Oh Noh!

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.

Belgium to host third Olympic Qualifier

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The FIH announced today the official dates for nine major events in the next year, including the sites and dates of the six Olympic Qualification tournaments. The Olympic qualification tournaments will have three host nations with a men’s and women’s tournament running at the same time.
The 2011 calendar year will conclude with two major men’s events. The FIH Champions Challenge 1 will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 26 - December 4. Overlapping with that event by two days will be the FIH Champions Trophy in New Delhi, India which starts on Saturday, December 3 and finishes on Sunday, December 11, 2011.
A busy 2012 begins with the women springing back into to action from January 28 - February 5 for the FIH Women’s Champions Trophy in Argentina.
"The 2012 season will be one of the busiest and most important in recent history," said FIH President Leandro Negre. "Our regular schedule will be supplemented with the Olympic qualifiers and of course the Olympic Games themselves, making it non-stop hockey during the year."
The first of the Olympic Qualification Tournaments will be hosted by India in New Delhi from February 15-26 with six men’s and six women’s teams battling for a spot in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The next Olympic Qualification Tournament will take place one month later, from March 14-25, 2012 in Beerschot, Belgium. It will be followed by the third Olympic Qualification Tournament in Kakamigahara, Japan from April 25 - May 6, 2012. All three tournaments will host the men’s and women’s tournaments at the same time.
The trio of joint tournaments is the final opportunity for teams to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games with the winner of each men’s and women’s event earning a place in London.
The teams assigned to the qualification tournaments will not be known until the completion of all of this year’s continental championships, which will be after the Pan American Games, scheduled to finish on 29 October. Winners of the five Continental Championships earn an automatic berth to the 2012 London Olympics.
Following the Continental Championships, teams that do not automatically earn a berth to the Olympics will be placed into one of the three qualification tournaments, depending on where they finish in their Continental Championships and how many places their Continental Federation has been allocated for the Olympic Qualification Tournaments.

Schwartzel one-over in opening round

AGUSTA Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of Germany did not get off to the dream start that he had wanted, but at least he didn't fall asleep while playing one-over 73 in the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Schwartzel, starting from the 10th, made three bogies on the 11th, 13th and 16th before surviving on the return nine birdies at holes Nos 2 and 3.
His clubs, which went missing on the 26-hour journey from Augusta to Kuala Lumpur, arrived at 9pm on Wednesday night, giving him little time to get into grips.
"It was never easy today (yesterday) as I never got my swing the whole day. After lots of travel, I am just not quite prepared for this tournament, but at least I didn't fall asleep during the game," said Schwartzel.
He didn't sleep well on Wednesday night, and felt the 12-hour time chance tough to handle.
"I didn't sleep well, it was difficult to adjust to the 12-hour zone change. I struggled to focus, and the golf swing is tight and the body is not responding right now.
"But there are still 54 holes to go which means plenty of birdies to collect. At least I am not out of contention, and with three days left, the feeling might come back, and I will be back on track.
"I'm still game to hit a few good balls, and make a few good putts and challenge for the title," was Schwartzel's warning to those who feel he's out of the way.

Oh Noh! Champ shoots one over

DEFENDING champion Noh Seung-yul of South Korea fired an eagle, but his six bogies saw him one-over 73 after the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Noh, who started from the first tee, was on song as he sank the eagle on par-five No 3, but his match collapsed on the back nine.
His three birdies were on the fifth, 14th and 18th, while his bogeys were on the sixth, ninth, 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th.
The 19-year-old was on the same flight with Major champions Louis Oosthuizen from South Africa and compatriot Charl Schwartzel.
Did it make him feel nervous?
"I wasn't feeling nervous, as I felt like it was just any other tournament. There was a huge crowd following us, and it was nice to have people cheering you.
"This was my first pairing with Louis, but I have played several times with Carl last year."
He branded his eagle as lucky: "I didn't hit my driver properly, but was lucky it landed on the fairway. I used a five-wood (265 yards), for my second shot and it landed 15 feet from the hole, and then I made it count," said Noh.
Noh, who had rested for one month before this tournament to heal his injured finger, said he felt tired on the course.
"My golf shots seem fine, but I felt tired while playing. I practiced a lot the last three days, and I think I need to rest today and bounce back tomorrow," said the Korean.

Schwartzel tired, but gung-ho

US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel looked jet-lagged, rued his lost clubs, and was still trying to get over the celebrations after a magnificent week in Augusta.
But the South African believes he will be in contention, and even hopes to land the Maybank Malaysian Open title come Sunday at the KLGCC.
"Obviously, last week was such a big week and it is still so difficult to take it all in. I've been so busy with the media afterwards, and after a few hours' rest, I travelled for another 26 hours before arriving here," said Schwartzel.
"So, I have not really taken it all in yet. But whenever I enter a golf tournament, I try to play my best. And I will this week see if I can win this one as well."
He was on the same flight route as Irishman Rory McIlroy, and both arrived in Kuala Lumpur minus their golf baggage.
"I have yet to play the course (Pro-Am yesterday) as I lost my clubs in transit. But my caddy is walking the course right now (yesterday), and I should be all right tomorrow (today) as I will get used to the conditions while playing," he said.
Winning the Masters has also given Schwartzel the confidence to take on any tournament that comes his way.
"It (winning the US Masters) just gives you a lot of confidence coming into an event. If it doesn't, then there is something wrong. You are on such a high and you feel you can win anything, and that is what I will try and do this weekend."