Varadan benefitting from new clubs, new swing and new caddie
Khavish Varadan [main picture] is well within his rights to consider 2026 a breakthrough season so far.
Currently riding high on top of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit, thanks to a win and a pair of second placed finishes, he’s also shown glimpses of his potential on the Asian Tour. He tied for 11th at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open in May – for his best finish on the Tour.
However, ahead of this week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, Malaysia’s rising star is not getting ahead of himself.
“I wouldn’t say breakthrough,” says the 26-year-old, “but I’m just building on every week. You know, I’m not doing anything special. It’s just, you know, the same thing every week. Hopefully the breakthrough will come soon.”
Varadan represents an exciting new generation of golfers from his country, that includes Ervin Chang.
At last week’s Yeangder TPC he was one of the clubhouse leaders on the first day and eventually finished in a tie for 39th . The result moved him into 66th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Chang charged through on the final day carding a 64 to end in out right possession of sixth. It was his second-best performance on Tour and means he is well placed in 35th position on the Merit list.
Khavish Varadan in action last week.
Varadan will want to improve on his Merit list position and has work to do, while also trying to wrap up first place on the ADT Merit list.
He said he struggled to deal with the nuances of the Chinese-Taipei greens last week but credits a swing change and a new caddie with his strong performances this year. His countryman Guna, who used to work with Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, is now on his bag.
“Went through a swing change middle of last year, somewhere in April. It’s nice to see the changes I’ve made in my golf game prosper slowly,” he said.
“I would say hiring Guna has made a big difference, as well as the work on my swing and also the new irons that I put in have been performing really well. So, you know, everything kind of blends in together. But I would say, first, I think having a good guy on my bag is really helpful.”
He first made headlines at Malaysian Open early in 2024, when in his first event as a professional he shared the lead at the halfway mark. He went on to finish in a tie for 13th for an impressive debut.
However, it’s been this year that he has started to find his feet, with his place on the Asian Tour made possible thanks to finishing 22nd at the Qualifying School.
His form has helped vindicate his decision two years ago to not finish his final year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in order to make the transition to the paid ranks.
“It wasn’t easy,” he says of the important decision.
“I could have finished my final year in college, but I didn’t see any help in my golf game continuing at university. Whilst on the other end it’s not easy, professional golf is also not easy. You know, you need a little bit of luck involved and also a good support system, which I have. You know, I am thankful to my dad for that because he was like, ‘Well, if you make a decision, I’m all in …’.
Khavish Varadan (left) was the top Malaysian player when he tied for 13th at the Malaysian Open in 2024.
“So, it’s been good. I think I have learned a lot in professional golf because in university we wouldn’t be playing in conditions like this, and able to perform in conditions like this. You know, everyone’s playing in it and everyone’s playing well in it, so we’ve got to find a way to put the ball in the hole. So, I think I would be complaining a lot in university, but now, no.”
His victory on the ADT came at the Nam A Bank Vietnam Masters where he defeated Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond in extra time, while one of his runner-up finishes was also the result of a play-off, at the PKNS Selangor Masters on home soil. Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam got the better of him on that occassion.
Those were certainly invaluable real-life experiences that could not have been learned at university and will hopefully put him on course to winning on the Asian Tour – something which no Malaysian has achieved since Nicholas Fung and Gavin Green in 2017. The former claimed the Queen’s Cup in June of that year, while the latter was victorious in October, at the very same event that starts this Thursday at Taiwan Golf & Country Club.
The Yeangder TPC featured one of its strongest ever fields last week, with players jostling to finish as high up as possible on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, as the season enters its closing stages. They also had plenty to say about it as well. Here are the best quotes of the week, where victory went to Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand.
First Round
Malaysia’s Ervin Chang after his 64 (-8) to be tied for the lead on day one:
“My putting and my damage control overall were key today. On hole number seven, my 16th basically as I started on back nine, I actually duffed my tee-shot. Then I had 185 yards to the pin, into the wind, and hit a six iron to 18 feet and made it for birdie. On hole number nine, my last hole, I hit my tee shot a little bit left, but the second shot caught a flyer over the green, but I chipped in for birdie. Earlier on three I also chipped in for birdie. There were some crazy moments, some moment that just made me wonder, like, am I doing this correctly?”.
On cutting back on his time online and on social media:
“I didn’t look at the scoreboard, and it’s something that I’ve been working on over the last three months. I didn’t cut off social media, but I cut off golf on my social media, on my Instagram, as just because on the golf course it is stressful enough, and I don’t look at golf again after the round.”
Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand, who also fired a 64 on Thursday, on playing in Chinese Taipei:
“I mean, I played here a lot. I love it. I have very good friends here, you know, and all the tea, good food, very happy about this week. My irons were on fire today, kind of like three feet, four feet, left me easy putts.”
On having his wife Chorphaka Jaengjit, a Thai LPGA professional, join him during his week in Taipei:
“This week is our 20th anniversary of being together. So, it is a very special week for me. I am trying to win for her.”
Kazuki Higa.
Local star Chien-yao Hung after his 64 to join the leaders:
“I bogeyed the last, but I told myself it’s ok. I think the main highlight today was how I played through my calf cramps on the last three holes! I was just thinking about how I got it. Did I not drink enough water? Maybe because the weather is cooling that’s why I thought I didn’t need to drink too much. I knew it’s easy to make bogeys on the last three holes, so I wasn’t expecting too much. Because of the cramps, I wasn’t able to concentrate as well. I actually had an easy chip on the last, but I didn’t chip well which was a pity. But overall, it’s alright.”
Second Round
Thai Tawit Polthai on his 62, an un-official course record due to preferred lies in effect, on Friday:
“Everything was like a perfect day for me. I mean, it’s like my driving was good, irons were good and I hit all the good numbers and my putting was very well. I’ve shot 10 under in like a practice round before, but not in a tournament.”
Fellow Thai Poom Saksansin talking about his recent form after a 64 in the second round to share the lead:
“It’s not been very good. I’ve played in local events and finished not so well. But I just opened an academy and I was teaching one of my friends, and I was just teaching him a drill, which took about two hours, and then that drill got into my swing. So good luck for me.”
About the drill he explained:
“My swing is a little bit too deep on my backswing and my shaft gets too flat, which is the same problem as my friend. So, I just told him that you have to get your hands more in front and more steep on the backswing. I kept doing that drill for two hours because I was teaching him. I wasn’t hitting any shots. Then yeah, that drill got into my swing.”
Joint leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert on his week at the halfway stage:
“I’m feeling pretty good this week, it’s been very easy game for the first two days for me. I mean, I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, and my putts have dropped this week. So yeah, a couple of low rounds.”
About the Linkou International course he said:
“Well, I like this course actually. I mean, like you don’t have to hit it long, just put it in a good position, and I can reach the par fives. So yeah, this week the first two days I think my position is very good. My driving is pretty good this week, so that means my ball position I hit it from the fairway. Especially this course, you know, you have to hit it on the fairway to make a birdie. And then my irons have been good for the past two days, and my putt have dropped.”
Chien-Yao Hung.
Third Round
Leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert on being bogey free through 54 holes:
“I’m quite surprised because I’m kind of like, you know, a birdie bogey player, but yeah, this week I think I put the ball in a very good position. I mean, when I missed it’s not been in that tough a place, for the past three days. I think that’s the key.”
On what a win would mean to him after coming second twice on the Asian Tour and twice on the All Thailand Tour in 2026:
“I know would be very, very happy for myself because you know, I keep knocking on the door for maybe five or six years, even this year already, including the All Thailand Tour and Thai PGA. And yeah, if it’s my week, it’s my week, so I just have to stay calm tomorrow. Do what I did for the past three days and then let’s see.”
Defending champion Kazuki Higa from Japan after his 67 to move him up to second place after three rounds:
“I made less mistakes today, compared to yesterday. Today’s biggest challenge for me was reading the greens. Gave myself a lot of birdie chances but missed a few short putts out there which was a pity. This is the best day so far this week that I’ve hit my woods and irons. I started the final round one shot back last year too so I’m in a similar position again. I will just try and make as many birdies as I can again tomorrow and see how it goes. I don’t feel any pressure right now. I’m happy to be in this position heading into the final round.”
Filipino Miguel Tabuena after his 63 that included a back-nine 29:
“Yeah, it’s been a while. It was a bit of a slow start on the front nine, and then just the putter caught on fire on the back nine. I didn’t hit it as well as yesterday, I missed like maybe six fairways today, but you know the greens aren’t the fastest, so you can get away with being in the rough. And it’s just one of the days where the putter got hot, and a chip in on 16 also helped.”
On being back on the Asian Tour after playing on LIV for most of the season:
“You know it’s always nice coming back, it’s my favorite tour by far. It’s been the family for the longest time, and you know, it’s a nice way to end the year. Being around Asia, being close to Manila is a big boost for sure.”
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho also went low on Saturday, posting a 64 after playing the first seven holes in six under to get back in contention:
“Yeah, it was a really fast start. Kind of two very different nines, because on the front I was hitting a lot of fairways, hitting a lot of greens, and kind of just tapping in for birdie, really. And then on the back, I just felt like I just kind of didn’t hit as many fairways, and then kind of just didn’t quite judge the wind great every single time. So felt like I was hitting good shots still, but I was just missing the greens, and I felt like my short game really went on display on the back nine and I’m really proud of how I was able to keep together a strong round.”
Taichi Kho.
On his recent form after winning the International Series Morocco in early June:
“I think the only thing that I’ve realized is, you know, I put a lot of work in after Morocco. Like I put in a lot of work before Morocco and after Morocco, and yeah, sometimes golf just has its way of doing its own thing. I’ve realized the results side of things and the performance side of things is, I think some of it’s in our control, but a lot of it is out of our control. I’m just trying to bring my best self to the table more often, and when I say that, I mean you know in terms of like the person that I am and the type of focus that I bring to the table, and less so about the performance side. So, as I’m just focusing more on that side of things this week as opposed to the scoring side, I’m obviously bringing a lot of good golf to the table.”
Final Round
Winner Pavit Tangkamolprasert on his emotions after making a birdie on the 72nd hole to beat Kazuki Higa by one shot:
“You know, words can describe this week’s game, I think this is the most solid tournament I’ve played all year. I made only one bogey out of 72 holes, which is very fantastic. But yeah, a lot of low rounds. Still, I had to make the shots because you know, like the defending champion Kazuki Higa and me were playing together, he kept coming and he was playing very solid. But yeah, it’s just on the last hole he made par and I made birdie.”
Asked if it felt like a match-play situation with Higa he said:
“Not really. You know, I just wanted to concentrate on my game actually, I didn’t look at the scores much, and you know, I’ve been coming very close for so many times, and it helps a lot, you know. I just keep trying, keep trying, doesn’t matter. But yeah, as I told you, so it’s this week and it was my luck.”
On what was the key moment in the final round:
“Yeah the first hole, I started with an eagle again. So that boosted a lot of confidence, followed on the third and fourth holes with birdies, so yeah, a hot start. You know, when you play in the final round, you know everyone is shooting low. A couple guys shot like 10 under, nine under, coming up. But yeah, four under first four is the key, just make it very, very easy for myself.”
Runner-up Kazuki Higa on his final round at Linkou after coming up one shot behind:
“I played alright the last four days. Thought I will just add some pressure to the other competitors like Pavit today. I didn’t hit a good tee shot on the last, second shot i thought i hit it good but it went into the bunker. I thought my bunker shots are my strongest but this week, i was in the bunkers four times and i only hit one good one. That was disappointing.”
Describing his mindset during the final round:
“I told myself i needed to make at least a birdie in every three holes to be able to keep up the challenge. My putter held up when it mattered most so that was good. I didn’t set any targets today. i just wanted to make a birdie in every three holes. That was my main mindset today.”
Main picture Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
Pictured by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
A relieved and emotional Pavit Tangkamolprasert [main picture] from Thailand holed a nerve-jangling four-foot birdie putt on the final hole to hold off defending champion Kazuki Higa and complete a memorable wire-to-wire victory at the Yeangder TPC today.
The one-shot win over playing-partner Higa from Japan handed him his first victory on the Asian Tour in seven years, after a string of near misses, and moved him into first place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
He closed with a six-under-par 66, for a four-round total of 25-under, while Higa – attempting to become the first player to successfully defend the title – shot the same score.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chien-yao Hung secured third on his own by making birdie on the last for a 65, finishing one stroke further back – at Linkou International Golf & Country Club.
His compatriot Wei-hsuan Wang and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond were joint fourth, after carding 62 and 65 respectively.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
Pavit’s last win on the Asian Tour came at the end of 2019 when he claimed the Sabah Masters in a play-off. It was his second title on the Tour, as he triumphed at the Macau Open three years earlier, also in extra time, and few would have thought a third would have taken quite so long – although the two-year break caused by the global pandemic did not help.
“You know, words can’t describe this week’s game,” said the 37-year-old.
“I think this is the most solid tournament I’ve played all year. I made only one bogey out of 72 holes, which is very fantastic. But yeah, a lot of low rounds. Still, I had to make the shots because the defending champion Kazuki Higa and me were playing together. He kept coming.”
He described his four on the last as the “best birdie of my life”, while he will also long remember the opening hole, also a par five.
Having started the day with a one-shot lead over Higa he made the perfect start by eagling the first. Remarkably, he played the hole in seven under this week, with three eagles and one birdie.
For most of the day he had appeared on course for a more comfortable victory, and also a record-setting one.
Lying three ahead of Higa with six to play he had not made a bogey all week and was attempting to become the first player in Asian Tour history to not drop a shot over 72 holes.
However, a disappointing bogey on the 13th and a birdie by Higa, denied Pavit the record and also cut his lead to one. His Japanese opponent then birdied the next hole, meaning they were tied with four to play.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
Pavit had a chance to move one ahead on the 17th but missed a 12 footer for birdie meaning they were level playing the par-five 18th.
The Thai golfer then took the upper hand by reaching the front of the green in two, while Higa hit his second left into a greenside bunker.
Facing a challenging long bunker shot Higa splashed his ball out to 20 feet while Pavit chipped up to four feet. Higa came narrowly close to making his putt but after it slipped past the hole, Pavit confidently holed out for a long-awaited victory.
He was also able to enjoy the win with his wife Chorphaka Jaengjit, a professional on the Thai LPGA Tour, who was here this week – in particular because they were celebrating their 20th anniversary of being together.
Asked how they planned to celebrate tonight, he said: “Well, let’s see if she wants shabu. I think not only my wife, me and all my Thai friends are waiting and then they’re all gonna ask ‘Hey, where are you going for dinner?’ I think I’ll let them choose.”
It is an important and reassuring victory for Pavit as he came close to winning earlier this year. He claimed second place in the Philippine Golf Championship and was joint runner-up in the International Series Japan.
It’s been a long wait for his third Asian Tour title although he was victorious at the Singha Laguna Phuket Open in 2024 on the Asian Development Tour – where he has triumphed a record eight times.
Kazuki Higa and Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
Higa will be disappointed not to have defended the title, particularly as the Yeangder Group are one of his main sponsors. However, the result is far and away the best result of the year on the Asian Tour for last year’s Order of Merit champion.
“Thought I would just add some pressure to the other competitors like Pavit today,” he said.
“I didn’t hit a good tee shot on the last, second shot I thought I hit it good, but it went into the bunker. I thought my bunker shots were the strongest part of my game but this week I was in the bunker four times and I only hit one good one. That was disappointing.”
The expected challenge from Australian Travis Smyth, the leader of the Merit list before this week, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, and Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, did not materialise today.
They were all on the shoulders of the leader at the start of the day, but Smyth carded a 70 to finish nine back, Kho shot a 71 and was eight behind, while Tabuena, playing in the final pairing, came in with a 72 to tie with Smyth – who has moved to second on the Merit list.
The Asian Tour remains in Chinese-Taipei for next week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, at Taiwan Golf & Country Club. Rattanon Wannasrichan is the defending champion – another of the many Thai golfers who have been successful in Chinese-Taipei.
Pictured by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert [main picture] kept the lead for the third straight day in the Yeangder TPC today, as he goes in search of his first win on the Asian Tour in nearly seven years.
He shot a third-round five-under-par 67 for a one-shot lead on 19-under, over defending champion Kazuki Higa from Japan.
Higa also carded a 67 here at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, on a day when many of the tournament’s other big-name players moved into contention.
Filipino Miguel Tabuena matched the lowest round of the week with a 62 to finish the day in a tie for third, three behind the leader.
He was joined by Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who fired a 64, as well as American Peter Uihlein, in with a 65, and Chinese-Taipei’s Chien-yao Hung, after a 67.
Kazuki Higa.
Other stars are in close pursuit, with Chinese-Taipei’s Chieh-po Lee and Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand a further stroke back, following a 64 and 68 respectively, while Asian Tour Order of Merit list Travis Smyth from Australia is another shot behind, having come in with a 66.
They will all look to finally reel Pavit in tomorrow although that will be challenging as has not dropped a shot all week. He got off to the perfect start this morning with an eagle on the par-five first and later made three birdies to complete a brilliant three days of golf, having shot 64 and 66 on the opening two days.
On his bogey-free run he said: “I’m quite surprised because I’m kind of like, you know, a birdie bogey player, but yeah, this week I think I put the ball in a very good position. I mean, when I missed it’s not been in that tough a place, for the past three days. I think that’s the key.”
With his most recent victory on the Asian Tour coming in the Sabah Masters at the end of 2019, a win in tomorrow would be a huge result for the 37-year-old.
He said: “I know I’m gonna be very, very happy for myself because you know, I keep knocking on the door for maybe five or six years, even this year already, including the All Thailand Tour and Thai PGA. And yeah, if it’s my week, it’s my week, so I just have to stay calm tomorrow. Do what I did for the past three days and then let’s see.”
He’s claimed two titles on the Asian Tour in total as he also triumphed at the Macau Open in 2016, while he has won a record eight titles on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). Two of those ADT wins came in Chinese-Taipei, in 2014 and 2016, so he’s also looking for a hat-trick of wins here.
Miguel Tabuena.
Higa was also bogey-free today, although that was not the case for the first two days unlike Pavit, and he closed the gap with Pavit to one with his fifth and final birdie of the day on 18.
“I made less mistakes today, compared to yesterday. Today’s biggest challenge for me was reading the greens. Gave myself a lot of birdie chances but missed a few short putts out there which was a pity,” said the Japanese star, whose win last year set him on course to become the first player from his country to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“This is the best day so far this week that I’ve hit my woods and irons. I started the final round one shot back last year too so I’m in a similar position again. I will just try and make as many birdies as I can again tomorrow and see how it goes. I don’t feel any pressure right now. I’m happy to be in this position heading into the final round.”
The 31-year-old is sponsored by the Yeangder Group, who will no doubt dearly love their player to become the first player to win their event back-to-back.
Tabuena has been playing predominantly on the LIV Golf League this year, with this week his third start of the season on the Asian Tour.
He was in the first group out today and marked his return with a brilliant bogey-free back nine of seven-under-par 29, that included five birdies in a row from the 12th.
“Yeah, it’s been a while,” he said. “It’s just one of the days where the putter got hot, and a chip in on 16 also helped.
Taichi Kho.
“You know it’s always nice coming back, it’s my favourite tour by far. It’s been the family for the longest time, and you know, it’s a nice way to end the year. Being around Asia, being close to Manila is a big boost for sure.”
Kho will attempt to win back-to-back titles on the Asian Tour tomorrow as he claimed the most recent event, the International Series Morocco in June. That win moved him into second place on the Merit list, giving a great chance to finish the year number one for the first time. The leading player on the list will be rewarded with a DP World Tour card for next year but with Smyth already exempt for Europe it is Kho who is next in line to receive it.
Not that that is on his mind at the moment as he works hard to keep the kind of form going that saw him triumph in Morocco.
“I think the only thing that I’ve realised is, you know, I put a lot of work in after Morocco. Like I put in a lot of work before Morocco and after Morocco, and yeah, sometimes golf just has its way of doing its own thing. I’ve realised for the results side of things and the performance side of things, I think, some of it’s in our control, but a lot of it is out of our control,” he said.
“I’m just trying to bring my best self to the table more often, and when I say that, I mean you know in terms of like the person that I am and the type of focus that I bring to the table, and less so about the performance side.”
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert [main picture] and Poom Saksansin have taken the lead after the second round of the Yeangder TPC, on a day when players from their country dominated the leaderboard.
Pavit, the joint-first round leader, fired a six-under-par 66, and Poom, the champion here in 2023, a 64 at Linkou International Golf & Country Club.
They lead on 14-under in the first of two Asian Tour events being played back-to-back in Chinese-Taipei.
Tawit Polthai from Thailand, who topped last year’s Asian Development Tour rankings, fired a best of the week 62, to sit in third place one shot back with Japan’s Kazuki Higa – the defending champion once again in the hunt after a 66.
Two more Thais Ekpharit Wu, in with a 66, and Jazz Janewattananond, who shot a 67, are tied for fifth.
They are two strokes further behind along with Chinese-Taipei’s Chien-yao Hung, another of the opening day leaders. Hung fired a 69.
Poom Saksansin.
For the second day in succession Pavit impressed by executing a bogey-free round. He made six birdies, including on his first two holes.
He said: “I think the wind switched today. A lot of cross wind for today, it was definitely a different wind from yesterday, and it’s very tricky. You know, if you hit it high, the wind is different from lower down. Yeah, it was very tricky.”
The 37-year-old came close to winning earlier in the season finishing second in the Philippine Golf Championship and equal second in the International Series Japan. He is determined to finally claim his third title on the Asian Tour, with the most recent being the Sabah Masters in 2019.
“I didn’t win for maybe like five years already. So yeah, let’s see because I came very, very close already in the Philippines, in Japan, and came second a lot of times in Thailand. So yeah, keep knocking the door,” he said.
He’s also on mission to win this week for his wife Chorphaka Jaengjit, a Thai LPGA professional who is here watching him, as it’s the 20th anniversary of their relationship.
While Pavit has won two ADT event in Chinese-Taipei, Poom has the distinction of having won once here on the Asian Tour, with that success at the Yeangder TPC three years ago. It was his fourth victory and most recent on the Asian Tour
Tawit Polthai.
Today’s performance, which saw him shoot nine birdies, including five on the second half, and just one bogey, has put him in a strong position heading into the weekend. Should he win again this week he would become only the second player to win the tournament twice. The only other is his compatriot Thaworn Wiratchant in 2010 and 2013.
Two rounds in the mid-60s so far have come as welcome relief for the 33-year-old, who has been at odds with his game recently.
“It’s not been very good,” he said. “Played in local events and finished not so well. But I just opened an academy and I was teaching one of my friends, and I was just teaching him a drill, which took about two hours, and then that drill got into my swing. So good luck for me.”
He explained: “My swing is a little bit too deep on my backswing and my shaft gets too flat, which is the same problem as my friend. So, I just told him that you have to get your hands more in front and more steep on the backswing. I kept doing that drill for two hours because I was teaching him. I wasn’t hitting any shots. Then yeah, that drill got into my swing.”
Tawit surged up the leaderboard to join his countrymen after making 10 birdies and not dropping a shot.
“I don’t know, everything was like a perfect day for me,” he said. “I hit all the good numbers. I’ve shot 10 under in like a practice round before, but not in a tournament.”
Higa, whose win last year put him on the road to winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit, was equally as explosive making two eagles, on par fives, and five birdies. However, three bogeys meant he finished the day just off the lead.
Malaysia’s Ervin Chang, another of the three who started the day leading, returned a 71 and is five back.
Australia’s Travis Smyth and Taichi Kho from Hong Kong, first and second respectively on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, moved into contention after carding 68s. They are six shots behind the two frontrunners.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Malaysian Ervin Chang, Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Chien-yao Hung from Chinese-Taipei seized the lead on the opening day of the Yeangder TPC today shooting stunning eight-under-par 64s.
They top the leaderboard ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the defending champion, Wei-hsuan Wang from Chinese-Taipei and New Zealander Denzel Ieremia, who all carded 65s – on a day of low scoring at Linkou International Golf & Country Club
Chang’s 64 was the more swashbuckling, so much so that at one point during the round he questioned if he was “doing this correctly”.
Playing in the morning session he took the clubhouse lead making nine birdies and a solitary bogey.
He won the Port Dickson Championship on his home tour in August by the comfortable margin of seven shots and has carried that form through to this week, despite playing golf that was far from regulation.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
“My putting and my damage control overall were key today,” said the 28-year-old.
“On hole number seven, my 16th basically as I started on back nine, I actually duffed my tee-shot. Then I had 185 yards to the pin, into the wind, and hit a six iron to 18 feet and made it for birdie.
“On hole number nine, my last hole, I hit my tee shot a little bit left, but the second shot caught a flyer over the green, but I chipped in for birdie. Earlier on three I also chipped in for birdie.
“There were some crazy moments, some moment that just made me wonder, like, am I doing this correctly?”.
He also admitted to cutting back on the amount of time he spends online to help his peace of mind.
He said: “I didn’t look at the scoreboard, and it’s something that I’ve been working on over the last three months. I didn’t cut off social media, but I cut off golf on my social media, on my Instagram, as just because on the golf course it is stressful enough, and I don’t look at golf again after the round.”
The Malaysian tied for third in the Saudi Open at the end of last year and was equal fifth in this year’s Philippine Golf Championship for his best finishes on the Asian Tour and is looking for something similar this week to help improve on his current Order of Merit position, which is 62nd.
Pavit and Hung both played in the afternoon, catching Chang later in the day.
The former played with a touch of inspiration as his wife Chorphaka Jaengjit, a Thai LPGA professional, is here watching during an important week for them.
Chien-Yao Hung.
He said: “This week is our 20th anniversary of being together. So, it is a very special week for me. I am trying to win for her.”
As well as being a two-time winner on the Asian Tour he has also triumphed a record eight times on the Asian Development Tour, with two of those coming here in Chinese-Taipei.
“I mean, I played here a lot. I love it. I have very good friends here, you know, and all the tea, good food, very happy about yeah about this week.
“My irons were on fire today, kind of like three feet, four feet, left me easy putts.”
The 37-year-old was bogey free today and made an eagle and six birdies.
Hung has come into this week off the back of winning the Ambassador ADT Open on home soil in July. It’s his third victory on the Asian Development Tour, but he is still in search of his first victory on the Asian Tour.
He impressively took the lead despite suffering from cramps on the seventh. He made an eagle and seven birdies before frustratingly dropping his only shot of the day on his final hole, the ninth.
“I bogeyed the last, but I told myself it’s ok,” said Hung.
“I think the main highlight today was how I played through my calf cramps on the last three holes! I was just thinking about how I got it. Did I not drink enough water? Maybe because the weather is cooling that’s why I thought I didn’t need to drink too much.
“I knew it’s easy to make bogeys on the last three holes, so I wasn’t expecting too much. Because of the cramps, I wasn’t able to concentrate as well. I actually had an easy chip on the last, but I didn’t chip well which was a pity. But overall, it’s alright.”
Kazuki Higa.
Helping him to make it through was his wife Nikki, who was caddying for him for the first time since she gave birth to their son earlier this year.
Higa used his victory here last year – which came the week after he claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea – to help push on and win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title.
He is currently in 113th place on the Merit list and says this week’s performance will determine how he plans the rest of the season.
Said the 31-year-old: “I know the winner of the Order of Merit will earn a DP World Tour card, but I will see how this week goes before I think about that.”
With the Yeangder Group one of his main sponsors he is also under extra pressure to perform well, and he certainly did that today with five birdies in a row from the ninth.
“It feels like my second home especially as I am sponsored by Yeangder. A lot of people here are cheering for me, so I am trying to manage and enjoy it,” he said.
“I struggled off the tee but had some lucky breaks. From the fairway my wedges were dialled in. Just off the tee it wasn’t stable. I will try and fix it today.”
Malaysia’s Malaysian Khavish Varadan, the current leader of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit, and Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand are in a large group of players in a tie for seventh after shooting 66s.
Despite playing the course for the first time, in the tournament, Varadan made a stunning start. Beginning on the back nine, he eagled the par-five 10th before making birdies on the next two.
He said: “You know, with the greens, I think I credit my play from the couple of ADTs I played here in Taiwan just to get used to Taiwan golf. I think the golf is different here compared to what I’m used to.
“So, I credit, you know, taking the initiative to come here earlier this summer to play in two events, just to get used to this week and next week, trying to see how I fare around the greens.”
Travis Smyth from Australia, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, in second place on the Merit list, both fired 68s.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The Singapore Open, one of the Asian Tour’s most iconic tournaments, will enter another exciting new phase next year with Deutsche Bank – Germany’s leading bank with a global network – as the title sponsor, and with the DP World Tour returning as the joint-sanctioning partner.
The DP World Tour announced the news yesterday, explaining they have inked a multi-year agreement that runs until 2029 with Deutsche Bank.
The tournament will be played on The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club from 15-18 April.
It marks the first time Deutsche Bank has sponsored Singapore’s national open, but it has previously partnered with the DP World Tour as the Title Partner of the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe from 1995 to 2007.
Speaking about the new partnership Claudio de Sanctis, Deutsche Bank Management Board Member and Head of Private Bank, said: “Deutsche Bank is proud to be working with the DP World Tour to bring leading international talent in professional golf to Asia in the new Singapore Open. Partnering for this sporting event aligns strategically with Deutsche Bank’s commitment to fostering global talent, competitive skill and leadership.
“We are delighted to support this significant sporting event for golf fans around the Asia region, reflecting our deep commitment to Singapore and to sport as a means of creating connection and inspiring experiences for clients and the community.”
Jeongwoo Ham pictured winning this year’s Singapore Open. Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The Singapore Open is a prime tournament for them to be associated with. First played in 1961 it is steeped in history and boasts a striking line-up of past champions that includes Australian Adam Scott, who has triumphed a record three times, as well as Spain’s Sergio Garcia, Englishman Ian Poulter and Matteo Manassero from Italy.
Some of the Asian Tour’s finest have also been victorious, including Indian Jeev Milkha Singh plus Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Jazz Janewattananond, and Myanmar’s Kyi Hla Han – all former Asian Tour Order of Merit champions.
While traditionally part of the Asian Tour schedule, the event was previously co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour between 2009 and 2012.
Jeongwoo Ham won the title in April, impressively winning wire-to-wire – to become only the second Korean to raise the trophy. It marked the first time since 2022 that the tournament had been played at Sentosa Golf Club, with whom the Asian Tour have enjoyed a long-term relationship since 2005.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, added: “We were thrilled to welcome the event back onto the schedule in 2025 after a two-year hiatus, delighted to see it return to Sentosa this year, and we eagerly anticipate it being elevated to a joint-sanctioned event next season with the DP World Tour.
“Partnering with Deutsche Bank will also give even greater prominence to what is one of the high points of the golfing year in Asia. We also want to acknowledge and thank the Singapore Golf Association for their on-going support of the National Championship.”
The Asian Tour is in the process of finalising its schedule for 2027, but the Deutsche Bank Singapore Open will be in the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing, the third of five Global Swings which form the first phase of the 2027 Race to Dubai.
Jeev Milkha Singh after winning in 2008. Picture by Ian Walton/Getty Images.
Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour, added: “This partnership is significant not only because it is with one of the world’s leading financial institutions, but because it reflects the commercial appeal of the DP World Tour and the opportunities we can provide global brands through our platform.
“The return of the Singapore Open to our schedule is also an important milestone in our new tri-partite partnership with the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour. Deutsche Bank’s investment will provide the foundation to grow this historic national open, enhance the experience on and off the course, and maximise the economic impact of the event for many years to come.”
The Singapore Golf Association (SGA), the guardian of the island state’s flagship tournament, is also looking forward to this newest partnership between the various stakeholders.
Lee Lung Nien, President of the Singapore Golf Association, said: “The return of the Singapore Open to the DP World Tour schedule as a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour marks an exciting new chapter for our National Championship. We are delighted to welcome Deutsche Bank as Title Partner and look forward to seeing the partnership further elevate the profile of the tournament, attract leading international players and create greater opportunities for our local players to compete against some of the best players in the world. As the national custodian for the Singapore Open, the SGA is proud to continue sanctioning the event and ensure its long-standing presence in our golfing landscape.”
Main picture: Left to right: Max Hamilton, Executive Commercial Director at the European Tour Group, Luke Donald, European Ryder Cup Captain, Julian Thurston, Head of Strategy, Marketing and Client Management at Deutsche Bank Private Bank.
This week’s Yeangder TPC will witness one of the most highly anticipated events in Asian golf when Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat, better known as ‘TK’, makes his debut as a professional.
Four years after setting a world record by winning the Asian Tour’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup as a 15-year-old amateur, the Thai wonderkid will finally play for pay when he tees-off on Thursday at Linkou International Golf & Country Club.
The 19-year-old has chosen to take a break from his studies at Stanford University, while also looking to capitalise on the Asian Tour’s renewed partnership with the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour and the opportunities it brings.
“Multiple reasons [to turn professional],” the 19-year-old said this week. “First of all, my goal has always been to play professional golf, and I feel like the Asian Tour is heading in a great direction with the addition of DP World Tour cards, HotelPlanner cards, potential co-sanctioned events, and just huge exciting events in Asia.
“And with the strength of the players getting better and better every year, I feel like there’s really no better time to be playing out here. And the best thing out of all this is thanks to Stanford’s leave of absence policies I can still take time off school, play a full professional schedule, and then return to take classes whenever the time is right.”
Ratchanon Chantananuwat.
When he won the Trust Golf Mixed Cup on home soil in April of 2022 he became the youngest player to win a recognised Official World Golf Ranking tournament, at the age of 15 years and 37 days. Earlier that year he also finished third in the Singapore International, while the following season excelled again, tying for fourth at the Saudi Open – continuing to amaze fans, in awe of a golfer so young.
His attention then focused on Stanford University, one of the most prestigious schools of learning in the United States where Tiger Woods graduated, but the lure of returning to play on the Asian Tour has clearly been too hard to ignore.
He said: “The Asian Tour means a whole world to me. It’s literally where I started. Everyone’s so special, Cho [Cho Minn Thant], the staff, the players. Everyone’s been super nice, and I just wouldn’t be here without the Asian Tour. So being able to start my professional career here is super exciting, and it’s a great honour.”
He added that keeping his card while also playing stress free golf more like in the amateur game are his main goals.
“I just want to stay as TK as long as possible, and perhaps a win would be a nice bonus,” he added.
Despite putting his studies on hold for now he is completely aware of the importance of Stanford.
“[It’s] Very important, not just as a golfer, but I think more so as a person learning life skills, like time management, how to live alone, how to be an adult. I think just preparing me not just for the Asian Tour, but how to deal with life in general.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat.
Asked how different he is now compared when he won in 2022, he explained: “Very different, different player, different person. I guess we’ll see how it plays out. Definitely not the same golfer. I wish I could say I was, but we’ll find out.”
He has been paired with Chinese-Taipei’s Wei-lun Chang and Jack Thompson from Australia in the first two rounds.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Overview
This week marks the 15th edition of the Yeangder TPC, which has always been played at Linkou International Golf & Country Club.
The tournament is the ideal way to restart after the Asian Tour’s mid-year break as it has been one of the Tour’s anchor events for the past two decades – played in one of our key destinations.
It is also always a pleasure to be in the company of the Yeangder Group’s Emmet and Byrant Hsu – who play a tremendous role in pushing the game forward in their country.
Kazu Higa’s victory in the Yeangder TPC last year was significant in many ways that point to the importance of this week’s popular event. Not only did his win put him on course to claim the Asian Tour Order of Merit but Yeangder is also one of his sponsors.
Few tournaments and title sponsors have this kind of attribute, and it is why it has been a key feature on the schedule since its launch in 2010.
Of note this year, is the fact that for the fourth time in the past five years the Yeangder Group have kindly increased the prizemoney. They have raised it to US$1.2million from US$1million – which means it is the joint most lucrative tournament in Taiwan.
It is another example of the incredible support provided by Emmet, who is the Chairman of the Yeangder Group, and his son Bryant Hsu, the Vice Chairman. Bryant, like his father before him, serves on the Asian Tour’s Board of Directors. They are both avid golfers. The Yeangder Group owns HCT Logistics Co., (E-commerce logistics), and Shihlin Electric & Engineering Corp., a high school and various commercial properties.
Their tournament is co-sanctioned with the Taiwan PGA and it is one of three Asian Tour events staged in Chinese-Taipei this year. The Asian Development Tour also visited here for three successive weeks in July.
L-R – Bryant Hsu, Vice President of the Yeangder Group and his father, Emmet Hsu, Chairman of the Yeangder Group.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Yeangder Tournament Players Championship
- Date: 17 – 20 September, 2026
- Venue: Linkou International Golf and Country Club, Linkou, Chinese Taipei
- Par / Yards: 72 / 7,108 yards
- Purse: US$1.2million
- Asian Tour leg: Tenth
- Edition of tournament: 15th
- Previous winner: Kazuki Higa (JPN)
- Previous winning score: 271 (-17)
- Total number of players: 144
- Format: Stroke play tournament over 4 rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 plus ties.
Liang Wenchong. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Kazuki Higa (2025), Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Liang Wenchong (2007)
- Nationalities: 26
- Top contenders: Taichi Kho (HKG), Charlie Lindh (SWE), Ian Snyman (RSA), Travis Smyth (AUS)
- Past champions in the field: Kazuki Higa (2025), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (2024), Poom Saksansin (2023), Travis Smyth (2022), Chieh-po Lee (2021), Yikeun Chang (2019), Ajeetesh Sandhu (2017), Prom Meesawat (2014), Wei-chih Lu (2011).
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Travis Smyth (AUS) #174
- Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Travis Smyth (AUS) #1
- No. of amateurs in the field: 3
- No. of Chinese Taipei players in the field: 40
Linkou International Golf & Country Club. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Tournament Notes
- With the leading player on Asian Tour Order of Merit now earning a full card for the DP World Tour next year extra excitement has been added to the run-in to the season. To be precise the leading available player (not otherwise exempt), to a limit of 5th place in the 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 season Asian Tour Order of Merit, gains a Category 17 exemption on the DP World Tour for the following season respectively (2027, 2028, 2029, 2030). Also the next two leading available players (not otherwise exempt), to a limit of 10th place in the 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 season Asian Tour Order of Merit, gain a Category 5 exemption on the HotelPlanner Tour for the following season respectively (2027, 2028, 2029, 2030).
- Travis Smyth from Australia leads the Order of Merit after a win at the International Series Japan, a third-place finish at the Philippine Golf Championship and a solo-fifth at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort. On the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia he earlier in the year won the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship to wrap up the 2025/26 Order of Merit crown on that tour. That earned him a DP World Tour card for next year meaning Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, in second place on the Asian Tour Merit list, is currently in line to join him in Europe in 2027.
- Kho won the most recent Asian Tour event, the International Series Morocco, in dramatic fashion over Bubba Watson just before the mid-year break. The win came the week following a T2 at the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup on the Japan Tour after coming up short in a three-way playoff. Prior to his win in Morocco Kho had one career victory on the Asian Tour, the 2023 World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.
- Charlie Lindh from Sweden posted his first Asian Tour win at the am green IGPL Bharath Classic in early June with an emphatic eagle on the 72nd Two weeks before that he finished solo-second at the Kolon Korea Open. He also had a T6 at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort in the beginning of March. During the summer Lindh has been playing on the DP World Tour’s secondary Hotel Planner Tour where he posted a T5 and two T13’s.
- South African Ian Snyman is having his best season on the Asian Tour, recording his first Asian Tour victory at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open in May. He also has a T3 at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, T5’s at the International Series Morocco and Philippine Golf Championship and a T10 at the Kolon Korea Open. Third on the Merit list he is also in pursuit of DP World Tour playing rights.
- When defending champion Kazuki Higa from Japan won this tournament last year it was his second win in consecutive weeks after winning the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea the week before. He also had five other top 10’s to seal the Order of Merit crown at the end of the season. He has been playing sparingly on the Asian Tour this year with only three appearances and a T36 as his best result so far. On the Japan Tour his best finish has been a runner-up at the Jumbo Ozaki Memorial Tournament in late August.
- Chie-po Lee is the highest ranked Chinese Taipei player on the Asian Tour Order of Merit so far this season sitting in 25th place after nine events. Lee won this tournament in 2021 when it was played on the local tour because of Covid-19, and also finished runner-up when the event returned to the Asian Tour schedule in 2022.
- Fellow local star Wei-hsuan Wang had his best Asian Tour season in 2025 when he finished ninth on the Order of Merit following a T2 in this tournament, a runner-up at the SJM Macao Open after a playoff loss, and a third-place finish at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He won the local circuit Order of Merit last year and has two wins and three T2’s there so far this season.
- Linkou International Golf & Country Club is designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.. Established in 1965, this golf course is located near the Bali coast and is a premier golfing destination in northern Taiwan. The club features 27 holes divided into three loops: East, West and South and offers stunning views of the Guanyin Mountain, the Tamsui River mouth and Taipei Port.
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