The TMCC Junior fights back with five-under 67 to claim NRG crown
Like his idol Tiger Woods, Bruce Kwong started playing golf at a very young age. And like Woods, parental influence played the biggest part in introducing the game to Bruce, whose dad Bosco and mum Eva still play the game.
It is said that the American phenomenon Woods first held his club at the age of 2, and at 4 was already showing his precocity at the game. Bruce started playing golf at 3 while residing in Hengzhou, China, where his dad Bosco was the VP of a bank before moving back to Singapore.
And those hours on the driving range and occasional course rounds have helped Bruce transform from a PC holder into a 0.0 handicapper within a decade. To many youngsters, that comes with regular practice and play, but Bruce had to carefully balance between studies and sport and overcome tedium before he could call himself a potential champion.
And champion he became recently when he came from behind to claim the National Ranking Game title at the Keppel/Sime course at Sime Road in sensational style.
The 14-year-old Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Secondary Three student shot rounds of 76, 76 and 67 for an impressive three-over total of 219.
With seven birdies rued by only two bogeys on the final day, Bruce beat runner-up Troy Storm (72-78-72) by three shots for the title.
Bruce attributed his always-consistent short game and superb putting for his third-round score that turned the tables after being seven shots behind Brayden Lee, who finished third with 72-73 and 77.
The affable Bruce considers his approach shots to be his forte – honed through consistent practice and play, especially at the undulating greens of Tanah Merah Country Club.
After impressing at the SGA Talent Identification Day at Sentosa in 2020, Bruce was handpicked as the youngest talented golfer to join the Singapore Golf Association’s National Junior Squad.
Under the expert guidance of TMCC coach Daren Lim and professional golfer Marc Ong at the Coast Road Club, Bruce has been refining his skills and making steady progress in the game.
With the strong support from SGA and TMCC, Bruce is able to play golf three or four times a week and works hard on distance control and mental strength, in between some gym work.
He is happy with his drives of between 250 and 260 metres, which he believes always puts him in strong positions. On his recent victory, Bruce says: “It is one of my best showings, and I hope I can keep such consistency.”
He continues to draw inspiration from Woods, after having been consumed by the video of the American’s 2000 US Open triumph at Pebble Beach.
Said Bruce: “I know that I started playing way after Tiger’s majestic reign of the golfing world, but I still watch his videos. Another enjoyable video was that of Tiger at the 2008 US Open when he carried an injury.”
Bruce’s great performance is also a credit to the TMCC junior programme which has been crafted by the club’s coaches such as Daren Lim, Marc Ong, and club committee members supporting the juniors. Despite the accolades, Bruce remains humble and would like to thank his regular TMCC weekend playing group and golfing friends. Their company has not only honed Bruce’s golfing skills but also made him more mature, allowing him to enjoy golf even more.
Bruce firmly believes that achieving success in golf requires not only diligent effort, but also a patient and strategic approach to training. Looking ahead, he is committed to consistently honing his skills, optimizing his physical condition, and gaining invaluable experience by competing at increasingly higher levels of competition.
