Youth to the Fore

Asia's young guns have excelled themselves in recent events both home and away

Lee and Wang, who have now become firm friends on Tour, have endured similar paths to prominence.

Two years ago, a nervous Wang threw away a one-shot lead with one hole to play to lose the Dubai Open on the Asian Tour while Lee double bogeyed two of his last three holes when leading the Maybank Championship Malaysia in February to suffer the bitter taste of defeat.

India’s Arjun Atwal, a two-time Asian Tour number one, benefited from Wang’s Dubai meltdown. He said then: “He's a great young player. I couldn't believe he's only 19. He's old enough to be my son. It's a tough loss for him but I'm sure he's going to win a lot,” said the Indian star, whose prediction was simply spot on.

Those bitter experiences only Wang and Lee tougher competitors.

Wang said: “Looking back now in Dubai, it was probably better that I did not win back then. If I had won, I wouldn’t have taken in the experience of contending and losing a tournament.

“I think Dubai helped me to win (in Morocco and Mauritius). I learned a lot from that experience. I remember I was really nervous playing the last hole with Arjun and I hit it so hard on my second shot and it flew into the bushes on the right, and then I found the fringe and made bogey. I was crying when I got back to my hotel.

“I guess it was about learning how to win. I couldn’t remember anything when I was in contention in Morocco and just made those putts on 18. When I got to Mauritius after the win, I wasn’t nervous when I got into contention again and I was in control. When Siddikur (Rahman) dropped shots, I took my chance to win again.”

It is certainly becoming a summer to remember for Asian golf as fellow young guns Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, 21, and Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong, 23, made their major debuts at the U.S. Open in Oakmont after coming through sectional qualifying.

With 17-year-old Thai Phachara Khongwatmai set to make his Open debut in July where he will be joined by the likes of reigning Asian Tour number one Anirban Lahiri of India, the future looks very bright indeed with the constant flow of young talents coming through the Asian Tour ranks.

Chuah Choo Chiang is Director, Communications of the Asian Tour and is based in Malaysia. 

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Written by Chuah Choo Chiang

Photography by Asian Tour

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