Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, one of the shortest hitters in the field playing one of the longest and toughest courses of the season, proved that distance isn’t everything today by taking the third-round lead in the Kolon Korea Open – on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club.

Poom, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour, returned a two-under-par 69, helped by a brilliant day on the greens, to lead by one, on seven under, and put himself on the road to an unlikely victory.

His compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana, paired in the same final group today, is in second place after also shooting 69. The third member of their group, Songgyu Yoo, the leader at the start of the day, is next best placed two shots back. The Korean led for much of the day, but triple bogeyed the 16^th – if not for that he would have been the joint leader.

The statistics show that Poom was the shortest off the tee for the first two rounds, out of the players who made the cut. He averaged 250.67 yards, which is very short by today’s standards. However, he has let his touch, and indeed his calm temperament, doing the talking on a golf course that mirrors the set-up of a Major, and is not taking any prisoners.

Sadom Kaewkanjana.

He made three birdies and dropped only one shot, draining putt after important putt, like the 12-footer for par on the 15^th, and another from the same length for par on the next. On the last it looked like he might drop a shot after finding a green bunker, that left him with a difficult shot from 46 yards. Undeterred he splashed out to a foot and tapped in for par.

“Good up and downs, really good,” said Poom, who last win was the Yeangder TPC in 2023.

“I putted better than I expected, but my shots were not as good as I expected too. Maybe I got a little bit chicken, I think, because I was in a good position, so my swing wasn’t as consistent.”

Victory tomorrow also brings with it a place in The Open, as this week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.

It’s an incredible additional prize but that’s not on his mind too much.

He added: “No, to win this would be big enough, winning is big enough.”

Sadom has not tasted victory since winning the SMBC Singapore Open five years ago. He was joint second in the season opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open and will have another great chance tomorrow to finally get his hands on some more silverware.

“I played with Poom today and will tomorrow. He played so well, and his short game is fantastic. The putting was so good, so just fun to play with him.

“Tomorrow is going to be fun and a big incentive to try and make it into The Open.”

Songgyu Yoo.

The Thai finished joint 11^th in the only time he played in The Open, in 2022.

Yoo, the tournament’s surprise package with only a handful of top-10s on the Korean PGA over the past decade, was left to rue the costly par-five 16^th, where he second found trouble.

He explained: “I hit the ball into the penalty area (hazard), so that was unfortunate. My shot went right, it was just a miss. The ball went where it shouldn’t have gone. I was going for the green.”

Korean Yunseok Kang is in fourth spot, four off the lead, following a 68, ahead of compatriot Giwhan Kim, a stroke behind after a 72.

Zimbabwean Scott Vincent fired a 72 and is in a group of six players six behind Poom.

Picture courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Korean Songgyu Yoo [main picture] enjoyed one of the proudest days of his golfing career today by taking the halfway lead in the tournament that means the most to him, the Kolon Korea Open.

He shot a second-round four-under-par 67 for a two-stroke lead, on seven-under, from Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who fired a 68. Poom’s countryman Sadom Kaewkanjana is one shot back after a 69.

It meant for the second successive day a relative unknown leads the way in the nation’s flagship event, after Korean Yujun Jung, a pre-qualifier, was the surprise leader yesterday. He shot a 76 today, not a bad result after being eight over after eight, and is six behind.

The Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club, which is hosting this event for the first time, is proving to be a brutal test of golf. Built into a steep sided valley, each hole is virtually on its own plateau. It’s also been configured like a Major: the fairways are narrow landing strips, greens racy and pin placements stringent.

Yoo, however, is comfortably winning the war of attrition. He made five birdies and dropped one shot looking like a proven winner, even though he has yet to win a professional event. Past experience here is proving invaluable.

Poom Saksansin.

“I’ve played Monday qualifying here two or three times before,” he said.

“Every time I’ve come, it’s always felt like a good fit. The other course here [the Old Course] is difficult, but this one feels comfortable.”

Few of his peers would agree with that, so he will be one of the few heading into the weekend with confidence.

“I thought I would play with the same mentality as the first round. The fairways are narrow, but I hit seven of them. When I missed the fairway, I focused on getting it on the green rather than going for the flagstick. I just had to be prepared for long putts.”

He said he also has his eye firmly set on the prize that comes with winning this week: a place in The Open at Royal Portrush in July.

Poom made seven birdies, five on the back nine, offset by four bogeys.

“Better than I expected, because I haven’t played well for long time, about a year and a half,” he said.

Jed Morgan.

“So, it’s a good chance to have a good result this week. I’ve kept trying a new swing, I think, almost every day, and I got some good feeling on the driving range this week.”

When asked why the course is so challenging, he responded: “Pin positions, I think, and some holes are long, and the pins are really tough. But I was lucky, I got into good positions, easy to get it up and down. Sometimes it was difficult to get it up and down, but I made a long putt to save it.”

He added he feels he needs to fade the ball over the weekend to have a chance.

Australian Jed Morgan is next best placed after a 72. He is four off the pace, tied with Korean Giwhan Kim, in with 70.

Morgan just kept his card last year, finishing 64^th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – the leading 65 retain their playing privileges – and is making the most of it this season.

“Yeah, it’s been consistent, this season for sure,” said Morgan, who is presently 21^st on the Merit list, having made five out of six cuts.

Scott Vincent. 

“I’m proud of the way I responded, just kept my card obviously last year and I’m happy the way I’ve started this year. So hopefully some fireworks are to come.”

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent is another shot back in a group of players and has a chance to achieve the rare feat of qualifying for two Majors in the space of a week. He successfully negotiated a US Open Final Stage Qualifier in Japan on Monday and would dearly like to also book his ticket to Portrush on Sunday.

He too was delighted to come off the course better than par: “Amazing day, amazing round. Only hit two fairways. More than happy with that.”

Korean Doyeob Mun, who won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at the beginning of the month, chose to by-pass putting all together in order to get into contention. He aced the par-three eighth and on the 18^th he chose to chip on the green to overcome the undulations and promptly holed out for a birdie. It meant he had the best round of the day, a 66, and moved to even par in a tie for 16th.

Richard T. Lee is further back on three over but that return meant he made his 22^nd successive cut after shooting a 71. The cut was made at plus four. He last missed a cut on the Asian Tour at the International Series Singapore in October of 2023. The impressive run reflects the form of one of the inform players over the past few seasons. That also includes on the Korean PGA Tour this year, where he has triumphed once in a play-off, and finished second – also after a play-off loss, just last week.

Picture courtesy of the Korean Golf Association.

Japan has been good to Zimbabwe’s star golfer Scott Vincent. Three victories on the main tour there – two in 2021 and another the following year – helped launched his career after a string of runner-up results since turning professional in 2017.

Earlier this week, on Monday, the Land of the Rising Sun delivered once again. He successfully negotiated a US Open Final Stage qualifier at Tarao Country Club, Shiga Prefecture. Three places were up for grabs, and he tied first with the country’s rising star Yuta Sugiura.

It means that in just three weeks he will make his debut in the US Open – which is being played at Oakmont Country Club, the second week of June. It will also be only the second time he has played in a Major, and the 33-year-old is thrilled to be adding another feather to his cap.

“It’s always been a goal, of course, you know, you want to play with the best in the world,” said Vincent, after moving into contention at the Kolon Korea Open today following a second round four-under-par 67.

“You want to play the US Open, you know, they say it’s the hardest tournament in golf – they tend to set up just that way. What a challenge it’s going to be. Really looking forward to just trying to figure it out, you know, put those puzzle pieces together, and, hopefully it comes right, but regardless, you know, what an amazing opportunity.”

Vincent pictured winning the Mizuno Open in 2022, which earned him a place in The Open, his first Major. Picture by Toru Hanai/R&A via Getty Images.

He first played in a Major three years ago at The Open. He booked his ticket for that thanks to winning the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in Japan, at the end of May, the week before claiming the International Series England, his sole win to date on the Asian Tour.

The fact that this week’s course, La Vie Est Belle, has been set up like a US Open venue – it’s long, has very narrow fairways and fast greens – could be timely.

He said: “Playing this course definitely helps. Yeah, I think I just got to go and see it [Oakmont]. That’s the plan. I’m trying to get there the week before and take a look at it, then go back and prepare and then come on back.”

He shot back-to-back 67s on Monday to qualify on 10 under – a perfect early birthday present as he turned 33 the following day.

The fine result comes off the back of a strong start to the season. Surprisingly, he missed the cut in the International Series Japan presented by Moutai at the start of this month, but he has impressed with top-10s in the Philippines and India. He was also in the hunt in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also here in Korea, three weeks ago before finishing in a tie for 12^th.

A week after winning the Mizuno Open in Japan he claimed the International Series England.

He explains: “It [form] just comes and goes. But I think overall, you know, the picture is feeling more positive. It feels like we’re heading in the right direction, always making little tweaks here and there, and just trying to figure out what’s going to work well. And I like where it’s heading. You know, it doesn’t always perform, but I like the direction, and so I’m just going to stick with it.”

Vincent’s qualification for the US’s National Open is particularly significant as he has lived in the States for 12 years and his wife Kelsey is American. He also played college golf at Virgina Tech, between 2011 and 2014. He currently lives between places in Florida, for golf, and Colorado, for family – he explains.

He’s very well positioned heading into the weekend here at Korea’s flagship event, just five behind the leader Songgyu Yoo from Korea.

A victory here would complete a unique double in the space of a week for Vincent as first place brings with it a place in The Open in July – as the tournament is part of Open Qualifying Series. The Korea Open, the US Open and The Open hat-trick is on!

Qualifier Yujun Jung from Korea is the surprise first-round leader at the Kolon Korea Open, after he carded a six-under-par 65 on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club – north-east of the capital Seoul.

Jung made it through a 36-hole pre-qualifier, at the same venue, earlier in the month and drew on that experience to set the pace today, shooting the only spotless bogey-free round of the day. It was an impressive result considering the penal set-up. At 7,423 yards it is long and, as is the norm at this tournament, it has been configured like a US Open course with exceptionally narrow fairways and fast greens.

He made six birdies and leads by two from Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Australian Jed Morgan, both in with 67s – in what is the 67^th staging of Korea’s flagship event and the seventh stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Jung, aged 22, only debuted on the Korean PGA Tour two years ago but showed little sign of his inexperience at this level today.

“The course was harder than in qualifying,” he said. “The pin placements are tricky, and the greens are fast. Plus, the teeing area has been moved back and the rough is longer.”

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture courtesy Korea Golf Association.

He started on the back nine, making birdie on his opening hole, the 10^th. Birdies on 13, 17, one, five and six followed.

“Overall, I was happy with all my play. My tee shots have been shaky lately, but today both my tee shots and putting were good. The birdie putts dropped,” he added.

“The fairways are very narrow, but I was able to overcome that because I had good tee shots. I didn’t have a good flow in the beginning of the round, but it got better and better. I think I’m improving little by little.”

He said he’s also been working on hitting the ball further – a big advantage on this week’s layout.

He explained: “My distance has increased since last year. I am hitting it long now and can hit up to 300 metres. Round one is now over. There are still three days left. I’ll try to play with the same mindset as in the first round.”

Phachara, still looking for his second win on the Asian Tour despite a plethora of second-place finishes – 10 to be exact – was delighted with his strong start.

“Surprised to shoot four under today, on a difficult course. I didn’t have any expectations. Just wanted to relax, play freely and not be serious.

Jed Morgan.

“I have not been playing much as I have been spending time with family, nursing a few minor injuries. I have been resting a lot but now my game is starting to gradually come. It’s on the up.”

He made five birdies and dropped just one shot.

He added: “The course is difficult. If you hit your driver well, you can make a good score. But also, if you miss your driver on the correct side, you can still score well.”

His compatriot Denwit Boriboonsub, and Korea’s Minsu Kim, an amateur, Jeunghun Wang, Songgyu Yoo and Junhung Jang are tied for fourth following 68s.

A shot back are Giwhan Kim, Jinho Choi and Doyeon Hwang from Korea, plus Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Poom Saksansin and Suteepat Prateeptienchai

Defending champion Minkyu Kim had a disappointing day. The Korean, who also won in 2022, fired an 81.

La Vie Est Belle is hosting the tournament for the first time. The past 21 editions have been held at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, but the venue is undergoing course renovations necessitating a change in venue.

Australian Ryan Peake says he fully intends to ‘capitalise’ on his victory at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport in March and is working hard to ‘get over’ that emotional week.

After shooting an even-par 71 in the first round of the Kolon Korea Open today, being played on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club, the burly lefthander said: “I’m still getting congratulated most places I go. But you know, as far as myself, I think I can move on from that. It’s a little while ago now, and you know, it was great. But I don’t want to just get excited about one week. I want to use that one week and then capitalise on the opportunities it’s given me.”

Travelling to play events overseas on the Asian Tour for the first time is part of the process. This week is just his second event outside of Australia on the Asian Tour; he missed the cut by two strokes three weeks ago in his first: the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also in Korea.

“Obviously, after winning in New Zealand I just had so much on my plate. There was so much to sort out and things like that. So, yeah, I wasn’t kind of in the best head space as such. You know, I’m still trying to get over that, at the moment,” he explained.

“But look, I’m trying to just come out and take the thinking away from it a little bit and try and just enjoy it a little bit more – instead of trying to, maybe, put so much pressure on myself to keep it rolling. If I just have fun and just do my natural stuff, then it will just come.”

Ryan Peake pictured with the winner’s trophy at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. Picture by Steve McArthur/Photosport.

His win New Zealand completed a remarkable Hollywood-style comeback story. He dramatically holed a 10-foot par putt on the par-three 18^th at Millbrook Resort, in Queenstown, to triumph by one in his first ever Asian Tour event.

Ten years earlier, at the age of 21, he was jailed for five years for assault. He was a member of the Rebels bike gang, having earlier been a promising amateur golfer in Western Australia.

Renowned golf coach Ritchie Smith – who works with Minjee Lee, her brother Min Woo and Hannah Green – was able to re-ignite his interest in the game and get him back on track.

“You know, it was coming,” says the 32-year-old of his win. “It was just trying to basically commit to what I was continuing to do and just wait for it to switch. It was a matter of time, when it was going to happen. And, you know, luckily for me, it honestly happened on the right week.”

Like this week’s event, the New Zealand Open is part of the Open Qualifying Series, so Peake’s brilliant performance earned him a place in this summer’s Open championship at Royal Portrush.

He says: “The Open is coming up. Look it hasn’t really sunk in yet. Yes, I’ve still got a couple events before I get there as well. I’m sure it will sink in probably the week before or the week of. But, you know, every day it’s getting closer.”

Peake is six shots behind clubhouse leader Yujun Jung from Korea, who carded a 65, after the morning session today. Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai is next best placed after a 67.

Ryan Peake is congratulated by former Open winner Ian Baker-Finch after booking his Open berth in New Zealand. Picture by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.

The Australian felt he could have easily been two or three under but said he needs to work out how to find the tight fairways to avoid the rough and having to deal with ‘flyers’.

All probably first world problems for the rising star who has turned his game and life around.

Korean Minkyu Kim [main picture centre left] has owned the Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD for the past three years: he won in 2022, tied for fourth the following year, and savoured victory again last year.

This week he will attempt to become only the fourth player to lift the famous trophy, considered to be the most sought after title in Korean golf, more than twice when the tournament tees-off on Thursday on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club – in Gangwon province, a few hours drive north-east of Seoul.

In English La Vie Est Belle means life is beautiful and that has certainly been the case for Kim in this event. And he revealed this week that his success has in part been helped by watching Northern Ireland’s Rory Mcllroy play in the tournament over a decade ago.

“When I was a kid,” said the 24-year-old, “I remember following Rory Mcllroy, in the gallery, when he played the Korea Open. I was jumping up and down with excitement. It didn’t mean quite so much at the time, but now that I’ve won two titles, those memories are special to me. It’s connected. If I can win a third, I think I’ll be a true ‘Man of the Open’.”

Mcllroy, who won the Masters last month to become only the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam, finished second in Korea’s National Open in 2011 and 2013.

Minkyu Kim is all smiles after winning last year. Picture courtesy of the KGA Tournament Committee.

Two years ago Kim ended eight shots behind runaway winner Seungsu Han from the United States. He says he was disappointed not to successfully defend his title – something six players have done – but has a greater belief in his ability this time around.

Said Kim: “I tried to win the title two years ago but was unsuccessful. However, having won the Korea Open twice, I’ll be playing with more confidence this time.”

This year marks the first time the tournament has been played La Vie Est Belle. The past 21 editions have been staged at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, where Kim enjoyed his two victories. The greens are being redone at Woo Jeong Hills, so a change of venue was required.

On this week’s course, Kim said: “The course is generally wide, but there are a few holes that are trickier than I expected. I’m definitely going to play those holes carefully – you can’t afford to make mistakes there.”

Since its launch in 1958, seven other players have won the event twice, while Changsang Han has triumphed a record seven times – remarkably, four successive times from 1964, and three on-the-trot from 1970. Daesub Kim from Korea, Chinese-Taipei’s Hsieh Yung-yo, and American Orville Moody are the only other players to have claimed the title more than twice. Kim won twice and as an amateur, while Moody, the 1969 US Open champion, won the first three editions.

A brilliant field has assembled for the 67^th staging of the tournament – which is the seventh event of the season on the Asian Tour, and the circuit’s second visit of the year to the Land of Morning Calm.

Rory McIlroy in action at 56th Kolon Korea Open. Picture by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images.

LIV Golf star Danny Lee from New Zealand, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – the winner of this event in 2019 – and Korean Doyeob Mun, who claimed the GS Caltex Maekyung Open last month and is third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, the highest ranked player in the field, are competing.

Australian lefthander Ryan Peake, who won the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport, and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent are playing.

Vincent arrives here on the crest of a wave after qualifying for the US Open on Monday at a qualifier in Japan. Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and David Boriboonsub from Thailand, who both lost in a play-off for the third and final spot in that qualifier, are also here.

Richard T. Lee of Canada is another in-from player who will start. He finished second at last week’s SK Telecom Open on the Korean PGA Tour after coming up short in a play-off against Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, who is also here. Lee, who finished a career-best third on last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit, won the Woori Bank Finance Championship on the same tour in late April after a three-way play-off and is presently second on the money list in Korea.

Korean Sangmoon Bae will also tee it up. He is the only other multiple winner of this tournament in the field, having won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009.

The prestigious tournament is part of the Open Qualifying Series, with the leading player not otherwise exempt making it through to The Open at Royal Portrush in July.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD
• Date: May 22-25, 2025
• Venue: La Vie Est Belle (Dunes Course), Chuncheon, Korea
• Par/Yards: 71 / 7,423 yards
• Purse: KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,008,000)
• Defending champion: Minkyu Kim (KOR)
• Asian Tour leg: Seventh
• Edition of tournament: 67^th
• Total number of players: 144
• Format: Stroke play tournament over 4 rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes for leading 60 players (including amateurs) plus ties.
• Open Qualifying Series (OQS) event – The leading player not already exempt, who makes the cut at the Kolon Korea Open will earn a place in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush from 13-20 July 2025
• Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise

This week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series. Koreans Minkyu Kim and Younghan Song made it through last year.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Jeev Milkha Singh (2006, 2008)
• Nationalities: 15
• Top contenders: Richard T. Lee (CAN), Doyeob Mun (KOR), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Minkyu Kim (KOR), Danny Lee (NZL), Travis Smyth (AUS), Scott Vincent (ZIM)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Richard T. Lee (CAN) #164
• Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Doyeob Mun (KOR) #4
• Number of amateurs: 6
• Number of Korean players in the field: 96

Tournament Notes

• Richard T. Lee of Canada finished second at last week’s SK Telecom Open on the Korean PGA Tour last week after coming up short in a play-off against Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, but as consolation he reached a career high ranking on the OWGR sitting in 164^th position this week. He also won the Woori Bank Finance Championship on the same tour in late April after a three-way play-off. Lee 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. He also had a good start this season with top-10s in his first two Asian Tour starts, finishing fifth in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and T10 in the International Series India presented by DLF. Lee continued his impressive cut streak on the Asian Tour to 21 events at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, and the last time he missed a cut on the Asian Tour was at the International Series Singapore in October of 2023.

Doyeob Mun won when the Asian Tour last visited Korea – three weeks ago.

• GS Caltex Maekyung Open winner Doyeob Mun from Korea has been great form recently, shown by his spectacular final round 63 at the difficult Namseoul Country Club track. At his latest Asian Tour tournament, the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, he finished tied 37^th. In addition to his win at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, Mun has three Korean PGA Tour titles on his CV.
• The 2019 Korea Open winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour, has seen his game return to good form and he finished T2 at the recent GS Caltex Maekyung Open after being the joint leader after three rounds. He also recorded a top 10 at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn six weeks earlier. The now 29-year-old won this tournament in 2019, the season in which he won four titles and the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown, beating Korean Innchoon Hwang by one shot at Woo Jeong Hills.

Jazz Janewattananond claimed Korea’s National Open in 2019.

• The defending champion Minkyu Kim of Korea, who also won this tournament in 2022, has mainly been playing on the DP World Tour this season, with T8 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February as his best result. Kim finished second in the Korean PGA Tour’s Genesis Points rankings in 2024 after two victories, thereby earning his ticket onto the DP World Tour. He made his debut on the LIV Golf League recently at their inaugural Korean event.
• Korean born New Zealander Danny Lee who plays on Kevin Na’s Iron Heads team on the LIV Golf League, has one LIV title on his resume after winning the Tucson event in 2023. He also famously won the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic on the DP World Tour while still an amateur, a year after winning the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst. He was the number one ranked amateur in the world from August 2008 until turning pro in April 2009. This season on the LIV Golf League Lee has a T9 at LIV Miami as his best result.
• Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe has had a bit of a mixed bag of results on the Asian Tour this season, with top 10s in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open and International Series India Presented by DLF, a T12 in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, after being in fifth place after three rounds, but also two missed cuts in Japan and Macau. In his lone start on the Japan Golf Tour in 2025 he posted a T9 at the Maezawa Cup in late April. Vincent has one Asian Tour victory on his resume, the 2022 International Series England, along with three on the Japan Golf Tour coming in 2021 and 2022. He’s coming into this week on a high because at the weekend he successfully secured one of the three places up for grabs at a US Open qualifying event, played in Japan.
• Australian Travis Smyth is one of Asian Tour’s most prolific high performers, and could be looked upon as being overdue for his second Asian Tour title after winning the 2022 Yeangder TPC. He has been in good form this season posting T10s in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the International Series India presented by DLF, a T15 in the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport and a T16 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open. Smyth was T5 and only three shots out of the lead going into Sunday at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, before a final round of 75 derailed his chances. His worst finish in six Asian Tour events of 2025 has been a T24, and he also finished T3 in the Webex Players Series Sydney hosted by Peter O’Malley on the Australian Tour in late February.
• Former Presidents Cup (2015) player Sangmoon Bae is the only player in the field other than the defending champion Kim that has won his national Open twice, in 2008 and 2009. The Korean holds an impressive resume with two PGA Tour titles, three on the Japan Golf Tour, nine on the Korean Tour and three on the Asian Tour.

Playing tournament golf in Japan is always a memorable experience and at the recently staged International Series Japan presented by Moutai, competitors chose to honour this in the best way possible – by giving back to the community.

A wealth of competitors, including the champion Lucas Herbert from Australia, donated equipment to the Japan High School and Junior High School Golf Association, one of the nation’s leading supporters of grassroots golf.

Golf balls, hats and gloves were all gifted to the association during the week, helping to ensure the country’s up-and-coming golfers have a surplus of quality golf products.

The contributions helped played an important part in an unforgettable week at Caledonian Golf Club, which marked the first time The International Series had visited Japan.

Said Herbert after his win: “I had the pleasure of first coming to play in Japan as an amateur at the start of my career and it’s just a special place. I had some of the best food I have ever had this week, and it’s just been an incredible experience.”

Lucas Herbert. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Yuta Sugiura, one of Japan’s rising stars and a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, finished as the leading local player in a tie for second place.

The 23-year-old is an inspiration to the country’s next generation of golfers, including the aspiring golfers at the Japan High School.

“We are so grateful to the Asian Tour and The International Series for these wonderful donations to our students,” said Hisahiko Inoue [main picture with Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour], Chairman, Japan High School and Junior High School Golf Association.

“These gifts will be a great incentive to our golfers to try and reach the next level and follow in the footsteps of players like Yuta Sugiura. Golf in Japan continues to be very popular and we are trying to play our part in helping it to grow.”

Five players from Japan finished in the top-10 at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai – including Jinichiro Kozuma, who plays on the LIV Golf League – showcasing the strength in depth of the powerful golfing nation.

The completion of the International Series Japan presented by Moutai at the weekend – won so magnificently by Australian Lucas Herbert – meant for the third successive event The International Series boasted a strong presenting partner.

And with the International Series Cambodia presented by Royal Group recently unveiled, The International Series is most definitely in the spotlight in 2025.

All 10 events have now been finalised with five boasting presenting partners. Four of them are groundbreaking inaugural tournaments while another features a brand new title sponsor, highlighting the growing attraction of the brand.

Launched in March 2022 as a LIV Golf-backed series of elevated events on the Asian Tour, the series got underway at the International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand.

Since that inaugural tournament, the series has visited 15 countries including destinations in the Middle East, North Africa and the United Kingdom, firmly establishing The International Series as a global brand, while providing the best playing opportunities to elite golfers as well as the best regional and local talent.

Fast forward to May 2025. The series continues to expand, with four new markets this season, in India, Japan, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Picture by Graham Uden/54.

The addition of a legacy event, the Singapore Open, further strengthens a robust calendar which also features welcome returns to Macau, Morocco, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

The growing appeal of the brand is evident by the addition of strong commercial partnerships supporting each of the new events.

Giant real estate company DLF was presenting partner of the International Series India; Chinese beverage maker Moutai presented the International Series Japan; Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group will present the International Series Cambodia, and Bingo Plus will present the International Series Philippines.

Earlier this year saw the second edition of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, further evidence of the brand’s appeal.

Moutai has also been named as title sponsor of the storied Singapore Open, a legacy event in the region which returns to the Asian Tour calendar after a hiatus of three years.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “The International Series is making a real impact on the industry and contributing to an unheralded new era for the sport, transforming the golf landscape for everyone, from global superstars to regional talent and prodigious amateurs.

“Driven by our unique offering, we have made significant commercial strides particularly in 2025, welcoming numerous new partners, cementing the allure of The International Series as one of the most attractive opportunities in men’s professional golf.”

The impact of The International Series is not just commercial. A number of players from the Asian Tour have taken the pathway to the LIV Golf League in the past four years, while the appearance of superstars such as Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann and Patrick Reed on the series has further elevated the offering.

Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said: “LIV Golf is committed to creating more player pathways throughout professional golf, and The International Series continues to play a huge role in the sport’s global growth.

“The Series is bringing many of golf’s biggest names to new markets while opening opportunities for the stars of tomorrow to compete with the very best, and we couldn’t be more excited for its future.”

Next stop on the series is the International Series Morocco – being played at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), 3-6 July.

LIV Golf star Lucas Herbert put on a putting masterclass to win the International Series Japan presented by Moutai last week, at Caledonian Golf Club.

The 29-year-old from Australia topped the Putts per Greens in Regulation (GIR) category with 1.531, with Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai second on 1.583. Herbert also ranked third in Putts per Round with 26.75, behind only Korean Younghan Song, with 26.25, and Atiruj, on  26.5.

Thanks to his brilliant performance on the greens, Herbert impressively posted under-par scores on 37.5% of the holes, and led both the Most Birdies and Most Eagles categories for the week with 23 birdies and four eagles respectively.

His other stats for the week were also strong: Driving Distance 307.2 yards (10^th), Fairways Hit 64.29% (T18), and  GIR 68.06 (T35).

Younghan Song. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Japan’s Yuta Sugiura was very good at keeping bogeys off his scorecard, making only two for the 72 holes and four less than anyone else who made the cut. He also produced solid stats in the Putts per Round and GIR categories with 27.5 (T9) and 72.22% respectively.

Song not only topped Putts per Round but also led both the Putts per Round and Putts per GIR categories after three rounds, and was sixth in Putts per GIR with 1.617.

Statistics Categories leaders at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai (of players making the cut):

• Putts per Round – Younghan Song (KOR): 26.25
• Putts per GIR – Lucas Herbert (AUS): 1.531
• GIR – Sarit Suwannarut (THA): 79.17%
• Fairways Hit – Bio Kim (KOR): 92.86%
• Driving Distance – Ervin Chang (MAS): 322 yards
• Most Eagles – Lucas Herbert (AUS): 4
• Most Birdies – Lucas Herbert (AUS): 23
• Fewest Bogies or Worse – Yuta Sugiura (JPN): 2
• Scrambling – Jinichiro Kozuma (JPN): 80.00%
• Bounce back – Jeunghun Wang (KOR), Jinichiro Kozuma (JPN): 50%