A year to remember for Asian golfers

Putters from China, South Korea and Japan light up courses around the globe

Indeed, it has been a happy year to remember for Asian golf following standout performances and historic achievements by the game's best from the Far East as they continue to stamp their mark on the globe's elite playground, the PGA Tour.

From Tom Kim to Im Sung-jae and Hideki Matsuyama to K.H. Lee, there were many more birdies than bogeys for the region's finest as they made it a memorable 2022. On the Korn Ferry Tour, Carl Yuan Yechun and Kevin Yu led a strong contingent of five Asians making the grade onto the PGA Tour and even 53-year-old Asian legend, Thongchai Jaidee got into the act with a maiden victory on PGA Tour Champions as he became the first Thai winner on the over-50 circuit.

Outside the ropes, new and enhanced partnerships announced this month between the PGA Tour DP World Tour with Japan Golf Tour, South Korea PGA and Professional Golf Tour of India will mean that the region's top talents will enjoy career pathways to get themselves onto the globe's leading international golf leagues.

The big story of the year surely belongs to the 20-year-old Tom Kim.

Who can forget his stunning rise as he charmed the golf world with his youthful bravado, boundless energy and massive talent by winning twice at the Wyndham Championship and Shriners Children's Open and became only the sixth player in history to do so before turning 21, even younger than a certain Tiger Woods to achieve the rare feat.