By Matt Smith
History was made on Thursday as the International Series England teed off at Slaley Hall outside Newcastle — the first Asian Tour event in the UK.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun upstaged a stellar field to take the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.

Hot on his heels is Dubai-based Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, who posted a 67 alongside some big names including Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and fellow Indian SSP Chawrasia.

Kapur shot a blemish-free four-under days after he urged his fellow Asian Tour players to revel in the opportunities they now have, thanks to Saudi investment in the game

Little-known Chang, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017, birdied his last three holes — after a handy tip. “My family gave me some advice before I flew here,” said Chang. “My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently.

“Coming into this week, I wasn’t thinking too much. I have been playing well this season, but I know I can do better. The weather was much cooler than I expected. I was actually more concerned about the weather, so I prepared myself for bad weather conditions, but today’s condition is actually not too bad.”

Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz said he has really benefited from catching up with his coach Pete Cowen this week.

“My game is getting better, training the right way since beginning of the year. Hitting good, just waiting for the scoring to come back,” said Jazz.

“I haven’t seen my coach Pete Cowen much. I saw him in Dubai but that was a while ago, and I saw him at the British Masters, and he is here this week with G-Mac [Graeme McDowell] so it has been really great, as obviously it’s just me and G-Mac so I can have as much time with him as possible.”

American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.

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The post Dubai-based Shiv Kapur revels at historic Asian Tour International Series as Chang Wei-lun leads in Newcastle appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
Asian Tour No. 1 Sihwan Kim is treating this week’s historic International Series England event like any other as he looks to build on his two victories and Order of Merit lead this season in Newcastle.

“Golf is a funny game,” said the American, who turned professional in 2011 but had been winless until this year. “I won twice this year in four weeks, but I still worry about the same things that I did before I won, so it has not really changed me that much in that sense. It is still a tough game, and I don’t take anything for granted but the aim is always to win.”

He competes in this week’s International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, an event that marks the Asian Tour’s first ever trip to the UK.

He added: “It is a very fickle game. I am just trying to enjoy it as much as I can because you don’t know when it is going to go away. I am enjoying it but when golf goes south, I don’t think anyone enjoys it. When part of my game is bad, I try to work on it, and I know it is going to get better and you just keep on grinding.

“As I have said many times before, you have got to get lucky to win. It always comes down to the last one or two shots and when you get that lucky break that’s all that you need. In the years before I didn’t have that, I kind of got unlucky bounces here and there.”

The 33-year-old has competed many times in the UK on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour over the past 10 years, although it is his first time at Slaley Hall.

“It is good, some holes are a little funky,” said Kim, who took time out to try his hand at clay pigeon shooting on Wednesday.

“You can’t hit driver, you’ve got to hit two iron from the tee and have a four or three iron into the green. But other than that, the course looks good. The cold conditions mess with my yardage a little bit. When it’s cold and damp the ball doesn’t travel as far.”

Kim has been paired with Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat and Scott Hend from Australia, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, for the first two rounds and start on Thursday at 7.02am.

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The post Asian Tour No. 1 Sihwan Kim takes aim at history in International Series England appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Australian has been struggling with injury and illness this season, including a bout of COVID-19 last week.

But now he is looking to get back to the form that has seen him claim 10 Asian Tour tournaments and the 2016 Order of Merit title.

Hend was certainly showing those signs of old at the Dutch Open, where he was one off the lead after the third round before finishing in a tie for 14th. This was after missing the cut in all six events he has competed in on the Asian Tour this year.

My caddie Dave asked me on the 36th hole today…

"When was the last time U played 72 holes?"

I replied…. "What U mean in a fortnight"???‍????‍#golflife #ItHappens #JustSayn #YesSir #AboutTime

— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) May 27, 2022

Hend has been fighting prostrate cancer for over a year, caught the flu a few weeks ago before picking up COVID-19 early last week.

“I have had a lot of injuries this year,” said Hend.

“It’s nice to turn the corner last week, and hopefully start to put some results together. Catching COVID last week wasn’t the perfect formula, but we battled through it. I was lucky I could play because the only symptom I was showing was testing positive. The last six holes every day I was struggling because of a lack of energy. Hopefully we can play good again this week and have a good result.”

The Australian continues to battle prostate problems but has been making good progress.

“It’s a work in progress, it’s a man problem.  As you get older … prostate issues … something that I can control but I can’t control,” he said.

“For a year and a half, urinating blood and struggling to urinate on the golf course is obviously not ideal for playing good golf. I should have been operated on earlier. I had bad information from a specialist, but I saw another specialist and he said do it straight away as you are struggling. Having those sorts of things on your mind doesn’t help.

“It’s been really tough times and I have worked really hard to get back. Certain things became a little bit more important than others. From an outsider looking in you just think it is just someone playing bad golf but there is a lot more to it. Golf is a massive part of my life but so is living.”

Hend last won on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Maybank Championship and is now determined to get back on track.

“I want to start playing well again, I want to start winning again, I want to improve my world ranking, I want to compete against all these guys again and show them I can still play,” he said.

“I want to finish my career with as many wins as I can. That’s why I am out here, to play and win trophies. I like to think I can be competitive this week and be up there on Sunday.”

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The post Asian Tour: Scott Hend on the mend ahead of International Series England appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Other than some sleep, only one other thing was missing as he prepared for the Asian Tour’s first competition in the UK — his clubs.

The Zimbabwean will compete at Slaley Hall Hotel to compete in the landmark $2 million event.

“I’m feeling good but obviously I would love my clubs to be here but that’s not the case right now,” the 30-year-old told the Asian Tour. “We don’t know when they are due to arrive, but we’ll give them a call.”

He beat Australian Anthony Quail on the second extra hole to win the Mizuno Open  at the weekend after starting seven-shots behind the Australian overnight leader Quail.

Vincent added: “It was a bit of a surprise because I was coming from so far behind. It was absolutely amazing, it kind of all worked in my favour. It was a great day, some really good golf and fun to get into a playoff and come through with a win because I have been in many playoffs that have not gone my way.

“I feel pretty good. I have just got to get used to the weather and England, it’s a completely different style of golf. I am excited to play, excited for the opportunity. It’s fun walking the course, seeing the different grasses and different shots we have to hit. I am not so sure about the wind and weather up here. I know it can get rainy and cold so got to prepare and get ready for that.”

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The post Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent arrives in Newcastle for Asian Tour’s International Series England after 24-hour trip — and without his clubs appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.