Doing well amid high expectat ns
Green is best placed to achieve what no other Malaysiany has yet done on t the golf course
THE curtain will come down on the third Maybank Championship today, weather permitting. And if things go according to plan, then we might see a local in midst of a decent challenge for the title.
Gavin Green, the country’s top-ranked player and its first ever r Asian Tour Order of Merit winner (last season), was not more than three shots off the lead after the halfway stage on Friday (at the time of writing) of the US$3mil tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.
If Green could somehow keep himself in the mix going into today’s final round, Malaysia would not have a better chance of winning an event of this statute since the late P. Gunasegaran finished runner-up in the 1994 Malaysian Open at Royal Selangor Golf Club.
Green started with rounds of 68 and 69. His 137 total had him four shots shy of the leading pair of Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Nino Bertasio of Italy. They both shot second day 65s to lead the field at seven-under-par 134.
Green is well aware of the expectations that the nation has of him, but he is geared to handling it the best he can.
In a recent interview with TeeUp, he said the best way to deal with it would be to stay focused on what he needs to do out the course “and the rest will take of itself ”.
This, indeed, is the right line to take, that is, according to veteran teaching pro and former professional player V. Nellan.
“I couldn’t agree with it (staying focused) more,” Nellan, 69, told TeeUp. “Gavin has done exceptionally well over the last couple of years or so, after he turned pro.
“And for the Malaysian fans, he is the best placed golfer at the moment to go out there and do something remarkable,” added Nellan, who in his heyday represented the country on numerous occasions, including two World Cups.
“Our best wishes go out to him and the other Malaysian players in the field.”
Speaking of the event itself, Nellan added: “It’s really nice to see local support for golf like what Maybank is doing for this event.
“The Maybank Championship is certainly a tournament that puts this country on the world map of sport.
“And even more importantly, in my view is that it is helping develop the sport from a local perspective, even if it is run by the European and Asian Tours.
“The sort of exposure that this tournament gets definitely raises the awareness about golf and can only be viewed in a positive light,” added the veteran instructor.
In each of the two previous Maybank Championships, the tournament has drawn a top-clas ss field, featurin ng several of the world’s s leading players, and thi is season has been no diffe erent.
It is somethings that Nellan said me erely adds to the stature of the event.e
“A fie eld with so many of the best of players from around the world, particularly Europe and Asia, it can only be good for the tournam ment,” he said.
“It is these players who our buddin ng and up-and d-coming juniors look to as their r heroes and players s who they think about emulating.e
“Thu us, for Maybank to be able to bring out to Kuala Lumpu ur class players such as these e, it’s really a bonus for the sport.”
The othero Malaysian who made a decent start was Amir Nazrin . He was tied for 21st on six-und der after two rounds.
The Maybank Championship is certainly an event that puts Malaysia on the world map of sport. V. Nellan