FALDO SERIES ROUND-UP
Bragging Rights For Pakistani Baig
In-form Ahmed Baig outgunned his rivals with an outstanding display of front-running as he swept to victory in the seventh Faldo Series Pakistan Championship.
Baig assumed control of the 14th leg of the 2017-18 Faldo Series Asia season with a bogey-free, opening six-under-par 66 at Defence Authority Country and Golf Club and never looked back.
His three-day aggregate of 11-under-par 205 was no fewer than 19 strokes ahead of his closest pursuer, enabling Baig to record one of the biggest winning margins in Faldo Series Asia history.
“I really wanted this trophy in the bag in my last year as an amateur,” said the 19-year-old, who had twice before been close to winning the Faldo Series Pakistan Championship. “If I keep playing at amateur level, I’ll lose the form I’m in. At this moment, I’m on top of my game and believe I can really push on.”
Teenager Rai Retains Nepalese Title
Sukra Bahadur Rai will not be resting on his laurels after retaining his title in the sixth edition of the Faldo Series Nepal Championship.
Rai, a former caddie who has risen to emerge as one of his country’s finest golfers, posted a three-stroke victory in the 11th leg of the Faldo Series Asia season at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort.
Despite the pleasure of winning the tournament and securing a second successive trip to Laguna Lăng Cô in Danang, Central Vietnam for the 12th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in March 2018, Rai was far from satisfied with his performance.
Indeed, Rai’s overall aggregate of 11-over-par 227 was no fewer than 12 shots worse than his winning score over the same course in 2016.
Faldo announces Major Champions Invitational
Sir Nick Faldo announced the inaugural Major Champions Invitational, to be played March 12-14, 2018 at Bella Collina in Montverde, Florida.
Hosted by World Golf Hall of Fame member Faldo, the 2018 Major Champions Invitational will be supported by Major winners providing juniors, male or female, with a one-of-a-kind competition experience. An extension of the Faldo Series, the Major Champions Invitational will embody the same overall mission; to give opportunities to young people through golf, and help identify the next generation of champions.
Former World No. 1s Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have made a commitment to support the event besides Annika Sorenstam, Adam Scott, John Daly, Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson and Jerry Pate.
(Read more in the February issue of Golf Digest India. Download here.)