July 2024 - Asian Tour

Asian Tour Destinations: Delectable Da Nang


Published on July 29, 2024

Da Nang an 80-kilometre stretch of coastline on Vietnam’s eastern shores is home to seven wonderful golf courses – with two of them, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô and Legend Da Nang Golf Resort, Asian Tour Destination venues. Jonathan Ponniah reports on the dunes, paddy fields and beaches of this prime strip of golfing neverland.

1: Vast Variety

Variety, they say, is the spice of life. The same is true for a golf getaway – and Da Nang, in central Vietnam, serves up a delectable mix of golf that whets the appetite and satisfies all cravings.

There are currently no less than seven golf courses in greater Da Nang, along an 80-kilometre coastal stretch from Lăng Cô in the north to Hoi An in the south, with more set to open over the next few years.

From rugged links style courses to parkland layouts and even a highland course, there’s something to suit all preferences in the area known collectively as the Vietnam Golf Coast.

2: World-Class Designers

Headlining the Da Nang golf portfolio are two Asian Tour Destinations venues, offering layouts designed by three of the biggest names in golf – Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s Sir Nick Faldo Signature Course, and the Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus 18s of the Legend Da Nang Golf Resort.

Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s par-71 layout challenges golfers with sprawling waste areas, massive boulder outcrops and huge, undulating greens, while paddy fields and a beach-fronting stretch midway through add stunning visual aesthetics.

The Legend Da Nang’s links-style Norman Course is reminiscent of traditional Scottish links golf and the sand-belt courses of Norman’s native Australia, featuring wide, rolling fairways, sculptured bunkers, heavily contoured greens and sandy dunes.

The fully floodlit Nicklaus Course plays to a total par of 73, with five par-fives on the scorecard, and has a distinctly Floridian look with lush, tree-lined fairways and scenic water hazards bordered by wooden bulkheads.

Close to The Legend Da Nang is Montgomerie Links Golf Club and its linksy 18 holes designed by Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie, while about half an hour’s drive inland is Luke Donald’s Ba Na Hills Golf Club set in scenic highlands. Da Nang’s current golf inventory is rounded off by two relatively new courses to the south of Hoi An Ancient City – Robert Trent Jones Jr II’s Hoiana Shores and Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An.

3: Amazing Hospitality

The central Vietnamese are naturally friendly folk, and they take whatever they do for a living very seriously.
Whichever course you play, the golf experience is enhanced by this trademark efficiency and hospitality. From the reception staff to the well-trained caddies, there is a genuine warmth and an infectious enthusiasm for even the most mundane of services.

Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s Director of Golf, Stephen Banks, noted: “What makes Laguna Golf Lăng Cô really special is the people, the gentle nature and hospitality of the associates who work here. You go into the locker room, you go to the bag drop area, it’s just very warm, welcoming and accommodating,” noted Banks.

4: Fabulous Facilities

Complementing the world-class golf are excellent facilities, with each club offering the full range of services and amenities. For those who wish to hit a few balls and hone the short game before teeing off, the practice areas and driving ranges are also of the highest standards.

The Legend Da Nang’s 4,000 square metre clubhouse is one of the best in the region, with a well-thought flow and full sports, leisure and conferencing facilities.

Laguna Golf Lăng Cô has a compact and charming clubhouse, enhanced by full resort facilities and bespoke accommodation as it forms part of Laguna Lăng Cô Resort.

If you’re in Da Nang without your golf set, fret not as branded rental clubs are readily available. The well-stocked pro-shops offer the latest equipment and accessories, along with club logo merchandise items which make great souvenirs or gifts.

5: Culinary Delights

Nothing works up an appetite quite like a round of golf and, to satisfy the palettes and fill the tummies of hungry golfers, the cuisine served at every clubhouse in Da Nang is absolutely lip-smacking.

From traditional Vietnamese favourites such as Phở Bò (beef soup noodles) and Cơm Gà (chicken rice) to Western staples, you can expect and enjoy a sumptuous and ample meal to fuel up for the next round.

For coffeeholics, each meal can be perfectly rounded off with the robust local drip brew. Those who prefer something a little more intoxicating can down a few of the local lagers such as Larue and 333!

6: Off Course

If you’re thinking of bringing non-golfing family or friends to Da Nang, rest assured that there’s much more to see and experience than golf. Straddling the mouth of the Han River as it empties into the sea, the vibrant city offers something for everyone with its sumptuous cuisine, bustling markets and street coffee culture.

Excursions are also easily arranged to popular tourist spots such as the Son Tra Peninsula, Ba Na Hill Station and Hoi An. If you only have time for one, opt for Hoi An Ancient City which is less than half an hour away. Beautifully conceived and crafted, the former port city has a colourful history reflected in its rustic mix of old Chinese shophouses, stately French colonial building, colourfully lit canals and ornate bridges.

For golfers though, golf is and always will be the main course!
Main picture: Postcard par-three – Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s 8th hole


Published on July 25, 2024

In an exciting first for The International Series it was announced today that two of Thailand’s most prestigious golf clubs will host back-to-back events in October, meaning the schedule for 2024 is now complete.

The Black Mountain Championship will take place at Black Mountain Golf Club from October 17-20, with International Series Thailand following a week later at Thai Country Club from 24-27 October.

They will be the fifth and sixth events respectively on The International Series – 10 upper-tier tournaments on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway onto the LIV Golf League.

With US$2 million purses for both tournaments, the total prize fund for the 2024 season of The International Series is now a huge US$23.5 million.

Today’s news also means that the final six tournaments will be played in an eight-week stretch offering vital rankings points and $US15.5 million for a thrilling conclusion to the season.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Returning to Thailand, a true heartland for the Asian Tour, for a third consecutive year is an important statement on our schedule. It highlights the enduring appeal of the brand in traditional Asian golf markets as we continue to diversify into new markets.

“These two key dates will go a long way towards settling the race for The International Series Rankings this season, and the venues are fitting locations as some of the world’s best players look to secure all-important places on the rankings as the season reaches a thrilling conclusion.”

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Thailand has always been an important destination for the Asian Tour, and we are delighted to confirm back-to-back high-profile tournaments this year. It works from a player perspective, and also for golf fans from the region.”

This will be the inaugural edition of the Black Mountain Championship – although Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin, has been a regular Asian Tour venue for the past 15 years having hosted seven events since 2009, including the past two International Series Thailand tournaments.

Wade Ormsby is the defending International Series Thailand champion, after the Australian held his nerve in a thrilling sudden-death play-off to beat home hope Chonlatit Chuenboonngam last year.

America’s Sihwan Kim won by two shots from Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai after shooting a fabulous final round of 63 in the landmark 2022 edition, which was the first ever event on The International Series.

Thai Country Club, in Bangkok, has also enjoyed a long-term relationship with the Asian Tour having hosted multiple events, including the 1997 Asian Honda Classic, won by Tiger Woods, the Volvo Masters four times, and the Thailand Open, on three occasions. The Asian Tour was last there in 2019 for the Thailand Open when John Catlin triumphed after a sudden-death play-off.

The Thailand dates follow on from tournaments in Oman, Macau, Morocco and England, and slot into a three-week run that continues with the Indonesian Masters from 31 October to November 3.

Another three-week swing will conclude the season, with the Hong Kong Open taking place on 21-24 November, followed by International Series Qatar from 27-30 November and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers rounding off the season from 4-7 December.

The $US5million Saudi event is the season finale for both Asian Tour and The International Series, and big names from the LIV Golf League roster including double major winner Dustin Johnson, 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith and defending champion Abraham Ancer, are already confirmed.

The event has added significance this season, as The International Series Rankings champion and the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner will both be crowned as those season-long races conclude at Riyadh Golf Club.

The International Series Rankings champion will gain automatic entry onto the LIV Golf League for the 2025 season, while over 30 of the top-ranked players will also be eligible for entry into the LIV Golf Promotions event. Last season, a further three players qualified for the LIV Golf League at that innovative event.

Ends.


Published on July 22, 2024

John Catlin has the Major championship bit firmly between his teeth. Thanks to a typically gutsy closing even-par 71 at Royal Troon, Catlin claimed a hard-earned top-20 finish in the 152nd Open Championship.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

He also had the distinction of finishing as the leading Asian Tour member – a fitting achievement given his current status at number one on the Order of Merit.

“It’s an amazing week. Such an amazing event, and I hope to be back here every single year,” said Catlin, who had missed the cut on his two previous appearances in the championship.

“I was walking up the last, and I was in that greenside bunker and I still couldn’t help but smile. It’s just such a cool walk. It’s so unique to The Open. That’s something I’ll always cherish,” added the American, whose 72-hole aggregate of two-over 286 left him in a share of 16th place – 11 strokes adrift of his triumphant compatriot Xander Schauffele.

With his appetite for the big stage well and truly whetted, there’s no danger that Catlin will be resting on his laurels – either in his bid to top this year’s Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merit standings, or his aims for further Major success.

He said: “I didn’t have that many expectations (at the start of the week). I just wanted to come and play as well as I could.

“I feel like I belong. I feel like I belong at the Major level. I hope I get a lot more opportunities. It’s been my dream since I was a kid to win a Major championship, and I think one day it might happen.”

Before the next men’s Major at Augusta National in April 2025, however, Catlin has other matters on his mind.

He said: “I want to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit. I want to win the International Series Order of Merit – and I want to lock up that LIV spot for next year.

“I think this will be my seventh season playing on the Asian Tour. It’s a pretty storied list of champions that have won the Order of Merit. To be on that list would be something truly special.”

Ends.


Published on July 21, 2024

His Open Championship debut may not have ended in the blaze of glory he had wished for, but Andy Ogletree will not forget the experience in a hurry.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

Feeling the effects of a niggling wrist injury that may require surgery, the American signed off at Royal Troon with a birdie-less six-over-par 77.

Following a second-round 72 to make the cut, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion’s designs on a weekend charge in the 152nd edition of the world’s eldest championship were blown off course at the windswept Ayrshire links.

However, the opportunity to feel the heat of a Major championship alongside the world’s best players that came courtesy of his Asian Tour exploits in 2023 was not lost on the three-time International Series winner.

He said: “The Asian Tour is what allowed me to play in tournaments like this, and also the PGA Championship earlier this year.

“To have access to Major championships was awesome for me and I’m forever grateful for what the Asian Tour has done for me – for helping me being able to build my game and have somewhere to play.

“I think you’re going to see a lot more guys taking that pathway as it offers access to Major championships and LIV Golf. The Asian Tour is a great Tour to play on. I’m definitely encouraging all my buddies to go there to play.”

Although he has yet to finalise his plans for the final five months of the year, Ogletree is keen to defend his International Series titles in England (August 8-11) and Qatar (November 27-30).

“We’ll see how it works out, but I hope to play in Asia and play as much as possible,” said Ogletree, on the proviso that there’s no deterioration in the injury he’s been nursing.

He said: “For the wrist, I’ve been battling it all year. I have a bone spur, lots of tendinitis. I think it can be easily cleaned up … it’s just that right now, in the middle of the season, I’m not at a point where I can’t play.

“But it definitely bothers me and gives me a lot of discomfort and swelling. But I have to deal with that. In an ideal world it would just go away but it’s structural. It’s a pain management issue and keeping the inflammation down.”

As for links golf, Ogletree can’t wait for his next Open appearance.

“I love playing in the wind, hitting different shot shapes and working it against the wind and using the contours to your advantage,” said Ogletree, describing Royal Troon as ‘a good test’.

He said: “There are parts of the rough that are playable and there’s other parts of the rough that you can’t really advance the ball more than 20 or 30 yards. So you have to get a little lucky if you don’t hit the fairways.

“With the cross-winds blowing as hard as they are, it’s difficult to hit a lot of those fairways, especially coming in on the back nine. They’re all down off the left so for me playing a cut naturally it’s tough to hit those fairways. I seem to have worn out the right rough on the back nine!”

Ends.


Published on

Timing is of the essence in golf. Just ask John Catlin. It was approaching 3.20 pm on an increasingly dreary Saturday afternoon in Scotland that the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader rolled home a two-foot putt for par on Royal Troon’s 18th green.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

By the time Catlin had signed his scorecard and headed off to fulfil media obligations, the skies had darkened menacingly and light rain was turning into unpleasant, relentless drizzle.

As tournament leader Shane Lowry made his way to the first tee for his 3.45 pm start, Catlin could not resist a wry smile.

“My timing’s pretty good,” said the American, dry and sheltered having safely negotiated this treacherous links layout before the heavens opened.

On the back of a blistering start during which he made birdies at four of the first seven holes, Catlin was able to complete his round in two-under-par 69.

That gave him a 54-hole total of two-over 215 and left him in a share of 30th place as the leaders set out for their third rounds. With the weather deteriorating, he was hopeful those ahead of him would move into reverse, allowing him to creep up the leaderboard. Sure enough, 90 minutes later he was upto joint 23rd.

Did he feel he still had an outside shot at holding aloft the famous Claret Jug on Sunday?

“Just keep doing what I’m doing. It’s all in Shane’s hands at the minute. I’ve got to go out and do something pretty special to even be in the conversation,” added the journeyman pro, who has had a pretty special season to date.

After securing his starting spot in the 152nd Open Championship by virtue of finishing in a share of third place in the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open, Catlin posted back-to-back triumphs in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn followed by the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

A fortnight ago he was pipped in a play-off by New Zealander Ben Campbell at the International Series Morocco.

This week has served to underline Catlin’s status as an elite professional golfer, even if he remains disarmingly modest.

He said: “I’m just taking it one day at a time. I’m taking the opportunities that I’ve got. I’ve played well this year on the Asian Tour, which is a feeder to the LIV. I’m taking those opportunities as they present themselves.

“I fought hard for invites on the DP World Tour. Unfortunately, they went with a different avenue. So I had to keep doing what I could do. I had to keep playing the Asian Tour and keep playing well. It opened up the LIV door. Like I’ve told myself all year long, I just want to keep playing good golf. Whatever door that opens up, I’m going to take that door.”

After an opening 76 here, Catlin needed to show his mettle in the worst of the day two conditions to give himself a chance of making the cut.

And he did just that, grinding out 13 pars in his first 14 holes before making birdie putts at three of the four closing holes to sign for a 70 and finish inside the cut-line.

“Those first 12, 13 holes yesterday were an absolute bear. It was hard to make pars. Every par you made felt like a moral victory. Then it calmed down a little bit, and I was able to take advantage and make some birdies in the closing stretch.

“I was pretty much on that (cut) number, just inside it all day. I just kept staying steady, kept making pars. I knew six-over would be enough, so I just kind of kept plodding along,” said Catlin, who continued that momentum at the start of round three.

Catlin is one of five Asian Tour members who succeeded in making the cut this week, along with fellow-American Andy Ogletree, Chilean Joaquin Niemann and the Korean duo of Minkyu Kim and Jeunghun Wang.

While Catlin and Wang booked their places here through the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, Kim earned his passage as a result of his victory in the Kolon Korea Open, the event from which Younghan Song also qualified.

Song was paired with reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Ogletree in the third round at Royal Troon.

Both struggled to assert themselves, Song carding a birdie-less 77 and Ogletree managing just one birdie in an error-strewn 79.

Ends.


Published on July 20, 2024

As his 11-foot par putt on Royal Troon’s 18th green disappeared below ground, Andy Ogletree’s relief was obvious.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

After winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit in fine style last year, 2024 has proved especially challenging for the American.

Beset by injuries that have affected his form, Ogletree has not been able to build on the successes he achieved around Asia in 2023.

But clutch putts on the final two holes at Royal Troon simultaneously reignited his season and ensured that Ogletree will be vying for glory over the weekend at the 152nd Open Championship.

After signing for a second-round one-over-par 72 for a 36-hole aggregate of 147, Ogletree was more upbeat than he’s been for many months.

“I’ve had a really tough season, to be honest with you. I haven’t played the way that I wanted to and I’ve been banged up with some injuries, wrist and elbow. I’m trying to play through the pain right now,” said Ogletree, who earned his place in the LIV Golf League by virtue of topping the International Series Order of Merit last year.

He added: “Coming into this week, the expectations weren’t that high. But I’ve been working really hard lately, just trying to play better … trying to figure it out.

“It felt great to make that putt on 18. It felt like being rewarded after such a tough year.

“I had to step in there with the wind gusting and the hands shaking. To make that putt I felt like I won the tournament – but I just made the cut! We’re trying to celebrate the little moments and go from there.”

After his 75 on Thursday, Ogletree knew there was little margin for error on day two if he was to qualify for the weekend.

By the time he reached the par-three 17th, the cut-line was being predicted to fall at five-over, the figure at which he was at.

Having overshot the green with his tee shot, he chipped to nine feet. He was fully aware it was a ‘must make’ – and he duly made it.

“There are huge TV screens out there that were saying the cut was going to be five-over. So I stepped in on 17 and made a big putt for par. I then did it on 18. I’ll remember those two putts for a long time,” he said.

Also progressing to the final two rounds are Korean Jeunghun Wang and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.

Wang has been a model of consistency in returning back-to-back 72s.

On day one, he had three birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey five at the Postage Stamp eighth. On day two there were just two bogeys and a solitary birdie at the par-four 15th.

It’s the first time in seven attempts that Wang has succeeded in making the cut in a Major and a case of third time lucky at The Open have missed out here at Royal Troon in 2016 and Royal Birkdale in 2017.

For Niemann, it was a day of wildly fluctuating fortunes.

His prospects of making the cut appeared doomed after running up a quintuple-bogey eight at the eighth. But he recovered brilliantly, playing the final 10 holes in four-under to sign for a second successive even-par 71.

It was a stunning comeback that will leave Niemann happy to still be in contention, but perhaps a little sad as a Postage Stamp par would have meant he’d be entering the weekend in a share of second place at five-under.

Ends.


Published on

Missing the cut can be a devastating blow to a professional golfer. But, as Michael Hendry can attest, it’s far from the be-all and end-all.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

The New Zealander may not have qualified to play on the weekend at the 152nd Open Championship, but the mere fact that he was able to tee-up at Royal Troon made him a winner.

Just consider that it was less than 15 months ago that Hendry was diagnosed with leukemia. He spent several months in hospital and lost 14 kilograms in weight. He also lost the opportunity to take his place in the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool.

However, thanks to a miraculous recovery, not only did he return to playing competitive golf last October, but he won a tournament in his home country. Less than three months ago he triumphed on the Japan Golf Tour.

More good news had arrived earlier when The R&A confirmed that he’d be granted a medical exemption to participate at Royal Troon.

With rounds of 74 and 78, there may not have been the fairytale ending that he’d have hoped for, but his appearance at Royal Troon has been one of the week’s feel-good stories.

Reflecting on an emotional week in Scotland, Hendry said: “Words can’t really describe how grateful I am, not only to The R&A, but to all of the doctors and nurses who have helped me over the last 12 months.

“This is one thing that really got me through my recovery. To finally be here and teeing it up was extremely special. It was incredible.”

Hendry, who played in the Open Championship in 2017 and 2018, admitted to a bout of the jitters prior to teeing off on Thursday.

He said: “Nervous, like you always are, I suppose, at the beginning of an Open Championship. Also quite emotional.

“Like I said, this was a key to my recovery, knowing that I could play this if I got healthy. So, I dedicated myself as much as I could; did as much as was in my control to get healthy.

“I feel like this week hopefully will draw a line through that part of my life, and I can move on.”

Even during the darkest days of his hospitalisation, Hendry never allowed himself to contemplate the possibility of not returning to golf.

He said: “At no point did I think I wouldn’t play golf again. I’d made my mind up that, even if I was sick, if I was healthy enough to play, I was going to try and play.

“I decided early on in the piece that I was going to try to dictate my life rather than this dictating my life. I had no doubt that I would get back. To the level, I wasn’t sure.

“It was a long road back. I lost a lot of weight and I’m super grateful for my support team and getting me back to at least some kind of physical capabilities to play at a decent level.

“It’s been amazing. I’ve won in Japan not long ago. I was pretty surprised how quickly my game came back to me.

“I’d kept it reasonably quiet early on, but the golfing fraternity is pretty small. Word got round pretty quickly. I just remember the first couple weeks being in hospital, my phone just going berserk with messages from all over the world from people I knew well, people I’d never met within the golfing world, sending messages of well wishes.

“We’re all competitors, but we spend so much time together. At the end of the day, most of us want the best for each other. It really came through when I got sick. It was very humbling.”

Adding further poignancy to his week at Royal Troon, was the fact that Hendry was able to share the experience with his family.

He said: “It was very special. I really hoped I was going to be healthy enough to play so I could bring them over. I’m no spring chicken any more, and we don’t get that many opportunities to get into Major events.

“This could very well be my last British Open. So having a young family, and my girls are now just at the age where they can kind of understand what Dad does, and to have them here and experiencing The Open, which is the biggest, the oldest, the best golf tournament of the lot, I think it gives them a really cool perspective as to what Dad does.”

Ends.


Published on July 19, 2024

Asian Tour members Jeunghun Wang and Minkyu Kim upstaged their illustrious Korean compatriots with solid first-round performances at the 152nd Open Championship.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

On a day when conditions were described by many players as ‘brutal’, Wang and Kim held firm at Royal Troon Golf Club.

Playing in the final flight which teed-off at 4.27 pm, Wang took advantage of the slightly more mild early evening weather to post a one-over-par 72.

With barely a handful of spectators still at the course, the 28-year-old completed his round with a flourish, holing an 11-footer for birdie on the 18th green for a back nine of one-under 34.

Heading into Friday’s second round, Wang is joint 31st, one stroke ahead of Kim.

The winner of this year’s Kolon Korea Open was one of the fastest starters of the day, birdies at the first two holes seeing his name appear on page one of the television leaderboards.

Back-to-back bogeys at five and six slowed his progress but he returned to red figures when he snared an 11-footer at the seventh.

It proved to be his final birdie of the day but with eight pars and three bogeys to follow he remains ahead of Korean PGA Tour players Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Siwoo Kim (all 76).

Along with Wang and Kim, other Asian Tour members who are well placed to qualify for the weekend here are Chilean Joaquin Niemann who is tied 18th after an even-par 71 and New Zealander Michael Hendry, who was hailed for his gutsy 74.

Also in contention to make the cut is American Andy Ogletree, last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner who found himself at even-par through 11 holes but dropped four shots over the next six holes to sign for a 75.

Alongside Ogletree in equal 82nd place at the end of day one were Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, Swede Charlie Lindh and England’s Sam Horsfield.

Current Order of Merit leader John Catlin carded a 76 and is tied 96th, while Thai Denwit Boriboonsub and South African Louis Oosthuizen, the 2015 Open champion, are languishing in 129th place after 78s.

Completing the 13-strong Asian Tour contingent are Spaniard David Puig (80) and Korean Guntaek Koh (81).

Ends.


Published on July 18, 2024

On a day when many players were left cursing the vagaries of links golf, Joaquin Niemann embraced the challenge – and reaped the dividends.

Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

Maintaining an even keel throughout, the 25-year-old Chilean relished the chance to display his shot-making skills.

The result was a round that contained two birdies, two bogeys and 14 pars. It all added up to an even-par 71, an outstanding effort in trying conditions at Royal Troon Golf Club.

“This type of golf is completely different than what we’re used to,” said Niemann, who took up membership of the Asian Tour at the start of 2023.

“We only play this type of golf probably once or twice a year. I’m just trying to enjoy this moment. I feel like it’s fun,” added Niemann, who is well placed to make his third cut in five Open Championship appearances and better his previous best performance of 53rd at St Andrews in 2022.

As evidenced during the opening day here, a strong mindset and an ability to shape shots are pre-requisites for succeeding in these type of circumstances. On both counts, Niemann excelled.

He said: “I feel like it’s about how much you know your game and how much you trust your game. You’ve got to hit a lot of different shots during the round with different winds, different bounces. You’ve just got to adjust to that.

“You’ve got to be so creative in your mind in trying to hit those shots. There’s a lot of shots that you go with different trajectory, or it could be (a choice of) two different clubs.

“You just have to stick to one of those shots, and hopefully it will be the right one and you commit to that. I feel like that’s a lot of fun, and that’s the way I like to play.”

Ends.

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Order of Merit leader John Catlin spearheads an 13-pronged Asian Tour challenge at the 152nd Open Championship. Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.

A two-time winner already this year, the 33-year-old American is hoping it will prove to be a case of third time lucky for him at The Open this week.

On his two previous appearances in the championship – Royal St George’s in 2021 and St Andrews in 2022 – Catlin failed to progress to the final two rounds.

Now a little older and wiser, the expectations of the man who is 158th in the Official World Golf Ranking have been elevated.

Based on his outstanding form in 2024, Catlin has every reason to feel confident about his prospects among the world’s finest players.

“I feel I belong in this company. I want to put myself in a position where I can be challenging on Sunday,” said Catlin, who last played here as a 12-year-old when on a family golfing holiday to Scotland.

By his own admission, his only memory of the course from that trip 21 years ago was the famous par-three eighth hole, named ‘Postage Stamp’.

After securing his starting spot here this week by virtue of finishing in a share of third place in the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open, Catlin posted back-to-back triumphs in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn followed by the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

His win in Macau was marked by a third-round of 11-under-par 59, the Asian Tour’s first sub-60 return. Nonetheless, he needed extra time to clinch the win, pipping Spaniard David Puig in a sudden-death play-off.

Intriguingly, the duo will lock horns again in the first two rounds at Royal Troon where they’ve been drawn together, along with a third Asian Tour member, Guntaek Koh of Korea.

Like Catlin, Puig himself has enjoyed a memorable year to date, winning the Malaysian Open to go with three other top-10 finishes that have lifted him into second spot in the Merit standings.

Other Asian Tour members with designs on challenging for glory this week include reigning Order of Merit champion Andy Ogletree of America, Michael Hendry of New Zealand, Chilean Joaquin Niemann and South African Louis Oosthuizen, winner of The Open when it was staged at Andrews in 2015.

Keep an eye out, too, for Swede Charlie Lindh, who earned his Asian Tour card at this year’s Qualifying School. He secured his maiden Major championship appearance through final qualifying at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club last week, after coming through a play-off with Abraham Ancer and Anirban Lahiri for third and fourth place.

Also flying the flag for the Asian Tour this week are Korean duo Minkyu Kim and Jeunghun Wang as well as Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, along with Affiliate Member Sam Horsfield of England.

Wang, a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, was in the field when The Open was staged at Troon in 2016, missing the cut after signing for two 75s. He also missed the cut the following year at Royal Birkdale.