Justin Harding Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Pavit Tangkamolprasert has his nose in front at Asian Tour International Series Korea as LIV Golf’s Justin Harding looms

Matt Smith — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:11:20 +0000

By Matt Smith
While the biggest names on the Asian Tour were joined by some of the LIV Golf stars for the $1.5 million International Series Korea, it was one of the tour’s lesser lights who stole the show on the opening day.

Thailand journeyman Pavit Tangkamolprasert shot an eight-under-par 63 to lead by two at Jeju Island’s Lotte Skyhill Country Club. Home hope Eric Chun is in solo second on six-under, while the more familiar names of Jazz Janewattananond, Brett Rumford and LIV Golf star Justin Harding are lurking on five-under.

Pavit, a 33-year-old two-time winner on the Asian Tour, roared out of the blocks with seven straight birdies, before his solitary bogey on hole 8 put the brakes on his astonishing streak. He still reached the turn on 29 before a solid back-nine produced two more birdies and ensured he would have the lead to himself going into Friday’s second round.

Another LIV-er Andy Ogletree sits joint eighth on four-under, while Dubai-based Indian star Shiv Kapur is T12 in a large chasing pack on three-under.

Second-placed Chun produced one of the finest rounds to sign for a six-under 65.

“I haven’t been playing well recently so this is a good turn around for me,” he said. “It is actually not an easy course, you have to hit good drives and make putts. So just going to start again tomorrow and try and shoot 65 every day.”

Janewattananond, who won four out of his six Asian Tour titles when he claimed the Tour’s Order of Merit list in 2019, added: “It was just a normal round, easy going. Nothing went wrong, nothing went special – it was a boring round which is what I like. Maybe it is because I’m back in Asia and feel a bit more like at home.Hopefully it will continue tomorrow.”

South African Harding, who has two DP World Tour and two Asian Tour titles to his name and has earned more than $1.3 million in his first three LIV Golf events, made six birdies and dropped one shot.

“I am pretty pleased with it to be honest,” he said. “I came out of the blocks nicely. I gave myself a lot of chances and rolled in a couple of putts. It felt pretty solid and then had a wobble halfway through. Hit some poor shots but managed to keep the pars on the card.

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Four Aces lead the way in LIV Golf Portland team standings

Matt Smith — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 11:30:20 +0000

By Matt Smith
Captain Dustin Johnson led the way for Four Aces to assume control in the LIV Golf Portland team standings.

DJ, the highest-ranked player in the field, put on a masterclass for the first 12 holes and held on to a share of the lead despite a slight wobble coming in on the second day of the LIV Golf Invitational series in Portland.

The world No. 17 American was six-under for the day through the first 12 holes with the help of seven birdies, but two three-putt bogeys coming in gave Carlos Ortiz a share of the lead in the individual standings on eight-under with 18 holes to go on Saturday.

But there was clear daylight in the innovative team standings as Four Aces dominated at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

With two best scores of the four-man teams counting towards the team championship for the first two days (and three best scores counting in the final round), the Johnson-led Four Aces were comfortably ahead by four shots over the all-South African team of Stingers. With Patrick Reed also shooting a 68, Four Aces reached 15-under par through the first two rounds, while Stingers, who won the inaugural LIV Invitational in London, were at 11-under par.

“I did not have the best start to the tournament and had to miss the ProAm because I had to head over to Canada to sort some visa issues,” said Stingers Justin Harding as players struggled to cope with the demanding Pumpkin Ridge set-up in Oregon. “Then, to play so well yesterday before making some silly mistakes for a triple bogey late in the round was very frustrating.”

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UPDATED: Dubai-based Indian Shiv Kapur stays in touch at historic Asian Golf International Series England with LIV Golf places up for grabs

Matt Smith — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 05:22:41 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai-based Indian Shiv Kapur kept up his challenge at the Asian Tour International Series England at Slaley Hall on Friday, with a second-round 70 that took him to five-under for the tournament, one off the clubhouse lead held by South African Justin Harding and South Korea’s Joohyung Kim.

Harding shot a tremendous 66 in difficult conditions just outside Newcastle in a historic event — marking the Asian Tour’s first ever tournament in the UK.

As the golfers push for glory and a slice of the $2 million purse, there is also the added incentive of the top five golfers booking a place at next week’s money-spinning LIV Golf Individual Series opener at Centurion Club, just outside London.

Before the afternoon starters headed out, Kapur was tied-third alongside Zimbabwean Scott Vincent — who arrived in Newcastle after a 24-hour journey from Japan, without his clubs — and Japan’s Kosuke Hamamoto. While Kapur and co looked on from the clubhouse, no one could catch Harding and Joohyung, with South African Neil Schietekat, Thai pair Kosuke Hamamoto and Kasidit Lepkurte, and Chang Wei-lun from Chinese Taipei joining Kapur on one-under ahead of the third round.

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Get the Sunday edition of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here

Kent Gray — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 19:05:57 +0000

By Kent Gray
You won’t want to miss this. With Rory McIlroy just two back and a plethora of Ryder Cup pals determined to make up for a messy moving day at Emirates Golf Club, the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic is set for a thrilling finale on Sunday.

Can South African pacesetter Justin Harding hang on at Emirates Golf Club? Will McIlroy join Ernie Els as just the second three-time winner of the $8 million DP World Tour event? Will Dubai teen Josh Hill climb even higher up the Rolex Series event leaderboard?

All this and much more in the Sunday edition of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here. Get up to speed with all the news and scores from Saturday and plan your day with Sunday’s tee times for round three by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Saturday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

Enjoy and stay tuned to GolfDigestme.com for full coverage of the final round.

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With McIlroy and Ryder Cup friends lurking, Justin Harding won’t rest easy on his Dubai lead

Kent Gray — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 18:54:01 +0000

Getty Images

By Kent Gray
Justin Harding plodded patiently on moving day at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic while all around him superstars were spluttering along. Those who weren’t inexplicably slamming their title hopes into reverse that was.

On a day when a perfect storm of tough pins and the Majlis’ freshly renovated and increasingly firm greens saw Shane Lowry’s 68 somehow emerge as the lowest score, Harding ground out a relatively stress-free 71.

It saw the 35-year-old South African start and end a dramatic Saturday at Emirates Golf Club with a two-stroke lead.

After a topsy-turvy 69, Rory McIlroy is ominously Harding’s closest pursuer heading into Sunday and perhaps now favoured to join Ernie Els’ as a three-time winner of the Dallah trophy.

Then again, Tommy Fleetwood (69) and Erik Van Rooyen (71) are just three back and among the few to survive the third round without too much mental scarring. Defending champion Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton are among a group in the mix at eight-under although both suffered third round setbacks.

Hatton was among those to go backwards spectacularly. He got it to 12-under for solo possession of the lead by the 5th and with four Rolex Series gold stars already, looked the man to beat. But his five-star Saturday turned turtle with four dropped shots in a miserable four hole stretch from the 12th.

The Englishman frustratingly parred in from there but at least he didn’t bleed late oil like Lee Westwood. So close so many times on the Majlis, the 48-year-old was just two shots out of the lead when he reached the 18th. But after driving left, barely escaping the hardpan, laying up in the hay, fluffing it in the water, wedging again and two putting, he signed for a snowman eight in the desert. Westwood will start Sunday at seven-under. And thoroughly deflated.

If Westwood can draw any inspiration, it will be from the fact he’s in the fourth from last group out with Padraig Harrington and Hatton, a dangerous position from which to set a tough clubhouse target. Fleetwood, winless since the Nov. 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge, will tee it up in the final three-ball alongside Harding and McIlroy with visions of a Dallah to go with his two Abu Dhabi Falcons.

Harding can become Dubai’s third South African champion after the late Wayne Westner and Els. It would be a first gold star, as it would be for McIlroy whose European résumé strangely includes a Rolex Series asterisk. With all those par 5s and his brilliant iron play from Saturday to draw on, McIlroy will take some beating. Mind you, Harding has already shown slow and steady might just win this race.

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Dubai Pacesetter Justin Harding adamant ‘I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing’

Kent Gray — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 18:48:45 +0000

Getty Images

By Kent Gray
Justin Harding reckons it’ll be just another “day at the office, really”.

With Rory McIlroy just two shots adrift and Ryder Cup stars lurking everywhere behind the Northern Irishman, the South African pacesetter’s premonition of Sunday at the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic was kidding no one.

Mind you, the way Harding rode the roller-coaster ride that was moving day at Emirates Golf Club on Saturday, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised if he goes wire-to-wire to a third DP World Tour victory.

The 35-year-old started the third round two ahead, found himself two behind by the 11th and finished two in front again as the sun set on Emirates Golf Club.

A younger man might have said, well, I need to press and catch up because I’m losing ground, but you didn’t and stayed patient?

“I think it’s just that type of golf course,” said Harding.

“The greens are tough. They are concrete and when you are chipping into them it’s difficult to chip them up close. You find yourself making 4- or 5-footers all day long.

“On the front nine, there are a couple of strong par 4s and 15 and 16 are two holes that you need to get through on the back nine. I didn’t take advantage of 17 or 18 today. But I’m quite happy with it, and yeah, go again tomorrow.

“I thought I played quite solid. It was a difficult day to be fair, and it had some tough flags to get at. There were times when I didn’t quite put the ball in play, and I couldn’t really go anywhere near them. The one bogey made was from long range with the putter, a bit disappointing and would have loved to have snuck one coming in, 17 or 18, but I was happy with those.

So, to Sunday where a first Rolex Series gold star beckons. You’re in pole position, but wow, there’s some good players chasing down.

“Look, at the end of the day, I’ve just got to go out and keep doing what I’m doing, and make a couple birdies and shoot 70, 69, something like that, and make them shoot 5- or 6-under par, credit to them.

“Yeah, just another day at the office, really, to be fair.”

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Harding two clear at halfway stage but Hatton, Hovland and mercurial McIlroy lurk in Dubai

Kent Gray — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:45:12 +0000

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By Kent Gray
Justin Harding knows how to go ridiculously low on the Majlis and the secret to grinding out a score on the venerable layout too. He’ll take that welcome history into the weekend at the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic – along with an equalling comforting two stroke buffer atop the leaderboard.

While drawcards Tyrrell Hatton (66) and Rory McIlroy (66) left it late to get into contention, Harding rested all afternoon long on an -11 lead courtesy of a “hard slog” 68 to go with his opening 65.

It was a target that stood the test of time on Friday and will see the 35-year-old South Africa start Saturday two strokes ahead of Hatton and three clear of moustached countryman Erik van Rooyen and Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti. World No.5 Viktor Hovland, cult-hero Richard Bland, unheralded Pole Adrian Meronk, first-round co-leader JB Hansen and the ever mercurial McIlroy are at seven under in a tie for fifth.

There’s still an awfully long way to go before they hand out the Dallah trophy but Harding at least has desert pedigree having won the 2019 Qatar Masters. The world No. 122, who made it two DP World Tour wins at the Kenya Open last March, has also enjoyed his three previous visits to the Majlis where a closing 63 in 2019 saw him finish T7. He was 7th going into the final round last year too only to tumble 20 spots down the leaderboard after a 76.

“I’ve played this golf course well over the years,” Harding said. “Had a good final round a couple years back and was in contention last year and played badly on the Sunday.

“I played quite nicely last week [T25 in Abu Dhabi]. Barring a bad finish, would have been a Top-10 result. Game seems to be close. If I can control the putter and make some putts, we are always going to be there and thereabouts, which is nice.”

Harding doesn’t believe the Majlis owes him anything although it’s a different story for the difficult, par-4 6th hole which he sensationally eagled with an approach from 189 yards. It turned a workman like round into something altogether more rewarding.

“Might be the first time I’ve ever hit the fairway. It’s a hole that I’ve bailed out on over the years,” said Harding. “I had a good number which allowed me to pitch it 10 or 15 short of hole, and the cameraman actually said, ‘I like it.’ I thought he was joking. It was just a good swing. Added bonus with it going in… makes up for a couple of other things around the golf course.

“At the end of the day, I would have been happy coming in with nine under to be fair.

“It was a good hard slog, the last couple of holes played quite tough with the breeze. Quite happy with the two days work.”

So were van Rooyen and Zanotti who signed for Friday scores of 67 and 70 respectively.

“It’s what we play for, right, to be in contention, especially in these Rolex events. I’m happy that the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic is one as well. Can’t wait for Sunday,” said van Rooyen, perhaps getting a little bit ahead of himself.

After a challenging couple of years compounded by the pandemic, Zanotti is just chuffed to be in Dubai.

“Really, really happy to be there, to be in contention for the weekend. That was the idea. So I am very happy with the plan I make,” said the 38-year-old, a two-time winner in Europe.

A share of 27th last year is Zanotti’s best performance in 12 Desert Classic starts. But after finishing 142nd and 62nd in the past two race to Dubai seasons, he’s starting to feel the return of good swing vibes.

“I feel like last year, I finished with a lot of confidence with my golf swing, and this year I came the same way. Last week was a little freaky with the wind on the golf course, but this week, I put it back and I feel confident again with my swing,” he said.

“Just trying to do the same [over the weekend]. Basically just pick a number and hit a shot for that number, and the greens, pick a spot and try it hit the target and try to keep it simple.”

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Young Italian Renato Paratore prevails over less-than-stellar field in British Masters

Golf Digest Middle East — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:06:34 +0000

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Renato Paratore receives a guard of honour from fellow European Tour professionals after winning during final round of the British Masters.

By John Huggan
Only 19 centuries or so after the 73-mile long Hadrian’s Wall was built to signify the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire, another native of the Italian capital has left his mark on the northeast of England.

With a final round of two-under-par 69 for a 72-hole total of 266, 18 under par for four circuits of the Close House course just outside Newcastle, Renato Paratore made off with the British Masters title. The 23-year old finished three shots clear of the highly promising Dane, Rasmus Hojgaard, with Justin Harding of South Africa third, one stroke farther back.

In nice touch at what was a spectator-free event, a group of Paratore’s fellow players formed a guard of honour with clubs raised in salute as he left the 18th green. And after an interview with Sky television, the world No. 270 was able to say hello via video link with his delighted mother back in Italy.

“I’m just really happy,” was Paratore’s immediate reaction to a victory even his all-conquering ancestors would surely have been pleased with. “I played really solid. I didn’t except to play this well so soon after the lock-out. But I have worked really hard over the last year.”

Indeed, it was a fine performance of some solidity from Paratore, whose only previous victory on the European Tour came at the 2017 Nordea Masters. Bogey-free over the first 64 holes, he made 20 birdies in all [only six of those on par 4s]. But his final round was not a totally stress-free day out in the picturesque Northumberland countryside. Standing on the 198-yard par-3 12th tee—statistically the most difficult hole on the course—Paratore had dropped two shots in his previous three holes and his lead was down to two. He passed the test, though, his long-iron [remember them?] tee-shot into the strong breeze finding the centre of the elusive putting surface en route to a steadying par.

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Renato Paratore plays his third shot from the 17h greenside bunker during final round of the British Masters.

“I didn’t think too much about not making a bogey for so long,” he claimed after moving up to sixth place on the season-long Race to Dubai. “If I did that, I would probably make one. So when it did come, I wasn’t too worried. The ninth hole was very difficult today because of the wind. Besides, I made birdie at the very next hole. My aim was just to play good and win the tournament. That conditions were tough helped me, of course. There were no really low scores. And I was playing well. So my focus was simply on staying ahead.”

That he did, early on courtesy of a deft short game. Having missed each of the first two greens in regulation, the fast-moving Italian—no one in the modern game takes less time to play—chipped close on both occasions.

Perhaps the only other moment of high stress was answered equally emphatically. Faced with a 15-foot putt for a birdie 4 on the penultimate green that would maintain his three-shot edge, Paratore—who putts with his glove on—holed out dead centre. It was a pure stroke worthy of the animated celebration that followed.

Still, while Paratore’s play over the four days was worthy of much praise, the field the Italian left in his wake was far from the strongest ever seen on the European Tour. In a sign of what will likely be at least the short-term future, only four of the top-50 finishers—Harding, defending champion Marcus Kinhult, Andrea Pavan and Eddie Pepperell—arrived at Close House ranked inside the world’s leading 150 golfers. And only two of Wednesday’s starting lineup, Pepperell and tournament host Lee Westwood, could boast rankings inside the top 85.

None of which will matter to the new champion in an event that boasts a star-studded cast of former winners: Tony Jacklin. Nick Faldo. Peter Thomson. Bobby Locke. Bob Charles. Seve Ballesteros. Greg Norman. Lee Trevino. Ian Woosnam. Colin Montgomerie. Sandy Lyle. Justin Rose. Lee Westwood. Bernhard Langer.

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Justin Harding rips European Tour after pairing with notoriously slow player

Golf Digest Middle East — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:37:46 +0000

(Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

By Joel Beall
The European Tour has seemingly been diligent in policing its new pace-of-play policy in 2020. Justin Harding, apparently, does not share that opinion.

Following his final round at the Saudi International, Harding ripped into the Old World circuit for, in his eyes, a lack of regulation on slow play.

“Turtles should be monitored AT ALL TIMES [at] European Tour,” Harding wrote on Twitter. “We as players who don’t take an age should not be responsible for them. Nor should our round be affected by their inconsiderate behaviour. Pretty simple really.

“F1 doesn’t say to [driver] Lewis Hamilton… ‘Hey pal just slow down because the guys behind can’t keep up.’ If the other 120 players in the field act properly why are we as players forced to play with these guys if they couldn’t give a ****. Week in week out same story, same guys.”

Harding finished by noting “You have players that play with etiquette and in accordance to the rules and you have players who have no regard for it. NONE.”

For those wondering what prompted the rant, Harding left little doubt. The South African retweeted users who concluded Harding’s pairing with Adrian Otaegui, a notoriously slow player, had set Harding off.

18 holes with Otaegui strikes again. Feel like he sparks as much of this as anyone. https://t.co/3rOsgeIIFB

— Joshua Perry (@joshuaperry22) February 2, 2020

pure speculation, but Harding played with Adrian Otaegui today.

story was pace of played improved on the Euro Tour with new rules.

not in Harding's eyes. https://t.co/KLjdWpPber

— Eric Patterson (@EPatGolf) February 2, 2020

Harding shot a final-round 74 in Saudi Arabia, a score that dropped him 29 spots on the scoreboard.

Harding’s remarks come two days after Graeme McDowell was put on the clock following an in-round interview. Although McDowell, who ultimately won the tournament, was understandably upset, the 2010 U.S. Open champ acknowledged the sport needs to do what it must to speed up the game.

“You know, slow golf, it doesn’t help the viewer and it doesn’t help the club golfer on the weekend, and we’ve just got to play fast,” McDowell said after Friday’s round. “That’s something I’m working hard on doing. I really feel like my routine over the last few years has gotten better and better and better. I was disappointed to get that bad time, but it is what it is.”

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Masters 2019: Tournament field could be smallest in two decades with only one remaining Masters spot up for grabs

Golf Digest Middle East — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 05:42:18 +0000

(Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

By Joel Beall
Masters week begins in earnest next Monday. Perennially the paramount event of the golf calendar, this year’s tournament feels particularly momentous, with a red-hot Rory McIlroy aiming to finish his Grand Slam quest, Jordan Spieth looking to continue his historic Augusta National success and a healthy and rejuvenated Tiger Woods searching for his first green jacket in 14 years.

But as big as this Masters may appear, it will actually be quite small. At least in terms of the field.

Justin Harding and Shane Lowry qualified for the Masters on Sunday, finishing inside the Official World Golf Ranking top 50. Their invitations bring the number of competitors to 86. If that figure holds, it would be the fewest amount of players to tee it up at the Masters since the 1997 tournament.

There is still one spot up for grabs at this week’s Valero Texas Open, as the winner receives an invitation if he’s not already eligible. This was earned in dramatic fashion last year by Ian Poulter. The Englishman had been informed by various entities at the WGC-Dell Match Play that he had accumulated enough OWGR points for a Masters invite, only to discover 10 minutes before his quarterfinals match that one more win was required to earn his spot. Poulter lost that match 8 & 6 to Kevin Kisner. However, Poulter rallied at the Houston Open, defeating Beau Hossler in a playoff to receive a trip down Magnolia Lane. Poulter would ultimately finish T-44.

Some of the more notable names that haven’t qualified for Augusta and are in the Texas Open field include Jim Furyk (who just missed out on the top 50 exemption), Ben An, Sungjae Im (the just-turned 21-year-old has three top-seven finishes in his last four events and five top 10s in his rookie campaign), Cameron Champ, PuntaCana winner Graeme McDowell, Andrew Putnam and Lucas Glover.

The Texas Open is in its first pre-Masters slotting year after the Houston Open was moved to the fall. Andrew Landry is the defending champ.

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