Singapore: Bangladesh\u2019s Siddikur Rahman will be on a mission to fix his putting woes before he resumes rivalry with the region\u2019s best golfers again.<\/p>\n
A two-time Asian Tour winner and EurAsia Cup star, the Bangladeshi set himself up well for another grandstand finish by taking a share of the first round lead at the ICTSI Philippine Open last week.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old was however let down by his putting and eventually had to settle for yet another second runner-up finish this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy long game has always been there but my short game hasn\u2019t been up to my standard so far. Hopefully I can improve on my short game soon. I think I\u2019m hitting it very well. If I can get my putter hot then I will get another good result,\u201d said the Bangladeshi.<\/p>\n
While it was not a result the Bangladeshi was looking for at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, his earnings of US$17,838 moved him five spots up to 13th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was confident I could win this event but I didn\u2019t putt too well on the second and third day. This is part of golf. This course is very challenging and you can mess up on any hole. I think it is a good week for me,\u201d said Siddikur.<\/p>\n
Siddikur is well remembered for being the first Bangladeshi to play and win on the Asian Tour. He also played a pivotal role in Team Asia\u2019s epic comeback draw with Team Europe at the inaugural EurAsia Cup that was staged in Malaysia in March.<\/p>\n
Having captured the imagination of fans in the region, Siddikur is hoping to create a similar impact when he attempts to play his way into the year\u2019s second Major, the U.S. Open next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be going for the U.S. Open Qualifying. I have good memory when I played on the same golf course in 2012. I\u2019m really looking forward to it because it is my dream to play in the U.S. Open,\u201d said Siddikur.<\/p>\n
India\u2019s Anirban Lahiri continues to lead the Order of Merit despite a disappointing end to his campaign in the Philippines where he finished tied-22nd.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m disappointed with how I played. I\u2019ve been playing well but I don\u2019t think I played that badly. I made a lot of mental errors and big numbers. You can\u2019t make four double bogeys and three triple bogeys in a tournament. At least I tried to fight back and played well,\u201d said Lahiri.<\/p>\n
The EurAsia Cup star, who contributed two vital points in the continent\u2019s draw with Europe in the Ryder Cup style event, will switch his focus to his wedding with long-time sweetheart, Ipsa Jamwal this month before getting back into action on the region\u2019s premier Tour next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be getting married and it is the beginning of my new life. I think it is really an exciting time for me.<\/p>\n
My golf bags will go into the store room for at least two weeks and I\u2019m going to be fresh at Samui!\u201d said Lahiri.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Marcus Both made the biggest move up the merit rankings with his career-changing win at the ICTSI Philippines Open by leaping 42 spots up to 11th place while Thailand\u2019s Arnond Vongvanij played his way into the top-10 after a tied-second finish.<\/p>\n
The Asian Tour will next head to the holiday isle of Samui for the sixth edition of the Queen\u2019s Cup from June 5-8. The popular US$300,000 Asian Tour event will be staged at the ultra-challenging Santiburi Samui Country Club and is held in honour of Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit.<\/p>\n
Ends.<\/p>\n
ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT (TOP-20) Singapore: Bangladesh\u2019s Siddikur Rahman will be on a mission to fix his putting woes before he resumes rivalry with the region\u2019s best golfers again.<\/p>\n A two-time Asian Tour winner and EurAsia Cup star, the Bangladeshi set himself up well for another grandstand finish by taking a share of the first round lead at the ICTSI Philippine Open last week.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old was however let down by his putting and eventually had to settle for yet another second runner-up finish this season.<\/p>\n \u201cMy long game has always been there but my short game hasn\u2019t been up to my standard so far. Hopefully I can improve on my short game soon. I think I\u2019m hitting it very well. If I can get my putter hot then I will get another good result,\u201d said the Bangladeshi.<\/p>\n While it was not a result the Bangladeshi was looking for at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, his earnings of US$17,838 moved him five spots up to 13th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.<\/p>\n \u201cI was confident I could win this event but I didn\u2019t putt too well on the second and third day. This is part of golf. This course is very challenging and you can mess up on any hole. I think it is a good week for me,\u201d said Siddikur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-isn-front-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong>
Pos | Player | Order of Merit
<\/strong>
1 Anirban LAHIRI (IND) $243,900.42
2 Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) $143,400.00
3 David LIPSKY (USA) $141,712.50
4 Rahil GANGJEE (IND) $103,636.25
5 BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) $92,309.29
6 Richard T. LEE (CAN) $88,808.33
7 S.S.P CHOWRASIA (IND) $87,457.63
8 Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) $79,737.50
9 Rashid KHAN (IND) $75,687.50
10 Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) $65,989.88
11 Marcus BOTH (AUS) $65,084.00
12 Cameron SMITH (AUS) $64,875.00
13 Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) $62,929.67
14 Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN)$59,746.00
15 Jason KNUTZON (USA) $54,860.00
16 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $51,961.29
17 Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) $51,643.75
18 Carlos PIGEM (ESP) $50,530.00
19 Scott HEND (AUS) $46,883.33
20 Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) $44,510.00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"