Golfing Fervour Follows Football Fever in Qatar
Golfing fervour will replace football fever when the inaugural International Series Qatar tees-off next month.
Exactly two months after Argentina’s Lionel Messi raised aloft the football World Cup trophy at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar will once more find itself in the global sporting spotlight.
From February 16-19, Doha Golf Club will be the venue for the Asian Tour’s International Series Qatar.
Boasting a purse of US$2.5 million, the event will be the third leg of the 2023 Asian Tour and the second leg of the ground-breaking International Series, which was launched last year.
It will also mark the first time the Asian Tour has staged an event in Qatar for 16 years.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “After a memorable 2022 season, we’re thrilled to have such a strong start to the new season, including our first visit to Doha since the Qatar Masters in 2007.”
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe with the International Series Order of Merit trophy on Sunday, December 4, 2022, during Round Four of the BNI Indonesia Masters, presented by Tunas Niaga Energi at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Jakarta, Indonesia. The season-ending event for the Asian Tour and the International Series has a prize fund of US$ 1.5 million and is being held from December 1-4, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Hassan al Naimi, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), said: “Along with Doha Golf Club we are delighted that the Asian Tour is returning to Qatar for the inaugural International Series Qatar.
“We are pleased to welcome the Asian Tour back to Qatar for this exciting new event and give our full support towards its success.
“The fans and people of Qatar extend a warm welcome to the players and their families and we look forward to supporting their participation.”
As well as being the home of the QGA, Doha Golf Club, a green oasis surrounded by city views, has an enviable record for hosting professional golf tournaments over the past 23 years.
Major champions Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Paul Lawrie and Henrik Stenson are among the high-profile names who have triumphed at Doha Golf Club, a world-class venue which also boasts a host of other sporting facilities and stages family and social activities year-round.
Participants in the International Series Qatar can expect the Peter Harridine designed course to offer a stern examination of their all-round games.
“We have recently replaced all 18 greens and introduced five new tees that create a great test of golf on our Championship course,” said al Naimi.
The Qatar event will cap off a lucrative three-week stretch in the Middle East region for the Asian Tour which kicks off the 2023 season.
Promising young Malaysian golfer Ervin Chang has been given the honour of becoming the first recipient of The Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award – a mission-driven annual initiative set up last year in memory of the late and great former Asian Tour number one and Executive Chairman.
Chang turned professional last year after claiming the gold medal at the SEA Games in the individual category and has been playing on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), where he caught the eye of officials looking to select an appropriate candidate to receive the award.
The 24 year old, who is competing in the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School this week at Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, will receive funding of US$20,000 for the year, earn invites to select events and his Qualifying School entry fee will also be covered.
“We have been impressed by Ervin since he started to participate in our events,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
Ervin Chang of Malaysia pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday, January 17 during the final stage of the 2023 Asian Tour qualifying school. The event is being held from January 18-22, 2023 at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“His excellent amateur record, his potential to become one of our leading players, and his friendly and approachable personality all contributed to his selection.
“We know Kyi Hla would have been delighted that we have selected a rookie of the calibre of Ervin. Kyi Hla always helped up-and-coming players during his career as part of a lifelong commitment to put Asia and its golfers on the map.”
The Asian Tour lost a colossus of the game in 2022 when Kyi Hla unexpectedly passed away in February in Singapore.
And to honor and further Kyi Hla’s legacy, the Han family and the Asian Tour came together to establish The Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Awards.
Most notable on Kyi Hla’s playing CV were victories in the 1994 Singapore Open and 1999 Volvo China Open, the year he topped the standings in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and as he would discover later in his role as Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, the competition and power battles in boardrooms around the world were no less daunting or intense.
Added Cho: “We are witnessing an incredible period in Asian golf history, so it is only fitting to honour Kyi Hla through The Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award. It is a very worthy cause, and I am sure Ervin will be proud to be associated with such a legendary figure. Kyi Hla has made a huge impact on many of us at the Asian Tour, both personally and professionally. Establishing this award is a fitting tribute to his legacy.”
Chang came close to securing his Asian Tour card for this year when playing on the ADT but eventually finished 15th on the Final ADT Order of Merit, which sees the top-10 earn playing privileges.
Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar hits his shot out of the bunker on the 18th during the official practice day of the Sanya Open on 22 October 2003 held at the Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya, Hainan Island. STANLEY CHOU/AFP via Getty Images
“It is unbelievable! I certainly did not expect this. Everyone knows what a legend Kyi Hla is,” said Chang.
“I have only recently turned professional, so what a great way to get started. I am truly appreciative to the Han family and the Asian Tour. It’s going to be an amazing year with opportunities on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour. It starts with a big week ahead here at Q School. Five rounds is a real test but I am playing well, so we will see.”
Chang played in 11 ADT events last year and impressively had eight top-20 results, including second and joint-sixth placed finishes.
He is one of 234 players competing this week for 35 Tour cards on offer for the new season, which starts next month at the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
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The pressure-packed Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School takes place this week boasting one of the most diverse and eclectic fields it has ever featured.
Leading Asian Tour players like Panuphol Pittayarat, Rory Hie and Danny Chia, are joined by DP World Tour winners Alvaro Quiros, Marcel Siem and Brett Rumford, and PGA Tour champion Bae Sang-moon.
Rikard Karlberg, a winner in both Europe and Asia, PGA Tour player Steve Marino, and Davis Love IV (son of Davis Love III) are also in the mix for the five-round thriller that starts tomorrow at Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.
A total of 234 players are playing this week chasing 35 Tour cards for the new season, which starts next month at the US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.
Marcel Siem of Germany pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday, January 17 during the final stage of the 2023 Asian Tour qualifying school. The event is being held from January 18-22, 2023 at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The top 140 (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to rounds three and four while the top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the pivotal final round.
It brings to a culmination three months of qualifying which saw five first stage qualifying tournaments being held, with the first of those staged in the United States in November.
Five hundred and sixty-three players entered the pre- qualifiers with 110 making it through to this week, joining 124 exempt players, with 35 countries represented.
And there are a total of 14 Asian Tour past champions: Arnond Vongvanij, Bae Sang-moon, Brett Rumford, Daisuke Kataoka, Danny Chia, David Gleeson, Himmat Rai, Khalin Joshi, Panuphol Pittayarat, Rikard Karlberg, Rory Hie, Sam Brazel, Thitipan Pachuayprakong, and Xiao Bowen.
Davis Love IV of the USA pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday, January 17 during the final stage of the 2023 Asian Tour qualifying school. The event is being held from January 18-22, 2023 at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It is the first time the Qualifying School has been played since January of 2020 when Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith topped the class before the COVID-19 global pandemic so dramatically effected the season. Korea’s Bio Kim and Taehoon Ok, both winners on Tour last season, also came through the qualifying school in 2020.
With 11 events being played in the first 14 events of the season an incredible opportunity awaits those who earn a card on Sunday.
Other names of note are Soomin Lee, another former winner on the DP World Tour, Pisitchai Thippong, brother of Nitithorn Thippong, Ye Wo-cheng – the youngest player to compete on DP World Tour at the age of 12 in 2013 – PGA Tour of Australasia winner Dimitrios Papadatos, and DP World Tour regular David Drysdale.
Steve Marino of the USA pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday, January 17 during the final stage of the 2023 Asian Tour qualifying school. The event is being held from January 18-22, 2023 at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
After an action-packed final day of qualifying for next week’s Final Stage of the 2023 Asian Tour Qualifying School Korean Jaehyun Jung led 25 qualifiers at First Qualifying Stage Section D, played at Thana City Country Club in Bangkok, while Thomas Power Horan from Australia won the Section E event, held at the same time at Springfield Royal Country Club (B & C) in Hua Hin, where 23 players made it though.
Jung, an amateur, shot a final round even-par 70 to finish on 10 under, winning by two shots from compatriots Doohwan Bang, Baekjun Kim, Gyumin Lee, and Heemin Chang.
Horan closed with a three-under-par 68 to win with a 12 under par total by two from Korean Teayang Jung.
Asian Tour graduates throw their hats in the air after securing their playing rights at the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2020 at the Lakeview Resort and Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Last week 23 hopefuls advanced from Section C at Blue Canyon Country Club’s Lakes course in Phuket, Thailand. Korea’s Jaewoong Eom and Hayden Hopewell of Australia shared top spot.
Last year at Section A, 14 players made it through in the United States at Oakcreek Country Club, while at Section B 25 players progressed at Blue Canyon Country Club’s Canyon course.
The all-important Final Qualifying Stage will take place at the Lakeview Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin from January 18-22, and the top-35 finishers following the 90-hole battle will earn playing rights for the lucrative and highly anticipated 2023 season, which promises to be the biggest and best year in the history of the Asian Tour.
Asian Tour members are looking forward to another ‘Priceless’ experience when they return to the historic Delhi Golf Club for the second edition of The DGC Open presented by Mastercard.
As well as confirming the continuation of Mastercard as the presenting sponsor, organisers have announced a 50 per cent increase in the total purse, up from US$500,000 in 2022 to US$750,000 this year.
To be staged over the Lodhi Course from March 16-19 and promoted by Delhi Golf Club, The DGC Open presented by Mastercard will be the sixth leg on the 2023 Asian Tour schedule.
In addition, Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand will return to defend the title he won in thrilling fashion last year after a sudden-death play-off against India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Delhi Golf Club has been the traditional home of golf in India and a popular venue among our members for many years, and they’re always excited to be able to go back to such an iconic stage.
Officials at today’s press conference announcing Mastercard’s support of The DGC Open.
“We’re also grateful to the sponsors for their support. Mastercard were an outstanding partner last year and their slogan ‘priceless’ is a fitting way to describe their sponsorship of the event.”
Last year’s inaugural event was especially poignant as it signalled the return of the Asian Tour to India for the first time in nearly 2½ years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cho said: “The addition of The DGC Open presented by Mastercard to our 2022 schedule was a massive boost for the Asian Tour and something we’d been working very hard on behind the scenes to facilitate.”
As a mark of how popular The DGC Open presented by Mastercard was last year, it was ranked third in a poll by players voting in the best tournament category.
“As the home of Indian golf with such a rich history and legacy, Delhi Golf Club has always believed in promoting excellence in golf and when we embarked on the journey of constituting our own Asian Tour event last year, it was a step in that direction,” said KK Bajoria, President, Delhi Golf Club.
“It is really exciting to see The DGC Open presented by Mastercard growing and becoming bigger in its second edition with increased prize money. I would like to thank Mastercard India for their continued support and Asian Tour for being wonderful partners.”
Ajeetesh Sandhu of India pictured during round four of the DGC Open presented by Mastercard at the Delhi Golf Club on Sunday March 27, 2022. The US$ 500.000 Asian Tour event is staged from March 24-27, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Added Gautam Aggarwal, Division President, South Asia, Mastercard: “Mastercard’s philosophy is to engage with cardholders’ passions the world over. Sports such as golf have passionate followership in India. We are privileged to be the sponsor for The DGC Open for the second year, and we look forward to an excellent association with the iconic club.”
Last year Nitithorn defeated Sandhu on the first hole of the play-off to claim his maiden Asian Tour title.
“To win on the Asian Tour … I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” said 25-year-old Nitithorn, who led the chorus of approval for the overhaul of the Lodhi Course undertaken by nine-time Major champion Gary Player with a focus on revamping the greens and reshaping bunkers.
Comparing the course to how it was seven years earlier on his previous appearance there, Nitithorn said: “The new greens are awesome. I like the many slopes … sometimes a bit difficult to read, but the green condition is really good.”
After ending in a tie for sixth, Indian Shiv Kapur, a four-time Asian Tour champion and winner of the 2017 Panasonic Open India at DGC, succinctly summed up the challenges of the venue.
“On a course like this lined with trees and bushes, there’s no margin for error. One loose shot here is two, three shots gone and the big numbers can really hurt you,” he said.
The resounding success of The International Series was one of the focal points of an inspired 2022 season for the Asian Tour.
Seven standout and distinctive International Series events lit up the calendar and helped the Asian Tour bounce back brilliantly in the post-pandemic era.
And in addition to the unparalleled success on the golf course, a key accompaniment to the International Series was a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
The Asian Tour together with LIV Golf, the pioneering partner of The International Series, felt it was a matter of priority to support the many local communities the Series visited and therefore a number of organisations were able to benefit from this philanthropy drive across the season.
“We wanted to contribute to local communities particularly as we travel to so many countries,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour.
“And, of course, we hope that some of the children being helped could be the next generation of professional golfers. We want to help the communities that help us so much. Wherever we take these events, it is vital to us that their impact is being felt within golf from grassroots level up.”
In total six beneficiaries were able to enjoy support from the Series and received a cheque for US$25,000 each.
The Bright Dawn Foundation. Hua Hin, Thailand
While Sihwan Kim’s exploits brought him a deserved victory at the International Series Thailand, the very first International Series event, there was delight also at the Bright Dawn Foundation.
The Bright Dawn Foundation focuses primarily on healthcare and education of primary school children in lower income areas around rural Hua Hin.
“We are a small charitable foundation that is entirely dependent on private donations and a donation of this magnitude goes a long way to helping us achieve our annual goals,” said Jill Moore, President, Bright Dawn Foundation.
“We genuinely believe that the Asian Tour is helping us to change lives. Thank you so very much from all of us at the Bright Dawn Foundation. This is a hand-up, not a hand-out!”
Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju Island, Korea
To mark the start of the inaugural International Series Korea, played on Jeju Island, the Asian Tour presented a cheque to the Cheju Halla General Hospital.
The donation went towards the hospital’s work in paediatrics and with the disadvantaged.
Dr Kim Seongsu of the Cheju Halla General Hospital said: “We would like to thank the Asian Tour for this significant contribution. We know the benefits that golf can bring to society, and we thank the Asian Tour for coming to Jeju Island and for helping to spread the message about golf as a pastime that can contribute towards a healthy and happy lifestyle.”
Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs
At the International Series England, the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs (NUGC) received the lucrative sum as a thank you from the Asian Tour for the incredible work the county does in helping young golfers develop their talents.
Graham Forrest, men’s captain of the NUGC, said: “Too often the north-east of England is forgotten about, particularly in golf terms. This financial input, together with the substantial time put in by many County administrators, could help establish Northumberland junior golf at the forefront of the sport nationally for many years to come.”
Singapore Golf Association
The SGA, the national governing body for golf in Singapore who are committed to the development and growth of the sport, were also thrilled to receive funding at the International Series Singapore.
“We thank the Asian Tour for this generous gesture. The donation will help us in our mission to grow the game and among the younger generation,” said SGA President Tan Chong Huat.
“The International Series Singapore is an important calendar event, as it puts the game of golf in the spotlight all around the world with a wonderful international field. This will certainly promote golfing interest and encourage participation across all age groups.”
Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf
In Morocco the Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf, a golf school for children held under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Moroccan Golf Federation, was the local beneficiary.
The centre provides lessons in golf and important societal values to children in the Douar Ain Hallouf area near Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Golf Club, the venue for the International Series Morocco.
El Hali, General Manager of the Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf, said: “This generous contribution will benefit many youngsters in the area, by empowering them through sport and educating them in the positive values of golf, building strength of character, confidence and resilience.”
Egyptian Golf Federation
In Egypt, the Asian Tour underscored its commitment to the development of golf there by donating towards the Egyptian Golf Federation’s youth development programme.
The EGF’s programme introduces youngsters to the sport and has also been developed to enable the country’s brightest golfing progress through a specific pathway of development which features coaching and a schedule of tournaments.
Mohammad Attallah of the EGF commented: “We thank the Asian Tour for their generous donation. This important contribution helps us to further develop the game of golf at the grassroots level and to introduce more youngsters to this wonderful sport that can offer our society so much in terms of sporting integrity, community, health and fitness.”
The US$5million PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers will have one of the hottest golfing talents on the planet on show in its fifth edition after the reigning British Open champion and PGA Player of the Year Cameron Smith was confirmed for the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from February 2-5.
The Australian, currently world No.3 in the official World Golf Rankings, will join defending champion Harold Varner III and the 30 top-ranked players on the Asian Tour at the King Abdullah Economic City course with more big-name players set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Smith is in red-hot form going into the tournament, which will start the Asian Tour season, and won the 150th Open at St Andrews in Scotland last July, as well as clinching the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship for the third time in November.
Smith, who finished T4 at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club last year, said: “The Saudi International regularly has one of the biggest line-ups of the season.
“It’s always good to play in a world-class field, I am looking forward to taking on some familiar faces and also competing with the best that the Asian Tour has to offer. I had a great experience at the Royal Greens last year and hopefully I can take it to the next level this year”
The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers moved to the Asian Tour circuit in 2022, and the event already has a huge legacy going into the fifth edition in February. Past champions include two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson, who won in 2019 and 2021, as well as 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and defending champion Varner.
Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi, said: “The field for the fifth edition of the event is taking shape and we are delighted to welcome Cameron Smith. As reigning British Open champion and PGA Player of the Year for 2022, he is one of the biggest names in golf, and his participation once again shows the high level of interest in the PIF Saudi International.
“The combination of world-class golfers and mass participation programmes we have developed are helping us to grow the game in the Kingdom, and year on year we have seen more and more first-time golfers and schools taking up this wonderful sport.”
Sihwan Kim has been rewarded for a phenomenal season on the Asian Tour by being voted The Players’ Player of the Year by the Tour’s membership, after the final count from an online poll was completed this week.
Players also voted the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers as The Tournament of the Year, the International Series Thailand as The International Series Tournament of the Year, and Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo, Egypt, as The Players’ Choice Golf Course of the Year.
The PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers opened the 2022 season.
The US$5 million Saudi event, played at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in February near Jeddah, was the opening tournament of the 2022 season and saw the Asian Tour enjoy one of the most memorable weeks in its history at an event that boasted the strongest field it had ever assembled, playing for one of its most lucrative prize funds.
The following month the International Series was launched at the International Series Thailand, played at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, where victory went to Sihwan Kim.
Madinaty Golf Club, opened in late 2020 and at the forefront of the Egyptian golf scene, hosted the inaugural International Series Egypt in November – where former amateur star American Andy Ogletree won for the first time as a professional – and its golf course was an instant hit with the players.
“I am sure nobody is surprised that Sihwan Kim has been bestowed with one of the Asian Tour’s most important awards, The Players’ Player of the Year Award,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
The International Series Thailand launched the International Series in 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“This is a mark of true respect as it is voted for by the players, and it is justly served to a player who stayed dedicated and focused, patiently waiting for his time to come.”
Kim completed the finest season of his 11-year professional career at the season-ending Indonesian Masters when he wrapped up the Merit title, appropriately on the day he turned 34.
He finished the year with US$627,458 in earnings, with Bio Kim from Korea second and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent third.
The American also claimed the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge in Thailand, in April.
“At the Saudi International the Asian Tour got off to the best possible start thanks to a world-class field and global television audience. The whole experience set the benchmark for the Tour and was aspirational,” said Cho.
“The International Series Thailand was held soon after and was a resounding success and the ideal way to kick off the International Series, while Madinaty Golf Club proved to be an outstanding venue, something that our members repeatedly said throughout the week. The course lent itself perfectly to a tournament of that scale, which is a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone at this very special venue.
Andy Ogletree won the International Series Egypt at the hugely-popular Madinaty Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“The club also went the extra mile by building a driving range for us and put in extra effort to present the golf course in immaculate condition. Several of the players and officials mentioned that the course was the best paspalum course they had ever seen.”
The latest list of award winners completes the line up for 2022.
Bio Kim, a graduate of the 2020 Qualifying School, had the honour of being named Rookie of the Year. In his first full season on the Tour, he won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on home soil, and had four other top five finishes to come close to winning the Merit list.
Joohyung Kim won Best Stroke Average with a score of 68.93, the pre-cursor to a breakthrough season on the PGA Tour where has triumphed twice; Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong topped Total Birdies with 263 birdies; Korean Kyongjun Moon led Greens in Regulation on 77.41%; Swede Bjorn Hellgren secured the Driving Distance title with an average of 313.62 yards; and Siddikur Rahman’s mastery of the short game was on display once again with the Bangladesh star leading Putts per Round, with a median of 28.25 putts per round.
Brazilian Adilson Da Silva enjoyed the rare distinction of winning two awards: Driving Accuracy on 84.71% and Scrambling with 69.31%.
The Asian Tour today unveiled its 2023 schedule through to May, for what promises to be the finest start to a season the Tour has ever enjoyed.
The new season will commence in Saudi Arabia, at the most lucrative event of the year, before being followed by an exciting blend of established and new tournaments, including four International Series events. Please visit the schedule page here.
The impressive schedule boasts a total of 11 tournaments contested over 14 weeks, starting with the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers – won so dramatically by American Harold Varner III this year when he holed a 92-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole – at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, near Jeddah, from February 2-5.
In the ensuing two weeks, the Tour will then journey to two inaugural International Series tournaments in Oman and then Qatar – marking the first time the International Series will have visited the Middle East. Al Mouj Golf will host the former event, while Doha Golf Club will stage the latter.
Harold Varner III with the winner’s trophy after the final round of the 2022 US$ 5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
These will be the first of an expanded 10 International Series events in 2023, with International Series stops to follow in Hua Hin, Thailand, in March, and Cam Ranh, Vietnam the following month. The International Series Thailand launched the highly successful International Series earlier this year and saw American Sihwan Kim triumph at Black Mountain Golf Club, while the Tour visits the spectacular KN Golf Links for the first edition of the Vietnam event. This will be the first time the Asian Tour will return to Vietnam in seven years.
The New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT makes a popular return to the calendar following a two-year COVID-19 enforced break in the first week of March at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown – the tournament’s home since 2014.
The DGC Open, inaugurated in the 2022 season, will also be staged in March at the historic Delhi Golf Club, as well as the Tour’s long-awaited return to Hong Kong with a new event at one of the region’s most iconic golfing venues, the Hong Kong Golf Club. Details of this event will be released soon along with information on back-to-back tournaments in Thailand in April and a Korean event in May.
“We are very proud to announce the start of the 2023 season, hot off the heels of a tremendous 2022. It is fantastic to see us carry the momentum of the season we have just completed and start the new season at full pace.” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
“The Asian Tour is absolutely thrilled with how the schedule looks; it reaches a wide range of exciting destination, offers extremely lucrative purses, world class venues, and a great balance of established and new events.
Sihwan Kim with the International Series Thailand trophy this year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“The PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, a truly global golfing event, is the perfect way to start the season and sets the tone for what will be, unquestionably, the strongest season in the history of the Asian Tour.”
The 2022 season, which saw 20 tournaments staged, came to a dramatic conclusion two weeks ago in Indonesia where Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut stormed to an impressive victory, marking himself down as one to look out for next year, while Sihwan Kim secured the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) title and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, the International Series OOM.
Harold Varner III has today confirmed that he will defend his PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers title at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 2-5.
The 2022 champion will return to King Abdullah Economic City hoping to retain the trophy that marked his maiden professional victory – and kick-started a massive year for the American star.
Tickets are now available (click here) for the fifth instalment of the tournament that is the flagship event on the Asian Tour.
Varner III famously holed a 92-foot putt for eagle on Royal Greens’ par-five 18th earlier this year to snatch victory when a play-off against good-friend Bubba Watson seemed guaranteed.
While that memory still remains fresh for the 32-year-old, the Ohio-native has his eyes set on making experience count in the search for back-to-back wins at the Asian Tour’s 2023 season-opening event.
Harold Varner III with the second but by far most important trophy of his career. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “Whenever I think back to that putt all the incredible memories come flooding back. As I said at the time after winning, it’s moments and competition like that that makes you want to play, to compete, to be up there. It was a huge moment for me and for my career.
“But that’s now in the past. Sure, I’ve got the trophy at home, but that was a success of this year: time for me to focus on replicating that as best I can next year, in 2023. Having this event so early in the season could be good for me in as much as it could set me off with confidence into an even bigger year.
He continued: “Obviously all my memories of playing in Saudi Arabia are positive – I did win out there, after all! But everything is awesome out there. The course at Royal Greens is so pure, the field is always pretty incredible, and the hospitality and experience is some of the best of any event you can play in, so I can’t wait to get back out there for 2023’s event. It was special to join the likes of DJ and G-Mac in winning this event!”
The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers moved onto the Asian Tour circuit in 2022 as part of a new partnership.
The event has a US$5 million prize fund and will once again seek to have one of the highest Official World Golf Ranking point totals in international golf.
Varner III will bid to become the second player to win the Saudi International twice, along with Dustin Johnson.
In the 2022 tournament, Varner III and Watson competed as part of a star-studded field packed with Major-winners including two-time Saudi International champion Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen.
The full field for 2023’s event will be announced in due course. In addition to some of the biggest names in global golf it will feature the Asian Tour’s top 30 ranked players at the close of the 2022 season.
Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “The 2022 edition of The International was the strongest field we’d had yet, but we remain still only in the formative years of our vision for golf in the Kingdom. It’s amazing to think this will be the fifth instalment of the tournament that is growing year on year.
“I’m thrilled to say that we’ll be compiling yet another superstar field for 2023’s event – and I am equally delighted to confirm that our defending champion Harold Varner III will be a part of that.
“His incredible win back in February of this year is one that will continue to live long in all our memories. Let’s hope we can get just as much drama and intrigue at next year’s tournament.”
For more information about the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and future Golf Saudi events, visit www.golfsaudi.com.
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