GOLF NEWS ARTICLE

Asia Will Soon Get First Major Win

SAPA-AFP SINGAPORE Singapore, Indonesia - An Asian player will win one of golf's Major tournaments within five years, Asian Tour chief executive Louis Martin has predicted. The Asian Tour is gaining in popularity and profile, and more players from the region are venturing into Europe and the United States. But with only three Asians currently in the world's top 50, they have their work cut out to make the breakthrough. "We've all got to have a little patience in Asia, but I have no doubt at all that within the next five years an Asian will win one of the Major championships." Said Martin. "I think that's what we need - the role models, the heroes who will kick start the next generation." Currently, only KJ Choi of South Korea (31) and the Japanese pair of Shingo Katayama (39) and Shigeki Maruyama (44) make the top 50 in golf's world rankings. But Martin says it is not just these three who have the ability to go stroke for stroke with the caliber of Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh in the world's biggest tournaments. He cited strong contenders from Thailand and India as capable of setting what would be an historic benchmark. "There's no question that KJ is right up there at the forefront. Certainly, Arjan Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa (both of India) are also doing very well internationally," he said. "But so are Thaworn (Wiratchant) and Thongchai Jaidee. Thongchai has really been proving himself. It was very difficult for him to come out and hit Europe, but he has done well over there and improved." "And even guys like Shiv (Kapur) who has come through. It's going to be very interesting. He's going to get opportunities to play some World Golf Championship events this year." Kapur burst onto the Asian scene last year, lifting the season-ending APGA Volvo Masters title in his maiden year on tour. "This is exactly what we need right now," said Martin. - SAPA-AFP SOURCE: SAPA-AFP, as published in The Star, page 21, Johannesburg, South Africa, 05 January 2006. Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide by Mike Pedersen Click Image To Visit Product Website "I Recommend Mike's E-Book Unreservedly!" Mike Pedersen has done two different things very well: he has 1), written with authority, knowledge, and unquestionable expertise on how to get and to stay in shape specifically for golfers, and 2), he has done it in a pleasurable, easy-to-read, and crystal clear manner... The book is, first of all, very well organized--so you can start right from the beginning and take things at your own pace. Mike covers areas in addition to those you would expect, i.e., psychological factors, aging, motivation, enjoyment ...it is right there up front with the applicability to every step of a golf swing--from setup to the end of the swing--and the end of the whole round, for that matter. I recommend Mike's book unreservedly: it is the work of a true professional. All the more so given that its cost is the smallest fraction of the cost to obtain a personalized regimen, or compared to a few visits to a gym or health club. -George Hibbard Author, Golf's Critical Details www.PerfectImpact.com