Lee and birthday boy ‘Chikka’ out in front at Mercuries Taiwan Masters
Korean Taehee Lee shot a three-under-par 69 and birthday boy Chikkarangappa S. from India a 71 to share the lead in the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters after round three at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, Tamsui.
They are in front on four-under, by one from New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, the overnight leader, who carded a 73, with India’s Veer Ahlawat (70), South African Jaco Ahlers (72), Angelo Que (72) from the Philippines, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana (73), and American Jarin Todd (74) two shots back.
Lee had no trouble making birdies, he recorded six of them, including three in succession from the fourth, but made three bogeys on one of the most challenging courses this year because of the narrow fairways and punishing, deep rough.
“It’s a tough course, no doubt, and the greens are difficult to read but my short game was very good – it has to be,” said Lee.
“And the wind was changing on every hole. It is my second time here. Tomorrow I will keep my mind clear and stay calm. Treat it like a normal day.”
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His co-leader Chikkarangappa S., or ‘Chikka’ as he is known, felt he played some of his best golf of the week, recording three birdies and two bogeys.
“Hit the ball better today and holed some good putts,” said the Indian, who turned 30 today.
“I could have made a few more birdie putts, I guess. But the greens are tough for everyone. I am pretty happy. Any round shooting red on this course is good.
“I am just sticking to my plan and process. Focus on my routine and the rest will fall into place. Doing things the right away and not thinking about the scores.
“It is a very, very challenging golf course – it is the most difficult it has ever been. It is tough for everyone, as you can see, day by day it is getting tougher for everyone. Anything red is good.”
Campbell had a one shot lead at the start of the day but struggle today.
He said: “It was tough to get into a bit of a rhythm. Battled with the swing today, what I have been working on did not quite work. But I hung in there and still have a chance tomorrow. I played some good golf in there but just a few bad holes. Had some chances coming in but just missed, gonna do some work on the game now.”
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (70), Jbe Kruger from South African (73) and Scotland’s David Drysdale (74) are in a tie for ninth – in contention, just four off the lead.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei came in with a 73 and is one over, in a group of players that includes Indian great Jeev Milkha Singha – the 51-year-old who is looking for his first Asian Tour victory in 15 years. He shot a 73.
Ben Campbell moved into the second-round lead at US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today on four-under after carding a three-under-par 69 – to be the only player to shoot two sub-par rounds.
American Jarin Todd (69) and Dodge Kemmer (72) and India’s Chikkarangappa S. (72) are one back at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, which once again posed a huge challenge, with the rough up and the fairways very tight – US Open style.
Scotland’s David Drysdale and Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand, also carded 72s, and are a further shot back – in what is the most lucrative golf tournament in Chinese-Taipei.
Campbell traded five birdies with two bogeys, and goes into the weekend looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.
“Played good at the start, dropped a couple in the middle, they were soft bogeys, unfortunately, which is easy to do out here,” said the New Zealander, who shone at this year’s New Zealand Open, coming home in a tie for second place.
Dodge Kemmer. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I hit it close on a few and played the par fives well, which makes it easier. I kept the ball in play nicely off the tee. It was really windy at the start but the last few holes it died a bit which was a big help for me. It is playing firm and fast and coming out of the rough it is hard to hold the greens.
“My game is obviously improving but there is still a way to go. I feel like the last few weeks have been getting better and better. Feel like my game is trending in right direction.”
Kemmer made amends for a double bogey on his final hole yesterday which cost him the outright lead, with a solid round that has him well placed with two rounds to go.
Said Kemmer: “First time here. It is interesting, it is difficult. You have to get lucky in the rough, and the fairways are so tight, it’s hard to hit them. You can’t try and force it too much. Par is a good score. You must stay patient.”
He made four birdies – two of which were the result of getting up and down on par fives seven and 15 – and four bogeys.
“I didn’t make quite as many putts as yesterday. It made the bad holes better, like nine and 10 – made enough birdies to stay around par,” added Kemmer, who is currently in 104th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) and needs a strong finish to the year to keep his playing privileges for 2024.
He is playing on the Asian Tour this year thanks to a card-securing top-10 finish on last season’s Asian Development Tour (ADT) OOM. He missed keeping his card by one place on last year’s Merit list before strong season-ending performances on the ADT salvaged his season.
Chikkarangappa S.’ scorecard was dominated with pars, with just a bogey on 10 and a birdie on 15.
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I putted really well. I was scrambling and the wind made things difficult. I kept making those clutch par putts,” said the player best known as ‘Chikka’.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei carded a 75 and is even for the event, tied for 12.
Lachlan Barker completed an outstanding week of golf today by winning the Asian Tour’s opening First Stage qualifier, at Mt Derrimut Golf & Community, in Melbourne.
The promising South Australian golfer closed with a final-round one-under-par 71 for a four-round aggregate of 16-under-par 272 – to lead eight players through to next January’s Final Stage, in Thailand.
Australia’s Andre Lautee and Nathan Barbieri both carded 66s to tie for second, two shots back – in the first of six First Stage qualifying events, and only the second time Australia has staged one of the qualifiers.
Australians Kyle Michel, Max Charles (amateur), William Bruyeres, and Maverick Antcliff along with New Zealand’s Sam Jones (amateur) secured the other spots. Jones edged out his countryman Jared Edwards with a sliding seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to claim the final spot.
Barker matched the course record on day one with a 64 and played exemplary golf on the small, firm greens, showing his ability to put the ball in the right position to score.
The eight qualifiers at Mt Derrimut Golf & Community.
Said Barker: “Course played great, and for four days in a row it was presented beautifully. I think on that back nine, a bit more wind kept me on my toes. I know I made a couple of bogeys just after the turn and that was when the wind picked up, and the holes played a bit differently than they had the first few days. Overall, I was fairly in control of it out there and got the job done. So, I’m happy with my week.
“My fondest memory has to be Tuesday, my opening 64, that was pretty good plus the day as a whole, as I had a good group of guys, and the putts were dropping.”
He led the event from start to finish and was six ahead at the halfway point and started today two in front.
“Mount Derrimut really embraced the event,” said David Rollo, Chief Operating Officer, Asian Tour.
“Putting surfaces were excellent, fast and true thanks to superintendent Simon Cochrane and his team, while general manager Ian Crews and his volunteer team provided comprehensive support. This included organising live scoring on the final day, which helped players and spectators understand what was needed to do to make it through over the closing stages.”
Soboba Springs Golf Club in California will host the next qualifier, from November 7-10.
Thailand, which has such a strong association with the Qualifying School, will then stage the ensuing events, at Grand Prix Golf Club, Kanchanaburi from December 12-15, and Pattana Sports Resort, Chonburi from December 19-22.
The final two First Stage qualifiers will be played simultaneously from January 9-12 at the Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok and Grand Prix Golf Club.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang has picked up where he left off in the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters by taking a share of the first-round lead today.
He shot a three-under-par 69 at Taiwan Golf and Country Club – where players have said the course is excellent but punishing, due to exceptionally narrow fairways and deep rough – along with veteran Angelo Que, Jaco Ahlers, Chikkarangappa S. and Dodge Kemmer.
Like the vast majority of the field, Chan, who started on 10, battled to get to grips with the back nine, playing it in one over with a bogey on 11, before a strong second half with birdies on one, three, five and six.
An impressive round considering he was nursing a cold, which he picked up from his son.
“The difficulty has definitely increased compared to last year,” said the Chinese-Taipei star, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour – who has also triumphed on six occasions on the Asian Development Tour.
“I didn’t play bad on my front nine, just wasn’t making any putts. I started sinking putts on the back. I will just play shot by shot this week, don’t think so much. I should have a chance on Sunday, if I can stay consistent for the next few rounds.”
Angelo Que. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
He beat Indian Rashid Khan on the second extra-hole here last year, to win this event for the first time, after making birdie on 18 thrice – once in normal play and twice in extra time.
Que, 44, rolled back the years and was quick to comment on the condition of the course.
“The conditions are very good, I think the best I have ever played at Tamsui!” he said.
“The greens are so nice. You don’t have to hit it so hard. Hopefully, I keep doing what I am doing. The key this week is just to keep it in play.”
The Filipino is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour but his last came in 2010 at the Selangor Masters.
“It was good today, played with Mardan [Mamat] and Liu [Yen-hung] – that was good, allowed me to play in my comfort zone,” he added.
“Started on 10 and started bad, made a double there, but was hitting it good. I just kept on doing what I was doing and everything clicked.”
He also dropped a shot on 14 and made the turn in three over but enjoyed a brilliant run of holes from the third, making three birdies on the trot, followed by an eagle – where he hit his second to a foot – and another birdie.
Ahlers, an 11-time winner on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, including their Tour Championship in April, has been a regular feature on the leaderboards in Asia this year and is once again pressing for a first win in the region.
Said the South African, who is playing here for the first time: “It was good, played solid, and putted nicely. It’s an interesting golf course – you have to be patient. Made some nice short putts, birdied the par fives.”
Jaco Ahlers. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
India’s Chikkarangappa S, popularly known as “Chikka”, was delighted to finish on three under. He also started on 10 and turned in even par but made three birdies on the second half.
“It is very tough out there,” he said.
“I have been playing here since 2016 and I think is the toughest I have seen the rough, it’s really up. If you miss it around the green or off the tee, it is very punishable, especially with the fairways very narrow. Only a crazy short game can save you.”
Chikka has competed on the Asian Tour since 2014 and is also looking for his first win, having come close before on many occasions. He has finished second twice, third once, and fourth twice – including at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard this year.
“Honestly, I didn’t have a good start. But I putted well and got back into it. I chipped in on 16 from 10 yards, so that helped,” said 29-year-old, who does have two Asian Development Tour titles to his name.
“Still working on my ball striking but luckily the short game has been good. I am just working on a couple of things and those things are falling into place. I feel I am getting there day by day.”
American Kemmer had looked set for the outright lead but made a double on his final hole, the ninth.
Scotland’s David Drysdale, Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand, Australian Todd Sinnott and Micah Lauren Shin from the United States are next best placed with 70s.
Khan is once again in the hunt having returned a 71 and is tied for 10th, in a group that includes his decorated compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh.
Chinese-Taipei legend Hsieh Min-nan also played today, breaking his own record for being the oldest player to tee off on the Asian Tour. The 83-year-old shot a very respectable 85, two better than another of the country’s greats ‘TC” Chen.
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Play was suspended at 7am for 50 minutes due to heavy rain, meaning one group were unable to finish.
The stars of global golf continue to line-up for the Hong Kong Open with American Talor Gooch, India’s Anirban Lahiri, Australia’s Matt Jones and Spanish phenom Eugenio Chacarra the latest players joining the stellar field for the return of the city’s oldest professional sporting event from November 9-12 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
They will join last year’s Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, two-time Hong Kong Open victor Wade Ormsby, and local hero Taichi Kho – winner of March’s World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The world’s top golfers are making the trip to Fanling drawn by the Hong Kong Open’s prestigious history, its new status as an event on The International Series – 10 elite-level tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour, providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League – and its prize pool of US$2 million.
The 31-year-old Gooch is making his Hong Kong Open debut.
He enters Asia’s world city in record-breaking form, having won three times already this season on LIV Golf – in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía – becoming the first-ever player to achieve that feat on the fledgling global circuit.
Cameron Smith of Australia poses with the trophy after his win on day three of LIV Golf – London at The Centurion Club on July 09, 2023 in St Albans, England. Picture by Tom Dulat/Getty Images.
“I am excited to be making my debut appearance at the Hong Kong Open in 2023. I have heard a lot about the city and the Hong Kong Golf Club from other players, and I look forward to playing in front of the knowledgeable galleries in Fanling,” said Gooch.
After his historic third LIV Golf title at Valderrama earlier this summer, Gooch said: “It’s super special!”
“Last year I didn’t get a win, so this year I was just so focused on getting an individual win. You don’t think much past the first one until you get it. I definitely didn’t have three in mind for the season, but it’s cool to be here.”
Gooch and Smith are two of the three LIV Golf stars in contention, along with American Bryson DeChambeau, for the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion crown to be decided at Royal Greens in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on October 13-15.
Between them, Gooch and Smith have combined to win five of the first 12 regular season LIV Golf tournaments, with Gooch leading with three titles to Smith’s two. A top- 10 finish for Gooch at the LIV Golf Chicago has him in contention for the individual title on 162 points in the individual standings, eight behind Smith’s leading 170.
Another confirmed star for the Hong Kong Open, Lahiri, performed even better in Chicago, finishing tied for second in what was his third top-10 finish already this season.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to Fanling, with seven Asian Tour titles to his name, he has a best finish of tied for seventh at the Hong Kong Open back in 2015.
Lahiri will also be familiar with fellow headliner Smith, having finished as runner-up to the young Australian at The Players Championship in 2022.
Chacarra is ranked eighth in The International Series Order of Merit standings. The Spanish phenom turned pro in 2022 to join the LIV Golf League and struck gold on his fifth ever event winning the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.
His debut non-LIV Golf win came on The International Series at the Asian Tour’s inaugural
St. Andrew’s Bay Championships in August, when he defeated Matt Jones in a 10-hole playoff, the longest in Asian Tour history.
Jones is currently ranked ninth in The International Series Order of Merit chase. The 43-year-old’s runners-up finish in St. Andrews Bay Championship was his best result of the season so far.
Anirban Lahiri of India pictured on Friday August 25, 2023 during Round Two of the St. Andrews Bay Championship. The US$1. 5 million event is staged at Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance Course) from August 24-27, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
As well as the enthralling, world-class golf looming, the Hong Kong Open’s Fan Village will once again entertain tens of thousands of visitors across the event week. The Fan Village is the place to enjoy all the sun and fun off the course at the beautiful Hong Kong Golf Club with a host of activities and entertainment with DJs performances, walking bands, golf simulators and other sport games, premier food and beverage offerings, shopping, face painting and more.
Tickets for the Hong Kong Open 2023 are now available via Ticketflap at www.ticketflap.com/hongkongopen2023.
Admission on Thursday and Friday, 9-10 November is free while daily prices for Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November are HK$200 per day or HK$300 for a weekend pass.
For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com.
While Thailand’s Poom Saksansin took the limelight last week by winning the Yeangder TPC, there were two players in contention, who both eventually tied for fourth, who also stood out: Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang and Indian Rashid Khan.
That’s because it was those two who went head-to-head in a sudden-death play-off at last year’s US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters – the country’s most lucrative golf tournament, which tees-off tomorrow at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Both are clearly in good form heading into this week’s event, with Chan looking for a successful defence and Khan attempting to finish one place higher as the Chinese-Taipei golfer defeated the Indian on the second-hole extra-hole 12 months ago, at the same venue, after coming from three shots behind with five to play.
Unbelievably, he made birdie on the par-four 18th on three successive occasions to snatch the win. A brilliant nine-foot birdie putt saw him secure the coveted title, after Khan had missed his birdie attempt from 20 feet.
“Good result last week. Gave me a lot of confidence coming to this week for my title defence,” said Chan, who has not won since then.
Chan Shih-Chang receives the winner’s trophy last year from Mr George Wong, chairman of Mercuries Group, at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Picture by Chen So-ko/Asian Tour.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since I won here. Great memories from last year! I’m just going to play shot by shot this week, nothing special. Just do that and see how it goes.”
The victory was Chan’s fifth on the Asian Tour and third in 10 months: he won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of November in 2021, and he triumphed again in Thailand in 2022 at the Royal’s Cup in February.
The win also maintained his one hundred percent record in play-offs, having won two on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and one on the Taiwan PGA circuit.
“I do feel this week could be even harder though,” added the 37-year-old, who is also a six-time winner on the ADT.
“The quality of play on the Asian Tour has improved a lot and it’s very good to see, you can tell the depth of talent now based on last week’s scoring.
“Also, the rough is up this week and the fairways are narrower. It’s going to be more challenging than before. It’s going to be very important to hit it straight off the tees. Distance control will also be key.”
In last season’s play-off Khan had been attempting to win on the Asian Tour for the first time in eight years – with both of his previous successes coming in 2014, at the SAIL-SBI Open in India, and the Chiangmai Golf Classic, in Thailand.
That third victory has remained elusive this season as well, although he came close at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in February, where he finished second.
He said: “Just one spot better this year, so yeah that’s my target. Like I’m a person who doesn’t set any targets. Just that I love playing golf and enjoy myself out there. That’s what my motto is.”
Last year he had a one-shot lead at the turn and after a birdie on 10 and 13 he looked a safe bet for the title. But Chan drew level with birdies on 15 and 18, while Khan dropped a shot on the penultimate hole.
Despite the loss it was another fine performance by him in the event, as he also tied for fifth in 2019 and equal third in 2015.
“I like playing on these grainier greens,” said Khan.
“You know when I see the grain I can really see the line as well. It’s just that when I’m playing on bent grass it’s really a different putting green for me, and normally when we play in India, the greens are like this. A little difference is that they are patchy somewhere, and you really need to give yourself a good putt. And if you’re confident about your putter I think you can score well.”
He tees-off in the morning at 7.35 with Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsiang and American Turk Pettit, while Chan is out at 11.55 with former winners Steve Lewton from England and Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai.
Rashid Khan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It always feels great to come back to Taiwan, I mean I love this place,” said the Indian.
“Especially the Teppanyaki restaurant and that’s the reason I really like the place. And the greens, I really liked playing on these greens, you know, short game, if you’re strong enough to not make a mistake I think that’s the key for the tournament.
“And this year also, I have seen there is a there is a lot of rough, and a lot of fairways have been cut narrower, so I think it’s gonna be a little different than last year. So, I’m looking forward to it.”
After the disappointment of narrowly failing to defend his Yeangder TPC title on Sunday, Travis Smyth goes again this week at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, feeling “like a win is just around the corner”.
The Australian finished second last week, three strokes behind Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, in the first of two back-to-back Asian Tour events in Chinese-Taipei, with this week’s US$1 million tournament being played at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
“I mean I’m playing good. I’ve been hitting the ball quite nicely for a while so anything can happen,” said Smyth, who has moved into third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM).
However, he does face a very different golf course this week, which will be much more taxing compared with last week’s host venue, Linkou International Golf and Country Club, of which he said: “This golf course loves me, and I love it!”
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“This week’s course and this tournament are much harder, or it has been for me, so I’m just hoping I can play solidly, make the weekend, contend, hopefully, come Sunday,” said Smyth, who missed the cut by one last year.
“But yeah, it’s a bit more of a demanding course, the rough is thicker, the layout is a little bit trickier, the wind swirls more. So, in the past, I think I’ve played this tournament twice and haven’t played that good, so I’m hoping I can just play solid.”
His victory in the Yeangder TPC last year remains his only win on the Asian Tour to date but the 28-year-old from Sydney has been in fine form this year. He finished third in the World City Championship, in Hong Kong – for another of seven top 20s. In addition, he has not missed a cut in 10 starts.
He added: “I think I’ve putted poorly here in the past and my putting has been pretty consistent for a while now. So hopefully I can improve from previous years just on that alone, but also just like kind of understand the course more, and know when to attack certain pins and when not to.
“And how to play from the rough, it’s quite grainy, like it’s pretty hard to control. But yeah I usually play less club when I’m in the rough for the flyers, that sort of thing. In the past I just kind of didn’t really know how to play this golf course, and I think now I’ve played a few times hopefully I can, along with some good putting and good form, I can play well.”
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei is back this year, as is the man he beat in a sudden-death play-off India’s Rashid Khan.
Other former winners Steve Lewton from England, Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Australian Scott Hend are also here, as is Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar – who finished third last week.
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, currently fourth on the OOM, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, in ninth place, are also competing.
Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau won LIV Golf Chicago in spectacular fashion, shooting a final-round eight-under-par 63 at Rich Harvest Farms, that was reminiscent of his record-breaking performance last month in Greenbrier when he shot a closing 58 to win his first LIV Golf title.
But Sunday’s win came at the expense of one of his teammates, Anirban Lahiri – the Asian Tour’s number one in 2015 and six time winner – who was seeking his first victory in eight years. Lahiri, who held the lead for most of the day after overtaking 36-hole leader Sebastián Muñoz, missed a par putt on the 18th hole that would’ve forced a playoff with DeChambeau.
“To be honest with you, I was actually sad,” said DeChambeau, who was watching from just off the green. “I really wanted him to make that so we could go battle it off in a playoff and finish it off the right way. That was the first emotion that I had.
“Secondly, you’ve got people coming over and congratulating you, and it’s just like, ‘Oh, I really didn’t feel like I won. This isn’t the normal feeling I usually have when you win a tournament.’ It was definitely a huge mix of emotions.”
Bryson DeChambeau reacts after winning the LIV Golf Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on September 24, 2023 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Picture by Quinn Harris/Getty Images.
DeChambeau, who started the day eight strokes off the lead, finished at 13-under while Lahiri and Ripper GC’s Marc Leishman tied for second at 12=under. Leishman, who shot 66, took second-place points via the better final-round score than Lahiri, who shot 69.
DeChambeau and Lahiri did celebrate the team victory together, as the Crushers shot a 15-under counting score on Sunday to finish at 33-under, three strokes ahead of Fireballs GC. Along with DeChambeau’s 63, Charles Howell III (67) and Paul Casey (68) contributed counting scores. Fireballs GC took second while league-leading 4Aces GC claimed third via tiebreaker over RangeGoats GC.
The victory is the second this season for the Crushers, who moved into second place in the team standings with one regular-season tournament left next month in Jeddah. The top four teams in the standings after that event will receive byes going into the Team Championship in Miami.
“This is why I love what we’re doing,” Casey said. “It’s the individual and the team element, and the individual element is rewarding to a certain level, and the team element is rewarding to a whole ‘nother level. They’re different. You can’t compare them but boy, does it feel good to play good with these guys.”
Lahiri’s tie for second on the traditional leaderboard is his seventh runner-up finish in all his starts since joining LIV Golf last year. He was seeking his first victory since a pair of wins in February 2015.
He was a bogey-free four-under on his round through 14 holes, but he three-putted the 15th and 18th holes and admitted afterward that, “I played really bad, to be honest. I was fighting my swing the whole day.”
Meanwhile, DeChambeau birdied seven of his last 12 holes as his putter heated up. His lengthy putt at 12 left him in disbelief, as he continued to move up the leaderboard.
“I just kept trying to hit as many fairways as I could and hit the irons close and make some putts,” DeChambeau said. “That’s ultimately just kind of what happens when I get on a roll. It just doesn’t stop. Kind of like, uh-oh, here comes the train.”
Lahiri knew his captain was playing well, as the Crushers had moved up the team leaderboard. While the team element remains a vital part of the LIV Golf competition, he knows the individual trophy remains the primary objective.
“I think all four of us would agree that you’re trying to win the tournament outright first,” Lahiri said. “At least that’s how I look at it. Anyone else who says otherwise is lying. But the team win was something that we all knew we needed to pull off, and we knew we should pull off.”
As much as DeChambeau was elated about his own performance, he was also respectful of his teammate’s disappointment.
“It’s one of those things you never want to see a teammate go through,” DeChambeau said. “But it is what it is, and I think he’s learned a lot, obviously. … Your time is coming.”
Anirban Lahiri reacts after missing his putt on the 18th hole during day three of the LIV Golf Chicago. Picture by Quinn Harris/Getty Images.
On Sunday, it was DeChambeau’s time, and he now moves to third in the individual standings, giving him a chance for the outright title next month in Jeddah along with No. 1 Cameron Smith and No. 2 Talor Gooch.
Text courtesy of LIV Golf.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin returned from the golfing wilderness today to win his first Asian Tour title in five years after claiming the US$750,000 Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei.
He closed with a six-under-par 66 to finish on 24-under for a fine three-stroke victory over defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia.
Smyth, bidding to become the first player to successfully retain the title, carded a 67, here at Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taipei.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won this event in 2012, fired a 69 to settle for third place. His birdie on the last allowed him to finish one ahead of his countryman Rashid Khan (68), Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-Chang (66), and Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (67).
After securing his fourth Asian Tour title, Poom said: “I don’t know what to say, happy, is all I can say. I’m so lucky today. I played well and had some good luck. Made some good decisions.”
Poom Saksansin of Thailand pictured with the winner’s trophy and fiancee/caddie, Piyatida (Ing Ing nickname) during Round Four, Sunday September 24, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Poom, the overnight leader by two thanks to an eagle on par-five 18th yesterday when he sensationally holed his third from 112-yards, has rarely been in contention on the Asian Tour for the past five years – with the exception being in last year’s Bangladesh Open, where he tied for fourth – but he showed no lack of competitive edge today, bravely holding the lead from start to finish.
He had a one stroke advantage at the turn, thanks to three birdies for an outward nine of three-under-par 33, from Smyth, who was playing in the penultimate group.
He then made birdies on 10 and 13 to go three ahead of Smyth – reminding the chasing pack why his nickname is the ‘baby-faced assassin’.
Smyth closed the gap to two with a birdie on 16 but Poom birdied the same hole soon after for a healthy cushion playing the last few holes.
Poom’s last win on the Asian Tour came in the BNI Indonesia Masters in December of 2018, the event he also claimed in 2016. His other victory came at the 2017 TAKE Solutions Masters, in India.
His impressive frontrunning win today is typical of the Thai golfer: he claimed his first Indonesian Masters title by five shots, the second by three, and triumphed in India by going wire-to-wire.
This week was made more special by the fact that his fiancee Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing’, caddied for him.
“It makes her feel successful!” said Poom, who won US$135,000 this week.
Travis Smyth of Australia pictured during Round Four, Sunday September 24, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Because two weeks ago I almost won on the All Thailand Tour. I had a good chance to win but I three putted 17. She cried and I felt guilty. I think this time she’s going to forget that moment.”
The 30-year-old has talked about giving up tournament golf in the past because of the pressure of having to make the cut, week in, week out, but now heads to the Asian Games next week with renewed confidence.
Smyth went bogey-free, like Poom, but fell just short of his second win on the Asian Tour.
“Played pretty damn good, I shot bogey free five under,” said the 28-year-old.
“I had a lot of looks, wasn’t able to keep it going, but can’t really ask for much more. If you had told me you can have that before the round, I would have said yes, probably, so it was a good day.
“I love this place and I think this course likes me as well. You know, I hit it in the trees a couple times and got some lucky kicks back into the fairway and that sort of thing. I don’t know, I just I got a good feeling about this place. And yeah, two years in a row. It’s funny, you know, because I came here before I won, I played here one other time, and I hated it. I played terrible.
“It was my first year on the Asian Tour and I couldn’t figure out the grain, putted awfully, and I don’t know. I just feel like playing in Asia for so long now I can read the lies from the rough, I can read the greens a lot better, a lot more comfortable. And I don’t know what it is, I like this place.”
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India pictured during Round Four, Sunday September 24, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour remains in Chinese-Taipei next week for the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters at Taiwan Golf & Country Club, from September 28 to October 1.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin sensationally holed his third shot from 112 yards on the par-five 18th for an eagle to take the third-round lead in the Yeangder TPC today at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
His eight-under-par 64, for an 18-under total, opened up a two-shot lead from defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia, who carded a 68, Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, the runner-up last year, in with a 66, and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, the 2012 winner here, who shot 67.
Chinese-Taipei amateur Su Ching-hung returned a 66 and is one shot further back.
Poom is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour but his most recent victory came in 2018 at the Indonesian Masters and he has rarely featured since that win – which was his second success in the tournament, having also triumphed in 2016.
Travis Smyth of Australia, defending champion, pictured during Round Three, Saturday September 23, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Said 30-year-old Poom: “On the first nine holes I could control everything, good driver, good irons and putting well, but on the back nine I was stuck with the wind reading a little bit, and then lost confidence with the driver. But on the last hole I got lucky and holed it from 112 yards for eagle.”
He made six birdies in his first 10 holes before his explosive finish.
“I think because I am playing less golf now, I don’t expect so much, just enjoy my golf that’s what I think. I always see my coach and then practice like one or two hour a day, some days I don’t practice,” added the Thai golfer, whose fiancé Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing’, is caddying for him this week.
Smyth is attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the event and is well placed to achieve that ahead of tomorrow’s final round.
“Another tough day, super windy, a lot of cross breezes,” he said.
“Anything under par was a good score but everyone’s going low so four under doesn’t seem too good. But yeah, two behind the lead, good position one more day to go.
“It was a bit mix and match, hit some poor tee shots but recovered well. My short game has been good so I’m gonna go work on the driver now. If I can hit a good off the tee tomorrow, I think I’ll be hard to beat.”
Lee Chieh-po of Chinese Taipei pictured during Round Three, Saturday September 23, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He made a fast start by making birdies on the first two holes but then dropped his only shot of the day on four, before rebounding on the back nine with birdies on 10, 12 and 13.
Lee lost by two shots to Smyth last year but will have a chance tomorrow to make amends for that tomorrow, although he will play in the final group, with Smyth in the pairing ahead.
“I just played a solid round, and yesterday and today I was putting well so that’s about it,” said Lee.
“I just need to keep patient tomorrow and make sure that I get the wind direction is right, and do my best. Today sometimes the wind changed direction, it’s getting a little bit harder. And the pins were also tough today.
Bhullar made five birdies and was bogey free and is looking for his first win since last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open – which was his 10th Asian Tour title.
Said the Indian: “Today I had a little shaky start. I thought I hit the ball well but just missed fairways. Three straight pars but then birdie on four gave me some momentum. After that made some more good birdies and kept attacking the flags. My swing feels great and the goal is to try and keep the ball in play. Coming back here every year I know this course demands you to hit the ball straight. It is not that long but as long as you are in the fairway you can go low.”
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India pictured during Round Three, Saturday September 23, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Indian Rashid Khan (66), Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat (67) and Phachara Khongwatmai (68) and American Micah Lauren Shin (67) are tied for sixth four behind Poom.
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