2008 Johnnie Walker Classic

So it was somewhat ironic when talented Asian Tour player Anton Haig started to feature at the top of the leaderboard during the US$2.44 million Johnnie Walker Classic at Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket in 2007.

The sponsors needn’t have worried, though, as the highly rated 20-year-old stayed true to the Johnnie Walker exhortation of ‘Keep Walking.’

Haig faced numerous challenges during a taxing final day but, in the style of a great champion that many in the game predict he will become, the big-hitting South African kept walking and kept battling.

His reward was a triumphant ride on an elephant and the addition of his name to a list of Johnnie Walker Classic winners that nobody will forget – Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods et al.

Haig calmly holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff against compatriot Richard Sterne and England's Oliver Wilson to win one of the most sought after titles in world golf.

The career-defining victory earned him a cheque for US$404,993, and the priceless praise of his peers, including countryman Els and Retief Goosen.

“It feels absolutely amazing,” said Haig. “I knew I was hitting the ball good enough to win and thank God that driver went straight for me today and the putts fell.”

Arguably Haig’s best ball strike of the final day came at the 18th in regulation play when he nailed a wedge from 98 yards and sunk the resultant three-footer to join Sterne and Wilson in the playoff.

The inspirational play that put him in a position to win for the second time on the Asian Tour came in the second round when he streaked up the leaderboard after a course record-equalling 64.

Indeed, 64 was a popular number during the week. Sterne had back-to-back 64s after an opening 75 that had him packing his bags for an early exit and India’s Gaurav Ghei also dialled in the number on the final day to join the others in matching Norman’s 13-year-old course record.

Former winner Goosen finished a frustrating week in fourth place while 2004 Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada was a further stroke adrift in fifth. Els, a two time winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic, shared sixth place with Scotsman Colin Montgomerie, South African veteran David Frost and Ghei, who was Asia's best finisher

The Big Easy, who played a practice round with Haig earlier in the week, predicted a bright future for his young compatriot. “He's one of the longest hitters out there. If he gets control of his game, he's going to be very tough to beat. He's very young, 20, and a big guy, bigger than me. Hits it longer than I do. It's a matter of getting experience and just playing,” said Els.

Leading final scores
275 - Anton Haig (RSA) 71-64-70-70, Richard Sterne (RSA) 75-64-64-72, Oliver Wilson (ENG) 68-66-70-71
(Haig wins on first hole of a sudden-death play-off with a birdie on 18th hole)
278 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 68-68-72-70
279 - Mike Weir (CAN) 66-78-68-67
280 - Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-70-70-71, Ernie Els (RSA) 73-70-67-70, David Frost (RSA) 69-70-72-69, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 69-73-74-64
281 - Richard Bland (ENG) 68-70-72-71, Simon Hurd (ENG) 73-71-66-71, Jean Van De Velde (FRA) 72-69-71-69, Iain Steel (MAS) 69-73-70-69
282 - Richard Lee (NZL) 67-70-70-75, Marc Warren (SCO) 68-72-71-71
283 - Wang Ter-Chang (TPE) 68-70-71-74, Graeme Storm (ENG) 66-73-70-74, Aron Price (AUS) 74-68-67-74, Chris Rodgers (ENG) 71-70-71-71, Adam Bland (AUS) 71-67-75-70, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 70-70-73-70, Garry Houston (WAL) 72-68-73-70, Alastair Forsyth (SCO) 74-70-69-70, Robert-Jan Derksen (NLD) 71-71-73-68
284 - James Nitties (AUS) 69-67-74-74, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 67-72-71-74, Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 66-76-68-74, Matthew Millar (AUS) 71-70-71-72, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 65-77-71-71, Adam Scott (AUS) 74-69-70-71, Mark Foster (ENG) 72-70-72-70

February 25, 2008

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