SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

Economic uncertainty hits Asian

SINGAPORE: Asia has long been regarded as the dynamic tour OneAsia has also grown since its arrival in 2009. In that time, the “current economic condition”, including a plunging rupee. growth engine for world golf but economic uncertainty is now Asian economies have prospered but a slowdown of growth in And the , long a cornerstone of Asian golf, is hitting the sport with three tournaments cancelled and another China, a crisis in India and concerns over Southeast Asia have without a sponsor and is relying on government funds to help reeling. In recent months, the prestigious Singapore Open, India’s soured the mood. Asia’s end-of-year golf round remains studded pay its prize money. The event has also lost its place among the biggest tournament and a million-dollar event in South Korea with lucrative, imported events, including the CIMB Classic, BMW European Tour’s important end-of-season tournaments, while its have all fallen by the wayside as sponsors withhold support. Masters, WGC-HSBC Champions and the , offering traditional home, the Fanling course, is at risk of disappearing The much-loved Hong Kong Open is also without a title combined prize money of more than $30 million. under a new housing development. David Parkin, director of tour sponsor and is propped up with public money, while the Asian But with about 20 international events scheduled across the operations for OneAsia, admitted that for potential sponsors Tour’s new Vietnam Masters has been postponed from Asia-Pacific region in the last few months of this year, it’s no sur- now, “putting money into tournaments is not the highest priori- September to January at its co-sponsors’ request. It all points to a prise that some are crowded out. The Singapore Open, previous- ty”. “Whilst there are new sponsors out there, getting them on challenging environment for a sport which has enjoyed phenom- ly billed as ‘Asia’s major’ and with a $6 million purse last year, is board, certainly in Asia, is not easy,” he said. “We lost a tourna- enal growth over the past decade in Asia, but may now be losing the glaring omission from this year’s schedule. Its promoters are ment this year in Korea (the Charity High1 Resort Open), which its fizz. Ben Poon, managing editor of Golf Asia magazine, joking- promising it will return next season, but the date, venue and was unfortunate,” Parkin added. “But I think all around the world ly compares it to a sinking ship. “It’s all down to the economic sponsor are all unknown. sporting organizers and promoters are feeling it a bit and they’re environment,” he said. Asia’s main golf circuit, the , has Meanwhile India’s European Tour-sanctioned Avantha having to give more value from a TV and a benefits perspective, enjoyed steady expansion over its 10 seasons so far, while rival Masters has been shelved after its main sponsor withdrew due to to keep people (sponsors) on board.” —AFP

Snedeker piles up eight Els applauds Shevchenko birdies in flawless round debut Woods not ‘really happy’ despite an opening 65 LAKE FOREST: Former European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko struggled on his professional golf debut in Ukraine but Ernie LAKE FOREST: Brandt Snedeker wielded a “Excited I got my one low one in me Els gave him 10 out of 10 for effort in what red-hot putter to pile up a PGA Tour sea- out of the way early and now I can go was always going to be a tough task. son-best seven consecutive birdies on the out and play some solid golf the rest of Shevchenko, the former AC Milan and Chelsea way to a one-shot lead in Thursday’s open- the week.” striker who has a handicap of two and plays ing round of the BMW Championship. The left-handed, plunged to a 12-over-par 84 in fast-talking American fired a flawless eight- BEST PUTTERS the opening round of the Kharkov Superior under-par 63 despite tricky, gusting condi- PGA Tour veteran Stricker, long Cup in his native Ukraine on Thursday. tions at Conway Farms Golf Club to seize known as one of the best putters on the “He must have had a lot of pressure going control of the third of the PGA Tour’s four US circuit, played in the same group as in there but he loves the game,” former world lucrative FedExCup playoff events. Helped Snedeker and was mightily impressed number one Els, a four-times major champion, by a 40-foot putt which he sank from the with his form. “Watching Snedeker told Reuters after carding a level-par 71 in the back fringe of the green at the par-three pouring it in from all over the place is opening round of the PGA Tour’s BMW 17th, his eighth hole of the day, Snedeker always fun,” said Stricker, who moved Championship. “He’s a great student of the reeled off seven consecutive birdies from into contention with a round that game, he asks lot of questions and he wants the 13th to rocket to the top of the leader- included six birdies and a lone bogey. to get better. Golf is his passion. Good for board. “He’s probably the best putter I’ve ever him.” Compatriot Zach Johnson opened seen. The guy makes it, or looks like he’s South African Els got to know Shevchenko with a seven-birdie 64 and world num- going to make it, from just about any- well after playing several practice rounds with ber one Tiger Woods shot a 66 to end where. He hit it great, gave himself a lot the former Ukrainian international, especially the day level with fellow Americans of putts and made a lot of putts.” at Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey, when they Steve Stricker and Kevin Streelman, and Woods, seeking his sixth PGA Tour both lived in . Though Shevchenko South African Charl Schwartzel, but victory this season, was not in the best ended the day 20 strokes behind his paceset- Snedeker commanded the spotlight. “It of moods after failing to birdie any of ting compatriot in the second-tier was one of those days where every- the three par-fives On the par-71 lay- European Challenge Tour event, Els felt the ex- thing seemed to go right in the middle out. “I’m not exactly real happy,” said soccer player could flourish in an appropriate of the round,” Snedeker, the reigning the 14-times major winner, who mixed golfing environment. FedExCup champion, told reporters seven birdies with two bogeys. “I cer- “It depends on the golf course,” Els said after totalling only 22 putts in an eight- tainly wasted a lot of shots out there after finishing his own round at Conway birdie display. today. I missed three short ones (putts) Farms Golf Club outside Chicago eight shots “Got off to kind of a slow start and and played the par-fives stupendously. behind leader Brandt Snedeker. “If Andriy has made a great birdie from off the green “One of those days. I played well, and I a course where he can reach the par-fives with not too much rough, where it’s benign, on 13 that got everything moving in just didn’t get much out of that round.” he can shoot par or better than par. “He has the right direction. To roll off seven The day’s average score was 71.31 and shot a lot of low rounds around Queenwood, birdies in a row kind of came out of several of the game’s biggest names in London, so he can play. But doing it on nowhere. I wasn’t expecting it. “When I finished much higher than that. weekends with the guys and doing it in a get going good, I realize it doesn’t hap- Northern Irish world number four tournament is completely different. But pen all the time, so I instantly become Rory McIlroy, the defending champi- you’ve got to give him 10 out of 10 for effort.” more aggressive. I think being a good on, battled to a 78 while former world Asked to assess the strengths in putter helps, too, because I don’t really number one fared even Shevchenko’s golf game, Els replied: “He’s have to hit it (to) three feet eight times worse, carding a nine-over 80. Seventy got a great head. He never gives up. He is in a row.” players have qualified for the elite always fighting. He hits it quite well. He can Snedeker, a six-times winner on the BMW Championship, the PGA Tour’s hit it very straight. “He hasn’t got too many PGA Tour who has triumphed twice this penultimate playoff event, and any really bad things in his game but obviously season, was a little disappointed he did improvement in the overall FedExCup it’s a long way going from the amateur game not end up with a lower score. “I made points standings after Sunday’s final to the pro (game).” Shevchenko, 36, himself that putt on one (for seven straight round could be crucial. Of the 30 who agreed that he had succumbed to pressure birdies) and really felt like 61 or 60 was advance to next week’s season-ending in the opening round of the Kharkov very doable,” he said. “I had a really Tour Championship, any of the top Superior Cup. “It’s a completely different good chance of doing it, and just didn’t five would automatically clinch game when you are under pressure,” the make any putts coming in after that. FedExCup honors and a staggering ILLINOIS: Brandt Snedeker hits off the 13th tee during 2004 European Footballer of the Year said But I’m in a great frame of mind, look- $10 million bonus with victory in the First Round of the BMW Championship at Conway on the European Tour’s website. —Reuters ing forward to the rest of the week. Atlanta. —Reuters Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois. —AFP