Overview

Few tournaments on the Asian Tour are as big and important as the KOLON Korea Open.

This year marks the 68th staging of Korea’s national open, which returns to Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

The prestigious event has been played at the Club since 2003, with the exception of last year when renovations were taking place.

Once again, the winner will earn a place in The Open – to be played at Royal Birkdale in July this year – as the event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.

The tournament is owned by the Korea Golf Association, with whom the Asian Tour has enjoyed a flourishing and long-standing relationship.

This week marks the seventh stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: KOLON Korea Open
• Date: 21 – 24 May
• Venue: Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, Cheonan, Korea
• Par / Yards: 71 / 7,326 yards
• Purse: KRW2,000,000,000
• Asian Tour leg: Seventh
• Edition of tournament: 68th
• Previous winner: Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA)
• Total number of players: 144
• Format: Stroke play tournament over 4 rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 60 players (including amateurs) plus ties.

Minhyuk Song celebrates after winning the GS Caltex Maekyung Open three weeks ago. Picture courtesy of Korea Golf Association.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Andy Ogletree (2023), Sihwan Kim (2023), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
• Nationalities: 18
• Top contenders: Jeongwoo Ham (KOR), Cameron John (AUS), Ian Snyman (RSA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Minkyu Kim [main picture] (KOR), Minhyuk Song (KOR), Seonghyeon Kim (KOR), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Bubba Watson (USA), Abraham Ancer (MEX), Richard T. Lee (CAN)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Seonghyeon Kim (KOR) #146
• Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Jeongwoo Ham (KOR) #2
• No. of amateurs in the field: 7
• No. of Korean players in the field: 91

Tournament Notes

• As an extra incentive this year, an additional bonus of KRW200,000,000 (approximately US$133,481) will be awarded to the winner.
• South African Ian Snyman is perhaps the hottest player in the field this week following his first Asian Tour win at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open two weeks ago. The week before that he finished T3 at the notoriously difficult Namseoul Country Club at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open. He also started off the year well with a T5 at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship. Currently third on the Order of Merit.
• Jeongwoo Ham from Korea is also in good form, winning the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times wire-to-wire last month. With the win in Singapore, he also punched his ticket to The Open via the Open Qualifying Series (OQS). Prior to his victory in Singapore he had also recorded four wins on his home tour in Korea, the last one coming in 2024.
• Fellow Korean Minkyu Kim won the Korea Open twice at the demanding Woo Jeong Hills course, in 2022 and 2024 and he recently finished T6 at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open for his best result this year. This season he has mainly been playing on the LIV Golf League as part of the Korean GC team, with a T22 in LIV Mexico City as his best finish there.

Ian Snyman after winning the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open two weeks ago. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

• Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, currently in fourth place on the Order of Merit, started 2026 with excellent results after a runner-up at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship and a T2 in the International Series Japan. He also had an early season T2 on the All Thailand Tour after a play-off loss to compatriot Danthai Boonma. Slightly off his early season form in his last three tournaments while still making the cuts, he will be looking to rebound this week.
• Australian Cameron John has been playing great golf this year, with a runner-up at the Singapore Open and a T7 at International Series Japan. The result in Singapore also meant that he earned a place at The Open at Royal Birkdale this summer via the OQS. He also won two tournaments on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier in 2026 to finish second to compatriot Travis Smyth on their 2025/26 Order of Merit.
• Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond won this tournament and this venue in 2019, the same year he would go on to win the Order of Merit title after four victories. This season his best posting has been a T3 at the Singapore Open last month, as well as a runner-up on the Asian Development Tour in late March. He is currently tied for ninth in all-time Asian Tour wins with seven, the last one coming at the 2022 International Series Morocco.
• Seonghyeon Kim from Korea has a card on the PGA Tour after graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour last year. However, as he’s preparing to possibly enter his national service later this year, he has played on the Korean PGA Tour since mid April with a T6 af the co-sanctioned GS Caltex Maekyung Open as his best finish. On the PGA Tour he has posted a T7 at the Valspar Championship as his best result in 2026, followed by a T13 at the season opening Sony Open in Hawaii. He played in three Asian Tour events in 2025 with a sixth place in the Shinhan Donghae Open as his best finish.
• Minhyuk Song from the host country won the recent GS Caltex Maykyung Open, one of the major championships in Korea, in a play-off with compatriot Mingyu Cho in dramatic fashion a few weeks ago. The 22-year-old could be considered one of the top young Korean prospects after finishing T2 in the same event in 2023 and posting numerous other top 10’s in Korean events since then. Now an Asian Tour winner and member. His Korea Open record leaves a lot of room for improvement, as he has missed the cut in every edition since first playing in 2021.
• American Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion in 2012 and 2014, is currently playing on the LIV Golf League as captain of the Range Goats GC. This year has not been what he has hoped for, but he had a runner-up and three other top-10s in 2025.

Abraham Ancer claimed the PIF Saudi International in 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

• Fellow LIV player Abraham Ancer from Mexico, playing for Torque GC, is having a better season with a T3 in South Africa and a T4 in Riyadh. He has one LIV win on his resume, the 2024 Hong Kong event. He has one victory on the Asian Tour, the 2023 PIF Saudi International, and he also won the 2021 WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational on the PGA Tour.
• Three-time Asian Tour champion Richard T. Lee from Canada qualified for LIV by winning the Promotions event in early January, and came very close to victory in LIV Singapore after losing to Bryson DeChambeau in a playoff. He has also posted three other top-20’s in his LIV season so far, as well as a T4 in the Woori Financial Group Championship on the KPGA Tour late last month.
• Past champions in the field this week: Minkyu Kim (2022 and 2024), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Seungsu Han (2023), Junseok Lee (2021), Minchel Choi (2018), Yikeun Chang (2017), Sangmoon Bae (2008 and 2009).
• Korean Simon Seungmin Lee, ranked number two in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), just won the G4D Open at Celtic Manor in Wales, UK, last week. Lee, who is autistic, has previously won the US Adaptive Open in 2022, the 2025 ISPS HANDA Australian All Abilities Championship and the Glico Paragolf Championship in Japan three times. He regularly competes on the Korean PGA and China Tours.
• The tournament is part of the Open Qualifying Series (OQS) – The leading player, not already exempt as of close of entries who makes the cut will earn a place in The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale from 16 -19 July 2026.
• The event was staged at La Vie Est Belle (Dunes Course) last year – the only time it has not been played at Woo Jeong Hills in the last 22 years.
• The winningest player in tournament history is Korea’s Changsang Han who won the title seven times in an eight-year span. This included four years in a row 1964-1967 and three straight years 1970-1972.

American Bubba Watson and Abraham Ancer from Mexico will headline next week’s Kolon Korea Open – bringing a touch of LIV Golf star power to one of the region’s most prestigious National Opens.

The tournament is returning to Woo Jeong Hills Country Club after a two-year gap due to renovations and will be played from 21-24 May.

In addition to their participation, the tournament has also been given a boost in terms of prize money. It has been raised to KRW2,000,000,000 (approximately US$1,335,000), an increase of US$400,000 from last year.

The two star players are taking time out from their busy LIV Golf schedules, although their trip is timely as LIV Golf Korea will be played the following week.

Watson is the captain of RangeGoats GC, while Ancer plays for Torque GC. The former is a two-time winner of the Masters, in 2012 and 2014, and has triumphed 12 times on the PGA Tour.

Abraham Ancer.

Ancer has an impressive record of claiming titles on many of the major tours, having tasted victory once on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, Web.com Tour and the LIV Golf League. He has also enjoyed success on the Asian Tour, winning the PIF Saudi International in 2023.

As is traditionally the case with the Kolon Korea Open are formidable field has entered the tournament.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, the defending champion, will compete, attempting to become the seventh player to win back-to-back titles in the 68-year history of the event.

Other former champions competing are Minkyu Kim from Korea (2022 and 2024), Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (2019), and Koreans Seungsu Han (2023), Junseok Lee (2021), Minchel Choi (2018), Yikeun Chang (2017) and Sangmoon Bae (2008 and 2009).

South African Ian Snyman, winner of last week’s Taiwan Glass Taifong Open will also line up with other winners from the Asian Tour this year: Koreans Minhyuk Song (GS Caltex Maekyung Open), Jeongwoo Ham (Singapore Open) and Wooyoung Cho (Philippine Golf Championship).

Sadom Kaewkanjana pictured winning last year.

Canada’s Richard T, Lee, also competing on the LIV Golf League, Kiwi Danny Lee and Australian Cameron John are some of the other big name players who have entered.

The event was staged at La Vie Est Belle (Dunes Course) last year – the only time it has not been played at Woo Jeong Hills in the last 22 years.

South African Ian Snyman was a big part of the conversation after winning in Chinese Taipei last week but there were some great quotes across all four days from those in contention.

Round One

First-round leader Tawit Polthai from Thailand, who won the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit in 2025, after his 66 (-6):

• “Singapore was pretty solid and that helped my confidence. I don’t want to think about goals for the year, or what I want to do here this week. I just want to play good golf and enjoy my time on the Asian Tour.”

Fellow Thai Charng-Tai Sudsom, who won his first professional title by nine shots last week on home soil, on his opening 67 (-5):

• “Winning last week in Thailand was good. And I love playing in Taiwan. My father is from here. I did not hit too many drivers today. I just wanted to keep it in play. The highlight was definitely the eagle on the fifth hole, where I chipped in from about 35 yards.”

Suradit Youngcharoenchai, also from The Kingdom, on his 68 (-4) that included a triple bogey on the sixth hole:

• “It was hard to make the triple after such a good start. I just told my caddie on the seventh tee, let’s pretend that we haven’t made any birdies so far and let’s go and get some from this hole onwards.”

Matthew Cheung.

Round Two

Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung after firing a 64 (-8) in the second round:

• “I am so very happy right now, and I am just riding that happiness. The Singapore week was unforgettable. My wife was pregnant, and then I missed the cut, and changed my flight to leave Saturday afternoon. I got home at like 9pm, and my wife started having contractions an hour later. We went to the hospital that night, and Annalise was born Sunday morning. I was planning to pull out of this week, but Kaitlin’s been super supportive with everything I’ve ever done in terms of my golfing career, and she actually pushed me to come here and play. I would not be here without her.”

American Shotaro Ban, a resident of Chinese Taipei, on his second round 67 (-5):

• “It was a lucky start for me. On the 10th hole, I hit my second shot over the green, and then managed to chip it in from a bad spot to make a birdie. I played steady after that. Made an eagle on the par-5 17th, which was good. I hit it to the centre of the fairway and then hit a 7-iron second shot to about 20 feet and made that putt.”

Tawit Polthai on his strategy playing Taifong Golf Club in the second round:

• “The only thing I had in my mind was to keep my tee shots in play. I did not have any number in mind for the round, so very happy that I could shoot another 66. I just wanted to hit good second shots and then see if we could make a putt.”

Round Three

South African Ian Snyman on his 69 (-3) that tied him for the lead going into the final round:

• “Today was an interesting one. I made some interesting birdies. Made a few nice putts. Chipped in twice, on 15 and I chipped in on number four.”

On the playing conditions compared to the first two rounds:

• “Today was different because of the wind. The wind was swirling. We thought it was going to be a north wind, but it changed from north to west, and then sometimes it was even the opposite direction. So, a few times you are over the ball but you’re not sure. And you don’t want to be long, but you also don’t want to be short. So, it was a bit of a guessing game.”

Santiago de la Fuente.

Filipino Lloyd Jefferson Go after posting a 67 (-5) on Saturday in his first cut made on the Asian Tour this season:

• “I just wanted to play my play. Just trying to play my best. I’m not playing so well, so I’m kind of just trying to keep my ball safe, and I’m relying on my short game and putting to play well.”

On finishing his round birdie, eagle after bogies on 15 and 16 to share the lead:

• “I made two really good putts; I think that was a big game changer in my round. After 15 and 16, I was able to recover on 17 and 18. I was shocked after like the 15th to see my name up there. I was like, oh, everyone’s playing bad today. So, I was really shocked.”

American Chase Koepka on making a big charge on moving day with a 66 (-6) to go from T12 to third:

• “I knew posting something in the 60s was good today. You know 66, I mean, felt like I played really, really nicely, except for one hole.”

On coming back from major surgery in 2024 to securing his Asian Tour card late in 2025:

• “It really didn’t feel like I was truly back playing until the last bit of the season during that long stretch. The game has been a little bit sloppy to start the year. There’s been some good things, but I’m just happy that putter has kind of been the biggest difference.”

Round Four

Ian Snyman after his 69 (-3) to secure his first Asian Tour win by two shots:

• “This is crazy. Two months ago, I was in the shower, and I was thinking, ‘Will I ever win again?’ You work hard and you run out of ideas about what to do and what to change. And here I am today, and we have managed to do it. And it was just solid. I felt like there was very little amount of luck involved out there for me. This week, I managed to swing good, and the putting was good. I was just in a good mindset.”

On what his breakthrough victory meant after five years on the Asian Tour:

• “Obviously, I was hoping not to wait for five years for my first win here, but to be honest with you, I haven’t had a lot of chances on the Asian Tour. I’ve had good weeks, but not weeks where I felt like I was in control. There were always some poor shots. But this week was just solid, solid, solid. I’m glad I won feeling good, because sometimes you feel good about your game and you still don’t win.”

Mexico’s Santiago de la Fuente posted a T2 for his best Asian Tour finish so far after a 67 (-5), but was left to rue a costly bogey on 17 after going into the bushes and taking a penalty drop:

•  “It was a crazy week. I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the week, made some silly mistakes. But as the week went on, I understood the course a bit more and how I needed to play. The 17th is going to hurt for a long time, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be for me this week. Ian did a great job, and he played amazing this week. I will have my time and I will have my day. This is my second year on the Asian Tour and the first when I have a full card and I can pick and choose my tournaments. So, I am happy to get a good result here and put up points which will help me secure my card for the next season.”

Joint runner-up Matthew Cheung, who also recorded his best finish on the Asian Tour, after his 68 (-4) in the final round:

• “I tried a new golf ball and a new putter and we had a new baby in the past couple of weeks! So, yes…a lot of positives. I was really good at staying patient all day. I hit a couple of really good shots in the middle there. Honestly, I wasn’t hitting it too great on the back nine, but I made some really good up and downs to keep myself in it, and I chipped in on the 17th, which was a bit of a cherry on top.”

Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

South African Ian Snyman has given himself another great opportunity to claim his first title on the Asian Tour after taking a share of the lead in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open, along with Filipino Lloyd Jefferson Go.

Snyman, joint-third last Sunday in Korea, shot a three-under-par 69 at Taifong Golf Club to go to 12-under for the three rounds.

Go returned a 67, helped by a stunning birdie, eagle finish, while American Chase Koepka, brother of five-time Major winner Brooks, is another shot back in third following a 66 – the lowest round of the day.

Chinese Taipei’s Liu Yung-hua (70), appropriately sponsored by Taiwan Glass this week, American Shotaro Ban (73) and Matthew Cheung (74) from Hong Kong are in a tie for fourth, an additional two shots behind.

Lloyd Jefferson Go with his sister Lois Kaye on the bag.

Thailand’s Tawit Polthai, the leader after the first two rounds, came in with a 77, falling back into a tie for 10th, five behind the leaders.

Snyman made his only bogey of the day on the first but later made up ground with four birdies to put himself in position for a win that is due. He has finished joint second once, equal third twice, and tied for fifth on two occasions.

“Today was an interesting one,” said Snyman.

“I made some interesting birdies. Made a few nice putts. Chipped in twice, on 15 and I chipped in on number four.”

Both those chip ins were for birdie, ensuring he secured the lead for the first time heading into the final round on the Asian Tour.

“Today was different because of the wind. The wind was swirling. We thought it was going to be a north wind, but it changed from north to west, and then sometimes it was even the opposite direction,” said the 31-year-old.

“So, a few times you are over the ball but you’re not sure. And you don’t want to be long, but you also don’t want to be short. So, it was a bit of a guessing game.”

Go will be relieved to find himself sharing the leading. He finished seventh at this year’s Qualifying School but has not made a cut this season.

Chase Koepka.

He said: “I just wanted to play my play. Just trying to play my best. I’m not playing so well, so I’m kind of just trying to keep my ball safe, and I’m relying on my short game and putting to play good.”

The 31-year-old made bogies on 15 and 16 before gaining three shots in the last holes, which are both par fives.

“I made two really good putts. I think that was a big game changer in my round. After 15 and 16, I was able to recover on 17 and 18. I was shocked after like the 15th to see my name up there. I was like, oh, everyone’s playing bad today. So, I was really shocked,” he said.

Victory tomorrow will take on even special meaning as his sister, Lois Kaye, is on the bag. She has been caddying for him all year and is also a professional golfer.

He made six birdies in total and three bogeys.

Koepka was the big mover on moving day with seven birdies and just one dropped shot. Four of those birdies were on the second half.

Like the two frontrunners he is also looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.

“I knew posting something in the 60s was good today. You know 66, I mean, felt like I played really, really nicely, except for one hole,” he said.

It’s only his second season playing full-time on the Asian Tour, having been out for most of 2024 with an injury. He suffered a severe shoulder and nerve damage injury requiring major surgery.

“It really didn’t feel like I was truly back playing until the last bit of the season during that long stretch. The game has been a little bit sloppy to start the year. There’s been some good things, but I’m just happy that putter has kind of been the biggest difference,” he said.

Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu, the defending champion, fired a 70 and is in joint seventh, four off the pace along with Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po – the 2021 champion.

Pictured courtesy Taiwan PGA.

Ekpharit Wu [main picture] defends his Taiwan Glass Taifong Open title this week, attempting to make it a hattrick of wins for Thai players in the tournament.

His countryman Suteepat Prateeptienchai was triumphant here at Taifong Golf Club, on the west coast of Chinese Taipei, in 2023 and 2024 – having finished second in 2022, when it was part of the Asian Development Tour

Wu is getting the chance to defend much earlier than expected as the event was played in November last year and he is upbeat ahead of tomorrow’s first round.

He said: “It is very special to be a defending champion on the Asian Tour. I will try and do my best.  To be honest, I want to be a champion again, that’s what I want. I try to beat the other players in every tournament.”

His victory last year was his first on the Asian Tour, in his rookie season, having negotiated the 2025 Qualifying School at the end of 2024.

He finished 17^th at the School but was in danger of losing his card until everything came together at the right time in Taifong.

Ekpharit Wu with his father and wife, Pam, last year. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

He shot a five-under par 67 round on Sunday to win by two shots from Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, who bogeyed 15 and 16 to leave the door open for the rising Thai star.

Ekpharit jump from 73rd to 28th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and with a new found confidence went on to tie for third in the Bharath Classic later in the month. He finished 24^th on the final Merit list and was beaten to Rookie of the Year Award by American Olle Schniederjans, who ended in 13^th place.

Last year’s success here was particularly special as Epkpharit’s wife, Pam, was caddying for him, while his father is a Chinese Taipei native.

“I was lucky because my dad was there that week, so he came to cheer me on,” said 26-year-old, who turned professional in 2020 and is a two-time winner on the All Thailand Golf Tour, having won back-to-back titles in 2024.

“I hit a lot of a good shots that week and had a hole in one. I made birdies from a lot of good putting, so on that week I was very confident.”

He aced the par-three eighth on day three helping him to finish one shot behind Hung heading into the final round.

He said: “Last year had everything for me, like it was amazing for me. Normally my dad doesn’t go to watch me, although my wife always carries my bag. It had a lot there, so yep, I was very happy for that.”

Hung is also back this week. He won this tournament in 2020, capitalising on the absence of foreign players due to travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic.

His compatriot Chan Shih-chang will be bidding for a fourth title, having claimed the event a record three times, in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Overview

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open has traditionally been held in the latter part of the season but the venue and organiser, Taifong Golf Club, assisted the Asian Tour with a request for an earlier date.

Mr Lin Po-shih, Chairman of Taifong Golf Club, helped facilitate this move allowing the Tour to build up the early part of the season in the Spring of North Asia – a beautiful time to play golf in the region.

The tournament continues to mature on the Asian Tour, having successfully made the transition from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2022.

For the past three seasons it has made an important contribution to the Tour’s narrative, especially with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai winning in 2023 and 2024 and his young compatriot Ekpharit Wu last year.

The success of the event is the result of a flourishing partnership between the host venue, Taiwan Glass and the Taiwan PGA – the local sanctioning partner.

The event was played on the ADT from 2014 to 2022 and was one of its most lucrative and popular tournaments.

It was first played in 2005, when Chinese-Taipei’s Yeh Weh-tze, winner of the Malaysian Open in 2000, triumphed. His countryman Chan Shih-chang has won the event a record three times in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Taifong Golf Club has been the event’s permanent home since its inception.

The Club is located in Changhua City on the west coast of Chinese-Taipei – once an expansive agricultural landscape, now a thriving business hub.

The course was designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Watanabe in 1977, and commands stunning views – nestling in a mountainous region it is famous for.

The club is one of the investment projects of Lin Yu-chia – the former president of Taiwan Glass.

Mr Lin Po-shih, Chairman of Taifong Golf Club, pictured with the players last year.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: Taiwan Glass Taifong Open
• Date: 7-10 May
• Venue: Taifong Golf Club, Changhua, Chinese Taipei
• Par/Yards: 72 / 7,302 yards
• Purse: US$500,000
• Asian Tour leg: Sixth
• Edition of tournament: Fourth on the Asian Tour, 17th in total.  It was first played in 2005, when Chinese-Taipei’s Yeh Weh-tze triumphed. It was played on the local tour until 2014 when it was also sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour (ADT) eight years.
• Previous winner: Ekpharit Wu (THA)
• Winning score in 2025: 268 (-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 players (including amateurs) plus ties.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016)
• Nationalities: 27
• Top contenders: Cameron John (AUS), Ekpharit Wu (THA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Ian Snyman (RSA)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Cameron John (AUS) #222
• Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) #3
• Number of amateurs in the field: No amateurs
• Number of Chinese Taipei players in the field: 46

Chan Shih-chang.

Tournament Notes

• Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, currently in third place on the Order of Merit, started 2026 with excellent results after a runner-up at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship and a T2 in the International Series Japan. He also had an early season T2 on the All Thailand Tour after a play-off loss to compatriot Danthai Boonma.
• Australian Cameron John has been playing great golf lately, with a runner-up finish at the Singapore Open and a T7 at International Series Japan. The result in Singapore also meant that he punched his ticket to The Open at Royal Birkdale this summer via the Open Qualifying Series. He also won two tournaments on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier in 2026 to finish second to compatriot Travis Smyth on their 2025/26 Order of Merit.
• South African Ian Snyman is coming off a great tournament in Korea, finishing T3 at the notoriously difficult Namseoul Country Club at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open last week. He also started off the year well with a T5 at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship.
• Ekpharit Wu from Thailand won this title by two shots over Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao for his first Asian Tour win last November, and quickly followed it up with a T3 in India two weeks later. In 2026 he has made the cut in all four Asian Tour events, and his best results have been T29’s at the Philippine Golf Championship and International Series Japan.
• Fellow Thai Jazz Janewattananond had a good result at the Singapore Open two weeks ago finishing T3, as well as a runner-up on the Asian Development Tour in late March. The 2019 Order of Merit champion is currently tied for ninth in all-time Asian Tour wins with seven, the last one coming at the 2022 International Series Morocco.
• The five-time Asian Tour winner Chan Shih-chang from Chinese Taipei won this tournament twice when it was part of the ADT in 2014 and 2018, and also in 2010 when it was part of the local tour. He holds the record with most wins.
• Lee Chieh-po, also from the host nation, is back on the Asian Tour after a season on the LIV Golf League. He won this tournament in 2021 when it was only played as a local event due to the global pandemic.
• Another local, Hung Chien-yao, has been victorious in the tournament twice, the first time in 2020 when it was played on the local tour and also in 2022 when it was part of the ADT. He was runner up in the tournament last year to secure his card for the 2026 season.
• Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai won the tournament in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024, after having finished T2 in the 2022 edition of the tournament. He is a four-time winner on the Asian Tour and three of his victories have come in Chinese Taipei. In addition to his two wins in this event, he also grabbed the title at the 2024 Yeangder TPC.

Main picture: Ekpharit Wu pictured celebrating last year.

The Asian Tour and Maeil Business Newspaper have come together to form an exciting new media partnership that will further strengthen their relationship.

Maeil Business Newspaper is one of Korea’s leading business media outlets and are owned by Maekyung Media – the long-standing title sponsor of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, which took place last week.

The new arrangement will see Maeil Business Newspaper provide year-round coverage of Asian Tour events in their online edition, in Korean and English.

It promises to be important exposure in a key market for the Asian Tour, who will work closely with the newspaper to ensure they are fully supported in order to maximise coverage.

Maeil Business Newspaper celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026.

Since publishing its first issue on March 24, 1966, it has served as a trusted guide to Korea’s economy.

It is the flagship publication of Maekyung Media, which connects with an audience of more than 20 million through an integrated network spanning newspapers, magazines, and digital/mobile platforms. This reach includes MBN, a nationwide general programming television channel, and Pulse, its English-language news platform. It is also internationally known for hosting the World Knowledge Forum, Asia’s largest business forum, as well as the GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

Founded in 1982 by Maeil Business Newspaper, the GS Caltex Maekyung Open is one of Korea’s most prestigious atournaments. It is known as Korea’s Masters, as the winner dons a Green Jacket.

Main picture: Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour and Jeonghwan Wi, CEO of Maeil Business Newspaper pictured at the signing ceremony at the weekend.

What they said at last week’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open, where Korea’s Minhyuk Song defeated his compatriot Mingyu Cho in a compelling sudden-death play-off.

First Round

First-round leader Taehee Lee from Korea on his eagle on the par-four 18^th hole:

• “My tee shot went right down the middle of the fairway. The pin was front-right, and I wanted to hit a high shot, but I couldn’t because of a divot. I had 130 yards left, but considering the uphill slope and the wind, I aimed to send it about 155 yards and hit an 8 iron. Because it was uphill, I couldn’t see the green, but the gallery started clapping. When I got there, the ball was in the hole. It’s my first eagle on the 18th hole!”

On his success at this tournament, and being the only player to win in back-to-back years (2019-2020) he said:

• “I’ve played in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open nearly 20 times, I think the most important thing is being myself. Being able to play my own game in any situation is key. Belief in myself and confidence are the most important factors. I know the dangerous areas better than other players on this course, so in that sense, I feel more comfortable.”

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin after his 67 (-4) in the first round:

“I’m not really expecting that here, I planned not to come here this year, to be honest”

Asked how he managed to get the better of the course this time after a string of missed cuts in 2023, 2024, and 2025 he said:

• “I don’t know. Normally, I just cannot hit from the fairway here – it’s just like I cannot control the ball. The second shot is very important here. You have to be precise, due to the pin location. You cannot go over the pin. Also, I just scored well on the par threes today. I made three under on them. So, that’s why I scored well. And I found good places to make to up and downs.”

Fellow Thai Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who already has two runners-up this season, after his 66 (-5):

• “I never played good here, but honestly, this year after the first four events, I feel more confident about my game. Everything I think is about mindset. Everything felt smooth today and continued my momentum. It was a little bit of a colourful score card. It’s like I am always attacking. I’m very, very happy with how I play today.  I came out strong mentally. That’s why I am playing well.”

Minhyuk Song.

Second Round

New Zealander Nick Voke after his second round 66 (-5):

• “Very pleased with it. You know, as you said, challenging golf course, but challenging conditions as well. This wind is tricky, it’s strong, it’s coming from all sorts of directions. So, one of the better ball striking rounds for me. I think I hit 17 greens, a lot of two putts from 20 feet, and a couple of them went in. So it was a good day. You can get in trouble out here at Namseoul when you’re… Legit, you’d rather have 15 feet up the hill than an eight-foot coming down, like it’s crazy. So you’ll be really precise with your numbers into the greens. I put it in the right spots, had a lot of looks, and it was pretty stress free.”

Asked if it was helpful to play with Julien Sale (72-66) and Mingyu Cho (66-70) who also played well the first two days:

• “Yeah, we were feeding off each other. You know, when the cameras came around, we’re like, oh, it’s our time to shine now, boys. You know, Julian played sensational, Mingyu really well yesterday. Yeah, just feeding off each other, a lot of fist pumps, lot of good putts, good shots. It was cool.”

On his strategy to score well at Namseoul Country Club:

• “Yeah, there’s only one thing, and that’s to keep it under the hole. Like you find your front number and the pin is your back number, hit in between that and you’ll do well.”

Julien Sale from France after his 66 (-5) that included two eagles on his last nine holes:

• “Made a good birdie on one, and then holed on two, for eagle. I think I had like, 130 metres. Had a pitching wedge. I actually didn’t see it go in, because I was a bit below, but yeah, my caddy was just on top of the hill looking at it, and he’s like saying it’s looking good, looking good, and it went in. At first I didn’t believe him, but I heard the crowd cheering. And then after that, on the par five, hit a good tee shot, with a three wood. The wind was helping, and then a nice seven iron that rolled to like five metres and made the putt.”

Joint leader Yubin Jang on how a year on the LIV Golf League in 2025 has made him a better player:

• “Having played on LIV Golf across a variety of courses and conditions, I found it relatively easy to adapt to the windy conditions today. That experience has been a great help. Even in situations where I might normally take a more aggressive club, I’m now trying to play more steadily. I do feel that I’ve grown as a player.”

On what this tournament, one of Korea’s Majors, means to him:

• “Since my days on the national team, the tournaments I’ve most wanted to win are the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the Kolon Korea Open. I was in contention in both 2023 and 2024, but it was disappointing not to win. Those missed opportunities have stayed with me, so I’ll do my best to play without any regrets.”

Mingyu Cho.

Third Round

Co-leader Mingyu Cho from Korea after his third-round 67 (-4):

• “There weren’t any major crises or big opportunities on the front nine, I made pars throughout. I knew I had lost the lead, but I didn’t dwell on it. I just kept playing, believing chances would come naturally. I started playing golf in 1999 and have been on tour for over 20 years. From experience, you shouldn’t attack the course recklessly – especially not this one. It’s important to stay patient and play within yourself.”

On what a win at home would mean after over 20 years winless on Korean soil, but with two victories on the Japan Golf Tour:

• “A new opportunity presents itself. If I win in Korea, it feels like all the pieces will finally come together. And my son was born on Monday, so I want to draw strength from that and give it my best as a father.”

Compatriot Minhyuk Song also shared the lead after three rounds following a 66 (-5):

• “Namseoul Country Club is a course where I’ve had some of my best results. I especial love the huge galleries. I tried to be myself today, just as I did in the first and second rounds. Rather than thinking about protecting my position in the third round, I focused on moving up the leaderboard. I think that mindset helped me get into a share of the lead. There were a lot of leaderboards out on the course, so I checked them frequently. I kept track of where I stood and played accordingly.”

South African Ian Snyman after his third round 67 (-4) on having his brother Ryno on the bag and other family members in the gallery this week:

• “It’s been quite special having, let’s say half of the full family here. I nearly shed a tear before the round, because my sister, she came and she saw my brother, and she started crying, and it’s just been a whole special feeling. And it was a big thing for me to make the cut. This is always a week where it’s tough, and to make it with him, it’s just extra special. And to have a fun day like today, where I could see he was excited with every putt made. It was a moment that I’ll cherish for a long time, and hopefully we can make some more memories tomorrow.”

Final Round

The champion Minhyuk Song from Korea after securing his first professional victory in a playoff against compatriot Minguy Cho after a final round 70 (-1):

• “I really wanted to win, but I also told myself that even if I stumbled, as long as I had the strength to get back up, I could become a player capable of winning. I’m just very happy that such a great opportunity came sooner than I expected. I thought I might cry after my first win, but in the moment, I just felt overwhelming joy and couldn’t stop smiling. Up until last year, my father caddied for me, but this year I’m working with a professional caddie. My dream was to win with my father on the bag and bow to him as a celebration. Although I couldn’t fulfil that this time, my caddie did an amazing job and really helped me perform well.”

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Korea’s rising star Minhyuk Song overcame compatriot Mingyu Cho on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off to win the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today – on one of the most dramatic Sunday’s the tournament has ever seen.

Song, aged 22, secured his first victory in the professional game by parring the first extra hole at Namseoul Country Club, after Cho made bogey.

It was an incredible turn of events as Cho looked to be on course for the win leading by two playing the last. However, he missed a three-foot bogey putt and made double bogey to fall back into a tie with playing-partner Song.

Adding to the drama, Korean Inhoi Hur looked set to join the play-off but after signing his scorecard he was penalised two shots for an incident that took place yesterday.

All three had finished tied on 11 under, with Song and Cho, the joint leaders at the start of the day, both shooting 70 and Hur a 64.

Minhyuk Song.

Hur’s tournament total was subsequently changed to nine under and he finished joint third with South African Ian Snyman and Korea’s Taehee Lee. Snyman returned a 67 and Lee 69.

Song trailed Cho the whole of the back nine before he made a solid par on the 18^th to keep his hopes alive. Cho had pushed his tee shot right, punched back into the fairway and ended up three putting.

“I really wanted to win,” he said, “but I also told myself that even if I stumbled, as long as I had the strength to get back up, I could become a player capable of winning. I’m just very happy that such a great opportunity came sooner than I expected.”

He had a bogey free front nine and made birdies on three and four to stay level with Cho. He dropped his first shot of the day on 11, where a tiddler horse shoed the hole, recovered with a birdie on the next before dropping a shot on 16.

He added: “I thought I might cry after my first win, but in the moment, I just felt overwhelming joy and couldn’t stop smiling. Up until last year, my father caddied for me, but this year I’m working with a professional caddie. My dream was to win with my father on the bag and bow to him as a celebration. Although I couldn’t fulfil that this time, my caddie did an amazing job and really helped me perform well.”

It was a case of coming full circle as he finished second here as an amateur in 2023, before turning professional at the end of that year.

Mingyu Cho.

In the play-off Cho hit another poor drive but on this occasion down the left. He found the greenside trap with his second and splashed out to eight feet. Song two putted from the back of the green for par, while Cho missed his attempt.

It was once again a bitter pill to swallow for Cho. He was looking for his first win on Korean soil in 16 years as a professional.

The 37-year-old also came close to winning this event in 2022 when he finished in second place, two behind his countryman Bio Kim. On that occasion he held the lead on the front nine but suffered a huge set back on the ninth when he was penalised two shots for playing his third off a temporary green.

For Hur it was also a case of what might have been. He made a brave run at the title with three birdies on the trot from the 11^th. The 2021 champion parred home from there before being informed of a two-shot deduction following a review by the rules committee.

He had been assessed a stroke and distance penalty on hole seven in the third round, where he made a par four after having played a provisional.

Officials determined that his original tee shot was out of bounds and his provisional ball became ball in play thus his score was corrected from four to six.

Inhoi Hur.

The Asian Tour heads to Chinese-Taipei next week for the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open. The tournament tees off on Thursday at Taifong Golf Club. Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu starts as the defending champion.

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

It is proving to be a big week for Ian Snyman at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open with a lot of inspiration, on and off the golf course.

Most importantly he is in hot pursuit of the leaders after a fine third-round four-under-par 67 yesterday. He is five-under and just five behind the leaders heading into today’s final round, at Namseoul Country Club.

It means that once again he has a chance to win for the first time on the Asian Tour, something he has been consistently close to since he started playing full time in the region in 2022.

His performance so far this week could not have come at a more opportune time as his brother, Ryno, is on the bag and his sister, Liezl, who lives in Korea, came to watch. Their sister was unaware that Ryno was here, with his wife Mariette, and got a wonderful surprise when she thought she came to watch just one sibling in action at the start of the second round on Friday.

“It’s been quite special having, let’s say half of the full family here,” said Snyman, after the third round.

“I nearly shed a tear before the round, because my sister, she came and she saw my brother, and she started crying, and it’s just been a whole special feeling.

“And it was a big thing for me to make the cut. This is always a week where it’s tough, and to make it with him, it’s just extra special. And to have a fun day like today, where I could see he was excited with every putt made. It was a moment that I’ll cherish for a long time, and hopefully we can make some more memories tomorrow.”

From left to right: Jihwan Bach, Liezl, Ian, Ian, Hay-Leigh, Mariette, and Ryno.

His sister, Liezl, moved to Korea 15 years ago to teach English, and married a Korean gentleman, Jihwan Bach. They have two children, Hay-Leigh and Ian – named after his uncle.

“I usually get to see Liezl a few times a year, which is nice, when I am playing events here. And then my parents can come every few years, but it’s an expensive trip, so my brothers haven’t been able to come. This year, I told them, well, why don’t you come carry for me, and we can surprise them. And that was kind of the whole idea behind it, and nobody knew a thing.

“My parents in South Africa didn’t know. We video called them yesterday, it was so funny, and everyone was just ecstatic and so happy that we can all be together. And my sister needs it. She’s got an amazing family over here but she misses home as well, and this is very special. And that’s how golf connects, I guess, the whole family to the world.”

There’s also a lot more happening this week.

He is using new clubs for only the second week, having first used them last week in Singapore. Despite the concern of changing to new equipment he says the Titleist clubs are working extremely well.

It could all lead to big celebrations later today should he win or go close in what is one of Korea’s premier events, known as Korea’s Masters as the winner dons a Green Jacket.

He has been hindered by one thing this week though: a bad back.

His exceptional golf has masked an unpleasant pain halfway up his back. It started last week in Singapore, and he is noticeably struggling with his movement. He is still to determine what the issue is, with a lot of treatment helping to get him through.

It’s very much a case of beware the injured golfer as he attempts to become the first westerner to win on this course since New Zealand’s Eddie Lee was back in 2002.