Mexico offers season's first shot at WGC glory for Asian aces

It wasn't long ago Asian golfers took delight at simply being in a World Golf Championships event.

Rubbing shoulders with the game's elite, watching their heroes up close and competing alongside them was often a good enough experience to take home and cherish.

Oh, how times have changed.

These days a new generation of young Asian stars such as Li Haotong of China, Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, India's Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri, Korea's Kim Si-woo and An Byeong-hun, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and CT Pan of Chinese Taipei are in it to win it.

They don't want to just make up the numbers at WGC events or on the PGA Tour, and apart from possessing a burning desire to win at the highest level, their aspirations are backed by armory in their games, a fearless attitude and high dosages of confidence.

The WGC-Mexico Championship, which is offering a princely $10.25 million at the Club de Golf Chapultepec from Feb 21-24, will present Asia's leading lights with their first shot at WGC glory in 2019.

Twelve months ago, India's Sharma announced his arrival on the big stage by snatching the second- and third-round leads through some glorious golf before finishing tied for ninth.

Arriving in Mexico on the back of two Asian/European Tour co-sanctioned victories, the 22-year-old unveiled his growing credentials with a masterful display which he followed up later in the year by sharing the third-round lead at the PGA Tour's CIMB Classic in Malaysia before finishing tied for 10th.

American legend Phil Mickelson, who played alongside Sharma during the final round en route to his 43rd PGA Tour win in Mexico, was effusive in his praise of the young Indian, whom he had brushed off on the practice green the previous day because he thought Sharma was a journalist hunting for an interview.

"I saw how well he struck the ball. He hit a beautiful tee shot on one, you can tell he can really play," said Mickelson, who won the tournament after defeating 2017 FedExCup winner Justin Thomas in a playoff.

"I saw some of the putts, some of the highlights with the putter. I know he's a very talented player so I know what a great player Sharma is. I probably shouldn't say that－he's 26 years younger than me!"

As the 2018 Asian Tour order of merit champion, Sharma has guaranteed a quick return to the WGCMexico Championship, and he's eager to replicate his heroics at Chapultepec, renowned for its narrow fairways and tricky greens.

"Those two events (WGC-Mexico Championship and CIMB Classic) were definitely my highlights in 2018," said Sharma.

"Obviously I have special memories and feelings from Mexico. I couldn't finish it off but it was a turning point for me. It showed I could play against the best in the world. It was my career-first WGC and to have a chance to win at that stage gave me a lot of self-belief."

Meanwhile, Matsuyama, the ultra-talented 26-year-old Japanese ace, is currently the lone Asian with two victories－registered at the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and 2017 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.

Kiradech, Thailand's grip-it-and-rip-it star, is also keen to add his name to the exclusive winners' club soon.

Last year, the big-hitting Thai produced his first top-five in a WGC in Mexico, which he credits for helping him become the first player from his country to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2018-19 season.

Kiradech also enjoyed top-fives at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and WGC-HSBC Champions in 2018 to prove he truly belongs in the big league.

China's Li, who produced a commendable defense of his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title last weekend when he finished tied for 12th, will also be keen to make an impression in Mexico and better his personal best of tied-seventh at the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2015. He finished 63rd in his debut in Mexico last year.

Another elite lineup of global stars is expected to descend n Mexico City with the likes of Mickelson, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth headlining the prestigious tournament, which offers 550 Fed-ExCup points. The international field will also be eyeing world ranking points to boost hopes of playing in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in December.

"They are very important tournaments. They are big tournaments. They bring together the best players in the world," said Johnson, a 19-time PGA Tour winner.

And for that reason, the Asian brigade cannot wait to challenge the world starting with the WGC-Mexico Championship.