GolfPlus- Dec19 Digital Edition (Dec 19) | Page 30

ON THE ASIAN TO UR
JOHN CATLIN
Tournament: Thailand Open
Venue: Thai Country Club
merican John Catlin secured his fourth Asian Tour victory in
style after his spectacular approach on the ¿ rst play-off hole
yielded a birdie and saw him defeat India’s Shiv Kapur and
local hotshot Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the Thailand Open.
The 28-year-old Catlin, who claimed three victories over a span of
¿ ve months in 2018, had missed a birdie chance by an inch on the 72nd
hole after chipping from off the green to settle for a closing four-under-
par 67 at the Thai Country Club.
Catlin, who is based in Hua Hin, Thailand, had to go the distance
with Kapur and Pavit, who returned with matching 65s, after they were
all tied at the top on 11-under-par 273 total in regulation play at the
US$300,000 full-¿ eld event.
The sudden death play-off, which was held on the par four, 466-
yard 18th hole, saw Catlin ¿ nding the fairway on the left side with
his tee shot while Kapur and Pavit hit into the left and right rough
respectively.
Kapur sent his second shot through the trees and onto the green
but left himself a long birdie putt from about 80 feet which he did not
manage to convert. Pavit’s second shot found the left bunker, where he
hit a 35-yard shot from there to about 12-feet.
MCILROY DETHRONES
SCHAUFFELE IN PLAY-OFF
orld number two Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland showed
why he is in a class of his own by defeating defending
champion Xander Schauffele of the United States with a
birdie on the ¿ rst play-off hole to win the WGC-HSBC Champions on
Sunday. Schauffele, who would have been the ¿ rst player to retain the
WGC-HSBC Champions title had he won, started the day two shots
back but surmounted a ¿ ghtback with a ¿ nal round six-under-par 66
which brought him level with McIlroy.
The American conjured a moment of brilliance by sinking a six-
foot birdie putt on the last to force the play-off with McIlroy, who
missed a 25-footer that would have seen him snatch the outright win
in regulation play. In the ¿ rst play-off hole, Mcilroy’s birdie was
enough to secure his fourth title of the year after the American, who
was battling À u all week, was unable to reach the green in two after
hitting his drive into the left rough.
McIlroy, on the other hand, hit a wonderful drive and found the
green in two to set himself up for a birdie which Schauffele could not
match. Victory at the Sheshan International Golf Club was McIlroy’s
third World Golf Championships (WGC) title, and ¿ rst since the Dell
Technologies Match Play in 2015.
Pavit Seals Stylish Play-Off Win
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34 G o l f P l u s
DECEMBER
2019