Singh and Chinarat win Johnnie Walker awards

India's Jeev Milkha Singh walked away with another accolade to add to his growing stature when he was named the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year for 2006.

Singh was honoured at the Johnnie Walker "Keep Walking" Golf Awards on Saturday night at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Hotel in Phuket, which coincided with this week's staging of the prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic at Blue Canyon Country Club on the island of Phuket.

Local hero Chinarat Phadungsil of Thailand was picked as the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star while Spaniard Alvaro Quiros secured the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year Award.

Singh enjoyed a terrific season in 2006, winning four times around the world. After a seven-year winless run, the Indian star claimed victory at the Volvo China Open in Beijing before finishing his year strongly by winning the European Tour's season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain and recording back-to-back triumphs in Japan.

He sweetened his year by lifting his first Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit crown and ended 2006 in 37th place on the Official World Golf Ranking, which guaranteed him a start in the prestigious US Masters.

Chinarat, 18, is one of Asia's most promising talents. Last year, he triumphed at the Crowne Plaza Open in China, just a year after he made history by becoming the youngest winner in the region when he won the Double A International Open on home soil while still an amateur.

Quiros is amongst a band of emerging young Spaniards and he showed his mettle by lifting the Alfred Dunhill Championship, beating world-class players Ernie Els and Lee Westwood, in South Africa.

The Awards, a highlight on the annual golfing calendar, were created over a decade ago by Johnnie Walker to recognise personal progress and inspire others to pursue their own dreams and goals, in the spirit of Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking” message.

The other players who were nominated for the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year were Korean Yang Yong-eun and Prom Meesawat of Thailand.

Ben Anderson, Global Brand Director, Johnnie Walker, saluted the winners. “Jeev Milkha Singh is a fine example which clearly reflects our 'Keep Walking' values. He endured a seven-year winless run because of injuries but through his determination and commitment, he went on to achieve great things in 2006," said Anderson.

"Chinarat Phadungsil is a player that many of us will follow very closely in the coming years after making such a wonderful impact in the game. At only 18, he has already won twice in Asia, a remarkable achievement for a player his age.

"The Organising Committee members are also delighted to honour Alvaro Quiros who has shown that he has the pedigree to excel in this great game. We salute all the winners."

Past winners of the Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year include Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han, the Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, in 1998 and Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju (2002).

March 4, 2007

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page