Voice of Asian Tour Dom Boulet excited about game changing era
Commentator Dom Boulet is known for his expertise by golf fans all over the world thanks to his deep knowledge of the game.
He will be even more on point for viewers this week commentating on the Link Hong Kong Open, having played the tournament multiple times as an amateur and professional before trading in the clubs for the mic and headphones to work behind the camera.
Boulet, a Hong Kong native, managed a fourth and sixth-placed finish as well as multiple top-20 placings in just under 20 starts as an amateur and professional, in groups featuring the late, great Payne Stewart, Peter Senior and Scott Hoch to name just a few.
This year’s tournament features Major winners Justin Rose and Patrick Reed, as well as rising star Tom Kim, a former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, and Boulet says it is the perfect chance for regional rising stars to learn from the best while trying to beat them.
He said: “It was a fantastic experience. I remember my first one the best playing 1984 with Peter senior, a great Australian player. Seeing the pros, how they play, at home in front of friends and family was a great experience. Now it is a bigger event in terms of set up, but it has always been a huge event with big crowds, it was always exciting to play in front of good crowds.”
Dom Boulet in action at the Pro-Am ahead of the International Series Thailand last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Boulet was a firm fan favourite in Hong Kong, and he enjoyed the experience of holing from the bunker on 18 in front of nearly 10,000 spectators while playing the same course with Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie back in the 1990s, a once-in-a-lifetime moment he described as “the biggest roar” he had ever experienced.
As a member of the Hong Kong Golf Club, he knows the Composite Course here better than most and said: “You must be precise, especially the front nine as there are dog legs and it is tree lined, so you must hit some quality golf shots. I might be a little bit biased, but I know a lot of the players very well, and they genuinely enjoy this golf course. It is a ‘second shot’ golf course.”
As commentator for the Asian Tour and the LIV Golf League plus on the Asian Tour’s Board of Directors, Boulet understands the pathway that The International Series offers to players through its rankings race better than most, with the champion getting an automatic berth and 32 players offered entry into the LIV Golf Promotions event in Saudi Arabia to compete for another spot on the roster.
He joked: “I’m jealous of these guys. The opportunities and money they have now, we never had. The players appreciate it and are genuinely excited. It is a game changer; it has reignited the tour and given us a great outlook for the future.
“When I’m commentating, I can feel the tension, and see it is in the back of a player’s mind – in a position where they have got a good chance. The quality of the golf has shot up as well – you can tell from the scores and the number between the leader and the cut mark.
Boulet in on-course commentator mode at the LIV Golf Bangkok in 2022. Picture by Peter Van der Klooster/Getty Images.
“You can see the quality of the field, the depth of the field The International Series is one of the factors, as these guys are working harder for bigger rewards.”
Boulet learned from players such as three-time major winner Stewart back in the day, and this latest generation is getting a similar schooling from some of the best in the game.
“Take the guys like Patrick Reed for example. The chance to see them up close and learn from them is invaluable. How often do you get the chance to learn from a Masters champion with a short game like that? It is literally a life-changing opportunity for the guys on the Asian Tour. To take a step to the next level.
“Think about Kieran Vincent last season on Legion XIII – he won his place onto the LIV Golf League, and he got the chance to play practice rounds and hang with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton all season. Goodness me, for a young man in his early 20s, what an incredible learning experience and opportunity.”
Boulet is a graduate from the revered Northwestern University in Illinois, and he believes the US college system is starting to look at The International Series as a viable route to the big time, given the bigger prize money on offer, and its pathway to the LIV Golf League.
He said: “I think what golfers are very good at, is they like to talk. And as big a game it is, it is also a very small industry, so players all know each other. And I’m sure the likes of Andy Ogletree, who won the rankings race last year and joined the HyFlyers GC, went back and spoke about the well-run events, the purse, the intense competition. It is a great option.”
Nitithorn Thippong courageously bounced back from a bogey-ridden start to keep his lead in the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open today.
He added a three-under-par 67 to his first day 62 to hold the clubhouse lead on 11-under by three shots at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, after the morning flights came in.
Hong Kong’s number one Taichi Kho did what everyone was hoping for and made his move carding a 65 to sit in second place, along with Tomoyo Ikemura from Japan, who fired a 67.
One stroke back are Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai, plus Italian Stefano Mazzoli, who all shot 66s, Korean Yeongsu Kim, in with a 67, and Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines and American Patrick Reed, who both returned 68s.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Nitithorn, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour trying to make amends for a poor season, was in trouble early on when, after starting on the back nine, he bogeyed three holes in a row from the 14th.
It suggested another disappointing round was on the cards, but he was able to respond in the correct manner by making birdie on 17 and then three on the trot from the third.
He explained that a new relaxed approach is helping him to stay on track.
“Actually, I didn’t think about it that much,” said the 28 year old, about mis-firing early on.
“I mean, I feel like I really flowed today, and didn’t think about if I made a bogey, but just let it go. And it’s good that I have Sebastian, my caddie with me too, so he made me really have fun on the course and not think about it.”
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He was helped by chipping in for birdie on the fifth, about which he said: “I just pictured that shot chipped it and it went in.”
Nitithorn, whose nickname is “Fever”, has been one of the Asian Tour’s rising stars over the past few season. His first win came at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in 2022, and he triumphed again that year at the International Series Singapore. He also claimed the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year.
Kho is exactly where he wants to be heading into the weekend, on the shoulder of the leader.
“I thought today was a really solid round out there,” said Kho.
“I feel like I was able to capitalize on a lot of looks that I had that I quite didn’t do yesterday. I feel like I was able to really get going in my round from the first hole, and I was proud of how I was able to be in the right state of mind and being zoned in from the get-go. So, I’m happy about myself about that, and hopefully I sharpen up a couple things tomorrow, and yeah, we’ll get going.”
It’s been a good two days work for a player who has been out of action for close to two months with a back injury.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “My back has felt a lot better this week. It felt pretty good last week, and this week is progressing really nicely. So, lots of props to my team for getting me out here again, and yeah, it’s almost a surprise to me that my body is feeling so good. So, I’ll just continue to do what I’ve been doing, and hopefully I’ll get back to 100% really soon.”
A history-making winner here last year at the World City Championship, when he became the first golfer from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour, he is now trying to become the first from the territory to claim the Link Hong Kong Open.
England’s Justin Rose carded a 66 and is five under, while American John Catlin, leader of both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, surprisingly looks like missing the cut.
Catlin returned a 68 and is one over with the cut looking set to be two under.
Two events remain this year, next week’s International Series Qatar, followed immediately by the PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers where the American needs to steady the ship if he is to remain on top.
“I’ll go and work on some things and tidy some things up,” said Catlin.
“It is all in a lifetime, sometimes you make a few mistakes, and you learn from them, and you move on. I’ve still got plenty to play for. I know where I want to be and I know what I have to do and do it, it’s all about going out there and doing it.”
Scott Vincent is in the mix at this week’s Link Hong Kong Open, and the Zimbabwean has been quick to credit the support of his wife after she made a one-off return to caddie duties for the tournament.
The 32-year-old shot a first round five-under-par 65, an encouraging start as he looks to finish the season strongly with three events remaining including this week. He was paired with Thailand’s Nitithorn ‘Fever’ Thippong, who opened with a stunning 62.
Said Vincent after his first round: “That was really good, solid golf. I felt I was getting left behind – Fever is playing incredible golf right now. But all throughout the day it felt really good and solid, I was just trying to be patient and let it come to me, trying not to chase anything. It was a really good example of just sticking with your game and just letting it come to you.”
Scott Vincent. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Vincent was quick to credit the big part wife Kelsey played in the performance, after she made a cameo turn on the bag. The pair met during Vincent’s time at Virginia Tech on a golf scholarship, with Kelsey on the university’s women’s soccer team, and she caddied for him from 2017 before giving up the position in 2019 ahead of the arrival of their first child.
Vincent explained: “She had given me the thumbs up to come out here to play. I asked if she wanted to caddie and she was all about it. This is her first time back since 2019, so it is special for us to do this just for this week. It’s a one-off, the kids are in good hands with my mum and my wife’s mum, and seem pretty happy because they are getting spoiled.
“She has that experience, and she just knows. I got to train her the way that I wanted her to caddie, which was great, and she remembers all that. I didn’t have to say anything out there today, she knew exactly what to do, which is cool. What she brings is just that calm, that warm smile and good energy. It is nice having someone that cares about you so much right next to you.”
The winner of the 2022 International Series Rankings has played on the LIV Golf League for the past two seasons for Irons Heads GC but finished in the drop zone this year.
However, he is determined to make an immediate return by winning the Rankings race once again or by making it through via the LIV Golf Promotions event at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia from 12-14 December.
Nitithorn Thippong’s season just brightened up considerably after he holed out from a greenside bunker for a battling par on the 18th to seize the first-round lead in the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open.
The Thai golfer, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour but enduring one of his worst seasons, shot a morale-boosting eight-under-par 62.
Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, Australian Kevin Yuan and Japan’s Kazuki Higa are next best placed following 63s, in the third from last event of the season on both the Asian Tour and The International Series.
Indian Rashid Khan and Korea’s Jaewoong Eom fired 64s – here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
Nitithorn goes by the nickname “Fever” and lived up to that billing with a red-hot round made up of an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey.
Nittihorn Thippong after holing out on 18. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It did look like his day would be spoiled when he hit his second into a bunker on the par-four last, and then failed to get out from a plugged lie. However, facing the prospect of a double or worse he proceeded to hole his fourth to loud cheers from the large gallery.
“I shanked that second shot on 18 after a great drive,” said the 28 year old.
“On the first bunker shot the lie was just too bad but the next one I calmed myself down, it was great to hole it.
“The key for me today was to make myself flow and stick with the plan. That’s all I did today, and it really worked. I pushed myself too much early on but then settled down
“I have been thinking too much about my golf and my swing. I have had a problem with my mental game this year.”
He has also been pre-occupied with thoughts of his father as he suffered a stroke recently, but the Thai star says he is on the mend.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Lying in 81st place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit he needs an exceptional week here and next week, at the International Series Qatar, to book his place in the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Advisers, which is exempt for the top-30.
His most recent victory came at last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open, which with its two-year exemption means he is not worried about losing his card next year.
Campbell famously holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole here last year to edge Australian Cam Smith by one and picked up where he left off today. He also birdied the 18th once more, although that was midway through his round as he started on the back nine.
Persistent rain all week, which meant yesterday’s Pro-Ams had to be cancelled, has left the course very wet under foot. With little roll on the ball competitors are facing a very different golf course.
“I said to Mike my caddy, you know, we sort of have to forget everything about this course,” said Campbell.
“Prior knowledge and how we played it last year goes out of the window because my driver wasn’t going anywhere near as fast, everything was just stopping.
“So, yeah, I think it was just one of those days you just had to sort of play the course right in front of you and be pretty aggressive. Because, yeah, obviously you weren’t bouncing off into bad places or anything.”
Kevin Yuan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His win last year was his first on the Asian Tour and has been something of a turning point in his career. In July he claimed the International Series Morocco and along with a host of other strong outings he is currently fourth on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
He added: “I think my driving and putting are important around here, I didn’t miss a fairway today. I’ve been driving the ball really well lately and then you know, I managed to hole a few good putts on the back nine. I think that’s going to be the key out there.”
With only three events remaining this season, including this week, the 33-year-old from Queenstown needs a prolific finish to catch American John Catlin on the Asian Tour Merit list but The International Series Rankings – which sees the winner earn a prized place on next year’s LIV Golf League – is wide open. Catlin also leads the rankings.
Yuan is at the other end of the Merit list. Sitting in 56th place he is in a fight to keep his Tour card for next year, as the top 65 retain their playing privileges.
Yuan said: “It has definitely been on my mind. Playing the Asian Tour for the past couple of years, it is such a strong Tour. I haven’t been playing my best, as the results have shown. It is a huge goal to play well this week and hopefully next week to secure my card.”
Kazuki Higa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He started the season promisingly by finishing fifth in the Malaysian Open, for one of his finest finishes on the Asian Tour – his best is equal second in last year’s International Series Vietnam – but he’s struggled to replicate that form since.
“I am very happy with how I played today,” he added.
“I started off pretty strong, with a birdie on the first and third and had opportunities on four and five. I was rolling the putter well. It’s been pretty good and then I tried to keep it in the fairway for the last stretch.”
Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho signed for a respectable 67, England’s Justin Rose, who won here in 2015, carded a 69, while Korean Tom Kim – making his first appearance on the Asian Tour in two and a half years – returned a 71.
“I played so well today, but missed so many putts on the edge,” said the 22-year-old Kim, now a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“Really nothing I could do, played really well. Ended up one over, but didn’t feel like one over. Just gotta keep going at it.”
Catlin had a surprisingly poor day shooting a 73.
Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, Australian Kevin Yuan and Japan’s Kazuki Higa all carded seven-under-par 63s to seize the clubhouse lead mid-way through the first round of the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open today.
They lead from Indian Rashid Khan and Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, who fired 64s, here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
Campbell famously holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole here last year to edge Australian Cam Smith by one and picked up where he left off today. He also birdied the 18th once more, although that was midway through his round as he started on the back nine.
Persistent rain all week, which meant yesterday’s Pro-Ams had to be cancelled, has left the course very wet under foot. With little roll on the ball competitors are facing a very different golf course.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I said to Mike my caddy, you know, we sort of have to forget everything about this course,” said Campbell.
“Prior knowledge and how we played it last year goes out of the window because my driver wasn’t going anywhere near as fast, everything was just stopping.
“So, yeah, I think it was just one of those days you just had to sort of play the course right in front of you and be pretty aggressive. Because, yeah, obviously you weren’t bouncing off into bad places or anything.”
His win last year was his first on the Asian Tour and has been something of a turning point in his career. In July he claimed the International Series Morocco and along with a host of other strong outings he is currently fourth on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
He added: “I think my driving and putting are important around here, I didn’t miss a fairway today. I’ve been driving the ball really well lately and then you know, I managed to hole a few good putts on the back nine. I think that’s going to be the key out there.”
Kevin Yuan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
With only three events remaining this season, including this week, the 33-year-old from Queenstown needs a prolific finish to catch American John Catlin on the Asian Tour Merit list but The International Series Rankings – which sees the winner earn a prized place on next year’s LIV Golf League – is wide open. Catlin also leads the rankings.
Yuan is at the other end of the Merit list. Sitting in 56th place he is in a fight to keep his Tour card for next year, as the top 65 retain their playing privileges.
Yuan said: “It has definitely been on my mind. Playing the Asian Tour for the past couple of years, it is such a strong Tour. I haven’t been playing my best, as the results have shown. It is a huge goal to play well this week and hopefully next week to secure my card.”
He started the season promisingly by finishing fifth in the Malaysian Open, for one of his finest finishes on the Asian Tour – his best is equal second in last year’s International Series Vietnam – but he’s struggled to replicate that form since.
“I am very happy with how I played today,” he added.
“I started off pretty strong, with a birdie on the first and third and had opportunities on four and five. I was rolling the putter well. It’s been pretty good and then I tried to keep it in the fairway for the last stretch.”
Korean Tom Kim, one of the event’s marquee players making his first appearance on the Asian Tour in two and a half years, returned a 71.
Kazuki Higa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I played so well today, but missed so many putts on the edge,” said the 22-year-old, now a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“Really nothing I could do, played really well. Ended up one over, but didn’t feel like one over. Just gotta keep going at it.”
With three of the richest events remaining on the Asian Tour this season, starting with this week’s US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open, followed by the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar and the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings are still up for grabs – although quite different scenarios are necessary to topple John Catlin who leads both.
The American currently has a commanding lead on the Merit list with 3,030.06 points, ahead of Richard T. Lee from Canada, who is second with 1,775.29.
Lee is also second on the Rankings, which Catlin leads with 900.58 points to Lee’s 660.64.
On the Merit list Catlin is going to be extremely hard to catch; it requires a superhuman effort by one of his pursuers while he starts missing cut, an extremely unlikely scenario.
Anyone down to 28th could technically surpass Catlin’s points but it would take winning all three events.
Richard T. Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
However, it would be his closest challengers Lee, Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po in third on 1,490.73 points, Ben Campbell from New Zealand, fourth with 1312.72, Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai, in fifth with 1,309.11, and American M.J. Maguire, who is sixth with 1,246.18 points, that have the best chance, even if slim, of catching Catlin.
With a win this week at Hong Kong Golf Club worth 787.5 points none of Catlin’s pursuers will be able to pass him, and only the two Lee’s have a chance to do so with a win in both Hong Kong and Qatar. This scenario would get the Canadian Lee to 3,350.29 points and his Chinese Taipei namesake to 3,065.63 while also requiring that Catlin does not earn any points in the two events.
The final and richest event of the season, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, will have 1,050 points going to the winner and 570 for a solo second place, but with the world-class field assembled at Riyadh Golf Club the points there will be hard earned.
Even with two consecutive wins in the next two events plus a solo second in Riyadh in the season ending event, only then would Suteepat and Maguire be added to the list of players that could potentially overtake Catlin.
Lee Chieh-po. Picture courtesy of Taiwan PGA.
The International Series Rankings race is an all-together different story as there is still plenty to be decided before that automatic spot on the LIV Golf League 2025 roster is confirmed.
The Link Hong Kong Open offers a prize breakdown of 360, 220 and 126 points for the top three places, similar to the seven previous tournaments on The International Series.
However, with the ensuing events in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have significantly more weighting.
First prize at Qatar will land the winner 450 points, with 275 and 157.50 for second and third place. In Saudi, the winner will get 1,000 points with 525 for runner up, 300 for third, 235 for fourth and 200 points for fifth.
In effect, the rankings race is alive until the final event of the season, with the top six of Catlin (900.58), Lee (660.64), Uihlein (621.10), Campbell (597.63), Lee Chieh-Po (572.52) and Maguire (509.75) all technically still in it.
However, a win for Catlin in Hong Kong or Qatar would effectively end the contest if his closest challengers failed to secure any significant points.
Lastly, let’s not forget the battle for a spot inside the top 65 on the Merit list in progress for players trying to secure their playing rights for next season.
Currently it’s Indonesia’s Jonathan Wijono who sits in 65th place with 200.4 points, but with big points on offer in all three remaining events this could go up considerably.
With a short field of only 120 players in next week’s International Series Qatar due to daylight, this week’s Link Hong Kong Open could be the last chance for many players to earn points to keep their cards.
The talent emerging from the local golf scene is well represented at this week’s Link Hong Kong Open, with nine players in the field for the US$2million event which takes place from 21-24 November.
Taichi Kho needs little introduction after winning the World City Championship here at the Hong Kong Golf Club last year as well as claiming the Asian Games gold medalist in China.
This week he is joined by four players from the professional ranks and four leading amateurs who all hope to use local knowledge going into the tournament.
Michael Regan Wong, one of two players to book his place in the tournament via a two-round qualifier at the course last month, is a Trainee PGA Professional working out of the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The 27-year-old showed his talent with a first-round 64 but needed a 12-foot clutch putt on 18 on day two to book his spot alongside Terrence Ng, who had Kho on the bag for the two rounds.
Leon D’Souza poses for a photograph with his new LAB putter during an official practice round before the Link Hong Kong Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Lining up alongside three Major champions, big names from the LIV Golf League and Asian Tour stars battling it out for vital points on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, Wong is doubling down on home advantage.
Aside from his own course knowledge, he will have another ace up his sleeve.
Fellow HKGC pro Steven Lam is on the bag for Wong this week. He said: “He’s a good player, too. So, with things like club selection, reading greens, even that extra 10% could be a great help.
“I’ve been working and trying to find time to practice. My form has been okay, and I’m just trying to prepare the best I can. It’s never going to be perfect so this week it’s about enjoying every moment and having fun. I’m thrilled to be here and there are some great players playing an amazing golf course.”
Wong last played the tournament 10 years ago as a 17-year-old in the edition won by Scott Hend, an experience he likened to being “a kid in a candy shop”.
He recently had the benefit of some top-level experience after qualifying for the SJM Macao Open, an Asian Tour tournament which featured Open champion Bryan Harman and Australian Min Woo Lee.
He said: “The whole week was great, just seeing some great players and being able to play amongst them and play – it is really just playing against the golf course, but then also seeing them there, it’s really cool.”
The other local players representing Hong Kong in the field this week are Leon D’Souza, Shun Yat Hak and the amateur quartet of Wang Ngai Shen, Isaac Lee, Alexander Yang and Timothy Chan.
D’Souza has a real air of confidence here after qualifying through his position on the Hong Kong PGA Order of Merit standings.
He said: “There’s no place like home and it’s nice to be back and playing on a course I’m familiar with and getting to see a lot of familiar faces. It only happens once a year so I’m just looking forward to being somewhere I’m comfortable.
“I just tell myself that at the end of the day, my game is good enough to be here. So, it is good enough to contend in a tournament like this. All the other players are trying to do the same thing, trying to do the best that they can do. That’s why we practice, and you tee it up and see how it goes on Thursday.”
D’Souza has lofty ambitions – he’s hoping to make the step up to the Asian Tour in the near future, with the dream scenario being to earn a place through a sensational week in his home tournament.
“That’s my next goal to get full status on the Asian Tour,” he said. “If you have a good week this week, then that takes care of it. I’m playing final stage (Q School) next month so we’ll see how that goes. But you can’t force anything. You can’t think too far ahead. You just got to take it day by day, do the best that you can do, and see where that gets you.”
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho has admitted the Link Hong Kong Open is the tournament that “means the most to me in the world”.
It is not overly surprising given the significance of the event to him and the importance of its famous venue, the Hong Kong Golf Club – for whom he is their ambassador – but it’s a timely statement given the tournament, which is also part of The International Series, tees off tomorrow.
The 24-year-old [pictured at a press activity yesterday] will once again try and become the first Hong Kong player to win the tournament, which is celebrating its 63rd edition, and despite having been out of action for most of the past two months because of a back injury, he is confident and upbeat.
“I am just super grateful to be back at the Link Hong Kong Open playing in front of all my friends and family,” said the uber-talented star, who claimed the World City Championship here last year, becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour.
Taichi Kho pictured at a press conference at the Xiqu centre on Tuesday November 19. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“This is the tournament that means the most to me in the world and to be here with the people that watched me grow up and helped me get to where I am is amazing.
“I am very grateful to be in this position. I will definitely give it my all. I hope to share a sense of pride by being here representing Hong Kong and China.”
Kho had been in fine form before back issues set in, recording four successive top-15 finishes. He is presently in 47th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and looking to finish the season strongly with two events remaining after this week, the International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
“I feel really good, I feel really motivated, I feel refreshed,” he adds.
“I think some time away from the game has helped me and given me some direction, so that clarity in my mental game and that motivation is really strong.”
He’s not sure how the injury happened, whether it was through playing golf or being in the gym, but he has been assured it’s not serious, and now knows the things to do to mitigate it in the future.
(L-R) Tom Kim and Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Recovery has been a patient process, but I feel a lot better now,” says Kho.
“I am just really looking forward to this week. I am playing with Pat (Reed) and Justin (Rose). I get to learn a lot from them. I want to put up a good performance in front of my family, friends, and the fans.”
Former champion Justin Rose is aiming for victory at the Link Hong Kong Open, which starts tomorrow, in a bid to stake a place on the European Ryder Cup team and claim a first W of the season.
Rose, the 2015 champion here at Hong Kong Golf Club, returns for the first time since 2017 in decent form having recorded a joint second finish behind Xander Schauffele in The Open and an equal sixth placing behind the same player at the US PGA Championship.
Those are his best results of the season. And as a six-time Ryder Cup star, he is still holding dreams of reclaiming a place on the team to face the US at Bethpage Black next season – especially having played a pivotal role as a wildcard in the comprehensive 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome last time out.
Rose is hoping a good performance this week in Fanling could help to spark a decent run of form in 2025. He said: “The Ryder Cup – alongside the Major championships – are what I am trying to use as my fuel.
Justin Rose at the pre-event press activity on Tuesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“This is why this year was a good year in the sense of really coming so close, and it gave me the belief that I am still capable of winning a Major championship.
“You need that belief first and foremost to put in the requisite hard work that it takes to do it right. If you don’t really quite believe you can do it, you’re not really going to go that extra mile when you need to.”
Despite the two Major performances, the 44-year-old feels his season did not quite live up to his high standards and expectations.
“I felt like that was the main takeaway from this year. I would say overall, I was not happy with how I played, a lot of searching, a lot of struggling, a lot of fighting, trying to find my game. But the moments I did find my game, I was contending in Majors.”
Rose, an Olympic Gold medal winner in 2016 and also a US Open champion in 2013, also sees the Link Hong Kong Open as an opportunity to end the season on a high – with a first victory of the season.
He said: “An event like this, you never know where you spark your confidence. And of course, where you come back and you have good feelings and memories, absolutely. I hadn’t won this year and it is always nice to chalk one off. It would be nice to chalk off a win, to say, okay, I wasn’t struck out this year. I managed to get one done. So yes, it is a last chance for that, and then to take that momentum into next year, absolutely. Because the Ryder Cup is still a big, big focus.”
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Link Hong Kong Open
- Date: November 21- 24, 2024
- Venue: Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling
- Par/Yards: Par 70 / 6,710 Yards
- Purse: US$2 million (US$360,000)
- Asian Tour leg: 19th event of the 2024 season
- International Series leg: Eighth
- Edition of tournament: 63rd
- Total number of players: 132
- Format: 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds to the leading 65 pros plus ties
- Social Media Hashtags: #LinkHKO2024 #InternationalSeries #ThisISEverything #TimeToRise
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Tom Kim (2020/21/22) Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016), Anirban Lahiri (2015)
- Nationalities: 26
- Top contenders: Justin Rose (ENG), John Catlin (USA), Ben Campbell (NZL), Tom Kim (KOR), Patrick Reed (USA), MJ Maguire (USA), Lee Chieh-po (TPE), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Peter Uihlein (USA), Anirban Lahiri (IND), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Tom Kim (KOR) #27
- Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: John Catlin #1
- Highest ranked player on 2024 International Series Rankings: John Catlin #1
- Defending champion: Ben Campbell (NZL)
- of amateurs: 5
- of Hong Kong players in the field: 9
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Tournament Notes
- American John Catlin has been in great form this whole season with eighth top 10s in 11 Asian Tour events, and he leads both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings. The 33-year-old has posted two victories so far this season, the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF, as well as three runners-up in the Black Mountain Championship, the International Series Morocco and the Yeangder TPC. A tied third finish in the season opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open secured him a spot in the 152nd Open Championship where he finished tied 16th for his best result in a major. He currently leads the Order of Merit with 3,030.06 points to Canadian Richard T. Lee, the winner of the recent BNI Indonesian Masters, who is in second place with 1,775.29. He also tops The International Series Ranking with 900.58 points against 660.64 for Lee who is also second on this list. Catlin has also subbed in for injured players on three different teams on the LIV Golf League this year and posted an impressive T7 in LIV Golf Nashville in June. Catlin has amassed US$1,393,925 in earnings on the Asian Tour so far this season, while his LIV Golf League total was US$1,629,367 in his 2024 campaign.
- Golf legend Justin Rose is here this week. He lifted the Hong Kong Open trophy in 2015, when he was in the middle of a 12-month hot streak that began with a T2 at the US Masters and ended in 2016 when he captured gold for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics. The 44-year-old returns to the tournament having tied for second at The Open Championship in July. Winner of the 2013 US Open he has triumphed on 11 occasions on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. He is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, having claimed the Indonesian Masters in 2017.
- Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po is coming into the week with four consecutive top 10s, and six in his last seven events, including a win at International Series Thailand late last month. He also had a close call and solo third at the Black Mountain Championship, missing the play-off by only one shot, a fourth-place finish at Yeangder TPC and a T9 at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September.
- The defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand is a two-time International Series winner after capturing this summer’s International Series Morocco in a play-off against John Catlin, and the 2023 edition of this event. Currently fourth on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and in The International Series Rankings, Campbell finished T6 at his last tournament, the BNI Indonesian Masters and T4 in the Black Mountain Championship last month. Other good results this season includes a T5 at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and a T10 at the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.
- American MJ Maguire won the Black Mountain Championship after defeating John Catlin on the second play-off hole, and also had a great week at the International Series Thailand finishing T4 after a final round 61. Maguire also had a good result at the BNI Indonesian Masters with a T8 for his third straight top 10, and he also posted a T7 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in early October.
- Richard T. Lee from Canada finally got his third Asian Tour win at the BNI Indonesian Masters, his first since 2017, and is entering the week with four top 10s in a row. He also finished T2 at the International Series Thailand, T9 at the Black Mountain Championship and T10 at the Yeangder TPC in September. He has been a remarkably consistent high performer this season, also posting a third place at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and eighth position at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn. His current cut streak on the Asian Tour stands at 14, and the last tournament he was not around for the weekend was last year’s International Series Singapore in October.
- American Peter Uihlein won the International Series England in August and came close to posting another victory at his last Asian Tour event, the International Series Thailand, finishing T2 just one shot behind the winner after a bogey on the 72nd He is currently in third place in The International Series Rankings. In addition to the results in England and Thailand, he also has a T3 at the Saudi Open presented by PIF and a sixth-place finish at the International Series Oman earlier in the season. Uihlein also plays in the LIV Golf League where he had a T2 at the LIV Golf Las Vegas as his best result this year.
- The 2015 Order of Merit champion Anirban Lahiri of India came very close to capturing his first LIV Golf League event at the legendary Real Club Valderrama in Andalucia, Spain in July. A missed short putt on the 18th in regulation play put Lahiri in a play-off with Sergio Garcia who came out on top in the end. Lahiri’s impressive resume boasts seven Asian Tour titles as well as a runner up at the 2022 Players Championship, a tied second at the 2017 Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour. His best finish in a Major is a tied fifth at the 2015 PGA Championship. He won the Asian Tour Merit title in 2015.
- The 2018 Masters Tournament winner Patrick Reed of the U.S. is making his second Asian Tour start of the season, after previously playing the International Series Macau presented by Wynn where he finished fourth. Reed is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour and has appeared on three Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup squads each.
- Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand is now a three-time Asian Tour winner in a span of 12 months after successfully defending his Taiwan Glass Taifong Open title last week and winning the Yeander TPC two months ago. He has also posted good results at the Black Mountain Championship where he was T4 and at the Mandiri Indonesia Open where he finished T6. Currently in fifth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho is making his first Asian Tour start since the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August, after recovering from a back injury. Kho famously won the 2023 World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club in March last year, becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour. In nine Asian Tour starts this season Kho has posted a T10 at the International Series England as his best result.
- Germany’s Martin Kaymer is a two-time major champion, winning the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2014 U.S. Open, the latter coming just a month after also capturing the Players Championship. He is an 11-time winner on the DP World Tour and has represented Europe four times in the Ryder Cup, three of them on the winning side. In 2011 he reached number one in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and held that spot for eight weeks before he was overtaken by Lee Westwood. Kaymer currently plays on the LIV Golf League captaining the Cleeks GC.
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