February 4, 2010: India's Rashid Khan will have to overcome the largest ever field in a Faldo Series Asia Grand Final if he is to succeed in his bid to become the first winner of three consecutive Faldo Series titles at Mission Hills Golf Club in China on March 10-12.
Following a season in which more than 1,000 golfers have competed in 14 Faldo Series Asia tournaments in 12 different countries, a record number of over 75 players of 17 different nationalities, boys and girls aged 12 to 21, will line up in the 54-hole Grand Final, an R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event hosted by Nick Faldo on the Faldo Course at Mission Hills.
In March 2009, Khan became the first-ever back-to-back winner of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, matching the achievements of European Tour stars Nick Dougherty and Oliver Fisher who both achieved consecutive Faldo Series victories in Europe. The teenager from Delhi, who turns 19 in February, recalls his feelings during that last-hole win at Mission Hills: "I was told that I needed a birdie to win because the other player had chipped in for an eagle. I just laughed and then chipped close for my birdie. It was a great moment and overwhelming to win for a second time, not just as the first Asian golfer but also as the first Indian."
Three-time Tour winner Dougherty went on to win three Faldo Series titles in four years before turning professional, but Khan believes he can go one better and win three in a row: "I will definitely try to win for the third year running and I believe I can do it. However it becomes more and more difficult as each time there is fresh talent and new challenges."
Khan's 2009 victory at Mission Hills sparked a winning run that included the Singapore Open Amateur Championship and six tournaments in a row on the Indian amateur circuit. He credits this success not just to the confidence he gained from his Faldo Series Asia win, but also to the advice of six-time Major winner Faldo: "Sir Nick told me to stay focussed, enjoy the game while on the course, not put myself under pressure and avoid getting angry. I have followed that advice ever since and the results are there to see."
Supported by major partners Mission Hills, The R&A and UBS, the fourth Grand Final will be played under strict tournament conditions over three rounds on the Faldo Course. Boys and girls will play from different tees with the Faldo Series Asia challenge trophy presented by Faldo to the player with the lowest gross score, boy or girl.
Also backed by new golf wear partner Alpine Creations, players will be receiving expert advice and support from Faldo himself plus a number of other guest speakers during the tournament week at Mission Hills, home of the Faldo Series Asia.
Endorsed by the Asian Tour, the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation and the Guangdong Golf Association, the five age-category winners – three boys and two girls – will be invited by Faldo to compete in the 2010 Faldo Series Grand Final in Europe. The overall champions, boy and girl, will also be invited to play in a flagship professional event on the Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour respectively.
The Faldo Series Asia will also be initiating a number of grass-roots activities around the Grand Final as part of its bid to simultaneously create access to the sport for a wider and younger audience. This includes support of the Mission Hills Junior Tour which has been launched to provide opportunities for junior golfers aged nine and upwards and will act as an official feeder to Faldo Series Asia tournaments in China, including the Grand Final for its overall champions, boy and girl.