OWGR: Part VI of obscure nations’ top ranked golfer

Myanmar’s top-ranked golfer is still in his teens

Hein Sithu had been playing in professional events since he was 15. Now as a relatively seasoned 19-year-old, he’s already an Asian Tour member. Sithu is also carrying the torch for his homeland of Myanmar, which boasts seven golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Sithu is the only one with any OWGR points, as his 1.19 are good for No. 1,575 in the world. He expects to keep rising after he gets a crack at Asian Tour events.

He spent two seasons on the Asian Development Tour before making the leap thanks to a T-3 finish at Asian Tour Q School in February.

An attempt at qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018 was halted at Second Stage.

Sithu made the cut in his first Asian Tour event of the season, a T-47 at the Malaysian Open in March. The coronavirus pandemic has postponed the schedule for months, leaving players scrambling to find ways to keep their careers going without income coming in.

It seems feasible Sithu could’ve found an opportunity to play collegiate golf in the States, but given the reasonable purse sizes on the Asian Tour for a young player, it’s understandable why many Asian players like him turn pro right away.

Burmese golfers historically have found little to no pro success outside the Asian borders. Sithu could become the first.

GOLF IN MYANMAR

Like Hong Kong on the previous slide, Myanmar (formerly Burma) was once part of the British Empire. Golf in this land goes back to 1887 when Thayet Golf Club was established. According to Top100GolfCourses.com, there are approximately 130 courses in Myanmar.

Pun Hlaing Golf Club opened in 2002 and was long regarded as the crown jewel. The Gary Player design is not far from the nation’s capital of Yangon In 2018, Myotha National Golf Club near Mandalay came in and made a strong case for the title.

The Myanmar Open began in 1996 and has been hel at Pun Hlaing Golf Club. The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Military rule in Myanmar lasted from 1962 to 2011. Golf here has a reputation of being a sport for the government elite, as generals were thought to conduct business on the course.

It appears the sport’s image may be improving in Myanmar. The globalization efforts within the game of golf could make this a country on the rise as far as churning out future pros like Sithu.