Niemann imposes authority after week’s first bogey-free round
Joaquin Niemann illustrated his class at the International Series India presented by DLF today by taking the clubhouse lead on the second day.
While all around him were struggling to cope with the demands of DLF Golf and Country Club, he fired a steady bogey-free four-under-par 68 to lead on six-under by two strokes over American Ollie Schniederjans and Japan’s Kazuki Higa. They shot rounds of 69 and 71, respectively – in the season-opener on The International Series.
Jose Toledo from Guatemala carded the best round of the week, a 66, that featured nine birdies, to sit in fourth on three under, while American Bryson DeChambeau shot a 72 and is one under.
Half the field, including first-round leader Eugenio Chacarra from Spain, were unable to finish their rounds – the result of a backlog caused by a two-hour delay at the start of the day due to thick fog, and yesterday morning’s one-hour delay because of the same issue.
Ollie Schneiderjans. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chacarra, Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and Filipino Justin Quiban are the leading players still on the course at three under. They have yet to make the turn and will resume tomorrow with 5o other players.
Niemann, who is bidding for back-to-back wins on The International Series having claimed the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers in December, fired an eagle and two birdies enroute to the first bogey-free round so far this week.
“You know, it’s a tough course,” he said. “You gotta hit your tee shots, you gotta hit your lines. And, you know, anything can happen until the last fall. So yeah, I mean, I am just happy to be in this good situation going into the weekend. And there is a lot of good golf to play.”
Niemann won the Saudi International by beating Australian Cam Smith and Caleb Surratt from the United States in extra-time and has never finished outside the top-10 in an Asian Tour event, although he has only made five starts.
The 26-year-old, who plays for Torque GC on the LIV Golf League, is feeling fresh after coming off a long break, that also saw him get married.
Kazuki Higa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “I was busy but not playing golf. I did probably two or three weeks off after I got married. Had a nice party, being able to spend time with the family. So yeah, that kind of gave me some extra energy to come out here and do my best.”
He started his round on 10 and saved the best for last, holing an audacious lob shot for eagle on the par-five eighth before making a brilliant par save on the par-four ninth. He’d found trouble off the tee on the last but chipped back into the fairway and got up and down from about 100 yards, holing a six footer.
Schniederjans, who is playing on The International Series this year thanks to finishing fourth at the LIV Golf Promotions event last year, stormed through at the end with four closing birdies.
He was particularly pleased with his birdie on the tough par-four 17th.
He explained: “On the 17th, yeah, it’s the most wild hole I think I’ve ever played in a tournament. Just the second shot, you have to judge it perfectly, or you can really make a mess there. So, I just, yeah, I got the number right where I was looking, and it popped that ridge and ended up two, three feet away there.”
The American has been dogged by injuries throughout his career following an outstanding amateur career, when he was ranked the number one amateur in the game in 2014.
“I’ve played hundreds of events against Bryson DeChambeau early on,” he said.
“It’s been a while though because I was injured and I came back to Korn Ferry, spent three years out there after being out. So, it’s been a while since I’ve got to play with these guys. Like I saw some of these guys Baan (Anirban Lahiri] and Bryson, like I’m saying hi to them, haven’t seen him in five years.”
Higa, who won the Japan Tour money list in 2022, continues to impress while trying to make his mark outside of Japan.
“Yeah, it’s a very tough course, on every shot you need to have a perfect shot, so yeah, it’s a tough course here. I try to manage my game depending on the pin position of the day, to try to not make bogies,” said Higa, who played his first full season on the Asian Tour last year finishing 32nd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“It’s not a birdie course, so you don’t have to be aggressive. Just stay patient, and when you have the chance to get a birdie, just try to make the putts. And that’s the strategy for the next two rounds. Same mindset as when I play the Japan Open.”
George Kneiser from the United States and Japan’s Kazuki Higa were the main movers on Friday morning when the first round was completed at the International Series India presented by DLF.
The duo, who were among the 42 players unable to finish on Thursday, fired three-under-par 69s to finish one behind the leader, Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra. Chacarra shot 68 yesterday here at DLF Golf and Country Club, when thick fog delayed the start and led to the backlog.
Spaniard Santiago De la Fuente, Chase Koepka from the United States and Frenchman Joel Stalter signed for 70s this morning to join Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, Filipino Justin Quiban and Danthai Boonma from Thailand in a tie for fourth.
Kazuki Higa. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
American Bryson DeChambeau, making his first trip to India, completed the final two holes of his first round today. He finished with a bogey and a par and is in a group of five players on one under.
More fog caused a two hour delay this morning meaning only the first session of round two will finish today.
The US$2million inaugural event is the second stop of the season on the Asian Tour and opening leg of The International Series.
Eugenio Chacarra shot a stunning second nine six-under-par 30, that included an eagle on his penultimate hole, to take the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the International Series India presented by DLF.
The Spaniard fired a four-under-par 68 to lead from Filipino Justin Quiban and Danthai Boonma from Thailand, who, playing together, returned 70s at DLF Golf and Country Club – one of the toughest courses in the region, where scoring was high today and par a good score on every hole.
A one-hour delay at the start of the day caused by fog meant 42 players were unable to finish their rounds. Most notable of those were Japan’s Kazuki Higa who was four under with three to play when darkness fell at about 6pm local time and Aaron Wilkin from Australia, with six to play on three under.
American Bryson DeChambeau, the current US Open champion, and fellow LIV Golf star, Joaquin Niemann from Chile, in the same group, were two under with two remaining.
Justin Quiban. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chacarra initially battled to get to grips with DLF on his first nine, which is the second nine as he started on 10. He made a triple bogey seven on 13 and then a bogey on the following hole. However, he then showed why he is considered to be one of the most exciting young players in the game by making three successive birdies. He dropped a shot on 18 before a stunning homeward half, made up of that eagle, four birdies and no dropped shots.
“It feels good to be back,” said the 24-year-old, already a winner on the Asian Tour at the 2023 St Andrews Bay Championship, also part of The International Series.
“I’ve been grinding on my body, on my game, and it’s been a great off season. I mean I was four over through four, I feel like I didn’t even miss a shot. I mean, the first three holes, I had three good looks for birdie, and I was even par.
“Then I hit a good iron that bounced, I think it hit a sprinkler head or something. It almost went by the fence, and I made a seven without any bad shots. But I still came back.”
Quiban also had an eagle to thank for helping to finish under par.
His came on the par-four sixth where he holed a gap wedge from 122 yards. It landed two feet above the cup and spun in.
He said: “It’s a tough, tough, course. One of the hardest we play. You can’t really chill out here, not at all. Yeah, you have to have full focus every shot. Never played here before. I’m happy with anything in the red, of course.”
Danthai Boonma. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Quiban hung onto his playing card last year, finishing 54th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which took a huge weight of his shoulders.
“Last year, it was a battle. Honestly, yes, just, I wasn’t really hitting it well, but I was just trying to use my experience to keep myself in the top 65. Yeah, good thing I did.”
Boonma has come into the week after a solid joint eighth performance in last week’s Smart Infinity Philippine Open – the season-opening event on the Asian Tour. Four birdies and two bogies saw him make the kind of start he was looking for in the star-studded US$2million event.
“I feel pretty good today,” said the Thai, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, the most recent being the Bangladesh Open in 2022.
“I’m really happy with my score today because I played with no expectation because it’s a tough course and that’s what make me play comfortably. Playing shot by shot and just keeping the momentum. That’s it.”
Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, American Ollie Schniederjans and Sweden’s Charlie Lindh are the next best placed in the clubhouse with a 71 – two of only six to break par today.
Ortiz and Schniederjans were in a small group of players who were able to finish in the afternoon. A double bogey on 17 spoiled a strong start by Ortz, while Schniederjans made birdie on his last two.
This week’s inaugural event is the first leg of the 2025 International Series.
Eugenio Chacarra shot a stunning second nine six-under-par 30, that included an eagle on his penultimate hole, to take the clubhouse lead early on the opening day of the International Series India presented by DLF.
The Spaniard fired a four-under-par 68 to lead from Filipino Justin Quiban and Danthai Boonma from Thailand, who, playing together, returned 70s at DLF Golf and Country Club – one of the toughest courses on Tour, where par is a good score on every hole.
Chacarra initially battled to get to grips with DLF on his first nine, which is the second nine as he started on 10. He made a triple bogey seven on 13 and then a bogey on the following hole. However, he then showed why he is considered to be one of the most exciting young players in the game by making three successive birdies. He dropped a shot on 18 before a stunning homeward half, made up of that eagle, four birdies and no dropped shots.
“It feels good to be back,” said the 24-year-old, already a winner on the Asian Tour at the 2023 St Andrews Bay Championship, also part of The International Series.
Justin Quiban. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I’ve been grinding on my body, on my game, and it’s been a great off season. I mean I was four over through four, I feel like I didn’t even miss a shot. I mean, the first three holes, I had three good looks for birdie, and I was even par.
“Then I hit a good iron that bounced, I think it hit asprinkler head or something. It almost went by the fence, and I made a seven without any bad shots. But I still came back.”
Quiban also had an eagle to thank for helping to finish under par – something that not many will do today.
His came on the par-four sixth where he holed a gap wedge from 122 yards. It landed two feet above the cup and spun in.
He said: “It’s a tough, tough, course. One of the hardest we play. You can’t really chill out here, not at all. Yeah, you have to have full focus every shot. Never played here before. I’m happy with anything in the red, of course.”
Danthai Boonma. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Quiban hung onto his playing card last year, finishing 54th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which took a huge weight of his shoulders.
“Last year, it was a battle. Honestly, yes, just, I wasn’t really hitting it well, but I was just really, just trying to use my experience to keep myself in the top 65 Yeah, good thing I did.”
Boonma has come into the week after a solid joint eighth performance in last week’s Smart Infinity Philippine Open – the season-opening event on the Asian Tour. Four birdies and two bogies saw him make the kind of start he was looking for in the star-studded US$2million event.
“I feel pretty good today,” said the Thai, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, the most recent being the Bangladesh Open in 2022.
“I’m really happy with my score today because I played with no expectation because it’s a tough course and that’s what make me play comfortably. Playing shot by shot and just keeping the momentum. That’s it.”
Sweden’s Charlie Lindh is the next best placed in the clubhouse with a 71 – one of only four to break par after the morning session.
Most of the big-name players are playing in the afternoon, including American Bryson DeChambeau, who made the turn on four under.
Play was delayed by an hour at the start of the day due to fog, meaning many will not be able to complete their first round today.
This week’s inaugural event is the first leg of the 2025 International Series.
It’s been a few manic days for Anirban Lahiri, the de facto host of this week’s International Series India presented by DLF. Story by Joy Chakravarty.
After yet another call disrupted his session at the range on Tuesday, Lahiri looked wistfully at his phone and said: “I have already charged it thrice today. It’s just been relentless.”
Lahiri, the only contracted Asian player on LIV Golf, has been involved with the US$2 million tournament from the conceptualisation stage, and played a key role in ensuring his good friend and Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau’s was able to make the trip.
Despite long days and various commitments, Lahiri is confident of contending for what would be his fifth Asian Tour title on home soil.
Bryson DeChambeau and Anirban Lahiri hosted a golf clinic on Wednesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I don’t think I’ve ever compromised on my preparation, because I am always going to be a competitor first. Come Thursday, I am only a player…nothing else,” said Lahiri, who is looking for his first win since the 2015 Hero Indian Open.
“I’m also a host, but primarily, my job this week is to go out and play my best golf and try and win the tournament. I haven’t lost sight of that at any point, and my preparation for the season and for this week has also been with that in mind.
“It’s not a case of being distracted, but definitely there’s the aspect of getting on a bunch of phone calls, trying to figure out logistics, trying to plan some things, and advising the sponsors and the Tour because they are leaning on my experience as a player and someone who is close to all the LIV players.
“So, my preparation is good and I feel very confident. I feel very excited. And obviously, it’s an added joy and motivation to be playing in front of the home crowd.”
Even if the trophy does not land in Lahiri’s lap, a lot is riding on the tournament for him. He is consumed with the idea of presenting India, and Indian golf, in the best light.
Lahiri pictured at a press conference on Wednesday with Paul Casey. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“To be honest, I still feel a little bit anxious, in the sense that I would love for the next four days to go off smoothly. I hope the weather holds. I hope the fans that we’re expecting to come out, which are unprecedented numbers (it’s sold out for the weekend with 20,000 people registering for tickets), do come and that all is managed well,” said Lahiri, who finished 16th in 2024 LIV Golf individual standings.
“So, a lot of moving parts still, but come Monday, hopefully, we can look back and say, ‘man, what an amazing event, what a fantastic turnout, what great quality of golf’. I will be very satisfied, but there is still work to be done.”
The thing about Lahiri is that he takes his responsibilities very seriously.
“As a ‘host’, I don’t think it’s pressure, but more like extra responsibility, which I enjoy because it’s a privilege,” said Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
“It’s an honour to be representing your people, your country, your home event. A lot of my friends have come out to play and I’m very grateful and thankful to them. They are here because I’ve asked them to, so I must make sure that they are looked after, and everything goes well.
“There is also a long-term view to bring LIV Golf to India. A proper LIV event with all the stars. Let’s see where that goes, but a successful week now will surely pave the way towards that.”
On the special bond he shares with DeChambeau, Lahiri said: “We are very close. Obviously, that goes without saying, but we have a closeness within the Crushers that is evident.
“With regards to coming to India and playing, right from the time when the four of us got together in Boston in 2022, Bryson has always been very, very curious and interested in Asia, especially in India, because I’m from here. So, when this opportunity became a reality, it was a pretty easy one for him to say yes immediately.
Anirban Lahiri. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“What he has done with his socials and his media channels and the way he’s exploded as a YouTube phenomenon globally, I don’t think anyone since Tiger (Woods) has had such an impact in popularising the sport. His presence has created a massive buzz here and it can only be good for golf in India.”
It will be the first tournament of the season for Lahiri, and he said he has set himself simple goals for the year.
“I think the goals and ambitions don’t really change. Still trying to get my first win in a while. Still trying to get into the Majors,” said the 37-year-old Lahiri.
“Outside of those obvious ones, I just want to be a little more consistent. Last year was a lot of good golf, but there was a lot of below-average golf, at least by my own standard.
“I just want to hold myself responsible to my work ethic and my consistency, which has always been the cornerstone of my golf – putt a little bit better and drive it a little bit better. Those two areas I consider my strengths, but they kind of let me down a little bit last year. So macro and micro, but simple goals.”
Bryson DeChambeau will break new ground this week, literally, when he competes in the International Series India presented by DLF – which marks the first time he has been to India.
It is a much-awaited debut with huge crowds expected at DLF Golf and Country Club and the reigning US Open champion is clearly up for the occasion, hoping the trip makes a huge impact on the game of golf in the world’s most populous country.
“First off I want to say thank you to all of India for welcoming me so warmly,” said the American.
“I think the first time I started talking about it [going to India] was last year and what the possibilities are here in India with the kids.
“The ability for golf as really a young sport but changing from an older sport into a young sport, is to showcase what golf can mean for the future generations of India. That’s always inspired me. My mission in the game of golf is to first off, inspire, entertain, and a subtle part of it is educate as well.”
(L to R), John Catlin, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau and Anirban Lahiri pose with the trophy. Picture by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
The 31-year-old, who also won the US Open in 2020, is part of a star-studded field here that includes Indian Anirban Lahiri and England’s Paul Casey – who are part of his Crushers GC team on the LIV Golf League.
“Educate, entertain, inspire are my main three principles of why I play the game of golf. I think this is an amazing opportunity for all of golf to come together and see what India can truly produce for the world. And it’s a growing economy, it’s a growing population that need golf. There’s a lot more to come, so that’s why I’m here.”
He took time out from his busy schedule to visit the Taj Mahal yesterday and it had a profound impact on him.
“I felt like there was a lot of love,” he explained.
“I feel like people just respected the place beyond belief. I was fortunate enough to go downstairs and actually see where they’re laid to rest. And it was pretty special. Being down there, it felt… I mean, it was serene and blissful. You look at the backdrop and the colours of the sky and the white marble and the intricacies of how the building was built, how the Taj was built. I can tell you it’s one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen in my entire life. So, it was amazing. It was a great experience.”
The Californian faces an all together difference piece of architecture tomorrow, when he tees off in the first round at DLF Golf and Country Club – one of the country’s finest courses, that is also one of the longest and toughest.
Bryson DeChambeau pictured during the Pro-Am on Wednesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It’s a diabolical course,” he joked. “There’s a lot going on and I think the person that’s going to do well this week has to see it for what it is, which is a strategic golf course. You have to plot your way around, be very methodical, and you can’t overpower it.
“It’s not something you can overpower, but you’ve got to be very technical about here. So, 16 through 18 is a great stretch of golf. It is gettable. If you hit the right shots into it. I feel pretty comfortable with it. Off all the rust, I think I’ll give it a good go this week.”
He has been paired with Chile’s Joaqium Niemann and John Catlin from the United States for the first two days. Niemann won The International Series Rankings title last year, while Catlin secured the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
The US$2 million tournament is the opening event of the season on The International Series, and the second stop on the Asian Tour, which got underway at last week’s Smart Infinity Philippine Open.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: International Series India presented by DLF
- Date: January 30 – February 2, 2025
- Venue: DLF Golf and Country Club, Gurgaon, India
- Par/Yards: Par 72 / 7,425 Yards
- Purse: US$2million (winner: US$360,000)
- Asian Tour leg: Second
- The International Series leg: First
- Edition of tournament: First
- Total number of players: 108
- Format: 72-hole stroke play with cut made after two rounds for the leading 65 pros plus ties
- Social media hashtags: #InternationalSeries #ThisISEverything #TimeToRise #DLFlifestyle #DLFhomes
A general view of DLF Golf and Country Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Andy Ogletree (2023), Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Shubhankar Sharma (2018), Scott Hend (2016), Anirban Lahiri (2015), Jeev Milkha Singh (2008, 2006)
- Nationalities: 25
- Top contenders: Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Paul Casey (ENG), John Catlin (USA), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Anirban Lahiri (IND), Joaquin Niemann (CHI), Carlos Ortiz (MEX)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Bryson DeChambeau (USA) #12
- Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Julien Sale (FRA) #1
- Number of amateurs: 1
- Number of Indian players in the field: 15
(L-R) Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, Jaoquin Niemann of Chile and Sebastian Munoz of Columbia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Tournament Notes
- American Bryson DeChambeau is the reigning U.S. Open champion after coming out on top in a battle with Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 last summer. He also won the same title in 2020 at the famed Winged Foot Golf Club outside of New York. DeChambeau currently plays on the LIV Golf League where he captains the Crushers GC who topped the LIV team points standings in 2024 after three team wins. He also won two individual titles on the league in 2023 after winning at Greenbrier and Chicago. The two-time Ryder Cupper will be making his first appearance in India this week.
- Joaquin Niemann from Chile won The International Series Rankings in 2024 after capturing the season-ending Saudi International presented by SoftBank Advisors in Riyadh in December. The Torque GC captain also won two individual titles on the LIV Golf League in the beginning of 2024 at Mayakoba and Jeddah, and in 2023 his squad posted four team wins at Orlando, D.C., Andalucia and Greenbrier. He was the number one ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 44 weeks, from May 2017 to April 2018 when he turned pro.
- Englishman Paul Casey is a five-time Ryder Cup player, and during his 25-year professional career he has also collected 15 DP World Tour titles and three PGA Tour titles. Casey currently plays on the LIV Golf League on Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC team.
- The 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion John Catlin of the U.S. had a spectacular season last year, posting two wins in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and Saudi Open presented by PIF, three runners-up and eight top 10s in 15 events on the way to setting the all-time Money List record with US$1,456,800. He also recorded his best result in a Major, finishing T16 in the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
- Canadian Richard T. Lee also had a great season on the Asian Tour last year, finishing third on the Order of Merit thanks to a win at the BNI Indonesian Masters, a runner up at the International Series Thailand and four other top 10s. Lee also holds an impressive current cut streak on the Asian Tour with 17 consecutive cuts made, and the last time he missed being around on the weekend was the International Series Singapore in October of 2023.
- Local hero Anirban Lahiri, who plays on DeChambeau’s Crushers squad on the LIV Golf League, came agonisingly close to winning his first individual LIV title at Andalucia last year after losing a play-off to Spain’s Sergio Garcia. The 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion has seven Asian Tour victories, two of them coming in DP World Tour co-sanctioned events, and 14 Professional Golf Tour of India titles. During his PGA Tour career between 2016-2022 Lahiri posted a runner-up at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, The Players Championship, as his best result. He played for the Presidents Cup International Team side in 2015 and 2017.
- In total there are 13 current LIV Golf League players in the field this week.
SSP Chawrasia will attempt to achieve a rare hat-trick of titles at this week’s International Series India presented by DLF, by trying to win a third different tournament at the same venue.
The Indian star claimed the Avantha Masters here at DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi in 2011, and six years later triumphed at the Hero Indian Open at the same venue.
Aged 46 and in the twilight of his career it will be a tall order – especially at an event that features the strongest field ever assembled in India, with the likes of American Bryson DeChambeau playing. However, Chawrasia is very clear about what he needs to do: “Hit it straight and leave myself 10-foot uphill putts.”
A completely different layout was used for the first win, while this week he faces the course that he played in 2017 – one of the longest and toughest on Tour – when he won by seven shots.
“You know, the course is so tough; left, right, water hazards, jungle and everything,” he explained.
SSP Chawrasia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“So, I was trying to play straight shots back then, as that’s my strength, actually. I was just focusing on that and making some good putts. I think that’s why I won. So, I would say that’s the key.”
In 2017, he had a huge lead playing the final hole, a demanding par-five, which has water down the left side, and chose to play three lay-up shots. He reached the green in four and two putted for a six. It his second victory in his National Open as he also won the event the year before, at Delhi Golf Club. It could have been three in-a-row, but he was defeated by his compatriot Anirban Lahiri in a play-off in 2015, also at Delhi Golf Club.
“I remember when I won in 2017 it was my first time playing the course that week, so I practiced a lot, playing 36-hole practice rounds, trying to understand the course. And finally, I did!” Chawrasia said.
He lost his Asian Tour card last year after finishing 101st on the Order of Merit. Fortunately, having played on the Asian Tour for 25 years with great success, highlighted by six victories, he gets to keep playing through the career earnings category. He is currently 11th on the table having won just over US$3.5 million.
He finished in a tie for 31st at last week’s Smart Infinity Philippine Open – the season-opening event on the Asian Tour. That event was also played on a course where he has won before, Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.
“Things were great to start the first event,” he said. “I was playing good actually, just a couple mistakes, but anyway I recovered. But yeah, it’s a great course, and I won the Resorts World Manila Masters in 2016 there.
SSP Chawrasia. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Definitely my game is in good shape. Because even last year, in the beginning of the year I was playing well, so I guess I’m playing the same. I’m in the same situation right now so I’m playing well now, yes.”
Chawrasia’s story is a remarkable one. He started out as a caddie at Royal Calcutta Golf Club, where his father was a greenkeeper, before going onto achieve fame and fortune as a tour pro. He was also runner up in the Indian Open in 1999, 2006, 2013 and has won dozens of domestic titles.
As he gradually winds down his career before the senior game, he’s looking to go out with a bang – so a return to DLF could not have come at a better time.
Unheralded Frenchman Julien Sale [main picture] produced a stunning performance to win the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, in his first ever start on Asian Tour start. He defeated Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura by a shot, despite a bogey on the 72nd hole, where Sadom and Ikenura both made birdies to keep things exciting right until they very end. Sale’s win came just a month after he’d earned his Tour card at the Qualifying School in Thailand.
The par on the Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club was changed from 72 to 70, with Sale winning with a score of 11 under. That was eight shots less than American Micah Shin’s total when won the last time the Asian Tour visited the course in 2017. However, on both occasions their winning totals were 269.
Arguably, Sale’s most important statistic was topping the week’s birdie count with 22; Sadom made 20 and Ikemura had 17. However, he was also impressive in other categories, ranking third in Putts per Green in Regulation (GIR) with 1.649, T5 in GIR with 79.17%, 12th in Driving Distance with an average of 318.38 yards, 12th in Putts per Round on 28.5, T12 in Putts per Round with 28.5, and T26 in Fairways Hit on 69.64%.
Tomoyo Ikemura had the fewest number of bogies or worse, with just four bogies. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
If the 27-year-old can keep producing those kinds of numbers, we should see a lot more of him on the leaderboards in 2025.
Sadom who had held a three-shot lead halfway through the tournament had a great week on the greens ranking second in Putts per GIR with 1.642 and T8 in Putts per Round with 28.25. He also posted a solid GIR percentage of 73.61%, ranking 13th. The 20 birdies he made ranked tied second for the week, but unfortunately, he offset those red numbers with six bogeys and two doubles. His other stats numbers were: Driving Distance 296.38 yards (T39), Fairways Hit 66.07 (T38).
Ikemura, who was on top of the leaderboard going into the final round, led the field in Fewest Bogies or Worse with only four bogies made. His approach game was very solid for the week ranking T8 in GIR with 76.39% and he also had a good week on the greens ranking 13th in Putts per GIR with 1.709 and T8 in Putts per Round with 28.25.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND): 27
- Putts per GIR – Danthai Boonma (THA): 1.62
- GIR – Kevin Yuan (AUS): 84.72%
- Fairways Hit – Sean Ramos (PHI), Jiho Yang (KOR): 80.36%
- Driving Distance – Lawry Flynn (AUS): 337.5 Yards
- Most Eagles – 19 Players: 1
- Most Birdies – Julien Sale (FRA): 22
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN): 4
- Scrambling – Ian Snyman (RSA): 80%
Scott Vincent is back playing full-time on the Asian Tour this year, and its flourishing International Series, having finished in the Drop Zone on the LIV Golf League last year, but he is typically philosophical about the road ahead.
“Getting back to LIV is not the focus,” insists the Zimbabwean, ahead of this week’s inaugural International Series India presented by DLF – the second event of the year on the Asian Tour, and the opening International Series tournament.
“The focus is to take care of all the little things and like, if that puts me back on LIV, that’s amazing.”
The Zimbabwean won The International Series Rankings in 2022 to secure his place on the league. Impressively, he finished 22nd on the standings in 2023 but was 50th last season, after a testing year.
Scott Vincent. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Yeah, it was definitely challenging,” said Vincent.
“It put me in a lot of uncomfortable situations. Just, you know, when you’re not playing great, this game can be challenging at times, and that was the year I had. But you know, those are the times that you do learn the most about yourself, and maybe like what you’re prioritising.
“So, yeah, I learned a lot from last year, the past three years, to be fair. You know, I’ve got zero complaints about LIV, it’s changed my life. And I still get to play out here so that’s a huge plus. And you never know, if you have a great year, you could be back out there.”
He started the year well in last week’s season-opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open, tying for eighth place.
He said: “Really great. I think, personally, just a lot of positives and kind of working on the things that are going to help us come November, December time. So, yeah, all in all, great. And obviously the week was great warm up for this week too, so looking forward to that.”
Scott Vincent pictured during today’s Pro-Am. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I mean right now it’s the Asian Tour that I have status on, and you know, I’m very happy to be out here and compete. And all these new elevated International Series events attract a lot of outside stars, so that’s great.
“And you know, you want to be playing against some of the best players in the world, and Asian Tour is offering that right now. So, yeah, everything’s great, we’re going to play out here and see where that puts us.”
He is no stranger to this week’s venue, DLF Golf and Country Club, a regular venue for Asian Tour events in the past.
“You know, it’s definitely one of the toughest courses I think I’ve played in my life, and every time I play it, like you’re always left with this feeling of I can’t wait to get back there and try again, because of how challenging and demanding it is,” he explained.
“I haven’t played it in the past four years or so but obviously remember a lot of the holes out there. You know, again, it’s great to play a course that tough early on in the season, it just kind of puts things in perspective from a game standpoint, and the things you need to work on.”
The 32-year-old from Harare played for Irons Head GC on LIV Golf while his younger brother Kieran was on the Legion XIII team, who claimed four team titles last year led by Spaniard John Rahm. Kieran also finished in the Drop Zone, so faces a full season on the Asian Tour. The Vincents are back 24/7 on the Tour where they first made their name, and all eyes will be on them to see what they can do next.
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