Published on March 26, 2023

Taichi Kho made history today by becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event after he recorded a hugely popular and significant victory at the inaugural World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Kho, who only turned professional in January, triumphed by two shots from New Zealand’s Michael Hendry on another wet day at the Hong Kong Golf Club to fittingly celebrate the week he was announced as an ambassador for the club and the return of international tournament golf to the Special Administrative Region of China for the first time in 38 months.

Twenty-two-year-old Kho closed with an even-par 70 to finish the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes because of the inclement weather, on 12 under, and also secure one of the four spots up for grabs in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.

Hendry shot a 68 while Australian Travis Smyth returned a 66 to finish third, three behind Kho. Korean Bio Kim (65) and Miguel Tabuena (72) from the Philippines tied for fourth, a shot further back.

Hendry, Smyth and Kim also made it through to The Open, where Kho will also become the first Hong Kong Chinese player to compete in the game’s oldest and most prestigious Major. Kim secured his berth ahead of Tabuena due to a better world ranking.

“Being at home, in front of everyone, having my parents here, it just means the world to me. I want to say thank you to everyone,” said Kho.

“I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have this opportunity. To play on the Asian Tour and represent Hong Kong Golf Club, to play well with both those things it is very special. The fans gave me a lot of momentum, thank you to Hong Kong.”

Yesterday’s poor weather meant Kho could only play two holes of his third round before play was stopped for the day at which point he had a healthy four-shot lead over Tabuena. But when played resumed this morning at 8.05am he struggled to find his rhythm, to the concern of his many local supporters, and dropped shots on the third and sixth to see his lead reduced to two.

However, to the delight and relief of everyone watching he sensationally got back on track when he holed out from 50 yards for a birdie on the par-four ninth before holing a difficult five-foot putt for par on the next.

A dropped shot on the ensuing hole was again cause for alarm especially as further ahead Smyth and Korean Yoseop Seo had made birdies to close the gap to one.

But Kho produced another master shot on the short par-three 12^th nearly holing his tee shot. He confidently holed a four-foot putt there for a birdie and a two-shot advantage.

On the par-five 13^th he reached the green in two to set up a birdie for a three-shot cushion. He then had a chance to go four ahead on the following hole but missed a 12 footer for birdie before he dropped a shot on the next after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

That mean he had a two-shot lead over Smyth with three to play but it soon moved to three when the Australian dropped a shot on the last.

And by the time he reached 18 his lead was back to two over playing partner Hendry, who made a strong finish with birdies on 16 and 17. Kho opted to hit driver on the famous par-four closing hole and to the thrill of the large gallery watching his ball landed safely to help set up a comfortable, drama free par.

He said: “I definitely wasn’t fearless, I was nervous, which was perfectly natural in the moment, but I said to myself I will be a better player by the end of it. I stuck to my game plan, did not shy away from him it and fully committed to what I have in my book. I told my coach last night whether I have a two-shot lead or back by one on the last hole, I am taking driver, and I fully committed to that. That’s the reason why I succeeded this week.”

This is only Kho’s third event as a professional on the Asian Tour as he made it through the Tour’s Qualifying School in January. He is the third fastest graduate from the school to win on tour.

“I’ve been playing really solid for a while now,” said Hendry.

“Pretty much all year I’ve been playing really well, I had win on the Aussie Tour not long ago and I sort of keep putting myself out there or there abouts, so I’m really happy with the game and excited. I only got the opportunity to play this event on Saturday, so to come here and have a great event, and get myself an Open start, that’s awesome.”

The Asian Tour now has a two-week break before the inaugural International Series Vietnam at KN Golf Links from April 13 to 16.

Published on March 24, 2023

Taichi Kho’s dream debut as a professional in an Asian Tour event at the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC), his home course, continued today when he took the second round-lead in the US$1million World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The 22 year old brilliantly fired his second-successive six-under-par 64 to lead by two from Filipino Miguel Tabuena, the first-round leader, who shot 67, and winner of last week’s The DGC Open presented by Mastercard.

New Zealand’s Michael Hendry is in third place, four behind Kho, after returning a 64.

Kho, a member of the HKGC since January who was unveiled this week as their ambassador, is 12 under and now has an outstanding opportunity to become the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour – which would be especially significant as this event is the first international golf tournament in Hong Kong, China for 38 months.

Notre Dame graduate Kho played flawless bogey-free golf making two birdies on the front before four more on the second half, including one on the famous par-four 18^th.

“Yeah, just a really great round of golf and I putted really well today,” said Kho, whose father is from Hong Kong and mother Japanese.

“And you know like I said yesterday, I’m just gonna go out there and try my best on every shot and that’s exactly what I did. And I was able to roll a few putts in and it added up to a total of 64, so very happy with the day.”

He graduated at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January, in 24^th place, made it through to the weekend in the two Tour events he played after that, and after another fine round today showed he is clearly revelling playing at this level.

Although appearing outwardly very calm he admitted there have been plenty of nerves over the first two days.

He said: “Yeah, I mean, I felt it a little more today, but overall, I feel like I did a really good job of just kind of being in my own bubble and focusing on myself, and felt like it was just myself and the golf ball out there today. So yeah, I’m just gonna try and tap into that tomorrow.”

Tabuena, who led with a 63 yesterday, impressively recovered from a double bogey on his opening hole.

“It was great, I was proud of the way I fought,” said the 28 year old.

“I didn’t get off to a good start, a bit of an errant drive again on the 11th hole [he started on the back nine], pulled it and had to take an unplayable. But told myself that there’s a lot of holes left, there’s two more days left, you know there’s no need to panic or there’s no need to be worried. You know you’ve been playing well and just got to keep patient and just trot along.”

The Filipino admits to not being far away from playing his best golf.

He added: “I believe I’m pretty close, like I said, I have a lot of confidence. But you also gotta learn how to control it right? Especially on this course you know, it’s very easy to be overconfident. So, just gotta stick to my routine, stick to my game plan and I know that if I do that, I will have a shot on the back nine on Sunday.”

Korean Yoseop Seo returned a 64 and is solo fourth, five back from Kho.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Suradit Yongcharoenchai (68) are a further stroke back along with Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent (67).

Australia’s Wade Ormsby, winner of the International Series Thailand two weeks ago and a two-time Hong Kong Open champion at HKGC, shot a 70 and is one under.

England’s Ian Poulter, the Hong Kong Open winner here in 2010, carded a 72 to finish on even par which was the cut mark.

The tournament also has the honour of being part of The Open Qualifying Series, with the leading four players not otherwise exempt earning a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.

Published on March 23, 2023

Miguel Tabuena’s hot streak continued today at the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club when he fired an outstanding seven-under-par 63 to take the lead on day one.

The Filipino won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard last week for his first victory on the Asian Tour since 2018 and he was bang in form again today on the Composite Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Hong Kong’s rising young star Taichi Kho shot a 64 and is second, ahead of Australian Scott Hend, who carded a 65.

Tabuena playing in the afternoon and in pursuit of Kho’s morning score was quickly into his stride with birdies on the first, third, fifth and sixth to make the turn in four under. And a run of four birdies in a row from the 11^th saw him take control of the US$1 million tournament.

He dropped his only shot of the day on 16 and holed a brilliant 18 footer to save par on the last.

“I am riding on some of the momentum from last week,” said Tabuena, whose win last week was his third on the Asian Tour.

“It is nice to be bogey free for 34 holes including last week but I had an errant tee shot on 16 but other than that I am playing great golf. It is very early in the week to even think about the finish line but if I play the way I am playing I know I will give myself a good chance, on the back nine on Sunday.”

His victory last Sunday drained him both mentally and physically so his fitness coach Dr Harry Sese in the United States gave him some sound advice.

Tabuena said: “It’s been five years since I have experienced a victory on the Asian Tour and I got a text from Harry Sese, who works on my fitness and is the main guy for Jon Rahm and a fellow Filipino, saying ‘Migs stay hydrated, I know your energy levels can be low especially after a win so it’s very important to recover’.”

Rookie professional Kho was unveiled as the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Ambassador this week and he has quickly repaid the famous Club’s faith in him by also firing a brilliant round made up of an eagle, five birdies and just one bogey.

“Just an incredible start,” said 22-year-old Kho, who made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January and made the cut in the two events he has played in so far.

“I went out there with no expectations. I was quite nervous, there has been a lot going on with media. I was really nervous waking up this morning but once I stepped onto the tee it kind of flowed. Had a good round but was more proud about how I was able to channel that. I used the nerves and adrenaline to my advantage.

“I have got to say thank you to everyone who came this week and will continue to come out, whether following me or other Hong Kong players, it’s really great to feel that kind of support.”

Kho has played here many times and became a member in January and so was able to draw on his extensive local knowledge of the Composite Course – which uses the best of the holes from the New and Eden courses.

He said: “I realised certain clubs off the tee I was choosing quite differently from my playing partners. In that sense I see the golf course in a certain way. Whenever I see certain shots I feel very confident that’s the right shot.”

That was certainly the case when he began his round. Starting on hole 10 he birdied that hole as well as the following two before an eagle on 13.

Hend, who won the Hong Kong Open here in 2014, is still struggling with an upset tummy which he picked up in New Delhi last week but that did not stop him from shooting a low number, highlighted by three closing birdies.

“Got off to a slow start today, didn’t hole any putts,” he said.

“The golf course is playing a little different to what we are used to, just got to be a bit patient and figure the greens out. Felt like I had a better handle on them on the second nine.

“It’s in between growth season so the leaf on the greens is different from when we play in November when it’s quite a tight nap and they are quite fast, at the moment it’s more of a nappy sort of a green but they are still pretty quick but it’s a different break, need to pick different lines. Condition wise the course is magnificent.”

England’s Ian Poulter, the 2010 Hong Kong Open champion, shot a 68, while Wade Ormsby, the Hong Kong Open winner in 2017 and 2020 and the International Series Thailand two weeks ago, from Australia came in with a 69.

The World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club is the first international golf tournament in the Special Administrative Region of China for 38 months.

The tournament also has the honour of being part of The Open Qualifying Series, with the leading four players not otherwise exempt earning a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.

 

Published on March 22, 2023

This week could not have come quickly enough for Australian Wade Ormsby.

A two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open, Ormsby will be looking for a third Fanling triumph when he lines up in the inaugural World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC).

The seventh leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season starts tomorrow on the Composite Course at HKGC amid much excitement as it is helping to celebrate the reopening of Hong Kong to international travellers.

For Ormsby, on a high after a welcome return to form following his victory at the International Series Thailand two weeks ago, the US$1 million tournament offers an opportunity to further illustrate his love affair with the HKGC.

At the International Series Thailand, Ormsby overcame Thai Chonlatit Chuenboonngam at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

His fourth Asian Tour title was the perfect preparation for what will be the first international golf tournament in the Special Administrative Region of China for 38 months.

It was in the second week of January 2020 that Ormsby repelled the challenge of Major champion Shane Lowry to claim his second Hong Kong Open title by four shots. Within two months, the spread of COVID-19 prompted the imposition of travel bans and the cessation of sporting gatherings.

However, with the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions, Hong Kong is once more ready to showcase itself as ‘Asia’s World City’ and a hub for major sporting events.

And no-one was more delighted with that news than Ormsby who captured his first Hong Kong Open crown in 2017 by a single stroke.

“It’s great to back, it’s such a special place for me,” said the Australian.

“Had last week off, as I was a reserve in Tucson for the LIV event and won two weeks ago. So I am in a good place, I am playing well and can’t wait to get started. The golf course looks in great condition.”

When asked what the secret is to playing Fanling’s Composite Course he had a simple answer: “Hit it straight around this place! I have successful experience here and the offer of The Open spot is great!”

The Open spot he is referring to is The Open at Liverpool Golf Club in July, as this week’s event has the honour of being part of The Open Qualifying Series, with the leading four player not otherwise exempt earning a place in the game’s eldest Major.

Ormsby is not the only former Fanling champion teeing-off in the World City Championship.

Also in the field are England’s Ian Poulter and Australian Scott Hend, winners of the Hong Kong Open in 2010 and 2014 respectively.

“I feel like I’m coming back home,” said Poulter.

“It is a golf course I have played many times, great memories shooting 60 on the golf course. It is a golf course that has been here for over 100 years with three great golf courses, wonderful members here and I have so many fans here, and Open places are on offer, hopefully I can earn one of those spots.”

He shot that 10-under-par 60 in the second round in 2010.

He said: “That was actually a funny day. I said to my caddie when I was travelling to the golf course, I think I have to shoot three under for the first day, and I said, when we were travelling home in a car after the round,  I will be 13 under and it will be the only time I shoot 60 and that is the only time I have called it, that I would shoot 60 after thousands of rounds of golf. It was a strange day, and it was a great day. Other things I remember most about coming to Hong Kong, is great food, great hospitality, wonderful golf course, I have made so many friends, I love coming to Hong Kong.”

A strong Thai presence at Fanling will be spearheaded by former OWGR top-50 players Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond and also includes Sadom Kaewkanjana and Nitithorn Thippong.

Another notable Thai to watch out for is Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, 23rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

At the age of 15 years and 37 days old, ‘TK’ won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup last April, becoming the youngest male player to win on one of the game’s major Tours.

At the World City Championship an extra layer of intrigue will be added by the fact that he’ll lock horns with fellow teenager Ding Wenyi of China, the reigning US Junior Amateur champion who is 16th in the WAGR.

While Taichi Kho, Matthew Cheung and Leon D’Souza are among the leading Hong Kong professionals taking part, there will also be eight local amateurs in the field, led by Alexander Yang.

Published on March 21, 2023

After three years away from the international golfing calendar, Hong Kong returns with the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club (WCC), which will focus a global spotlight on the state of the game locally – and in Asia – as the best players from the region and its rising stars are set to take on Fanling this week.

As well as the tournament headliners – European legends Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson – this week’s WCC field features well-established Asian stars in Order of Merit winners Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand’s first player on the PGA Tour, his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond, and a pair of former Hong Kong Open winners from Australia in Wade Ormsby and Scott Hend.

There are also the region’s promising young talents, including freshly-minted Asian Tour card-carrying local professionals Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung, and decorated amateurs Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat of Thailand, already a winner on the Asian Tour, and China’s Ding Wenyi, the current US Junior Amateur champion.

Kho, who today was announced as an official Hong Kong Golf Club ambassador, has got his pro career off to a solid start since making the switch from the amateur ranks last month, having figured prominently at the recent International Series Thailand before finishing in a tie for 34th, as well as ending last week’s The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in a tie for 59th.

The 46-year-old Stenson’s connections with the region date back more than 20 years as across the course of his career the Swede has been a global ambassador for the sport. But the WCC will be his first taste of the game, Hong Kong Golf Club-style, and the 2016 Open champion arrives keen to check up on developments in Asia.

“We’ve seen the growth, we’ve seen the improvement, and you see it on every Tour around the world – you see names popping up, strong players coming out of Asia,” said Stenson. “You see the amateurs getting the opportunity to play at Augusta and [talent has] just been kind of drip feeding from Asia for a long, long time.”

The 47-year-old Poulter has long been a Fanling fixture and wrote his name in the history books with a record-setting 22-under-par final score when he captured the Hong Kong Open in 2010. Like Stenson, the Englishman has throughout his career helped champion the game across Asia – while continuing to be one of the most popular visitors among golf fans everywhere he goes.

“In Hong Kong there has always been fantastic support,” said Poulter. “The local level of support has always been fantastic. I’m definitely excited about the opportunity to come back. Every time we play in Asia, we see new, incredible golf talent coming through. So I’m expecting to see some youngsters. I’m old enough to be their father – but hopefully I’m older and wiser enough to still keep them at bay for a bit longer.”

As well as the US$1 million purse that’s up for grabs, the WCC offers players a chance to play themselves into the 151^st Open Championship, which will be staged at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July, as it has been selected as one of the three Asian tournaments that make up The R&A’s Open Qualifying Series (OQS).

“This is a big thing for the Asian Tour, for Hong Kong to have,” said Poulter. We can go there, we can play a golf course I know and hopefully we can go and qualify for the Open Championship at the same time.”

For Stenson, a trip out to the historic New Territories layout has long been on the agenda. Finally he gets to fulfill a desire to check the Hong Kong Golf Club out for himself.

“When I’m thinking about golf in Asia, there’s a couple of courses that come to mind and, obviously, Hong Kong and Fanling is one of them,” said the Swede. “I’m really looking forward to coming in there and also to seeing some of the local talent.

At the press conference following a special ferry tour of the city’s magnificent harbour, Hong Kong Golf Club Captain Andy Kwok welcomed the players and the return of international golf to the city:

“The Club is thrilled to welcome back world-class golfers and spectators to the fairways of Fanling after such a long break. There has been really great interest in the tournament, which is reflected in the extremely large number of fans who have already registered for tickets, so this is all very encouraging. We have a wonderful field of competitors, including a great mix of household names and really talented local players, and many fun-filled, off-course activities for spectators to enjoy, so we are all set for four days of fantastic action,” said Mr Kwok.

The Hong Kong Golf Club is sharing the excitement with the community, hosting schools and community organizations at the WCC and offering new fans an opportunity to learn more about the fundamentals of golf and to experience the excitement of tournament play.

It is the start of an active season of international competition at Fanling.  In addition to hosting the inaugural WCC, the Club will also stage the Aramco Team Series Hong Kong, a premier Ladies European Tour event, in October, whilst the 62^nd edition of the Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, makes a welcome return in November.

The World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.

 

 

Published on March 20, 2023

The Asian Tour and IMG are delighted to announce the return of the Macao Open and to reveal SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) as the new title sponsor for one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Asian Tour, taking place 12^th – 15^th October 2023 at the picturesque Macau Golf and Country Club.

SJM, a leading owner, operator and developer of premium integrated entertainment resorts in Macao, is confirmed as the title sponsor for the next three editions with the SJM Macao Open, benefiting from the full support and endorsement of the Sports Bureau of Macao and the Macao Golf Association.

SJM has been pivotal to reviving this celebrated event and its support and vision ensures that one of the most popular stops on the Asian Tour will return bigger and better than ever for its 20^th edition.  Featuring on the schedule for the first time since 2017, when the tournament was won by India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (main picture), this year’s 144-player field will compete for a prize fund of US$1million.

The Macau Golf and Country Club, a business unit of SJM’s parent company Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, S.A. (“STDM”), has staged every edition of the event and is renowned as one of the most beautiful courses to play in Asia, offering stunning views of the South China Sea. An impressive roster of global stars has competed over the years including Major winners Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh and Nick Price, as well as prolific international winners including Miguel-Angel Jimenez, Branden Grace, Ian Poulter and Thongchai Jaidee. Past winners have included Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and China’s own Liang Wen-chong and two-time winner Zhang Lian-Wei.

Cho Minn Thant, CEO & Commissioner of the Asian Tour commented: “We are delighted to welcome back this important Asian Tour event to our schedule and are very grateful for the support of the Sports Bureau of Macao, SJM, the Macao Golf Association and our partners IMG for their work in reinstating this tournament. Historically it has been a very popular event amongst our players and I know this will be very welcome news for all.”

Pun Weng Kun, President, Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government added: “Bringing back this long-running golf tournament to Macao has been an important priority and we are very happy to be able to support the return of this international event. ‘Sport for All’ is a very important government initiative and the health benefits of golf are undeniable so we hope that the return of the SJM Macao Open to the island will serve as inspiration to our residents and be enjoyed by all.”

Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, remarked: “SJM is committed to bringing Macao onto the world stage by hosting international sporting events. We are very proud to be the title sponsor of the SJM Macao Open, through which we will contribute to enhancing Macao’s profile as an energetic sports city and showcasing our all-rounded strength as a top notch destination. As a major supporter of ‘sports + tourism’, we aim to elevate Macao’s brand as a world centre of tourism and leisure, boost international arrivals and bring economic benefits to the community.”

Charles Lo, President of Macao Golf Association added: “Reinstating our national open has been a very high priority for us so we are thrilled to be part of this announcement and very thankful to all the partners who have helped make this happen. We very much look forward to welcoming everyone to the SJM Macao Open later this year.

Grant Slack, EVP & Managing Director, Golf Events, IMG said: “Over the years this tournament has hosted many of the world’s best golfers at the world class facilities of Macau Golf & Country Club. Together with the Asian Tour, MSB, SJM and Golf Association of Macau, we are so pleased to be able to play a part in returning this important event to Macao and we are already underway with our preparations for its October return.”

Published on

MARANA, Arizona: Seeking his first professional win in nearly eight years, Danny Lee shrugged off a missed birdie attempt on the second hole of Sunday’s playoff at LIV Golf Tucson, and kept his nerve to sink the winning putt from off the green the next time round.

When he missed the putt, he muttered to himself, “What have you done, you idiot,” but he didn’t dwell on the missed opportunity. With a chance to win the individual title on the third playoff hole, the Iron Heads GC member rolled in the birdie putt at The Gallery Golf Club to claim the individual title in just his second start since joining the LIV Golf League.

The South Korean-born Lee, who represents New Zealand, defeated Carlos Ortiz (Fireballs GC), Brendan Steele (HyFlyers GC) and Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC) in the second playoff in LIV Golf history. The last time Lee won, in 2015, he also won in a four-man playoff.

“Maybe it was a coincidence, I don’t know,” the 32-year-old Lee said. “But it feels pretty amazing right now.”

In the team competition, Fireballs GC, captained by Sergio Garcia, won by four strokes over 4Aces GC, with Lee’s Iron Heads GC claiming third for the team’s first-ever podium finish. The Fireballs become just the second team to claim multiple titles, having won last year at the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.

The Fireballs were fueled by Ortiz’s 6-under 65, the best round of the day and an impressive one, given the challenging conditions for the majority of the final round due to wind gusts above 20 mph. At one point, the Fireballs led by 12 strokes before the 4Aces rallied late to close the gap.

Ortiz’s low round put him in the playoff, but he was eliminated with a bogey on the first extra hole.

“Obviously, super-excited about getting another team win after last year in Bangkok, and super-proud of all of them,” Garcia said. “Especially Carlos, the way he played today. Shame he couldn’t get the individual win. But what a great effort.”

Besides Ortiz’s round, the other two Fireballs counting scores belonged to Abraham Ancer (1-over 72) and Sergio Garcia (2-over 73).

“We felt like we didn’t play very good at all,” Ancer said, “but Carlos definitely bailed us out today. We did a really good job to play good at the right times as a team, and that’s what got us the trophy.”

Said Ortiz, who finished second last year in his LIV Golf debut in Portland: “I think I did a good job of taking advantage of the easy holes, and I just tried to hold on on the hard holes. I think days like this are easy to move up the leaderboard if you shoot low, and I just did a good job today.”

While the Spanish-speaking Fireballs controlled the team leaderboard down the stretch, multiple players had a chance to seize control of the individual leaderboard.

Second-round leader Marc Leishman opened the door with bogeys in two of his first three holes. Charles Howell III, the individual winner in the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba, opened with an eagle and was 4 under through his first six holes. At one point, he held a two-shot lead but a triple bogey at the par-3 eighth brought him back to the pack.

Ortiz was making his run with five birdies in his first nine holes before suffering a double bogey at the 10th.

Eventually, Oosthuizen – captain of the all-South African Stinger GC – became the front-runner. But he suffered three bogeys in a four-hole stretch late in the round. When he bogeyed the par-3 16th, there was a four-way tie for the lead.

Lee, Steele and Ortiz each finished at 9 under, while Oosthuizen, playing in the lead group, was 8 under after a bogey at the par-5 17th. But he knocked his approach shot close into 18 and made the birdie putt to join the playoff.

From there, it took three more trips through the 18th hole for Lee to post the only birdie of the playoff – and make his long-awaited return to the winner’s circle.

“I haven’t won since 2015. I just felt like winning is just not my thing, but today just changed that,” Lee said. “It’s just good to see I’m capable of playing some good golf again.”

TEAM COUNTING SCORES

Here are the standings and counting scores for Sunday’s final round of the team competition at LIV Golf Tucson. The three best scores from each team count in every round for their total team score. The team with the lowest cumulative score after three rounds wins the team title.

1. FIREBALLS GC (-25): Carlos Ortiz 65, Abraham Ancer 72, Sergio Garcia 73 (Rd. 3 total: -3)

2. 4ACES GC (-21): Patrick Reed 66, Dustin Johnson 68, Peter Uihlein 68 (Rd. 3 total: -11)

3. IRON HEADS GC (-19): Scott Vincent 69, Danny Lee 69, Kevin Na 71 (Rd. 3 total: -4)

4. STINGER GC (-16): Louis Oosthuizen 70, Branden Grace 70, Charl Schwartzel 72. (Rd. 3 total: -1)

5. RIPPER GC (-16): Matt Jones 69, Cameron Smith 70, Jediah Morgan 75 (Rd. 3 total: +1)

6. HYFLYERS GC (-15): Brendan Steele 70, Cameron Tringale 74, Phil Mickelson 75 (Rd. 3 total: +6)

7. TORQUE GC (-14): Mito Pereira 67, David Puig 71, Joaquin Niemann 73 (Rd. 3 total: -2)

8. RANGEGOATS GC (-12): Talor Gooch 69, Harold Varner III 71, Bubba Watson 73 (Rd. 3 total: E)

9. CRUSHERS GC (-12): Paul Casey 70, Charles Howell III 71, Bryson DeChambeau 73 (Rd. 3 total: +1)

10. SMASH GC (-8): Matthew Wolff 72, Brooks Koepka 73, Jason Kokrak 73 (Rd. 3 total: +5)

11. CLEEKS GC (-5): Richard Bland 68, Graeme McDowell 72, Bernd Wiesberger 72 (Rd. 3 total: -1)

12. MAJESTICKS GC (-4): Sam Horsfield 70, Lee Westwood 73, Ian Poulter 74 (Rd. 3 total: +4)

Lead Photo
TUCSON, ARIZONA – MARCH 19: Overall individual winner; Danny Lee of Iron Heads GC celebrates winning the LIV Golf Invitational – Tucson at The Gallery Golf Club on March 19, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Published on March 19, 2023

Filipino Miguel Tabuena fired an inspired seven-under-par 65 to win The DGC Open presented by Mastercard at Delhi Golf Club today and claim his first title on the Asian Tour in just over four years.

The 28 year old, six behind overnight leader Rashid Khan from India at the start of the day, confidently glided around DGC’s challenging Lodhi Course shooting seven birdies and no bogeys to finish on 12 under and beat Khan by one.

Khan, himself chasing a first Asian Tour victory in nine years, closed with a 72, while Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat finished one shot back to claim third place outright with a 68.

Tabuena, playing in the penultimate group, gradually reeled Khan, who started the day with a three-shot lead over countryman Chikkarangappa S, in and was four behind him at the turn, thanks to three birdies, before a brilliant back nine saw him catch and overtake the Indian.

The Filipino birdied 10, 12, 15 and 16 while Khan dropped shots on 15 and 17, where he had a bad lie in a greenside trap on the par three and failed to get up and down. Khan needed an eagle on the par-five 18^th to draw level, but his approach just missed the green from where he chipped to four feet and made a four.

A one hour and 20 minute delay caused by inclement weather while Khan was playing the 14^th did little to help the India’s chances, while Tabuena’s round was one short of the course record.

“I feel great,” said Tabuena, who becomes only the second player from his country to win in India after his legendary compatriot Ben Arda’s success in the Indian Open in 1969.

“I have been playing well, very well for the past few months and I really believed that another win was coming very soon. I told myself to just stick to the game plan, you have been playing awesome the first few days.”

The win completes something of a comeback for Tabuena who only just kept his Tour card on the Order of Merit in 2022 taking the last spot and who had to deal with the trauma of his father having a heart by-pass last year.

He first tasted victory on the Asian Tour at the Philippine Open in 2015 before his second win at the Queen’s Cup at the end of 2018.

“It is very, very easy to get too aggressive at Delhi Golf Club and I was very, very happy with how we stuck mentally to our game plan,” he added.

“I executed each shot the way I wanted to. It is hard to describe, it is great to be back in the winner’s circle and I really believe there is way more room for improvement still.

“To be honest bogey free Delhi Golf Club on a Sunday is probably the best feeling in the world. As soon as I got my scorecard I thought ‘did I really just shoot seven under in Delhi Golf Club at one of the hardest courses we play on the Asian Tour?’ I shot one of the best rounds of my career on a Sunday. I didn’t force any shots, even though it was very easy to. I am pretty overwhelmed, I am pretty tired physically and mentally also.”

Khan will be bitterly disappointed not to have prevailed today. Since winning the SAIL-SBI Open at DGC in 2014 he has now finished second on five occasions here. He was also second twice on the Asian Tour last year, suggesting his time for another victory will surely come soon.

“I wasn’t hitting it well at all and the worst part was that this is the first time in my life where I couldn’t hit hard,” he said.

“I wasn’t able to swing it well. I have a problem in my swing which I’m working on, and I played this week only on my putter, that’s it. And I just didn’t hole my putts today.

“On the 17th, I had to go for it. I was trying to hit my eight iron and I thinned it again and ended up making a bogey. So, you know when you are two shots back and going into the last hole, that’s different.

“If I had gone aggressive today, the score could have been even worse. During the break, I went to the range and was hitting it well but on the golf course it was a different story. I am taking an off next week.”

The Asian Tour journeys to the World City Championship at the Hong Kong Golf Club next week from March 23-26.

 

Published on

Marc Leishman hasn’t had many opportunities in recent years to enter the final round of a golf tournament as the solo leader.

“There’s been a few here and there,” the 39-year-old Ripper GC team member said. “But it’s been a year or two.”

He’ll get to reacquaint himself with the pressure now after shooting a second-round-under 66 to move to 11 under at LIV Golf Tucson. That gives him a two-shot lead over Sergio Garcia going into Sunday’s final round at The Gallery Golf Club.

“Obviously you play early in the tournament to try to put yourself into a good position, and I’ve played well enough to do my first part of the job,” said Leishman, who’s seeking his 14th career pro victory. “But there’s probably more than half the work to do tomorrow.”

In the team competition, Garcia’s Fireballs GC have slept on the lead as recently as last October when they won LIV Golf Bangkok. Unlike that tournament, when the Fireballs entered the final day with a seven-shot lead, their lead this time is much smaller.

Thanks to Garcia’s 65, Eugenio Chacarra’s 67 and Carlos Ortiz’ 68, the Fireballs are at 22 under – just one shot ahead of Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC. Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC are another four shots back.

“Obviously super happy about how the team has done the first two days, even more so today. Very, very strong day,” said Garcia, the Fireballs captain. “… We still have to do more of the same. If we think that it’s done, that it’s over, then we’re going to get passed left and right.”

Indeed, with three counting scores, the potential for volatility on the team leaderboard was on full display Saturday. First-round leaders Torque GC had the least productive day of any of the 12 teams and fell into a tie for eighth. At one point midway in the second round, four teams shared the lead before the Fireballs grabbed the lead down the stretch.

“We’ve seen over the past 10 events how quickly leaderboards can change out on the golf course with a team,” said Oosthuizen, whose Stinger GC is seven shots back. “Five, six behind is not a lot from the team aspect. You need three guys to play really well, and hopefully we can put three good rounds together tomorrow.”

The HyFlyers had three terrific rounds on Saturday to shoot a cumulative 15 under, best of any team, thanks to Brendan Steele’s 65, Cameron Tringale’s 66 and Mickelson’s 67. The HyFlyers had a share of third place in one tournament during the inaugural 2022 Invitational Series but now find themselves with their best chance to claim a team trophy.

“We’re going to have to be really aggressive,” said Steele, who joined LIV Golf this season as one of six new members. “We’re going to have to keep doing what we did today because obviously the scores were really good today.”

Leishman also may have to be aggressive in order to fend off his chasers, as eight players are within four shots of the lead.

One of those is Charles Howell III, tied for third at eight under with Tringale, Steele and Stinger GC Captain Louis Oosthuizen. Howell won the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba with a final-round eight-under 63. Is there another 63 out there for the taking on the South Course?

“Probably not for me, maybe for someone else,” said Howell, who plays for Crushers GC. “I think the hole locations are really difficult. I think it’s really hard to get the ball close, the slope and the greens and all that. You’ve got to putt really well to do that because you’re not going to hit close very often. You’ve got to take advantage of the par fives to do it.

“It may be out there but it’s going to be one heck of a round to do it.”

Leishman realizes he’ll enter Sunday with a target on his back.

“There’s a lot of great players that are just behind me,” he said. “It’s a course where you can make a lot of birdies, and if you’re a little bit off, you can make a lot of others. So you can lose a lead quickly, or you can extend it.

“I just need to do my job, hopefully do as good as I can, and see where we end up at the end of the day.”

Published on March 18, 2023

India’s Rashid Khan will have another fine opportunity to win his first Asian Tour title in nearly a decade tomorrow after he took the third-round lead today in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard, being played on the Lodhi Course at Delhi Golf Club (DGC).

Khan fired a four-under-par 68, impressively recovering from a double bogey on the first, to finish the day on 11 under for the US$750,000 event and a three-shot advantage over countryman Chikkarangappa S.

Chikkarangappa, who started the day with a three-shot lead and is in pursuit of first Asian Tour title, shot a 74.

Honey Baisoya carded a 65, the joint best low round of the week so far, to sit two back in a tie for third with fellow Indian Om Prakash Chouhan, who returned a 73, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, in with a 71.

Khan won his first Asian Tour title here at DGC in 2014 at the SAIL-SBI Open, beating Siddikur Rahman from Bangladesh in a sudden-death play-off, and tasted victory again later that year at the Chiangmai Golf Classic but they remain his only two wins on the Asian Tour.

There have been opportunities to win since, including at DGC where he has an outstanding record, and last year he finished runner-up twice: first in the Mandari Indonesia Open and then in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, where he lost in extra-time to Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang.

“I am looking for  gaood round tomorrow and let the game talk,” said the 32 year old, the prolific winner of 11 titles on the Professional Golf Tour of India.

“These kind of rounds give you a lot of confidence, when I shot a bogey free round on day one I was happy. Then today on the first hole I was in the middle of the fairway off the tee and I ended up making a double so you know to come back and shoot that round gives you a lot of momentum. You know you are at the corner where your game is gonna come back.”

Lightning stopped played for 45 minutes when he was on the 11^th, but it did little to distract him as when play resumed he holed a difficult 30 footer for birdie.

“I just tried to find the greens and give myself birdie opportunities, I holed really good putts today,” he added.

“Only used my driver once, which is very rare when I am playing DGC, I was just teeing off with my three iron, I am really enjoying this kind of play.”

After that opening double, he didn’t drop another shot, and birdied four of the next six holes, and another two on the back nine.

His fine DGC record, which may count for everything tomorrow, also includes a play-off loss against India’s Anirban Lahiri at the 2013 SAIL-SBI Open.

Khan said he has never seen playing partner Chikkarangappa miss so many putts.

“I wouldn’t say it was a bad day, I hit the ball well, I putted well, it’s just that I lost a little bit of speed on the green, probably the weather, just a little bit of rain slowed the greens,” said Chikkarangappa, who frustratingly made two bogeys and 16 pars.

“It’s okay, I have another 18 holes to go. I just need to go out there and repeat yesterday’s round, nothing else, if I do that, like I said my putter was cold, I just need to get that hot at the beginning of the round. If I do that I think it will be a good match tomorrow.”

Baisoya’s round was picture perfect with no dropped shots and three birdies on the front and four on the back.

Filipino’s Miguel Tabuena and Justin Quiban have an outside chance tomorrow after shooting rounds of 72 and 73 today to lie seven behind the leader, along with England’s Matt Killen, in with a 74.