Iskandar Johor Open 2010 tees off on Thursday
Padraig Harrington faces tough competition from K.J Choi and Retief Goosen at the Iskandar Johor Open 2010 which starts on Thursday in Malaysia. The event is scheduled to take place from the 14th to the 17th of October where Round 1
is currently underway. The tournament is being held at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club where Goosen, the two-time US Open Champion, has plans on charging in with low scores.
With a win bonus of $1.25 million, the Iskandar Johor Open which will also feature former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie in action as well. The player will be on a high after winning the Ryder event last month but has gone through an indifferent
year.
However, this event will be different to the Ryder Cup. According to the 39-year-old Padraig Harrington, the event will provide a chance to take on a new challenge after the Ryder Cup win. Along with other European players, Harrington opined that the last
few weeks were really tough and equally rewarding for them as professional golfers.
He excluded Martin Kaymer from that list because he just won the US PGA’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday.
Harrington believed that he wanted to work on his patience and bring improvements as a professional golfer in Malaysia. The three-time major winner added that he was in good shape before the tournament in Malaysia; however, patience he said was going to
be the key for him.
The 6 foot 1 inch player further added that his game during practice was much better than in the match play itself. Harrington has collected a number of top 10 finishes and at present, Harrington only wants to win a tournament.
Harrington is currently ranked on the 22nd number in World rankings and has 5 more events left in the year. If the Irish is successful in winning at least one of the tournaments, he claims his Christmas would be a lot better. Harrington believes
that this week will serve as the perfect start to focus on this goal.
The South African says his game has been consistent for quite some time and this week will prove that point. Goosen’s putting ability has been rather remarkable during this spell who is currently standing on the 17th number in world rankings.
On the other hand, K.J. Choi is all eager to regain his title this year as well. Choi won the Iskandar Johor Open in 2009 and has forecasted a score of 16 to 18 below par. The man from South Korea is ranked number four in the Order of Merit and says that
he is in a good form to go ahead and win the Johor Open.
The South Korean has been facing back ache in the past month but claims that his swing has become much smoother. Choi said that the back pain he suffered from last year has improved drastically and this improvement has increased his confidence many folds.
Another South Korean Noh Seung-Yul has stated that he has two goals to achieve in this tournament – firstly, he wants to become the Youngest Asian Tour winner and secondly, he would love to compete against his fellow countryman. The 19-year-old played with
Choi at the Korean Tour and finished at the second place. Choi however finished at the third place on the leader board.
Noh Seung-Yul is looking forward to play with Choi who respects him as an elder brother. Noh is currently standing on the top of the Order of Merit list.
Golf Update:
Montgomerie, Choi, Noh Seung-Yul and Padraig Harrington’s play is still under way. Harrington is currently standing at a T7 after a minus 4 at hole number 9 while Montgomerie is playing at minus 2.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat has carded a 64 and is standing at minus 8, tied with Marcus Both. Scott Bar, Wen-Tang Lin, Payad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant are trailing the leader board after a 67 with a 5 under in R1 of the Iskandar Johor Open.
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