League-of-his-own Scheffler is Champion Golfer of the Year
Scottie Scheffler claimed his first Open Championship on Sunday after a commanding four-stroke victory over fellow-American Harris English.
Scheffler closed with a three-under-par 68 at Royal Portrush Golf Club, in Northern Ireland, to finish on 17-under. Harris came in with a 66, while the previous week’s Genesis Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup from the United States was a further shot back in third.
American Wyndham Clark shared fourth place alongside England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Haotong Li from China. Rory McIlroy’s bid for a famous victory on home soil ended with the Northern Ireland golfer sharing of seventh with defending champion Xander Schauffele from the United States and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.
Said Scheffler, who was seven ahead at one point on the last day: “This was, I felt like, one of my best performances mentally.”
Scottie Scheffler lifts the Claret Jug at The Open. Picture by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.
The 29-year-old is only the fourth player to win The Open, the Masters and PGA Championship before 30, joining legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods.
It is his second major tournament victory this year, following his dominant result at the PGA Championship.
Three events on the Asian Tour are part of the Open Qualifying Series: The national Opens of New Zealand and Korea, plus the International Series Macau presented by Wynn.
Seven members of the Asian Tour competed in this year’s tournament.
There isn’t a golfer in the field at the 153rd Open Championship who wouldn’t gladly accept some divine inspiration in a bid to get their hands on the Claret Jug. Report by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Portrush.
In that department, Sadom Kaewkanjana may perhaps enjoy a greater advantage than any of his fellow-competitors in the 156-strong starting line-up at Royal Portrush Golf Club this week.
The 27-year-old Thai was a study in serenity as he soared high with a composed opening three-under-par 68 on Thursday.
It was a typically calm and unflustered performance from the former Asian Tour Rookie of the Year – and one that captured the attention of the world’s golfing media, intrigued at the participation of an ordained Buddhist monk.
It was in 2023 that Sadom took time out from playing golf to practice meditation. By his own admission, that experience has helped him in a golfing career that has already brought him three victories on the Asian Tour to sit alongside multiple All Thailand Golf Tour triumphs.
Riki Kawamoto and Sadom Kaewkanjana shake hands after finishing round one. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.
It was entirely fitting that Sadom’s first taste of international stardom should have come in the 150th edition of The Open at St Andrews, the spiritual Home of Golf.
Making his Open Championship debut there in 2022, Sadom fired a closing 65 to claim a share of 11th place, the best performance from a Thai golfer at the world’s eldest championship.
Following his fast start at Portrush, it would be easy for Sadom to get ahead of himself and contemplate an even higher finish or, whisper it softly, a run at becoming Thailand’s first Major champion.
The player himself, of course, takes all this in his stride, pointing to the extra responsibility that goes with his Buddhist beliefs.
He said: “It’s my responsibility in Thailand. Being a monk helps me concentrate more on the golf course and outside the golf course. It’s helped me focus a lot better – to forget everything outside, just live in the present.”
Due to tee-off in the final flight on day two here at 4.16 pm local time, some 24 hours after the completion of his first round, Sadom will have had plenty of time to ponder on what the golfing Gods may have in store for him in the coming days.
Not that there’s the slightest chance of him allowing his mind to wander too far into the future.
In 2023 Sadom took time out from playing golf to practice meditation.
He said: “I’m just very excited to play … and very excited to watch the top players play in the same conditions, same golf course, and learn how to play like them.
“When I play links course, it’s a new experience for me. I really enjoy it. It’s fun to play with a windy course and tough conditions.”
While he would not dream of downplaying the attraction of a higher calling, he acknowledges that there are further golfing ambitions to address before looking to a career beyond golf and fully dedicating himself to Buddhism.
“My goal is to play in the Masters. I want to play (there) one time. So, to get in the top-50 in the world ranking, that’s my goal,” said Sadom.
Currently 262nd in the standings that are widely used to determine a player’s prospects of appearing in the Majors, there’s still a long way for Sadom to go. A strong showing over the final 54 holes at Portrush would certainly help. No doubt a little divine intervention along the way would not go amiss.
Sadom Kaewkanjana is literally on a roll at The Open.
Having made headlines in the game’s oldest Major by tying for 11th in 2022, when it was played at St Andrews, he is once again in contention following an outstanding three-under-par 68 in the first round at Royal Portrush Golf Club on Thursday.
The 27-year-old [main picture] is in a tie for sixth place but just one shot behind the leading pack, which includes China’s Li Hoatong.
Sadom rolled in a mammoth 40-foot putt for a birdie on the par-three 16th – which was followed by a huge roar from the large gallery.
Sadom Kaewkanjana is playing in just his second Open. Picture by Alex Pantling/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.
The Thai star made the perfect start by going out in three-under. He made a birdie on the second before he became the first player this week to eagle the par-four fifth, where he reached the green from the tee and drained a 20 footer.
He dropped his only shot of the day on 11 before countering that with his stunning putt on 16.
Sadom’s performance three years ago was the best ever result by a Thai golfer in The Open.
He is now on course to better that finish this weekend, especially after a confidence boosting win in another Open two months ago.
In May he claimed the Kolon Korea Open for his third title on Asian Tour but first in three years. His victory was one of the most impressive of the season so far as the golf club, La Vie Est Belle (Dunes Course), was set up like a US Open venue. Overseas players winning in the Land of Morning Calm is also a rarity.
His win in Korea is also the reason why he is playing in The Open, as the tournament is part of this year’s Open Qualifying Series.
Talk about a Major baptism of fire. For Ryan Peake there was a mixture of nerves, excitement … and ultimately a large measure of regret at failing to take advantage of favourable early morning conditions on the opening day at the 153rd Open Championship. Report by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Portrush.
Teeing-off at 7.19 am (local time) in the fifth flight out at Royal Portrush Golf Club, the Australian stuttered to an error-strewn six-over-par 77. He said he felt like Santa Claus.
“I was like Father Christmas out there. I was just handing out presents to the golf course. I just kept throwing them (shots) away. It was very frustrating,” said the left-hander, who secured his maiden Major championship ticket courtesy of winning the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport in March.
While he may have given away a few gifts, Peake could at least be thankful for walking off with a number of mementos from his much-vaunted playing partner Phil Mickelson, namely a golf ball and glove, both signed by his fellow lefty, who thrilled the galleries with a one-under 70.
Peake [main picture with Mickelson] said: “His caddie gave away golf balls as we were walking off and I yelled out: ‘What about me?’ He had a laugh, thought I was being sarcastic. He said: ‘Are you serious’, and I said: ‘I’m deadly serious’.
Ryan Peake looks on from the rough on the second hole during day one of The 153rd Open. Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
“He (Mickelson) was a hero to me growing up. My own boy is out here this week and he loves him as well.”
Asked if the former Open champion had proffered any advice during the course of the round, Peake responded: “No, he wasn’t offering me help. I would have known I was in a bad place if he’d come over and started offering me help.
“But we chatted. He’s very friendly. We had a lot of normal chit-chat, talked about family. We talked about different things. Nothing in particular.”
Although he’ll treasure his Mickelson exchanges and keepsakes, Peake will also look back in anguish on what he knows was a missed opportunity.
“It looks like I’ve copped the best side of the draw, and I haven’t taken advantage of that at all. I’m very disappointed with the round. Not what I wanted. So, I’m pretty flat. I was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up,” was Peake’s brutally honest assessment of a scorecard that was scattered with no fewer than eight bogeys.
One of only two birdies came at the par-three 16th, among the more difficult holes on the course. Not that he took much comfort from that.
He said: “I’m sure if I was two-under going there, that hole looks a little bit more daunting. But when you’re seven-over, not much worse can happen. So it was easy to get up there and pull the trigger.
“It’s a course where you need to get off to good start … because as soon as you start trying to chase birdies, you can’t chase them. Everything is hard. You’ve got to play good golf. If you hit good golf shots, you get rewarded. If you hit poor ones, you get crucified for them. That’s what happened today.
Peake and his caddie walk on the first hole. Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Images.
“Obviously I was nervous. I wouldn’t say nervous because I was playing next to Phil. It’s just, I guess, your first Major and things like that. But I’ve just got to get better at that.”
Despite his downbeat mood, Peake, seventh in the current Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, acknowledged that all is not yet lost.
He said: “I’ve still got tomorrow and I’ll try and do something to make this cut. I’m definitely not counting myself out of it.
“But the whole experience, that’s something that I’ll look on further down the track. I’m here to compete. I’m in a competitive mode.”
For followers of Asian golf, arguably the most intriguing opening-round pairing at the 153rd Open Championship will be provided by Game 26. Report by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Portrush.
At 11.15 am tomorrow local time (Thursday), Asian Tour stars Sadom Kaewkanjana [main picture at Royal Portrush] and Sampson Zheng will launch their Royal Portrush campaigns alongside Japan’s Riki Kawamoto.
Adding further Asian flavour to the grouping will be the presence of Vu Nguyen as the designated referee. General Secretary of the Vietnam Golf Association, Vu represents the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation on The R&A’s Rules of Golf Committee.
While China’s Zheng is making his Open Championship debut, for Thai Sadom this will be his second taste of the action at the eldest of the four annual men’s Majors.
With Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO Cho Minn Thant and Chief Operating Officer David Rollo among those watching from the sidelines at this stunning venue, Sadom and Zheng are intent on elevating themselves into the global golfing spotlight.
Sadom Kaewkanjana is playing in The Open by virtue of winning the Kolon Korea Open – an Open Qualifying Series event. Picture by Chung Sung-Jun/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.
They’re also aware that strong performances here would further raise the profile of their ‘home’ circuit in the eyes of the golfing world.
While Zheng, who is celebrating his 24th birthday today, is relishing his first sampling of a Major championship, 27-year-old Sadom is calling on the experience he gained at St Andrews in 2022.
On that occasion, he produced a superb closing 65 to climb into a tie for 11th, the best finish by a Thai at The Open.
“I’m proud of my performance at St Andrews and I hope to do better and have a top-10 finish this week. Portrush is a longer course (than St Andrews), the rough is thicker and the greens are tricky,” said Sadom, before heading out for his final practice round.
“I’m feeling more confident with my game than I was last year,” added Sadom, who has made light of complications caused by his luggage being waylaid en route to Northern Ireland from Bangkok.
“I had to go out shopping for new clothes, but they’ve now located my suitcase at Heathrow and it should be arriving here today,” he said.
Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2019, Sadom rose to a high of 75th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) in 2022 after victory in the SMBC Singapore Open.
A quiet period followed, but the Thai has regained form this year, qualifying for Royal Portrush courtesy of winning May’s Kolon Korea Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series.
Third in the current Asian Tour Order of Merit standings and 262nd in the OWGR, Sadom says a good week here would be the ideal catalyst for a late-season surge. “Winning the Order of Merit is one of my targets,” added Sadom, who is looking forward to accompanying Zheng in round one.
Sadom’s victory in Korea was his third success on the Asian Tour. Picture by Chung Sung-Jun/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.
“I’ve played with Sampson a couple of times. He’s a good player and I’m pleased to be playing with him here. I feel relaxed playing with other Asian golfers,” said Sadom, who is being supported at Portrush by his girlfriend and members of his family.
Zheng can also count on plenty of family backing as he seeks to make a big impression.
A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Zheng finished runner-up in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne in late 2023, narrowly missing out on the reward of starting spots in last year’s Open and Masters Tournament.
Belatedly, his Major moment has now arrived – and he’s chomping at the bit.
“Whenever I play events, it’s about giving myself the best chance to win. This week is no different, even though it’s my first Major,” said Zheng, who turned professional mid-way through 2024 and made an immediate impact on the Asian Tour, finishing joint fourth in the International Series England and tied second in the Mandiri Indonesia Open.
Never short on self-belief, Zheng secured his starting place at Royal Portrush on the first day of July, firing rounds of 68 and 69 to take the second of five available places in Final Qualifying at West Lancashire.
Now, he’s setting his sights on bigger prizes. “I don’t want to sound arrogant, and I don’t want to say I can win, but I’m doing everything I can to get myself up there on the leaderboard.”
Wednesday this week is a big day for Sampson Zheng. He turns 24. However, the talented Japan-based Chinese star is hoping Sunday is even more special. Story by Joy Chakravarty, Asian Tour contributor, in Portrush.
Zheng, currently ranked 26th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit and a regular contender since turning pro at the start of last year, is making his major championship debut at the 153rd Open – which starts Thursday at the stunning Royal Portrush Golf Club.
He secured his place among the world’s finest by finishing second in the Final Qualifying event at West Lancashire with rounds of 68 and 69, two weeks ago.
“I am very excited. This is what I have dreamed of doing all my life. This is what I look forward to, and this is why I play golf,” said Zheng, one of seven Asian Tour members competing this week.
“Whenever I play events, it’s always about preparation and just giving myself the best chance to win. This week is no different, even though it’s my first major. I don’t want to sound arrogant, and I don’t want to say I can win, but I’m doing everything I can to get myself up there on the leaderboard. And whatever happens, I am not too worried about the result, but just the process.”
As part of his preparation, Zheng arrived early at Portrush and has a few practice rounds under his belt already. More importantly, he has also experienced the wind switch on the golf course, playing the HS Colt-redesigned gem in two very different conditions.
“After the International Series Morocco, I came here on Wednesday and probably played the course three times now. The rough is very penalising. Some areas of the course are very slopey, and even if you hit the fairway, you could end up with a rough ball, maybe in the fescue. Wind is obviously going to play a really big factor. But the course is designed in a way that if you position yourself right, there will be plenty of opportunities,” said Zheng, who finished tied 10th in Morocco at the start of the month.
“Depending on the pin or the wind, it’s going to change very dramatically. Easy holes could turn into very tough holes, and vice versa.
“Luckily, I have now played the course in different winds, which is very good practice. For example, take the par-five seventh. The first time I played it, it was driver, hybrid and a wedge to reach the green. Yesterday, I was actually able to reach it in two.”
The current season hasn’t been spectacular so far for Zheng, and Morocco was his best finish. That came about after switching to a new model of putter, which has helped him hole a few more.
“I had been struggling with my putting recently. A couple of weeks ago, I visited the Scottie Cameron workshop in California and got myself a new mallet putter, which I put straight into my bag before the Open qualifier. Found some magic in the qualifier and kind of carried it into Morocco as well. I’m hoping that keeps on,” said Zheng.
“I’d say I felt pretty comfortable on the course here. Speed control is key on a course like this, where the greens are much slower, and the new putter has been tremendous.”
Zheng came within a whisker of playing the 152nd Open when Australian Jasper Stubbs denied him a win at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in a play-off at the legendary Royal Melbourne Golf Club. A win would have earned him an invitation to the Masters as well.
As disappointing as that result was, it included an unforgettable third-round six-under par 65 when brutal winds and cement-like greens turned the Alister MacKenzie-designed course into a monster.
That preposterous Saturday round Down Under continues to augment Zheng’s immense self-belief. Also, for someone who does not have a lot of links golf experience, he also felt the conditions at Royal Melbourne were fantastic prep.
“I was really, really bummed that week at the AAC, but thankfully, everything worked out. I kind of used that as a fuel and played good after that. That tournament is part of the reason why I got here today as a pro. Things happen for a reason, but it always works out in the end, if you just keep knocking on the door,” said Zheng, whose career best finish on the Asian Tour is a tied second at the 2024 Mandiri Indonesia Open.
“That round is still very special to me. I navigated a very tough course, with high winds, pretty much perfectly. The conditions are pretty similar here in many ways. It will be windy, of course. The greens will not be as fast, but the pins will probably be around the same toughness as well. They really toughen it up for us at the AAC. So, definitely a lot of confidence, thinking back about that day.
“I haven’t played real links courses in this area of the world much, but playing Royal Melbourne was probably very close. The fairways were firm, and the wind was up when we played the AAC. So, I can hopefully bring my learnings from there to The Open.”
And then there is the matter of his birthday. With every member of his family – father, mum, and his younger sister, who is studying at the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston – with him, it would have been a nice celebration. But these are unusual times.
“My birthday is always around the tournament. It’s very, very cool. I’d watch The Open growing up and think that the nicest birthday present would be to be playing the tournament,” added Zheng, a standout performer for the University of California in his US college days.
“The celebration will be after the event. If it was on a Monday or Tuesday, we would have gone out and have dinner, but Wednesday is cutting it too close. My entire family is going to be here, and just playing this week is going to be fun for me anyway. We will save the celebration for Sunday.”
Pictures: Sampson Zheng during Final Qualifying. Courtesy Getty Images.
Morocco will remain a key destination on the calendar for The International Series, 10 top-tier events on the Asian Tour, following a landmark agreement with the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation (MRGF) under the continued patronage of the Royal Family.
A two-year agreement was confirmed on the sidelines of International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat last week, which was won by Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.
The news underscores Morocco’s rising status as a premier hub for world-class golf the region with a robust ecosystem committed to nurturing talent which includes two Asian Development Tour (ADT) events and further important initiatives that support the growth of the game in the country, from grassroots level upwards.
Rahul Singh [main picture], Head of The International Series, said: “We are very excited to share that we have an agreement with the Royal Moroccan Golf Association, with the patronage of the Royal Family, and can confirm that we will be back here for 2026 and for at least two years. We would like to thank His Majesty the King and his Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rashid.
“All parties understand our commitment to the growth of golf in all our tournament destinations and the wider Asia region, and we want to play an integral part in supporting Morocco’s rise in the regional and global golfing ecosystem as it becomes an important destination and leader for the industry in North Africa and the MENA region.”
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, with Jalil Benazzouz, from the Royal Moroccan Golf Association, pictured at a press briefing.
Recently, Morocco’s growing status was highlighted through the country’s qualification for the prestigious World Amateur Team Championships (WATC), which will be held this October at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
Jalil Bennazouz from the RMGF added: “The International Series exposes our local and regional talent to high-level international competition, and an extension of our current strong partnership offers an exceptional opportunity to further nurture them and empower them to further their undoubted potential.”
The 2025 International Series Morocco this year took on added significance as part of a broader strategic initiative to grow the game in the region. In the two weeks leading up to the event, Morocco hosted two ADT events which gave 40 players from the Arab Golf Federation the opportunity to compete with talent from the wider region for places in the field for the LIV Golf-backed event, the fourth of 10 on the Asian Tour calendar.
“The International Series has always been about creating pathways, generating opportunity, and growing the game,” added Singh. “In partnership with the Asian Tour and aligned with the principles of LIV Golf, we’re proud to bring these goals to life in a real and measurable way. While we offer a clearly defined pathway onto LIV Golf, these opportunities for regional talent are arguably even more significant. ”
The field in Morocco reflected the region’s deepening involvement in the global game, with 13 players from the Arab Golf Federation, including eight from Morocco, highlighting the tournament’s role as a launchpad for talent in the region.
“The tournament feeds directly into our mission to grow the talent, in a mixture of established and developing markets, and ensure that the game of golf continues to expand worldwide,” added Singh.
The International Series offers a pathway onto the LIV Golf League for the player who finishes top of the rankings at the end of the season.
Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.
The tree-lined Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is a place where you need to be accurate off both the tee and into the greens, and it was no surprise to see Scott Vincent holding the International Series Morocco trophy on Sunday afternoon.
The Zimbabwean has been in good form all year and, including Morocco, has now produced seven top-10s in 11 starts worldwide, including four top-fives in his last five events.
The key stats that stood out for Vincent last week were, appropriately, his accuracy off the tee and into the greens, plus avoiding bogies by excelling in scrambling when he did make mistakes.
The 33-year-old co-led the Fairways Hit stats after the third round and ended T7 in this category with 71.67% after dropping off slightly in the final round.
Scott Vincent prevailed thanks to making the most birdies and least bogies.
His approach game into the demanding greens was also very good, and with a 77.78% Greens in Regulation (GIR) he ranked fifth. This also gave Vincent plenty of opportunities for birdies, and he took full advantage and co-led the field with American Peter Uihlein with 20 birdies for the week.
Vincent also managed to keep bogies to a minimum, his six was the fewest of the players making the cut. This was mainly thanks to his excellent Scrambling where he ranked second with 81.25%.
His other stats for the week: Putts per Green 28.25 (T12), Putts per GIR 1.732 (14th) and Driving Distance 290.83 yards (45th).
Runner-up Danthai Boonma from Thailand started the final round eight shots behind the leader, but produced a stunning final round of 66, seven under par, equaling the lowest round of the week posted by Vincent on Friday.
Austen Truslow topped the GIR stats on his way to his best finish on the Asian Tour. He finished sixth.
Like the tournament champion he was also in control of his irons and with a GIR percentage of 80.56% he ranked third in this category. He was also good at converting his chances on the greens and with 18 birdies during the week he placed T8 in that table.
Danthai’s other stats for the week: Putts per Round 30.5 (T41), Putts per GIR 1.741 (17th), Driving Distance 301.38 yards (23rd) and Fairways Hit 60% (T25).
Statistics Categories leaders at the International Series Morocco (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – M.J. Maguire (USA): 26.75
- Putts per GIR – Nitithorn Thippong (THA): 1.675
- GIR – Austen Truslow (USA): 83.33%
- Fairways Hit – Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND): 76.67%
- Driving Distance – Bobby Bai (CHN): 325.88 yards
- Most Eagles – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Manav Shah (USA), Nitithorn Thippong (THA), Takumi Murakami (JPN): 2
- Most Birdies – Scott Vincent (ZIM), Peter Uihlein (USA): 20
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Scott Vincent (ZIM): 6
- Scrambling – Miguel Carballo (ARG): 84.21%
- Bounce back – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA): 53.85%
Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.
Scott Vincent’s popular and brilliant victory in the International Series Morocco at the weekend catapulted him into first place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – having started the week in 18th position.
He also leapt into second on The International Series Rankings, from 45th, confirming what everyone knew already: that the Zimbabwean is back to his best.
He has been trending all year. The week before Morocco he’d finished third in the Japan Players Championship and in May he was fourth in the Kolon Korea Open – one of four top-12 finishes on the Asian Tour this season, prior to Morocco.
However, the 33-year-old from Harare who is now based in the United States, explained on Sunday it was far from plain sailing despite winning by four from Thailand’s Danthai Boonma.
“It’s always tough to know,” said Vincent, who led by one shot over Danthai after 14 holes before pulling away with three birdies in his last four, including a celebratory 20-footer on the last.
Scott Vincent hits his approach to 18 to set up a 20-foot birdie putt that he duly drained.
“Starting with the lead, you know you’re in a good spot, but I try not to look at the leaderboards. That way, I never really know exactly where I stand.
“There had been some great rounds all week — seven under, six under — and I knew the guys in contention were capable of going low. Through nine holes, I was even par and felt like I was getting left behind. I just had to hang in there.
“The last few holes offer some good opportunities, and fortunately, I was able to make a few birdies coming in. That ended up creating a bit of separation. But honestly, even on the final hole, I felt like I needed at least a two-putt, not knowing I had a three-shot lead.”
It was his second win on the Asian Tour, the first coming in the International Series England in June of 2022 – the year he claimed The International Series Rankings to earn a place on the star-studded LIV Golf League.
Vincent says he can’t put his finger on what has triggered his fine form this year.
He said: “Honestly, I don’t know exactly. I feel like I’ve been doing the same things I’ve done for the past couple of years. But I’ve been more consistent with the little things, and over time, that adds up.”
Vincent remarkably hit 17 greens in regulation on Sunday.
He excelled playing for Iron Head GC on LIV in 2022, finishing fourth individually in Singapore and Jeddah. Those performances helped secure his playing rights for the ensuing season and after victory in Morocco he is even more determined to get back on the LIV stage.
“The goal with The International Series is to give yourself a real shot by the end of the year. Winning early helps a lot — it gives you more opportunities to perform well going forward.
“The Series has been great for me. It’s how I ended up on LIV Golf a couple of years ago, so I know what it means. This boosts me up significantly, and we’ll see where it leads. There are still a lot of tournaments left.”
Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.
July 6: Scott Vincent never gave his rivals any opportunity as he cruised to a composed four-shot win in the US$2 million International Series Morocco.
At the par-73 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course on Sunday, the Zimbabwean put together a masterclass in ball striking with 17 greens in regulation, and his only mistakes were two three-putt bogeys in a round of three-under par 70. That took his four-day tally to 14-under 278, four better than Thailand’s fast-charging Danthai Boonma (66).
American Peter Uihlein (71) again faced closing trouble on the Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course and dropped to a tie for third place after three birdies on the front nine had brought him to within a shot of leader Vincent. New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia (69) and Australian Maverick Antcliff (72) joined him on nine-under par.
Austen Truslow, the 6-feet-5-inch-tall American who had several top-fives playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, finished with three birdies in a row to take solo sixth place, his best finish on the Asian Tour.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour
It was Vincent’s second win on the Asian Tour, both in International Series events, and comes exactly three years and one month after his last victory in the 2022 International Series England. It takes him to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and to No.2 in The International Series Rankings behind Australian Lucas Herbert.
On Sunday, Vincent started with a three-putt bogey, but that never threw him out of gear. What was more important was that when leading by one shot over Danthai after 14 holes, the 33-year-old closed with three birdies in his last four holes, including a 20-footer on the 18th for a grandstand finish.
After losing his card on LIV Golf last year, Vincent is enjoying a brilliant run of form in 2025 with his childhood friend Kyle Basson on his bag. This is his eighth top-12 finish this season in 11 worldwide starts.
“It’s hard to put in words, but what an amazing week, what an amazing day. This is incredible, so amazing to be here and so thankful,” said Vincent.
“It was a challenge, for sure, because I didn’t know where I was standing, and it just felt like I was missing all those opportunities.
“But what can you do? You just have to get on to the next hole and try and do your best from there. And then I look up on the last and it’s a three-shot lead. And I was like, ‘wow, it all paid off!’”
Danthai Boonma of Thailand. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour
Vincent also becomes the sixth multiple International Series winner after Uihlein, Mexico’s Carlo Ortiz, New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, American Andy Ogletree and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut.
Vincent said the key to doing well on a tree-lined course like Royal Dar Es Salam was to accept that mistakes will be made.
“You can’t really try to avoid bogeys – they happen. But I had a clear game plan and just focused on executing it. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t, but it’s about hitting the best shot in front of you each time,” added Vincent.
“This week, the strategy, the way I played, and even some bounces just went my way. It’s special. This kind of week only happens occasionally. And to do it alongside my close friend and caddie, Kyle, makes it really cool.”
Danthai finished nearly two hours before the final group came in, and his magnificent round of 66 set the marker in the clubhouse. That included an eagle from 12 feet on the drivable par-4 17th hole, where he smashed a brilliant drive.
“I had no thoughts in my mind. I mean, I just played shot-by-shot. I hit it really good. I hit it on the fairway and then hit it on the green, and then just made a putt. I started with a birdie on the second hole, the par-three, which is a bit hard, and it was just momentum after that,” said the Thai.
Peter Uihlein of the USA. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour
Uihlein was left to rue his performance on the closing holes over the last three rounds, after making four straight birdies from the 15th hole onwards in Thursday’s opening round.
“It felt okay, but those last five holes the whole week kind of kicked my teeth in. I mean, I made 20 birdies this week and only shot nine-under. So, all in all, pretty solid but we just got to clean up some of the sloppy bogeys,” Uihlein said.
The next International Series tournament on the Asian Tour is the Indonesian Masters at Royal Jakarta Golf Club from 2-5 October.
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