Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

Asian golf flagbearer Han never to be forgotten The Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Programme to honour charismatic leader T he Asian Tour lost a colossus of the game in 2022 when Kyi Hla Han unexpectedly passed away in February in Singapore due to complications with cancer treatment. It was with a heavy heart that the Tour announced the loss of the 61 year old – a former Order of Merit champion who moved into an administrative role to become Executive Chairman of the Tour, and one of the most iconic figures in Asian golf. “There are few words to express the loss that everyone at the Asian Tour is feeling at the moment,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, at the time. “Asian golf has lost one of its greatest players, its greatest personalities, and its greatest leaders. We will forever remember Kyi Hla.” Coming at the commencement of the most significant and exciting period in the history of the Asian Tour it was an untimely and deeply saddening blow but at least Kyi Hla was able to get a glimpse of what the future would hold for Asian golf, something which he had spent a lifetime fighting for. Over a period of 35 years the Myanmar star shone brightly as he lit up fairways around the globe with his sublime shot-making. From Bali to Bangkok, Manila to Melbourne, Shanghai to Singapore and Taipei to Tokyo, he rarely failed to thrill the galleries that came out to cheer him.