Last chance for European glory at BMW Asian Open
IN: News | Asian | BMW Asian Open (2007) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 17 Apr 2007
The last event specifically co-sanctioned between the Asian and European Tours for season 2007 takes place this week in Shanghai when the BMW Asian Open is played at the Thomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club near Shanghai. There will be further such events later in the year but they will come under the 2008 schedule.
This will therefore provide the last opportunity in season 2007 for Asian Tour players to take advantage of the co-sanctioning and by winning graduate to the European Tour as has been the case with Y.E Yang, Anton Haig and Liang Wen Chong to date.
Shanghai will play host to tournament golf for the second week in succession following last week’s Volvo China Open won last week by Markus Brier and played in the same region.
The Thomson Shanghai Pudong layout was opened in 1997 and was designed by one of the most prolific and respected Japanese designers, Shunsuki Kato. The defending champion is Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who defeated Henrik Stenson in a playoff.
Ernie Els won the event and at this venue in 2005 while Miguel Angel Jimenez won in 2004.
As has been the case in previous years at this event, the field for this week is a strong one and includes three players from the top twelve in the world namely Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Paul Casey. Other high profile players of note are John Daly, Colin Montgomerie and Jimenez but there are many others capable of upstaging them on their day including the likes of Simon Dyson, Thomas Bjorn and Raphael Jacquelin, along with the Asian Tour’s best in Thongchai Jaidee, Prom Messawat, Chapchai Nirat and Prayad Marksaeng.
Els was a little unlucky to lose last week at Hilton Head after being gazumped by two late holed chip shots by the man who beat him by a shot, Boo Weekley. That came after a missed cut at the Masters but Els’ form was on the rise prior and will likely start the week as favourite although only narrowly.
Retief Goosen finished runner up to Zach Johnson at Augusta and so demands respect. He played well in the Middle East and in Asia prior to heading to the USA and will be a major force for Els to contend with.
“I played well at the weekend at the Masters and sort of got my game going which gives it a positive sort of boost for the events coming up.”
Paul Casey has played very well in recent weeks in the US including a very good week at Augusta where he finished 10th. He has often played well in China and a big week can be expected from him although losing his luggage en route from the US had hardly been the preparation he needs. By all accounts, and importantly, he has his clubs so the clothes are readily replaceable.
“I am going to take a lot of positives out of it because I did play some good golf,” said Casey in a re tournament press conference referring to his week at Augusta. “The first 18 holes were disappointing but the last 54 holes were pretty good. Level par for the last 54 holes even after bogeying the last two holes was good. I just have to eliminate the mistakes. It has been the same case all year as I have played some good golf but made mistakes here and there. But it is going the right way. To be tenth in the first Major of the year isn’t bad. I’ve just got to see if I can improve as the year goes on.”
“I have done well in China,” admitted Casey. “I have not won a BMW event yet though so that would be nice. They have made a couple of changes this year and moved around a few of the holes and it is a good field.
The Australians are perhaps headed by Peter O’Malley who played well last week at the Volvo China Open where he finished 6th. He has shown signs of a big week being not too far away.
Scott Hend displayed the sort of golf many know he is capable of when joint runner up last week and although a week to week proposition he is capable of contending again.
Brett Rumford, Terry Pilkadaris, Scott Strange, Brad Kennedy, David Bransdon, Peter Fowler, Adam Blyth, Marcus Fraser, Kane Webber, Scott Barr, Marcus Both, Tony Carolan, Matthew Millar, Gary Simpson, Gavin Flint and Richard Lee and Mahal Pearce provide plenty of Australian interest.
The tournament has prizemoney of US$2.3 million.
