OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP RELATED STORIES Rd 1: Battling Lam makes top 15 with fine 72 Rd 1: Choi crafts brave 72 in worst of weather Rd 1: Liang faces uphill task after opening 77 Rd 1: 17th hole birdie keeps Chia's chances alive Rd 1: Prayad struggles with wind and cold for 77 Rd 2: Choi takes lead with two closing birdies Rd 2: Liang makes first major cut with fighting 71 Rd 2: Lam makes cut and Singapore golf history Rd 2: Late bogies mean early exit for Prayad Rd 3: Choi joint 2nd as Norman storms 2 ahead Rd 3: Liang fires worthy 77 as scores soar Rd 3: Lam is blown away by Birkdale winds Rd 4: Choi heartbroken as Harrington defends Rd 4: Closing 74 gives Liang more major hopes Rd 4: Tough Open makes Lam eye Asian success Rd 4: Angelo Que means to learn and return Final scores The 2008 Open Championship home page Guide to the Royal Birkdale Course Four Australians qualify for The Open 67 Sentosa hopefuls aim for four Open berths Randhawa going for fourth Open outing Chia, Que and Ali lead Open berth battle Chia, Blyth, Lam and Que headed for Birkdale Dyson qualifies for Open - Rodgers, Brown and Jeev miss out Liang to make golfing history at Birkdale Prayad out to erase Masters misery at Birkdale Que looks to ride his winning wave Lam takes a second shot at Open Liang back in the swing and ready to shine Confident Prayad ready to face Birkdale breezes Lam aiming at top 25 - and having fun Chia out for Malaysian first at his second Open Que hoping to become a familiar face ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Ben Leong claims maiden victory PGA: Jeev and Wi tie for ninth Prom targets Thai win in Brunei Shin Ji-yai takes Women's British Open Asian Tour starts 2nd half on a high Norman to play 2009 Johnnie Walker Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Paul Azinger names US wildcards Faldo chooses Casey and Poulter Havret gains wire to wire Gleneagles win Sluman clinches First Tee Open with closing 67 Fallout continues over LPGA "English" rule Poulter chooses high risk Ryder Cup strategy

Tough Open makes Lam eye Asian success

After an historic breakthrough at the British Open, Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing is now setting his sights firmly on winning a maiden title on the Asian Tour.

Lam, the first Singaporean to play in all four rounds at the Open, signed off his campaign at Royal Birkdale with a disappointing 11-over-par 81 but hopes to put his arduous weekend experience to good use when he returns to Asia.

“I’m going back and I hope to win an Asian Tour tournament over the next few months,” said Lam.

“If I can get through this, other events won’t be that tough. There are a few things that I need to work on my game as I failed terribly in the winds. I have to go back and think things over and come out as a better player.

“I’ll take more positives from this, especially when I was able to be up there after two rounds. It’s a little disappointing in the end.”

Lam could not figure out how his game fell apart after making the halfway cut with commendable rounds of 72 and 75 in tough playing conditions. But he was left shaking his head with disbelief after going 24-over-par for his weekend rounds.

“I had mixed emotions. Although I was having a nightmare out there, I was still enjoying myself just being here. I can’t really describe it. It kind of like an achievement to be here but it’s disappointing that I didn’t have it in me to play two more good rounds.

“I just don’t know what happened. I felt like I was two different players. In the first two days, I felt comfortable. I don’t know what happened the last two days. It could be due to mental exhaustion. I was battling to make the cut and then having to battle the winds and failing yesterday.”

Lam, who also qualified for last year’s Open at Carnoustie, hopes to make a return to next year’s championship at Turnberry. “I want to come back for sure. But coming from Asia, we don’t have a chance to play in the wind. I was impressed with how Tom (Lehman) manoeuvred the ball in the wind yesterday.

“It’s something which I want to work on. I will pray very hard that I get back here next year and I think I’ll be able to handle it much better,” said Lam.

While Lam is now dreaming of a maiden Asian Tour triumph, he will enjoy a much bigger celebration with the arrival of his first child with wife Sophie in September.

“The baby is due in September. Everyone has told me that it will be a life changing experience and I’m sure it will be all good.”

July 20, 2008