From golfer to on-course commentator, Singapore’s Heng Su-Ann ‘LIV-ing the dream’
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Heng Su-Ann had represented Singapore at the 2005 SEA Games before turning pro in 2011.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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SINGAPORE – As LIV Golf’s on-course commentator, Heng Su-Ann is living a dream she never fulfilled in her days as a professional golfer.
She represented Singapore at the 2005 SEA Games before turning pro in 2011 and spent several years playing on the Symetra Tour, the developmental circuit of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour in the United States.
While Heng never graduated to the main Tour and retired in 2015, she has found a way back inside the ropes. The 34-year-old is part of LIV’s six-member broadcast team that includes former World Long Drive Tour champion Troy Mullins and retired Hong Kong pro Dominique Boulet.
She told The Straits Times: “For most of my life, I’ve always dreamt of representing Singapore on the LPGA Tour and strived to be one of the best in the world. I didn’t quite get there and was disappointed and frustrated for a long time.
“But life’s come full circle. Now I’ve been given the opportunity to live that dream in a different capacity. I never thought I would be rubbing shoulders with my personal heroes, to be on the same side of the ropes at this level is something I’ve always dreamt about and wanted to be a part of. I’m really lucky in that sense.”
The Saudi-backed LIV was launched in 2022 and has 14 events in 2023, featuring top names like former world No. 1s Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, and six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson.
As part of her job, Heng travels to the three-day tournaments and walks the course with the players while providing analysis and commentary.
She will be at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course for this week’s Singapore stop
“It means a lot to be able to share my country with the players, caddies and staff that I work so closely with and to say I’m proud to be a Singaporean.
“I drove into Sentosa (two weeks ago) and saw all the signs and posters... I really just had chills down my spine because I just feel this sense of pride to be able to represent our little red dot in a very small capacity in this event.”
Heng, who works part-time as a radio deejay and emcee, had previously done some freelance work with the men’s Asian Tour.
When one of its former producers James Watson joined LIV as senior vice-president for worldwide production, he approached her for the on-course role in 2022.
Heng, who has a two-year-old son with fellow deejay Mike Kasem, said: “I had a few things to consider (before committing) because my child was a year younger then... about which direction I wanted to take with my career.
“But eventually I asked myself, what was I most passionate about? What would fire me up in the mornings and get me (and my child) inspired to live a fulfilling career?
“I realised this was the path for me. After I saw it from that perspective, I never looked back.”
Spending long stretches away from her family is not easy, as she “had to tackle guilt”.
She added: “Was I missing out on my child’s life? It’s always tough when I leave and he cries and being over on the other side of the world, if he is sick, it’s difficult. I have to deal with time differences and trying to FaceTime with him.”
But it has been a memorable experience working on the tour, with Heng noting that “everyone has such different personalities and they bring very different things to the table”.
One encounter with a top player has stood out in particular. “It was when Phil Mickelson came up to me on the range to chat for the first time. That was pretty surreal and still is,” Heng said.
