By Jeff Centenera
Golf Australia Assistant Editor
at the Australian PGA Championship
Any rumbles about the Asian contingent in the field taking away spots from Australian players will have been effectively put down by Min-Kyu Han's morning round.
The Korean fired a nine-under 62, a new course record in the context of the changes at Coolum, with 11 birdies. "I felt like I was in heaven," the 26-year-old said. "Maybe I'm like Tiger Woods today."
The newly included OneAsia pros received one of the toughest possible introductions to Australian golf having to tee up their first event at NSW last week. Of the 25 players at the bottom of the leaderboard who finished two rounds, 14 were OneAsia visitors. Coolum always promised to be a better proposition - it's not out of the question that an Asian player will figure in the top ten this week.
As for any resentment among the local pros, Australasian Tour commissioner and OneAsia chief Ben Sellenger said the Australian players understood the deal. He noted the players were convinced that the extra events of OneAsia created more spots than the ones filled in the Australian tournaments.
As for Han, when asked about his expectations for tomorrow: "Maybe I'll shoot eight-under, only 10 birdies."
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