Oman welcomes world-class golfing talent as The International Series season gets underway
The International Series 2024 tees off at Muscat’s iconic Al Mouj Golf with some of the biggest names in the game after it was confirmed that the International Series Oman will return to the Asian Tour schedule on 22-25 February 2024.
A number of Major winners, LIV Golf stars and the cream of the Asian Tour will tee it up in the US $2million Oman tournament, the season opener on the 2024 schedule of The International Series, ready to test themselves on the Greg Norman-designed course which was joint winner for the Asian Tour Players Choice Course of the Year award in 2023.
South African Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel will line up alongside their Stinger GC teammates Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, while Chilean superstar Joaquin Niemann has also brought his Torque GC team of Mito Pereira, Sebastian Munoz and Carlos Ortiz to the challenging Al Mouj Golf.
Indian sensation Anirban Lahiri of Crushers GC and highly rated Hong Kong youngster Taichi Kho are also in the field alongside a host of Asian Tour stars including last year’s Order of Merit high fliers Miguel Tabuena, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Travis Smyth and Phachara Khongwatmai.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Our return to Oman emphasises our growing appeal as a brand. The International Series is recognised as an elite-level golf event that brings together world-class talent from across the globe, along with the cream of the Asian Tour to compete for elevated prize purses at incredible golfing destinations.
“Over the past two seasons we have created a truly international schedule, providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League for players from all over the world while also offering a platform for players from the region to experience golf at its highest levels.
“The renowned hospitality of Oman proved extremely popular with the players last year, and it is a real pleasure to return to the Gulf state again in the new season.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour said: “The Asian Tour has a strong bond with golf in the Middle East and our efforts in the region are evident through the growing interest in golf across the region, with emerging talent coming from many different countries to play International Series events.
Takumi Kanaya with the trophy at last year’s International Series Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“Oman has proven to be very popular amongst our members as well as marquee international players. The spectacular yet challenging golf course is a true test for the competitors and the hospitality we experience in Oman is second to none. We are all looking forward to returning.”
Mundhir al Barwani, Chairman of the Oman Golf Association, said: “The 2023 event exceeded all our expectations and, through the exceptional field of players assembled, showcased Oman to a global audience. We were delighted to hear that the players themselves enjoyed the experience of visiting the Sultanate, the hospitality of the Kempinski Muscat, and the magnificent course at Al Mouj Golf.
“Events such as these are critical to our endeavours to grow the golf industry and support tourism, investment, and employment in the Sultanate. We also value the opportunity to expose our regional elite amateurs to such a high level of competition, and hope that having Omani players participating will help to inspire the next generation of golfers.”
Mubarak Hill, GM of Al Mouj Golf, said: “It is an honour to welcome back The International Series and get the schedule underway again for a second successive year. The tournament brings some of the biggest names in world golf to Oman, and showcases our incredible course, world-class facilities and of course the hospitality that Oman is known for.
“Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our team here at Al Mouj, we can give the world just one golfing example as to why Oman is one of the best destinations to visit in the Middle East, with its wonderful culture, landscape and leisure experiences.”
The International Series was first introduced to the Asian Tour calendar in 2022 as a set of 10 elevated tournaments that support playing opportunities and drive greater engagement, thanks to a landmark US$300m investment with LIV Golf.
World-class destinations on this year’s schedule also include Macau, Morocco, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with further dates and venues still to be announced. In previous seasons, tournaments have been staged in Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, China, England, Scotland, Egypt and Thailand. For more information on the International Series Oman, click here.
Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg led 35 jubilant and relieved players through at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School today with their Tour cards safely secured.
Broberg, three off top spot at the start of the day, eagled the par-five 18th at Springfield Royal Country Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, to fire a six-under-par 66, and beat Japan’s Shogenji Tatsunori by two shots.
The Swede, who also eagled the second and the 12th, finished the five-round boiling cauldron of competition on 18-under.
Tatsunori closed with a 67, two ahead of Justin Warren (68) from Australia, Spain’s Carlos Pigem (72) and Justin Quiban (73) from the Philippines.
Shogenji Tatsunori. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Quiban started the day with a one-stroke lead.
Broberg is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, the most recent coming at the 2021 Dutch Open, and his experience and quality were on display from the start, when he birdied the first, eagled the second and made another birdie on the next. He only made two bogeys.
“It feels pretty good. I played great today, I made three eagles today and putted really well,” said 37-year-old Broberg – a professional since 2010.
“I just tried to finish it off today, you know what I mean? It’s just hard to tell, I tried to be like more like relaxed, like a practice round, and just hit some good shots and then make some putts.
Justin Warren. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It’s been great being here in Hua Hin. I’ve been staying with Rikard Karlberg [at Black Mountain] and his wife and kids, so I’m missing my family now. so I want to go home to prepare for the upcoming events.
Twenty-five-year-old Tatsunori topped the money list on Japan’s challenge Tour last year – where he won twice – and is ecstatic about his next challenge.
He said: “I just wanted to make the cut at each stage. I never thought I would come second. My putting made this possible, it was so good and I always stayed very calm and relaxed. I will divide my time between the Asian and Japan Tours this year.”
Some of the other notable names to earn their cards were American John Catlin, Koreans Jeunghun Wang and Wooyoung Cho, Thailand’s Danthai Boonma and Australian Sam Brazel.
Chinese golfer Ye Wocheng also earned his card through the school for the second year in a row.
Catlin, a four-time winner in Asia and three-time champion in Europe, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have my playing status back in Asia. I wasn’t able to fulfil my quota of events last year so had to come back to school here. This Tour is where it all started for me. My game is actually in good shape, and I am excited about the year ahead.”
Carlos Pigem. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The American, who bases himself in Hua Hin for much of the year, closed with a 72, to end on 10 under in a tie for 15th.
Four players ended in a sudden-death play-off for the 35th card: Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura prevailed on the fourth extra hole over Chilean Matias Dominguez, with Nick Voke from New Zealand and Japan’s Taihei Sato eliminated earlier.
Some well-known names who did not make it through today were Indonesian Naraajie Ramadhanputra, Thais Kosuke Hamamoto and Panuphol Pittayarat, and Korean Yu Bin Jang.
The Asian Tour’s first event of the new season, the US$1million IRS Prima Malaysian Open, tees-off in just over three weeks at The Mines Resort and Golf Club, from February 15-18.
It’s one of 20 events that the Tour recently unveiled, with a significant number of important tournaments to be added.
Once finalised it is expected that the schedule will surpass last season – which saw 23 events staged with total prize money of US$35 million.
Asian Tour members will have another excellent opportunity to compete in the game’s oldest Major championship this year as The R&A have announced that the IRS Prima Malaysian Open and the Kolon Korea Open will be part of The Open Qualifying Series.
The former event, to be played at The Mines Resort & Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur from February 15-18 as the season-opening tournament on the Asian Tour, will offer three places at The Open.
Two spots will be available at the Kolon Korea Open – being played later in the year at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club from June 20-23.
This year marks the 152nd staging of The Open, with Royal Troon hosting the famous event, from July 15-18, for the 10th occasion. The most recent time it was played there was in 2016 when Swede Henrik Stenson triumphed.
HONG KONG- L-R- Open qualifiers – Bio Kim of Korea, Taichi Kho of Hong Kong, Travis Smyth of Australia and Michael Hendry of New Zealand pictured with the Open championship flags and the Claret Jug on Sunday March 26, 2023 during Round Three of the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club, at Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, Hong Kong. The US$ 1 million Asian Tour event was reduced to a 54 hole event due to the weather delays. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Cho Minn Thant, CEO & Commissioner, Asian Tour, said: “The Asian Tour is very pleased that two National Opens on our Tour are part of The R&A’s global network of elite qualification events.
“The IRS Prima Malaysian Open is the opening event of our 2024 season and its Open Qualifying Series status certainly increases the motivation for our members who are enjoying a much-deserved off-season as well as those competing in Final Stage of Qualifying School this week. The Kolon Korea Open is one of the most renowned Championships in Asia and is year in year out one of the toughest tests in the region.
“Our members are always appreciative of the chance this provides them and are quick to incorporate Open Qualifying Series events into their schedule.”
Six players have already booked their spots in The Open through The Open Qualifying Series.
Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt and Dan Bradbury qualified at the Joburg Open before Joaquin Niemann, Rikuya Hoshino and Adam Scott earned the three places available at the ISPS Handa Australian Open.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the RBC Canadian Open and the John Deere Classic will offer golfers on the PGA TOUR opportunities to qualify.
On the DP World Tour, places will be awarded at the KLM Open, Italian Open and Genesis Scottish Open.
Andy Ogletree’s remarkable 2023 season has earned him arguably the most-coveted award, the stamp of approval by his peers, as it was announced today that he has won the Kyi Hla Han Award for the Player of the Year on the Asian Tour.
The American won last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) title, as well as The International Series OOM, in runaway fashion and was the overwhelming choice for the Kyi Hla Han Award – after the final count of a players’ poll was conducted.
It is the first year that the award has been named after Kyi Hla Han, the Asian Tour’s former OOM champion who later became the regional circuit’s Executive Chairman, making this latest accolade all the more significant for Ogletree.
Andy Ogletree pictured wining the International Series Qatar. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
In 11 starts, he won twice – at the International Series Qatar in February and at August’s International Series England – and recorded five other top-10s. That led to him winning the Asian Tour OOM by almost double the points, on 2,128.26, over the second-placed Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, and The International Series OOM by almost double the prize money, with US$1,101,828.33, from second-placed Spaniard David Puig.
Said Cho Minn Thant, CEO & Commissioner, Asian Tour: “Kudos to Andy Ogletree for winning the Player of the Year Award – importantly, during the season when we have named this prestigious trophy after one of the Asian Tour’s most-celebrated luminaries, Kyi Hla Han.
“Two important aspects stand out here. Firstly, the fight and determination of Andy to come back and make his mark in the game following a difficult start to his career when so much was expected of him.
“And secondly, the opportunity that the Asian Tour, and indeed The International Series, have provided for him to essentially establish himself as one of the game’s most exciting young golfers, who looks likely to be making a big impression in the years ahead.”
Ogletree with the International Series England trophy. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Ogletree succeeds compatriot Sihwan Kim as the Players’ Player of the Year and will share his time next year between the Asian Tour and the LIV Golf League, as claiming The International Series OOM secured him a place on the multi-million-dollar franchise.
“It was a perfect year,” said the American at the end of last year.
“The plan coming into the season and all along was to win and get back on LIV Golf. I managed to do that, which was very satisfying. I had a great schedule to play on the Asian Tour and I will cherish this year forever.”
“I treated every tournament I played as if it was a Major championship. That was the only thing we thought about and talked about all off-season. I had just one aim. I won towards the end of last season in Egypt and had a lot of momentum going into the off-season and was able to develop some good plans with my trainer (Kolby Tullier) and my swing coach (Tony Ruggiero).”
Ogletree topped both the Asian Tour and International Series merit lists. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kyi Hla Han, who sadly and unexpectedly passed away in February of 2022, was himself a winner of the Player’s Player of the Year Award in 1999, the year he secured the OOM title.
The forging of his name with the Players’ Player of the Year Award was a natural progression for the Asian Tour, and it is something that the Han family see as another important part of his legacy.
“Kyi Hla was always particularly proud of the acknowledgement the players gave him in winning the Players’ Player of the Year Award,” said his wife, Marlene.
“The Han family are therefore extremely honoured and proud that the Players’ award will now be named after Kyi Hla, ensuring that his legacy and vision for Asian Tour players continues to grow and excel for generations to come.
“He always aimed to cement the ascendancy of Asian Tour players within global golf. He was always looking out for the best opportunities for its members and nurturing junior talent, while actively seeking to promote and grow the Tour.”
The Asian Tour’s new season tees-off with the US$1million IRS Prima Malaysian Open next month. It will be played at The Mines Resort and Golf Club, from February 15-18.
The Asian Tour’s remarkable period of accelerated growth will continue unabated in 2024 after it released another impressive and substantial schedule for the new season today.
Hot on the heels of the completion of its 2023 season last weekend, the Tour has unveiled an initial schedule of 20 strong events across 12 countries– with a significant number of important tournaments to be added.
Once finalised it is expected that the schedule will surpass this year– which saw 23 events staged with total prize money of US$35 million.
The Malaysian Open will celebrate its return to the schedule after a four-year hiatus by becoming the season-opening event and will be played from February 15-18.
The Malaysian Open was last played in 2020, when American Trevor Simsby triumphed.
It will be followed the week after by the International Series Oman – the first of 10 International Series events in 2024, which provide a pathway to the multi-million-dollar LIV Golf League.
International Series events will be played in Macau (International Series Macau presented by Wynn, March 14-17), Morocco (July 4-7), Indonesia (October 31–November 3), and Qatar (November 28 – December 1).
The Hong Kong Open will once again be part of The International Series while making its debut on the series will be the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, which was the Tour’s opening event in 2022 and 2023. Both events will be in Q4. The dates will be announced later along with the details of three more International Series tournaments.
The Tour will also once again return to two of its traditional tournament strongholds, Korea and Chinese-Taipei.
Three events will be played in each market, with the GS Caltex Maekyung Open (May 2-5), Kolon Korea Open (June 20-23) and Shinhan Donghae Open (September 5-8) staged in Korea; while the Yeangder TPC (September 26-29), Mercuries Taiwan Masters (October 3-6) and Taiwan Glass Taifong Open (November 14-17) will be hosted in Chinese-Taipei.
Denwit Booribonsub won this year’s Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund. The tournament will be played in April next year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport (February 29–March 3), the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund (April 17-20) and the SJM Macao Open (October 10-13) are also back on the schedule.
Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “The strength and depth of the Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule is reflective of the phenomenal growth we have been enjoying and we are already excited about what the new year will bring.
“Importantly, we are delighted to confirm the schedule so soon after the completion of our 2023 season, which will allow our members to plan accordingly and act as enormous incentive to those heading to Qualifying School.
“The International Series events combined with our central column of established tournaments form the backbone of the Tour while we look forward to being able to announce other premier events in due course.”
The Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School (January 16-20) commences proceedings next year, providing a gateway into what will be another season of great advancement for the Asian Tour.
The PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers will, for the first time, be an International Series event next year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Development Tour schedule will be released early in 2024 and will feature an expanded line-up of tournaments, for what is the Asian Tour’s constantly evolving feeder circuit.
Please visit the Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule here.
Seven world-class destinations have been confirmed by The International Series as part of its 10-tournament schedule for the 2024 season.
Boasting an increased prize pool of US$23 million, the pathway series to the LIV Golf League, sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will once again commence the year in Oman before making further return journeys to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Morocco, and Qatar.
Following the announcement in November of the inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn, the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers has also been confirmed as a further addition to The International Series 2024 schedule.
Andy Ogletree with The International Series Order of Merit trophy. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The following tournaments are all confirmed for the 2024 Asian Tour calendar:
International Series Oman | 22-25 February | US$2 million
International Series Macau presented by Wynn | 14-17 March | US$2 million
International Series Morocco | 04-07 July | US$2 million
Indonesian Masters | 31 October-03 November | US$2 million
International Series Qatar | 28 November-01 December | US$2.5 million
Hong Kong Open | Dates TBC | US$2 million
PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers | Dates TBC | US$5 million
Three further venues will be announced to complete the 10-event series that comprises The International Series, integrated into the Asian Tour schedule, with all tournaments carrying a minimum US$2 million prize fund.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series said: “Competition to host International Series events has been high, with interest coming from around the globe as venues, destinations and stakeholders embrace the new competition and excitement that The International Series has brought since launching in 2022.
“We remain committed to our mission of enhancing opportunities for players around the world and an open player pathway into the LIV Golf League and are excited to add some marquee events to the schedule for 2024.
“This will be a landmark season for The International Series, and we continue to go from strength to strength. We remain committed to providing a transparent player pathway that enables global golfers to compete in our tournaments and take an opportunity to play over the season for a place on the LIV Golf League.
“With our first confirmed dates for the season spanning the Arabian Gulf, China’s southern coast, southeast Asia and North Africa, the schedule underscores our commitment to being a truly International Series.”
Abraham Ancer pictured with the winner’s trophy at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers earlier this year. Next year the event will be part of The International Series. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Singh concluded: “Oman once again provides a fitting curtain raiser to the season, while Macau breaks new ground for us in a region that has a rich heritage of golf. By returning to Morocco for the first time since our inaugural season, we have compelling proof that our events are an attractive proposition to destinations with world-class golfing pedigree.”
The only time Andy Ogletree struggled throughout his triumphant 2023 Asian Tour season, was when he had to pop open a celebratory champagne bottle at the end of the Hong Kong Open. Story by Joy Chakravarty.
Probably, it was the excitement of achieving the number one objective Ogletree and his team had set at the start of the year. By making the cut at the Hong Kong Golf Club, the 25-year-old American secured the Order of Merit crown on The International Series with one event remaining, which earned him a card on the 2024 LIV Golf season, and soon after he wrapped up the Asian Tour merit list.
“Thankfully, I am a professional golfer and not a professional champagne opener. But I will get many opportunities on LIV Golf to pop champagne next year, and I will get better at it,” said Ogletree, who will play for Captain Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers team.
And that’s the thing about him. There are no ifs and buts, maybes and hopefullys in Ogletree’s lexicon. There is just unwavering self-belief and oodles of conviction.
Andy Ogletree with The International Series Order of Merit trophy at the Hong Kong Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It showed every time he teed up on the Asian Tour this year. In 11 starts, he won twice (International Series Qatar and International Series England) and recorded five other top-10s. That led to him winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit by almost double the points (2,128.26) over the second-placed Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines (1,436.6), and The International Series Order of Merit by almost double the prize money ($US1,101,828.33) won by second-placed Spaniard David Puig (US$577,800).
“It was a perfect year. The plan coming into the season and all along was to win and get back on LIV Golf. I managed to do that, which was very satisfying. I had a great schedule to play on the Asian Tour and I will cherish this year forever,” said Ogletree.
“I treated every tournament I played as if it was a major championship. That was the only thing we thought about and talked about all off-season. I had just one aim. I won towards the end of last season in Egypt and had a lot of momentum going into the off-season and was able to develop some good plans with my trainer (Kolby Tullier) and my swing coach (Tony Ruggiero).
“And when we checked in for the Saudi International to start the year, we got off and running again (tied ninth) and never looked back. It’s all a testament to some of the swing changes and body progressions that we worked on. Good golf is not just me, it’s a team effort that I was able to play a full season of golf healthy (following a hip surgery in 2020) and build upon each week.”
Looking back at the year, Ogletree said the win at Close House stood out, especially because of the quality of the field at International Series England.
“Newcastle was probably the win that I will remember the most,” said Ogletree, who shot 16-under par and won by seven shots over Majesticks GC captain Ian Poulter.
Ogletree pictured on his way to winning the International Series England. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It was a stacked field and there were 22 LIV players there. The conditions were very difficult, and I did not have the best start. I opened with a one-over par 72 and was almost outside the cut-line going into the second round. I don’t think I put a step wrong after that.”
Ogletree made 17 birdies and two eagles over his last three rounds around the banks of River Tyne.
The Round of the Year was his bogey-free 66 on day three of International Series Qatar, where he won by three shots over Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul.
“That was the best round of my season by far. The wind in Doha was around 40mph and conditions were brutal, and I was probably the only player to come in with a bogey-free round,” reminisces Ogletree. “There was one player close to my 66, but I beat most of the field by five-six shots that day and it laid the platform for me to win the tournament. It really was the coolest round I played all year.”
As for his Shot of the Year, it was difficult to surpass the hole-in-one on the monstrous 254-yard par-three fourth hole of Tanah Merah Country Club in Sunday’s final round of the International Series Singapore.
“That slam-dunk hole-in-one has to be the most unforgettable shot of the season,” said Ogletree, who made nine eagles and 195 birdies during the year and finished with a stroke average of 68.86. He was No1 in Greens in Regulation at 77.02 percent.
Ogletree celebrating victory at the International Series Qatar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I had just made a bogey on the previous hole, and the fourth was playing 230 yards with wind from the left. I was stuck between a four and a five-iron and my caddie insisted that I go with a four to a back pin, and land it flag-high instead of leaving myself short and facing a long putt. I got a bit of crap for hitting too much club, but as it turned out, it was the perfect shot!”
Ogletree is looking forward to dividing his time playing the 14 events on the LIV Golf schedule and playing as many events on the Asian Tour as possible in order to defend his Order of Merit crown.
“I am looking forward to the new season…very excited,” said the man from Little Rock, Mississippi, who recently shifted his base to Atlanta, Georgia.
“LIV is where I want to be and that’s where I want to play my golf. The platform they’ve created and the events they’ve put together, it’s premier golf. I really believe in the product and everything it stands for. I want to play against those guys week in and week out.
“I love the fact that it’s a worldwide tour. I’ve really enjoyed getting to travel the world with LIV and with The International Series on the Asian Tour. I have tried to embrace the culture of all the fascinating countries I was able to visit. I am just a small-town kid from Mississippi, and I’m getting to see the world playing a game that I love. So, I just can’t wait to get out there and try to win every tournament.”
Taichi Kho has emerged as one of the Asian Tour’s hottest talents on his first season as a professional golfer, and the 23-year-old proved he had the nerve and the talent to mix it on the big stage, after an impressive performance on day one of the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi.
Kho bounced back from a dropped shot on the first to record birdies on three of the next five holes, and picked up another shot on eight before bookending his back nine with another two on 10 and 18 for a five-under round of 67.
That impressive first round left Kho comfortably in the top 20 and ties, ensuring at least another day of competition at the innovative qualifying event that will ultimately give the top three golfers LIV Golf League playing rights for the 2024 season.
Kho played alongside Irish amateur Max Kennedy, who also carded a five-under round, and the pairing are no strangers after playing golf regularly together at the University of Notre Dame.
Kho said: “Yes I’m really pleased with round today. To play with Max who I played with at college was really fun. I feel we fed off each other and played some good golf. I had a bit of a rough start with bogey on my first hole, but I felt really calm and composed and I trusted in my preparation and was able to execute for the rest of my round.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.
“Overall, I’m pretty happy, it was a strong metal performance and I hit a lot of goods shots. The game plan will stay the same, I need to execute on all fronts and stay patient and have some fun as well; the course is in great shape, and we may as well enjoy it.”
Kho had booked his place in the field this weekend through his victory at the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club, when he became the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event, as part of a sensational season that also brought gold in the Asian Games.
He also managed a brilliant T2 at the Volvo China Open, but tasted a little disappointment the following week, with a T53 in his home Hong Kong Open after starting in the marquee group with 2022 Open champion Cam Smith and his LIV Golf colleague Patrick Reed.
Kho admits the disappointment of that week is something that he has learned from, and explained that while form may come and go, a ‘growth mindset’ is a non-negotiable in his quest for success as a pro golfer.
He said: “To be honest golf is a pretty challenging game and no one can ever conquer it – maybe Tiger. I did a lot of things well in Hong Kong, but I made a couple of management errors and also some mental errors, and I was quite nervous playing with Pat and Cam so that was a factor also.
“But I think I gain more from these tougher weeks or weeks where I’ve left something out there. So, I feel I have grown in these past few weeks, obviously a good finish is great but overall, I learn more from those tougher weeks.
“At end of the day I’m not even a full year into being a pro golfer yet so I’m on a continuous journey of learning. And I’m just trying to get better each day. I don’t demand good performances out of myself each day, but I do demand that growth mindset and willingness to learn each day.”
Kho still has some fuel left in the tank as he prepares for a last push for those three coveted LIV Golf League golden tickets.
After comfortably avoiding the cut on day one, he will start again from scratch on Saturday in a field that features the top 20 and ties and an additional 13 players who earned exemptions including former Major winner Jason Dufner, high flyers on The International Series Order of Merit and players from the LIV Golf League drop zone.
Speaking about the cut on days one and two of the tournament, he said: “As a pro golfer, every tourney you play there is a fear of a cut – unless you play on LIV which would be nice! It is something that pro golfers and all golfers have to deal with.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.
“Everyone gets a little nervous as it goes down the stretch, but you can either benefit from that and hit better shots and execute better, or it can go the other way, so it is about having strategies to deal with that and play better.”
He added: “I think it is great we have the big guns showing up tomorrow they have earned their way onto round two, they deserve to be there and rightly so. I feel like it will be a good atmosphere to be there and I’m looking forward to it. It is a fun format and what they have done here is quite revolutionary and it is quite exciting to be involved in.”
Referring to his energy levels and stamina going into the home straight, he added: “I am quite tired, I have been a little under the weather and feel my body is quite average. But again it is a learning curve, I never played this many tournaments in a year before, so when I go into next year I will be able to manage the full schedule a bit better. I am happy with how I reacted this year and hopefully will use that experience better next year.”
The Asian Tour welcomes a new event on to its schedule this week, the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open, but there is certainly nothing new about the popular event.
One of the reasons why the tournament, which tees-off on Thursday at Taifong Golf Club – the tournament’s permanent home – was promoted to the Tour is because of its long and successful history as a premier event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and Chinese-Taipei’s local circuit.
It was actually 18 years ago when the event was first played, when Chinese-Taipei’s Yeh Wei-tze – best known for winning the Malaysian Open in 2000 – had the distinction of becoming its maiden winner.
It was sanctioned solely by the local Tour that year, as it was in the ensuing years when it was won by many of the country’s other household names: Chan Yi-shin (2006), Lu Wei-chih (2007), Lu Chien-soon (2009) and Chan Shih-chang (main picture) (2010).
The event was not played for the next three years but returned stronger than ever in 2014 as it was jointly sanctioned with the ADT – with the leading finishers on the ADT Order of Merit earning their cards for the Asian Tour.
Hung Chien-yao is the defending champion this week at Taifong Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chan Shih-chang paid scant regard to the tournament’s interlude and successfully defended the title – after a five-way playoff against countrymen Sung Mao-chang and Hsieh Tung-shu, Filipino Miguel Tabuena and Pannakorn Uthaipas of Thailand.
Chan had already won twice on the ADT earlier that season and would go on to finish second on the Order of Merit and secure an Asian Tour card for the 2015 season.
The Chinese-Taipei star would also win the tournament four years later in 2018, beating American Han Lee and Chinnarat Phadungsil of Thailand by two strokes.
The 2015 edition was won by Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasirichan by one stroke over Jordan Sherratt of Australia and American Casey O’Toole.
American Johannes Veerman, now plying his trade with great success on the DP World Tour, took the title in 2016 when he defeated local favorite Chang Wei-lun in a play-off, when the event was reduced to 54 holes. The victory also helped him secure the ADT Order of Merit title.
In 2017 it was Thailand’s Pannakorn Uthaipas who came away with the trophy after beating the trio of Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei, a six-time Asian Tour winner, Australian Marcus Both and fellow Thai Gunn Charoenkul. With four other top-10s during the season, Uthaipas would also go on to top the Merit list standings.
Donlaphatchai Niyomchon from Thailand triumphed in 2019, edging out countryman Atiruj Winaicharoenchai, Daisuke Yasumoto of Japan and Tseng Tzu-hsuan and Chang Wei-Lun of Chinese Taipei. It was Donlaphatchai’s first victory on the ADT.
The COVID-19 pandemic failed to stop the tournament from being held in 2020 and 2021, although due to travel restrictions, it could only be played as a local event.
Chinese-Taipei players capitalised on the absence of international players, with Hung Chien-yao victorious in 2020 and Lee Chie-po the following year.
And when the event returned to the ADT schedule again last year, as the final event of the season, it would be Hung Chien-yao who had his name inscribed on the trophy for the second time after he recorded a five-shot win over Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand and American Joe Heraty.
In all the years the event was sanctioned by the ADT it had the distinction of being the most lucrative on the schedule or, as was the case in 2022, the joint richest, and as such it was instrumental in determining the players that would graduate to the Asian Tour for the following seasons.
Many of those players are competing again this week as fully-fledged Asian Tour card holders in an event that has travelled far since 2005 and is about to start the most exciting chapter in its history.
The BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, since its launch in 2011, has lit up the Asian Tour schedule every year, helped through its ability to attract international stars and the cream of the Asian Tour.
The tournament has produced a veritable treasure trove of dramatic stories at its permanent home Royale Jakarta Golf Club, with former world number ones clinching the trophy, while providing breakthrough wins for some of today’s hottest Asian Tour players and deciding Order of Merit crowns that changed careers.
This week will be no exception, with the event returning as the final event on The International Series featuring some of the stars of the LIV Golf League including Patrick Reed, Graeme McDowell and Thomas Pieters.
Indeed, the tournament, which was conceived by Indonesian businessman Jimmy Masrin, the current chairman of the Asian Tour, has come a long way since Ryder Cup legend and eight-time Asian Tour winner Lee Westwood from England won the first edition in 2011 by three shots over Thai star Thongchai Jaidee.
The victory meant he regained the world number one status he had previously held for 17 weeks from late October 2010, notably ending Tiger Woods reign on top of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Anirban Lahiri screams in delight with his caddie, Rajiv Sharma, after winning his first title outside India, the 2014 Indonesian Masters. Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images.
Westwood would return in 2012 to successfully defend his title winning by two strokes over Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, and he would add to his trophy collection again in 2015 when he beat Chapchai Nirat, also from Thailand, in a play-off.
In 2013 Austrian Bernd Wiesberger won a tightly contested battle against four-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa. Having been tied after three rounds a stroke behind Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka, Wiesberger’s final round of 67 was good enough to beat Els by a single stroke after Kataoka could only manage a 70 to finish a shot further back. The victory was Wiesberger’s second Asian Tour win, having won the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Ballantine’s Championship in April of 2012.
The 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Anirban Lahiri of India was already a three-time Asian Tour champion coming into the Indonesian Masters in 2014, but all his previous wins had come in his home country. Starting the final round one shot behind the leader Cameron Smith of Australia, Lahiri fired a 68 on Sunday to finish one ahead of the 2022 Open Championship winner Smith and Korea’s Seukhyun Baek for his first international win.
The 2016 edition of the tournament would prove to be the breakthrough victory for Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who prior to the victory had a runner-up at the 2014 Queen’s Cup as his best Asian Tour result. In the lead by two shots going into the final round Poom cruised to a five-shot win over compatriots Phachara Khongwatmai, Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura. Poom would also go on to claim the trophy in 2018 when he won by three shots over fellow Thai Jazz Janewattananond.
When Justin Rose won the event in 2017, he did so with the blistering score of 29-under-par and set a new tournament scoring record in the process. With scores of 62, 69, 66 and 62, the Englishman finished eight shots clear of Phachara, the runner-up for the second time in two years.
Rose returned to the tournament in 2018 as the number two ranked golfer in the world and had a chance to move back to world number one if he could finish tied 16th with one other player, and if he finished tied 12th or better, he would have been guaranteed the number one spot at the end of the year.
Entering the final round in tied-fourth and seven shots behind eventual winner Poom, Rose could only manage a 75 after a rough start and agonizingly finished in a tie for 17th place.
Jazz would get his hands on the trophy the following year, when in his Order of Merit winning season he triumphed by five shots over countryman Gunn Charoenkul.
Jazz Janewattannond of Thailand pictured celebrating with the trophy after winning of the BNI Indonesian Masters in 2019. Picture by Khalid Redza.
It was Jazz’s third win of the season, having won the SMBC Singapore Open and the Kolon Korea Open earlier in the year, but perhaps the most significant as it would guarantee the young Thai a top-50 in the world ranking at the end of the year, punching his ticket to the Masters Tournament in 2020. Amazingly he would also follow it up with another win the very next week at the Thailand Masters for his fourth win of the season.
Due to the global pandemic the tournament was not held in 2020 and 2021, but when it returned to the schedule in 2022 it was another Thai who had his breakthrough Asian Tour victory – Sarit Suwannarut who won by four over Lahiri. After a solid season with two previous top-10s the Qualifying School graduate was already assured of keeping his tour card for the following season, but the win meant he would finish the year ranked 10th on the Order of Merit.
His victory saw him become the 10th winner of Indonesia’s biggest and best golf tournament.
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