu and Ryo Hisatsune both carded flourish, reeling off three straight birdies in the
Ikeda was left cursing his luck after he could only matching 68s to be tied for fourth on 272, one shot last three holes for a 66 to come in tied-eighth on
muster a 72 after carding four birdies against as ahead of Justin De Los Santos of the Philippines 274 for his first top 10 finish of the season.
many bogeys, including a costly shot dropped on who finished a creditable joint sixth to emerge as “It was a good round today, I didn’t change
the final hole which otherwise could earn him a the best-placed international competitor of the anything and just stick to my game plan. I was
second shot via the playoff. week. able to hit it a little closer and holed a couple of
The ANA Open victory was extra sweet for After mixing two birdies with two bogeys to turn putts,” said Bland, who managed seven birdies to
Otsuki as he had finished second to Zimbabwe’s in 36, De Los Santos staged a strong fightback offset a bogey.
Scott Vincent last year. by birdieing four of his last six holes to mark his “Hopefully I can play even better next week
That was one of the six runner-up results since third top-10 finish of the season. (Panasonic Open), I’m looking forward to it.”
PAGUNSAN ROLLS BACK THE YEARS
Evergreen Juvic Pagunsan showed he obviously didn’t matter much as he holds a two-
has plenty of gas left in the tank after year exemption status which runs until the end of
finishing a commendable fifth placing 2023, as a result of last year’s triumph.
at the Panasonic Open for his best result of the Australia’s Brad Kennedy made it two
season. internationals in the top 10 when he closed with
The 44-year-old Filipino birdied three of his last a 70 to tie for the seventh spot on 16-under 272.
four holes for a four-under-par 68 to finish the Kennedy marked his scorecard with five birdies,
tournament on 17-under 271, five strokes behind one bogey and one double bogey to post his fifth
Taiga Semikawa who became the only sixth top-10 result of the season,
amateur to win on JGTO in history.
The day surely belonged to none other than
Pagunsan has not been able to build on his JGTO Semikawa, as he followed in the footsteps of Keita
breakthrough victory after winning the Gateway Nakajima in becoming the second successive
to The Open Mizuno Open in May last year. amateur winner at the Panasonic Open. up tied-17th.
His only other credible outing since then was a Starting the day as one of the three joint leaders “I didn’t know how to describe my feeling right
joint-eighth at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup. together with Katsumasa Miyamoto and now. I’m overjoyed. I have never experienced
A tied-fifth finish has certainly handed Pagunsan Tomoharu Otsuki, the 21-year-old launched a late anything like this before,” he said Taiga, whose
a much-needed confidence boost especially after birdie blitz to fire a 66 to seal a one-shot victory name was inspired by Tiger Woods.
having missed eight cuts out of 14 appearances. over Aguri Iwasaki with a 22-under total. “I knew I only stood a chance to win if I keep the
“It has been a memorable and good week. My After trading two birdies against a lone bogey birdies coming as everyone is capable of going
putting was good, especially with the change of on the front nine, Semikawa picked up six shots really low on this course.
putter. I had a good feeling around the greens,” from the next eight holes after the turn. “Once the morale-boosting birdie came on the
said Pagunsan, who mixed three birdies with two This includes five successive birdies from the 10th, that’s when I felt like I could really do well.
bogeys to turn in 35. 13th as not even a bogey dropped at the last could “It was frustrating to lose the Kansai Open in
“I also hit the driver very well, I felt comfortable deny him a sensational victory. April where I really had a good shot at.
and really happy with my scores for all four days. Semikawa was particularly pleased to have made “I really never imagined that I could win a JGTO
“I would also like to thank JGTO for staging a amends for his earlier disappointment at the championship as a student.”
wonderful event this week. It’s great to have the Kansai Open. Although missing out on the title, Iwasaki
spectators back.” Then, he was in contention for the bigger part of had every reason to smile as he landed the
A good finish also helped Pagunsan climbs from the tournament by leading the halfway stage and ¥20,000,000 jackpot for his runner-up effort with
82nd to 55th on the Money Rankings, but it was third after the penultimate stage. He ended Semikawa not eligible for the prize money.
GolfPlus OCTOBER 2022 29You can also read
