September 2024 - Asian Tour

Hataji targets Major win in Japan following second triumph on home soil


Published on September 30, 2024

Japan’s Takahiro Hataji has made it a hat-trick of victories this year by winning the Vantelin Tokai Classic on the Japan Golf Tour yesterday.

It is his second success in four months in Japan – he won the Kansai Open in May – and follows his triumph at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport in March on the Asian Tour.

He beat compatriot Takumi Kanaya by one shot to win the Vantelin Tokai event, which was played at Myoshi Country Club.

Hataji closed with a six-under-par 65 to finish 17-under, making seven birdies and one bogey on the last day. Kanaya, a winner on the Asian Tour at last year’s International Series Oman, also fired a 65.

“I was paired with Takumi Kanaya, and I knew the showdown would be unpredictable given how competitive he is,” said Hataji, who was winless before this season.

“I went into the round with the mentality that I wouldn’t win. I told myself to just focus on playing my own game, and it helped me stay calm.”

Japan’s Yusuke Sakamoto and Yusaku Hosono shared third place.

When asked what are his next goals after achieving his second win in Japan, Hataji said: “I’m aiming for a Major win, especially at the Japan Open. Last year, I played in the final group with Ryo Ishikawa, and it left a huge impression on me. I want to experience that again, but this time, I want to win.”

 

 


Published on September 29, 2024

Suteepat Prateeptienchai put the finishing touches to a classy wire-to-wire win at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei today after signing off with a three-under-par 69 for a two-shot victory.

After a brilliant week of front running the 31-year-old Thai finished the US$1million event on 21-under, holding off Asian Tour number one John Catlin, who claimed second place after a typically strong closing 65. The American had an explosive start, making birdie on his first five holes.

Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines was outright third, one shot back, following a 70, while Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei was fourth, another stroke behind, after a 67 – at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, in Taipei.

“I love Taiwan!” said Suteepat, whose other win on the Asian Tour also came in Chinese-Taipei, at last year’s Taiwan Glass Taifong Open – where he won by four.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“It was tough today, because of the wind and good players followed me. I saw Catlin’s score and then got nervous.”

He had a two-shot cushion at the start of the day and despite Catlin’s brilliant start he was in complete control until a wobble towards the end when he bogeyed 15 and 16.

With Catlin, playing two groups ahead, making a birdie on the par-five 18th, it meant Suteepat arrived at the last with a one-shot lead. However, any thoughts of the event going into extra holes where quickly dispelled when he found the front of the green in two and nearly holed his chip for an eagle before tapping in for a birdie and the victory.

“Got into trouble on 15 where I went over the green and then found a greenside bunker on 16. But I kept thinking I am still the leader, and I must hold on. This means a lot; an exemption for two years [on the Asian Tour] is amazing!”

It is only the second wire-to-wire win of the year, with Catlin having recorded the other at the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

John Catlin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The victory comfortably surpassed Suteepat’s best performance this year which was joint sixth in the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August, and he moves from 47th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit to eighth.

It also means Suteepat has impressively tasted victory again in just his second season on the Asian Tour. Last year was his first full season, after having earned his card by winning the 2022 Asian Development Tour Order of Merit, helped by three magnificent wins in Indonesia.

Catlin, also winner of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn this year and leader of The International Series Rankings, put the pressure on further by making birdie on the seventh and went out in six-under-par 30.

It’s no wonder Suteepat took notice, especially when Catlin made birdie on 10, but fortunately for the Thai leader the birdies dried up for the in-form American, who dropped his only shot of the day on 16 before one last throw of the dice with a birdie on the last.

“It was windy, it was difficult, it was rainy – I think we saw pretty much saw every possible weather out there,” said Catlin, winner of this event in 2016.

Miguel Tabuena. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I handled it pretty well; I guess all my years in Europe paid off today.

“I hit the ball much better today than I did yesterday and that gave me a lot more chances and I was able to convert a couple of them. I had a couple stone dead so that always helps. I just kept having fun and enjoying playing golf.”

He now has a huge 1,146.83 points lead on the Merit list over second placed David Puig from Spain. With nine events remaining it will taking something exceptional for someone to catch him.

Suteepat will have another chance to make the most out of his affinity for Chinese-Taipei next week as the Asian Tour stays in country for the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at Taiwan Golf & Country Club.


Published on September 28, 2024

Suteepat Prateeptienchai continued his impressive march to a second title on the Asian Tour when he kept the lead for the third successive day in the US$1 million Yeangder TPC – one of Chinese-Taipei’s most prized tournaments.

He carded a four-under-par 68 today for a fine tournament total of 18-under and a two-shot advantage over Filipino Miguel Tabuena, here at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, in Taipei.

Tabuena, so often in the running this season, made a brilliant eagle on the par-five 18th, where he holed a 20-footer, to card a 66.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Charlie Lindh from Sweden both shot 64s to move in to a tie for third with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who carded a 67. They are five behind the leader.

American John Catlin, the leading player on the Asian Tour and International Series rankings, returned a 68 and is in a group of players one shot further back.

Miguel Tabuena. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Suteepat, who began the day four in front, has made no secret about his affinity for Chinese-Tapiei, where he won his first Asian Tour event – last year’s Taiwan Glass Taifong Open – and where he has been playing on the local tour this year as well.

And the 31-year-old Thai is clearly feeding off that this week, playing with calmness and confidence. He made five birdies and a bogey today in more difficult conditions.

“It was so windy today, it was tough,” said the Thai, who finished first on the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit in 2022, helped by three victories in Indonesia.

“It was okay for the first three or four holes, but then it got tough. I was just trying to play it safe and when I had a chance, make birdie, to keep my lead. I am still leading by two, that’s great.

“I just hope there is no wind tomorrow. It is an easy course if there is no wind.”

He will face stiff opposition tomorrow from in-form Tabuena, who will be trying to win for the fourth time on the Asian Tour, and first since The DGC Open in March of last year.

Kazuki Higa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Said the 29-year-old, who has three top 10s in his last five starts: “It was good but I am fighting a bit of pain on my left thumb again. It started on Wednesday, so I am just trying to take care of that. Golf is a funny sport and if you don’t focus on your actual game sometimes you can do great things. I am happy with the way I am playing.

“Best part of the week for me is my driving, and if I keep it that way I think I have a chance tomorrow. The guy with the most patience tomorrow will win.”

The diminutive figure of Higa coming through on moving day will have also turned heads. He claimed the Japan Tour money list two years ago, winning four times, including the Shinhan Donghae Open – an event jointly-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.

“I was able to hit the ball where I wanted to today,” he said.

“Everything was good. It was windier out there compared to the last two days but glad I was able to play well in these conditions. It’s my first time playing the Yeangder TPC. It’s a big event and I really want to win this tomorrow.

“I last played Linkou when I was still an amateur. But I think I will need some luck again. I will take a more aggressive approach tomorrow considering how far ahead the current leader is. That will be my strategy tomorrow.”

John Catlin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Yubin Jang, Korea’ latest star-in-the-making, aced the par-three eighth with an eight iron, from 185 yards. He carded a 70 and is seven back from top spot but a player more than capable of making up ground by shooting a low number.


Published on September 27, 2024

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai looks like he might take some stopping at the Yeangder TPC this weekend, after adding a second-round six-under-par 66 today to his opening 64.

He leads on 14-under by four strokes at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, from fellow Thais Settee Prakongvech and Sadom Kaewkanjana plus Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines.

Settee fired a 65, while both Sadom and Tabuena carded 67s.

Korea’s Yubin Jang (65), Italian Stefano Mazzoli (66), Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih (69), Hung Chien-yao (67) and Wang Wei-Hsuan (70), plus Karandeep Kochhar (68) from India, are all a shot further back.

“It’s all Thais right now; will feel comfortable at the weekend as I will play with friends,” said Suteepat, who  made it onto the Asian Tour after winning the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit in 2022.

Sadom Kaewkanjana. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The 31-year-old’s one win to date on the Asian Tour came here in Chinese-Taipei last year, when he claimed the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open, and he has made Chinese-Taipei something of a second home.

He’s played four events on the local tour this year, recording three top-10s to currently sit in 21st on their rankings

He joked: “I think it’s Taiwan first at the moment.”

He was four under after four thanks to birdies on the first and third and an eagle on the par-five fourth, where he fired in a five iron to 15 feet and made the putt. It was a mirror image of his eagle there yesterday, where he used the same clubs but his putt was a little closer.  He made two birdies on the back nine and was bogey-free.

A proven winner who won three times on the ADT two years ago, all in Indonesia, the pack will be wary not to let him get too far ahead.

All indications are there that Sadom is starting to play the kind of golf that made him one of the region’s most feared golfers.

He has been relatively subdued since his breakthrough 2022 when he won once, at the SMBC Singapore Open, and recorded eight top 10s.

However, a tied fourth place finish at the International Series England in August – far and away his best finish of the season – and two fine rounds this week suggest much more is to come.

“My game is getting better,” said the 26-year-old, who was second on the 2020-2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Settee Prakongvech. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I also finished third on my local tour recently, which gave me confidence. I hope I can keep going.”

He switched putters to cope with the slower greens today and proceeded to hole a host of long putts, including a 30 footer on the 15th, which was his sixth as he began on 10. He made seven birdies and two bogies.

He added: “Some tournaments have been bad, some tournaments good this year but I like where my golf is heading. I am looking for a win and some top-10s this year.”

Settee got off to an amazing start by making birdie on the first four, and another on six. Two more followed on the homeward half, and he was also bogey-free.

“Not so much wind this morning and the course is not too long, so I like this course,” said Settee, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is third-place at the DGC Open in 2022, plus he has one victory on the Asian Development Tour, at the Blue Canyon Open, the same year.

“You need to find the fairways then you can make a lot of birdies on these small greens.”

Veteran Lu, aged 45, won this event in 2011 and rolled back the years today, giving credit to his long-time caddie.

Said the four-time winner on the Asian Tour: “My caddie helped me a lot again today. I feel very comfortable with him. He was on my bag the first time when I won my first Asian Tour title in 2005, and we’ve worked together since then till just before Covid hit. It is great having him on the bag again, felt like the good old days.”

Current Asian Tour number one, and the winner here in 2016, John Catlin is six off the pace. The American, who has won twice this year and also leads The International Series Rankings, returned a 67.

Lu Wei-chih. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, the defending champion, fought back from a disappointing first round 73 by carding a 68 to reach three under, which was right on the cut line.


Published on September 26, 2024

Suteepat Prateeptienchai’s fondness for Chinese-Taipei was evident once more today when he blasted an eight-under-par 64 to take the lead after the first-round of the Yeangder TPC.

An eagle, seven birdies and one dropped shot at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, in Taipei, saw him finish the day ahead of second-placed Yuvraj Singh Sandhu from India and Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan, both in with 65s.

Lu Wei-chih from Chinese-Taipei and Jordan Zunic from Australia are next best placed with 66s.

Suteepat won the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last year for his first win on the Asian Tour, and was second in that event the year before, when it was part of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) – a result that helped him finish first on the ADT Order of Merit.

And after a solid season so far on the Asian Tour – he is currently 41st on the Asian Tour merit list – his latest visit to Chinese-Taipei could be timely.

Yuvraj Singh Sandhu. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I have a lot of friends here and have also been playing the local tour,” said Suteepat, aged 31.

“I missed the cut here last year, so I should be able to improve on that this year.”

He began on the back nine, turning in three-under, following four birdies and a bogey. He then toured the second half in five under after an eagle and three birdies. He made a three on the par-five fourth where he fired in a five-iron to 12 feet.

He added: “My game has not been too bad this year, made some slight swing changes. It’s a really busy and important time of the year for all of us now.”

Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, like Suteepat, is an ADT graduate – although he came through from the ADT last year, after finishing eighth on the merit list with one victory.

He played in this event 12 months ago, soon after winning on the ADT at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia.

Said the 27-year-old from Chandigarh: “Game is good. I am confident but do have a few nerves. Quite far from home, of course.  As I played here last year so I knew what to prepare for.”

He has been struggling this year and missed the past six cuts, but he is still enjoying his debut season on the Asian Tour.

Wang Wei-hsuan won the longest drive competition on Wednesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I have a lot of friends who have graduated from the ADT to the Asian Tour,” he explained.

“I am comfortable here, it is great fun, it is competitive. Every shot matters on the Asian Tour. I am grateful for being here and I am blessed to be playing golf on a weekday, what more can I ask for.”

He is a six-time winner on the Professional Golf Tour of India, with five of those coming in 2022 – when he finished second on the rankings.

Wang won the event’s long drive competition earlier in the week with a powerful strike of 370 yards and used that element of his game to good effect today.

He said: “I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be off the tees today but because I hit it long, I didn’t have much distance left going into the green. The way I drove the ball is definitely an advantage for me. The greens are soft this week, so I didn’t need to hold back on attacking the greens. I made the most of the opportunities I had.”

He plans to play in the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School in a few weeks, so he’s hoping a good week here will be the perfect preparation.

Carlos Pigem from Spain, winner of this event in 2016, Filipino Miguel Tabuena, Korea’s Taehoon Ok, Jose Toledo from Guatemala, India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and Karandeep Kochhar, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai all shot 67s.

John Catlin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

John Catlin, who leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings carded a 69. The American was the champion here in 2018.

Defending champion Poom Saksansin returned a 73. The Thai star had been hoping his wife Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing,’ would recover from flu so that she could caddie for him. They formed a winning partnership last year, but she decided she was not well enough to help him this time.


Published on September 25, 2024

Poom Saksansin will attempt to successfully defend his Yeangder TPC title this week, once again looking to produce a potentially career saving performance.

His victory here last year at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, in Taipei, was arguably the most meaningful of his career as it was his first win on the Asian Tour in five years and came at a time when he was considering quitting the Tour to start coaching.

He followed up that success with a joint third-place finish in the International Series Singapore, before finishing runner-up in the SJM Macao Open – where he pushed eventual champion Min Woo Lee from Australia all the way. He finished the year in seventh place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, his highest ever placing.

However, this season he has been unable to re-produce the goods and is currently in 69th place on the Merit list. His best result came at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where he tied for 14th, and he has missed three cuts in nine starts.

Poom Saksansin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“It’s nice to be back,” said the 31-year-old, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“I played really well last year. It changed things as I was going to start coaching golf but realised and I can still keep playing.”

Twelve months ago a closing six-under-par 66 for a stunning 24-under aggregate of 264, saw him finish three strokes clear of second-placed Australian Travis Smyth, who was the defending champion.

Poom also started last year poorly before hitting a rich vein of form on courses that suit his game. His is accuracy off the tee, and into the green, coupled with his putting genius are perfect for handling the courses at Linkou International and Macau Golf & Country Club.

He added: “I am not playing so good; this year kind of up and down. Mostly down. But hopefully this week will change me again.

“Try to make the cut first and then enjoy the weekend. I am struggling with ball flight, usually I hit a fade, but the ball seems to be going straight. It is difficult to play when you cannot control the ball.”

Poom Saksansin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

His triumph last year was made even sweeter by the fact his fiancee Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing,’ caddied for him. They are now married, and she is once again in attendance this week although she has been struggling with a bout of flu.

“Hopefully she will be better and ready in time for Thursday,” said Poom, who took part in a photocall today with eight former champions of the event.

There’s no doubt she will play a key role in helping to determine whether her husband can be become the first player to successfully defend the Yeangder TPC.

And Poom will also look for that killer instinct that, following some incredible performances since turning professional 11 years ago, helped establish him as the Asian Tour’s baby-faced assassin.


Published on September 24, 2024

Tournament Information

  • Tournament: Yeangder TPC
  • Date: September 26-29, 2024
  • Venue: Linkou International Golf and Country Club, Taipei
  • Par/Yards: Par 72 / 7,108 Yards
  • Purse: US$1 million (first place US$200,000)
  • Asian Tour leg: 12th event of 2024 season
  • Edition of tournament: 14th
  • Total number of players: 150
  • Format 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds to the leading 65 pros plus ties
  • Social Media Hashtags: #TimeToRise #YeangderTPC

A detail view of the iconic clubhouse tower at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Field Breakdown

  • Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
  • Nationalities: 22
  • Past winners of tournament in the field: Poom Saksansin (2023), Travis Smyth (2022), Lee Chie-po (2021), John Catlin (2018), Ajeetesh Sandhu (2017), Carlos Pigem (2016), Prom Meesawat (2014), Gaganjeet Bhullar (2012)
  • Defending champion: Poom Saksansin (THA)
  • Top contenders: John Catlin (USA), Minkyu Kim (KOR), Travis Smyth (AUS), Lee Chie-po (TPE), Miguel Tabuena (PHI)
  • Highest ranked player on OWGR: John Catlin #135
  • Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: John Catlin #1
  • of amateurs: 2
  • of Chinese Taipei players in the field: 48 (3 invite players TBA)

Poom Saksansin pictured winning last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Tournament Notes

  • Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin is already a two-time winner this season, having captured the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF in consecutive events in March and April. The American also posted a runner-up placing in the International Series Morocco after losing a play-off to Ben Campbell. A tied third finish in the season-opening Malaysian Open secured him a spot in the 152nd Open Championship where he finished tied 16th for his best result in a Major. Catlin won the Yeangder TPC in 2018 for his third victory that year, eventually earning him the Players’ Player of the Year award at the end of the season.
  • Australian Travis Smyth came close to winning the Shinhan Donghae Open two weeks ago, coming up just one shot shy of eventual winner Kensei Hirata from Japan. He has been a consistent high performer this season, finishing tied fourth in the Mandiri Indonesia Open, tied fifth at the International Series Morocco plus two other top 10s. Smyth won the Yeangder TPC in 2022 and came close to defending the title last year, finishing second to Poom Saksansin. He is currently sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
  • Korean Minkyu Kim sits in seventh place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to a win in the Kolon Korea Open and a tied fourth finish in the recent Shinhan Donghae Open. He also posted a victory on the Korean PGA Tour in early June, capturing the 14th Descente Korea Matchplay.
  • Local hero Lee Chie-po won the Yeangder TPC during Asian Tour’s Covid 19 hiatus in 2021 when it was played on the Taiwan PGA Tour, and he came close to defending his title in 2022 losing to Travis Smyth by two strokes. He posted his best result of the season at the Shinhan Donghae Open, finishing in a tie for ninth place.
  • Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena is having a solid season with three top 10s so far to sit in 17th place on the Order of Merit. He has two previous runners up at the Yeangder TPC, having lost in a play-off to Prom Meesawat in 2014 and by two shots to Shaun Norris in 2015.
  • Defending champion Poom Saksansin from Thailand has not had his best season so far, but he will be hoping that a return to Linkou International will see him return to the form of 2023 when he finished seventh on the Order of Merit. He win last year was his first success in five years on the Asian Tour.

Published on

Golf legend Justin Rose, who won here in 2015, and rising South Korean talent Tom Kim are the latest stars to join the 2024 LINK Hong Kong Open parade as The Hong Kong Golf Club prepares to welcome the historic tournament back for its 63rd edition from 21-24 November.

When Rose lifted the trophy at Fanling in 2015, he was in the middle of a 12-month hot streak that began with a T2 at the US Masters and ended in 2016 when he captured gold for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics.

This year, the 44-year-old returns to the US$2 million LINK Hong Kong Open having tied for second at The Open Championship in July. Rose is thrilled to have the opportunity to return to a course – and a city – that holds many dear memories.

“Hong Kong holds a special place in my heart, as does the Hong Kong Open, as when I won at Fanling I was playing some of the best golf of my life,” said Rose, the 2013 US Open winner. “I’ve had some great form this year and can’t wait to return.

“I cannot believe that seven years has slipped by since I was last in Hong Kong. You know, I tell people whenever I’m asked that it’s one of my favourite cities in the world; Hong Kong is right up there at the top of the list. I have great memories of the tournament and the golf course especially.

Tom Kim. Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Images.

“The Hong Kong Golf Club is a true classic in the sense that it’s got an old school feel about it. It tests everybody’s game, whether you’re a long hitter or a short hitter,” said Rose.

Rose came from two strokes off the pace with nine to play to beat Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard by a stroke in 2015, adding another dramatic closing chapter to Hong Kong’s longest running professional sports event, one that this year is also helping The Hong Kong Golf Club ring in its 135th anniversary.

History surrounds the event, which The Hong Kong Golf Club has staged since 1959 – ranking it alongside only the renowned Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts The Masters, as a club that has hosted the same professional tournament for more than 60 years.

At the tournament launch in August, LINK Hong Kong Open 2024 ambassador Gary Player labelled the tournament, “Asia’s Major”.

“It’s got a nice ring to it, The Hong Kong Open has stood the test of time,” said Rose of Player’s description.

“Opens have something special about them, you build history and rapport with the golf course and things like that. That does count for a lot when you’re building the prestige of an event. The Club has got a very proud membership who love the golf course. It’s got a very old school charm about it, which is something that is very difficult to create. It’s got history, and you can’t reproduce that. You can’t recreate it. So it just has something very, very special about it. Those are the types of venues that I really, really like that have that charm and that history. It’s had great sponsors, and has attracted an international field throughout the years too… it has managed to keep its elevated feel and character,” added Rose.

Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell carved himself a little piece of that history with a one-stroke victory over Australia’s Cameron Smith and Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand last year, when for the first time the event became part of The International Series.

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho is writing his own story as the city’s first ever Asian Tour winner, when he lifted the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club in March 2023. He would go on to become the city’s first Asian Games gold medallist later that year in Hangzhou.

Both players have also signed on for their returns – as has one of the most exciting young golf talents on the planet.

The 22-year-old, Seoul-born Kim has already won two Asian Tour events – to go with the three he has won on the PGA Tour and a T2 at The Open Championship last year. He’s looking forward to returning to Fanling for the first time since 2020, when he finished T18 at the tender age of 17.

“I know some of the greats of the game have won the Hong Kong Open down through the years and I’d love to see my name on the trophy alongside them,” said Kim, the Asian Tour’s 2020-21-22 Order of Merit winner. “I have great memories of playing the composite course at Hong Kong Golf Club back in 2020, and I look forward to taking it on again this year.”

There has been exciting news for the tournament already this past month, with leading international real estate investor and asset manager Link Asset Management Limited (LINK) coming on as title sponsor for the next three years starting from 2024.

The LINK Hong Kong Open is once again part of The International Series, 10 events over the course of the season which offer elevated prize funds and a pathway to the LIV Golf League.

Last year the Hong Kong Open was named The International Series Tournament of the Year and a Players’ Choice winner for Course of the Year.

The leading points-scorer in The International Series Rankings receives exemption into the following season’s LIV Golf League. Held throughout the year across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, The International Series contributes US$23.5 million to the Asian Tour’s 2024 total prize fund this season.

Admission to the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday, 21-22 November, is free for the public.  Daily prices for Saturday and Sunday 23 and 24 November are $200 per day or $300 for a weekend pass. Tickets will be on sale from Friday 27 September at KLOOK.

For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com.


Published on September 23, 2024

LIV Golf League star Paul Casey is the first big name confirmed for the Black Mountain Championship and International Series Thailand.

The back-to-back Thai events launch a thrilling six-tournament stretch over eight weeks to decide The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour.

The Englishman, a former world No.3 who has claimed three PGA TOUR victories, two Asian Tour wins and 15 DP World Tour titles, will line up among the cream of the Asian Tour and LIV Golf League stablemates for the dates which take place at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin from 17-20 October and the Thai Country Club, Bangkok, from 24-27 October.

The five-time Ryder Cup star played twice on The International Series in 2023, in Vietnam and the St Andrew’s Bay Championship in Scotland.

John Catlin. Pictured by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Casey, a member of Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC team on the LIV Golf League, said: “I have always loved playing on the Asian Tour, and have very happy memories of playing there.

“I look forward to returning to Thailand, and playing on The International Series again – these elevated events give LIV Golf players wonderful opportunities to compete in great destinations around the world, and also offer Asian Tour players a potential pathway to the LIV Golf League.”

John Catlin and Ben Campbell, the leader and nearest challenger on The International Series Rankings, will both be in the field, vying for that coveted spot on the LIV Golf League that goes to the end-of-season rankings champion.

Catlin has won twice this year and also leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Hosting back-to-back tournaments in Thailand, at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin and Thai Country Club in Bangkok, presents a unique opportunity to showcase elite-level golf at two of the country’s most prestigious venues over a two-week stretch.

Ben Campbell. Picture by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

“These events not only build on Thailand’s rich golfing tradition but also showcase Thailand’s elite golf tourism sector where both venues are very much at the top of the golfing bucket list in Thailand.”

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Our upcoming events in Thailand have real significance. They kick off a hectic schedule of six tournaments in eight weeks that will determine the end-of-season rankings champion, and that spot on the 2025 LIV Golf League roster.

“On top of that, there is also plenty more at stake, for the players looking to climb the rankings and earn a place on the LIV Golf Promotions event, where once again three golden tickets onto the league will be up for grabs.

“We are delighted that this thrilling conclusion to the season will start, and play out, in one of the heartlands of Asian Tour golf.”


Published on September 20, 2024

Darcy Brereton passed through the Asian Tour’s First Stage Qualifying tournament in Australia with flying colours today after recording a one-stroke victory at Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club, in Melbourne.

The Australian fired a final round one-under-par 71 to finish with a four-round aggregate of five-under-par 283 in testing conditions over all four days – in what was the first of seven First Stage qualifiers.

His countryman Brett Rankin, who had a one-shot lead over Brereton at the start of the day, and New Zealand’s Tyler Wood tied for second after shooting rounds of 73 and 68 respectively.

The top six players secured passage into the Final Stage – which will be played at Lakeview Resort & Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, from December 17-21.

The other players to make it through are Australia’s Zachary Maxwell, James Marchesani and Andre Lautee.

Lautee was the only player not to have started the last day in the top six, but he booked his ticket to Thailand with a closing 68.

Brereton, 29 years-old and from Melbourne, prevailed after a close finish.

Following back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15 he made an eagle on the par-five 16th and parred the last two holes, while Wood made a double on 17 and Ranking dropped a shot on the last.

The next two First Stage events will be held in the United States: first at Tesoro Club in Florida from September 29-October 1, and then at Soboba Springs, in California, from November 5-8.

Pattana Sports Club in Chonburi is then the next stop, from December 3-6, before Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok, Grand Prix Golf Club in Kanchanaburi, and Springfield Royal Country Club, stage events simultaneously from December 10-13.

Each First Stage event is played over four rounds, with the top-placed finishers earning places in the Final Stage – played over five rounds, with the top-35 earning their cards for the ensuing season on the Asian Tour.