Airil aims for home win in Selangor Masters

Local hero Airil Rizman plans to live up to the old adage ‘drive for show, putt for dough’ when he shoots for glory at next week’s Worldwide Selangor Masters.

Airil, winner of the Pakistan Open on the Asian Tour last season, hopes that the countless of hours at the practice green to brush up his putting stroke will see him reap the rewards at Seri Selangor Golf Club from August 6 to 9.

He will be amongst a strong Malaysian contingent who will do battle in the RM1 million (approximately US$310,000) Asian Tour event which will include Thai stars Thaworn Wiratchant and Thongchai Jaidee, the in-form Lin Wen-tang and veteran Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei, Indian prospect S.S.P. Chowrasia and Filipinos Artemio Murakami and Juvic Pagunsan.

The 30-year-old Airil said he has struggled on the greens during the front half of the Asian Tour season and has only a tied 13th finish at the Philippine Open to show as his best outing of the 2008 season thus far.

“I have spent a lot of time with my coach and worked on my short game, in particular my putting. It has really let me down during the front half of the year. It’s frustrating as I am hitting the ball better than I have been for a long time, so I need to be patient and let my clubs do the talking for me,” said Airil.

Apart from his putting, Airil has also been hard at work in the gym where he knows that fitness and flexibility could mean a better second half to the season. With many big events lined up for the second half of the year, he knows that he must last the distance.

“I spend a couple of hours working out in the gym every day as I know that it will be beneficial to my game. I have great confidence and with the extra effort put into my short game, I feel pretty good.

“I am looking to put together four good rounds and I’m looking forward to the Selangor Masters.

“My goal is to win the Selangor Masters! I know the course pretty well and it’s a good lay-out. The greens will be hard and fast, so a bit of local knowledge can really help. You do need to know where to miss it on the greens.”

He realises that accurate iron play will be the key to a good score at the challenging Ross Watson-designed golf course. Seri Selangor will also offer a premium off the tee as many of the holes are tree-lined and will punish wayward driving.

“I need to be accurate with my iron play as if I miss some greens, it will be tough to get it up and down to save par. It’ll be a good challenge for all the players,” he said.

He welcomed the Worldwide Selangor Masters on the Asian Tour Schedule, saying the event will boost the development of professional golf in the country. Airil added that the event will also allow Malaysia’s emerging touring professionals to gauge their standard against Asia’s best players.

“All Asian Tour events in Malaysia are great because there will be extra spots for local players. It will be good for them to have exposure in Asian Tour events. We don’t have many professional events here and unfortunately, a lot of Malaysian pros are struggling because of an uncertain future with the local professional scene.

“We are thankful to have the Worldwide Selangor Masters on the Asian Tour Schedule for the first time and it’s great that the state government is organising this event. It’ll allow our players to make their mark.

“Last year, Khor Kheng Hwai made his maiden Asian Tour appearance in the Iskandar Johor Open and after he made the cut, he got the chance to play in a few other events which helped him secure a country exemption status on the Asian Tour.

“With the Selangor State government’s assistance, the younger players will know the standard of play required to succeed on the Asian Tour.”

July 28, 2008