Hiroshi Tai will make historical past as the primary Singaporean golfer to play within the Masters this week, however the 23-year-old can rely on a robust Georgia connection to buoy his bid for low novice honors at Augusta Nationwide.
Tai secured his place within the subject for the yr’s first main virtually a yr in the past, when he received the NCAA collegiate championship representing Georgia Tech.
It is the alma mater of US golf nice and Augusta Nationwide co-founder Bobby Jones — and creates a hyperlink to at the present time between the membership and Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jackets groups.
However Tai mentioned Monday that the drive down Magnolia Lane felt “somewhat completely different” when he was arriving to organize for his first Masters.
“Clearly being at Georgia Tech and there is a variety of historical past concerned with the Masters with Bobby Jones being a founder and clearly he performed at Georgia Tech, graduated from there,” Tai mentioned.
“So there’s a variety of historical past at Georgia Tech and related with the Masters. It has been a extremely cool expertise.
“And driving down Magnolia Lane, not even at the moment, simply another day, could be superb,” he mentioned. “Positively having fun with it quite a bit.”
However Tai, who bought his first style of main championship golf when he performed the US Open at Pinehurst final yr, can be boosted by robust assist again dwelling, and he is proud to be the primary from his nation to play the Masters.
“I believe it means quite a bit to me as a result of I am clearly pleased with the place I am from and have a variety of family and friends that reside there,” he mentioned.
“My dad and mom nonetheless reside there. It has been a extremely cool expertise up to now, and I’ve actually loved every part about it. I am actually honored to be right here, as effectively.”
Born in Hong Kong to a Singaporean father and a Japanese mom, Tai was launched to golf in Singapore when he was 4 and honed his sport at Windermere Prep college in Florida.
His {golfing} aspirations needed to wait whereas he accomplished his Singapore navy service, however he mentioned his Georgia Tech expertise has accelerated his progress.
“I believe taking part in faculty golf, particularly on the Division I stage, you are taking part in with a few of the finest amateurs on the earth,” he mentioned.
“Lots of them have had success on PGA Tour occasions as amateurs and as faculty gamers, so I believe you are actually taking part in towards a few of the finest gamers you’ll find at that stage, and it has actually helped me develop as an individual and as a participant within the final couple of years.”
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