The Fab Five

Gazing into golf’s crystal ball, the future looks truly exciting with clear visions of Asia’s young and rising stars propelling themselves to the fore on the Asian Tour and beyond through their fearless attitude and golfing talents that defy normal conventions

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar not just won twice last season but was already a five-time Asian Tour winner at the age of 25

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar also won twice last season to signal his return to top form. For over two years, a wrist injury put a speed bump on Bhullar’s meteoric rise when he was already a five-time Asian Tour winner at the age of 25.

His recovery was slow and tedious but once the Indian regained his full confidence and groove, there was no stopping him as he won the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea with a stunning come-from-behind victory and Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open, all within the space of six weeks.

Soomin Lee of Korea and Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand were also victorious for the first-time last season with the former winning on the European Tour in China while the power-packed Thai broke through at the Venetian Macao Open, defeating 2015 Asian Tour number one Anirban Lahiri in a play-off following a titanic final day duel.

Pavit’s rise to prominence on the region’s premier tour is also testament to the success of the Asian Development Tour where he had cut his professional teeth and won the Order of Merit title in 2014 with three tournament wins.

While the 22-year-old Filipino Miguel Tabuena did not add to his lone Asian Tour victory in 2016, he still finished in a career high fifth place on the final Merit list, thanks to two runner-up finishes and three other top-10s. He also enjoyed a maiden major appearance at the U.S. Open to ensure his blossoming career continued to grow on an upward trend.

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