My Major Win Does Not Guarantee More Success, Says Yang


Augusta, United States (April 5): Korean superstar YE Yang heads into this week’s Masters Tournament with all the confidence in the world but knows his reputation as Asia’s first Major champion is no guarantee for more silverware. The Asian Tour honorary member, who triumphed in the US PGA Championship when he defeated Tiger Woods in a memorable head-to-head duel last August, will spearhead the region’s challenge in the year’s first Major at Augusta National Golf Club. “I want to keep the wins coming ... but winning on the PGA Tour, or anywhere, isn't easy,” said Yang. “Just because you have won a Major doesn't suddenly escalate your talent. It is merely an achievement which is quite precious to me but it doesn't win me any more tournaments or count as multiple wins."

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Pilkadaris Prepared To Pay High Price In Search Of Golfing Riches


Chengdu, China (April 4): Terry Pilkadaris knows what it means to pay a high price for being a professional golfer. The Australian is one of four players in this week's Luxehills Chengdu Open facing a US$5,000 fine for defying Asian Tour regulations and participating in an event on the rival OneAsia Tour. “I have to play well this week,” said Pilkadaris, who entered the final round in a share of eighth place, six shots behind pace-setting Liang Wen-chong. “I am going to cop a US$5,000 fine from the Asian Tour. It is going to be an expensive week as I brought my family with me. I think we worked out this week is going to cost about US$14,000 all up,” said Pilkadaris whose request for a release from the Asian Tour was rejected.

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Kraft Nabisco Championship: Michelle Poised To Pounce


Rancho Mirage, United States (April 2): Michelle Wie hit less than half her fairways in the second round at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, but scrambled her way to a one-under 71 at Mission Hills Country Club’s Dinah Shore Course. It was Wie’s second-consecutive 71. She was in the top-10 when she finished her round early Friday afternoon, four shots off the lead of Karen Stupples and Lorena Ochoa and ended the day five strokes behind pace-setting Korean Kim Song-hee. Stupples’ 69 was the only sub-70 round out of Friday’s morning wave. Scores were higher because of thick rough, firm greens and hole locations that were more difficult than on Thursday.

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Rules Gaffe In The Past As Wie Focuses On Kraft


Rancho Mirage, United States (March 31): When Michelle Wie stepped into a lake last week at La Costa, she left with her latest run-in with the rules book. If she leaps into a pond this week, she’ll be leaving Mission Hills Country Club with her first Major championship trophy. Wie tied for sixth last week at the Kia Classic. She was penalised two strokes when she grounded her club in a hazard after hitting out of the water on La Costa’s 11th hole. Wie protested the penalty to no avail. On Tuesday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Wie danced around questions about the penalty, saying: “It was very unfortunate, but I’m just looking forward to this week.”

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KIA Classic: Triumphant Seo Hails 'Career Turning Point'


Carlsbad (March 29): Sponsor's exemption Seo Hee-kyung won her first LPGA event when she shot a 12-under 276 to capture the inaugural KIA Classic presented by J Golf by a resounding six shots over Inbee Park. Starting the day with a five-shot lead, the 23-year-old Seo shot a final-round 70 that included six birdies and was more than enough to keep her well clear of the field. Her only considerable blemish came when she put a ball in the water on the par-three 16th and made five. Seo seized the tournament lead in the second round and never let go. With the win, she banks US$255,000 of the US$1.7 million purse.

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Brilliant Boonchu Displays Senior Superiority


George, South Africa (March 29): Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit sealed a historic hat-trick of victories on the European Senior Tour after shooting a superb final round 69 to win the Berenberg Bank Masters by three strokes. Boonchu held off former European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and South African Bobby Lincoln to capture the €75,000 first prize and become the first player since Tommy Horton in 1997 to win three consecutive Senior Tour events, following his back-to-back victories in Brunei and his native Thailand. He also became the quickest player to win three times on the Senior Tour – doing so on his seventh appearance – to break Welshman Brian Huggett’s record of achieving three victories in his first eight events, which has stood for 17 years.

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