If It Ain't Broke

… don’t fix it. Chuah Choo Chiang on the success of the unorthodox swingers

Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand

Over on this side of the pond, one of the Asian Tour’s most successful golfers is Thaworn Wiratchant and like Furyk, the veteran Thai also possesses one of the most unique golf swings in the game.

Thaworn’s backswing is long and over-exaggerated and he creates a distinctive “chicken wing” - a term given to golfers whose right elbow expands away from his upper body. Modern-day golf teachers would cringe at his technique but the 49-year-old holds the most victories on the Asian Tour with 18 titles and has also won the prestigious Order of Merit twice.

Years back, a golf coach tried to teach Thaworn “the correct way” to swing it but the Thai started to hit shanks and promptly reverted back to his old ways!

China’s Liang Wen-chong is another leading Asian star with his own unique game that resembled a baseball swing during his early days as a pro. It has worked wonders too with three victories on the Asian Tour, one in Japan and also the Order of Merit title in 2007. Liang is also one of six golfers to have shot a 60, which is the lowest 18-hole score on the Asian Tour. He worked for many years with Australian coach Kel Llewellyn who only served to enhance whatever natural ability the Chinese had.

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