Golf: A jolly, merry year for Asia’s best players

’Tis the season to be jolly, and Asia’s golfers have been particularly merry.

It has been a happy year to remember for Asian golf following standout performances and historic achievements by the game’s best as the region’s players continue to stamp their mark in the elite playground that is the PGA Tour.

From Tom Kim to Im Sung-jae, Hideki Matsuyama and Lee Kyoung-hoon, there were many more birdies than bogeys for Asia’s finest in a memorable 2022.

On the Korn Ferry Tour, Carl Yuan and Kevin Yu led a strong contingent of five Asians making the grade onto the PGA Tour and even 53-year-old legend Thongchai Jaidee got in on the act with a maiden victory on the PGA Tour Champions as he became the first Thai winner on the over-50 circuit.

Outside the ropes, new and enhanced partnerships announced in December between the PGA and DP World Tours with Japan Golf Tour, Korea PGA and Professional Golf Tour of India will mean that the region’s top talents will have career pathways to get themselves onto the globe’s leading international golf leagues.

But the big story of the year surely belongs to the 20-year-old Kim.

Who can forget his stunning rise as he charmed the golf world with his youthful bravado, boundless energy and massive talent by winning twice at the Wyndham Championship and Shriners Children’s Open. He became only the sixth player in history to do so before turning 21, even younger than a certain Tiger Woods to achieve the rare feat.

There was also the raw emotion on full display at the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club where Kim, who at 15th is the highest ranked Asian in the world now, stood out as the brightest of the stars on parade. He produced an array of clutch shots matched by fist-pumping and cap throwing celebrations that breathed life into the International Team. His captain, Trevor Immelman hailed Kim as “a tremendous gift to our sport.”

The past 12 months has no doubt been a whirlwind for the boy whose English name was derived from Thomas the Tank Engine, a children’s book and cartoon character he adored as a kid. “I mean, I’m playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year-old. I’m a five-year-old at Disneyland for sure,” said Kim.

The South Korean juggernaut also saw the likes of Im, Lee and Kim Si-woo joining in the show, with smooth-swinging Im coming agonisingly close to becoming the first Asian to lift the PGA Tour’s ultimate prize, the FedExCup. At the season-ending Tour Championship, the 24-year-old finished tied second behind winner Rory McIlroy to post the best-ever finish by an Asian golfer.

With eight other top-10s including three runner-up finishes, Im was richly rewarded with a bountiful US$5.6 million (S$7.4 million) to raise his career haul to US$17.9 million since bursting onto the PGA Tour in 2019. He also held his first lead at a Major en route to finishing tied-eighth at the US Masters for his second top-10 at Augusta National in three years.

Lee was the other big winner in 2022 as he retained his AT&T Byron Nelson title, joining golf greats Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson as the only other players to do so. He did so in style by shooting a career best nine-under 63 in the final round for a one-stroke victory over hometown hero Jordan Spieth.

“It’s amazing feeling. So I can’t believe, still feels like dreaming,” said a delighted Lee, who later qualified for his first Tour Championship in August to make it a record of three Asians qualifying for the lucrative FedExCup season-finale.

A back injury hampered Japanese superstar Matsuyama during the early portion of the year but not before he equalled the record of most wins by an Asian golfer where he notched his eighth career title at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. He fought from being five shots back with nine holes remaining to beat Russell Henley in a play-off, courtesy of a stunning three-wood approach from 276 yards that landed three feet of the flag for his winning eagle putt. It was one of the best shots of the year.

While a star-studded US Team secured its 12th victory in the Presidents Cup following a 17½-12½ victory in September, the International Team savoured some small victories which augur well for the future. A record of four Koreans – Tom Kim, Kim Si-woo, Im, and Lee – made the team and showed they can become the backbone of future International Teams by being involved in 7½ of the total points won during the week.

The emergence of Asia’s rising stars through the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 will see young talents Marty Dou and Yuan proudly flying the flag for China on the PGA Tour in 2023 while Yu, a former world amateur No. 1, will join close friend and mentor Pan Cheng-tsung as representatives from Chinese Taipei.

South Korean rookie Kim Seong-hyeon and An Byeong-hun also earned PGA Tour cards to ensure Asia will continue to be strongly represented next season.

An, who was ranked in the world’s top-50 until he lost his PGA Tour card in 2021, said: “The motivation is always in me. I always want to be the best golfer in the world. That’s what everyone is playing for.”