Hiroshi Tai to be first Singaporean golfer to play at Masters after winning NCAA title
The 22-year-old is currently a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Georgia Tech golfer Hiroshi Tai hits from the third tee during the final round of the NCAA college men's match play golf championship on May 31, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (File photo: AP/Matt York)
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SINGAPORE: Golfer Hiroshi Tai will be the first Singaporean to play at the Masters, after the 22-year-old won the NCAA individual national championship on Monday (May 27).
Tai, a sophomore at Georgia Tech, finished at 3-under 285 for a one-shot win over five players at the La Costa North Golf Course in California. He survived a triple bogey in the 17th hole of his final round, to shoot 71 and close out the win.
He is the fourth player from Georgia Tech to win the individual title and Tai's performance means that his team will progress to the match-play round to compete for the team title.
The victory – only Tai's third collegiate tournament win – means that he will compete at next year's Masters tournament at Augusta National and this year's US Open.
The NCAA Championship has been a launchpad for many glittering careers. The list of past winners includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald and Bryson DeChambeau.
The Masters announced last year that the winner will earn an invitation to what is considered one of the biggest tournaments in golf and he will be the first Singaporean to do so, the Singapore Golf Association told CNA.
Tai was introduced to the sport at the age of four after his parents brought him to the Bukit range at Singapore Island Country Club. He is currently 70th in the World Amateur golf rankings.
"It means a lot," Tai said after his win. "All the guys in the team have really helped me a lot."
After graduating from high school in Florida in 2019, Tai delayed college for two years to complete his National Service in the Republic of Singapore Navy.
He credited the experience for helping him to keep a cool head under pressure.
"I think it just let me mature and kind of figure out what I really wanted to do," said Tai. "It made me appreciate everything that I do have playing golf almost every day."
