GOLFER (86) DROWNS IN HILTON HEAD ISLAND WATER HAZARD

+Next time you hit your ball into a water hazard, don't even think about wading in after it. You can always get another ball but you only live once.


FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
A Hilton Head Island, South Carolina man drowned after he fell into a golf course pond while reaching for a golf ball, according to a report from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.
Lawrence Monroe Slovin, 86, fell into a water hazard on the three-hole Cypress of Hilton Head course near his home in Hilton Head Plantation at about 2 p.m. Sunday, the report said. 
Slovin's golf partner told deputies Slovin had only recently begun playing golf again after a hospital stay.
Slovin hit his golf ball back onto the fairway from near the water hazard when he spotted another golf ball closer to the water, the report said. 
The man said Slovin's recent health issues prevented him from bending down to grab the ball, so he tried to knock it toward him with his golf club.
Slovin lost his footing trying to hit the ball, falling backward into the water hazard. His golf partner tried to grab his feet, but Slovin began to thrash in the waist-high water and went under, the report said.
The man said he couldn't immediately find Slovin in the muddy water. He located Slovin's body about five minutes later, pulling him to the bank of the water hazard to wait for members of the Hilton Head Island EMS to arrive, the report said.
EMS responders were unable to detect Slovin's heart rhythm, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Slovin's body was sent to the Medical University of South Carolina for an autopsy, the report said.


... AND EVEN BUNKERS ARE NOT SAFE IN MEXICO

FROM THE HERALD WEBSITE:

inShare1

A Scot is recovering after being attacked by a crocodile in Mexico while playing golf with friends.

Dougie Thompson said he had stepped into a bunker to take a shot when the reptile sprang from nearby undergrowth and clamped its jaws on his leg.
It was only after friends beat the crocodile with golf clubs and drove over it in a golf buggy that it released its grip, allowing Mr Thompson to be pulled to safety.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/11/11/2786800/man-drowns-on-hilton-head-island.html#storylink=cpy

IAN BRATTON SHOCK RESIGNATION AS NEWBURGH CLUB PRO

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Popular PGA professional Ian Bratton has resigned his post at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire and his immediate future may lie out on the North Sea oil rigs.

"It's a career change for me," said the former Cruden Bay Golf Club amateur member who was club pro at the now defunct East Aberdeenshire Golf Club before joining Newburgh.
"The club committee decided to cut back the pro shop's opening hours over the winter to reduce costs and revert back to normal trading hours next season," said Bratton.

"I am going to retrain with a North Sea oil company called Oceaneering in January.

"I will make a decision next season whether to retain my golf pro status or apply for reinstatement as an amateur."
A past captain of the North-east Golfers' Alliance, Bratton has not had the best of luck over the past year or two. He suffered a wrist injury which required an operation and kept him off the golf course for some time.
Then he incurred a severe ankle injury playing football and was again unable to play golf for months.
Prior to his mishaps, Bratton was a regular winner on the North-east Alliance circuit.

JUSTIN ROSE AWARDED HONORARY MEMBERSHIP OF EUROPEAN TOUR

Justin Rose (left) receives his honorary European Tour membership card from George O'Grady, chief exectuive of the Tour. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c).

FROM THE SKY SPORTS WEBSITE

Justin Rose has been awarded honorary life membership of the European Tour in recognition of his US Open Championship victory in June.

"This is really an incredible honour," said the Englishman, who held off Phil Mickelson and Jason Day to record his first major triumph at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
"For a kid who started his career with 21 missed cuts, I guess this means an awful lot really. And the whole journey could not have been done without all the hard work of The European Tour.
"It's great to be back here and great to have a chance to be playing for the Race to Dubai. Like I said, this truly does mean a lot to me.

A number of European golfers compete to find the green from their hotel balcony in the DP World Tour Championship Atlantis Golf Challenge.

"It's been a great journey. There are many, many fantastic players who have done so much for European golf who have received this honour, so it would be wonderful for me to be able to do the same.
"I've got a lot of great golf ahead of me, I hope, and a lot of great golf on the European Tour ahead of me. So I look forward to living up to this honour."
Tour chief executive George O'Grady praised Rose, who has won six European Tour events since bursting onto the scene at the Open Championship in 1998, where he won the leading amateur silver medal as an 18-year-old.
"When we have one of Europe's own enjoying the season that Justin has had, and specifically winning the US Open Championship, we would be honoured if he would accept Honorary Membership of The European Tour," he said ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
"He will now join a very illustrious band of major championship winners and others who have contributed hugely to the growth of the European Tour."

SIX SCOTS' EUROPEAN TOUR DREAMS LIKELY TO BE OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR AFTER FOURTH ROUND CUT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

It's not looking good for six of the 10 Scots in the field of 156 at the EuropeanTour Final Q School at PGA Catalunya in north-east Spain.

Wednesday is the first "crunch" day because only the leading 50 and ties at the end of the fourth round will go forward to the final 36 holes over the tougher, longer par-72 Stadium Course, at the end of which the top 25 and ties will earn playing rights on next season

Only four Scots - Jack Doherty (pictured), Alastair Forsyth, Andrew McArthur and Doug McGuigan - are likely to survive the first cut.

Doherty has taken over as leading Scot, thanks to a fine, four-under-par 66 over the shorter Tour Course for a running tally of eight-under 204 and joint fifth place behind the new joint leaders on 202, England's James Morrison who shot a seven-under 63 and Sweden's Jens Dantorp who had a third-round 68.

Doherty crammed his five birdies and one bogey into the 12 holes from the third to the 14th in halves of 34 and 32.

Forsyth dropped down to a share of 11th place on 205 after a four-birdie, four-bogey par-matching 70 on the Tour Course.

McArthur (jt 40th on 209) and McGuigan (jt 49th on 210) cannot afford too many slips if they are to go on to the final 36 holes, at the end of which the leading 25 and ties will earn playing rights on next season's European Tour.

McArthur had a mixed bag of one eagle, three birdies, one double bogey and three bogeys in returning a par 70.

Clydeside-born, South African-based McGuigan had four birdies over the shorter course but his errors outnumbered his highlights - a double bogey 6 at the third plus three bogeys for a one-over 71.

West Linton's Welshman Gareth Wright fell off the straight and narrow with a six-over 76 for 213 and is sharing 77th place.

The Scots who have their backs to the wall in the fourth round are George Murray (jt 88th on 216), Scott Henry (jt 96th on 217), Neil Fenwick and Duncan Stewart (jt 120th on 220), Raymond Russell (jt 128th on 221) and Scott Drummond (jt 136th on 223).

Murray had an eagle and four birdies over the longer Stadium Course but still could do no better than match the par of 72. Why?

Well he had six bogeys, including four in a row from the sixth to the ninth.

Henry had a horrific quadruple bogey 8 at the 10th wbich all but wiped out the gain of six birdies. Five bogeys did not help his cause in a 75.

Fenwick has lost his form at the wrong time of the season. His scores are getting worse daily - 72, 73 and 75.

Stewart doesn't like the first hole on the par-72 course. It cost him a double bogey 6 on Monday and a triple bogey 7 in the third round. He returned a 75.

Russell, who played so well in Stage 2, is another who has lost his touch just when he needed it most. He had six bogeys and just one birdie in a five-over 77.

Drummond also signed for a 77 in which he was four over for the last five holes alone.

LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES

Stadium Course (7,333yd), par 72; Tour Course (6,610yd), par 70.

202 J Morrison (Eng) 72 67 63, J Dantorp (Swe) 66 68 68.

203 E Goya (Arg) 66 70 67, F Zanotti (Paraguay) 66 70 67

204 J Doherty (Sco) 68 70 66, D Kemmer (US) 67 70 67, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 67, O Stark (Swe) 66 71 67, G Lockerbie (Eng) 72 65 67, L Bjerregaard (Den) 65 70 69.

205 A Forsyth (Sco) 65 70 70, D Brooks (Eng) 65 71 69, E Espana  (Fra) 62 74 69, R Finch (Eng) 64 71 70, J Hahn (US) 66 66 73, B Stone (SAfr) 69 66 70, E Kofstad (Nor) 70 68 67, P Sjoland (Swe) 66 72 67, M Tullo (Chile) 67 70 68 (T11).

SELECTED SCORES

209 A McArthur (Sco) 66 73 70 (T40)

210 D McGuigan (Sco) 71 68 71 (T49)

213 G Wright (Wal) 72 65 76 (T77)

216 G Murray (Sco) 67 77 72 (T88)

217 S Henry (Sco) 72 70 75 (T96)

220 Neil Fenwick (Sco) 72 73 75, Duncan Stewart (Sco) 68 77 75 (T120)

221 Raymond Russell (Sco) 76 68 77 (T128)

223 Scott Drummond (Sco) 75 71 77 (T136)

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Tour Doors ajar for Morrison after sublime 63

England’s James Morrison climbed into a share of the lead on the third day at The European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage thanks to a superb best-of-the-day 63 at PGA Catalunya Resort.

The 28 year old Surrey native defied swirling winds to post eight birdies and just the one bogey to reach ten under par for the week as the leading half of the draw played the Tour Course at the stunning resort just outside of Girona, in north-eastern Spain.

Sweden’s Jens Dantorp fired a two under par  to also reach that tally following the third day’s play, while the South American pair of Estanislao Goya and Fabrizio Zanotti both shot  to remain one shot further back as the gruelling contest reached its halfway point.

Morrison, who is playing the Final Stage for the first time in five years this week after finishing 139^th in The 2013 Race to Dubai, showed some exemplary ball-striking on Tuesday in birdieing four of the five par threes and surged 39 places up the leaderboard into a share of top spot.

“It does feel good to be up the top of the board,” said the 2010 Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal champion. “It is always a funny week at Tour School what with us being through three rounds and still having three to go.

“You’ve just got to keep playing well and keep it ticking along while staying within a decent distance of the leaders.

“I knew today playing the Tour course that it was the last chance for a low one, I felt like I could have a good score today. We were first out too so the greens were good and I’ve been playing well for a few months without it quite clicking but it is finally starting to come around.”

This week, playing in his fourth Qualifying School Final without yet having gained his playing rights here – he eventually did ascend to The European Tour after finishing 18^th on the Challenge Tour in 2009 – Morrison said that after a disappointing campaign he is glad to be getting back on track, and over two courses which he clearly enjoys.

“I played here in the Qualifying School when it was first held here five years ago but haven’t been back since,” he continued. “The courses suit my game. They are just two good golf courses; they say the Tour is easier and I know I have shot a good score but there are still a few smelly holes out there which you need to focus on.

“And the Stadium Course is just a good test of golf. Play well and you can shoot a good score, but don’t and you can shoot a hundred – it’s a great challenge.”

Dantorp, meanwhile, said it was a grinding day but was happy to make a 16 foot birdie putt at the last to jump into a share of the lead with 54 holes remaining in Girona.

“It was a bit gusty today but I’m lucky because it’s the conditions I’m used to playing in at home – for me it’s a normal thing,” said Dantorp, who finished 21^st in the Challenge Tour rankings this year. “Today was so-so with the putting but I was pleased with that finish. It’s a great place to be in and I’m happy with where I am at the moment.”

American John Hahn failed to build on his two-shot overnight lead as he struggled to a three over par, while his compatriot Brinson Paolini shot a best-of-the-day on the challenging Stadium Course to move into a share of 26^th place on five under par.

The top  players and ties at the conclusion of the fourth round will go on to play two more times over the Stadium Course while those sharing 25^th place and better come close of play on Friday will claim a coveted European Tour card for the 2014 season.

Scores:

THIRD ROUND AGGREGATES

 

202 J Dantorp (Swe); J Morrison  (Eng);

203 F Zanotti (Par); E Goya (Arg);

204 G Lockerbie  (Eng); S Wakefield (Eng); J Doherty  (Sco); L Bjerregaard  (Den); D Kemmer (USA); O Stark (Swe);

205 M Tullo (Chi); B Stone (RSA); J Hahn (USA); E Espana (Fra); R Finch  (Eng); E Kofstad (Nor); D Brooks (Eng); A Forsyth (Sco); P Sjöland (Swe);

206 A Hartø  (Den); A Saddier (Fra); W Ormsby (Aus); M Jonzon (Swe); M Lafeber (Ned); S Manley (Wal);

207 M Lundberg (Swe); C Paisley (Eng); A Gee  (Eng); K Pratt (Aus); C Del Moral (Esp);

208 R McGee (Irl); G Stal  (Fra); M Crespi  (Ita); F Andersson Hed (Swe); M Korhonen (Fin); H Leon (Chi); S Hodgson (Eng); K Phelan (Irl);

209 B Paolini (USA); M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra); J Lagergren (Swe); B Dredge (Wal); A McArthur  (Sco); T Van Der Walt (RSA); T Whitehouse  (Eng); A Johnston (Eng); T Pieters  (Bel); C Shinkwin (am) (Eng);

210 J Lando Casanova  (Fra); D McGuigan (Sco); J Knutzon (USA); O Wilson (Eng); J Barnes (Eng); J Elson  (Eng); J Heath  (Eng); J Huldahl (Den);

211 O Floren (Swe); J Fahrbring (Swe); A Marshall (Eng); B Henson (USA); A Björk (Swe);

212 L Gagli  (Ita); T Lee (USA); K Horne (RSA); D Dixon (Eng); J Watts (Eng); A Domingo (Esp); D Higgins (Irl);

213 M Delpodio  (Ita); A Haig (RSA); C Arendell (USA)  ; N Quintarelli (Ita); E Dubois (Fra); J Robinson (Eng)  ; D Gavins (Eng); O Fisher (Eng); G Wright  (Wal);

214 A Dodt (Aus); C Bouniol (Fra); Z Scotland  (Eng); W Harrold (Eng); J Guerrier  (Fra); C Hanson (Eng);

215 P Price (Wal); D Im (USA); V Phillips (Eng); N Lemke (Swe); A Garcia-Heredia (Esp); M Grönberg (Swe); R Karlberg  (Swe); M Hensby (Aus);

216 P Edberg (Swe); C Ortiz  (Mex); W Besseling  (Ned); G Murray  (Sco); B Åkesson (Swe); J Lucquin (Fra) ; P Archer (Eng) ; A McLardy (RSA);

217 B Evans  (Eng); M Wiegele (Aut); S Henry (Sco); N Nissen (Den);

218 M Zions (Aus); Y Tsukada (Jpn); T Nørret (Den); R Davies (Wal); T Sluiter (Ned); O Lieser (Cze); D Vancsik (Arg); J Lara (Esp); C Monasterio (Arg); K Benz (Sui); D McElroy (am) (Nir);

219 J Rask (Swe); B Ritthammer (Ger); C Suneson (Esp); P Hedblom (Swe); B An (Kor); M Orrin (Eng);

220 A Maestroni  (Ita); J Ahlers (RSA); J Sjöholm (Swe); N Dougherty (Eng); N Fenwick (Sco); P Martin Benavides (Esp); D Stewart (Sco)

221 J Edfors (Swe); G Cambis  (Fra); R Russell (Sco); J Timmis (Eng); F Fritsch (Ger); S Arnold (Aus); M Brier (Aut)

222 R Steiner (Aut); R Pettersson (Swe); D Ulrich (Sui); G Main (USA)

223 O Henningsson (Swe); A Bernadet  (Fra); L Bond (Wal); O Bekker (RSA); S Drummond (Sco)

224 J Fly (USA)

225 N Ravano (Ita); K Ferrie (Eng); T Linard (Fra)

226 J Granberg (Fin); L Goddard (Eng)

229 R McGowan (Eng)

230 E Cole (USA)

234 C Dammert (am) (Ger)

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

TOM BUCHANAN IN TOP 10 WITH ROUND TO GO IN MENA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Tom Buchanan, playing over home course at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, is lying joint eighth with one round to go in the MENA Tour Championship.
The Stranraer-born pro has shot 69-67 for six-under-par 136 over the par-71 lay-out to be six shots behind the leader by three, Moroccan  Faycal Serghini (65-65).
Buchanan, who was on the books of first Kilmarnock and then Rangers as a teenage football prospect, birdied the first, third, fifth and sixth on his way to a bogey-free outward half of 32. He parred his last 12 holes.
Fraser McKenna and Clarke Lutton are tied 22nd on 141, McKenna with scores of 72-69, Lutton 73-68. Highlight of McKenna's card was an eagle 3 at the long third. Lutton covered his last 10 holes in three under par with birdies at the ninth, 17th and 18th.
Greg Nicolson is joint 46th on 148 with rounds of 72-76.

MENA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, Abu Dhabi
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
Par 142 (2x71)
130 F Serghini (Mor) 65 65
133 M Turner (Eng) 67 66, J Allan (Eng) (am) 67 66
134 I Keen an (Eng) 67 67, N Mulhaupt (Swi) 68 66, M Harradine (Swi) (am) 67 67
135 Lee Corfield (Eng) 65 70
136 T Buchanan (Sco) 69 67, T Hogarty (SAf) 69 67
137 Y Ali (Eng) 67 70

SELECTED SCORES
139 S Dodd (Wal) 71 68 (T15)
141 F McKenna (Sco) 72 69, C Lutton (Sco) 73 68 (T22)
148 G Nicolson (Sco) 72 76 (T46).

LONG-TIME FAILURE BRINY BAIRD HAS WON $13million OVER THE YEARS

FROM GOLF CHANNEL.COM WEBSITE

By AL TAYS

Watching Briny Baird - 365 US PGA starts without a victory - stumble at another finish line on Sunday in the McGladrey Classic was painful to watch. Not as painful as it must have been for Baird, but painful nonetheless. As I watched Baird gamely submit to a TV interview, his laughter while talking to Golf Channel's Steve Burkowski only reminded me of the old blues lyric "I'm laughing just to keep from crying."

"This hurts. It really does. This is very disappointing," Baird (pictured) said after making a final-hole bogey (which could have been worse had he not sunk a long putt) to lose the McGladrey Classic by a stroke to Chris Kirk.
I found myself wondering, who are the other Briny Bairds? Who are the athletes in other sports who have toiled the longest without ever experiencing the "thrill of victory," who have endured the same pain Baird has.
That's not an easy question to answer, even with the magic of Google. The Internet is rife with success-oriented records. But failure? Fail.
Oh, there's no shortage of examples of team failure. It's the usual suspects: Boston Red Sox, 1918-2004; Chicago Cubs, 1908-present; Dallas Cowboys, 1960; Tampa Bay Bucs, 1976; Detroit Lions, 2008. Those last three NFL teams went winless, but only for one season. And while the Red Sox and Cubs experienced long droughts between World Series titles, they did win division championships and pennants along the way.
Plus, you can't equate losing as a team to losing as an individual. As an individual, there's no "company" to share your "misery."
There are two ways to look at winning and losing in individual sports. A golfer who finishes second can be thought to have lost the tournament, if only because he didn't win it. On the other hand, he did beat 142 players in a 144-player field. That kind of result is often praised by references to such made-up statistics as "top-five finishes." But second place is derided by some as being "the first loser." For everyone who says "great effort," someone else responds with "nice choke."
Still, as Baird, now 41 years old and a golf pro since 1995, who has earned more than $13 million while playing 365 US PGA Tour events without winning, can attest, you don't have to be a winner to make a good living in golf.
Anyway, here are some other athletes who have experienced Baird-like droughts:
Anna Kournikova, women’s tennis: The photogenic Russian was much better known for her figure than her figures, although by no means was she an untalented player. Between 1994 and 2003 she played in 132 Women’s Tennis Association-sponsored events without winning (she did win two International Tennis Federation tournaments). She retired from full-time competition at age 21 in part because of lingering back injuries. Leaving competitive tennis had no effect on her fame, however; she remained the world’s most searched athlete on the Internet for several more years.
Julien Benneteau, men’s tennis: The Frenchman, 0-for-228 on the ATP Tour, is sometimes named as the best men’s tennis player never to have won a tournament. Not that he hasn’t had chances – he is 0-for-9 in finals.
Bobby Wadkins, US PGA Tour: Lanny Wadkins' younger brother played 713 PGA Tour events between 1975 and 1998 without a win. But he wasted no time shedding his nonwinner label when he got to the Champions Tour, becoming its youngest winner by claiming the Lightpath Long Island Classic 10 days after he turned 50.
J.D. McDuffie, NASCAR: Holds the record for most starts, 653, in NASCAR's top division, currently known as Sprint Cup, without a win. McDuffie raced from 1963 to 1991, collecting 106 top-10 finishes. He died at age 52 in a racing accident at Watkins Glen International in 1991.
Dave Blaney, NASCAR: Blaney is currently the active driver with the most starts without a win, 465.
Andrea de Cesaris, Formula One: Between 1980 and 1994 the Italian driver made 208 starts without winning, still the F1 record. Several wrecks early in his career earned him the unfortunate nickname "Andrea de Crasheris." In 1982 he had a good chance to win the Grand Prix of Monaco, but ran out of fuel on the last lap.
Zippy Chippy, thoroughbred racing: Though his bloodline includes some of horse racing's greatest names, including Man 'o War, Zippy Chippy somehow turned out to be speed-challenged. Foaled in 1991, the New York-bred gelding went on to lose all of his 100 races before being retired in 2004. He did have two wins, but neither counted. One was against a minor-league baseball player in a 120-foot race, the other against a harness-racing horse. Other horses have had longer winless careers, most notably Dona Chepa, a Puerto Rican mare who went 0 for 125 between 2001 and 2007, but none was as well known as Zippy Chippy.
Perhaps Baird, one of the nicest guys on Tour, can draw inspiration from these athletes who finally broke through to win after years of struggle:
Carolyn Hill, LPGA: Went 359 starts before getting her first win, the 1994 McCall’s LPGA Classic at Stratton Mountain (Vt.).
Jill McGill, LPGA: Still active, with an 0-for-360 streak.
Ben Smith, Champions Tour: Winless in 414 starts.
Michael Waltrip, NASCAR: His 0-for-462 streak was worth the wait when he won the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prestigious race. His victory was nearly forgotten, however, because that was the race in which Dale Earnhardt was killed. Waltrip went on to win three more times, including the 2003 Daytona 500.
In the immediate aftermath of his sixth runner-up finish, Baird noted how difficult it is to look on the bright side. 
"You've got to take away some silver linings," he told Golf Channel's Burkowski, but when asked what those silver linings are, Baird said, "I put myself right there in a great position, and ..." Then he laughed a rueful laugh and added, "I don't know what else I learned."

GOOSEN BIDS TO SHAKE OFF BACK TROUBLES IN INDONESIA OPEN

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Twice Major winner Retief Goosen of South Africa hopes to put a frustrating season behind him when he headlines the US$750,000 Indonesia Open from November 28 to December 1.

The two-time US Open champion (pictured) has struggled with a serious back injury for over a year but is determined to bounce back into winning form at the full-field Asian Tour event at the Pantai Indah Kapuk course at Damai Indah Golf.

“My golf game has been non-existent in the past year or so with my back issue. I had a back operation in August last year which was a success. My back felt great from January to April, but I then picked up a stress fracture in my back and had to take another four or five months off,” said Goosen.

“It has been a disappointing last year and a half. Hopefully this is the end of it and I can start concentrating on my golf again,” he added.

Goosen will be joined by decorated Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Indonesia’s highly rated Rory Hie and a strong cast of Asian Tour stars at the event which is part of the Asian Tour’s milestone 10^th season.

Pablo Larrazabal, a three-time winner in Europe, will also feature in the event. The Spanish star will enter the Indonesia Open in fine form after recording two top-10s in Portugal and Shanghai in October.

After taking an enforced break from golf and spending time with his family, the smooth-swinging Goosen is determined to end his four-year title drought.

A return to Asia will give the amiable South African plenty of confidence as he has enjoyed much success in the expansive region, winning twice in China in 2005 and 2006 and also the 2008 Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia.

“Obviously it was nice spending time with the kids during my break. I don’t think they have seen their dad this much! It has been a good downtime as well but I’m looking forward to going to Jakarta and playing some good golf. Hopefully by then, my game will be good and I can perform.

“I’ve always enjoyed coming to this part of the world. I’ve been coming here since the 1990s. The people in Asia recognise me and they are always friendly. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Goosen.

The 44-year-old, who is also a two-time European Tour Order of Merit winner, expressed his intention to meet Indonesia’s number one golfer, Hie.

“I think golf in Asia is looking very healthy. You can see by the amount of tournaments that are popping up (there) including World Golf Championships event. It’s a growing market and a lot of good players are coming out of there,” said Goosen.

“I am sure I will find out (about Hie) when I see him in Indonesia. Qualifying is so tough, tour schools are tough, so it’s just hard to get yourself on the main tour to show how really good you are. I’m sure he will at some stage be out here and doing well.”

Fans from around the world can watch these world class golfers in action  through the live broadcast on the Asian Tour Media platform. Asian Tour Media will produce 16 hours of live coverage from the event which will be seen across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America plus further coverage and distribution generated via the highlights and magazine programmes from the event, resulting in global media exposure for all the sponsors involved in this prestigious tournament.