Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Lee Sung had an old friend for company during Thursdays round,but playing partner Rahil Gangjee says you would not ever find the Korean alone anyway. Lee,who was born hearing-impaired,travels around the Asian Tour with either his father or his brother on his bag,and though that job has been taken up by a local caddy at the Indian Open,the 29-year-olds form is clearly unaffected. Lee shot a seven-under 65 to be placed second after the first round,just a shot behind the leader.
Communication between Lee and his father is absolutely effortless, Gangjee told The Indian Express on Thursday. But one would never even know there is a difference watching him play,hes completely self-reliant on the course,and of course,a very good player.
Player shuttle buses from course to hotel are the best place to make friends,and Gangjee said thats where Lee and him first began having their conversations. We chat by writing on sheets of paper. We talk for hours sometimes,scribbling all over the sheet,making sketches,just talking about each others lives.
Lee had begun playing baseball,but while the Korean was still in his teens,father Lee Kang-kun coached him into golf,where he needed focus more than team co-ordination. It was a decision that worked,as Lee quickly began winning amateur tournaments at home and then moved to America,playing three seasons on the Nationwide Tour. Though a card to the premier golfing elite the PGA Tour didnt quite work out,the subsequent move to Asia did. Lee has been fairly successful on the Asian Tour since he regained his card in 2006,having first won it in 2004 with a victory in the qualifying school. He won his first title in 2007,the Bangkok Airways Open,dominating from start to finish. At the trophy ceremony there,Lee had thanked the cheering fans through a read-out statement I want to thank everyone for cheering me on and encouraging me so much, he had said. I think my hard work has come into full fruition at this tournament.
Lees brother has said the choice golf was perfect,because the reliance was more on focus.
On Thursday,Lee had a bogey-free,seven-birdie round that started slow but finished with a terrific run on the back-nine,where he picked up six birdies. He would hope the finish to the tournament is as flawless.
