Kazuhiro

Hello all, Few days ago I play golf with somebody for the first time. This was in Malaysia, and he had handicap of 2. He was a very good golfer. However he playeding with a Cross Handed Grip.....(his hand were wrong way round...left hand was lower than right). I heard of this over the years in the past, but I've never actually seen somebody play with it. He played all shots like cross, with driver through to putter - and he beat me! Is this common and as anyone else ever seen people play with such a swing/grip? I thought it was avery strange. Thank you.

Wow, does that count as PGA Tour though because tour did not exist then, technical aly? Also, he would be only 4th Japan player to win on PGA Tour. (Imada, Maruyama, Aoki).

Jumbo Ozaki is my true golfing hero, because for more than 110 wins worldwide, he is a member of the World Hall of Fame, he competed in several majors Top 10, and he dominated golf for 30 years here. But more normally, definitely Shingo Katayama for his great incredible cowboy hat and amazing wardrobe collection clothes.

Ishikawa He may not win probable not but he's in the last pairing, wow! To be thinking, he missed the cut last week at a pretty average Japan Tour event. So exciting, everyone in Japan talk about it. Also KT Kim is -6 in T12, very good too!

Sorry guy for not keeping this up date d this season, but obviously I have other things to consider at this moment. :( Howevers, for Open in England soon, there is a huge asia contingent this year: 15 players! A several these are play the Scottish Open this week before the big Open, too. Korea; Sang-moon Bae. KJ Choi. Jung-gon Hwang. Kyung-tae Kim. Seung-yul Noh. YE Yang. Japan; Hiroyuki Fujita. Tetsuji Hiratsuka. Ryo Ishikawa. Tadahiro Takayama. Hiroo Kawai. Singapore: Lam Chih Bing. Thailand: Prayad Marksaeng. Prom Meesawat. Thongchai Jaidee.

Hi all Thought I would mention, that before Wales Open, which is at Celtic Manor this week, there is tournament of Power Play Golf, the first ever professional version played today. There's 1 2player in field, including GMac, Poulter, Casey, Thongchai Jaidee, John Daly, Gary Player, Ian Woosnam, Paula Creamer and some others. Theres old players, as well as females involved in the field. I not too sure on the forma,t but I think there 2 holes/flags on every green (9 holes, par 3....) and one hole is 'easy' and one 'hard'. The hard one is the 'power play' hole, and you get extra points for going for that one or something. It's on TV in Europe but unfortunately not here in Japan, or where you guy are in USA. But, even still should interesting to keep an eye on to see where this format goes in the future.

It's the Top 50. :) http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33407691/ns/sports-player_news/

Let hope he can keep his form up and may get some exemptions into the some main Asian Tour events later in the season! Also, I noticed John Huh has been playing bigger events recently, on the OneAsia, and I think even a European Tour event I spotted him on last week (CHina Open i think) so he's doing well! Sorry for not updating, this week, as you all know Lee Westwood won again in Asia again, second week in a row, at the Ballantine's, a Asian Tour/European Tour event. In Japan, though, it was Australian Brendan Jones who won The Crowns, a prestigious event on the Japan Golf Tour. He only managed a level par round on day 4 but that was enough, to earn a playoff with IJ Jang of Korea. Jones won in the playoff, for his 10th win in Japan. Shingo Katayama continues his good 2011 form with a good final round of 66 (-4) to finish in a tie for 3rd, on -8 in total, along with Koichiro Kawano and Park Sung-Joon from korea. Yuta Ikeda was next in 6th, on -7, while Ryo Ishikawa tied for 12th on -3. Early in season, but the current Japan Money List is: Brendan Jones, AUS 31.3Million yen Tadahiro Takayama 29.7Million yen Tomohiro Kondo 25.3Million yen Ryo Ishikawa 20.7Million yen Shingo Katayama 19.6Million yen 2 week break now until next Japan event - which is the Japan PGA Championship, traditionally one of the Japanes e'majors', but Ryo Ishikawa and Kyung-tae Kim have both otped to play in the Player son PGA Tour instead

Hello everyone, the Asian, OneAsia and Japan tours are now well underway for 2011 seasons. Like last year I'll try to be keep updated with this for you. :) Asian Tour so far: Avantha Masters (European Tour), India - WINNER: SSP Chowrasia (Ind). $2,300,000. SAIL OPEN, India - WINNER: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha). $300,000. Panasonic Open, India - WINNER: Anirban Lahiri (Ind). $300,000. Maybank Malaysian Open (European Tour), Malaysia - WINNER: Matteo Manassero (Ita). $2,500,000. This week: Indonesian Masters, Royal Jakarta Golf Club, Indonesia. $750,000 Reigning Champion: None. Field Includes: Lee Westwood (Eng), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Siddikur (Ban), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha), Mardan Mamat (Sgp), Jason Knutzon (USA), Bit of silly tournament - Westwood is ridiculously too strong for the fields of players. 5 shots clear after 3 rounds, was 7 clear at one point today. Being paid big appearance fee, so is playing, but no one else really has a chance! His nearest competitior are Thitiphun Chuayprakong and Hyun-bin Park on 11 under par. OneAsia Tour so far: Indonesia PGA Championship, Indonesia - WINNER: Andre Stolz (Aus). $1,000,000. This week: Volvo China Open (European Tour), Luxehills International Country Club, China. $3,600,000 Reigning Champion: YE Yang Field Includes: Peter Lawrie (Ire), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Pablo Martin (Spa), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Liang Wen-Chong (Chn), Todd Hamilton (USA), Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn), Simon Dyson (Eng), Alejandro Canizares (Spa), YE Yang (Kor), Rhys Davies (Wal), Seung-yul Noh (Kor), SSP Chowrasia (Ind), Anthony Kang (USA), Rikard Karlberg (Swe), Padraig Harrington (Ire), Yang & Harrington were favourite but both have missed the cut, surprisingly. Head into round 4, Nicholas Colsaerts of Belgium leads on -18, with Chang-won Han on -17, and both Peterl Lawrie and Gregory Havret on -16. Japan Golf Tour so far: Token Homemate Cup, Mie - WINNER: Tadahiro Takayama. $1,500,000. This week: Tsuruya Open, Yamanohara Golf Club, Hyogo. $1,400,000 Reigning Champion: Hiroyuki Fujita Field Includes: Koumei Oda, Sang-moon Bae, Michio Matsumura, Kenichi Kuboya, Ryo Ishikawa, Toru Taniguchi, Kyung-tae Kim (Kor), Hiroyuki Fujita, Brendan Jones (Aus), Do-hoon Kim (Kor), Daisuke Maruyama, Tadahiro Takayama, Shingo Katayama, Shunsuke Sonoda, Yuta Ikeda, Shigeki Maruyama. Obviously after the devastating Earthquake, tsunami and Nucleur disaster it is hard for us to concentrate on sport in the country, but most sport, be it baseball, soccer, golf or whatever, is contiuing dispite the dsiasters. THis shows how resolute and calm Japan is and how the country is working together, and top pro's in all sports are trying to bring normality and bring the country together, cheer people up etc. Even still, it is difficult to even think about golf, especially when purses like this, almost 2 million dollars are being played for, when mos tpeople in Japan have nothing left. Quite a few of the golfers have though however, said they will donate load sof money to people of Japan damaged by the disasterss. Ryo Ishikawa I sure you heard of, is donating ALL of his 2011 eanring, plus extra for every birdie he makes, to the disaster. Tomohiro Kondo leads on 1 4unde rpa,r heads to round 4 being 3 shot clear from Azuma Yano, Koumei Oda, Takashi Kanemoto and Jung-gon Hwang. Ishikaw ais 6 back from elader, tied for 13th on -8.

Just thought I'd tell you about the biggest event in Japan, happening this week: Dunlop Phoenix Tournament $2,500,000 Field Includes: Edoardo Molinari, Tom Watson, Robert Allenby, Robert Karlsson, Jaco Van Zyl, Thorbjorn Olesen, Kang-kyung Nam, Ryo Ishikawa, Yuta Ikeda, Kyung-tae Kim, Shingo Katayama, Brendan Jones, Hiroyuki Fujita, Toru Tanichu, Tetsuji Hiratsuka. Defending: Edoardo Molinari This is billed as the Japan's 'international tour' event, and features usually 8 international invites each year. Alvaro Quiros withdrew before the tournament with back pain. :( Molinari saw this as his big 'breakthrough' win last season, his first major win, and is back to defend. I bet most of you don't know this, but past champions include: Hubert Green, Graham Marsh, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Lary Mize, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, David Duval, Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, AND TIGER WOODS (2004, 2005)

I saw about the Mickelson incident Lau - seems like he got back to the course just in time! Nice photo too. :)

I thought this should have it's own thread, as it's Europe Vs Asia. For an Asian, this is like our Ryder Cup, and this will be it's 5th version when it starts in first week of January. It is Seve Ballesteros' idea, and he captained Europe in 2006/2007, although his bad health meant he had to cancel his tournament in 2008, plus the Thai king who supports the trophy, had bereavement in family so cancelled the tournament. In 2009 however, Asia won for the first time! Joe Ozaki's team beat Colin Montgomerie's Europe. Monty regained the trophy this year, and the 2011 version will see Monty return with some of his Ryder Cup winners and others, against Ozaki's team. 6 of the 8 Asian Team players were announced today: - Ryo Ishikawa, 19 y.o. - 2nd Royal Trophy. 37 in OWGR. Japan. - Kyung-tae Kim, 24 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 40 in OWGR. Korea. - Yuta Ikeda, 24 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 55 in OWGR. Japan - Liang Wenchong, 32 y.o. - 3rd Royal Trophy. 63 in OWGR. China. - Seung-yul Noh, 19 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 67 OWGR. Korea. - Shunsuke Sonoda, 21 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 94 OWGR. Japan Ozaki will now have 2 further picks to make, likely to be mad every soon. Colin Montgomerie says he might bring some of his Ryder Cup winners over, as well as some young stars to match Asia's very young team. He will also be a playing captain, while Ozaki will be non-playing. I know this may not interest some, but the last 2 versions have been so close - if the same situations/results were in a Ryder Cup, the World would know about them as they've been so tense and down to the final point etc. It's shown on TV around the World and it's a huge event for Asia and Japan so thought I'd tell you about it is! - Shunsuke Sonoda, 21 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 94 OWGR. Japan

Just to say also; Ishikawa wins again! Ryo Ishikawa picked up his 3rd Japan Victory of 2010, and his 9th career win, after landing the $2,000,000 VISA Taiheyo Masters, beating the fast finishing Brendan Jones from Australia, who was looking for his 2nd win of the year. He came in second on -12, 2 shots behind Ishikawa. US PGA Tour based Ryuji IMada finished 2 back on -10 in share for 3rd, with Toru Taniguchi and Katsumasa Miyamoto. Hiroyuki Fujita who joint led in round 3 finished T6. The win makes Ishikawa within very close distance of Kyung-tae Kim, who leads the Money List. Kim finished 10th in this tournament. Only 2 events left! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, this week is the huge week yet again in Asia; UBS Hong Kong Open European/Asian Tour, and also the marquee event of Japan - the Dunlop Phoenix. With winners like Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington and last year Edoardo Molinari, many international players are in the field, including champion Edoardo Molinari, and Tom Watson who won here twice in 80's/90's, and even has his own golf course next to the Phoenix Country Club. Others include Robert Karlsson, Alvaro Quiros, Jaco Van Zyl, Robert Allenby and others, as well as the very best of Japan players in this $2,600,000 event.

Having a horrible final round, 7 over through 14. :( T59 now. Played very well first 3 rounds though. Singapore Open was starting to be a fantastic final round, about 10 golfers within 3 shots of the lead at the start, but Adam Scott's playing wonderfully and pulling away now. Would like to see Kyung-nam Kang win, he was in lead earlier today, I've met him before!

Big week in Asia this week! The Singapore Open (Barclays) is the World's biggest national open in terms of prize money ($6,000,000) and features Mickelson, McDowell, Poulter, Kaymer etc this week on Asian Tour & European Tour. Meanwhile in Japan, the Taiheyo Master sis the first of 4 'season-ending' event sin Japan, huge prize funds and international players. Asian Tour: Barclays Singapore Open (European Tour co) $6,000,000 Field Includes: Ian Poulter, Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington, YE Yang, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Francesco Molinari, Thongchai Jaidee, Thaworn Wiratchant, Liang Wenchong, Jeev Milkha Singh, Siddikur, Tet Hiratsuka, Shigeki Maruyama, Adam Scott. Japan Golf Tour: Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheyo Masters $2,000,000 Field Includes: Yuta Ikeda, Ryo Ishikawa, Ryuji Imada (PGA Tour), Jumbo Ozaki, Shingo Katayama, Kim Kyung-tae, Brendan Jones, Shunsuke Sonoda, Toru Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Fujita, Daisuke Maruyama. - The Taiheyo Masters is a long-established tournament in Japan and kicks off 4 weeks of 'big tournaments'. Past Champions include Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal, Greg Norman, Lee Westwood (3 years running), and Darren Clarke. However, due to the conflicting of events in Singapore & Australia, Ryuji Imada who is Japanese anyway, is about the only player from overseas (PGA Tour regular and winner) to be playing this week.

But, most of the tournaments at the start of the year won't have all the guys in the field, cept WGC & Majors, only really 8 tournaments a year with all those battling for the rankigns in field. I don't knwo but I think it's important as it's the last full-field event of the year in terms of world best players, and could change the landscape of golf. Just opinions.

It's a WGC, so it is important anywya. But I never says it wasn't a coincidence, or that it is historically important. I never mentioned history whatsoever at all - I meant THIS tournament, THIS week is one of the most important in the year, due to the whole Rankings Battle that has happened, yes, coincidentally, just before this tournament.

.........

Just over 24 hours to go, and probably the biggest tournament of the year in golf, in terms of the importance; 4 players bidding for Number 1, and all could challenge very strongly or win. Meanwhile all Major Champions are there of 2010, and will possibly be one of the tightest contested Majors/WGC of the year. Would like to have seen Manassero, Noh & Ishikawa paired together for Round 1 Tee Times. :( Also, 7 Japanese players, and 3 others form the Japan Golf Tour. :D

Kim does it again! Kim Kyung-tae of Korea has won on the Japan Golf Tour yet again, with his third win of the season, following the Diamond Cup and massive Open Championship victories. This time he wins at the $1,800,000 mynavi ABC Championship in Hyogo this week. Kim was tied for the lead with Azuma Yano on -10 after 3 rounds, and shot a round of 3 under on Sunday to finish -13 and win by one shot over Ryo Ishikawa. WGC-Bridgestone hero Katsumasa Miyamoto, Order of Merit challenger Toru Tanichu & also Tetsuya Haraguchi all finished T3rd on -11. Last years winner Toru Suzuki was T6, while overnight leader Yano stumbled to a 73, finishing T8 in the end. Yuta Ikeda was T20. Stunning Kim is now one of the World's leading young prospects, at just 24, he has an incredible 21 Top-10's in his last 30 starts, including 3 Japan wins. Kyung-tae Kim is now way clear at the top of the Order of Merit, some 40 Million Yen clear of Ishikawa in second, while Fujita, Ikeda & Taniguchi make the top 5.

Ben Crane won then, last hole putt won it. Really successful event for Asia, I'm so pleased. Although the Asian players didn't do too well, admitteldy!

But, golf is alot more than just Majors, there's 4 majors a season, yet there's what 42 PGA Tour events/43 Euro Tour events - and Westwood bee the most consistent over all of them, double over 2 years. Golf isn't just about the Majors any more, and winning a Major is not a measure of being a really good player - look at Oosthuizen, he struggles to make the cut most weeks, yet he's won a major. Well done Lee.

Ben Crane still leads, 2 shots ahead of Sweden's Petterson heading to round 4. Meanwhile Mardan Mamat of Singapore is leading Asian in T3, with Davis, Luke Donald, Ricky Barnes and Ryan Moore. Yesterday's joint leader, Pariya Junhasavasdikul had a bad round of only Equal Par, dropping back to T8, along with others including Bangladeshi Siddikur.

Ben Crane & Pariya Junhasavasdikul lea don -11 after 2 rounds. :)