Singapore’s first Asian Tour event this season has attracted a striking and quality in-depth field of players for the inaugural US$1.5 million International Series Singapore – which will be played on the magnificent Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club, from August 11-14.

American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Tour’s Order of Merit following two victories, is one of 16 players from the top-20 on the Merit list competing – in what is the 11^th stop of the year on Tour and the third International Series event.

Korean Bio Kim and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, both first time winners this season and second and fourth respectively on the Merit list have entered as well as Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana – fifth on the rankings having enjoying a breakthrough season, which has seen him win the Singapore Open in January and produce an inspired performance in The Open at St Andrews this month, finishing joint 11^th – which is the best performance by a player from his country in the game’s oldest Major.

Korean Bio Kim claimed the GS Caltex Maekyung Open earlier this year.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the former Singapore Open winner and the Tour’s number one player in 2019, and the brilliant Phachara Khongwatmai, have also entered, as well as: Malaysian Gavin Green, the Merit list champion in 2017; India’s Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shubhankar Sharma; South African Justin Harding, Australians Scott Hend, a 10-time Tour winner, Wade Ormsby and Brett Rumford; plus Korean star Jeunghun Wang, the three-time DP World Tour champion, who has just completed 18-months national service in Korea.

The tournament, which will see the winner earn a cheque for US$270,000, will also welcome a host of prominent international players, including Americans Chase Koepka, the brother of four-time Major champion Brooks, and Peter Uihlein, and a number of the game’s rising stars who have recently turned professional: former US Amateur champions James Piot and Andy Ogletree from the US, American Turk Pettit, who claimed last year’s NCAA Division 1 individual title, Australian Jediah Morgan – winner of the Australian PGA Championship in January by a record 11 shots –and Jovan Rebula from South Africa, the 2018 Amateur Championship victor, and the nephew of South African great Ernie Els.

Veteran stars and former Singapore Open winners Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa from India and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, the winner of a record 18-titles on Tour, and Prayad Marksaeng; as well as pre-eminent Japan Golf Tour Organisation players Yuki Inamori, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Hideto Tanihara and Ryo Hisatsune will be bidding for honours while 11 Singaporean professionals, lead by five-time Tour winner Mardan Mamat, and four local amateurs will fly the flag for the host nation.

Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe won the International Series England. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The Tour last visited Tanah Merah in January this year, when Korean Joohyung Kim beat Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand in a sudden-death play-off at The Singapore International, in the penultimate event of the 2020-22 season.

The Tour re-commences play next week after a short-summer break at the Mandiri Indonesia Open at Pondok Indah Golf Course, while the week following Singapore players head to the International Series Korea, at Lotte Skyhill Jeju Country Club.

The new raft of International Series events was unveiled earlier this year thanks to an exciting new relationship with LIV Golf.  Details of the remainder of International Series events for the season will be announced soon.

By Joy Chakravarty, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour

Abraham Ancer closed with a sensational seven-under par 65 on the final day of the 150th Open Championship. In most circumstances, he would have been delighted with his own effort, but on that particular Sunday, the Mexican world number 22 was left gushing about his playing partner.

Ancer was paired with Thailand’s uber promising Sadom Kaewkanjana –one of the fastest rising stars of Asian Tour.

Sadom also shot a matching 65, second best round of the day which was bettered only by champion Cam Smith’s sensational display on the back nine that elevated him to a breathtaking 64.

Together, Sadom and Ancer shot 14-under par and they would have been a phenomenal 12-under par if they were playing best ball.

Both players climbed 24 places on the final day at the legendary Old Course at St Andrews and narrowly missed a top-10 by finishing tied 11th at 11-under par. In doing so Sadom recorded the highest-placed finish by a Thai golfer in the event, surpassing the joint 13^th finish by his illustrious compatriot and idol Thongchai Jaidee in 2009. 

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JULY 16: Abraham Ancer of Mexico tees off on the 2nd hole during Day Three of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 16, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Sadom returns to action this week at the LIV Golf Invitational in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will once again be part of the Ironheads team. Led by American Kevin Na, the team also features his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai and another Asian Tour regular, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.

Ancer was effusive in his praise for the world number 95, who turned professional after a brilliant amateur career towards the end of 2018 and won his first professional title on the Asian Development Tour in his third start of 2019 (the Thongchai Jaidee Invitational) and secured his first win on the Asian Tour (the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open) in April that year.

“It always helps when you are playing in the same group with someone who is playing good golf. It somehow makes you play better. Today, Sadom played exceptionally well,” said Ancer.

“I was very impressed with what I saw. I have never played with him before, but from what I saw today… he’s definitely an extremely talented player. He’s very good at this game and I think we are going to see a lot of him in the future.”

When asked what stood out about Sadom’s game, Ancer explained: “I think putting. That is definitely what stood out today. He just rolled the ball beautifully. The putts that didn’t go in, they all had a really good chance to go in.

“It was also that he was not overawed by the occasion. I think it must have been the most important round of his career so far, in a Major on a Sunday, and he was very calm and composed.”

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Sadom Kaewkanjana of Iron Heads GC tees off on the fifth hole during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Ancer said he was confident that the LIV Golf Invitational will continue to showcase talents like Sadom on the big stage and in front of worldwide audience.

“I feel like when we bring in talent from all over the world and showcase it in big events, I think it’s great for golf,” said the Mexican, who has become a household name in his country with his success that includes winning the World Golf Championship FedEx St Jude Championship in 2021.

The Mandiri Indonesia Open, which will mark the start of the highly-anticipated second half of the season on the Asian Tour, has attracted a high-quality field next month, including the current leader of the Order of Merit, Sihwan Kim from the United States, Korean Bio Kim, who is ranked fourth on the Merit list, and his countryman Minkyu Kim – the exciting young golfer who claimed the Kolon Korea Open at the end of the June.

Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of this event in 2013 and 2016, Argentina’s Miguel Ángel Carballo, the victor in 2019 when the event was last played, and Thailand’s 2017 champion Panuphol Pittayarat, better known as “Coconut”, have also entered the US$500,000 event which will be played at Pondok Indah Golf Course, from August 4-7.

In addition, Thailand’s veteran golfer Thaworn Wiratchant, another two-time winner of the tournament, in 2005 and 2011, and the holder of a record 18-titles on Tour, will compete along with India’s Shiv Kapur – a four-time champion on Tour.

All of Indonesia’s leading golfers have entered the prestigious event, which has only been won once before by an Indonesian, Kasiadi in 1989.

Gaganjeet Bhullar of India with the trophy after winning the Indonesia Open at Pantai Indah Kapuk on December 1, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)

The country’s top two players Rory Hie, joint second in 2011, and Danny Masrin will lead the local challenge and attempt to match Kasiadi’s memorable achievement, as will Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra – the promising young Indonesian who clinched victory at the OBGolf Invitational on the Asian Development Tour in June to win his debut event as a professional golfer.

Pondok Indah has hosted the Indonesia Open since 2016 while this year marks the first time the event has been staged following a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tournament, which is the 11^th stop on the 2022 Tour schedule, marks the start of an exciting run of events in August, as it will be followed by the International Series Singapore and then the International Series Korea.

Dating back to 1974, the Indonesia Open has a proud and rich heritage. Its roll of honour includes late, great American Payne Stewart (1981) and fellow Major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2014).

Other international golfers who have savoured success in the championship include New Zealander Frank Nobilo, Australian Craig Parry and South African Justin Harding.

Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand poses with the trophy after winning the Indonesia Open at Pondok Indah Golf Course on October 29, 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Nasrul Haq/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)

Among the other famous Asian players to have had their names inscribed on the trophy are Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsi-chuen and Lu Chien-soon.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and opened in 1976, Pondok Indah has been rated as one of the Indonesia’s leading golfing establishments for more than 40 years, hosting numerous professional events, including the World Cup of Golf in 1983.

Even towards the end of 2021, when he was winning titles by the dozen on the Big Easy Tour in almost Tiger Woods-like fashion, Ian Snyman’s wildest dreams did not include him rubbing shoulders with his South African heroes Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and playing for US$25 million purses.

So, the first feeling he has as he gets ready for his second LIV Golf Invitational Series event this week, is of gratitude.

“No, I did not expect all this to happen to me so quickly, to be honest. My game was ready for the Asian Tour. But after getting that third place in the first International Series event in Thailand, I was like, ‘Okay, we can do this. We can compete’. It’s just been good, solid, consistent golf,” said the 25-year-old from Bellville, now ranked 386^th in the world.

“And I was telling my parents that everybody talks about luck in golf. And, the fact that I played well, in both the International Series, it’s just luck. It’s a blessing. I don’t know what else to call that my things aligned so well that I did well in the right events to get into these events. I’m just grateful.”

Snyman’s choice of words like ‘lucky’ and ‘grateful’ seem appropriate. He secured his card for the 2020 Asian Tour season through the Qualifying School, and before he could tee up for any event, the COVID pandemic hit the globe, shutting down the Asian Tour for nearly 20 months.

Ian Snyman (fourth from left) was one of the six qualifiers for the LIV Golf Invitational London from the International Series England. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“With travel not possible, the Big Easy tour was the only place I could go play in South Africa. I didn’t have any other options. There was no Tour. I didn’t get in much on the Sunshine Tour either. I got an invite to the Sunshine Tour after my third win and I finished in ninth place, which was like a nice boost. It gave me the confidence that I can do this. And then the Asian Tour was nice to give me an invite to two tournaments that kickstarted their schedule late last year,” said Snyman.

“And now I am playing in events like this. Honestly, the first event, I was kind of shocked at how relaxed I was and it’s the same thing here in Portland. I feel like with music playing and the relaxed atmosphere, I’m just excited to be here and I just want to go out and play golf. There is no pressure.

“With all that has happened, going to the Asian Tour was the best decision I could have made. I am still pinching myself. At the last event, I wrote in my Instagram post that whenever I get worked up if I hit a bad shot or something, I’m like, ‘You are lucky to be here. Just be happy you’re here’. I think that attitude has helped.”

A product of the Ernie Els Foundation (no wonder The Big Easy is his childhood idol!), he was able to meet and interact with players like Oosthuizen and Schwartzel a couple of times in his growing years.

“The Els Foundation took me in when I was in Grade 9, and that was huge for me. I do not come from the most well-to-do family, so that little financial support really made all the difference to my golf,” Snyman added.

“If you look at Louis, Schwartzel, Branden (Grace)…all these guys playing this week, they all came through Ernie’s foundation. I am very thankful to him, and he is my ultimate hero.

“Then there are Justin Harding and Shaun Norris. They are two guys who got their success in Asia and that strengthened my resolve to go there when I played the Q-School. I have actually told and thanked them for showing me the way. And both of them are here in the LIV Golf Series.

“It’s pretty special getting to know these guys. I look up to them and I am part of the group now. We’re all having dinner together, talking in Afrikaans. It’s cool to have the South African caddies around. It’s just one big family.”

The three-day, 54-hole tournament features 13 Asian Tour members, including Japan’s world No73 Yuki Inamori and Zimbabwe’s world No94 Scott Vincent, who won the International Series England last month. Players will compete for a total purse of US$25 million, with the individual winner getting a cheque of US$4 million. In the team competition, the winning members bank $750,000 each.

The Portland field has nine of the last 21 major winners and four former world No1 players. Among the star attractions are Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson.

The 48-man field will play across 12 teams of four players each.

Acutely aware that he cannot take his spot in the lucrative LIV Golf Invitational Series for granted, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai is intent on making his trip to Portland count.

The prodigiously-talented 23 year old, who won his first professional title on the All Thailand Golf Tour at the age of 14, will be making his second appearance in the groundbreaking new series of events, having finished a creditable tied 25^th place in the inaugural tournament at Centurion Club.

Phachara, who finally secured his maiden Asian Tour victory at the end 2021 when he claimed the Laguna Phuket Championship, looked good for a top-10 finish at the LIV Golf Invitational London after opening with rounds of 67 and 72. However, he faded out of contention on the final day with a 78.

The smile never fades from his face though and the world No139, who also finished runner-up earlier this year at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge and the inaugural International Series Thailand, said he was ready for a new challenge at the fabled Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 07: Richard Bland of England, Peter Uihlein of The United States, Greg Norman, Phachara Khongwatmai and Travis Smyth of Australia pose for a photograph (At the conclusion of the draft, Team Captains Kevin Na and Peter Uihlein decided to make LIV Golf’s first trade, swapping Richard Bland and Hideto Tanihara) following the LIV Golf Invitational – London Draft on June 07, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

“I have really enjoyed playing the LIV tournament at Centurion Golf Club, and I really want to be a part of each one of them. However, I cannot take anything for granted. I know I can play the next tournament in Bedminster (July 29-31), but following that, everything is dependent on how I play in the International Series, or in the LIV events here in Portland and New Jersey,” he said.

“It’s important for us to be playing at this level, not just for the good purses, but also because we are getting the chance to play with some of the biggest names in the game.

“So, this week is going to be very important for me. I want to play good golf and make sure that I do not have to depend on performing well in the next International Series event to secure my spot.”

The past few weeks haven’t been the best for Phachara, who missed the cut at the Kolon Korea Open and was tied 49^th in the International Series England.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Phachara Khongwatmai of Crushers GC tees off on the fourth hole during day two of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 10, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

“I missed the cut last week in Korea and I have worked on the things that were not good with my game. My driving is a strong point of my game, and I did not hit the ball too well. But I am feeling much better this week. I think if we can find the fairways on this golf course, it will be a big advantage. The greens are small and tricky,” added the Thai star.

Phachara is part of the Iron Heads team, which features an all-Asian Tour members team captained by American Kevin Na, his compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana and American Sihwan Kim – leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“It’s a great group. I have come to know Kevin over the past couple of years and he is a good guy. Sadom and Sihwan are very close friends of mine. I think if we can play to our potential, we have a good chance,” he added.

The three-day, 54-hole tournament features 13 Asian Tour members, including Japan’s world No 73 Yuki Inamori and Zimbabwe’s world No9 4 Scott Vincent, who won the International Series England last month.

The Portland field has nine of the last 21 major winners and four former world No1 players. Among the star attractions are Americans Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson.

Players will compete for a total purse of US$25 million, with the individual winner getting a cheque of US$4 million. In the team competition, the winning members each bank US$750,000.

The 48-man field in Portland will play across 12 teams of four players each.

Japan’s Yuki Inamori, winner of last week’s Japan Players Championship by Sato Shokuhin on the Japan Golf Tour Organization, leads a strong 13-member Asian Tour contingent at this week’s star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational Portland.

The three-day, 54-hole tournament – second in the LIV Golf Series following the successful launch last month at Centurion Club near London – will be played at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club from Thursday.

Inamori, the two-time Japan Open champion, is ranked 73rd in the Official World Golf Ranking and is enjoying a successful 2022, having won The Crowns earlier in the season.

Another two-time winner this season, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, will be trying to add a first LIV Golf title to his growing trophy cabinet after winning the Gate Way to the Open Mizuno Open in Japan followed by the International Series England in back-to-back starts last month.

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe pictured with the winner’s trophy on Sunday, June 5, 2022, during the final round of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

A third Asian Tour member competing who is also inside the top-100 of the world ranking is Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita. The 30 year old from Nara is yet to win in 2022, but was tied eighth against a strong field in the Saudi International, the season-opening event on the Asian Tour and finished tied 12th in LIV Golf Invitational London.

The Portland field will showcase nine of the last 21 major winners, four former world number one players and nearly half of its competitors are currently ranked in the top 100. The global field represents 12 different countries and a combined 20 major titles.

Players will compete for a total purse of US$25 million, with the individual winner getting a cheque of $4 million. There is also a team championship where the winning team members bank US$750,000 each.

American Sihwan Kim, who is leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit and is second in the International Series Order of Merit after winning the Bangkok leg, will try to better his tied 43rd place finish in London.

South African stars made a clean sweep of the podium spots in London and will be out in force again. Charl Schwartzel from South Africa won the individual title and was part of the winning team. Trying to replicate the success of the 2011 Masters champion will be Asian Tour members and his compatriots Justin Harding and the highly-regarded Ian Snyman – winner of five titles on the Big Easy Tour in 2021.

Among other Asian Tour members in the field are three from Thailand – Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai and Itthipat Buranatanyarat, and two from Australia: Travis Smyth and Wade Ormsby.

NORTH PLAINS, OREGON – JUNE 27: Brooks Koepka hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during a practice round prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on June 27, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The tournament features several players inside the top 50 of the world ranking, including Americans Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau and Mexican Abraham Ancer, who have joined the LIV Golf Series with the Portland tournament. Former Masters winner Dustin Johnson is the highest-ranked player in the field this week at No17.

The 48-man field in Portland will play across 12 teams of four players each.

In a nail-biting finish to the Kolon Korea Open, rising young Korean star Minkyu Kim defeated his compatriot Mingyu Cho in a three-hole play-off at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

Kim, aged 21, holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the imposing par-five 18^th to finish the play-off, which was played over holes 16, 17 and 18, on even par, while Cho made bogey to end one over. It was a stunning turnaround as Kim started with a par and a bogey verses the two pars his opponent had made to put him in control.

It is the first time that Kim – who hit global headlines in 2018 when he claimed the D+D Real Czech Challenge on the Challenge Tour, becoming its youngest-ever winner at 17 years, 64 days – has won in Korea and his success was rewarded with an invite to The Open at St. Andrews in July. Cho’s consolation prize is also a place in the elite field for the game’s oldest Major.

Minkyu Kim won with a brilliant birdie on 18. Picture by Kolon Korea Open.

Kim began the day three behind the overnight leaders Cho and Korean Taehoon Ok but steadily worked his way through the field with a two-under-par 69 to set the clubhouse lead on four under, which included a bogey on the last.

Korean Hyungjoon Lee, playing in the penultimate group, look set to surpass that total and most likely win the tournament when he was five under playing 18 but added to the drama of the day when he finished with a double bogey after finding out of bounds.

Thirty-three-year-old Cho then had a chance to win the 64^th staging of Korea’s national Open in normal time with a 20-foot birdie putt on 18 but his attempt narrowly missed, and he signed for a 72 to send the event in over time.

“I can’t believe I have actually won!” said Kim, who has posted seven top-10s in his last 10 starts.

“I have come close to winning before and I wondered if I would ever win. I felt good on the back nine and started to feel I had a chance. Straight after I won, I thought of my father; I have to thank him for this. My golf is just beginning.”

On the final play-off hole Cho hit an errant drive which forced him to punch his ball back into play while Kim assumed control after hitting his second over three green. Cho’s third found the edge of the green from where he played a poor chip to 25 feet. He proceeded to miss that while Kim got up and down for the most important birdie of his career.

Said Cho: “[Winning] is a difficult task. I think it was a good day, and I will move on. I am now planning to go and play in Europe for the first time, where, I am sure, I’ll learn a lot.”

Mingyu Cho had a chance to win in normal time with a 20 foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. Picture by Kolon Korea Open.

American Jarin Todd closed with a 70 to tie for third with Lee, who returned a 71, one shot short of the play-off.

“I made a few mistakes on the back nine,” said Todd.

“Those holes are playing pretty tough. Missed on the wrong spots, paid for it. But yeah, I would have taken a top-five finish at the start of the week just because this course doesn’t really suit me. I’m happy with the result. Good birdie on the last. I hit a good drive and a really good second shot. Kind of unlucky to have it fly that far but made a good chip and putt for birdie there. I didn’t really look at the leaderboards out there. I was thinking the winning score might be seven or eight under. But looking at it now kind of hurts. This is how it goes but I am getting there.”

The Asian Tour takes a short summer break now before restarting at the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open, which will be played at Pondok Indah Golf Course from August 4-7.

It will mark the start of an exciting second half of the season which will see a full schedule of tournaments played through until January 2023.

Both players earned a place in The Open, at St. Andrews in July. Picture by Kolon Korea Open.

Sanghee Lee added a second-round three-under-par 68 to his opening 69 to take the halfway lead today in the Kolon Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

The Korean is five under for the prestigious event, one ahead of his countrymen Taehee Lee (66) and Taehoon Ok (69) and American Jarin Todd (69)

Sanghee Lee has won four times in Korea but admitted that his national Open is the one that he really wants to win the most.

“I have claimed the NH Open, KPGA Championship, SK Telecom Open, and GS Caltex Maekyung Open but the Korea Open is the big one we all want to win,” said Sanghee Lee.

“I have challenged every year, but the results were disappointing. Thinking about it, I felt a lot of pressure. I felt a strain on myself, it didn’t work. On my day off from the army, I often watched Korean tour events and had a strong desire to get back playing again.”

He made birdie on the par-five 18^th to take the outright lead to set up one of the most important weekends of his career.

He added: “Today, I did well despite difficult pin positions. My tee shots were accurate and my second shots were also very good but the putting wasn’t as good as yesterday. It was a bummer. I’m sad, but I’ll prepare well for the remaining two days and get a good result. It’s going to be fun.”

Taehoon Ok of Korea

Taehoon Ok took advantage of his early tee time to ease his way into contention.

“I’m surprised to be in the lead,” he said after his round. “I made a double bogey on the fourth hole and bounced back with a birdie on the fifth. The positions of the pins today were tricky.”

Todd looked set to also finish the day on five under but found water on the last and made bogey.

“It’s always tricky out here,” said the American.

“It got a little bit tricky on the back nine. It’s always hard here. I putted pretty good today, was missing on the right spots so I had the chance to get up and down. Bad luck there on the last with the lie and the wind gust but overall, a good day.

“The season has been good so far. I’m starting to get back into the flow. I didn’t play at all during the COVID break so it’s nice playing some of the bigger events now. There’s still a long track to go from here, two more days. A win here will be really fun, especially with The Open spot on offer this week. I came close to getting it in Singapore, finished top-five there. It was disappointing. I’d actually rather take The Open spot than the win this week! Just because it’s going to be at the old course at St Andrews and it’s on every golfer’s bucket list.”

Jarin Todd of the United States

Koreans Junghwan Lee (71), Kyongjun Moon (70), Doyeon Hwang (68), and Hyungjoon Lee (68) are three under in a tie for fifth.

Korean Bio Kim, lying second in the Order of Merit, was able to improve on his opening 72 with a 69. He is one under for the tournament and in contention despite an unfortunate bogey on his last hole – the unforgiving ninth – which meant he had to settle for a share of 10th place overall.