By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS
Bangkok : Tiger Woods made the ‘Tiger’ head cover for his driver famous, and the fashion has caught on. While women golfers use cute covers resembling cartoon characters and feminine colours for head covers, golf bags these days often resemble a mini zoo.
Now there are all sorts of covers resembling pigs, bears, monkeys, lions and the inevitable tigers from the animal kingdom adorning golf bags. Australian Scott Hend has a pig head-cover, while Filipino golfer Angelo Que has a bear. But some hardnosed golfers avoid animal head-covers and stick to their sponsors.
Gorillas, alligators, panthers and dolphins are also the favourites for some of the players. Manufacturers tie up with well-known and charismatic players like Jason Gore, John Daly, Shingo Katayama, Fuzzy Zoeller, Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen and market the covers. The covers also make ideal gifts for golf lovers.
***
Pressure is finally off Liang
Chinese golfer Liang Wen-Chong was anointed the new Asian Tour Order of Merit champion even though he finished way down in the standings at the Volvo Masters of Asia, the season-ending tournament at the Thai Country Club.
Even though Liang admits that Zhang Lian-Wei was the inspiration for Chinese golfers, it is Liang who becomes the first Chinese to win the Order of Merit.
Liang, who started the week with earnings of $525,570 and a lead of $95,005 over his nearest rival Thai Chapchai Nirat, who admitted that the Order of Merit had been on his mind for quite a few weeks now.
Liang said that he had been giving too much thought to the Order of Merit race and that had affected his form at the magnificent Thai Country Club. “I’ve been thinking too much this week. This is also my eighth tournament in a row, and I’m a little tired,” said the 29-year-old from Zhongshan.
“I’ve been under pressure since the Barclays Singapore Open and the UBS Hong Kong Open as anyone could have overtaken me there as they were big money events. I wanted to play in the Vietnam event but the World Cup was held in the same week. That week, I was thinking too much as well. It wasn’t because Chapchai had won in Vietnam but more that I wanted to play in Vietnam as well. If I had played Vietnam, things would have been in my control,” said Liang.
***
Father and sons at Volvo Masters
There were two father-son combinations keenly playing and watching the proceedings at the Volvo Masters. Australian Marcus Both had his father Ross watching him for the first time in five years, and there was six-year-old Tittuch Jaidee watching his father Thongchai trying to defend his title.
Both finished way down in the lower half, while Jaidee ended in the 20s after the third round disaster of 77 ruled him totally.
The younger Both said: “Although dad wasn’t a golfer, I got lot of support and encouragement as a kid and it’s nice to have it here at the Volvo Masters, a friendly face in the crowd, but I just wish I’d played a bit better.”
Thongchai is happy playing close to his family home in Lop Buri, which allows him to bring his young son to the Thai Country Club.
“It’s nice to be playing near home instead of all around the world,” says Thongchai. “My son is already showing interest in golf and it is just great to have him here with me.”
Midway through the tournament, the son, when asked who he thought would win the tournament, replied immediately: “Thongchai Jaidee of course and he’s my dad.”
***
No chance of going “Scott-free” on Asian Tour
Scott Hend, Scott Strange, Scott Barr and Scott Taylor. The Asian Tour seems to attract a lot of ‘Scotts’.
While Hend is in top-10 of the Order of Merit, Barr and Strange were in top-20 and Taylor, the senior most of them all failed to make the Volvo Masters and languishing outside top-110.
And by the way, Asian Tour has seen Adam Scott, who plays on the US Tour, win the Singapore Open in 2005 and 2006.