Kruger, who had come close on many occasions, especially in 2010, where he had to settle for the runner-up spot three times, was clearly relieved when he lifted his maiden Asian Tour title with a winning total of 14-under-par 274 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Spain’s Jorge Campillo signed off with a 67 to take a share of second place with Germany’s Marcel Siem on 276 while Australia’s Marcus Fraser and Spain’s Manuel Jose Lara closed with matching 277s for a share of fourth place at the Avantha Masters, which is richest tournament staged in India, thanks to its €1.8 million prize fund.

Thailand’s Prom Meesawat emerged as the leading Asian after he signed for a 71 to take a share of sixth place with three other players while compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat closed with a 68 to finish in tied-10th at the Avantha Masters, which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and PGTI.
Kruger, who made his debut on the Asian Tour in 2009, was always in control from the opening tee.

Despite carding a lone bogey on the par-four 17th, the South African knew that it was his title to lose and was clearly elated when he sunk his winning par putt on the closing 18th hole.

“It’s a big relief now that I’ve won but I think I needed all those second –placed finishes to be able to appreciate this. There was no pressure even when I made my only bogey of the day on the 17th,” said Kruger.

“I knew victory was always a possibility from my first shot. Then I felt that victory was inevitable when I got to the 14th hole,” added Kruger who picked up the winner’s prize cheque worth €300,000 and moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit,

After a sputtering start where he opened with two bogeys, Prom recovered with a birdie on the third to turn in 37. He added two more birdies on the 12th and 17th holes to reach home in 71.

“It has been a good week for me and I’m happy with the way things have been going for me. I’ve been striking the ball really well all week and my putting has been good,” said Prom.

Prom, who credits his regular visits to the gym for giving him the physical edge, is upbeat of his season ahead and believes another win could be within sight.

“It has been a good start to the season and I want to keep the momentum going. If I continue playing like this, I believe another win is possible,” said Prom whose last victory came in Korea in 2006.

Kiradech knew it would take a superlative effort to contend for his second Asian Tour win, having started the round six shots back of Kruger. However, after two birdies in his opening three holes, he thought that he could still surmount a late charge.

“I was playing really well especially in my first three holes. It was then when I thought that I would have the chance to go for the title if I continued playing that way,” said Kiradech.

A bogey on the fifth hole set him back by one but Kiradech continued to mark his card with another birdie on the ninth to turn in 34.

The Thai looked set to storm home after posting four birdies in six holes after the turn. However, two successive bogeys on the 16 and 17 holes put paid to any hopes of a miraculous comeback.

“I was still doing well all the way until the 15th but after that it all went wrong. I made double bogey on the 16th and 17th and I think that left me with no chance,” said Kiradech.

Although he missed out on a grandstand finish, Kiradech is happy that he is heading into his title defence for next week’s SAIL-SBI Open in high spirits.

“I’m putting well and I feel that I’m beginning to play my best golf. I’m in good shape now and I hope that this will continue,” said Kiradech.

Leading scores after round 4 of the AVANTHA MASTERS 2012 being played at the par 72, 7156 Yards DLF GCC course (a- denotes amateur):

274 – Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 70-69-66-69.
276 – Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) 72-71-66-67, Marcel SIEM (GER) 69-69-68-70.
277 – Marcus FRASER (AUS) 69-69-69-70, Jose Manuel LARA (ESP) 74-69-64-70.
278 – Thorbjorn OLESEN (DEN) 71-67-70-70, Tano GOYA (ARG) 74-70-64-70, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 72-64-71-71, Jean-Baptiste GONNET (FRA) 68-69-69-72.
279 – Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 68-69-74-68, Ricardo SANTOS (POR) 73-69-69-68, Alejandro CANIZARES (ESP) 66-73-69-71, Rhys DAVIES (WAL) 70-69-69-71.

“I will be a Master's champion by the tim e I'm 20” – this is what Ryo Ishikawa wrote in his elementary school graduation yearbook. We catch up with the Japanese star as he enters his fifth year as a professional at age 20

Last year, you were voted the Most Valuable Player on the Japan Golf Tour for the fifth year in a row. What are your thoughts on your 2011 season, which was your fourth year as a pro golfer?

Ryo Ishikawa:I don’t think that I left much of an impression, personally. In fact, the strongest feeling that I have from 2011 is that I couldn’t win anything. It really drove home the fact that this is a difficult sport and you’re not going to win every year, so don’t dwell on it. I hope to move on and do better this year.

In the last tournament of the 2011 season, the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, you almost won but finished third. Was that disappointing?

Ishikawa:Of course, I’m disappointed that I didn’t take first place, but if you do your best, then you don’t have anything to regret. Thinking things like “I should have practised more, I should have done this or that”, I think, is to go too easy on myself. In this sport, if you give into those feelings, even just a little bit, you’ll see it in your scores. But the fact that I’m able to play this sport, which is so difficult, is already really good for me. But there is always room for improvement.

Toward the end of last season, you said “The more I know about golf, the more difficult it gets.”

Ishikawa:Yes, but it’s not just about what you know. It’s about self-control and being able to use what you know properly. But you also need experiences, good and bad, then take those experiences and use them to make yourself a better player. When I make a mistake I always think, “I don’t want to make this mistake again.” But you need a lot of concentration and mental toughness to be able to forget about all that when you swing to hit the ball. It’s not just the world of pro golf, it’s an imperfect world. But this imperfection allows me to go easy on myself. On the other hand, I know that I can be harder on myself because I know that I’m capable of more. I try not to dwell on it and never be satisfied where I am.

At the off-event talk show, the emcee asked you about your girlfriend, didn’t he?

Ishikawa:Yes, he did. And I was really hoping he wouldn’t. I’m really not good with questions like that.

But it was really cool how you answered “I’m happiest with her” so quickly.

Ishikawa:It was? No, it wasn’t! But people seem to think that most 20-year-olds have girlfriends, and the emcee was asking a question from a fan, which isn’t a strange question to ask – “When are you happiest?” But I don’t like answering questions like that during tournaments or during the season in general. But it was a tournament event and so saying “no comment” would have been rude, so I thought it best to just say I’m happy. Because if I had to choose, I guess I am happy. (laughs)

What do you think of your classmate, Hideki Matsuyama, winning the ‘Low Amateur’ award at the 2011 Masters and then winning the Sumitomo Visa Pacific Masters?

Ishikawa:He swings big and is strong hearted. To win at that golf course (Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba Course in Shizuoka) is amazing. He’s a player who outthinks everyone else.

When will you know if you get into the 2012 Masters?

Ishikawa:I’m not guaranteed a place at the (2012) Masters, but if I can get into the top 50 by the end of 2011 or before the Masters of 2012 I’ll have two chances to go. But even if I don’t qualify this year, I’ll just keep trying for 2012, and that’s all I can do. But qualifying for the Masters is a big hurdle for me; it’s what I strive for.

Ryo Ishikawa

Ryo with classmate Hideki Matsuyama (R)

“I perform best when I'm a bit nervous.”

If you do go, it will be your fourth time at the Masters. You finished joint 20th in 2011. What is the key to playing well at Augusta National?

Ishikawa:Since the 2011 Masters, I’ve improved in a lot of areas, especially my short game. But it really depends on having the concentration to play well at the Masters. Only when my concentration is at its highest do I play my best. I can prepare to hit a good shot in whatever condition. I perform best when I’m a bit nervous.

After the Eastern Earthquake, you announced that you will donate all of your winnings from the Japanese tour events and the four Majors, plus another ¥100,000 for each birdie.

Ishikawa:I was abroad when the earthquake hit, so I tried to think of what I could do to help. I felt powerless, like there was nothing that I could do. But then it hit me – I could donate my winnings to help the rebuilding and relief efforts. I kept telling myself “I can do this.” I felt really responsible, but this isn’t the end. I plan to do what I can to make sure the next generation gets the support they need.

Are you looking forward to your fifth year as a pro golfer?

Ishikawa:To win in front of everyone will take effort; to win and enjoy it will require 10 times that effort. I will work hard to enjoy this season and qualify for as many tournaments as possible by working harder tomorrow than today.

Ryo’s Records

• Ishikawa became the youngest winner ever of a men’s regular professional tournament when he captured the Japan Golf Tour’s Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in May 2007 at age 15 years and eight months.
• Ishikawa shot a final round of 12-under-par 58 to win The Crowns tournament in May 2010 by five shots. The 58 was the lowest score ever recorded in a Japan Golf Tour event.

Interview and images courtesy of
Weekly ParGolf Japan