Queensland’s Scott Hend will be looking to navigate his way out of a recent slump when he resumes his chase for a second Asian Tour order of merit crown at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship which starts today.
Hend claimed his 10th Asian Tour title in Malaysia earlier this year but has yet to replicate that fine form as he’s struggled to find the right set of clubs during the past few months. The 46-year-old has uncharacteristically missed eight cuts in 14 starts worldwide since his victory.
By switching back to an old set of clubs this week, which include the same irons that helped him to his victory in March, Hend is hoping to rediscover some of his best form when he gets his campaign underway at prestigious Higashi Hirono Golf Club.
“I have been struggling with my game the past couple of months,” Hend said. “I have been changing clubs and fiddling around with it. I changed back to an old set of clubs this week and hopefully get back to ground zero and start over again.
“After I won the Maybank Championship, I had to change my clubs because they were all worn out. I have used like seven sets of new clubs in six tournaments now. Really struggling to find anything. I have tried like four different brands of drivers as well. So basically just trying to get back to where we were.
Hend trails only Jazz Janewattananond on the Asian Tour order of merit – but he trails by $US241,000. Still, he hasn’t given up hope of catching the Thai star.
“It would be nice to win another Order of Merit crown. Jazz has got a fairly big lead obviously. I can’t play as many events as he did. So I have to take advantage of every opportunity I can when I play and try to play well,” Hend said.
“But on the other hand, like I said I am struggling with my game a little bit. It will be difficult to try and chase him. The only way I can chase him if I play well and he don’t play very good at all. He’s in a good position right now and we’ll see at the end of the year.”
American Micah Lauren Shin, placed ninth on the order of merit, will be banking on a feel-good factor when he challenges for top honours at the ¥150,000,000 (approximately $A2 million) event. He came close to securing his second Asian Tour title in Japan in May before finishing joint runner-up.
Taehee Lee, the highest-ranked Korean in third place on the Merit rankings, is eyeing a good showing as it will ensure that he stays inside top-four at the end of next week to earn a coveted spot at the upcoming World Golf Championships–HSBC Champions in China.
Yikeun Chang, who broke through in Chinese Taipei two weeks ago, has set his sights on more successes when he tees off for the 10th edition of the Panasonic Open Golf Championship. The 25-year-old Korean believes he still has an outside chance to qualify for the WGC–HSBC Champions should he put up noteworthy performances these two weeks.
The race to finish inside top-three on the Panasonic Swing will also heat up this week as the Panasonic Open Golf Championship is the concluding leg of the 2018-2019 edition.
The Panasonic Open Golf Championship is the fourth event to be sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation this season. The tournament is also returning to the Higashi Hirono Golf Club this week after a seven-year absence.
