Morgan Predicts Golfing Boom On Back Of Olympic Entry


London (October 5): Golf and rugby will make a huge leap forward if they can clear the final obstacle to joining the Olympic family this week, according to one of the leading sponsors of the two sports. Giles Morgan, the Group Head of Sponsorship for one of the world’s leading banks, HSBC, says if either sport passes the vote by the IOC in Copenhagen on Friday this week it will lead to unprecedented growth. Morgan, who leads the bank’s involvement in everything from the US$7 million WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore through to the world’s local bank’s involvement with the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa and the HSBC Asian 5 Nations, says a positive vote for either sport will create an enormous flow of finance in the future.

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Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: Thongchai And Lam Keep Asian Flag Flying


St Andrews (October 4): Two of Asia’s finest golfers, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, have made it through to the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. England’s Luke Donald leads the tournament following a superb eight-under-par 64 at Kingsbarns. His 201 total is one ahead of compatriot Simon Dyson and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy. Thongchai, meanwhile, carded a one-over-par 73 on the Old Course at St Andrews in the third round. Lam, who carded a two-over-par 74 at Carnoustie, is level with Thongchai on four-under 212.

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'I Just Love The Old Course', Says Hong Kong Teenager Hak


St Andrews (October 3): One of the amateur competitors in this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is Jason Hak. The 15-year-old from Hong Kong made history last year when he survived the cut in the UBS Hong Kong Open at Fanling. At the age of 14, he became the youngest player ever to make the cut in a European Tour event. In an exclusive blog for www.asiangolfmonthly.com, the schoolboy talks about the experience of playing the fabled Old Course at the Home of Golf.

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Big-Name Stars Put New Wilson Staff FG Tour Irons Into Play


Chicago (September 30): Wilson Golf has announced the new Wilson Staff FG Tour irons, the latest addition to its iron portfolio, which continues a long and distinguished history of forged blades. Intended to cater to the demands of low-scoring Tour professionals, the new FG Tour irons were designed with input and guidance from the Wilson Tour Staff. A total of 61 Major championships have been won with Wilson Staff irons in its nearly century-long history, more Majors than any other manufacturer in the industry. Precision forged from soft carbon steel, the new modernised FG Tour irons meet the discerning eyes and performance demands needed by Wilson Tour Staff professionals and better players. The FG Tour irons are perfect for skilled players who are seeking a compact head shape with a moderate amount of forgiveness.

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Runaway Triumph Sees Japanese Veteran Maruyama Soar


Singapore (September 28): When the 2009 Asian Tour season comes to a close, Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama will undoubtedly look back on it as one of the best he's ever had. The 38-year-old Japanese not only started the year brightly by winning the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January, but went on to end a four-year title drought when he won the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open over the weekend. Victory for Maruyama at the US$1.5 million event, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour, was worth US$320,444 and it also saw the Japanese making one of the biggest ever moves on the Asian Tour Order of Merit - from 140th to third place.

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'Dashing' Atwal Relishing Return Passage To India


New Delhi (September 25): Indian star Arjun Atwal has confirmed his participation in next month's Hero Honda Indian Open, an event in which he produced a famous victory 10 years ago. The former Asian Tour number one, who now plays on the US PGA Tour, will provide a huge boost for India's national championship which will be played for the first time at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon from October 8-11. Atwal last competed in the Indian Open in 2005, which was the year when Hero Honda took over the title sponsorship of the tournament. He will join fellow PGA Tour star and close friend Daniel Chopra of Sweden in the tournament which will offer a record US$1.25 million in prize money.

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