In celebrating its youngest ever Order of Merit champion, the Asian Tour’s 2010 season marked the dawning of a new era, both on and off the fairways.
Korea’s Noh Seung-yul became Asia’s newest number one at the age of 19 years and 204 days old following a season to remember, thanks largely to his victory in the Maybank Malaysian Open, four top-10s and impressive performances in the Majors.
A Qualifying School graduate in 2008, Noh’s rise to the pinnacle was lightning quick as an initially wide-eyed 16-year-old matured into one of the most fearsome golfers on the continent.
Australia’s Greg Norman, a man who has seen so many talents come and go, believes Noh is here to stay. “He’s an impressive young player. He’s got a bright future,” said the Great White Shark after playing with the young Korean in Switzerland in September.
Noh’s success was mirrored closely by others, including Japanese veteran Tetsuji Hiratsuka, who won three times this year, the most by a player, and Qualifying School graduate Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, who won twice and was subsequently named the Rookie of the Year.
The 2010 season reflected wonderfully on the strength and depth of the Asian Tour.
Through playing opportunities stretching across Asia to Switerland, the Tour welcomed first time winners who included Siddikur, the first Bangladeshi to win on the Tour, Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Udorn Duengdecha, South Africa’s Peter Karmis and Australian duo Marcus Fraser and Andrew Dodt, a reflection of the cosmopolitan feel of the game in the expansive region.
Seven of the top-10 finishers on the Order of Merit were Asian golfers, which once again reinforced the rising standards of play amongst the region’s elite on the Asian Tour.
One of them was the man Noh replaced as Asia’s number one, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand. He also enjoyed his moment of glory by capturing a record 13th title at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open which lifted his career earnings to over US$4 million, the only player to hit this mark thus far.
From the young wannabes to the senior members on Tour, Thailand’s Atiwit Janewattananond made history by becoming the youngest at 14 years and 71 days to make the halfway cut at the Asian Tour International while Asian legend Hsieh Min-nan of Chinese Taipei became the oldest at 70 years and 53 days young to play in all four rounds of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Away from Asia, Arjun Atwal of India wrote a slice of history by becoming the first Indian winner on the PGA Tour this year while honorary members K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang of Korea, along with China’s Liang Wen-chong, enjoyed top-10s in the Majors.
Thai legend Boonchu Ruangkit, 54, also made headlines by winning four times on the European Seniors Tour to lift the Order of Merit crown.
The Asian Tour also launched its Asian Development Tour in 2010 which rewarded the top-three finishers – Malaysian duo S. Siva Chandhran and Akhmal Tarmizee and Hsu Chia-jen of Chinese Taipei – with Asian Tour cards in 2011.
Outside the ropes, the Tour signed global television deals with renowned broadcasters and welcomed four new tournaments, revived the Myanmar Open with a new title sponsors and six new Tour partners which reflected Corporate Asia’s continued support of the professional game at the highest level in Asia.
The Asian Tour also celebrated a new beginning with a groundbreaking 12-year joint venture with IMG Media in a partnership designed to propel professional golf in Asia to greater heights.
This new agreement follows on from the success of IMG’s global representation of the Asian Tour’s media rights since January, 2009, which has resulted in worldwide distribution of the Asian Tour’s television packages to over 40 countries and 400 million homes.
The Asian Tour-IMG joint venture, which will start from 2011, will emulate the foundation behind the success of European Tour Productions - a joint venture between IMG Media and the European Tour – which will inevitably fast track the live broadcast of all Asian Tour events through the combined resources of both organisations.
Indeed, these are exciting times for the Asian Tour and like Noh’s ascension as the new number one, it would mark the start of a new era for the game in Asia.
