Westwood: “A lot has changed, I have changed, the city has changed.”
Lee Westwood is back at the SJM Macao Open – 26 years after he raised the trophy – and credits playing in the region regularly with helping him to become one of his country’s greatest players.
“Asia tested me,” said the Englishman today, two-days before the US$1million events tees-off at Macau Golf & Country Club.
“I needed to adapt – to the grass and heat. It made me improve quickly. It’s nice to be back. A lot has changed, I have changed, the city has changed.”
He is part of an elite line-up of marquee names competing that includes China’s Haotong Li, Sungjae Im from Korea, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and the defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand.
He added: “I didn’t get a chance to defend my title after 1999, although played in 2001. My form is good; I am starting to play really well.
Lee Westwood.
“I have been putting in some low scores, shooting some mid-60 rounds. I am looking forward to the week.”
His performances of late, particularly on the LIV Golf League, suggest he may be a threat this week.
At LIV Golf Virginia, in June, he returned a stunning final round nine-under-par 62 to tie for 10th.
The following month in The Open at Royal Portrush he caught fire on the back nine shooting a six-under-par 29 to become only the second player to do so in the 153-year history of the game’s oldest Major. He eventually finished tied 34th, in an event he has finished in the top-five on five occasions, including second in 2010.
And at LIV Golf Indianapolis he closed with rounds of 65 and 66 over the weekend for a top-20 finish.
It is impressive for a player aged 52 and just the right preparation as he attempts to win his 10th event in Asia at the SJM Macao Open. His most recent win on the Tour was at the Indonesian Masters 10 years ago – an event he has won three times.
“I pride myself in the fact that in my career I have won in more countries than anybody else and Macau is a very special tournament to have won,” he said.
Lee Westwood.
“It was at the start of my career. I was amassing a lot of wins back then; in ‘98 and ‘99 and 2000 I won 20 tournaments. It was a very special time.”
He beat American Andrew Pitts, now part of the events team at the Asian Tour, in a sudden-death play-off to win in 1999. The total purse that year was US$200,000 and he picked up a cheque for US$32,300. This week the champion will win slightly more: US$180,000.
“The game of golf, certainly professional golf, has always been an adventure to me. I have got to play the best courses in the world, against the best players and I wanted to do it all over the world. I didn’t want to stick to one country. I wanted to play all around the world. I enjoy travelling, getting to know different cultures. I have embraced it,” he explained.
It will also be a family affair this week for the former world number as his wife Helen will be caddying for him, and his son Sam has received an invitation to play.
It will be a tournament within a tournament for the Westwoods, with Westwood senior up for a challenge, saying: “Dads dont like losing to sons.”
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
In the various world-class casinos in glitzy Macao, a fluke turn of luck on the tables can make you a winner. Or you can play golf like ‘Fluke’ did in the SJM Macao Open! Story from the 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.
There was no element of luck involved as Thailand’s Rattanon ‘Fluke’ Wannasrichan secured his second Asian Tour title with a dominant wire-to-wire win at the Macau Golf & Country Club.
The 29-year-old Thai [main picture] made a late bogey on the 17th hole on Sunday, but he had the luxury of a four-shot lead at that point. A four-under-par 66 helped him finish on 20-under, two ahead of compatriot Gunn Charoenkul (67) and four clear of third-placed Poosit Supupramai (64) – completing a clean sweep of the podium for Thailand.
After making three pars on the opening day, Rattanon stepped on the gas and never took his foot off. Four straight birdies from the 13th hole, followed by an eagle on the par-five 18th saw him make the turn at six-under. He added three more birdies on his back nine to post a round of 61 – the best card of the day by two shots and eventually the lowest round of the tournament. As ‘preferred lies’ where in play it could not feature among the Tour’s records.
Rattanon, whose previous win on the Asian Tour was the 2017 Thailand Open, shot rounds of 66 and 67 to move to 16-under par and one ahead of Gunn going into the final round.
Manuschaya Zee makron, girlfriend/caddie of Thailand and Rattanon Wannasrichan last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
On Sunday he quickly pulled ahead with four birdies on his front nine, while his playing partner could only muster a one-under par score in that stretch with two bogeys.
Meanwhile, Poosit was putting on some pressure with plenty of birdies but having started the day six shots behind the leader, it was going to take a spectacular collapse by Rattanon for him to get a chance of winning his maiden Asian Tour title. That never happened.
After a promising 2018, when he also finished third in the ISPS Handa Match Play in Japan, Rattanon endured a horrible 2019 when he missed 23 cuts despite playing 37 events.
When he collected his winning cheque of US$180,000 he said: “I’m so happy. I didn’t think I could win again, because I had a very tough year in 2019. I played really badly that year, but I told myself to not give up. That’s why I could improve my game and win again.”
The Thai star felt he was trending in the right direction when he finished fourth in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters the week before. Having his girlfriend Manuschaya Zeemakorn, a Thai LPGA Tour player, on the bag also clearly helped.
Gunn Charoenkul.
“She’s helped me a lot about life and golf. In life we stay together, we eat together, and we enjoy that life. That’s why it’s made it fun for me to play golf,” Rattanon added.
The first round was clearly key for the champion. And he wielded a hot putter through the week, averaging 25.75 putts to complete his rounds on the smallish greens of Macau Golf & Country Club.
Playing the tournament for the 10th time, Rattanon said of his opening round: “I was just hoping to shoot a couple under. Did not expect to go so low. But I do like this golf course. There are a lot of chances to shoot birdies.”
Gunn, who had been struggling with his game, with his previous top-10 coming way back in February 2023 at the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport, showed a welcome return to form with rounds of 65, 64 and 66 in the first three days with just one bogey to show on his cards.
Despite rising to a career-best 126th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Gunn is yet to win on the elite level tours and the Macau event was another near miss. He now has four second place finishes on the Asian Tour.
The 32-year-old, who came to the tournament after missed cuts in Mercuries Taiwan Masters and Yeangder TPC, seemed happy with the result.
“With three par-fives on the back nine, I thought I might have a chance of catching Rattanon but it wasn’t to be. But this is great. It’s another second place and not a win. I am fine with it,” said Gunn.
“I found a lot more confidence this week especially after missing the cut the last two weeks. Just tried to keep things simple and I holed some great putts.”
Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena (63) celebrated his 30th birthday in style, making an eagle on the 72nd hole to catch up with the Order of Merit leader John Catlin (65) from the United States in tied fourth place at 15-under par total.
Poosit Supupramai.
Defending champion, Min Woo Lee of Australia and 151st Open champion Brian Harman of the US were also part of the quality field.
Lee, who won the title on a rain-soaked course with a four-round total of 26-under par in 2023, finished tied 9th, while Harman was one shot behind at 270, tied 13th.
Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Thirty-one LIV Golf players have signed up for the Link Hong Kong Open – the Asian Tour tournament that is the seventh event of the season on The International Series, with ranking points and ‘Major’ places on the line.
A legion of LIV golfers will descend on the famous tournament this month, bringing an array of talent and titles to its 64th edition, ensuring one of the most competitive fields ever seen at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
Alongside the likes of Major winners and LIV stars Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer, will be four-time LIV Golf champion Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Thomas Pieters, Dean Burmester, Tom McKibbin, and Peter Uihlein.
Past Hong Kong Open champion Ben Campbell and two-time winner Wade Ormsby, who claimed the Jakarta International Championship title at the weekend, are also in the field for the Fanling showpiece, which has the distinction of being Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event.
Harold Varner III. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
As well as vital ranking points available for those aiming to win a coveted spot on next year’s LIV Golf roster at the end of the season, the winner will also earn a place at the 2026 Masters and 154th Open Championship.
For Gooch, it will also be an opportunity to add a second win in Asia to the LIV Golf Singapore title he won in 2023.
The American is no stranger to Fanling, having played in the 2023 edition of the tournament, and at LIV Golf Hong Kong for the past two years, where his best finish was a tie for 21st in 2024.
“It’s not my first time in Hong Kong, but I’m excited to be coming back to such a great course and such a great tournament,” Gooch said. “Of course, the Masters and Open places are a motivation too, but I love Hong Kong, the food, the culture, all of it.”
Varner III, meanwhile, returns to The International Series again after finishing 22nd in the 2025 LIV Golf standings. The American has only made one appearance on the series this year, at International Series India presented by DLF.
Varner III, who finished in a tie for eighth at the 2023 Hong Kong Open, called the city “a special place with great golf and better people”.
Wade Ormsby. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
“I’m excited for the challenge against a lot of good players, a lot of good friends, and on a course I love,” he said. “The International Series is a great opportunity for players to earn their way into LIV Golf, and the level of competition will be outstanding with so many great players coming over.”
With The International Series heading to the Philippines and Hong Kong this October, the chase is on for the rest of the field to catch rankings leader Scott Vincent, whose runner-up finish in Jakarta gave him a narrow lead over Lucas Herbert and Carlos Ortiz.
In keeping with the event theme of the Link Hong Kong Open – Open For All – admission is free for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. Season passes, including the final two days on Saturday and Sunday, cost HK$300 for a weekend pass or HK$200 per day.
Fans aged 18 and under will enjoy free entry across all four days when accompanied by a ticketed adult or by providing a photo ID showing the date of birth. Purchase tickets from https://www.ticketflap.com/lhko2025.
Australian Wade Ormsby [main picture] won the Jakarta International Championship for his fifth Asian Tour victory and second International Series title, thanks to a razor-sharp short game while admittedly not having his best game on Sunday.
His putting was magnificent all week, at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, and he made several key par-saves in the final round. The most notable one was from eight-feet on the 72nd hole to get into a play-off with Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.
Ormsby started the week needing only 23 putts in his first round of six-under-par 64, and it was the fewest number of putts for one round of anyone in the field during the week. For tournament he averaged 27.25 Putts per Round which placed him sixth in that statistics category.
Scrambling was another category he ranked highly in, and his 81.82% was fourth of players making the cut. With this combination of putting and short game skills, it was no surprise to also see him near the top of the Fewest Bogies or Worse category. He was T2 with only five dropped shots for the week, two more than category leader Poom Saksansin from Thailand – who was one of the five players that finished in joint-third place in the tournament.
Poom Saksansin. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Ormsby’s other stats for the week: Putts per Greens in Regulation (GIR) 1.7 (T14), Fairways Hit 69.64 (T32), GIR 69.44 (T45), and Driving Distance 286 yards (58th).
Runner-up Vincent fired a 62 in the third round matching Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool’s second round for low round of the tournament. Statistically the best part of the Zimbabwean’s game in Jakarta was his iron play, posting a GIR average of 81.94% and ranking fifth on the list. His other weekly stats: Putts per GIR 1.712 (19th), Driving Distance 302.63 yards (20th), Fairways Hit 66.07% (T41), and Putts per Round 29.5 (T38).
Five players tied for third place, Thailand’s Poom, Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Doyeob Mun from Korea.
Poom and Pavit, in particular, stood out. They tied for first in Putts per Round with 27, while Poom also topped two other categories and was second in one: first in Scrambling and Fewest Bogies or Worse with 87.50% and three bogies made respectively, and second in Fairways Hit with 85.71%.
Pavit was also second in both the Putts per GIR category with 1.64 and in Most Birdies with 20.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Jakarta International Championship (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Poom Saksansin (THA), Sampson Zheng (CHN), Prom Meesawat (THA), Lawry Flynn (AUS): 27
- Putts per GIR – Sampson Zheng (CHN): 1.571
- GIR – Kazuki Higa (JPN): 87.5%
- Fairways Hit – Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND): 87.5%
- Driving Distance – Miguel Tabuena (PHI): 322.25 yards
- Most Eagles – Sampson Zheng (CHN), Liu, Yung-hua (TPE), Bjorn Hellgren (SWE), Danthai Boonma (THA), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Luke Schniederjans (USA), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Micah Shin (USA): 1
- Most Birdies – Tanapat Pichaikool (THA): 21
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Poom Saksansin (THA): 3
- Scrambling: Poom Saksansin (THA): 87.50%
- Bounce back: Prom Meesawat (THA): 44.44%
Australian Wade Ormsby defeated Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off today to win the Jakarta International Championship – following one of the closest finishes seen on the Asian Tour this season.
He triumphed after making a routine par on the par-four 18th, where Vincent found water with his second shot.
Ormsby trailed the frontrunner and playing partner Vincent all day, with a stacked leaderboard meaning the tournament could have been won by a whole host of players.
A crucial eight-footer for par on the 18th by Ormsby in regulation play forced the event into overtime. Vincent had left the door open when he made a bogey on 16 and missed a six-foot birdie putt on 17.
Both Ormsby and Vincent shot one-under-par 69s to finished tied on 12-under.
Vincent’s brother Kieran (67), and Doyeob Mun (67) from Korea tied for third along with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert (68), Poom Saksansin (69) and Sadom Kaewkanjana (69), missing the play-off by one shot.
Wade Ormsby is congratulated by Scott Vincent.
Kieran Vincent came agonisingly close to making the play-off but also found water on 18 and made a bogey.
It’s Ormsby’s fifth victory on the Asian Tour and second on The International Series. His last win came at the International Series Thailand in 2023.
The victory also made up for being penalised one shot after his round yesterday when he was judged to have accidentally moved his ball when he addressed it on the fourth. He’s also been enduring a poor season with his best being tied 21st at the International Series India.
“It was a bit of a grind,” said Ormsby, who hung in there by making nine straight pars on the back nine.
“Probably didn’t have my best stuff out there today, but I was just hanging in there. Feel bad for Scotty, you know, he kind of let a couple slip at the end there. But I hit a couple of great shots in that play-off hole, so that makes me feel better about the whole thing.”
On yesterday’s penalty shot, he said: “It was disappointing, you know, it is what it is. Decided to take a shot and, yeah. Anyway, I did reset last night, and I felt fine about it. I was happy to be in the last group, so that didn’t change. So no, I just had to go out there and put it to the back of my head and use it as a bit of a drive to get the job done today.
“It’s a special one for me this one. Haven’t been playing my best golf, had a few months off and worked hard the last week. I flew up and saw my coach, Grant Field, so a massive thank you to him. Flew up there, did the hard yards, and we had a day of grinding to try and get me back on track. And even though I didn’t play my best golf this week, I putted great early on in the tournament. And yeah, thanks to all my family obviously, lost my dad two years ago, so this one is for him.”
Wade Ormsby and his caddie celebrate the win.
Ormsby moves into fifth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and third on The International Series Rankings. Vincent regained the lead over Japan’s Kazuki Higa on the Merit list – who finished in a tie for 33rd this week. He also goes top of The International Series Rankings, leapfrogging Lucas Herbert from Australia.
Vincent was attempting to become the first player to win back-to-back events on The International Series having won the International Series Morocco in July.
It means he has now finished runner-up in his last two Asian Tour events as he was joint second in the Shinhan Donghae Open last month.
He said: “I don’t see it as disappointing at all. Wade played great golf, he hung in there and is a well-deserved champion. I had my chances to win, but I don’t think it’s ever fully in my control. I was struggling just to make the cut on day two, and to then have a chance to win on Sunday, I can’t ask for much more than that.”
The Asian Tour has a week off now before the SJM Macao Open and a run of eight successive events to close out the season.
Pictured by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Scott Vincent has finished first and joint second in his last two events on the Asian Tour and is in the hunt once again after taking a share of the third-round lead in the Jakarta International Championship today.
The Zimbabwean, whose impressive season has seen him move into second place on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, shot a brilliant bogey-free eight-under-par 62.
He leads on 11-under with India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Australian Wade Ormsby at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course.
Bhullar returned a 69 while Ormsby at 67.
Ormsby looked set to finish the day with a one-shot lead but after finishing his round officials informed him he would receive a one-shot penalty because his ball moved when he addressed it on the fourth.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana (64) and Poom Saksansin (66) are next best placed one shot back.
Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Overnight leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert (72) from Thailand, Italian Stefano Mazzoli (66) and England’s Steve Lewton (71) are tied for sixth another stroke behind.
This week’s US$2million event is part of The International Series – a set of upper-tier events on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
Winning The International Rankings brings with it a place on the LIV Golf League. Vincent did just that in 2022, during the inaugural season on The International Series, and after another fine round today is edging closer to a return to the multi-million dollar franchise.
“It was amazing, what a blessing,” said Vincent, who registered eight birdies today – including three in a row from the first, and another hat-trick from the 12th.
“Man, you know, when you have a picture of what you’re trying to do, today I was able to execute that more times than I have the whole week. So, it’s always fun when you can kind of see the picture and pull it off. And yeah, just was able to do that a few more times today.”
The 33-year-old won the International Series Morocco in July and was runner-up at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea last month.
Asked what is behind his fine form, he said: “Oh man, good question, I don’t know. You know, we’ve spoken about this a bit, and it’s like, what? What is it, what are you doing? And it’s like, I’m just running my process, you know, I’m just trying to do the things that I think that are going to help. And it’s like, that’s what I did last year, and it was not a great year. But this year, for some reason, it seems to be clicking a little bit. And that’s all I draw it down to, it’s like such a gift, and I’m just grateful for how it’s been going so far.”
Bhullar will attempt to win his sixth Asian Tour event in Indonesia tomorrow, and his 12th title in total.
A double-bogey six on the ninth knocked him off top spot but he got back into contention with back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 and a bogey-free back nine.
Wade Ormsby.
The cream of the Asian Tour rose to the top today to set up a thrilling final round tomorrow.
Sadom, winner of the Kolon Korea Open in May, is one of those who will fancy his chances tomorrow.
“I feel I played pretty solid,” he said.
“I played in the morning, the second group, so it was lucky to play without wind. On the last four or five holes it was very windy, so I think it was going to be tough.
“My game is getting better than the first half of the year. I’m trying to practice harder and do everything harder, and it’s getting better. So I think my feeling is very good this week too.”
Kazuki Higa, looking to become the first player in the history of the Asian Tour to win three tournaments in a row following back-to-back wins in September, shot a 67 to give himself a chance on Sunday. He’s four off the lead.
Pictures courtesy of Graham Uden/Asian Tour
Pavit Tangkamolprasert served up another birdie feast at the Jakarta International Championship today, making four birdies in a row enroute to taking the halfway lead – a day after making six on the trot.
A second-round five-under-par 65 to add to his opening 64 – and an incredible 13 birdies over two days – saw him reach 11-under for the US$2million event, being played at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, in North Jakarta.
He has a one-shot advantage over India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Steve Lewton from England.
Bhullar, the Indonesia connoisseur with five victories in the country, also shot a 65 while Lewton, winner of the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year at this week’s venue, fired a 64.
Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool unleashed a 62 and is one stroke further back, in the 13th event of the season on the Asian Tour and the fifth stop on The International Series.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
Pavit birdied four on the trot from the fourth after making six successive birdies from his eighth in round one. He did not drop a shot on the front half today and made the turn in four under. The second half was less spectacular, as he traded three birdies with two bogeys.
It’s all a far cry from three weeks ago when he retired after the second round of the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea with a bad back.
Explained the 36-year-old: “Yeah, it happened in Shinhan after the second round. I hurt my back. I made the cut but decided to pull out, because I wanted to save my back. I could not even address my ball, so I went back to Thailand, saw my physio, and got some mobility.”
He returned to play in the following week’s Yeangder TPC and then the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, tying for 20th in the first but then missing the cut.
“It got better in Yeangder and Mercuries and then this week it’s like almost 100% okay. Today was just like yesterday, you know, when I rolled in the first putt, it felt good, and then it just continued.”
Pavit last won on the Asian Tour in 2019 at the Sabah Masters, although he did win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year at the Singha Laguna Phuket Open. With eight titles on the ADT he has won more times than anyone else on the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.
Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Bhullar was equally prolific firing off seven birdies and dropping two shots.
He’s tracking yet again for a title on Indonesian soil. A brilliant performance in 2023 saw him win the BNI Indonesian Masters, his most recent victory.
He also won the Indonesia Open at this week’s course in 2013.
The 11-time Asian Tour winner said: “It feels good to be back. I first played this golf course in 2008, again in 2009, and then won here in 2013. Coming back brings a lot of positive memories. Walking down the stairs and seeing my picture as one of the past champions is motivating – it really reminds me of the success I’ve had here.
“Indonesia has been very kind to me. That always stays in the back of your mind when you’re playing in this part of the world. The goal is to stay positive and try to build on what I did over the last 36 holes.”
Lewton won last year’s Indonesia Open in a sudden-death play-off after a four-day total of 16-under and is clearly enjoying being back here.
He said: “So far, I’d probably say I’ve played slightly better this year than when I started last year. It’s a course that suits my eye, and I like playing golf in Indonesia, don’t know why, not even sure.”
Steve Lewton.
Australia’s Wade Ormsby shot a 68 and is in solo fifth place, three behind the leader.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit following back-to-back wins in September, carded a 69 and is four under.
Pictures courtesy Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Three-time PGA Tour champion Anthony Kim is facing a high-stakes end of the season as he bids to resurrect his LIV Golf League career. However, he insists there is no pressure as he chases The International Series Rankings title that would seal his return to the big time at the first time of asking.
The former US Ryder Cup star has been plying his trade alongside some of the biggest names in world golf for the past two years after LIV Golf offered him a wild card slot and a lifeline following years in the wilderness. In a stellar field featuring top talent such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, Kim could not escape the drop zone and he lost his wild card status at the end of the campaign.
Now the LIV Golf season has finished, The International Series offers Kim and other relegated players a golden return ticket to the big time, as the end-of-season Rankings champion will get an automatic berth on the 2026 LIV Golf roster.
With five tournaments left this season, starting this week with the Jakarta International Championship, the 40-year-old is one of the biggest names to be searching for those vital rankings points that can spark a climb up the standings going into the home straight.
L-R: Kevin Akbar, Scott Vincent, Ollie Schniederjans, Anthony Kim, pictured on Wednesday, at a press conference ahead of the Jakarta International Championship. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Kim said: “My goal is to play well over the next five or six weeks, and just let things play out. Right now, I’m focused on the events in front of me, know if you play well, you’ll have an opportunity. I’m not too worried about what’s ahead – just taking it one week at a time.
“My game has been very streaky. I’ve had some stretches where I feel like a world class player, and I’ve had some stretches where I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. But that comes with not playing golf for 12 years.
“I’m at a point now where I feel more comfortable being out there, and I think great results are in front of me. As long as I can stay healthy, I believe that I’ll have a lot of chances to win in the future.”
When asked if he felt any pressure, at an event that kicks off an important five-tournament stretch on The International Series, the 40-year-old responded: “Pressure is making rent when you’re an immigrant to a new country like my mom had. You know, I took a lot of things for granted when I was younger.
“In my 20s and playing professional golf, I had a lot of access to different things, but at 40, I realised all of us sitting up here, we’re blessed to be sitting here and getting to travel the world, play golf in front of a bunch of people, in amazing places such as here in Jakarta.
“And you know, we have to appreciate that and have gratitude for the opportunity we have in front of us. We start tomorrow; we are all at level par with the chance to change our lives every week. So you know, this is not pressure. This is a blessing.”
Kim is attempting to take a route already travelled by Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and American Andy Ogletree. Vincent, the former International Series England champion, enjoyed two years of success on the Iron Heads GC team after topping the rankings in 2022 while Ogletree, a three-time champion on the series, secured a high-profile move onto Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC team after winning the 2023 race.
Anthony Kim speaking at Wednesday’s press conference. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Talking about the opportunity that The International Series provides to players from the Asian Tour, and talent from around the world including the likes of American Ogletree, the 2019 US amateur champion, Kim said: “It’s great. Golf is growing overall, and giving Asian Tour players the chance to compete for bigger purses in bigger events is important.
“Hopefully, some of them get the chance to prove themselves on a bigger stage. Golf keeps evolving, and players seem to be getting better at a younger age. I’ve played with some of those guys, and they’re playing some really good golf.”
He shot a one-under-par 69 on the opening day in Jakarta on Thursday to make a solid start to his campaign on The International Series – 10 upper-tier events on the Asian Tour.
Suteepat Prateeptienchai issued an early warning at the Jakarta International Championship today after taking the first-round clubhouse lead with a seven-under-par 63.
In August he carded a 64 on the last day to win the Mandiri Indonesia Open and was once again in blistering form back on Indonesian soil today, making eight birdies and one bogey.
Australian Wade Ormsby, Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Roberto Lebrija from Mexico are tied for second following 64s, at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert moved to six under after 16 holes before the day drew to a close. Poor weather in the morning stopped play for an hour and 20 minutes, the end result meaning 45 players will need to finish their first round early tomorrow morning.
To make things even more challenging for the chasing pack, Suteepat admitted that everything was perfect today.
‘Played really well today. Everything is perfect,” said the 32-year-old.
“I made a lot of putts. Not too long, longest was about seven yards.”
Roberto Lebrija.
Having arrived here off the back of two excellent weeks in Chinese-Taipei – he finished joint seventh in the Yeangder TPC and then equal fourth at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, last week – Suteepat admits that his confidence is sky high.
“After my win in August, I am much more confident. It was a big win for me, I feel more relaxed. I am just sticking to my plan. There’s no tiredness.”
He says his caddie also has great faith in him on this week’s layout.
“My caddie says I can lead here as the course suite me. The fairways are not too tight, but the greens are quite firm and if your ball is not in the fairway you cannot control the spin.”
A joint sixth place result here in Indonesia’s Open last year also points to another strong showing over the next three days.
His victory in Indonesia was his fourth on the Asian Tour but first outside of Chinese-Taipei – where he won in 2023, and twice last year.
Ormsby looked set to finish the day sharing the lead but dropped a shot on his last hole, which was the ninth as he started his round on the back nine. He found the lake with his second and did well to make five.
He said: “It’s nice to be playing somewhat decent and to get off to a strong start today. I had a little blemish at the end, but I managed to get up and down from about 45 yards, which made things feel a lot better than they were looking.”
He had been bogey free up until that point, registering seven birdies.
“It was nice to put a good score together again,” he added. “I’ve had a bit of time off, last week off, and the two weeks before that I didn’t play great. I saw my coach recently, and while the swing still doesn’t feel exactly where I want it, I managed to hole some putts, which makes the scorecard look a lot better.”
Wade Ormsby.
Lebrija is one of the surprise early pace-setters.
The Mexican made it through the 2025 Qualifying School, taking the 12th card, but has been struggling for much of the season.
However, his fortunes have started to change since August – much of it here in Indonesia.
He had two top-15 finishes on the Asian Development Tour, both in Indonesia, tied for 12th in the Mandiri Indonesia Open and was equal 34th in the Yeangder TPC in Taiwan.
This morning’s suspension occurred when he was on the 10th and worked in his favour.
“Yeah, actually kind of good luck,” he explained
“I had to go to the bathroom, and right when they stopped, I was able to go. So that kind of helped. And then I was able to actually hit some shots to warm up right before going back. And just kept doing my thing. Didn’t really change anything. And just kept on pushing. Fortunately, made a couple putts.”
Filipino Miguel Tabuena is in a group of players tied following 65s.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Fresh from his victory at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the weekend, Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan tees-off in the Jakarta International Championship today at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course brimming with confidence and eager to chase down what he describes as his “biggest goal of the season” – a win on The International Series.
Nicknamed ‘Fluke’, the 30-year-old has shown there is nothing lucky about his talent. He is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, having also won last year’s SJM Macao Open, wire-to-wire, and the Thailand Open in 2017.
Last week in Taiwan, Rattanon reaffirmed his place among Asia’s top talents and capped off a strong stretch of form this season, which also saw him finish runner-up at the Yeangder TPC and T7 at the Mandiri Indonesia Open.
Now, with momentum on his side, Rattanon says Jakarta provides the perfect stage to chase his next milestone: victory on The International Series – 10 upper-tier events on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
“This year, my biggest goal has been to win on The International Series,” Rattanon shared. “Getting the trophy in Taiwan last week gave me a lot of confidence, and I hope I can carry that into Jakarta. Of course, The International Series events are bigger – the prize fund, the strength of the field, and the pathway to LIV Golf. Winning one would prove to myself that I am ready for the bigger leagues, and that is what I am working towards.”
Rattanon Wannasrichan and his peers celebrate on the 18th last Sunday. Picture by Graham Uden Asian Tour.
While his season has included undoubted highs, Rattanon has also faced setbacks, notably missing out on valuable points at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn after being forced to withdraw through a back injury.
But he insists those moments have only fueled his determination.
“Missing Macau was tough because I was looking forward to it and really wanted those points,” he said. “But setbacks are part of the game. Last week’s win reminded me that if I stay patient and keep working, good things will happen. Now, it is about staying consistent and giving myself more chances.”
This week, Rattanon says his focus is on playing freely, enjoying the game, and building on the improvements he saw in Taiwan.
“I want to enjoy myself this week and not put too much pressure on the result,” he explained. “My putting and distance control were really solid in Taiwan, and I want to keep that momentum going. If I play my game and stay relaxed, I believe I can be in the mix on Sunday.”
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