Fresh from his Faldo Series Asia triumph, Masamichi Ito heads to Morocco for this week's Trophee Hassan.

Singapore (March 20): Are we on the brink of a brave new era for professional golf in Asia? Or will it simply prove to be another false dawn?

Those who crave for a united Asian front will be buoyed by the fact that this week’s Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open is being jointly sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour.

It’s the opening leg of the 2012 season for both Tours – and the first time that the two bodies have joined forces.

After the bitter and unseemly battles for fairway supremacy that have soured the Asian scene for too long, this represents an opportunity for progress.

For followers of golf in Asia and those who truly care about the development of Asian players, the sensible scenario is for the various factions to set aside their differences and belatedly act in the best interests of the game.

Forgetting personal agendas, that would mean the Asian Tour, OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour – and their respective commercial partners – sitting down together to thrash out the issues that have kept them apart.

Just imagine how powerful they would be if they were to bury the hatchet and form a genuine ‘one Asia’ circuit that would be a serious rival to the United States and Europe.

It’s a mouthwatering prospect – and that’s without even adding into the mix other domestic Tours that are flourishing across the region, most notably in Korea, India, Thailand and Malaysia.

Lest we get too carried away, though, the reality is that any instant remedies in this healing process are highly unlikely.

Yet where there is a will there is a way. And at a time when sponsors – the very lifeblood of the professional game – are becoming increasingly confused and disgruntled at the divisions within the Asian game, the nettle needs to grasped.

But whether it will be at this point in time is another matter altogether.

**As for the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open, the field at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club is headlined by Shingo Katayama, who will be unveiling a new swing.

Among those joining Japan’s ‘Cat in the Hat’ are 2010 OneAsia Order of Merit winner Liang Wen-chong of China and 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines.

Look out, too, for Thai Thaworn Wiratchant and New Zealander Michael Hendry, the past two winners of Indonesia’s national Open title.

**In the United States, the countdown to the Masters continues with the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The gathering at Bay Hill may exclude Luke Donald, back to world number one after his win at the Transitions Championship, and Rory McIlroy, whom he deposed, but Tiger Woods, returning from injury, and Phil Mickelson are guaranteed to produce a spark.

Plenty of Asian interest, too, with Ryo Ishikawa, runner-up a fortnight ago in Puerto Rico, and Bae Sang-moon, denied a maiden PGA Tour win in last week’s play-off, both out to further build confidence ahead of Augusta National.

**Another young Asian in the limelight this week is 16-year-old Masimichi Ito. Fresh from his triumph in last week’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills in China, the diminutive teenager is heading for Morocco and the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan.

With fellow-Japanese Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Thais Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Indians Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur and Korean Kim Do-hoon also lining up, don’t back against an Asian winner.

**Talking of Asian winners, hats are off once more to Tseng Ya-ni, who claimed her second win of the season at last week’s RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup.

Now the Taiwanese world number one is already looking ahead to next week’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first women’s Major of 2012.

Before that, though, she’ll set out as favourite this week as the LPGA Tour continues its West Coast swing with the Kia Classic where the question is: Can anyone halt the domination of Tseng Ya-ni?

Nick Faldo will be speaking to players at the sixth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Shenzhen Mission Hills.

Singapore (March 14): It’s almost 16 years since Nick Faldo captured the last of his six Major championships. Yet he remains a prominent figure in the game today, as a television analyst, a course architect … and as a specialist in identifying and nurturing champions of tomorrow.

In a week that sees the Englishman visiting Asia, it’s especially poignant to consider that Rory McIlroy and Tseng Ya-ni are both products of the burgeoning Faldo amateur series.

Today, they are the number one male and female players in the world! It’s a point that Faldo himself will drive home to the more than 80 talented players who congregate at Shenzhen Mission Hills this week for the sixth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.

Played over three rounds on the Faldo Course, the champion will be the player with the lowest gross score, regardless of age or gender. And he or she can be sure that doors will magically open up for them.

It’s shaping up to be a busy week for Sir Nick!

From Shenzhen, he’ll head to Siem Reap for the inaugural Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic, a full field Asian Tour event.

Conceived by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, the tournament is being held in conjunction with the eighth Asian Economic Forum.

Headlined by Asian stalwarts Prayad Marksaeng and Mardan Mamat, the event will also have a charitable element with funds being raised for the Cambodian Red Cross.

After attending the tournament at the Angkor Golf Resort that he sculpted, Faldo will move on to Pnomh Penh to play in the Pro-Am on Sunday.

**Following the excitement of two World Golf Championships in the past three weeks, it’s back to more mundane fare on the US PGA Tour and European Tour.

With many of the big guns resting up ahead of final preparations for next month’s Masters – and Tiger Woods undergoing treatment on his latest Achilles injury – it’s a chance for some of the lesser known names to shine.

In America, Gary Woodland defends his title in the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Florida while young Koreans Bae Sang-moon and Noh Seung-yul are hopeful this may just be their big breakthrough week.

Joining them will be Ryo Ishikawa, who enjoyed his best-ever performance on the PGA Tour last week – a runner-up finish in the Puerto Rico Open.

On the basis of money won, he’s now eligible for temporary membership of the PGA Tour – an invitation he’ll find tough to turn down.

**Meanwhile, across the pond, the European Tour resumes following a four-week break with Ryder Cup captain Jose-Maria Olazabal topping the bill in the Open de Andalucia in Marbella, Spain.

It’s the circuit’s eighth event of the season – but the first in mainland Europe. What does the fact that the previous seven have been staged in Africa, the Middle East and Asia tell us?

That European Tour members love to travel … or that geographic boundaries don’t mean a great deal in the world of golf these days.

Make up your own minds.

**Similarly, this week marks the fourth event of the LPGA Tour campaign – and the first on American soil.

As well as honouring the 13 women who started the LPGA in 1950, the RR Donnelly Founders Cup in Phoenix will also include a celebration of LPGA pioneers and a continued commitment to girls’ golf.

Karrie Webb is back to defend her title while world number one Tseng Ya-ni, Jessica Korda and Angela Stanford are all seeking a second win of the season.

Meanwhile, Lee Bo-mee aims to complete back-to-back successes on the Japan LPGA Tour when she tees-off in the T-Point Tournament in Kagoshima.

One of the brightest Korean female golfing prospects, Lee enjoyed a maiden win at last week’s Yokohama Tyre PRGR Cup. Can she maintain that momentum? We’re about to find out!

Is Tiger Woods heading back to the top? Picture by Getty Images.

Singapore (March 6): Contrary to what you might think, it’s a rarity in golf for all of the top 50 players in the world to line up together in the same tournament.

This week’s Cadillac Championship is one of those occasions with the Doral Resort and Spa’s Blue Monster Course providing a fitting setting for what promises to be an intriguing showdown.

Just a fortnight after the Accenture Match Play, the US$8.5 million Cadillac event is the second elite World Golf Championships tournament of 2012. And there are fascinating questions waiting to be answered.

Crowned world number one for the first time following his win at the Honda Classic, can 22-year-old Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy live up to his new-found lofty status?

And after 41 consecutive weeks at the summit, can Luke Donald raise his game and regain top billing or does his English compatriot Lee Westwood figure to be McIlroy’s closest challenger?

And what of the Americans? In this Ryder Cup year, are Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson or Accenture champion Hunter Mahan about to take over from Steve Stricker as the leading player from the United States? Then we come to Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, both now outside the top-10.

Mickelson says he’s in fine fettle and ready for a ‘major’ year, but there’s more circumspection about the prospects of 14-time Major winner Woods.

Despite some encouraging ball-striking performances, his once imperious putting stroke now seems to be an Achilles heel – at least that was the case until last week’s scintillating closing 62 at the Honda.

Then there are the much-publicised off-course distractions, the latest of which is the pending publication of Hank Haney’s book which has upset Woods who claims it’s a breach of coach-player confidentiality.

There are those who say his days as a contender in the biggest tournaments are over. Others, though, are convinced he still has a couple of Majors in him. As the Masters fast approaches, this would be a perfect week for Woods to maintain his Honda momentum and show to the world that he is far from a spent force.

There are seven Asians in the starting field, but Ryo Ishikawa is not among them, having dropped out of the top-50 in the world. Instead he plays in the Puerto Rico Open. In his absence at the Cadillac, Japan’s hopes rest with Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Tadahiro Takayama while the now familiar quartet of KJ Choi, YE Yang, Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae fly the Korean flag.

Also in the spotlight will be Juvic Pagunsan. The number one from the Philippines secured his spot by virtue of topping the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit. At 172nd in the world, he’s the lowest-ranked player in Miami. But what an opportunity for Pagunsan to show the world that he has game.

**Among those who will be watching with special interest at how Pagunsan fares are many of his Asian contemporaries.

While Pagunsan is dining at golf’s top table this week, his regular rivals will – metaphorically speaking at least – be battling for scraps at the Impian Golf and Country Club in Malaysia in the PGM-CCA Impian Classic.

It’s the opening event on the 2012 Asian Development Tour (ADT) and the fourth leg of Malaysia’s domestic PGM Tour.

In truth, the ADT is a circuit still trying to find its identity. If it’s there to provide playing opportunities for Asia’s young professionals then it truly is a development Tour.

But it’s questionable what benefit is being achieved by anyone when the field includes so many established players who will inevitably win most of the US$65,000 prize money on offer.

**Meanwhile, in the women’s game, China’s Feng Shanshan aims to maintain her remarkable start to the season.

Beaten in a play-off at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore a fortnight ago, Feng was hailed in her home country last week after her victory in the inaugural World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills.

Now she heads for Japan and the Yokohama Tyre PRGR Ladies Cup where Taiwan’s Wei Yun-jye is the defending champion. Look out, too, for Airi Saitoh the surprise winner of the Japan LPGA Tour’s season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies.

OneAsia’s Chief Executive Ben Sellenger.

Singapore (October 17): OneAsia officials have hit back at their critics who claim the fledgeling Tour is an unattractive proposition due to the lack of world ranking points it offers.

Citing the 12-place rise in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) of American Rickie Fowler following his triumph in the Kolon Korea Open, Ben Sellenger, Chief Executive of OneAsia, said there was no circuit in the region that can boast stronger full field events.

Sellenger said: “Since our launch in 2009, we have continually seen our fields become stronger and stronger, and on sheer OWGR numbers alone our fields at present are by far the strongest for full field events in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The recent Kolon Korean Open was a fantastic example of this, and the Australian Open and the PGA Championship will provide a great springboard for us to continue our discussions with the Official World Golf Ranking committee to see this success recognised by appropriate world ranking points.”

On the back of his maiden professional victory in the Kolon Korea Open a fortnight ago, Fowler climbed 12 spots to 24th. In front of large galleries at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, Fowler beat off the challenges of world number three Rory McIlroy, Asia’s first Major winner YE Yang (38) and Japan Tour star Kim Kyung-tae (22), amongst other stars from across the region.

The Kolon Korea Open offered 26 ranking points to the winner, making it more lucrative in ranking terms in the same week than the Frys.com Open on the US PGA Tour (24 points), the Canon Open on the Japan Golf Tour (20 points) and the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) on the Asian Tour (14 points) – all of which received minimum points guaranteed by the OWGR system.

McIlroy, who placed second, also benefited from the points on offer at the event as he closed the gap on world number two Lee Westwood on the rankings this week to .23 of a point. A total of 34 players picked up world ranking points at the Kolon Korea Open, compared to 21 in the US$300,000 Yeangder TPC, a tournament that is guaranteed a minimum 14 points under the current OWGR system.

Since its inception in 2009, all events on OneAsia have been recognised by the OWGR Committee and allocated points have been generally based on strength of field, rather than the expanded minimum points afforded to other Tours. As such, OneAsia champions in 2011 have scored an average of 13.25 points per event. And these world ranking points on offer on OneAsia will grow even further as the Tour heads Down Under for the Australian Open and the PGA Championship.

Seven of the world’s top-20 players and 13 of the top-50 have already confirmed their participation in the Australian Open, translating into not just the strongest line up ever for the historic event, but also world ranking points north of 44 for the winner based on current entries. This number could rise even further with more star confirmations to come.

Dustin Johnson (5), Jason Day (7), Adam Scott (8), Matt Kuchar (9), Nick Watney (11), Bubba Watson (16), Hunter Mahan (19), Geoff Ogilvy (37), Tiger Woods (52), John Senden (59), Robert Allenby (60), Greg Norman and Fred Couples, among others, have already confirmed their places in the starting line-up at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney from November 10-13.

As the world’s newest Tour, the amount of minimum points allocated to OneAsia is currently under review, and the timing could not be better, said Sellenger.

Bae Sang-moon has risen to 35th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Singapore (October 18): While Presidents Cup team members Kim Kyung-tae and Ryo Ishikawa struggle worryingly with their games, Bae Sang-moon is on a roll.

Although the 25-year-old Korean did not gain a place in Greg Norman’s International Team for next month’s clash with America in Melbourne, on current form he’s one of the hottest golfers on the planet.

His play-off triumph in the Japan Open on Sunday was his second win in three starts and his third Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) success of the campaign. He enjoys a sizeable lead on the JGTO’s Money List.

Having trailed overnight leader Nobuhito Sato by four shots heading into the final round of the Japan Open at Takanodai Country Club course in Chiba Prefecture, Bae hung tough to finish the regulation 72 holes tied for the lead with Kenichi Kuboya. Bae prevailed with a par at the first play-off hole.

Thanks to his latest success, Bae has soared into the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time, in 35th place. The only Asians ahead of him in the rankings are Choi Kyung Ju (14th) and Kim (21st).

Bae’s elevation into the elite of the game is significant in the fact that it represents the first time that Korea has had four players in the top-50, with 2009 US PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun in 38th spot.

That is the same number as South Africa. Indeed, the only two countries with greater representation in the OWGR’s top-50 are England (six) and the United States (19).

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING
(Leading Asian standings, world ranking in brackets)

1, Choi Kyung-ju (KOR, 14)
2, Kim Kyung-tae (KOR, 21)
3, Bae Sang-moon (KOR, 35)
4, Yang Yong-eun (KOR, 38)
5, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN, 47)
6, Yuta Ikeda (JPN, 68)
7, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN, 77)
8, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN, 87)
9, Noh Seung-yul (KOR, 104)
10, Kim Do-hoon (KOR, 117)

11, Tomohiro Kondo (JPN, 123); 12, Toru Taniguchi (JPN, 124); 13, Koumei Oda (JPN, 129); 14, Charlie Wi (KOR, 130); 15, Shingo Katayama (JPN, 136); 16, Thongchai Jaidee (THA, 138); 17, Michio Matsumura (JPN, 140); 18, Siddikur Rahman (BAN, 142); 19, Kenichi Kuboya (JPN, 151); 20, Cho Min-gyu (KOR, 153); 21, Tadahiro Takayama (JPN, 165); 22, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA, 172); 23, Lee Dong-hwan (KOR, 179); 24, Prayad Marksaeng (THA, 187); 25, Kang Sung-hoon (KOR, 190); 26, Ryuji Imada (JPN, 192); 27, Tohinori Muto (JPN, 195); 28, Shunsuke Sonoda (JPN, 197); 29, Daisuke Maruyama (JPN, 200)

Ai Miyazato is one of three Asians to have topped the world ranking. Picture by Getty Images.

Singapore (September 1): More than a few eyebrows were raised across Asia following the LPGA Tour’s announcement that it is to add a fifth Major championship to its schedule.

To suggest that incredulity greeted Mike Whan’s confirmation that The Evian in France will be added to the LPGA’s roster of Majors in 2013 may be stretching the matter a little far. But the LPGA Tour’s Commissioner would do well to understand that there are those in Asia who will, inevitably, feel aggrieved and slighted.

And with a certain degree of justification, it must be said. After all, Asia and Asian players have become increasingly prominent and dominant on the LPGA Tour in recent years. In the past 18 months, three Asians have been ranked as the world’s number one – Japan’s Ai Miyazato, Korean Shin Ji-yai and, most recently and impressively, Chinese Taipei’s Tseng Ya-ni.

Meanwhile, consider also that events in Asia make up almost one-third of this year’s 24-tournament LPGA Tour schedule in the shape of the Honda Thailand LPGA, HSBC Women’s Champions (Singapore), Imperial Springs LPGA (China), LPGA Hana Bank Championship (Korea), Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship and Mizuno Classic (Japan).

So quite how, on the basis of the above, the LPGA Tour can overlook Asia’s claims for staging a Major at the expense of Europe is both hard to fathom and a rather painful slap in the face for the region that could conceivably be said to be propping up the self-proclaimed number one women’s circuit.

This is not the place to get bogged down with semantics as to whether it’s right or proper to increase the number of Majors, which from 2013 will comprise roughly 20 per cent of all LPGA Tour events – three in America and two in Europe. But as golfing historians will tell you, the LPGA Tour has not always restricted itself to four Majors in the past. With the addition of The Evian, though, it begs the following questions:

• Does it dilute the importance and prestige of the four existing Majors?
• Does it leave the door open to adding further Majors in the future?

All of this debate, it must be highlighted, is no reflection on the Evian Masters, as it has been called until now. Now into its second decade, clearly it’s been a wonderfully-run tournament with a significant prize purse and played at a stunning location on a course that will undergo sweeping renovations ahead of its Major debut.

Some mischievous sceptics have intimated that it was the fear of losing such an established – and rich – tournament from its schedule that prompted the LPGA to elevate it to Major status. Be that as it may, it’s Asia that is the loser, along with the sponsors that have backed million-dollar plus events here while the LPGA’s schedule in America has shrunk.

It’s instructive perhaps to turn the clock back to last year when The R&A’s Chief Executive Peter Dawson suggested that if a fifth Major were to be added to the men’s schedule (although he was not specifically advocating such a drastic move at that point in time) then it would certainly have to be staged in Asia.

Whan, it is only fair to point out, has made an excellent impression since assuming a role described by some as a poisoned chalice. In the nearly 24 months in which he has been in the post, his smooth media manner, genuine enthusiasm and ability to interact with his members and sponsors have seemingly endeared him to all – and brought positive results.

Yet this latest development may prove to be one of the biggest tests of his diplomatic skills given the damage that would ensue should he and the LPGA Tour alienate its ever-growing Asian membership and family of sponsors.

Singapore (August 2): Asian players are the dominant force in women’s golf. And it may not be too long before the region also boasts the strongest Tour for female golfers. In what may prove to a far-reaching agreement, the China LPGA Tour (CLPGA Tour) has appointed global sports and event marketing agency Octagon as its official marketing partner. In its new role, Octagon will be responsible for developing corporate partnerships for the CLPGA and also will be involved in strategy development and planning.

That the announcement comes the week after Chinese Taipei’s Tseng Ya-ni captured her fifth Major championship adds poignancy. Just last month, Zhang Xioning, the China Golf Association’s top official, talked about Tseng being a role model for young mainland female golfers.

Currently China’s top female is Feng Shanshan. As she plies her trade on the LPGA Tour, she has not been able to particpate on the fledgling China LPGA Tour, which has been dominated by Thai players for the past two years. However, with more tournaments enabling Chinese players to gain greater experience and now the link with Octagon, the breakthrough of the country’s women players may come sooner rather than later.

In announcing the multi-year appointment, Jennifer Li, the CLPGA Tour Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are extremely pleased to have Octagon join our marketing team. Their philosophy and approach is highly compatible with ours and we are excited to have this alliance, particularly at this important moment in our organisation’s development.”

Chris Higgs, Octagon Global Events managing director echoed Li’s optimism. The former LPGA Tour senior executive said: “We are very excited to be working closely with the CLPGA. With golf set to be in the Olympics for the 2016 Games, the CLPGA Tour is an important component in ensuring China’s women professionals have a platform to prepare them for international competition.”

Higgs will be directing the strategy and planning components of the assignment from his base in the US while the representation efforts will be driven by Octagon’s team in the agency’s Beijing office. Jung Jee, Octagon Global Event’s Senior Director for Asia will lead the business development efforts.

Octagon Greater China Managing Director, Ryan Sandilands, said his staff welcomes the opportunity to work with the Tour. “We are very positive and we’re ready to engage the market, both here in China and worldwide, in order to help the Tour in its mission to raise the competitiveness of and promote the development of women’s golf in China,” Sandilands said.

Noh Seung-yul during the final round at Royal St George’s. Picture by Asian Tour.

Sandwich, England (July 17): It’s a measure of the man – and his ambition – that Noh Seung-yul cut a despondent figure as he departed Royal St George’s this afternoon.

Rarely one to betray his emotions, the 20-year-old Korean did not even try to conceal his disappointment after an unpalatable finale to his campaign at the 140th Open Championship.

“It’s my fault. I just made some silly mistakes,” said the refreshingly candid Noh, who dropped four shots in the final three holes. They were expensive errors, not just in terms of lost prize money but also because they prevented him from bettering his previous best Major result, a tie for 28th at last year’s US PGA Championship.

Noh signed for a three-over 73 which left him with an overall total of nine-over 289 in equal 30th position. It won’t be lost on him that three closing pars would have enabled him to return to the clubhouse with a 69 to his name and secured him a share of 16th, placing him as the joint best Asian with his compatriot YE Yang.

In mitigation, Noh had never before experienced such testing conditions, with driving rain and strong winds throughout a large portion of the final two rounds. For the most part he coped admirably and it will, no doubt, stand him in good stead for future challenges.

And there will be plenty of those with Noh already setting his sights on following in the footsteps of fellow-Korean Kim Bi-o and gaining a place on the US PGA Tour. “My main focus now for this year is to get through the US Qualifying School.”

Choi, for one, is certain that Noh has the game to compete in America and also at the Majors. “He has far more talent than I did at his age,” said Choi, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and a mentor to Noh and many of the young Koreans making their way in the professional game.

Choi expects Noh and the likes of Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae to flourish in the years ahead. “There are a lot of challenges that they will have to overcome but I believe over the next three to five years they will have a good opportunity to win Majors. That’s tremendous for Korea and for Asia,” he added.

FINAL-ROUND ASIAN STANDINGS

285 – YE Yang (KOR) 71-69-73-72
289 – Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 69-72-75-73
290 – Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 69-71-75-75
291 – KJ Choi (KOR) 71-72-75-73
304 – Hwang Jung-gon (KOR) 68-74-83-79

Missed Cut

147 – Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-75
148 – Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 70-78; Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 72-76; Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 75-73
151 – Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 76-75; Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 75-76; Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 75-76
152 – Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 75-77
153 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 76-77
154 – Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 74-80
155 – Hiroo Kawai (JPN) 75-80

YE Yang marches down the eighth fairway during the second round at Royal St George’s. Can he march to victory over the weekend? Picture by Getty Images.

Sandwich, England (July 15): It’s down to a five-horse race. When the axe fell after the second round of the 140th Open Championship, 11 of the Asians who set out in hope of glory on Thursday had been eliminated.

While they were packing their bags for home they could at least take consolation in the fact that they were in good company, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the top-two ranked players in the world, and two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington among the big names missing out.

But the focus is now firmly fixed on the quintet of YE Yang, Yuta Ikeda, Noh Seung-yul, Hwang Jung-gon and KJ Choi.

All are within striking distance of the co-leaders Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover. Can any one of them find the inspiration to produce two explosive weekend rounds that would give them the chance of clasping the Claret Jug on Sunday and becoming the first Asian to win the Open Championship?

From the perspective of experience, you’d have to say that YE Yang (four off the lead) and KJ Choi (seven off the lead) would be the Asian favourites. Both have a wealth of Major championship experience and know full well what it’s like to find themselves in the heat of battle coming down the stretch in the world’s biggest tournaments.

There’s also a sneaking feeling that either or both of Japan’s Yuta Ikeda (four off the lead), the only remaining non-Korean, and Noh Seung-yul (five off the lead) are capable of sustaining their challenges, especially given that they’re both still flying under the radar of mass media attention.

That leaves 18-year-old Hwang Jung-gon, who has already surpassed all expectations by making the cut. Consider that he only took up the game five years ago, qualified for his maiden Major by winning his first pro event in Japan last month and is on his first trip outside Asia.

Consider this, also. Hwang dropped five shots over the final seven holes in round two to sign for a 74. If he’d covered the same stretch in level-par he’d find himself in joint third place just one shot off the pace. Whatever fate lies ahead for him this weekend, he’ll never forget his Open Championship debut.

SECOND-ROUND STANDINGS

ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

140 – YE Yang (KOR) 71-69; Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 69-71
141 – Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 69-72
142 – Hwang Jung-gon (KOR) 68-74
143 – KJ Choi (KOR) 71-72
147 – Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-75
148 – Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 70-78; Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 72-76; Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 75-73
151 – Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 76-75; Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 75-76; Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 75-76
152 – Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 75-77
153 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 76-77
154 – Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 74-80
155 – Hiroo Kawai (JPN) 75-80

KOREAN CHAMPIONSHIP

140 – YE Yang 71-69
141 – Noh Seung-yul 69-72
142 – Hwang Jung-gon 68-74
143 – KJ Choi 71-72
148 – Bae Sang-moon 72-76
152 – Kim Kyung-tae 75-77

JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIP

140 – Yuta Ikeda 69-71
148 – Tadahiro Takayama 70-78; Tetsuji Hiratsuka 75-73
151 – Hiroyuki Fujita 75-76
154 – Ryo Ishikawa 74-80
155 – Hiroo Kawai 75-80

THAI CHAMPIONSHIP

147 – Prom Meesawat 72-75
151 – Thongchai Jaidee 75-76
153 – Prayad Marksaeng 76-77

YE Yang sinks to his knees as another putts slips by the hole. Picture by Asian Tour.

Sandwich, England (July 16): The Claret Jug may now be beyond their grasp this year, but Asian heavyweights YE Yang and Noh Seung-yul are aiming to bow out from Royal St George’s with a bang rather than a whimper.

“Anything can happen on a links course such as this,” said Yang, the first Asian to win a Major when he triumphed in the 2009 PGA Championship.

A third-round three-over 73 left the Korean frustrated and he’s determined to finish with a flourish. “I’m disappointed because I had a few birdie chances from four or five feet and they didn’t drop,” said Yang. “I will be aggressive in the final round because I know if I can shoot under par then I’ll sky-rocket up the leaderboard.”

With 18 holes remaining, Yang is the leading Asian in a share of 22nd place on 213. He is followed by Yuta Ikeda (equal 33rd on 215), Noh Seung-yul (equal 37th on 216), KJ Choi (equal 48th on 218) and teenager Hwang Jung-gon, who is propping up the field on 225 after carding an 83.

Noh was among those who had the misfortune to face the worst of the weather conditions on Saturday. “It’s the first time I’ve experienced playing in such heavy rain and strong winds at the same time. It made it very difficult,” said Noh, who was six-over through 12 holes but gritted his teeth to cover the last six holes. In so doing, he’s preserved his hopes of improving on his previous best Major finish, equal 28th in last year’s PGA Championship.

Like Noh, Choi signed for a 75. He said: “It’s like the roll of the dice when you play in conditions like that. You can only stay patient and try your best. In these conditions, it’s difficult to hit the ball well as the wind will kill the ball spin very quickly and you never know which way the ball is heading.”

THIRD-ROUND ASIAN STANDINGS

213 – YE Yang (KOR) 71-69-73
215 – Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 69-71-75
216 – Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 69-72-75
218 – KJ Choi (KOR) 71-72-75
225 – Hwang Jung-gon (KOR) 68-74-83

Missed Cut

147 – Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-75
148 – Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 70-78; Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 72-76; Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 75-73
151 – Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 76-75; Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 75-76; Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 75-76
152 – Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 75-77
153 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 76-77
154 – Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 74-80
155 – Hiroo Kawai (JPN) 75-80

Hwang Jung-gon in action at Royal St George’s. Picture by Getty Images.

Sandwich, England (July 14): In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s more than one tournament taking place at Royal St George’s this week.

While the 140th staging of the Open Championship is the main event, there are numerous intriguing tournaments within that tournament.

Although the R&A hands out just two trophies at the conclusion of the championship – to the overall winner and the leading amateur – there are any number of leaderboards that are constantly changing throughout the week.

It may be true that every one of the 156 players in the starting line-up sets out on Thursday with dreams of raising aloft the Claret Jug come Sunday afternoon. But only a few of those could be said to be realistic.

For most, the hope is to make the cut and finish top of their particular leaderboards.

Fox example, Noh Seung-yul is actually contesting three tournaments this week. First and foremost there’s the Open Championship, followed by the Asian Championship and then the Korean Championship.

He’s made a pretty good start to all three, an opening 69 lifting him into a share of 18th place in 156-man The Open; equal second in the Asian Championship and equal second in the Korean Championship (behind surprise leader Hwang Jung-gon in both categories).

Throughout the week we’ll keep you posted not only on the Open itself but also the race to be crowned Best Asian, Best Korean, Best Japanese and Best Thai at the 2011 Open. One award we can hand out with certainty even at this early stage goes to Lam Chih Bing.

He may be in danger of missing the half-way cut after a disappointing opening 76 when conditions were at their most benign, but no-one can prevent him claiming the Best Singaporean title as he’s the only player from his country who qualified.

FIRST-ROUND STANDINGS

ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

68 – Hwang Jung-gon (KOR)
69 – Yuta Ikeda (JPN); Noh Seung-yul (KOR)
70 – Tadahiro Takayama (JPN)
71 – KJ Choi (KOR); YE Yang (KOR)
72 – Prom Meesawat (THA); Bae Sang-moon (KOR)
74 – Ryo Ishikawa (JPN)
75 – Thongchai Jaidee (THA); Kim Kyung-tae (KOR); Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN); Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN); Hiroo Kawai (JPN)
76 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA); Lam Chih Bing (SIN)

KOREAN CHAMPIONSHIP

68 – Hwang Jung-gon
69 – Noh Seung-yul
71 – KJ Choi; YE Yang
72 – Bae Sang-moon
75 – Kim Kyung-tae

JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIP

69 – Yuta Ikeda
70 – Tadahiro Takayama
74 – Ryo Ishikawa
75 – Hiroyuki Fujita; Tetsuji Hiratsuka; Hiroo Kawai

THAI CHAMPIONSHIP

72 – Prom Meesawat
75 – Thongchai Jaidee
76 – Prayad Marksaeng