Title holder Noh Seung-yul of Korea bowed out from the US$2.5 million Maybank Malaysian Open on Saturday but is upbeat of bouncing back into form. Noh, the youngest ever Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, shot an even-par 72 for a two-day total of one-over-par 145, one stroke from the halfway cut at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Noh played with newly crowned Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and reigning British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and was disappointed not to join the duo in the last two days of the tournament co sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
“My swing was horrible and the ball was flying every where. I played badly,” said the two-time Asian Tour winner.
Noh worked on his swing with world renowned swing guru Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods’ former coach, in February and said he was struggling to cope with the new swing changes.
“I changed my swing two months ago and had a finger injury as well. I’m still coping with my new swing but I’m confident to bounce back with a little bit more practice. I like my new swing a lot but it needs some time for me to get used to,” added the Korean.
Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen finished above the cutline and will join second round leaders Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Alexander Noren of Sweden and world number Martin Kaymer of Germany in the last two rounds.
Among the other big names who missed the halfway cut include Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who won the SAIL Open in India last month, Nick Dougherty of England and Todd Hamilton of the United States, a former British Open champion in 2004.
A total of 75 players made the cut.
