Koepka, big guns roll in for Asia’s riches
JEJU ISLAND: The PGA Tour kicks off its new-look Asian Swing in South Korea today with the world’s top golfers lured by megabucks in three tournaments with no cuts.
This week’s US$9.75 million CJ Cup, where four-time major winner and world No.1 Brooks Koepka is defending champion, will be followed by the tour’s first foray into Japan at the Zozo Championship next week with an identical purse on offer.
The swing concludes at the WGCHSBC Champions in Shanghai, which has seen its prize fund beefed up to $10.25 million, and the tournaments are a chance to rack up Fedex Cup points early in the season.
Koepka will be joined at Nine Bridges on picturesque Jeju Island by drawcards such Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia who are all making their debut at the event, first held in 2017.
Fellow major champions Justin Thomas, the 2017 winner here, Jason Day, Patrick Reed, Graeme McDowell, Danny Willett and Gary Woodland are also among the world-class cast lifting the curtain on the three-week $29.75 million jaunt.
Next week in Japan all eyes will be on the health of Tiger Woods as he makes yet another comeback, this time from arthroscopic knee surgery, and will be joined by world No.2 and PGA Tour Player of the Year Rory McIlroy.
But it is also decision time for US Presidents Cup captain Woods, who will pick his four US team wildcards for December’s showdown with the Internationals in Melbourne straight after the Zozo.
Should the 15-time major winner Woods be fit and firing in Japan, he may nominate himself to be the first playing captain since Hale Irwin at the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994.
Meanwhile, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond are the only two Thais in the CJ Cup.
Kiradech, 30, will make his first start of the 2019-20 PGA Tour season after successfully retaining his tour card.
While he is still nursing a knee injury, the big-hitting Thai is optimistic of a strong showing.
“I’m getting healthier, lost some weight and feel stronger,” said the burly star from Bangkok.
“I’ve been working like a proper athlete but I still have a lot of work to do. My right knee is slowly recovering and hopefully it can get better.”
Jazz, 23, is featuring in this week’s elite 78-man field by virtue of being the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader.
The reigning Korean Open champion intends to use the next three PGA Tour tournaments which he is exempted as well to test his game against the best golfers in the world.