S’pore golfer Ryan Ang focuses on the small details as he gears up for professional debut

SINGAPORE – Singaporean golfer Ryan Ang knows how small details can make a big difference.

In preparation for his professional debut this week, the 25-year-old has been paying equal attention to things off the golf course over the last few months to improve his performance on it.

Since securing his PGA Tour of Australasia (PGATA) tour card in April, Ang has been working with a team that includes a nutritionist, physical trainer, coach and physiotherapist, as he takes a holistic look at the factors that can influence his performance.

One thing he has gained a deeper understanding of is his body type and what kinds of food he should eat or avoid to help maintain a stable weight, something he used to find difficult.

Consultations with a nutritionist from the National Youth Sports Institute made him realise that he was sensitive to eggs and too much lactose and fat – which would affect his stomach whenever he travelled.

He also began to incorporate more meat into his lunch and dinner so that he could maintain his weight while travelling, and added a protein shake or drink at breakfast to get the sufficient calorie intake he needed.

Said Ang: “It’s (the last few months) helped me establish the five to 10 people who will be in my small circle as I turn pro and I believe that will help me go a long way. The whole ecosystem around my team is really healthy, everyone’s talking to each other.

“That’s what is going to help my game progress to a more solid level. Everyone’s working together to help me push my game to a better standard and my body and mind to a better state.”

Ang believes all this, plus competing in several major amateur tournaments to sharpen his skills, have prepared him well for his professional bow at the WA PGA Championship at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course in Western Australia from Oct 10 to 13.

Once lacking belief that he would be good enough to turn professional when he started his competitive golf journey 3½ years ago – later than many of his peers – Ang now feels ready to begin the new chapter of his career.

He signed off his amateur career on Oct 6, with a tied-13th finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan, his best result in three appearances at the region’s most prestigious amateur golf tournament.

“I always wanted to play professional golf. I just didn’t think I was good enough when I first started,” said Ang, who won the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open in May.

“But the last few years of seeing a lot of my friends on tour and competing alongside them, I’ve grown more comfortable and believed in myself a lot more.”

Ang acknowledged that there is the added pressure to make the cut, but he is relishing the challenge as he aims to keep his PGATA card for next season.

He will also be trying out for the Asian Tour’s final stage of qualifying school in December as he eyes a spot at the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics.

He said: “I’m definitely excited to get started. The opportunity to play on the Aussie tour is comfortable for me, I know a lot of the guys here, the transition is pretty smooth.

“I want to keep it as seamless as possible – the end goal is to try to play good golf, win tournaments, just that the bank account will hopefully fill up in the end.”

National coach Murray Smit said Ang already has the game to be competitive, adding: “He has his own unique strengths that set his game apart and his professionalism in the way that he prepares for events is second to none.

“He now needs to just continue to look for those marginal gains and learn from each event he plays in, regardless of the result.”