Asian Tour: Andrew Ogletree adds Qatar to International Series triumphs, says ‘no one wants it more than me’
- American becomes first player to win twice on series and targets Tour’s order of merit prize
- Ogletree has put some injury woes behind him and now has 2 wins in just 9 starts on the Asian Tour
Andrew Ogletree has targeted winning the Asian Tour order of merit this season and said “no one wants it more than me” after becoming the first player to triumph at two International Series events.
The American claimed his second victory of the season on Sunday in Qatar, despite finishing with a one-over-par 73 at Doha Golf Club to end the windswept tournament at seven-under.
His five-shot lead at the start of the day proved too much for the chasing pack, with Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who carded a final round 68, finishing three shots adrift.
Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72.
Ogletree, who won the International Series Egypt in November and has two wins in just nine starts on the Asian Tour, said his victory highlighted “all the work I’ve put in”.
“I’ve worked really hard this off-season post Egypt, and just have a lot of confidence because I work so hard,” he said. “I don’t think anyone wants it more than me. I want to keep giving myself more opportunities and this is the route that I can do that.
So, I’m really focused, and trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my number one goal this year, and that’s all I’m really focused on.”
Ogletree is top of the Tour and International Series rankings thanks to an outstanding start to the season. He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International and tied for seventh at last week’s International Series Oman.
“I mean, confidence wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher. My last five starts internationally, four top-10s and two wins, so I think I’m playing really good golf,” he said.
“I’m executing my game plan really well and kind of eliminating some of the silly mistakes.”
It’s a far cry for a player who, hindered by a hip injury, struggled to make an impact when he turned professional in 2020 following a stellar amateur career.
The former Georgia Tech college golf star reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2019 when he won the US Amateur, and that same year was part of the victorious United States team at the Walker Cup.
He said: “Yeah, I mean, obviously, just being able to play pain free is awesome. I’ve had a really good run the past few months, my body has felt great. I’ve never lost my confidence mentally. But now that I’m getting some reassurance from my body, it’s gaining even more confidence. So super pleased to be champion here. It’s unbelievable.
“What a great test we had this week. It was really hard. The course got really firm and fast, there was so much wind. I grew up playing in no wind, so super proud to win a golf tournament in wind like this.”
Gunn’s finish was his best on the Asian Tour since he came third in the Hong Kong Open at the beginning of 2020. He has also been struggling with injuries over the past few seasons.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s been a while since I started playing well again and could say that all the credit goes to my coach Sam Cyr,” said Gunn, who has been playing on a medical exemption.
“We’ve been working really hard for the past six months and this has been the first time that he’s come out here and working with me. We really did grind it out during the practice days, and he put me in the present moment throughout the weekend, encouraged me throughout the whole day and you know, don’t put my head down.”
The next event on the Asian Tour is the New Zealand Open, which will be played at Millbrook Resort from March 2 to 5.
