NA AIMING FOR SECOND ASIAN TOUR TITLE 21 YEARS AFTER FIRST AT SAUDI OPEN

At the age of 40, Kevin Na is approaching the twilight of his career but one thing he still wants to do is be ‘a multiple winner on the Asian Tour.'

He will have an opportunity to do that this week as he is competing in the Tour’s season-ending Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund at Riyadh Golf Cub, although he needs to overcome the fact that his first victory in Asia came at the Volvo Masters of Asia 21 years ago.

“Makes me sound old, 21 years ago, there are some golfers who are younger than that out here,” said Na, when reminded about his win at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“I remember like it wasn’t too long ago, that was my first win. It was a big deal for me. I always loved the Asian Tour and it’s nice to back. I have a lot of friends out here. I played a couple of practice rounds with them the past couple of days. You know this is where it started and hopefully I can be a multiple-winner on the Asian Tour. So, let’s give it a shot this week.”

Na was just 19-years-old when he claimed the Volvo Masters of Asia, the Tour’s season-ender that year, in what was his rookie year as a professional.

Despite two decades having passed since that victory his memories are still very vivid.

He said: “Oh, I remember exactly how I felt on 18. There was water down the right, I was nervous. I aimed down the left, I hit a cut out there, laid up, hit a wedge to 14 feet. I thought two putt, but I wanted to make it, and I missed and I had a two-footer coming back, and I was still a little nervous over that two footer.

“And I remember waiting on 18 green just to see how it played out to get my first win. I played really good that year.”

He shot a brilliant four-under-par 66 on the final day to come from three shots back and win by two from Scotland’s Simon Yates, Anthong Kang from the United States, India’s Arjun Singh and Craig Kamps from South Africa.

The result also allowed him to finish as Rookie of the Year.

Na made it onto the PGA Tour in 2004 and never looked back, winning there on five occasions, the most recent being the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii.

His career moved into another exciting new phase in 2022 when he joined the LIV Golf League and his close association with the Asian Tour makes him fully appreciative of The International Series, the Tour’s feeder platform for the series.

“The Asian Tour being the pathway to LIV Golf, it gives these kids something to aim for, to play for and to have the opportunity to make it straight to the biggest league, with the biggest names in golf. I think it is very inspiring,” said the Korean-American.

He says the signs are there that his game is trending in the right direction after a mixed season when he captained Iron Heads GC.

“I felt like when I had the opportunity to have a high finish I finished poorly in the last few holes and that was very frustrating,” said Na.

‘There were a few times when I was second or third with a few holes to go and I made mistakes coming in. I wasn’t too far from having a decent year. I feel like things are changing. My game and my mental state are better and taking a little break right now it put me in a better position. I feel like my swing is in a good place.”

That bodes well for this week when a win would be a phenomenal achievement that allows him to complete the cycle and triumphantly return to his beginnings.

Photo Credit: Asian Tour