TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Global pathways driving Asian rising stars to reach golf’s promised land
Golf’s international eco-system has already begun to reap the “play better” mantra, which reinforces the ideals of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to safeguard the concept of meritocracy in the sport.
Change Size
Japan's Keita Nakajima watches his drive from the 15th tee on day one of the 151st British Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake, northwest England on July 20, 2023. (AFP/Ben Stansall)
T
he establishment of strategic alliances between many of the regional golf circuits and the DP World Tour has provided new impetus for Asia’s rising stars to shoot for coveted places in golf’s promised land, known otherwise as the PGA Tour.
Last week, the DP World Tour staged a tournament in Japan and visits China this week for the conclusion of its four-leg Asian Swing that includes Singapore and India, thus allowing aspiring golfers from the four countries to dream of propelling their careers onto the highest level.
From partnerships established with the Japan Golf Tour Organization, Korean PGA Tour, China Golf Association and Professional Golf Tour of India, the respective number ones from those circuits will earn DP World Tour playing status and from there, the pathway has one final destination as the top-10 from the DP World Tour’s Race to the Dubai rankings, not otherwise exempt, will secure dual memberships and coveted PGA Tour cards.
“The PGA Tour is, of course, the ultimate tour to be on,” said Gavin Green, the only Malaysian on the DP World Tour since 2018. “I think every kid who plays always has dreams to end up there. I think the DP World Tour Top-10 to the PGA Tour is a great incentive.”
Golf’s international eco-system has already begun to reap the “play better” mantra, which reinforces the ideals of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to safeguard the concept of meritocracy in the sport. Essentially, if you become the top player at home, you get promoted to the DP World Tour, which has 44 events across the globe and approximately US$150 million in prize funds. Finish top-10 there, and the PGA Tour awaits.
Former world amateur number one, Keita Nakajima of Japan is looking to scale new heights following a wire-to-wire four-stroke victory in the Hero Indian Open last month. Naturally, his success has allowed him to set his sights on the PGA Tour after he joined fellow countryman Rikuya Hoshino as a winner this season on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour before Yuto Katsuragawa made it another win to remember for Japan golf at the ISPS Handa Championship last week.
The 23-year-old Nakajima believes the new pathways are pushing aspiring golfers to aim for the stars. “I'm very grateful to the JGTO and DP World Tour,” said Nakajima, who was Japan’s number one last season. “Knowing that placing first on the (JGTO) money list will get you a DP World Tour card is added motivation to play better. Many Japanese players will look to compete here as a way to make it onto the PGA Tour. I hope I can continue to play well and make my way to the PGA Tour, and become an example to other Japanese players who have the same aspirations.”
For others like Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who lost his PGA Tour playing rights in 2022 after spending four seasons in the United States, a return to the DP World Tour has allowed him to find his feet again after landing in more rough than fairways in recent years. The Thai returned to the spotlight with a runner-up finish in the Porsche Singapore Classic in February, and knows winning a fifth career title on the DP World Tour could well pave his way back to America.
“I will leave that to the future,” the 34-year-old said about the prospects of getting back to the PGA Tour. “I’m just going to try to win on the DP World Tour again. Winning is the goal this season. My ball striking was insane [in Singapore] and feels like I’m back to where it was. I know I’ve got something in me.”
With the Volvo China Open featuring on the DP World Tour schedule this week following a four-year hiatus, the likes of Haotong Li and Ashun Wu will relish the opportunity to play on home turf. The 28-year-old Li, who is a three-time DP World Tour winner and China’s first golfer to play in the Presidents Cup in 2019, has shown signs of a resurgence after a challenging past couple of years with indifferent form and numerous missed cuts that he cares to remember. He has never held a PGA Tour card, and it remains to be seen if he will fulfill his early promise which includes a memorable third-place finish at The Open Championship in 2017.
“So many people behind me, parents, friends, telling me how good I am, reminding me I can do this,” said Li, whose biggest career title to date was the 2018 Dubai Desert Classic where he outduelled Rory McIlroy in a head-to-head showdown. “I’ve been thinking that if I had worked this hard and still couldn’t make anything I would find something else to do. But the results tell me I can keep going.”
***
The writer is senior director, marketing and communications – APAC for the PGA Tour and is based in Malaysia.
