Time to earn your Merit
Gavin on course to end season on a high
PETALING JAYA: Gavin Kyle Green has a chance to achieve a historic breakthrough for Malaysian golf in the next few weeks.
Gavin still leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit with US$542,536 (RM2.3mil) in earnings so far this year and Gavin is committed to another three or four tournaments – including the US$2mil (RM8.475mil) UBS Hong Kong Open from Nov 23-26.
American David Lipsky is second with US$461,179 (RM1.95mil) and Australian Scott Hend third with US$434,029 (RM1.83mil).
Gavin is taking a break this week after pocketing US$64,500 (RM274,000) for finishing 38th in his World Golf Championships (WGC) HSBC Champions debut in Shanghai, China, last Sunday.
The 23-year-old has certainly benefited from playing in high-level competitions since turning pro two years ago.
A breakthrough win in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in Taipei last month and three runner-up finishes – Hero Indian Open in India, Shinhan Donghae Open in South Korea and Yeangder Heritage in Taiwan – pushed Gavin to the top in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Gavin has just finished a hectic three-week swing which also included the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur and the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges in Seoul apart from the WGC.
He finished 61st at the CIMB Classic and 67th at the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges.
During the three-week swing, Gavin played alongside the likes of 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and 13-time European Tour winner Paul Casey.
“Yes, three really good learning weeks. I’m still learning obviously.
“It was tough out there. I played well a couple of days and then struggled for the next two days.
“I think I’ve got to learn to get four good rounds, or at least three good rounds.
“I’ve really shown myself that over the whole three weeks, as it progressed, I’ve become better and better.
“I think it’s just all a bit of experience and a bit of getting used to playing against the best players in the world,” said Gavin, who will compete in the Resorts World Manila Masters in Philippines next week.