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PIC: SHAABAN HUSSIN
MALAYSIAN Golf Association (MGA) turned out to be the biggest winners of the Maybank Malaysian Open, when they received a grant of RM2 million from the government for the development of junior golfers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made the the announcement when he presented the Seagram Trophy to tournament winner Louis Oosthuizen on Sunday.
The fact that only Shaaban Hussin made the half-way cut in the Malaysian Open, while 21 others fell by the wayside, paints a perfect picture of the current local golf scene.
The smile on MGA president Tan Sri Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Nor’s face after hearing the announcement said it all, but he should know that getting the grant is just the beginning of a long uphill battle to produce a local champion.
MGA recently announced the formation of a Junior Club to register all juniors under 18 years old with the governing body and among some of the benefits or joining with a fee of RM20 are:
Free Handicap from the National Handicapping System.
Invitation to attend golf clinics conducted by MGA.
Invitation to attend National Golf Camps.
Be included in the Order of Merit to represent Malaysia in the local and international events.
Play at some MGA affiliated clubs at special rates.
. Special rates on golf apparels and equipment at selected shops.
That move to register all juniors under one umbrella is long overdue, and was refreshing considering that not a single Malaysian has won the Malaysian Open since its inception in 1962.
Even golfers from the Philippines, Ireneo Legaspi (1967) and Ben Arda (1970) have won the Malaysian Open. Not to mention, the six Japanese, three China, two South Korean Malaysian Open champions who showed that Asians can compete against the rest of the world.
Thailand golfer Thongchai Jaidee deserves special mention as he won back-to-back in 2004 and 2005.
History also has witnessed China’s Lu Hsi-chuen winning a hat-trick of titles in 1979, 81 and 84.
So, when Shaaban came close to tears after signing in his card at joint-57th, Malaysian golf fans were crying their hearts out at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
They have resigned to the fact that it is a near impossible task for a Malaysian to be atop the podium in the next decade -- and nasty jokes were flying around the greens as well as the many sponsors marquees.
Money is never a problem, as even the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, in its infancy, has attracted 19 sponsored legs which offers a total of RM3 million in prize money.
But while the MGA money will go towards developing the youth, the rich PGM Tour might just make local golfers lazy to venture beyond our shores as the pickings are easier here.
Shaaban was spot on, when he blasted some golfers who were handed the Asian Tour cards on a platter but refused to get out of the local comfort zone.
“How are they going to improve their game if they do not venture abroad but keep on playing at home? lamented Shaaban.
THE National senior team started their Azlan Shah Cup training yesterday, with 11 available players at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The Azlan Shah Cup, on May 24 to June 3, will feature six teams who have qualified for the Olympics -- India, Australia, Great Britain, South Korea, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Only hosts Malaysia failed to make the grade in the Dublin Olympic Qualifier.
“Eleven players turned up for training today (yesterday) as five of them are involved with the Project 2013 side, while others could not get leave from their studies.
“We invited 24 trainees for the Azlan Shah Cup, and will most probably head for Ipoh to train at the blue pitch for a few days,” said national coach Tai Beng Hai.
The Olympics will use a blue artificial pitch and a yellow ball for the first time, and the six Olympians will benefit from the Azlan Shah Cup simulation.
Five Project 2013 players have been included in the Azlan Shah Cu list, which means if they get selected, they will play in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca on May 3-13, and then another gruelling tournament 11 days later.
The Junior Asia Cup also doubles up as the 2014 Junior World Cup Qualifier, and two berths will be made available in Malacca, excluding hosts India.
AZLAN SHAH CUP TRAINEES: Roslan Jamaluddin (gk), S. Kumar (gk), Hairi Rahman (gk), Izzat Rahim, Amin Rahim, Marhan Jalil, Fitri Saari, Izwan Firdaus, Faizal Saari, Shahrun Nabil, Shukri Mutalib, Azlan Misron, Nabil Fiqri, Razie Rahim, Hafifi Hafiz Hanafi, Baljit Singh, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Azreen Rizal, Fitri Abu Bakar, Shahrin Mohamed, Faiz Helmi, Firhan Ashaari, Farid Fuzi, Azammi Adabi.
IT was a sobering experience for South African Louis Oosthuizen, as he not only avenged his Agusta defeat, but also pocketed a cool US$416,660 with came with his winning score of 17 under 271 in the Maybank Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.
There was never a doubt that he is going to slip, or that there will be a play-off to determine the winner, as the South African was fully focused at the task at hand.
Scotsman Stephen Gallacher carded a battling 70 for second place while American David Lipsky, winner of the Cambodian Classic last month, finished joint third and two shots back after a 70 alongside Danny Willett of England (71) and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello (71).
Former Asian Tour number ones Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa of India were the best placed Asians in tied 11th place in the US$2.5 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
"It was important for me to come here and put up a good fight after last week. Last week was tough and that kind of a result always takes abit out of you," said Oosthuizen.
And having his family along was just the right tonic he needed to overcome a 30-hour flight jet-lag.
"Having the family here this week was unbelievable. They were meant to fly to South Africa from Augusta but my wife said she she wanted to come here even though she knew she was in for a tough one with the kids!
"But it was just great, it always is. It is always nice to have your little girl waiting on you when you come off the 18th to give you a hug. And it doesn't matter if you have played good or bad, she just wants that hug," said Oosthuizen.
His wake-up call was when he missed a short putt for par on the sixth: "I kind of woke up again and refocused and started to make better shots and played really well on the back-nine."
Oosthuizen, who received the Seagram Trophy from Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak and also the champion’s navy blue jacket, said: “It would have been better if I had the green jacket (laughter) but I’m a little bit surprise because I thought I would be tired. I played well and the game was there so it made it a lot easier. I had a good week.”
A distant four shots behind was Stephen Gallacher of Scotland, who was never really a worrying factor for the leader in the back nine chase.
"I'm pleased with myself, as I only had a couple of bogies this the week and even threw in a shot as well which wasn't there!," said Gallacher who signed for the wrong score in the morning third round, with a 69 when he had a 68 and it stood.
He paid tribute to the phenomenal show from the South African.
"It was a super show from Oosthuizen considering what he went through last week. I thought he might get tired today and obviously he isn't. He is a fit guy and fair play to him."
271 Louis Oosthuizen (SA) 66-68-69-68.
274 Stephen Gallacher (Scot) 67-68-69-70.
276 Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Sp) 67-72-66-71, Danny Willett (Eng) 69-69-67-71, David Lipsky (US) 70-67-69-70.
277 Charl Schwartzel (SA) 64-75-70-68.
279 Matteo Manassero (Ita) 70-72-68-69, Martin Kymer (Ger) 70-67-71-71, Romain Wattel (Fra) 68-68-72-71, Hennie Otto (SA) 71-64-72-72.
280 Scott Hend (Aus) 70-71-73-66, Victor Dubisson (Fra) 72-68-69-71, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 65-73-70-72, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66-72-68-74, Jbe Kruger (SA) 70-65-77-68.
281 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 68-72-71-70, Rikard Karlberg (Swe) 73-69-71-68, Ben Fox (US) 70-68-70-73, Mo Joong-kyung (S Kor) 71-71-70-69.
282 Joost Luitten (Ned) 72-69-73-68, Chapchai Nirat (Thai) 71-73-69-69, Antonio Lascuna (Phil) 67-74-72-69,Julien Quesne (Fra) 69-72-73-68.
283 Prom Meesawat (Thai) 68-75-70-70, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 68-71-66-78, Simon Dyson (Eng) 69-70-70-74, Rhys Davies (Wal) 70-68-72-73, Pablo Larrazabal (SP) 69-73-67-74.
284 Alvaro Quiros (SP) 72-68-73-71, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 72-68-73-71, Lian Wen-chong (Ch) 72-68-70-74, Marcel Siem (Ger) 69-73-70-72.
285 Berry Hendson (US) 72-72-70-71, Mardan Mmat (Sing) 73-71-70-71, Steve Webster (Eng) 73-70-69-73, Scott Barr (Aus) 73-70-70-72, Richard Green (Aus) 69-74-71-71, David Howell (Eng) 71-71-75-68, Gary Boyd (Eng) 75-67-68-75.
286 Joonas Granberg (Fin) 68-73-71-74, David Drysdale (Scot) 72-69-74-71, Daisuke Kataoka (Jpn) 70-71-72-73, Branden Grace (SA) 69-72-72-73, Panuphol Pittayarat (Thai) 69-74-73-70, Tom Lewis (Eng) 70-70-72-74, Gaurav GHEI (Ind) 68-74-73-71.
287 Jason Knutzon (US) 66-75-71-75, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 75-69-74-69, Marcus Both (Aus) 72-72-73-70, Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 71-73-74-69, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 69-71-74-73.
288 Siddikur Rahman (Bang) 72-71-73-72, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 72-71-75-70, Simon Khan (Eng) 72-71-73-72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 69-72-72-75.
289 Peter Karmis (SA) 72-70-74-73.
290 Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 73-71-75-71, Stephen Lewton (Eng) 70-71-77-72, Anthony Kang (US) 69-75-76-70, Prayad Marksaeng (Thai) 73-70-69-78, Shaaban Hussin (Mas) 70-72-75-73.
291 Thanyakon Khrongpha (Thai) 73-68-72-78.
292 Michael Campbell (NZ) 72-71-71-78, Zaw Moe (Myan) 72-71-74-75, Alastair Forsyth (Scot) 71-72-70-79.
293 Lee Sung (S Kor) 69-75-75-74, Zhang Lian-wei (Ch) 70-74-72-77, Richard McEvoy (Eng) 72-71-75-75.
294 Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Thai) 76-68-72-78.
295 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71-69-80-75.
296 Keith Horne (SA) 72-72-78-74.
311 Ignacio Garrido (SP) 71-70-81-89.
INDIA stars Jyothi Rahdhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh ended jointh-11th, salvaging some Asian pride in the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Jyothi had a final round of two-over 74 for an eight-under 280 total, while Jeev played par golf yesterday.
"At least I hung in there for quite a bit. I just had two bad shots really. I hit my second shot on the 13th hole and it got plugged (double bogey). I had another bad tee shot on the 14th hole (triple bogey).
"If you take those shots away then I would have finished higher. At least I know why those bad shots came because the old swing came in. I birdied after those shots so that was a good comeback," said Jyothi.
"All in all I think I’m feeling good. I just need to give it a little bit more time. I guess I’m on the right track. After this week, I’m feeling even more confident with a top-10 finish. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.
"I’ll just try to do the best that I can and focus on the process and routine. If I can keep doing that then I think I can play well.
"Just when I needed a few shots to go straight and when I needed a few birdie putts, it (swing) just didn’t work for me because of anxiety. When something is new it just doesn’t work under pressure but I know what I need to do so hopefully one day I can hold it under pressure.
It has been a while since Jyothi came into a competition under stress.
"I hope I can hang in there and don’t do the bad swings. I feel very nice the way I swung this week. I feel very nice that it is all coming together. I just had two bad swings so I’m feeling positive for next week.
"It is a great golf course. I think it is a ball strikers’ golf course and the greens are fast. You got to hit the ball long way so I’m looking forward to it," said Jyothi.
As for Jeev: "I had a great start today (yesterday). I think I got ahead of myself and gave a few shots away. I thought I got really unlucky on 16, I hit a great shot in there but it rolled into the water. That set me back and I shot even par. But I tried you know. It is the first top-10 of the year and hopefully it gets better from here."
PIC: SHAABAN HUSSIN
