12/07/2014

Padraig's Long Road from Johor to Jakarta

Padraig Harrington secured a thrilling victory at the US$750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open after defeating a battling Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand by two shots on Sunday.

The three-time Major champion held a four-shot lead at the start of the final round but stumbled at the turn in 37 as Thanyakon birdied three in his opening five holes to lead by two shots after nine holes.

Harrington clawed his way back up after a two-hour rain suspension to tie with Thanyakon heading into the 18th hole where drama ensued at the Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course.

Under immense pressure to win his first Asian Tour title, the 24-year-old Thai hit his second shot into the water for a double bogey as Harrington sealed the win with a 15-foot par putt after taking a penalty drop when his tee shot landed on the edge of the hazard.

Harrington, who signed for an even-par 71 and a winning total of 16-under-par 268 said, “Winning is a good habit to have. It gives you a lot of confidence and I need that confidence. I didn’t start too well but I came through and I got the win. This win brings a lot of confidence to my game and hopefully it will show up next year.”

“I had a bad break on the 18th hole when I hit my tee shot and it rolled to the edge of the hazard. I was about to chip my ball sideways to the fairway but when Thanyakon hit it into the water, there was no point to take a chance. So I went back to the fairway and hit my six iron for my best shot of the week,” said Harrington.

After completing five holes in his third round on Sunday morning, Harrington opened his final round campaign with a bogey before dropping two shots on the par three seventh hole. He admits that the rain delay after nine holes helped him recover.

“I hit a few bad shots earlier on and I hit a careless shot on the seventh hole. The biggest thing for me at that stage was that I was really praying for a rain delay. My momentum was gone but Thanyakon was flying and he didn’t miss a shot,” explained Harrington.

“It was very unlucky for Thanyakon because of that rain delay. It was unfortunate but he can be very proud with how he played all the way through. He is really impressive. He looks like a player to watch for in the future,” added the Irishman, whose last win in a full field tournament was in Johor in 2010.

A dejected Thanyakon rued the missed opportunity to win his first Asian Tour title after struggling to hold his nerve on the 18th hole.

“It was a great final round from me but I was under so much pressure on the last hole. I’m still happy with how I played. The rain delay stopped my momentum. It wasn’t good. The pressure made me scared,” said the young Thai, who posted a 69.

David Lipsky of the United States extended his Order of Merit lead by slightly over US$133,518 after finishing sixth while Merit runner-up Anirban Lahiri of India stumbled to tied 15th place after closing with a triple bogey.

“Looks like I increased my lead and I’m feeling pretty good about that. The goal was to play solid here. Step one done and now I’ll move on to the Thailand Golf Championship and see what I can do there,” said Lipsky, who won the Omega European Masters in Switzerland in September.

Lahiri will have much to play for in the remaining two Asian Tour events. “I got a lot to play for. David has a good lead and I need two solid results in the last two events. I think I’m playing well enough but I got to put it together over four rounds. I haven’t done that in these last two weeks.”

Maybank for McDowell and McGinley


Maybank will celebrate its tenth year as title sponsor of the Malaysian Open with the confirmed participation of 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley

The Irish duo will join a stellar cast from The European and Asian Tours for the prestigious co-sanctioned championship, which will be held from February 5-8, 2015, at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

McDowell claimed his tenth European Tour victory this year when he successfully defended his ALSTOM Open de France title. 

Two months later, he played his part in Europe’s victory over the United States at the Gleneagles Hotel, winning three points out of a possible three. 

That triumph was masterminded by McGinley, who will be making his first appearance in the Maybank Malaysian Open since 2008. 

Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Chairman of Maybank: “In 2015, as we celebrate the tenth year as title sponsor of the Malaysian Open, we continue with the tradition of bringing a selection of golfing personalities to Malaysia. Fresh from recent victories and with their charisma attracting a huge worldwide following, Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley offer fans exciting and competitive golf every time.

“We are proud of our role in the Maybank Malaysian Open, showcasing a world-class tournament steeped in Malaysian history. The tournament has produced some varied winners, and I expect this next edition to produce similar excitement.”

The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) reinforced the critical role that the tournament has played in expanding the reach of the game in the country.

“The Maybank Malaysian Open represents a consistent and considerable investment by Maybank towards the development of the Malaysian golfing scene, with the largest allocation of playing spots to top local professionals and amateurs who want to participate in the tournament,” said MGA president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor. 

“Maybank has ensured that the sport is one that is treated with the seriousness and importance that it deserves. We hope that our local players will deliver truly inspiring performances that we all can be proud of and hopefully bring home the Seagram Trophy this year.”

The first national Open in Asia to be co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours in 1999, the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open will once again feature leading professional players in its 156-man line-up.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Since joining our schedule in 1999, when it became the first event to be co-sanctioned by The European and Asian Tours, the Maybank Malaysian Open has grown in stature year on year; and with Maybank celebrating a decade of title sponsorship, the 2015 edition looks set to continue that trend. 

“The fact that Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen have both added their names to the trophy in recent seasons bears testament to the quality of field that this tournament now attracts, and we look forward to another week of top class action in Kuala Lumpur next February.” 

Kyi Hla Han, Chairman of the Asian Tour, said: “The Maybank Malaysian Open is one of the most important championships on our annual Schedule, and one that our players enjoy participating in. 

“We look forward to yet another exciting tournament in Malaysia next year, and I would like to congratulate Maybank for ten fantastic years as title sponsor of the Maybank Malaysian Open.”

The premier event has seen the likes of Peter Thomson, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Sir Nick Faldo hold aloft the Seagram Trophy down the years, and in more recent times has produced young and exciting winners in the form of Korean sensation Noh Seung-yul (2010) and Matteo Manassero of Italy (2012).