Golf: Upcoming Asian swing a welcome boon for region’s aspiring talent

When the DP World Tour’s Asian swing kicks off in Singapore this week before journeying to Thailand and India, it will serve as a massive boon to the region’s aspiring golfers with dreams of chasing history and legacy.

In the past, Asian greats including Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, Zhang Lianwei of China, India’s Arjun Atwal and Singaporean Mardan Mamat had notched historic wins for their respective nations in DP World Tour-sanctioned tournaments across Asia, and reaped immediate rewards by earning playing rights in what was formerly known as the European Tour.

The stakes will be much higher now as a total of 10 PGA Tour cards will be up for grabs on the DP World Tour in 2023.

“The 10 PGA Tour cards is good,” said Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who spent five years on the PGA Tour before losing his status last season.

“This creates opportunities for a new generation of golfers to play on a higher tour. As for me, I’m trying to play decent golf again on the DP World Tour, maybe win a couple and then get back onto the PGA Tour,” added the 33-year-old, whose four DP World Tour wins include two in Asia.

The strategic alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, which was formed in 2020, has created clear pathways for the likes of China’s Wu Ashun and Li Haotong, India’s Shubhankar Sharma, Gavin Green of Malaysia, Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura and South Korean Wang Jeung-hun, regulars on the DP World Tour, to shoot for their American dreams.

Even the likes of Singapore’s 23-year-old amateur Ryan Ang, who tees up in this week’s US$2 million (S$2.65 million) Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Club, may fancy a shot at the big league.

After all, it takes only one week for a golfer’s life to be transformed.

“I think it is a great opportunity for players,” said India’s 26-year-old Sharma, who holds two victories on the DP World Tour and finished 29th in the Race to Dubai ranking last season. “Getting onto the PGA Tour has been the dream for most players... so this alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour could be a huge game changer.”

China already has Dou Zecheng and Yuan Yechun plying their trade full-time on the PGA Tour, and countrymen Li and Wu are hoping to join them. In 2018, Li finished ninth in the Race to Dubai ranking and holds three career wins on the DP World Tour.

“This year, a lot of players will target for that, including me,” said the 37-year-old Wu, who is competing in Singapore this week alongside Li.

“I have a chance. I have been doing well and I trained well in the off-season,” added the four-time DP World Tour winner as he seeks to emulate countrymen Zhang and Liang Wenchong, who both won in Singapore previously.

With the Thailand Classic to be played at the Amata Spring Country Club from Feb 16-19, the burly Kiradech, who was once dubbed Asia’s John Daly for his grip-it-and-rip-it style, hopes to get back onto the winning trail at his home course.

“I’m looking forward to playing in my own country as there will be a lot of support from fans and family members,” he said.

With other strategic alliances forged recently between the DP World Tour/PGA Tour and the top circuits in Japan, South Korea, India and Australia, players from these regions will now enjoy various pathways to the DP World Tour, and ultimately, the PGA Tour.

Sharma hopes to see more Indian golfers joining him on the DP World Tour, which will stage the Indian Open from Feb 23-26.

Similarly for Green, the prospects of fighting for a PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour is enticing, especially with a great opportunity to shine in the Asian Swing events.

He said: “It’s a great motivation and definitely something to play for. Being in Asia, it’s like going back to my roots. Being this close to home, I feel comfortable. I’m still working on my game and some things have yet to click, but I’m working hard for these next three events.”