Taichi Kho. Asian Tour
Three weeks ago Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho recorded a historic and life-changing victory on the Asian Tour. but ahead of the International Series Vietnam, which starts on Thursday at KN Golf Links, he remains typically grounded and level headed.
“It would be easy to get carried away with such an exceptional week,” said Kho, who won the World City Championship at the Hong Kong Golf Club last month to become the first player from his country to win on the Asian Tour.
“I have been trying to get back to the regular routine of training and practice. I am trying to get back to normal prep and getting one per cent better every day and get ready.”
This week is his first tournament back since that stunning victory, which was only his third start as a professional having made it through the Tour’s Qualifying School in January.
“It was the highlight of my career so far, and to perform well in front of my family and friends was truly really special, just having the hometown support,” he said.
“I felt like a lot of momentum was on my side because so many people were supporting me. On top of that playing such good golf was why I was able to have such a good week.”
This week is the fourth International Series event of the season, after Qatar, Oman and Thailand, and the eighth leg of the Asian Tour.
An outstanding field has entered the $2million event including England’s Paul Casey, Anirban Lahiri from India and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Kho added: “A win here would be incredible. The International Series always poses an incredible challenge in terms of quality of field and the courses. To get a win here would be incredible.”
His very first tournament as a professional was in fact in an International Series event, in Thailand, and he showed signs there of what was to come starting with an opening round 66 at Black Mountain before tying for 34th.
Two events later the impressive young golfer triumphed by two shots in Hong Kong from New Zealand’s Michael Hendry to fittingly celebrate the week he was announced as an ambassador of the Hong Kong Golf Club and the return of international tournament golf to the Special Administrative Region of China for the first time in 38 months.
His success also meant he secured one of the four spots up for grabs in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July. That will mark his first appearance in a major championship.
And his win, worth $180,000, moved him into sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, setting up him for an outstanding first season that has put him in pole position to secure the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year Award.
