Two of the game’s most decorated golfers Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson will compete in the inaugural World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club next month, organisers confirmed today, helping to celebrate the first international golf event to be staged in Hong Kong for over three years.

The US$1 million tournament will be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, from March 23-26 and be the seventh stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Said England’s Poulter, winner of the 2010 Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club: “Hong Kong is one of my favourite places and I am looking forward to coming back to Asia’s ‘World City” for the first World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.”

KAEC, SAUDI ARABIA: Ian Poulter of England pictured during Round Two on Friday February 3, 2023, at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. This US$ 5 Million golf event is being held from February 2-5, 2023 at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The exciting news follows on from last week’s announcement by The R&A that the event has become part of the Open Qualifying Series and will see the leading four players not otherwise exempt qualify for this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.

One of the Hong Kong Golf Club’s primary objectives in presenting the World City Championship is to support the government’s “Hello Hong Kong” campaign and attract international visitors to the city.
That mission is already coming to fruition in spectacular fashion with Swedish star Stenson, winner of the 2016 Open Championship, set to make his first ever visit to Hong Kong.

Stenson is thrilled to make his long-awaited debut appearance, saying: “I’m excited to be coming to Hong Kong for the first time and looking forward to seeing all the fans in Fanling.”

Joining Poulter and Stenson will be a stellar line up of Asian Tour players, as well as some of Hong Kong’s top golfers, including newly turned pro Taichi Kho. The 22 year old is eagerly anticipating the chance to play at his home course in his rookie season.

“I am incredibly excited about playing the event. As a Hong Kong golfer, to be playing as a pro on my home course and in front of home galleries is something that I have dreamed about. I hope to see as many fans as possible over the tournament. A lot of Hong Kong players will be playing, so it will be a great chance to fly the Hong Kong golf flag high,” said Kho, whose successful amateur career included a notable runner-up finish at the prestigious Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2021.

The 2020 Hong Kong Open, played at Hong Kong Golf Club and won by Australian Wade Ormsby, was the last tournament played in the SAR.

DOHA, QATAR: Wade Orsmby of Australia pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday February 14, 2023 ahead of the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Hong Kong Golf Club Captain Andy Kwok is excited about the return of international golf to the city.

“After a three-year hiatus, we are delighted to be hosting the World City Championship and to be partnering with the Asian Tour in bringing such an important new event to Hong Kong. It is the first of three top international tournaments we will host at the Club this season, and we look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world and around Hong Kong to Fanling throughout 2023,” said Kwok.

“Staging world-class tournaments and providing a great spectator experience is something the Club has a long and proud tradition of doing. I am pleased to say that this will continue at the WCC as we join hands with the community and celebrate the return of major sporting events to Hong Kong.”

In keeping with the Club’s mission to share the excitement of the event with all of Hong Kong, the tournament is free for entry across the tournament week. Tickets are available by prior registration via www.ticketflap.com.

The Hong Kong Golf Club will also host schools and community organizations at the event, offering new fans an opportunity to learn more about the fundamentals of golf and to experience the excitement of tournament play.

In addition to hosting the World City Championship , the Club will also stage the Aramco Team Series, a premier Ladies European Tour event, in October, whilst the 62nd edition of the Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, will make a welcome return in November.

Ends.

New Zealander and Asian Tour regular Ben Campbell should definitely be on everyone’s radar at this week’s 102^nd New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT – which tees off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown on Thursday.

He nearly won the event here in 2017, before losing in a sudden-death play-off, and as well as living in Queenstown, his home course is Millbrook – where the Remarkables and Coronet Courses will be used for this week’s Pro Am-style event.

The 31 year old also recently returned from a five-month lay-off caused by back ailment and showed promising signs of a quick return to form this month when he tied for the 13^th in the International Series Qatar.

Five years ago, he came agonizingly close to winning his national Open. In a thrilling finish on the par-three 18th his compatriot Michael Hendry triumphed in a play-off that also included Australian Brad Kennedy. Campbell and Kennedy both found water off the tee, while Hendry made par and lifted the Brodie Breeze Trophy to become the first Kiwi to win the event in 14 years.

Campbell credits his local knowledge of the course as a big help to his success in 2017, that will also serve him well when the event gets underway.

“Yeah, it’s one of those courses that, the more you play it you just learn a few little things,” said Campbell.

“I think definitely, having it as my home course, it’s just makes you feel a lot more comfortable out there. You know where you can miss it and where you can’t, and also leading up to it, I don’t really have to play too much. I can play nine holes on Monday, nine holes on Tuesday and that’ll probably be about it for me [for practice rounds]. I think having that comfort going into the week, it’s quite nice.”

Ben Campbell at the International Series Thailand last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The convenience of being able to stay at home during tournament week is a huge benefit.

“It’s always nice being able to sleep in your own bed and play at your home course, the course is looking great,” said Campbell, who was ranked as high as sixth on the World Amateur Golf Ranking before he turned professional in 2012.

“It’s been very dry down here, but yeah, looking forward to it, the course should be great.”

After successful campaigns on the Asian Tour in 2018 and 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Campbell came back in 2022 to a hot start, finishing eighth at the SMBC Singapore Open and followed it up a few weeks later with a runner-up finish at the Vic Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia, which earned him a first ever start in a Major, at the 150^th Open at St. Andrews, in July.

In May, he was also the joint third-round leader in the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup – an event jointly sanctioned by Asia and Japan – before tying eighth.

However, the back issue meant his season came to a premature end in September and he only returned to the Asian Tour this month at the International Series events in Oman and Qatar.

“Yeah, it’s good, I hadn’t played much for six months,” he said.

“I was obviously on a medical so pretty much missed a lot last year. Oman and Qatar were the first events back, but yeah, hitting the ball really well. In Qatar I didn’t putt overly great, but I think it’s great to have a week off after. I came home to tidy a few things up and yeah, I’m really looking forward to this week.”

While his injury kicked in in Q4 it actually reared its ugly head months before that.

Ben Campbell. Picture by Thananuwat Srirasant/Asian Tour.

“About five weeks before the British Open I was in the gym and I picked up a weight, and I just felt a ping in my back. I played the International Series England on the Asian Tour and then played the British Open, and yeah, got some scans and didn’t really realize it was quite as bad as it was.

“I had a bulged disc at L3 and L4, and after that healed, I still had a lot of nerve damage. Just the nerve pain wouldn’t go away. I ended up getting a nerve ablation done on my side joint, and it seems to be doing the trick so far,” says Campbell.

“Now it’s feeling really good, so it’s going to be nice going forward. I’ve had a week at home to see the physio so the body should be nice and raring to go for the Open.”

The New Zealand Open was last played in 2020 and was won by another Asian Tour regular Australian Brad Kennedy – who this week will attempt to win the prestigious event for a third time.

Total prizemoney is NZ$1,650,000 (approx. US$1,017,300) and the event is co-sanctioned by the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, and held in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

The field will be split across the two courses for the first round of competition with all players alternating to the other course for the second round.

After the second round the top 60 and ties among the professionals will continue to the final two rounds at Millbrook Resort.

For the Pro-Am teams, the top 40 pairings will progress to compete in round three, before a third-round cut will see the top 10 Pro-Am teams progress to the final round.

In-form Andy Ogletree will be aiming to continue his rich vein of form when he spearheads a strong entry for the second edition of the International Series Thailand.

Six of the top-seven from the current Asian Tour Order of Merit have confirmed their participation in the event at Hua Hin’s Black Mountain Golf Club which will carry a purse of US$2 million, a 25% increase on last year’s prize money.

To be held from March 9-12, the tournament is the fifth leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the third stop for the International Series, following Oman and Qatar.

Riding high after winning the International Series Qatar a fortnight ago, American Ogletree is looking to further press his claims to top this year’s Merit standings.

DOHA, QATAR: Andy Ogletree of the USA pictured with the winner’s trophy during Round Four on Sunday February 19, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

He will also be hoping to win the International Series Order of Merit, which brings with it automatic qualification onto the ultra-lucrative LIV Golf League.

“Trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my number one goal this year. That’s all I’m really focused on,” said the 24-year-old.

In the first three Asian Tour events of 2023, Ogletree placed ninth in the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, tied for seventh in the International Series Oman and triumphed at Qatar’s Doha Golf Club.

“Confidence-wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher,” added Ogletree, whose last five starts have yielded four top-10s and two wins.

His success in Qatar meant he became the first player to capture two International Series titles, having also won the International Series Egypt last November.

At Black Mountain, Ogletree will be seeking his third title in just his 10th Asian Tour tournament. But he can expect plenty of tough opposition from an array of proven champions in Asia and Europe.

Leading a concerted Thai bid will be world number 75 Sadom Kaewkanjana, Ntithorn Thippong, Jazz Janewattananond and Phachara Khongwatmai, who posted a 24-under-par total in last year’s International Series Thailand but had to settle for second place, two shots behind American Sihwan Kim.

DOHA, QATAR: Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during Round Four on Sunday February 19, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who recorded a brilliant second place finish in Qatar, is also competing.

Two Swedes with strong connections to Black Mountain will also be intent on stamping their mark.

Johan Edfors and Rikard Karlberg have both been supported by Black Mountain for many years and have a close affinity with the club. Indeed, after his victory in the inaugural Black Mountain Masters in 2009, Edfors bought a villa on the site and has been a regular visitor.

Like many other European professionals, Edfors and 2015 Italian Open champion Karlberg make use of Black Mountain’s outstanding practice facilities whenever they’re in the country.

They are part of a strong continent of players affiliated with Black Mountain, the others being Jazz, Swede’s Bjorn Hellgren and Sebastion Soderberg, and American Berry Henson, who was runner-up at the International Series Oman.

Next week’s field will also be buoyed by the appearance of a sprinkling of Asian Tour greats including Thai superstars Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng and Chapchai Nirat, Indians Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, China’s Liang Wenchong, Singaporean Mardan Mardan, Angelo Que of the Philippines and Australian Marcus Fraser.

KAEC, SAUDI ARABIA: Ratchanon Chantananuwat, amateur of Thailand pictured during Round Two on Friday February 3, 2023, at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. This US$ 5 Million golf event is being held from February 2-5, 2023 at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

At the other end of the spectrum, the tournament will also welcome back amateur prodigy Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat.

Last year, ‘TK’ contended throughout, eventually finishing in a share of 11th place. A matter of weeks later, he won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup, becoming the youngest golfer to win on a Tour recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking at the age of 15 years and 37 days.

Ends.

Fueled by one of Charles Howell III’s most impressive rounds in his 23 years as a professional golfer, Crushers GC captured both the individual and team trophies in resounding fashion Sunday at LIV Golf Mayakoba, the season opener of the new LIV Golf League.

Howell’s bogey-free 8-under 63 was the lowest score of any player this week, and his first eight holes were even more impressive, as he produced six birdies to overtake 36-hole co-leaders Peter Uihlein (Smash GC) and Talor Gooch (RangeGoats GC). He eventually finished at 16 under, four strokes better than Uihlein, who shot a 68. Stinger GC’s Branden Grace was third at 10 under after shooting 67.

It’s Howell’s fourth worldwide victory of his career, and his first at El Camaleon, a course he first competed on in 2007 and was playing for the 14th time this week.

“Obviously, I don’t think you ever see a win coming,” said the 43-year-old Howell. “I’ve played in a lot of golf tournaments in my life, and I haven’t won a lot of them, and you have the doubts and the feelings, will you ever win again?

“To do it against this competition with these guys standing up here is more than I could ever dream of. I’m extremely thankful.”

Certainly his fellow Crushers teammates were thankful to have Howell going so low. Last season during the beta-test LIV Golf Invitational Series, the Crushers finished second twice and also had a third-place finish in the five regular-season events after Bryson DeChambeau became captain and stabilized his roster with veterans Howell, Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri.

That consistency led to a No. 2 seed at the Miami Team Championship, but the Crushers did not make it to the final day. Now they’ve started the new season with a huge breakthrough victory, nine shots ahead of last year’s dominant team and defending champs 4Aces GC (17 under). Torque GC finished third at 13 under.

“I knew it would happen,” DeChambeau said of his team winning. “I just didn’t know when it would happen. To start off the year with a crushing victory … How much more can you ask for a statement piece? The 4Aces, OK, yeah, great, they won a lot last year. But it’s a different year. It’s 2023.”

To support Howell’s low round, DeChambeau contributed a 3-under 68 while Casey – the first-round co-leader – added a 70. For the captain, it was the first round this week that counted. Lahiri had contributed in the first two rounds.

“Not counting the first few days for me, it was pretty rough last night, so I gave myself a kick in the butt and played a little better today,” DeChambeau said.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 26: Peter Uihlein of 4Aces GC plays his shot from the 8th tee during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 26, 2023 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

In the end, Howell’s 16 under score was almost enough to beat the 4Aces by himself. Casey, who didn’t look at a leaderboard until he reached the final green, was shocked to see the wide margin in which his team was leading. He then asked his caddie about Howell. The response: “He’s crushing it.”

Added Lahiri: “There will be days like this where you kind of ride the hot round, and Charles pulled it through for us.”

Howell had started the final round one stroke off the lead, but while he was producing birdies, the co-leaders kept finding trouble. Uihlein’s errant approach shot at the third hole led to bogey, although he bounced back with a birdie and eagle. Gooch had two bogeys on the front, and then struggled down the stretch. When Uihlein triple-bogeyed the 12th, the tournament was essentially in Howell’s hands.

“He won it on the front,” Uihlein said. “He did a heck of a job. … There wasn’t any pressure on him, and he did exactly what he needed to do, and he executed. He’s a worthy champion.”

Howell knows how El Camaleon can offer plenty of birdies and plenty of trouble. His experience paid off this week.

“I’ve seen a lot of crazy things happen on every hole out here,” Howell said. “… On the 12th tee today, we had our group of three hit seven tee balls off that tee. Talor hit three drives and Peter hit three drives. I mean, that shows you how crazy it is.”

There was nothing crazy for Howell and the Crushers, though, except for their jubilant champagne celebration on the podium. They now lead the team standings going into the LIV Golf League’s next event, LIV Golf Tucson on March 17-19.

TEAM SCORES

Here are the standings and counting scores for Rd. 3 of the team competition at LIV Golf Mayakoba. The three best scores from each team count in every round for their total team score. The top three teams receive prize earnings from the $5 million team purse.

1. CRUSHERS GC (-26): Charles Howell III 63, Bryson DeChambeau 68, Paul Casey 70 (Rd3: 12 under)

2. 4ACES GC (-17): Pat Perez 66, Peter Uihlein 68, Patrick Reed 74 (Rd3: 5 under)

3. TORQUE GC (-13): Joaquin Niemann 68, Sebastian Munoz 68, Mito Pereira 68 (Rd3: 9 under)

4. STINGER GC (-12): Branden Grace 67, Charl Schwartzel 69, Dean Burmester 70 (Rd3: 7 under)

5. RIPPER GC (-12): Cameron Smith 67, Matt Jones 68, Marc Leishman 72 (Rd3: 6 under)

6. FIREBALLS GC (-11): Eugenio Chacarra 70, Abraham Ancer 71, Carlos Ortiz 71 (Rd3: 1 under)

7. HYFLYERS GC (-10): Brendan Steele 65, Phil Mickelson 67, Cameron Tringale (Rd3: 11 under)

8. RANGEGOATS GC (-10): Harold Varner III 68, Bubba Watson 71, Thomas Pieters 71 (Rd3: 3 under)

9. SMASH GC (-6): Brooks Koepka 71, Matthew Wolff 71, Jason Kokrak 71 (Rd3: Even)

10. IRON HEADS GC (-1): Scott Vincent 68, Kevin Na 69, Danny Lee 74 (Rd3: 2 under)

11. MAJESTICKS GC (-1): Henrik Stenson 69, Ian Poulter 70, Lee Westwood 74 (Rd3: Even)

12. CLEEKS GC (+4): Richard Bland 71, Bernd Wiesberger 71, Graeme McDowell 72 (Rd3: 1 over)

Event report courtesy of LIV Golf

Americans Talor Gooch and Peter Uihlein share a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba.

Gooch played for the 4Aces GC last season, helping them win the team competition, but left and now plays for the RangeGoats, while Uihlein, who finished 2022 playing for Smash GC, has replaced Gooch at 4Aces.

Now paired in the final group on Sunday, they’ll battle for the individual trophy and answer the question of whether the RangeGoats or the 4Aces got the better end of the transfers?

“No, not week 1 out of 14 events,” Uihlein laughed.

“I think we need a little bit of a bigger sample size,” Gooch added.

Still, said Uihlein, “it’s funny how sometimes those play out, don’t they?”

Meanwhile, Uihlein’s 4Aces and Gooch’s RangeGoats will both play chaser in the team competition. Crushers GC (14 under) will take a two-stroke over the 4Aces (12 under), with Fireballs GC (10 under) and the RangeGoats (7 under) also lurking.

Peter Uihlein of 4Aces GC plays his shot from the 13th tee during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational – Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 25, 2023 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

It’s the first time the Crushers have taken a lead into any LIV Golf round – and they’ve done so through the first two rounds without captain Bryson DeChambeau contributing a counting score.

“It shows the crazy nature of golf, number one,” said Charles Howell III, the leading Crushers player who is in solo third, one shot behind the co-leaders. “Number two, I know Bryson has a low one in him. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him shoot a low one tomorrow.”

As for Uihlein and Gooch, both are former Oklahoma State players (as is Howell) and both are good friends. They’ve chatted about the transfers, how it happened that both were involved. Gooch wanted to play with his good friend Harold Varner III. Uihlein felt like he was joining the Yankees when he got the nod from 4Aces Captain Dustin Johnson, whose team won four regular-season events and the Team Championship last year.

“I’ve told Talor a lot that I think he’s handled this as well as anybody could have since joining (LIV Golf) and being on the Aces and then obviously switching teams,” Uihlein said. “Just the way the team stuff works out, with the finances and stuff, he’s done it incredibly well. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Said Gooch: “Once I knew what was going to happen and I was going to Bubba’s team, Peter was one of the first guys I called. Like, hey, we might be needing a fourth, don’t go signing anywhere, don’t do anything.”

Uihlein finished third in the Individual Champion race last year, with Johnson capturing the title. Gooch finished 11th. Neither lofted an individual trophy. It might change for one of them on Sunday.

“Pete played great last year,” Gooch said. “He beat me last year. … The Aces didn’t falter whenever they got Pete. They’re a great team and they’re going to continue to play well. Hopefully we can start playing like the Aces.

“Come the end of the season, I think they’re going to be some good battles.”

Text courtesy of LIV Golf.

England’s Paul Casey and Jason Kokrak from the United States shot six-under-par 65s to share the first-round lead of LIV Golf Mayakoba, the season-opening event of the new LIV Golf League.

Casey’s Crushers GC lead the team competition at El Camaleon Golf Course by three strokes with a collective 10 under. Kokrak’s Smash GC and defending team champions 4Aces GC share second at seven under.

Asian Tour member Casey, who teed off on the sixth hole, rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole and was cruising with a bogey-free five under through his first 14 holes. He then suffered his only bad swing of the day, a poor tee shot at the par-four second that found the penalty area, leading to a double bogey.

“I’ve never played here before,” said the 45-year-old Casey. “I’m used to desert golf, when you’ve got that feeling of two hazards either side of the fairway. This place just puts you on edge … There are so many difficult tee shots that kind of get your attention. They kind of make you a bit nervous, to be honest, in this wind.”

But after quickly dropping off the lead, the Englishman responded by finishing his round with three consecutive birdies to climb back to the top.

“Maybe I was in the zone for the last three,” Casey laughed. “It was a really good day. A blemish is a blemish, but it is what it is. I’d be surprised if anyone gets through this tournament this week without making some kind of error like that.”

Abraham Ancer, winner of the Asian Tour’s season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, opened with a 70.  (Photo by Juan Luis Diaz/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images).

Kokrak didn’t have any bogeys in his round, but that doesn’t mean it was a completely error-free day. An errant tee shot at the 14th hole forced him to scramble, but he saved par by chipping in from off the green. He also used his putter from off the green at the second hole to drain a long birdie putt.

The 37-year-old Kokrak started his calendar year with two top-20 finishes in the Middle East and was particularly pleased with his driver in that stretch. But on Sunday while working in a simulator before leaving for Mexico, the face of his driver popped out. That has forced him to use his backup driver this week at El Camaleon.

He said the backup isn’t exactly identical, and described his first practice day on the range this week as “horrific, hitting it left.”

He spent the next two days tweaking his backup driver. Other than the 14th hole, he was solid off the tee, hitting 10 of 14 fairways.

“I knew I was hitting it well because all the other golf clubs I was hitting were right on target and quality golf shots, so I knew it wasn’t the golf swing,” Kokrak said. “It was just something small with the driver. Hopefully we have that figured out and we’ll drive it good for the rest of the week.”

Reigning International Series Order of Merit champion Scott Vincent came in with a 71. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images).

The closest pursuers to the co-leaders are Carlos Ortiz (Fireballs GC), Peter Uihlein (4Aces GC) and Talor Gooch (RangeGoats GC). Ortiz and teammate Abraham Ancer, who each represented Mexico in the Olympics, received huge support Friday from their fellow countrymen.

“I love when I play in front of my family and friends and just Mexicans overall or Latins,” Ortiz said. “… I just tried to find a way to make things happen.”

Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, winner of the Asian Tour’s season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, opened with a 70, and is equal 12th.

Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, who is playing the LIV Golf League by virtue of winning the International Series Order of Merit list last year, fired a 71 and is tied for 18^th.

American Sihwan Kim, winner of the 2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit, had a poor day and carded an 82 and will be hoping for a repeat of his amazing turnaround performance at last year’s LIV Golf Invitational – Boston when he showed his never-say-die attitude.

After a bout of COVID-19 he had low energy levels and erratic driving led to a nightmarish opening-round 87. It would have knocked the wind out of most players, but Kim responded in spectacular fashion – making an eagle and seven birdies in a brilliant seven-under par 63 second round for a 24-shot turnaround!

Text courtesy of LIV Golf.

In an outstanding development for golf in the region two events on the Asian Tour, the inaugural World City Championship Presented by Hong Kong Golf Club and the long-standing Kolon Korea Open, have both been included in The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) this year, following an announcement by The R&A this week.

The exciting new Hong Kong event, to be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from March 23-26, will see the four leading players not otherwise exempt earn a place in The 151st Open – which will be held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, from July 20-23.

At Korea’s national Open, which will be staged at Woo Jeung Hills Country Club from June 22-25, two places will be up for grabs in the game’s eldest Major.

“This is great validation of the strength of the players who compete week in and week out on the Asian Tour,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“Playing in Major championships is undoubtedly one of the goals that every player sets at the beginning of each season. Having the opportunity to qualify on two separate occasions on the Asian Tour gives our members a prime opportunity to achieve this.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand looks on during Day Three of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 16, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“Sadom Kaewkanjana’s 11th place finish in The Open last year and the ascendancy of Tom Kim at that same event are prime examples of players taking advantage of The Open Qualifying Series in the Asian region.”

The news is a boon for the organisers of the World City Championship, an event being staged to celebrate the opening up of Hong Kong after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Hong Kong Golf Club is renowned by players and fans alike for its historic atmosphere, natural beauty, and challenging Composite Course, we welcome The R&A awarding of the World City Championship with The Open Qualifying Series status,” said Andy Kwok, Captain, the Hong Kong Golf Club.

“With four places at golf’s original Major on offer, Hong Kong galleries can look forward to another top-flight field assembling in Fanling.

“For our part, we look forward to once again hosting the top players in the game, visitors from around the world, and thousands of members of the Hong Kong public, as we open what promises to be a milestone season of international events at the Hong Kong Golf Club in 2023.”

In total 15 events in nine countries make up the OQS for 2023, which started at the Joburg Open and will be end at the Genisis Scottish Open.

A total of 34 places are available through the events being played on the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said: “We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool. We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional Tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year.”

Burning with ambition, Gunn Charoenkul heads to New Zealand next week determined to build on his best Asian Tour finish.

The 30-year-old Thai delivered a spectacular eagle-three finish in last week’s International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club to claim runners-up spot.

He now aims to maintain momentum with a strong showing in the 102nd New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT from March 2-5.

Returning to the schedule after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event at Millbrook Resort is co-sanctioned by the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, and held in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Thanks to his strong performance in Qatar, Gunn enters the fourth leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season in fourth place on the Order of Merit and 415th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), a rise of 106 spots from the previous week and his highest position for almost two years.

Brad Kennedy pictured winning the New Zealand Open in 2020. He also won in 2011.  

For a man, though, who was as high as 126th in the OWGR in January 2020, there’s a long way still to go as he seeks to make up for lost time following a series of injuries which stalled his career.

Despite the setbacks he’s endured, Gunn is once more in a positive frame of mind and displaying an ambition to stamp his mark on the game and fulfil the promise and potential that his coach, Sam Cyr, believes he has.

“You know, we’re looking up,” said Gunn, following the International Series Qatar. “He (Cyr) wants me to look forward … to top-10, maybe number one in the world. It’s a little crazy right now, but hopefully we get there.”

Joining Gunn as part of the 30-strong Asian Tour contingent in New Zealand, where a purse of NZ$1.65 million (about US$1 million) is on offer, are five players from the top-20 on last year’s Order of Merit.

Leading the way is Korean Bio Kim, runner-up to Sihwan Kim in the 2022 Merit standings, and Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (sixth).

Also making the trip to New Zealand are Australian Todd Sinnott, South African Ian Snyman and American Jarin Todd.

Former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Scott Hend is also in the starting line-up along with fellow-Australian Brad Kennedy, who is setting his sights on a third New Zealand Open crown, having won the event in 2011 and 2020.

The tournament will include a field of up to 156 amateurs and 156 professionals playing alongside one another. The professional golfers will compete for the New Zealand Open title whilst simultaneously a pairing of one professional and one amateur will play a best-ball format for the New Zealand Open Pro-Am Championship.

The field will be split across two courses at Millbrook Resort for the first round of competition with all players alternating to the other course for the second round.

After the second round the top 60 and ties among the professionals will continue to the final two rounds at Millbrook Resort.

For the Pro-Am teams, the top 40 pairings will progress to compete in round three, before a third-round cut will see the top 10 Pro-Am teams progress to the final round.

American Andrew Ogletree became the first player to win two International Series events when he recorded a convincing victory today in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

The impressive 24 year old from Mississippi closed with a one-over-par 73 to finish on seven under and win by three shots from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who fired a 68, helped by an eagle on the par-five 18^th.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72, while his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai returned a 67 to claim fourth, another stroke behind.

Ogletree, who won the International Series Egypt in November and has two wins in just nine starts on the Asian Tour, started the day with a five-shot lead and was never really challenged, when for the fourth day in a row strong wind were unrelenting.

Andy Ogletree celebrates on the 18th green. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

At the turn his lead was six and while a double bogey on hole 10, where he was unable to get up and down after an errant second shot went long and left, briefly offered some hope to his pursuers, he proceeded to steady the ship with seven pars and a birdie on the last.

“I think it just comes from all the work that I’ve put in,” said Ogletree, who won US$450,000.

“I’ve worked really hard this offseason post Egypt, and just have a lot of confidence because I work so hard. I don’t think anyone wants it more than me. I want to keep giving myself more opportunities and this is the route that I can do that. So, I’m really focused, and trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my number one goal this year, and that’s all I’m really focused on. And you got to win to do that, so this feels great.”

Ogletree moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) and International Series OOM thanks to an outstanding start to the season. He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and tied for seventh in last week’s International Series Oman.

“I mean, confidence wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher. My last five starts internationally, four top-10s and two wins, so I think I’m playing really good golf,” he said.

“I’m executing my game plan really well and kind of eliminating some of the silly mistakes. I had a couple today, but throughout the week this week it was really good tee to green.

“Eliminating three putts, eliminating short-sided iron shots, eliminating bogeys with wedges and eliminating bogeys on par fives is just kind of the goal. So that’s how I define how I’m playing, if I’m doing those things, and I’ve done that really well the last few weeks.”

Gunn Charoenkul.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

It’s all a far cry for a player who, hindered by a hip injury, struggled to make an impact when he turned professional in 2020 following a stellar amateur career.

The former Georgia Tech college golf star reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2019 when he won the US Amateur, and that same year was part of the victorious United States team at the Walker Cup.

He said: “Yeah, I mean, obviously, just being able to play pain free is awesome. I’ve had a really good run the past few months, my body has felt great. I’ve never lost my confidence mentally. But now that I’m getting some reassurance from my body, it’s gaining even more confidence. So super pleased to be champion here. It’s unbelievable.

“What a great test we had this week. It was really hard. The course got really firm and fast, there was so much wind. I grew up playing in no wind, so super proud to win a golf tournament in wind like this.”

A storming finish allowed Gunn to snatch second at the very end. He birdied 13 and 14, dropped a shot on the next before making birdie on 16 and an eagle on 18.

It’s his best finish on the Asian Tour since he came third in the Hong Kong Open at the beginning of 2020. He has also been struggling with injuries over the past few seasons.

“I don’t know what to say, it’s been a while since I started playing well again and could say that all the credit goes to my coach Sam Cyr who is here,” said Gunn, who has been playing on a medical exemption.

“We’ve been working really hard for the past six months and this has been the first time that he’s come out here and working with me. We really did grind it out during the practice days, and he put me in the present moment throughout the weekend, encouraged me throughout the whole day and you know, don’t put my head down.

Suradit Yongcharoenkul.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“This is my biggest cheque I’ve received so far, and I mentioned that to Sam as well. And, you know, we’re looking up, and it’s not just here, and he wants me to look forward to like, up there. Top 10, maybe number one in the world. It’s a little crazy right now, but hopefully we get there.”

The next event on the Asian Tour is the New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT, which will be played at Millbrook Resort from March 2 to 5.

The International Series is definitely the future for the Asian Tour and its up-and-coming players, but it’s also a place where the game’s more experienced campaigners can enjoy competing, which was clearly evident at this week’s International Series Qatar where India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Prayad Marksaeng, all impressively made the cut.

All four are legends on the Asian Tour and they are also all now aged over 50, so their performances over the first two days caught the eye in an event the boasts an extremely strong field.

Thaworn, the Tour’s most successful golfer with 18 victories, shot rounds of 71 and 76 to survive the cut, made at six over, by three. Prayad was four over, after a 73 and a 75, as was Randhawa, who shot 71 and 77, while Singh finished right on the cut mark, following a 74 and 76.

Prayad says he’s not surprised the over 50s still have a chance to compete with the young guns at Doha Golf Club: “Because the course is not actually that difficult, but the wind has been very strong. You have to know how to play in the wind, and make sure you hit the ball in the fairway off the tee.

“The secret is you just have to be able to hit the fairways, and I’ve hit a lot of fairways this week. I was mostly in the fairways and on the greens and I have also putted very well.”

DOHA, QATAR: Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand pictured during Round Two on Friday February 17, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The 57 year old credits his longevity and success to keeping fit and a healthy lifestyle, which has seen him win an impressive 52 professional events. Remarkably, and in more recent times, he has won 18 times on the Japan Senior Tour, while during his heyday he was victorious on 10 occasions on the Asian Tour and six times in Japan, while he has also claimed numerous local events in Thailand.

“The secret for me to keeping fit is because I sleep early, very early. I normally sleep at 8.30pm but I wake up early as well, about 3.30am. I don’t drink or smoke so that’s my secret. Another thing is when I have a tournament, I will not go to the driving range to hit balls before I play because I want to save some energy for the course. Basically, I’ll just do some chipping and putting before I play.”

His compatriot Thaworn, aged 56, is also not surprised that the older players survived the half-way cut this week: “Because we have experience, and don’t think so much about it, we just come here for fun so we’re not stressing about playing well. I played here many times when the event was on the European Tour and my best finish is probably top 20. But I was younger and stronger and hit it longer back then, and the greens were softer, and the wind was not as strong as this week.”

The 2005 and 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is mainly planning to play senior events this season, but will also play Asian Tour events on courses that he feels suits his game.

“If I have time on the schedule I will play some Asian Tour events, but I will mainly play Thai Senior Tour events and on the Japan Senior Tour,” said Thaworn.

“In Japan, there are lot of new senior players coming up from the JGTO, so I can’t say how it will go this year.”

Randhawa also made the cut in last week’s International Series Oman and thinks his game is in a good place.

Says the 50 year old: “Well, I think I’m playing pretty good, probably hitting the ball better than I ever did right now. Because when you reach my age, there’s no doubt in your mind, you know you’re just playing and you’re just believing in what you’re doing.

“When you’re younger, you’re changing too many things, but now I know exactly what I need to do. It’s just that the body and the mind have to work, so that’s the problem. But playing against the young guys, yeah, I love to compete. I love to be out here playing with them, and if I can give them good competition I look forward to that.”

Jyoti Randhawa of India pictured during Round Two on Friday February 17, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I haven’t lost any distance, if anything, I’ve gained about 10 yards with the new driver, the new clubs and new ball, I’m hitting it longer than I used to. Short game is a bit off you know, I don’t practice as much, don’t chip and putt as much so I’m losing a lot of shots there.”

The eight-time Asian Tour winner and 2002 Merit champion also has limited status on the Champions Tour and is looking forward to a stint in the U.S. this summer: “I finished 27^th in the Champions Tour Q-School and I can do Monday Qualifiers every week. So come summer I think I’m gonna go try to play six, seven events in May, June and July and see if I can make it.”

Singh, who won the Merit crown in 2006 and has amassed six Asian Tour wins, four DP World Tour victories and six on the Japan Tour, says experience plays such an important part in their games in the latter stages of their careers.

“I think experience plays a big role when the conditions like this come into play on a golf course, especially when it gets so windy. I think over the years, we’ve learned to make sure we keep the ball in play, where you don’t have to be aggressive and where you need to hold back, and where you do need to be aggressive. I think that’s the main reason.

“I think the four of us are playing good golf, and I think that’s the main reason we are here on the weekend playing with the young guns and trying to keep up with them.”

Singh plans to play quite a bit on the Asian Tour in the near future before heading overseas when the European Senior Tour resumes again this summer.

“I am going to play the Asian Tour, I’m going to double-dip basically,” he says.

“If there is no Senior Tour event in Japan or in Europe, I’m going to come and play in Asia because I’m playing under a category which I can get into most of the events. My next one is going to be at Black Mountain in Thailand, then Hong Kong, Vietnam, and hopefully at Nam Seoul.

“Then I’m gonna hit the senior tour, I’m going to be playing mainly in Europe this year, because the money is going up.

“I focused on Japan last year, but this year it’s going to be maybe two or three events in Japan, the rest is going to be in Europe and U.S., which is going to be a few Monday qualifiers and some major championships.”

Jeev Milkha Singh pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday February 15, 2023 ahead of the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

While neither of them were able to make an impression on the leaderboard over the weekend –Prayad faired the best finishing in a tie for 26th – the fact that the four were present for all four days was an acknowledgement of their unquestionable class and an inspiration to all.