FAMILIAR FOES IN TOKYO
Gavin, Kelly used to facing big guns
MALAYSIA may be a non-entity in golf, but Gavin Green and Kelly Tan won’t suffer stage fright against the big guns at the Olympics.
Gavin and Kelly are used to battling it out regularly with the world’s top golfers in the European Tour and LPGA Tour respectively.
The Malaysian duo, who have qualified for their second Olympics, are seasoned enough to know what to expect.
However, fewer Malaysians qualified for the Olympics this time, considering that there were four (Gavin, Kelly, Danny Chia and Michelle Koh) at the 2016 Rio Games.
That is because of a much tougher qualification system which saw only Gavin and Kelly making it, ranked 55th and 42nd respectively out of 60 overall.
At the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, Gavin and Kelly will find
themselves pitted against some of the finest golfers in the game, including World No 2 Jon Rahm of Spain and American World No. 1 Nelly Norda.
However, they are aware that golf is not just about skill as timing, precision and luck also come into play.
It’s not only bogeys that Gavin and Kelly will have to avoid. When they make their long journeys to Japan, much on their minds is the dreaded virus.
Gavin will fly out of the United Kingdom on July 23, while Kelly will travel from the United States on July 29. Upon arrival, they will be quarantined for three days in Tokyo.
“There are some strict measures in Tokyo, and it’s for the safety of all. The tournament is on and I’m in,” said Gavin.
“On the European Tour, they practise tight measures against Covid to keep us, members of the Tour, safe.
“Week in, week out, we are always in a bubble with some restrictions.
So, in Tokyo it will be similar.
“The one main difference will be the daily swab tests, but it’s needed for the new normal, I guess.”
The men’s individual stroke play is on July 29-Aug 1, while the women’s competition will be held from Aug 4-Aug 7 at
Gavin and Kelly both admitted that they have not had the best of start this year, but are tweaking their swing for Tokyo.
“I worked on my swing and made some changes with my coach (Chris O’Connell),” said Gavin.
Kelly said: “I am going great, health wise. But my golf hasn’t been great this year. I’m making small improvements each week, which is exciting.”
There will be some “family connection” on the course as Gavin’s golf bag will be carried by his father, Gary, while Kelly’s fiance, Dustin Lattery, will be her caddy.
Team manager CC Boo will also look after Gavin and Kelly’s needs at the Olympics.