While Richard T. Lee narrowly failed to make it an Asian Tour winner on the LIV Golf League at the weekend, four other Tour members recorded wins last week.

Australian Travis Smyth won the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, his compatriot Will Florimo claimed the Heritage Classic, on the same tour, China’s Jin Zihao secured the China Tour’s Hongyunlang Guangdong Open, and Jose Toledo from Guatemala was triumphant at the Hacienda Nueva Open, on his local circuit.

Asian Tour star Lee was beaten by American Bryson DeChambeau in extra-time at LIV Golf Singapore, a result that was just reward for the Canadian’s fine period of form over the past four seasons.

Similarly, Smyth being crowned the Merit champion is also recompense for regularly being in contention for over a long period.

He successfully navigated four rounds at the Heritage Classic last week to ensure he has an unassailable lead at the top of the Order of Merit with just one event remaining this week.

Will Florimo.

The 31-year-old enjoyed a phenomenal run of events to finish number one. He received an invite to play his first event of the season at last month’s Quinovic NZ PGA Championship, where he tied for fifth, played the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort, an event joint-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, where he finished fifth again, and then won the inaugural ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club. He claimed that in a six-hole playoff against Australian Jack Thompson, another Asian Tour member.

“I wasn’t planning for this,” Smyth said after learning he cannot be unseated at the top of the Merit list.

“I wasn’t playing these events to try and win the Order of Merit. It was never really in my mind. I just wanted to play well, keep my card for the following year so that I didn’t have to ask for invites if I wanted to play Aussie Open or Aussie PGA or any event, really.”

Florimo, fifth at this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School, was successful at the Heritage event – claiming his maiden title on the Australasian circuit.

The Queenslander shot a final round three-under-par 69 to win by two at The Heritage Golf and Country Club. Florimo had come close on three previous occasions during the season in Australia, which prompted his decision to have a crack at the Asian Tour’s school.

Jin Zihao.

Said the Australian, who won despite bogeying the last two holes: “I’ve been playing very solid golf these past two years, and I knew it was going to gel one week.

“I’ve had so many close calls and it felt like a seesaw all day. I had chances to really run away with it, but I kept giving them back.”

Jin Zihao, also a graduate at this year’s Qualifying School, having secured the 32^nd card, won at what was the season opening event on the China Tour. Remarkably, it marked his ninth win in just two years on the mainland circuit.

Toledo, another qualifying school graduate but from 2024, won an event run his by his country’s national golf association.

Richard T. Lee would have taken many positives from his heroic performance at LIV Golf Singapore at the weekend but none more than Bryson DeChambeau’s comments when play finally came to an end at Sentosa Golf Club yesterday.

DeChambeau called his Canadian opponent ‘a real superstar’ after defeating him on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off in dramatic circumstances on the Serapong Course.

To the disbelief of the crowd, Lee missed a two-foot putt for par that would have extended the play-off after DeChambeau made a brilliant par-save having found water off the tee.

“Absolutely hated it for Richard,” said DeChambeau – after recording his fourth win on the LIV Golf League and first since Korea last May

“He’s been playing some unbelievable golf.  He’s beat me in a few of the rounds I’ve played with him, and he’s a stellar player.  I wanted to go another hole with him.  As much as winning is great, I have a lot of respect for Richard and the way he golfs his ball out there.”

Bryson DeChambeau holds the trophy aloft after winning LIV Golf Singapore, as second place Richard T. Lee and Lee Westwood, in third, look on. Picture by Jason Butler/Getty Images.

Lee stormed through on the last day, making four birdies in the last six, and took the clubhouse lead to set up an historic and unlikely victory by the underdog.

But DeChambeau draw level with a birdie on the final hole in regulation to catch Lee before again overturning the odds in extra time.

Added DeChambeau: “He was quite impressive; I was coming down the last three holes, like all right, I think I’m one ahead of everybody, and seeing Richard go and play the way he did finishing out, he’s a real superstar, and the league should be really proud to have him on as a wild card.”

Lee won LIV Golf Promotions in January to become the first Canadian to play on the LIV Golf League. It followed four outstandings seasons on the Asian Tour, where he has played since 2013 and won three times.

The performance in Singapore will go a long way towards keeping his playing privileges on the League next year, and perhaps help earn him a place on one of the 13 teams.

The League moves to South Africa this week for the inaugural LIV Golf event there at The Club at Steyn City.

Asian Tour star Richard T. Lee became a star on the LIV Golf League today when he came agonisingly close to recording one of the biggest upset wins in the history of the franchise.

The Canadian was defeated by American Bryson DeChambeau on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off at LIV Golf Singapore – in a gripping and unexpected finish on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, that will live long in the memory of Asian golf fans.

Lee had looked odds on favourite to record a famous win but DeChambeau, and the large crowd assembled, were left aghast when he missed a two-foot putt for par to hand his American opponent the win.

Moments earlier DeChambeau, in rainy conditions that caused several delays, had found water off the tee on par-five 18^th but scrambled a par, thanks to a brilliant up and down after draining a three footer.

Lee found the green in regulation and faced a makeable uphill birdie putt from 15 feet for the title. It narrowly slid by before he proceeded to miss the next as well, which was inside his opponent’s.

Richard T. Lee. Picture by Jason Butler/Getty Images.

It came after Lee had secured the clubhouse lead on 14-under, thanks to brilliant round of five-under-par 66, with four birdies in the last six, including on 17 and 18. However, DeChambeau, playing in the final group also birdied 18 to tie the Canadian. He also shot 66.

Said Lee about his final putt: “There’s some slick putts out there. There’s some little lies out there.  It was a short putt, and I wanted to just hit it hard, and I hit it a little too hard.  I think the adrenaline was pumping a little bit.  Then again, I felt like I had it this week.  I played really well.  Hopefully next week I can try again.”

Despite just missing out it is arguably the finest performance his career.

The 35-year-old is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour and won LIV Golf Promotions in January to earn his place on the League, as a ‘Wild Card’.

He explained the result was the culmination of several seasons of brilliant form: “I think the last three or four years, ever since I changed that putter to a mallet putter, my putting stats got better and I think I built a lot more confidence out there.

Bryson DeChambeau reacts to Lee’s missed putt on 18. Picture by Jason Butler/Getty Images.

“LIV Promotions, there’s only three spots, and you’ve got to play lights out.  Yeah, I just played the best I can and don’t look back.”

Dusin Johnson’s 4Aces GC side won the team title

Richard T. Lee’s remarkable journey on the LIV Golf League this year reaches another big moment this week when he competes in the Aramco LIV Golf Singapore – which starts tomorrow on the magnificent Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.

The Canadian is here thanks to a stunning wire-to-wire victory in January at LIV Golf Promotions – where the top-three earned a place on the League. It was a result that surprised no one as it followed season upon season of repeatedly featuring on the leaderboards on the Asian Tour.

Since winning Promotions his season and life have taken on a completely new dimension, as he settled into becoming the first player from his country to compete on the LIV Golf League.

Strong performances in all of the events played so far – in Riyadh, Adelaide and Hong Kong – have proven he has the game to compete at the highest level.

And at Sentosa this week he’ll be hoping to capitalise on playing a familiar venue that has such strong ties with the Asian Tour, as was the case at the Hong Kong Golf Club last week.

Richard T. Lee.

It’s fair to say the 35-year-old is having the time of his life; made even more astonishing because he so nearly did not to make the trip to LIV Golf Promotions, played at Black Diamond Ranch, Florida.

“I mean, it was a very quick call, you know,” he explained this week, “getting a flight, getting into LIV Promotions at the last minute. And, yeah, it’s been just weird.

“I mean, I felt like the week before I spoke with my wife, and she said, ‘don’t go’. I mean, it’s a bit too far. And, you know, it’s very last minute, but I decided to go. And, yeah, the performance was really great that week. And I don’t think I missed a shot or missed a put out there that week – excellent.”

He won by five shots from fellow Asian Tour member Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden, while American Anthony Kim was third, securing the other card.

Lee tied for 13^th in LIV Golf’s season opening event in Riyadh, came equal 37^th in Adelaide before finishing joint 18^th in Hong Kong.

He’s in a very respectable 26^th on the overall rankings, currently being led by Spanish star Jon Rahm.

The opportunity to begin the season in his part of the world has been a huge advantage. He has been playing on the Asian Tour since 2013 and claimed three titles – the most recent being the Indonesian Masters in 2024, which was part of The International Series.

Richard T. Lee.

Since play resumed on the Asian Tour at the end of 2021, after the global pandemic, he has been one of the in-form players finishing second on four occasions and third the same amount of times.

Back in 2020 he was fifth at the Singapore Open, so he knows what it takes to successfully negotiate its Serapong Course – one of the region’s most highly-rated layouts.

He says: “Such a pure course, to be honest. I mean, I don’t think there’s one year that I’ve played this course with bad greens and the conditions out here. I mean, it’s gonna be pretty tough, it seems like.

“And the wind, if it picks up, it’s even tougher. Always love coming back to Singapore. The food’s amazing, and the course is amazing. And hopefully the crowds come out here and have fun.”

Lee also says he is comfortable playing in the unique party-like atmosphere of the LIV Golf League, where cool music is always playing in the background.

“Yeah, I love it,” he said.

“I mean, you know, it’s pretty comfortable, actually, for me. I mean, the music is pretty fun. The crowds were crazy in Adelaide. I mean, you see the crowds out there, you know, rooting for a lot of guys, and it’s a different atmosphere out there, absolutely.”

He has been paired with American Charles Howell III and Tom McKibbin from the Northern Ireland on day one, starting on hole 6.

The Link Hong Kong Open will once again play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the season on the Asian Tour and The International Series with organisers confirming today the celebrated event will be played at Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC), Fanling, from 22-25 October 2026.

It will boast prize money of US$2million and for the fourth successive season form part of The International Series, the upper echelon of events on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League.

“The historic Hong Kong Open has long attracted some of the game’s biggest stars and we very much look forward to staging the 65th edition at Fanling,” said Andy Kwok, Captain, HKGC.

“Always a favourite with players and fans alike, the tournament is an undisputed highlight on the local sporting calendar and underscores our Club’s commitment to furthering Hong Kong’s status as a major events capital.

“Our tremendous thanks to Link Asset Management for being title sponsor for a third consecutive year. It really promises to be another wonderful week of first-class golf and entertainment.”

Tom McKibbin after winning last year. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Today’s news comes after LIV Golf Hong Kong came to an exciting climax at HKGC at the weekend. Thousands of fans watched Jon Rahm win the individual title, and Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces side secure team honours.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “The Asian Tour is delighted to confirm a prime date on our calendar for the Link Hong Kong Open.

“Our close affinity to the prestigious event and special relationship with Hong Kong Golf Club, as well as the tournament partners, is well known and we are pleased to have finalised details for this year’s edition. We thank HKGC, the Golf Association of Hong Kong, China, and LIV Golf for their incredible support.”

This year will mark the 65th staging of the event. First played in 1959, it is the longest-running international sporting event in Hong Kong, and ranks alongside Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, as the only golf clubs to have hosted the same professional tournament for over 60 years.

Said Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series: “The 2026 edition will be the fourth time the tournament has featured on The International Series schedule, and its stature at Fanling continues to resonate with players and fans. The strong crowds we have seen year after year underline our commitment to elevating flagship events and bringing world-class golf to Hong Kong.”

This season will also mark the third consecutive year Link Asset Management Limited (Link) – a leading international real estate investor and asset manager – will be title sponsor.

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin won the tournament last year after a breathtaking wire-to-wire seven-shot victory that saw him earn invites to this year’s Open Championship and Masters Tournament.

The LIV Golf star, who plays for Rahm’s Legion XIII team, broke the 72-hole record with a four-round aggregate of 27-under 253. He also matched the biggest margin of victory.

For the third consecutive year the tournament was also voted by the players as The International Series Tournament of the Year.

In 2023, HKGC was also named the Players’ Choice Course of the Year – adding to its long list of accolades.

Main picture, from left-to-right: Bryant Lu (Vice-Captain, HKGC), Andy Kwok (Captain, HKGC), Cho Minn Thant (Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour) and Daniel O’Neill (Director of Golf and General Manager Designate, HKGC).

The ongoing fine form of Travis Smyth and Jack Thompson was rewarded at the weekend at the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship when the Australian stars faced off against each other in a marathon sudden-death play-off.

Smyth triumphed after he made birdie on the sixth play-off hole at Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club on Sunday – in a new event on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and Japan Golf Tour.

It’s the culmination of extended periods of excellent golf by both players, including on the Asian Tour.

Smyth is currently second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit after finishing fifth and third in the first two events of year. That’s off the back of four strong seasons in Asia when he won once, at the Yeangder TPC in 2022 – his last win before this week – finished second three times, and third on four occasions.

Thompson finished runner-up twice last year, continuing to fulfil the potential he showed when he won the Asian Tour’s 2023 Qualifying School.

Jack Thompson.

Smyth and Thompson finished on 15-under-par after regulation play, one ahead of Justin De Los Santos from the Philippines – a Japan Tour regular.

Smyth closed with a five-under-par 67, while Thompson matched the course record with a 64, and having started the day six off the lead needed to wait nearly two hours for the last group to finish.

“I’m just so happy and over the moon that all the hard work, all the consistency, it’s finally paid off,” said Smyth.

“I’ve had so many top-fives and top-10s over the last four or five years and I’m watching guys win tournaments and not play as consistent as I am. And I’m just thinking ‘when’s my time going to come?’ It was this week. I’m so happy.”

The win moved him to the top of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia with just two events remaining.

He now has a two-year exemption on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and can play the rest of 2026 and the next two seasons on the Japan Golf Tour.

Said Thompson: “I thought I’m still pretty far away. I just thought I’ll have a good round, hopefully sneak into the top five.”

Both Smyth and Thompson have won once before in Australia. The former at the Northern Territory PGA Championship in 2017, impressively as an amateur, while the latter at Gippsland Super 6 Match Play in 2021.

Kazuki Higa and Yosuke Asaji, two of Japan’s most successful players on the international stage, have confirmed their participation in the International Series Japan at the beginning of April – in what is The International Series’ season-opening tournament.

The US$2million event is returning to Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba, for the second successive season, and will be played from 2-5 April.

Higa enjoyed a career-defining 2025 campaign, securing consecutive victories at the Shinhan Donghae Open and the Yeangder TPC enroute to winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He also tied for second in the International Series Philippines and ended in 10th place on The International Series Rankings. He has made no secret of his desire to win the Rankings to earn a place on the LIV Golf League.

“Coming so close to an International Series win last year made me realise how clear my goal is this season,” said Higa. “I want to capitalise on the form I’ve built, win on The International Series, and give myself the best opportunity to compete at the top of the Rankings race. To begin that push at home in Japan makes it even more special.”

Yosuke Asaji during the trophy presentation at the Moutai Singapore Open. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Higa became the first Japanese player to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit and will be joined by former Merit list champions American John Catlin and Sihwan Kim, plus Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Asaji won the Singapore Open last year – a result that helped him end the year second on the Rankings to book his place on this year’s LIV Golf League.

He has made a strong start on the League this season, recording a T17 at LIV Golf Riyadh and T24 at LIV Golf Adelaide.

Said the Japan star: “Events of this calibre don’t come around often in Japan, so to have The International Series back at Caledonian Golf Club is something I’m really proud of.”

He is playing on the League this year with fellow Asian Tour members Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, the Rankings champion, and Canadian Richard T. Lee and Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden who successfully negotiated LIV Golf Promotions in January.

The Asian Tour’s Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena, third on last year’s Rankings and winner of International Series Philippines, joined the League recently as well.

Daniel Hillier was the pride of his nation today when he won the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort for the first time, following a confident day of frontrunning.

He recorded a two-shot victory over Australian Lucas Herbert, in second place, to become the first New Zealander to win the title in nine years

Hillier, the leader by one at the start of the day, fired a four-under-par 67, for a 22-under total, on the Composite course at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, while Herbert closed with the same score.

Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura (67) and Kerry Mountcastle (71) from New Zealand tied for third, five behind Hillier.

Ikemura, runner up here three years ago, was one of four Asian Tour members in the top nine. The others were Australian Travis Smyth (68) who finished alone in fifth, while Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (67) and Wade Ormsby (70) from Australia were in a group who tied for sixth.

With Hillier already exempt for The Open, Herbert got his wish and earned the invite to the game’s oldest Major – as the event is part of the Open Qualifying Series. It was one of the main reasons why the Australian competed this week.

Daniel Hillier. Picture by Chris Symes/www.photosport.nz.

Hillier was in control the whole day. He made birdie on the ninth to reach 20 under for the first time and move two ahead of Herbert. He proceeded to drop a shot at the next before restoring his two-shot cushion with a birdie on 11. He finished it off by making birdies on 12 and 17.

The win is the perfect wedding present as his tied the knot last weekend and it completed a remarkable journey for him as he is a two-time winner of the Bledisloe Cup, which goes to the leading amateur in the event each year, in 2016 and 2018.

“I think this is going to be one of the best days of my life forever,” said Hillier.

“I don’t know what number New Zealand Open this is for me, but ever since I started playing it, it was the one I wanted to get.

“I’m so stoked I managed to do it today. Everything that came out afterwards was just pure emotion.”

The most recent Kiwi winner of the event had been Michael Hendry back in 2017, also at Millbrook Resort.

For LIV Golf star Herbert it will mark the sixth time he will play in The Open. He was thrilled to secure it while also full of praise for Hillier.

He said: “I thought it was a nice thing to look at and see Dan in his second week of marriage winning his National Open. I don’t know his life gets that much better for him.”

Lucas Herbert recieves his Open flag from former Open winners Ian Baker-Finch and Sir Bob Charles. Pictures by Chris Symes/ www.photosport.nz

The Asian Tour charts course for Japan next for the first event of the season on The International Series – the top-tier of events that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League via The International Series Rankings.

The International Series Japan returns to Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba from 2-5 April – offering total prizemoney of US$2million.

Charlie Lindh, the only Swede in the field here at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort, recorded arguably his best result on the Asian Tour when he tied for sixth today.

He closed with a four-under-par 67 on the Composite course at Millbrook Resort to finish a commendable 14 under, eight behind the winner Daniel Hillier from New Zealand.

The talented golfer tied for third in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last year, but this week’s result, in one of golf’s oldest and most prestigious National Opens, ranks as one of the finest of his career.

“Perhaps, maybe it is, I don’t really know,” he said.

“I mean, I know I’m playing good at the moment. I’m gonna be doing that for the rest of the season, because I’m not injured anymore, which I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”

He just missed an eagle putt on the par-five 17^th which would have made the week even sweeter before securing a four.

“I mean, it was tough out there today, but it was a lot of fun,” he said.

“I’ve had a big and an awesome crowd following me all week just because I managed to get a great guy on the bag. So, it’s been awesome.”

Lindh has been playing on the Asian Tour for the past two years after finishing sixth at Qualifying School. He went on to comfortably keep his card, finishing 44th on the Order of Merit, the exact same position he ended in last year.

He said: “I’ve put in the work and, like, for the last whatever, since winter, I’ve been able to practice the way I want to. We haven’t been really able to do for the last two years.”

The Swede went out of bounds twice on the first two days, saying he really wanted “to do those two shots over again”.

The 28-year-old explained a grip change has played a major role in his fine form of late. The change has been so effective, he commented he is keeping it “a secret”.

He tied for 15th in the season-opening Philippine Golf Championship at the start of the month and confirmed he will play in the next event on Tour, the International Series Japan, but for now he added: “I mean, just get home safe. I have got three flights to catch tomorrow, and I’m not really looking forward to them.”

Australian Lucas Herbert, a winner last year on the Asian Tour, put himself in position to add to that by finishing on the shoulder of the leaders after round three of the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort today.

The tournament’s star attraction shot the second lowest round of the week, a nine-under-par 62 on Millbrook Resort’s Composite layout to move to 16-under, two behind the leader Daniel Hillier from New Zealand.

Hillier, another of the event’s favourites, shot a 64, thanks to brilliant eagle, birdie finish – in the second event of the season on the Asian Tour, which is jointly sanctioned with the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Australian Curtis Luck (63) and New Zealand’s Kerry Mountcastle (64) are in a tie for second, one behind the frontrunner.

Herbert won the International Series Japan last year on the Asian Tour, for his sixth international victory and will be expected to push Hillier all the way tomorrow.

Daniel Hillier. Picture courtesy Photosport.

The LIV Golf star, who plays for Ripper GC on the League, was three over for three holes on the first day but has got progressively better after every day, shooting 70, 65 and 62.

“We are somewhere near going into tomorrow,” said the 30-year-old.

“It is nice to get playing some good golf and be up and around the lead going into Sunday.”

He was bogey-free today, making five birdies on the front and four on the back.

He said: “Story of my last, I think four tournaments. Have got off to a shaky start and had to fight it back from the oblivion. So, it’s good to get back, sort of in with a look in the top.”

When asked how he would prepare for championship Sunday he explained: “I will go home and kind of decompress a little bit, and then just, yeah, just … I’m gonna say a heap of cliche stuff here that is not gonna be any fun for you guys as journalists, but literally, just like, stick to processes and do the things that I’ve done for the last 53 holes or 51 holes to get myself back in this position.”

Said Hillier: “That was a crazy last few holes. I didn’t have my best early on. It was one of those days and I had to stay patient. I knew there were a couple of par-fives I could take advantage of later in the piece. Thankfully I could do that and pretty cool to get one at the last as well in front of that massive crowd.”

He will attempt to become first Kiwi to win the event since 2017.

New Zealand amateur Yuki Miya, who started the third round in the lead, returned a 70 and is 13-under in fifth.

He is tied with a trio of Asian Tour members: Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, in with a 63, and Australians Travis Smyth and Wade Ormsby, who both fired 69s.

As well as the New Zealand Open title on the line tomorrow, a place in The Open at Royal Birkdale in the summer is also up for grabs as the prestigious event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.