MALAYSIA'S shining hope, Gavin Green, is optimistic about qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics later this year despite a recurring injury that required him to switch to a new golf swing.
Gavin is No. 53 in the International Golf Federation (IGF) Olympics rankings, which leaves him in a good position to make the 60-man field for the upcoming Games.
He finished 47 at the last edition of the Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
“The injury was bad enough for me to have had to pull out of the Scottish Championship last October,” said the 28-year-old Gavin, who turned professional in 2015.
“My coach, Chris O’Connell, and I have been working on it so that I could adjust my swing in such a way that it wouldn’t impact my wrist as much.
"It takes some time to get used to it and during tournament rounds, I have the tendency to go back to the old stuff. So, I just have to be patient until I can get used to it.
"We’re still making adjustments along the way. Hopefully, it will come together soon during the tournament rounds."
Six-foot Gavin did not start off the year on the best note after he failed to make the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship and Saudi International respectively, but he believes he’ll will find his form in no time at all.
“I didn’t do as well as I wanted to in the first three events of the new season but that’s golf,” he said.
Gavin raised eyebrows after becoming the first Malaysian to top the Asian Tour Order of Merit after an outstanding 2017 campaign, earning a promotion to the European Tour. A year earlier, he had won the Asian Development Tour twice to earn his card.
When asked about his Olympics preparation, he said: “So far so good as far as qualifying is concerned. I haven’t played the course in Japan before but I’ll just have to do the best that I can.
“As the European Tour is up and running, I’m playing in as many tournaments as I can. The European Tour has been very good with their safety protocols, and we’re playing in a bubble, so it’s pretty good."
RMO Day 3: Slo-mo video production ? Watch till the end and describe your thoughts using an emoji. #stayhome #keepcalmandgolfon
Posted by Gavin K Green 7 on Friday, March 20, 2020
As most athletes, Gavin has had his fair share of experience in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Well, I guess the first thing is I’m thankful that I have the chance to play and compete in tournaments. The tough thing about that is it’s mentally taxing as there are many limitations and we just can’t go about as freely as we used to,” said Gavin, who is of mixed parentage with a Portuguese-Irish father and Chinese mother.
"Training is not a problem, except during the MCO as golf was not allowed. During these times, I worked out at home and hit balls into a net."
Gavin is so grateful to have a supportive family, who has made him the person he is today. He added that his father, Gary Green, has had a strong influence on his career.
His father introduced him to the game, caddied for him when he was a boy, and continued to do so as he rose up the ranks to become a key player in the European Tour, and still remains by his side through his highs and lows.
“My dad is a cool dad. He is like the best dad ever. Me and my younger brother, Galven Kendall (who is a collegiate golfer in US), could not ask for more," said Gavin.
Gavin's next event will be the Qatar Masters followed by two tournaments in Kenya next month.
“Naturally I want to play better after a disappointing start to the year," he said.
Gavin really wants to make sure he qualifies for the Olympics.
“Nothing brings me more joy than representing Malaysia at this prestigious event,” he said. ─ The Vibes, 20 February, 2021
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