Kang makes a bang

Korea’s Kang Kyung-nam is living the dream at the Barclays Singapore Open.

He was handed a spot in "Asia’s Major" due to his second-place ranking on the Korean Tour under a new initiative by tournament organisers to give emerging players from the region an opportunity to shoot for the million-dollar first prize.

Leading players from the Korean, Indian, China and Asean PGA Tours were given places in the expanded 204-strong field.

Kang, currently second on the Korean Tour Order of Merit following his win in last month’s Munsingwear Championship, has seized the chance to further his career.

He lies joint second with defending champion Ian Poulter of England with two-time winner Adam Scott of Australia just a shot ahead.

Kang, ranked a lowly 567th in the world rankings, has impressed the huge galleries with his assured game that has taken him to the brink of glory.

He opened up with a 66 over the notoriously difficult Serapong Course, followed up with a 67 at The Tanjong Course where his putting let him down and then outgunned playing partner Graeme McDowell, the reigning US Open champion, in the third round on the Serapong Course with a 67 to the Ulsterman’s 68.

The modest 27 year old will play in the final group on Sunday with Scott and Poulter and the six-time winner on the Korean Tour is looking forward to the most important 18 holes of his career.

"I am playing in a high profile group - the final group. I have looked at this as a learning experience. I might change my game plan and not play as aggressively as on Saturday because I am in the final group. I will just try and continue what I have been doing up until now," he said.

Kang said that playing big events in Korea on OneAsia had helped him flourish at the Barclays Singapore Open.

"I have played with some high-calibre players in events in Korea and that has groomed me for this stage," he said.

Kang finished third at both the Luxehills Chengdu Open and the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on OneAsia and currently lies 19th on the Order of Merit with winnings of US$103,530 from just four events.

He was 14th in this season’s Ballantine’s Championship in Korea which, like the Barclays Singapore Open, is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.

“I have played with some high-calibre players in events in Korea and that has groomed me for this stage,” he said.

Kang finished third at both the Luxehills Chengdu Open and the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on OneAsia and currently lies 19th on the Order of Merit with winnings of US$103,530 from just four events.

He was 14th in this season’s Ballantine’s Championship in Korea which, like the Barclays Singapore Open, is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.