Oliver Fisher Golf

After the slight disappointment of failing to make the cut in last week’s tournament at the Vines Resort & Country Club in Perth, Oliver Fisher heads to Bali for this week’s European Tour event.

The Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open at New Kuta Golf Club in Bali, Indonesia became part of The European Tour International Schedule in 2005 and has a history of low scoring events.

The par 72 course measures at over 7500 yards from the championship tees, overlooking some of the best surfing beauty spots Bali has on offer. The New Kuta Golf Club is the island’s first championship course.

Ollie’s opening round ended in one-under-par having carded birdies on the 5th, 7th, 10th & 16th holes, and bogeyed the 1st, 8th & 17th.
Elsewhere on the golf course, Angelo Que of the Philippines took a four-stroke clubhouse lead at the end of a weather-affected first day – play is currently suspended as we report this.
Que took just 20 putts to card an eight-under-par 64 which has left him on top before the suspended play.

Johnnie Walker Classic
The Vines Resort & Country Club
Perth, Australia

This week the European Tour travels to Australia for the second time already this season.

The Johnnie Walker Classic returns to The Vines Resort in Perth, which last hosted the event three years ago when American Kevin Stadler took the winner’s title.
This week’s tournament will be the eighth time that it has arrived in this Perth, Western Australia.

Over the past 19 years, the Johnnie Walker Classic has been played in eight different countries and 13 different golf clubs around Australasia, including China back in 2005 and in India for the first time in 2007, reflecting the brand’s “Keep Walking” philosophy of continuous progress.

Since its inception in 1992, former winners of the event have produced a total 183 European Tour wins and 28 Major Championships between them – an impressive record in anyone’s language.

While the fairways at the Vines are average in width, accuracy from the tee is paramount because the surrounding scrubland provides plenty of unplayable lies.

Anthony Kim

Day one of Maybank Malaysian Open and the the worldwide appeal brought to The European Tour International Schedule by The Race to Dubai is proved with a truly international field gathering at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

After a week’s break following the three week ‘Gulf Swing’, players from all five continents have travelled to Kuala Lumpur to compete not only for the US$2 million prize fund, but also for further advancement in both The Race to Dubai standings and the Official World Golf Ranking.

Current world number 11 American Anthony Kim is headling the event, in the aftermath of his successful debut in the Ryder Cup in Kentucky last September. His presence in Malaysia will make a real difference because every golfer wants to compete against the best

Another good opening day for Oliver Fisher in Kuala Lumpar, managing a three under par first round. Ollie carded two-under from the front nine holes with birdies on both the 3rd and 4th, then three further birdies on the back nine leaving his score slightly reduced by bogeys on the 14th and 18th.

As we write, Ollie is T14 on day one, with Korean Noh Seung-Yul leading on an impressive ten-under-par having achieved nine birdies, an eagle and a single bogey.

Whilst there is no tournament for the European Tour this week, Oliver remains in Dubai with coach Chris Jenkins practicing ahead of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpar which commences on 12th February.

CNN have interviewed Oliver for their “Living Golf” show (see below for times)

Says CNN “20-year-old Oliver Fisher has been regarded as a hot prospect in the golfing community ever since Nick Faldo nurtured him in his early teenage years. Now a professional on the European Tour, Fisher is considered to be one of Europe’s top hopes for the future”

Oliver Fisher's early days

Chatting with Ollie’s father, Rupert; “From the time he was two or three and started picking up plastic golf clubs he always had a very natural golf swing, so it was very easy to develop from that stage with proper coaching,” he told CNN.

It’s true that Ollie’s parents have showed tremendous support for his golf career, Rupert even spent the first season on tour with young Oliver as his caddie.
It was Rupert who introduced Oliver to the sport at a very young age, swinging a club for the first time aged just two, and joining his local golf club at the age of eight, within 12 months of that he met Chris Jenkins who remains his coach to this day.

“Guys of Ollie’s age have learnt so much from the Tiger era,” Rupert Fisher continued. “When you look at players like Tiger, he is the ultimate role model and you can only try to do what they do.”
Making the leap from amateur to pro can be a difficult step. As Rupert put it, “natural talent just won’t get you there.”

“It’s totally different from an amateur, because the season as a professional is a lot longer,” Oliver said. “I definitely work as hard as a pro as I did when I was an amateur, just for the fact that I’ve got more time to work at. It is better though, and I like it.”

Since gaining the winning score in Andulucia almost a year ago, and missing out in a playoff with Thomas Levet, the win still eludes Oliver.
Levet told reporters following the playoff: “He’s one of the best guys I’ve played with, including Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo.” Sky Sports golf expert Tim Barter said: “He is a young man who has got the whole package… and he will win golf tournaments.” Fisher’s coach Chris Jenkins told Sky Sports News: “I really do believe he can compete with Tiger and become world number one.”

“If I keep improving on the way I am hopefully I can be in the top 50 in the world and competing for Majors and winning tournaments in the next year or so.” said Oliver.

Watch CNN’s Living Golf in February :
ALL TIMES GMT
Thursday, February 5: 1400, 1830
Saturday, February 7: 0800, 1830
Sunday, February 8: 0400, 0830, 1430