Foos claims SJM Macao Open after sudden-death decider
Dominic Foos [main picture] won the SJM Macao Open today to become the first German to win on the Asian Tour since his illustrious compatriot Bernhard Langer 29 years ago.
He defeated Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off on the iconic par-five 18th at Macau Golf & Country Club.
Foos drained a 10-foot birdie putt to win after Wang missed his attempt for a four – in what was the sixth play-off in the history of the event.
The pair had finished tied on 17 under, with Foos – who started the day six behind overnight leader Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand – shooting a seven-under-par 63, while Wang closed with a 62.
China’s Wenyi Ding carded a 67 to finish solo third, one stroke back, with Sarit shooting a disappointing 73 to finish alone in fourth, four short of the play-off.
Dominic Foos.
The win will be a huge relieve for Foos who made it through the past two Asian Tour Qualifying Schools. He was also battling to keep his Tour card for next year, sitting in 62nd place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit prior to this week. He has now leapt into 15th position.
The 28-year-old was in the fourth from last group out and like Wang was bogey free. He made seven birdies, crucially on the last two holes of regulation play.
“I gotta say, I didn’t really look at the leaderboard all day,” said Foos.
“Just wanted to play shot by shot, but as I was walking up 18, I obviously had to have a look at the score, and then I noticed I had to make birdie. I was just past the green there. And yeah, knew what I had to do, and I’m glad I did it.”
He’s spent much of his career playing on Europe’s Challenge Tour, where he won an event 10 years ago, but he now has a two-year exemption to play on the Asian Tour.
He added: “I’ve always been a hard worker. That’s never been the issue, but obviously, with the support of my family, especially my dad, some very close friends, and you know, I got to give a big shout out to Mr. Kramski as well.
“He’s one of the few people that kind of stuck around after, because the last years haven’t been easy for me on the golf course. And, you know, like tough times like this, kind of show you who’s there for you and who isn’t. And, you know, so I know exactly who stuck around, and I’m very grateful for all these people.”
Wang Wei-hsuan and Dominic Foos.
Langer’s victory was recorded at the Alfred Dunhill Masters in Hong Kong in 1996.
Both players birdied the first play-off hole after they reached the green in two. The second time round Foos looked to be in trouble when his second found a greenside bunker, while his opponent was just off the back of the green in two. Foos then thrilled the gallery by nearly holing his bunker shot. He was left with a 10-footer while Wang played a poor chip to 20 feet. The Chinese-Taipei golfer just missed his four setting the stage for Foos’ winning putt.
Wang will be disappointed not to have won his first Asian Tour event, but this week is the continuation of an outstanding run of form that suggests more is to come.
Last month he tied for second in the Yeangder TPC and was third in the following week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters – his previous best results on the Asian Tour. He has also had a great season on his local tour at home, racking up three wins and a runner-up finish to top the Tawain PGA Order of Merit. For those three wins he wore the same tee shirt, and it was the same lucky shirt that so nearly carried him to victory today.
“Yeah, today I feel like my driver was pretty good,” said the 26-year-old, ranked second on the Tour’s Driving Distance statistics.
“And I felt pretty good after last month, after the Yeangder TPC and Mercuries Masters, I finished second and third. So, after that I felt more relaxed and was just more free with my golf little bit. Yeah, that was big help for me.”
Wang Wei-hsuan.
Attention now turns to the inaugural International Series Philippines next week. The US$2million event will be played at Sta. Elena Golf Club, just outside of Manila. Americans Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed plus South African Louis Oosthuizen headline arguably the strongest field ever assembled in the archipelago.
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Sarit Suwannarut [main picture] held off the chasing pack to maintain his lead in the SJM Macao Open today, after a third-round four-under-par 66.
He takes a two-shot lead, on 16-under, over Australian Brett Rankin into tomorrow’s final round – here at Macau Golf & Country Club.
Rankin carded a 64, while China’s Wenyi Ding is a stroke back after a 65, with his compatriot Wocheng Ye another shot behind following a 67.
Sarit, chasing his third title on the Asian Tour but first since 2023, started the day with a three-shot lead and that was the gap at the turn.
Playing-partner Rankin caught him with a birdie on the 14th but cool-headed Sarit retaliated with birdies on 16 and 18, while the Australian dropped a shot on 17.
Sarit only made one bogey, on the 10th, and admitted to feeling the pressure of being in contention for the first time in a while.
Brett Rankin.
“I would say some nerves got into me,” said the powerfully built 27-year-old.
“I am pretty excited to play good golf again. I mean, I wanted to really, really play good golf today. And I think I did it pretty well. Yes, think some nerves there.”
He last won on the Asian Tour at the Volvo China Open in 2023, the year after claiming the Indonesia Masters.
He’s been particularly impressive off the tee with his driver and when asked if this is the best he has hit it, he said: “Actually, I’ll say yes, but at the beginning of the year, it’s not like this. It went everywhere, but now, now I kind of get some feeling of it, so I’ll try to stay hitting a good driver tomorrow.”
He’s come into the week off the back of his two best performances of the year: tied ninth in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, followed by a joint 11th place result in the Jakarta International Championship.
“I will try to stay positive as possible tomorrow,” he added. “I try to focus on what I have to do. Try to commit to the shot and hit it and stay aggressive. That’s all I’m going to do tomorrow.”
Rankin, who is playing his first full season on the Asian Tour having successful negotiated qualifying school at the end of last year, is enjoying one of the finest tournaments of his career outside of Australia.
“It was a lot more complete than the first two days,” he said of his round today.
Ding Wenyi.
“I drove the ball great, my iron play was really good today and my wedge game was a lot better than first two days. I played well, so sort of ticking all the boxes at the moment tee to green, on the greens and around the greens. So usually when I’m doing that, I’m shooting good scores.”
He has won once before on the PGA Tour of Australasia, at the NT PGA Championship in 2019.
Added the 39-year-old from Queensland: “The game’s good. I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and just hope to be there on the back nine tomorrow and see what happens. But no, the game’s good, the game is solid, clearly is, I’m 14 under through three rounds, like you can’t fake your way around with that.”
Korean Sungjae Im (63), Ian Snyman (66) from South Africa, and Australian Jack Thompson (67) are next placed five behind the leader, on 11 under.
Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho returned a 67 and is seven under, while American John Catlin, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, who shot a 59 on this course last year, also fired a 67 and is five under, along with defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand, in with a 69.
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, armed with a new swing, putter and shafts, marched into the lead at the SJM Macao Open today – looking every bit the golfer who has won two of the biggest titles on the Asian Tour.
The 26-year-old took charge of the US$1million event by making a brilliant 20-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th to shoot a second-round seven-under-par 63.
It is the joint-lowest round of the week and saw him take the lead on 12-under, by three shots from Wocheng Ye – the unsung Chinese golfer, who carded a 66.
Ye’s compatriot and former college mate Bobby Bai (67), Australians Jack Thompson (68) and Brett Rankin (66), Germany’s Dominic Foos (68) and Siddikur Rahman (66) from Bangladesh, are another stroke back.
China’s Wenyi Ding, the joint first-round leader with Gunn Charoenkul from Thailand, is also in that group after a 69. Gunn fell back after a 71 and is six under.
Sarit Suwannarut.
Sarit, winner of the Indonesian Masters in 2022 and Volvo China Open the following year, has had a relatively quiet season. He is currently in 34th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – principally thanks to two top-12 finishes in his last two events. They have been the highlights of his season so far – the result of adjustments to his swing and equipment that appear to have got him back on track.
He said: “I have done a few things. I was just swinging my arms and not turning my body, I changed to softer shafts so I can hit a cut more easily plus I have a different putter – that’s been important and working well.”
His three on the last was the result of a giant eight iron second shot on a hole that is 576 yards.
“I think it was all about putting today,” he added.
“Even though I had two three-putts I still made a lot of birdie putts. I missed one three-footer, but other than that I made everything so it’s the putter that kept the momentum going.
“For sure, I never change my plan. If I have a chance to be aggressive, I will always be aggressive. I mean, you got to commit to the shot and then hit. A bad shot is still bad shot, so I’m going to stick to my plan.”
Sarit is one of the strongest drivers on Tour – an attribute not a necessity at Macau Golf & Country Club, where accuracy is key. However, the man nicknamed ‘Safe’ was long and straight today on his way to making an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys. Surprisingly, he three putted the 16th for a bogey from 30 feet.
Ye Wocheng.
Thirteen years ago Ye made headlines when at the age of 12 he became the youngest player to compete in the Volvo China Open.
Birdies on the last three holes, as well as three on the trot from the sixth, saw him in the spotlight today.
“I made a double on a par-five, the 13th, so to make birdies on the last three was a great comeback,” said the 24-year-old, whose English name is Aden.
“It will be good momentum going into the next two rounds. I think all the clubs are working pretty well, and especially my putting, so hopefully I can keep going.”
Ye turned professional five years ago and has been playing on both the China and Canadian Tours, winning twice on the former in 2021.
He went to Eagles Dream Golf Academy in Orlando with Bai in the late 2010s.
Bobby Bai.
Bai finished joint fourth in a Challenge Tour event in China last week and moved up the leaderboard this morning with four birdies in a row from the third.
“I got my iron shots back,” he said. “My ball striking is pretty good this week and last week as well. Tee shots are getting much better from last month, and this week my putting is going pretty well.”
Veteran Rahman, aged 40 and a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was equally as delighted with his round – on a short course that suits his accurate play.
He said: “Overall it was a great round, especially I give credit to my short game. I’m doing great, especially with my putting, and my shots are also quite okay, I’m not complaining. Overall, it was a very good first two days.
“This is a narrow course. Honestly, I like this course because it’s not that long. It’s just a placing golf course, so I just try to stay on the fairway and hit the greens. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
Thompson made his move, helped by working with an ‘in-form’ caddie, Adrian Verroca – who was on the bag for Australian Wade Ormsby when he claimed the Jakarta International Championship, two weeks ago.
Siddikur Rahman.
“Really good to have him here,” said Thompson. “Obviously, he’s a proven from two weeks ago. He just kept me pretty level. I think we’re pretty similar in personalities. We never get to up or down. So, yeah, just helping me out. And I’m, you know, doing really well, considering it’s just been a week that we’ve met. So, yeah, happy.”
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho came in with a 69 and is four under, along with Korea’s Sungjae IM, who fired a 71. Defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand is also tied with them after a 68.
Kho found himself in one of the strangest situations on a golf course when his father, who had been following his group, stepped into to caddie for John Catlin – one of his playing partners, whose caddie was unable to carry on due to heatstroke.
China’s Haotong Li is one stroke back after a 67, while England’s Lee Westwood, winner of this event 26 years ago, bounced back with a 68 after an opening 74, but missed the cut by three.
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Wocheng Ye fired a second-round four-under-par 66 to edge ahead of a packed leaderboard at the SJM Macao Open today at Macau Golf & Country Club.
The Chinese golfer has the clubhouse lead in the Asian Tour event on nine-under by a shot from compatriot and former college mate Bobby Bai (67), Australians Jack Thompson (68) and Brett Rankin (66), and Siddikur Rahman (66) from Bangladesh.
First-round leaders Gunn Charoenkul from Thailand and China’s Ding Wenyi are playing in the afternoon session.
Thirteen years ago Ye made headlines when at the age of 12 he became the youngest player to compete in the Volvo China Open.
Bobby Bai.
Birdies on the last three holes, as well as three on the trot from the sixth, saw him steal the spotlight today and take the lead in an Asian Tour event for the first time in his career.
“I made a double on a par-five, the 13th, so to make birdies on the last three was a great comeback,” said the 24-year-old, whose English name is Aden.
“It will be good momentum going into the next two rounds. I think all the clubs are working pretty well, and especially my putting, so hopefully I can keep going.”
Ye turned professional five years ago and has been playing on both the China and Canadian Tours, winning twice on the former in 2021.
He went to Eagles Dream Golf Academy in Orlando with Bai in the late 2010s.
Bai finished joint fourth in a Challenge Tour event in China last week and moved up the leaderboard this morning with four birdies in a row from the third.
Siddikur Rahman.
“I got my iron shots back,” he said. “My ball striking is pretty good this week and last week as well. Tee shots are getting much better from last month, and this week my putting is going pretty well.”
Veteran Rahman, aged 40 and a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was equally as delighted with his round – on a short course that suits his accurate play.
He said: “Overall it was a great round, especially I give credit to my short game. I’m doing great, especially with my putting, and my shots are also quite okay, I’m not complaining. Overall, it was a very good first two days.
“This is a narrow course. Honestly, I like this course because it’s not that long. It’s just a placing golf course, so I just try to stay on the fairway and hit the greens. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
Thompson made his move, helped by working with an ‘in-form’ caddie, Adrian Verroca – who was on the bag for Australian Wade Ormsby when he claimed the Jakarta International Championship, two weeks ago.
Jack Thompson.
“Really good to have him here,” said Thompson. “Obviously, he’s a proven from two weeks ago. He just kept me pretty level. I think we’re pretty similar in personalities. We never get to up or down. So, yeah, just helping me out. And I’m, you know, doing really well, considering it’s just been a week that we’ve met. So, yeah, happy.”
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul [main picture], helped by a touch of inspiration from PGA Tour star Tom Kim, and Ding Wenyi from China, made fine starts at the US$1million SJM Macao Open today – taking a share of the lead following first-round seven-under-par 63s.
They are in front by a shot from Germany’s Dominic Foos and Australian Jack Thompson, on 64s, here at Macau Golf & Country Club – in the 22nd staging of the Asian Tour event.
Korean Sungjae Im, Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, Indian Pukhraj Singh Gill, plus Ye Wocheng and Bobby Bai from China are a stroke further back following 65s.
Gunn’s round was impeccable: he was bogey-free, made an eagle, and recorded five birdies.
He finished second here last year, and after an indifferent season to date, he got the pick me up he needed by going on social media this morning.
“Very happy with today. Started the day by stumbling on a clip on Instagram from Tom Kim,” said the 33-year-old, who is looking for his first victory on the Asian Tour, having finished runner-up four times.
Ding Wenyi.
“I think it kind of summarised what he’s been doing the whole of this year. And, you know, practicing a lot does not mean the results are good. So that kind of unlocked something in me, I guess.
“I’ve been grinding really hard, harder than last year, you know, expecting better results, but it’s not coming. So, I let it all go today, relaxed and then had some lucky breaks out there. I think my mind was more free out there, so I think that’s why I played better golf.”
He is presently in 49th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. His best finish is joint 12th in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea in May.
Despite his performance today and runner-up finish 12 months ago, Macau Golf & Country Club has not always been his favourite venue
He added: “Prior to last year, I probably made two cuts, and none of them were above 50th place. I mean, I’m very fond of Macau, and I have some great friends out here, but maybe the course has been not very friendly to me. But since last year, I think probably something has changed, and I’ve come to like the course more and more. So, yeah, finished second last year. Hopefully I can do one better.”
Ding did well to perform at such a high level having flown in from the Spanish Open, managing only three hours sleep last night.
Dominic Foos.
“Honestly, it’s been physically demanding,” he said.
“I only slept three hours last night. I woke up at 4:50 this morning. I tried to sleep around 9 p.m. yesterday but couldn’t fall asleep until about 1 a.m.”
Like Gunn, he started on the back nine, and also made an eagle, as well as six birdies and one just one dropped shot.
The 20-year-old turned professional at the end of last year and has been playing on the DP World Tour. This week marks is first start of the season on the Asian Tour.
He said: “Great to be back here. I always play better in my home country. I didn’t do really well this year. The young generation over there are very strong and the courses are hard.
“I was a little bit off after I’ve been to Europe, but I will keep my card.”
He eagled the famous par-five 18th today, his ninth, after hitting a four-iron 240-yards to 20 feet. He also birdied his final hole, the par-fourth ninth, following a wedge to 25 feet.
Ding last played on the Asian Tour at the Indonesian Masters last year. He tied for 13th in one of his first events in the professional game.
Lee Westwood.
During an outstanding amateur career he won the China Amateur Open in 2019, 2020, and 2021, claimed the U.S. Junior Amateur the following year and won a hat-trick of the titles in 2024: the Asia-Pacific Amateur, Amer Ari Invitational, and Southern Amateur. He also tied for seventh as an amateur in the Volvo China Open in 2023.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho came in with a 67, while defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand returned a 68. China’s Haotong Li carded a 70.
England’s Lee Westwood, winner of this event back in 1999, has work to do.
The 52-year-old shot a 74 – two more than his 24-year-old son Samuel.
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Since its inception in 1998, the SJM Macao Open has grown to become a hallmark championship on the Asian Tour and one of its longest running events.
Satoshi Oide was the first winner in 1998, with Lee Westwood (1999) and Colin Montgomerie (2003) two of the more notable past champions.
Rattanon Wannasrichan is the defending champion while Zhang Lianwei is the only player to successfully defend his title in 2002 after winning in 2001.
The SJM Macao Open is jointly organised by the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, title sponsor SJM Resorts, S.A (SJM) and IMG. It is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Macau Golf Association.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: SJM Macao Open
- Date: 16th – 19th October 2025
- Venue: Macau Golf & Country Club, Macao, China
- Par/Yards: 70 / 6,713 yards
- Purse: US$1million (US$180,000)
- Asian Tour leg: 14th
- Edition of tournament: 22nd
- Previous winner: Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA)
- Previous winning score: 260 (-20)
- Total number of players: 144
- Format: Stroke play tournament over four rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 pros plus ties.
- Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise #SJMMacaoOpen
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Sihwan Kim (2022), Liang Wenchong (2007)
- Nationalities: 29
- Top contenders: Sungjae Im (KOR), Lee Westwood (ENG), Haotong Li (CHN), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Poom Saksansin (THA), Taichi Kho (HKG), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), Wang Wei-hsuan (TPE)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Sungjae Im (KOR) #35
- Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) #6
- Number of amateurs: 8
- Number of Macau players in the field: 6
(L-R) – David Rollo, COO, Asian Tour, Daisy Ho Managing Director of SJM Resorts S.A., Mok Chi Hang, Acting President of MSB, Grant Slack, Executive Vice President & MD, IMG Golf, and Johnny Senna Fernandes, President, Macau Golf Association.
Tournament Notes
- Korean star Sungjae Im is making his debut in the SJM Macao Open and he is the highest ranked player on the OWGR in the field this week at number 35. The 27-year-old has won two tournaments on the PGA Tour, the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open and the 2020 Honda Classic, as well as two events on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018. Im has four top 10s in Majors on his resume, three of them coming at the Masters Tournament where he was T2 in 2020, T5 in 2025 and T8 in 2022. He also was also T7 at the 2024 Open Championship. He has represented the International Team at the Presidents Cup in 2019, 2022 and 2024.
- Legendary English player Lee Westwood is no stranger to the Asian Tour where he has won eight tournaments, including the second edition of this one back in 1999. He has also won 25 titles on the DP World Tour, two on the PGA Tour and four on the Japan Tour. Westwood has amassed 19 top 10s in Majors during his career and has three runners-up as his highest finishes. He is second on the Career Money List on the DP World Tour with 38,825,014 Euros, behind only Rory McIlroy with 66,248,322 Euros, and topped the Race to Dubai Rankings in 2000, 2009 and 2020. Westwood reached number one in the world on the OWGR in late October of 2010 and held the top spot for 17 weeks. He would regain the position in 2011 after winning the Indonesian Masters in April of 2011. He represented Europe in the Ryder Cup 11 times between 1997 and 2021, which together with only Nick Faldo is one short of Phil Mickelson’s record 12 appearances. Currently plays for the Majestics GC on the LIV Golf League.
- China’s number one Haotong Li is having his best season since 2018 on the DP World Tour, that was the year he won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by one shot over Rory McIlroy and finished ninth in the race to Dubai Rankings. Currently again in ninth place in the DP World Tour rankings after a win at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and four other top-fives, including a T4 at this year’s Open Championship, he is at the moment in line for a promotion to the PGA Tour for 2026. During his career on the DP World Tour Li has won four titles and has two top results in The Open – a third in 2017 being his highest finish. OWGR #79.
- Recent Mercuries Taiwan Masters winner Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand is the highest ranked player on the Order of Merit this week at number six, after having won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters three weeks ago, finished T2 at the Yeangder TPC the previous week and T7 at the Mandiri Indonesia Open in late August. The three-time Asian Tour champion is the defending champion this week after having won the title last year by two shots over countryman Gunn Charoenkul.
- Fellow Thai Poom Saksansin has been playing very well lately with a T3, T7 and T15 in his last three events, the Jakarta International Championship, Mercuries Taiwan Masters and Yeangder TPC. Earlier in the season he finished runner-up to countryman Sadom Kaewkanjana in the Kolon Korea Open and T5 at the season opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open. The four-time Asian Tour winner was runner-up to Minwoo Lee in this tournament in 2023. Order of Merit (OoM) #10.
- Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho has posted six top-10 finishes this season, with a runner-up at the Mandiri Indonesia Open as his best result. He also finished T4 at the Shinhan Donghae Open and the Kolon Korea Open, T6 at the International Series Macau Presented by Wynn, T8 at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport and T10 at the International Series Morocco. OOM #13.
- Four-time Asian Tour winner Suteepat Prateeptienchai from Thailand is entering this week with three straight top-10s, as well as a win at the Mandiri Indonesia Open in late August in his last five events. He is #11 on OOM .
- Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese Taipei is very much in form this season, and recently finished third and T2 in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and Yeangder TPC respectively in his home country. He has also had a great season on the local tour at home, racking up three wins and a runner-up to lead the TPGA Order of Merit. He is #9 on the OOM.
- China’s Zhang Lianwei is the only player in the field that has won the SJM Macau Open on more than one occasion, taking the title in back-to-back years in 2001 and the year after.
- Other previous champions in the field this week are Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert (2016) and David Gleeson from Australia (2008).
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Lee Westwood is back at the SJM Macao Open – 26 years after he raised the trophy – and credits playing in the region regularly with helping him to become one of his country’s greatest players.
“Asia tested me,” said the Englishman today, two-days before the US$1million events tees-off at Macau Golf & Country Club.
“I needed to adapt – to the grass and heat. It made me improve quickly. It’s nice to be back. A lot has changed, I have changed, the city has changed.”
He is part of an elite line-up of marquee names competing that includes China’s Haotong Li, Sungjae Im from Korea, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and the defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand.
He added: “I didn’t get a chance to defend my title after 1999, although played in 2001. My form is good; I am starting to play really well.
Lee Westwood.
“I have been putting in some low scores, shooting some mid-60 rounds. I am looking forward to the week.”
His performances of late, particularly on the LIV Golf League, suggest he may be a threat this week.
At LIV Golf Virginia, in June, he returned a stunning final round nine-under-par 62 to tie for 10th.
The following month in The Open at Royal Portrush he caught fire on the back nine shooting a six-under-par 29 to become only the second player to do so in the 153-year history of the game’s oldest Major. He eventually finished tied 34th, in an event he has finished in the top-five on five occasions, including second in 2010.
And at LIV Golf Indianapolis he closed with rounds of 65 and 66 over the weekend for a top-20 finish.
It is impressive for a player aged 52 and just the right preparation as he attempts to win his 10th event in Asia at the SJM Macao Open. His most recent win on the Tour was at the Indonesian Masters 10 years ago – an event he has won three times.
“I pride myself in the fact that in my career I have won in more countries than anybody else and Macau is a very special tournament to have won,” he said.
Lee Westwood.
“It was at the start of my career. I was amassing a lot of wins back then; in ‘98 and ‘99 and 2000 I won 20 tournaments. It was a very special time.”
He beat American Andrew Pitts, now part of the events team at the Asian Tour, in a sudden-death play-off to win in 1999. The total purse that year was US$200,000 and he picked up a cheque for US$32,300. This week the champion will win slightly more: US$180,000.
“The game of golf, certainly professional golf, has always been an adventure to me. I have got to play the best courses in the world, against the best players and I wanted to do it all over the world. I didn’t want to stick to one country. I wanted to play all around the world. I enjoy travelling, getting to know different cultures. I have embraced it,” he explained.
It will also be a family affair this week for the former world number as his wife Helen will be caddying for him, and his son Sam has received an invitation to play.
It will be a tournament within a tournament for the Westwoods, with Westwood senior up for a challenge, saying: “Dads dont like losing to sons.”
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
In the various world-class casinos in glitzy Macao, a fluke turn of luck on the tables can make you a winner. Or you can play golf like ‘Fluke’ did in the SJM Macao Open! Story from the 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.
There was no element of luck involved as Thailand’s Rattanon ‘Fluke’ Wannasrichan secured his second Asian Tour title with a dominant wire-to-wire win at the Macau Golf & Country Club.
The 29-year-old Thai [main picture] made a late bogey on the 17th hole on Sunday, but he had the luxury of a four-shot lead at that point. A four-under-par 66 helped him finish on 20-under, two ahead of compatriot Gunn Charoenkul (67) and four clear of third-placed Poosit Supupramai (64) – completing a clean sweep of the podium for Thailand.
After making three pars on the opening day, Rattanon stepped on the gas and never took his foot off. Four straight birdies from the 13th hole, followed by an eagle on the par-five 18th saw him make the turn at six-under. He added three more birdies on his back nine to post a round of 61 – the best card of the day by two shots and eventually the lowest round of the tournament. As ‘preferred lies’ where in play it could not feature among the Tour’s records.
Rattanon, whose previous win on the Asian Tour was the 2017 Thailand Open, shot rounds of 66 and 67 to move to 16-under par and one ahead of Gunn going into the final round.
Manuschaya Zee makron, girlfriend/caddie of Thailand and Rattanon Wannasrichan last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
On Sunday he quickly pulled ahead with four birdies on his front nine, while his playing partner could only muster a one-under par score in that stretch with two bogeys.
Meanwhile, Poosit was putting on some pressure with plenty of birdies but having started the day six shots behind the leader, it was going to take a spectacular collapse by Rattanon for him to get a chance of winning his maiden Asian Tour title. That never happened.
After a promising 2018, when he also finished third in the ISPS Handa Match Play in Japan, Rattanon endured a horrible 2019 when he missed 23 cuts despite playing 37 events.
When he collected his winning cheque of US$180,000 he said: “I’m so happy. I didn’t think I could win again, because I had a very tough year in 2019. I played really badly that year, but I told myself to not give up. That’s why I could improve my game and win again.”
The Thai star felt he was trending in the right direction when he finished fourth in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters the week before. Having his girlfriend Manuschaya Zeemakorn, a Thai LPGA Tour player, on the bag also clearly helped.
Gunn Charoenkul.
“She’s helped me a lot about life and golf. In life we stay together, we eat together, and we enjoy that life. That’s why it’s made it fun for me to play golf,” Rattanon added.
The first round was clearly key for the champion. And he wielded a hot putter through the week, averaging 25.75 putts to complete his rounds on the smallish greens of Macau Golf & Country Club.
Playing the tournament for the 10th time, Rattanon said of his opening round: “I was just hoping to shoot a couple under. Did not expect to go so low. But I do like this golf course. There are a lot of chances to shoot birdies.”
Gunn, who had been struggling with his game, with his previous top-10 coming way back in February 2023 at the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport, showed a welcome return to form with rounds of 65, 64 and 66 in the first three days with just one bogey to show on his cards.
Despite rising to a career-best 126th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Gunn is yet to win on the elite level tours and the Macau event was another near miss. He now has four second place finishes on the Asian Tour.
The 32-year-old, who came to the tournament after missed cuts in Mercuries Taiwan Masters and Yeangder TPC, seemed happy with the result.
“With three par-fives on the back nine, I thought I might have a chance of catching Rattanon but it wasn’t to be. But this is great. It’s another second place and not a win. I am fine with it,” said Gunn.
“I found a lot more confidence this week especially after missing the cut the last two weeks. Just tried to keep things simple and I holed some great putts.”
Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena (63) celebrated his 30th birthday in style, making an eagle on the 72nd hole to catch up with the Order of Merit leader John Catlin (65) from the United States in tied fourth place at 15-under par total.
Poosit Supupramai.
Defending champion, Min Woo Lee of Australia and 151st Open champion Brian Harman of the US were also part of the quality field.
Lee, who won the title on a rain-soaked course with a four-round total of 26-under par in 2023, finished tied 9th, while Harman was one shot behind at 270, tied 13th.
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Thirty-one LIV Golf players have signed up for the Link Hong Kong Open – the Asian Tour tournament that is the seventh event of the season on The International Series, with ranking points and ‘Major’ places on the line.
A legion of LIV golfers will descend on the famous tournament this month, bringing an array of talent and titles to its 64th edition, ensuring one of the most competitive fields ever seen at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
Alongside the likes of Major winners and LIV stars Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer, will be four-time LIV Golf champion Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Thomas Pieters, Dean Burmester, Tom McKibbin, and Peter Uihlein.
Past Hong Kong Open champion Ben Campbell and two-time winner Wade Ormsby, who claimed the Jakarta International Championship title at the weekend, are also in the field for the Fanling showpiece, which has the distinction of being Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event.
Harold Varner III. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
As well as vital ranking points available for those aiming to win a coveted spot on next year’s LIV Golf roster at the end of the season, the winner will also earn a place at the 2026 Masters and 154th Open Championship.
For Gooch, it will also be an opportunity to add a second win in Asia to the LIV Golf Singapore title he won in 2023.
The American is no stranger to Fanling, having played in the 2023 edition of the tournament, and at LIV Golf Hong Kong for the past two years, where his best finish was a tie for 21st in 2024.
“It’s not my first time in Hong Kong, but I’m excited to be coming back to such a great course and such a great tournament,” Gooch said. “Of course, the Masters and Open places are a motivation too, but I love Hong Kong, the food, the culture, all of it.”
Varner III, meanwhile, returns to The International Series again after finishing 22nd in the 2025 LIV Golf standings. The American has only made one appearance on the series this year, at International Series India presented by DLF.
Varner III, who finished in a tie for eighth at the 2023 Hong Kong Open, called the city “a special place with great golf and better people”.
Wade Ormsby. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
“I’m excited for the challenge against a lot of good players, a lot of good friends, and on a course I love,” he said. “The International Series is a great opportunity for players to earn their way into LIV Golf, and the level of competition will be outstanding with so many great players coming over.”
With The International Series heading to the Philippines and Hong Kong this October, the chase is on for the rest of the field to catch rankings leader Scott Vincent, whose runner-up finish in Jakarta gave him a narrow lead over Lucas Herbert and Carlos Ortiz.
In keeping with the event theme of the Link Hong Kong Open – Open For All – admission is free for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. Season passes, including the final two days on Saturday and Sunday, cost HK$300 for a weekend pass or HK$200 per day.
Fans aged 18 and under will enjoy free entry across all four days when accompanied by a ticketed adult or by providing a photo ID showing the date of birth. Purchase tickets from https://www.ticketflap.com/lhko2025.
Australian Wade Ormsby [main picture] won the Jakarta International Championship for his fifth Asian Tour victory and second International Series title, thanks to a razor-sharp short game while admittedly not having his best game on Sunday.
His putting was magnificent all week, at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, and he made several key par-saves in the final round. The most notable one was from eight-feet on the 72nd hole to get into a play-off with Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.
Ormsby started the week needing only 23 putts in his first round of six-under-par 64, and it was the fewest number of putts for one round of anyone in the field during the week. For tournament he averaged 27.25 Putts per Round which placed him sixth in that statistics category.
Scrambling was another category he ranked highly in, and his 81.82% was fourth of players making the cut. With this combination of putting and short game skills, it was no surprise to also see him near the top of the Fewest Bogies or Worse category. He was T2 with only five dropped shots for the week, two more than category leader Poom Saksansin from Thailand – who was one of the five players that finished in joint-third place in the tournament.
Poom Saksansin. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Ormsby’s other stats for the week: Putts per Greens in Regulation (GIR) 1.7 (T14), Fairways Hit 69.64 (T32), GIR 69.44 (T45), and Driving Distance 286 yards (58th).
Runner-up Vincent fired a 62 in the third round matching Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool’s second round for low round of the tournament. Statistically the best part of the Zimbabwean’s game in Jakarta was his iron play, posting a GIR average of 81.94% and ranking fifth on the list. His other weekly stats: Putts per GIR 1.712 (19th), Driving Distance 302.63 yards (20th), Fairways Hit 66.07% (T41), and Putts per Round 29.5 (T38).
Five players tied for third place, Thailand’s Poom, Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Doyeob Mun from Korea.
Poom and Pavit, in particular, stood out. They tied for first in Putts per Round with 27, while Poom also topped two other categories and was second in one: first in Scrambling and Fewest Bogies or Worse with 87.50% and three bogies made respectively, and second in Fairways Hit with 85.71%.
Pavit was also second in both the Putts per GIR category with 1.64 and in Most Birdies with 20.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Jakarta International Championship (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Poom Saksansin (THA), Sampson Zheng (CHN), Prom Meesawat (THA), Lawry Flynn (AUS): 27
- Putts per GIR – Sampson Zheng (CHN): 1.571
- GIR – Kazuki Higa (JPN): 87.5%
- Fairways Hit – Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND): 87.5%
- Driving Distance – Miguel Tabuena (PHI): 322.25 yards
- Most Eagles – Sampson Zheng (CHN), Liu, Yung-hua (TPE), Bjorn Hellgren (SWE), Danthai Boonma (THA), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Luke Schniederjans (USA), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Micah Shin (USA): 1
- Most Birdies – Tanapat Pichaikool (THA): 21
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Poom Saksansin (THA): 3
- Scrambling: Poom Saksansin (THA): 87.50%
- Bounce back: Prom Meesawat (THA): 44.44%
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