The Irish Golf Club Gazette: OneAsiaGolf

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10/20/2013

Ruling Gives Rory Second in Korea

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Rory McIlroy was awarded a second place at the Kolon Korean when a rules controversy then pushed him to second with Kim Hyung-tae, after the third-round leader was assessed a two-stroke penalty just as he appeared on the verge of victory.

Kim was on the 17th tee when, leading by two strokes, when rules officials approached him and playing partner Hoon Soon-sang and informed them they had grounded their clubs on the 13th hole in an area deemed to be a hazard.

Their scores of 4 became 6's and before signing their cards they returned to the 13th hole where for two hours they discussed the situation with officials, who viewed television footage of the incident.

According to the OneAsia Tour, Kim argued that he never grounded his club; he was eventually persuaded to sign his card by the Korean Golf Association Rules committee, which was not unanimous in its findings: it voted 5-3 against Kim.

The resulting 73 left Kim at 3 under par, one stroke behind winner Kang, and in a tie with McIlroy and three others.

Kang, 26, won the CJ Invitational last week on the Korean domestic tour but said he had mixed feelings about his victory.

"I'm a really good friend of his (Kim) so at the moment it doesn't feel great,'' Kang said according to the OneAsia Tour. "Even though I won the tournament, I just feel really sorry for him. I was actually out there to celebrate for him, but….I don't know. I don't know what to say. It's horrible.''

According to the OneAsia Tour, Kim left the course immediately after the trophy presentation.

McIlroy, too, had left before the rules issue surfaced.

The tie for second is his best since the Valero Texas Open the week prior to the Masters. "I only missed two greens and had so many chances, but it was like the story of yesterday -- I just didn't hole enough putts.

McIlroy now heads to China for the BMW Masters, a European Tour event in Shanghai.

That is followed by another tournament in the same city, the WGC-HSBC Championship, which is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and European Tour.

It will be McIlroy's first start of the 2013-14 PGA Tour season.

McIlroy Fires Final 67

OneAsia

Rory McIlroy looks set to a share third place at the Kolon Korea Open after a final round of 67 on Sunday to end his appearance in Korea with a comeback of sorts, having started the day ten strokes off the pace.

The world number six dropped just one stoke on the par 4 fourteenth, before a birdie on the last recover the damage.

"I could have shot anything, absolutely anything. I only missed two greens and had so many chances, but it was like the story of yesterday -- I just didn't hole enough putts. I created so many more chances today that it could have been 61, 62. It just wasn't to be. I didn't birdie any of the par fives which was disappointing. It was tough. I felt like it could have been so much lower the last couple of days, yet I'm only, what, three off the leader?"

"A little frustrating, but I'm happy with how I hit it. I hit the ball really well off the tee and my iron play was very solid as well. I feel like my game is in good shape going into the next few weeks, and that's a good thing."

"Some of the pin positions are on slopes and it's tough. It's very, very difficult to trust the line you're hitting it on. But if I keep giving myself all those birdie chances, sooner or later I'm going to start holing a few. I'll work on my putting over the next couple of days and get ready for Shanghai."

10/19/2013

Talk Through the Round - McIlroy

OneAsia

Q: Frustrating day? Talk us through your round

A: It was weird. I actually started the round really well -- I gave myself birdie chances on the first five holes, but missed a few of those. I picked one up at five, but gave it straight back with a three putt, and from there it was a bit of a struggle really. I didn't birdie the par-five eighth so turned at even -- which wasn't so bad -- but then got on a bad little run on the back nine. I double-bogeyed 10, bogey 11, bogey 13 and couldn't really get it back after that. I just think the story of the day is that I missed a lot of putts, missed a lot of chances for birdies at the start of the round and then mixed a few short ones for pars in the middle and end of the round. That's really what it was. So yeah, a frustrating day because I was in contention after two days and if you shoot a solid score today you're right in there tomorrow. I've just got to go out there tomorrow and shoot the best score that I can.

Q: Are you out of it?

A: It depends. Last time here I shot 64 last round so it would need something probably similar or a little better to have a chance so that's what I'll try and do tomorrow.

Q: You say the putting let you down. What is it, are you just not reading them well or hitting them wrong?

A: It's a struggle, especially where they've put some of the pin positions. It's tough to get yourself to commit to a certain line because you'll hit a few and they'll go through the break, and some turn more than others. It's just tough to commit to the line you choose.

Q: Some people have said this was a good tournament for you to get your confidence back. How's that going?

A: I wanted to come here and play, it's nothing about trying to build confidence or anything like that. I just wanted to come and play and it's a nice little run that I'm on -- a few weeks in Asia -- and it's nice to start here. I guess more than anything else I wanted to shake the rust off this week and try and get into contention -- and obviously try to win. It would be nice to shoot a good one tomorrow and get a bit of confidence from that going into the next couple of weeks in China.

OneAsia

McIlroy Suffers in Korea

OneAsia

Rory McIlroy suffered a frustrating third day at the Kolon Korea Open, missing birdie putts on the way to the ninth and with no better fortune on the run for home at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club - to finally card a 75.

The worlds number 6 now heads into Sunday at one over and tied for 13th place.

Kim Hyung-tae will take a commanding four-stroke lead into the final round of OneAsia's Kolon Korea Open on Sunday after a flawless five-under-par 66 that left him nine under for the tournament.

Overnight leader Hong Soon-sang kept pace on the outward nine of the 6,582-metre (7,198-yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, but three bogeys coming home saw him slip to sole second place with a 71.

Kim, winner of the Korean PGA Championship earlier this year -- his fifth title on the domestic tour -- took command of the one billion won (U.S. $950,000) tournament with four birdies in five holes from the fourth.

"I had a good feeling about this week," said the 36-year-old, whose wife gave birth to their first son last month.

"We've tried seven years to have a child and so whenever I need a boost, I just look at his face, or his picture, and it makes me very happy."

Kim has been a fixture on the Korean tour since turning pro in 2000, but spent last year in Japan before losing his card after a frustrating season where his best finish was joint 16th.

A member of OneAsia since the tour's founding in 2009, Kim lost to China's Liang Wenchong in a three-hole playoff at the 2010 Chengdu Luxehills Open. The two have since become close friends.

"I am playing with confidence," said Kim, who will become the first player in 42 years to do the Korean "Major Double" if he adds the Open crown to his PGA Championship title.

"I think there is a reason why people can't do it, it's hard," he said. "I will try to focus only on my game tomorrow and not think about history."

McIlroy, whose presence here has boosted the ranking points for the tournament, said he would try to go low in Sunday's final round.

"Last time here (in 2011) I shot 64 in the last round so it would need something probably similar or a little better to have a chance," he said.

"A frustrating day, because I was in contention after two days and if you shoot a solid score today you're right in there. I've just got to go out there tomorrow and shoot the best score that I can."

The Northern Irishman's day was summed up by the double-bogey he made on the par-four 10th. He splayed his tee shot to the right and had to improvise a left-handed recovery pitch from the base of a tree before landing his approach to within 15 feet of the pin. Three putts later he walked off shaking his head.

"I just think the story of the day is that I missed a lot of putts, missed a lot of chances for birdies at the start of the round and then missed a few short ones for pars in the middle and end of the round. That's really what it was," he said.

"It's a struggle, especially where they've put some of the pin positions. It's tough to get yourself to commit to a certain line because you'll hit a few and they'll go through the break, and some turn more than others. It's just tough to commit to the line you choose."

Winless since changing club manufacturer earlier this year, McIlroy refused to be downcast.

"I wanted to come here and play; it's nothing about trying to build confidence or anything like that. I guess more than anything else I wanted to shake the rust off this week and try and get into contention -- and obviously try to win."

Second-placed Hong was disappointed with his effort and conceded he had a mountain to climb.

"Four shots is a little bit too much, but nobody knows what will happen tomorrow," he said.

Defending champion Kim Dae-sub, meanwhile, seeking his fourth Korea Open title and second as a professional, moved into fourth place with a bogey-free 68 that left him at three under.

On a scoreboard dominated by Koreans, Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates (71) and Canadian Ryan Yip (73) were the next best of the foreigners and go into the final round sharing 21st place at three over.

Shot of the day belonged to Park Sang-eon who aced the 222-yard (200-metre) par three 13th with a sweetly struck four iron to win a BMW 750Li worth $190 million won (U.S. $180,000).

10/18/2013

McIlroy Lurks in Korea

OneAsia

Rory McIlroy is just two shots off the pace after a second round 69 that could have been one stroke better if not for a bogey on his last in round two of the Kolon Korea Open.

Ahead Hong Soon-sang leads after shooting a bogey-free three-under-par 68 on Friday to snatch a one-stroke clubhouse lead over countrymen Kim Hyung-tae (66) and Hwang In-choon (68) midway through the second round of OneAsia's Kolon Korea Open.

With scoring difficult around the testing 6,582-metre (7,198-yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course near Cheonan, south of the capital, the cut looks likely to be set at around plus six.

Hong, a five-time winner on Korea's domestic tour including this year at the SolaSeaDo Pine Beach Open, said he had to scramble to keep his scorecard clean

"I was very pleased to go around without a bogey but I think I had a bit of luck," he said. "Some of the pins were really hard, but I managed to get it close or make up-and-down.

"The real game starts from tomorrow. It's the tournament that everyone wants to win so it's important for me to manage myself."

McIlroy had a topsy-turvy opening nine with two birdies and a bogey in his first four holes before dropping three in-a-row from 14 to 16. That seemed to galvanise the two-time Major winner -- playing his first tournament since taking a month break from the game -- and he scored five birdies in the next 10 holes.

"I'm driving the ball very well and for the most part my iron play is pretty good," he said.

"But I definitely missed a few opportunities out there. I definitely could have been a few shots better, but I'm in a good position going into the weekend and that's all you can ask for."

Without a win since changing his club manufacturer at the beginning of the year McIlroy is at the start of a month-long Asia-Pacific swing that will also see him tee it up in OneAsia's Emirates Australian Open next month.

"I don't need to go out there and be overly aggressive, but I just want to get myself into a good position for Sunday if possible," he said.

Hwang credited a couple of rounds with K.J. Choi last week for his improved showing.

"I played two (final) rounds with K.J. Choi at the CJ Invitational and that gave me a lot of confidence. K.J. and I had a chat about a few things and that was great," he said.

Overnight leader Jang Ik-jae, a Japan Tour stalwart who is only playing because his manager forgot to enter him in this week's Japan Open followed Thursday's 67 with a 72 and remains well placed.

On a scoreboard dominated by foreigners, Q-School graduates Ryan Yip from Canada, and Eric Mina of the U.S. are one over.

For Mcilroy it has all been positive so far when he talked to the media afterwards.

"Pretty good so far. There was a few sloppy shots, or sloppily played holes. I made three bogeys on the back nine (his first nine) which wasn't great but most of the other stuff was actually pretty solid. I hit some good shots and made some good birdies so it was good."

"I'm driving the ball very well and for the most part my iron play is pretty good, but I definitely missed a few opportunities out there. I definitely could have been a few shots better, but I'm in a good position going into the weekend and that's all you can ask for."

" I bounced back well after the double bogey yesterday on 13 and after that stretch today on the back nine I turned it around and played the last 10 holes in four under, so it was a pretty good effort. I was a little disappointed to bogey the last there, but it was good for the most part.

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10/17/2013

McIlroy Quotes Korea Open - R1

OneAsia

Rory McIlroy spoke on Thursday after the first round of the Kolon Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club:

Q: A flying finish, you must be pleased.

A: Yeah, it was a good finish especially after making double bogey on 13. To finish the last five holes at three under was very nice. It was tough, some of the pin positions out there today were brutal, just cut on slopes and very hard to get close to them and when you did get close to them you left yourself very tricky putts. It was hard to shoot a low score out there today. I felt I was a little rusty after the four weeks off but I battled back nicely and to end up under par for the day wasn't too bad.

Q: I'm sure you don't want to dwell on the negative, but talk us through the double bogey

A: I just wasn't very comfortable with the tee shot. I took a long time to get settled over it and then just didn't make a very good swing. But as I said, I came back well after that and played the last five holes very strongly.

Q: Despite the notorious pin positions, you've hit a 64 out here, in the final round last time out. Do you have that in you again?

A: Definitely. It's one of those courses where you've got generous greens so if you hit a lot of greens and get your putter going you can definitely shoot low.

Q: And tomorrow, will you be aggressive?

A: It all depends where they put the pins again. You definitely don't want to miss them on the wrong side. You don't want to short side yourself. There's not many low scores out there … if I plot my way along and pick up a few birdies here and there I won't be too far away.

Rusty Rory Opens in Korea

OneAsia

Rory McIlroy produced a strong finish to card a round of 70 on the opening day of the Kolon Korean Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

The former world No 1 is trying to rediscover some form at the OneAsia Tour event having managed just one top-five result all season.

McIlroy made a solid enough start on the first day, recording a birdie and a bogey as he covered the front nine in a level-par 36.

A double-bogey at 13 dropped him down the leaderboard but the Northern Irishman rallied to pick up three shots, birdieing the last two holes to end the day on one-under par in a tie for 12th place.

McIlroy, who was returning to action after a month away from competitive golf, is hoping to go on better than his second-placed finish to Rickie Fowler at the tournament two years ago.

"I just wasn't very comfortable with the tee shot. I took a long time to get settled over it and then just didn't make a very good swing," he said.

But the 24-year-old finished with a flourish, going three under for his next five holes.

"It was tough, some of the pin positions out there today were brutal, just cut on slopes and very hard to get close to them," he said, "and when you did get close to them you left yourself very tricky putts.

"I felt I was a little rusty after the four weeks off, but I battled back nicely and to end up under par for the day wasn't too bad."

Home golfers dominated the top of the standings, with South Korean Ik-jae Jang in the lead after a four-under round of 67 which included an eagle two at the par-four 10th.

Three of the four men tied for second place were also local players, with American Eric Mina the only interloper on three-under. Defending champion Kim Dae-sub was one shot further back.

Scottish veteran Simon Yates ended the day alongside McIlroy on one-under, although his round would have been much better if it were not for consecutive bogeys at nine and 10.