Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden claimed the Saudi Open presented by PIF after a gripping duel with Jack Thompson – at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Having played together in the same group all week, Hellgren edged it by a shot after closing with a five-under-par 67 to finish on 23-under.

Thompson, tied with Hellgren at the start of the day, shot a 68 in the season-ending event on the Asian Tour.

The Swede led by one playing the par-five 18th, where Thompson just missed his eagle putt from 30 feet. He made four meaning Hellgren needed to draw on all his experience to hole his birdie putt from six feet, which he duly did – for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour.

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang and Charles Porter from the United States tied for third three behind Thompson. Chang shot a 68 to complete a remarkable week that saw him move from 75th to 41st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which sees the top-65 keep their cards for next year. Porter, a graduate from this year’s Qualifying School, closed with a 69.

Bjorn Hellgren.

The other big winner today was Japan’s Kazuki Higa who wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title. He closed with a 68 to finish seventh, to ensure he ended comfortably ahead of Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe in second place. Vincent tied for 15th following a 68, having needed to win or finish second today in order to topple Higa. The diminutive Japanese star becomes the first player from his country to claim the prestigious Merit title.

Victory for Hellgren atones for what has been a testing few seasons playing on the Asian Tour.

He arrived in Asia in 2020 with an impressive resume that included multiple wins in Scandinavia as an amateur and professional. He’d also roomed with American Brooks Koepka when playing college golf at Florida State University.

He finishing tied ninth at Qualifying School in 2020 but only competed in one event before play was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When play resumed on Tour he did not quite make the impression that was expected of him, with his best result tying for third in the 2022 Yeangder TPC.

Even before this week he admitted to being exhausted after a long stretch on tour and behaving badly on and off the course. He said a holiday with his family in Spain over the past few weeks helped kept him get back on track and that was most definitely the case this week.

“Super happy,” said the winner.

“I mean, finally. I’m not gonna say I was doubting myself, but I’ve been leading tournaments before in this past five years, and never got it done before. I couldn’t have done it without Graham, my caddie. He kept me calm and present for especially today. So, I’m very proud of myself, my team, and especially my family that keep pushing me.”

The duo were tied at the turn before Thompson missed a short putt on the 10^th to hand the lead to his Swedish opponent. Hellgren then had a lucky break on the next hole, a par four. After finding trouble of the tee he had to lay up with his second, before his third, which was going long, hit the pin leaving him a seven footer for par. He made it to stay ahead.

Jack Thompson.

He then stiffed his approach to within a foot on the following hole for birdie which gave him a two-shot lead after Thompson missed his birdie from 10 feet. A birdie on 17 by Thompson closed the gap to one before a play-off was narrowly avoided on the last.

Added Hellgren, who finished sixth on the Merit list: “We had an amazing four days. I mean, his (Thompson’s) caddy is a good friend of mine who stayed with me this week, Adrian. I’m really happy for Jack also, because he had a good week, kept his job and I said when we were signing scorecards, I couldn’t have done it without him. And I was pretty sure if he made that putt on 18, mine would have been way longer. So yeah, very fortunate to play with him.”

Hellgren becomes the eighth Swede to win on the Asian Tour since 2004 and the first since Malcolm Kokocinski won the AB Bank Bangladesh Open in 2018.

Thompson was another here this week mainly to ensure he kept his card for next year, as he was 62^nd on the Merit. He emphatically did that by finishing 21st on the list.

“Yeah, it’s a tough one,” said Thompson, who birdied three in a row from the third to have the lead early on.

“Obviously, I started off pretty well. I didn’t hit the ball anywhere near good enough today, but just scrambled so well, made some good birdies, holed some good putts. Also missed a couple putts.

“So yeah, I mean, at the end of that, I can’t really complain. I think if you told me I’d finished second at the start of the week before, when I needed to keep my card, I would have been pretty happy. But we obviously want more. Always want more.”

Ervin Chang.

Chang was overjoyed with his best finish on the Asian Tour.

“Honestly speaking, to be very honest, I woke up at 3am couldn’t go back to sleep after that,” said the former SEA Games gold medallist.

“I think because just kind of knowing what’s at stake, and knowing a top 10 finish guaranteed me a card for next year.  And coming to this week, I didn’t buy an air ticket to go home yet, and I’m about to buy my air ticket to go home.”

The other players to narrowly stay in the top 65 this week were Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao (60^th), Filipino Justin Quiban (61st), Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (62nd), and Sarut Vongchaisit (64^th) from Thailand

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Kazuki Higa became the first player from Japan to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit after comfortably securing the coveted title at the Saudi Open presented by PIF today.

The diminutive star became the biggest name on Tour by shooting a four-under-par 68 at the season-ending event – played at Dirab Golf & Country Club, near Riyadh – to finish in seventh, on 16-under.

Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren won the tournament after shooting a 67 to top the leaderboard on 23-under, by one from Australian Jack Thompson

Higa’s performance meant he finished the year with 2,082.34 points on the Merit list, 199.84 ahead of Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent in second. Vincent returned a 68 for 15th place, having needed a dramatic turn of events this week to overtake Higa.

Vincent has the consolation of winning The International Series Rankings three weeks ago, paving the way for his return to the LIV Golf League.

Higa also becomes the first player to win both the Asian Tour’s Merit list and the Japan Tour Money List, which he claimed in 2022 – during a season when he triumphed four times.

Kazuki Higa.

The 30-year-old succeeds American John Catlin as the Merit champion. Catlin, who tied for 15th today, and ended the year in 43rd position on the list.

“I am so, so happy. This is a great honour,” said Higa, who, remarkably, is on a run of 18 tournaments in a row.

“I just love playing golf. That’s what it about. I can’t wait to get home to see my family.”

As well as the prestige of claiming the Merit title and joining an elite group of players to have done so since 2004, it also brings with it an exemption into The Open through the International Federation list. A place in the PGA Championship is also available via the list, depending on the player’s position on the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I have worked very hard for this. I felt that last year changed things, all the hard work started to pay off and it’s amazing to see it all pay off this week,” he added.

Higa stormed out of the gates at the beginning of the season with three straight top 10’s, posting a T8 at the season-opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open, a T5 at the International Series India presented by DLF and a T2 at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

However, it wasn’t until September that it became clear just what his peers were up against.

His recorded back-to-back wins at the Shinhan Donghae Open, in Korea, and the Yeangder TPC, in Chinese-Taipei, that month, before adding a T2 at the International Series Philippines in late October. That result in the Philippines saw him regain top spot on the Merit list from Vincent, and from there on in he could not be caught.

Higa finished the year first on the Asian Tour very much by design. After winning the Japan Tour Money List three years ago he set his sights on success overseas and played a full season on the Asian Tour for the first time the following year.

He also underwent something of a transformation by putting himself through rigorous weight training and aerobic exercise programs, so that he could hit the ball further.

Kazuki Higa.

It was a new level of commitment that he described earlier in the year as practicing “like I brush my teeth every day”.

He also did not sign a driver contract so he could use a club that suited him best and he worked on how much he draws and fades shots – all with the aim of gaining yards.

It all worked. His average distance with the driver was 284.41 yards until last year, but he is now flying it 297.91 yards.

Standing only a 158-centimetres tall he is now punching well above his body weight.

He is also known for being an expert frontrunner, with most of 13 victories achieved from the front.

Two of those wins also came on the Asian Development Tour: at the BTI Open in Bangladesh in 2018, and the UMC Championship in Malaysia the following year. An early precursor for what was to come on the main tour.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Australian Jack Thompson and Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren fought an entertaining ding-dong battle for control of the lead at the Saudi Open presented by PIF today before finishing the day tied for the lead with one round to go.

Thompson, the leader by one from Hellgren at the start of the day shot a third-round four-under-par 68, while his Swedish playing partner carded a 67 – in what is the final event of the year on the Asian Tour.

They are 18-under for the US$1million event, two ahead of American Charles Porter from the United States in solo second, following a 65, here at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Ervin Chang (69) from Malaysia are another shot back sharing fourth.

Bjorn Hellgren.

Both leaders are hungry for their first win on the Asian Tour having been regulars the since Tour returned from the global pandemic.

“Didn’t score as well as hoped and did not take advantage of some of the holes coming in but can’t complain,” said Thompson.

“It’s great now, nice when you’re playing on a Sunday to win. It’s a privilege to do that, and obviously not everyone gets to do that. Just gonna go out and really enjoy it and try and finish a year off well.”

After Hellgren made birdie on the first, they were tied before the Swede pulled ahead with birdies on three and four. Thompson regained the lead with three birdies in four holes from the fifth before Hellgren drew level at the turn after chipping in for a birdie on nine. Thompson went ahead again with a birdie on 10 before it was tied again when Hellgren birdied the next. The Swede then handed the lead back with a bogey on the following hole before squaring again on 16. And that’s how it stayed until the end, setting up a great finale on Saturday.

“I know I’m going to get to the first tee tomorrow, and I’m going to be nervous and I’m going to be excited, I’m going to be all these things,” added the 28-year-old from Adelaide.

He won the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2023, and his best finish since then is joint second place at the New Zealand Open at the start of this year, while Hellgren’s best result to date is tying for third in the 2022 Yeangder TPC.

Charles Porter.

Those personal bests could change significantly for them tomorrow.

Said Hellgren: “Got off to a good start again, was pretty calm, playing well, then started pulling some putts and had to figure that out.  I changed the grip and started rolling it a bit better, it was nice to see a birdie there on 16.

“I feel a little disappointed about my finish though, 17-18, I feel like I gave away at least one shot there. But now I’m pretty happy we’re in the position we have put ourselves in, and have a chance to win a golf tournament tomorrow.”

Porter made it through the 2025 Asian Tour Qualifying School and has got stronger as the year has gone on.

“It was good, I stayed super patient,” said the American, far and away the tallest player on Tour at six foot nine inches.

“Just focused on my breathing, walking, and it worked out. Putting has been amazing. Making a lot of putts for par and birdie, like I said, just focusing on breathing, slow walking and eating.”

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang is playing a blinder just at the right time and setting an example for those players trying to finish in the top 65 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, in order to keep their cards for next season. He is 75^th on the list but currently predicted to shoot up and finish in 46th place.

He said: “I’m just gonna do the same thing what I’ve been doing on and off the golf course, keep myself distracted. I’m not looking at the Order of Merit right now, I’ve talked to so many people, and concluded that if you play good enough golf is gonna take care of itself.

Ervin Chang.

“But one big thing that people around me – my girlfriend, my family, my coach, and Scott Vincent reminded me the most – is being grateful and thankful for the opportunity that I have out here right now.”

Japan’s Kazuki Higa now has one hand on the Asian Tour Order of Merit trophy after carding a 69 today to sit at 12 under. The Merit list leader will only lose out if Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in second, storms through tomorrow and takes the title or finishes second. Vincent, who claimed The International Series Rankings recently to secure a return to the LIV Golf League, shot a 70 and is eight behind the leader.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Australian Jack Thompson put to rest any doubts that he would not keep his Asian Tour card for next year by charging into the lead at the halfway mark of the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

He carded a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead at the season-ending event, here at Dirab Golf & Country Club – just outside the capital Riyadh.

Swede Bjorn Hellgren, playing in the same group, also fired a 65, to sit in second place while Malaysia’s Ervin Chang (64), and Runchanapong Youprayong (66) from Thailand are another stroke back.

Thompson started the week in 62^nd place on the Tour’s Order of Merit (OOM), with the top-65 keeping their cards next year. He is comfortably on course to make it through with a win predicted to catapult him into seventh place.

However, there remains a long way to go and the 28-year-old from Adelaide, chasing his first win on the Asian Tour, is not getting ahead of himself.

“Just not getting too caught up in everything,” said Thompson, who won the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2023.

Bjorn Hellgren.

“Just really trying to be in the moment for every shot. I know that my game’s good enough to compete out here and win, definitely. So, yeah, I mean, it would be nice, obviously, but yeah, not really looking at it that way.”

He was three ahead of Hellgren playing their final hole, the ninth as they started on 10, but he three putted for bogey, his only dropped shot of the day, while his Swedish opponent made an eight footer for birdie.

Thompson had made his move on his second nine by making five birdies in six holes from the third. He’d made three birdies on his front nine.

He added: “I mean, it’s fun to be up the top and playing because sometimes if you just make the cut or whatever, you know, obviously you’re happy to play four rounds. But sometimes it can be pointless, make a birdie, and might move you up a couple spots. But it’s always fun to play when it means something. So, yeah, very lucky.”

Chang and Runchanapong, 75^th and 127^th on the Merit list respectively, are also in a strong position to secure their cards at the last minute, although the fall back is the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School next week.

Hellgren has played on the Asian Tour for five years and is also chasing his maiden title. After today’s performance he will have one of his best chances over the next two days.

Runchanapong Youprayong.

He got off to a sensational start, making an eagle on the 10^th, a par five, followed by birdies on the next two. He made six birdies in total and also made one bogey.

The Swede admitted some time off over the last few weeks has done him wonders.

“Well, to tell you the truth, I couldn’t take it anymore,” he said.

“I played 10 tournaments in 11-12 weeks. I brought my family out for six weeks. It was tough mentally, like I broke so many clubs, you know, I was behaving bad on the course, off the course.

“So, after the big one in Saudi, I went home and just sat on the couch for eight days, playing with my little son. And then I went to Spain and I actually had fun on the golf course for the first time in a long time. So, I said that to my friend Martin, I was like maybe two over par at Valderrama, and I was like, I’m having fun, you know. So, it’s been huge for me to just relax a little bit.”

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (68) is one of a group of players tied for fifth along with defending champion John Catlin (69) from the United States, and first-round leader Saptak Talwar (70) from India, four behind Thompson.

His growing confidence continues to show no respite, and he is looking more and more like the golfer who claimed the Merit title in 2019 after four victories. He feels he has rediscovered his swing after years of torment.

Jazz Janewattananond.

“In the end of 2023 I was in a very bad spot in my golf swing,” he said.

“Just couldn’t really find the fairways, couldn’t really find the greens, and I just didn’t understand what I was doing with my swing. I just so I went out and asked a lot of specialists, and a lot of friends, a lot of people who knows the golf swing better than me.

“There’s a lot of stuff that I did in 2019 that I didn’t do in 2023, and I just tried to implement a lot of that.”

Swaying away from the ball and not returning to the correct position, plus club and wrist position at the top of the swing are just a few things he has worked on to get his old, successful swing back

He also continues to work hard with his coach Dana Dahlquist, who he also texts regularly.

Adds Jazz: “I literally don’t pay him enough because I text him to wait way too much.”

Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, took a huge stride forward to finishing the year ranked number one by shooting a 66 to sit five back of the leader, in joint ninth. It means Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in second place on the Merit list and five under for the tournament after a 69 today, when he played with Higa, needs to either win the tournament or finish second overtake the Japanese star.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Jazz Janewattananond’s revitalised confidence continues to show no respite as he took a share of the clubhouse lead at the Saudi Open presented by PIF today.

He carded a four-under-par 68 in at Dirab Golf & Country Club, just outside of the capital Riyadh, for a two-round total of 10 under.

India’s Saptak Talwar, the first-round leader with a course record 64, shares top spot after shooting 70, following the morning session.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, took a huge stride forward to finishing the year ranked number one by carding a 66 to sit one back of the leaders. It means Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in second place on the Merit list and five under for the tournament after a 69 today, when he played with Higa, needs to either win the tournament or finish second to overtake the Japanese star.

Jazz is looking more and more like the golfer who claimed the Merit title in 2019, after four victories, and says he has rediscovered his swing after years of torment.

Saptak Talwar.

“In the end of 2023 I was in a very bad spot in my golf swing,” he said.

“Just couldn’t really find the fairways, couldn’t really find the greens, and I just didn’t understand what I was doing with my swing. So I went out and asked a lot of specialists, and a lot of friends, a lot of people who know the golf swing better than me.

“There’s a lot of stuff that I did in 2019 that I didn’t do in 2023, and I just tried to implement a lot of that.”

Swaying away from the ball and not returning to the correct position, plus club and wrist position at the top of the swing are just a few things he has worked on to get his old, successful swing back

“There’s a lot of that I didn’t understand. In 2019 I just know I’m playing. I’m playing well, I aim there and the ball goes there. I feel like what happened to me in 2023, where I lost my swing, now I’m coming back to getting my swing back. I understand a bit more of like, okay, this fits me more.”

He also continues to work hard with his coach Dana Dahlquist, who he also texts regularly.

Adds Jazz: “I literally don’t pay him enough because I text him to wait way too much.”

Kazuki Higa.

After yesterday’s record-breaking round Talwar admitted today was a ‘little quiet day’.

He said: “I felt like I hit some good shots in the front, but the flags I thought were a little tricky, they had some more break around the hole. Didn’t make anything and then missed a short one on nine but bounced back pretty solid on the back. So, pleased with the day, couple more days to go.”

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

India’s Saptak Talwar, playing in the last group of the day, birdied his final hole in fading light, at Dirab Golf & Country Club, to shoot a course record eight-under-par 64 for the first-round lead in the Saudi Open presented by PIF today.

The 26-year-old from Delhi has played in only a handful of Asian Tour events since turning professional in 2021 but embraced the opportunity today making four birdies on each nine, in a bogey-free round.

American John Catlin, the defending champion and reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, and Jack Thompson from Australia are tied for second following 65s – in the season-ending event on the Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong and Jazz Janewattananond, Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden, Charles Porter from the United States and Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu are next best placed after 66s.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun, playing in the last group with Talwar, was seven under playing his final hole – which was the ninth as they started on 10. However, he made a bogey after failing to get up and down from the edge of the green.

John Catlin.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa shot a 69, and is in a tie for 24^th, to start well in his bid to wrap up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title. Making the cut tomorrow will put him within touching distance and require Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in second place, to record a top four finish to have any chance of catching him. Vincent, who won The International Series Rankings three weeks ago, returned a 70.

Talwar won for the first time as a professional this year, at the Adani Invitational Golf Championship on the Professional Golf Tour of India. It was played on his home course, Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, and he showed some of that winning form today.

“I was honestly anticipating some wind today,” said the Talwar, who played college golf at Sacred Heart University in NCAA Division 1.

“Yeah, so when I came in this morning and it was pretty quiet, I was just hoping it stays like it, because the guys in the morning were kind of making some birdies. Yeah, happy to get off to a good start. Take advantage of the calmer conditions. I think it’ll get windy at some point.”

He has been playing on the European Challenge Tour this year, as well as his home circuit.

He added: “I’ve played a lot of golf this year. Some good, some bad, but struggled putting four rounds together, yeah. So, yeah, one down, hopefully I can put three more.”

The Indian, who tied for sixth in the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year for his best result on the Asian Tour, hit a gap wedge to 12 feet on the ninth and drained the birdie putt.

Jack Thompson.

Catlin has made the perfect start to end a disappointing season, admitting after that a few setbacks have been on his mind this year that affected his form.

This time last year Catlin was being crowned the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion for the first time after an inspired season. He won twice, came second twice – after two play-off loses – plus became the first player on the Tour to shoot a 59. He was also voted the Player’s Player of the Year, for the second time in his career.

However, he says events at the end of 2024 had a profound impact on him, and it’s taken time to heal. His mother passing away in October was far and away the most significant of those.

He said: “You know, I wouldn’t be a pro golfer if it wasn’t for all the support she gave me when I was a really little kid and junior golfer, and she took me to all the tournaments.

“She was a big part of the process, and a big supporter of what I do, and just a loving person. And so, you know, last year it actually happened on the Wednesday of Jakarta, but I found out from my dad after the final round.”

Catlin explained she had been stable for a while and there was a huge emotional shock when she passed, the week of the Indonesian Masters.

In addition, narrowly failing to earn a place on the LIV Golf League after just missing out on winning The International Series Rankings, also hit him hard – he said.

Kazuki Higa.

“You know, there was a lot of other things – including not earning my spot on LIV. I wish I would have handled that thing a little bit better. You know, those things happen.

“I think mentally, internally I mean, I wish I would have just handled it a little bit better.”

Catlin is currently in 46^th place on the Merit list – well below par for a six-time winner on the Tour.

Today’s round, bogey-free, with seven birdies, shows he is on the road to recovery.

“I feel much stronger now. I feel like I’ve processed through a lot of it. I feel as good as I ever have. I’ve been really enjoying this week,” he said.

He heads home to Florida after this week, where he will prepare for the LIV Golf Promotions event in January – where two paces are up for grabs on the LIV Golf League.

Thompson is in 62^nd position on the Merit list and in need of a good week to secure his card for next year by finishing in the top 65.

He is comfortably on course for that after making an eagle and five birdies and not dropped a shot.

His playing status for next year is definitely on his mind, but says sessions with sports psychologist Jonah Oliver, who works with his compatriot Cam Smith, have been a huge help in dealing with such situations.

“I’m human, so definitely think about it. The thoughts are there. I do a lot of work with my psychologist Jonah. I mean, you can’t really avoid that sort of stuff,” said Thompson.

“I think that’s huge speaking to him. It’s great to be able to lean on him a bit more sometimes. I think we’re all a little bit stubborn in the sense that maybe we don’t need help. I’ve got a good support team there that helps me with that.”

Pictured by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

American John Catlin made the perfect start to end a disappointing season after taking a share of the clubhouse lead at the Saudi Open presented by PIF today – admitting after that a few setbacks have been on his mind this year that have affected his form.

He fired a first round seven-under-par 65 here at Dirab Golf & Country Club, just outside the capital Riyadh, along with Australian Jack Thompson – in the season-ending event on the Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong and Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden are next best placed after 66s.

This time last year Catlin was being crowned the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion for the first time after an inspired season. He won twice, including the Saudi Open presented by PIF, came second twice – after two play-off loses – plus became the first player on the Tour to shoot a 59. He was also voted the Player’s Player of the Year, for the second time in his career.

However, he says events at the end of 2024 had a profound impact on him, and it’s taken time to heal. His mother passing away in October was far and away the most significant of those.

He said: “You know, I wouldn’t be a pro golfer if it wasn’t for all the support she gave me when I was a really little kid and junior golfer, and she took me to all the tournaments.

John Catlin.

“She was a big part of the process, and a big supporter of what I do, and just a loving person. And so, you know, last year it actually happened on the Wednesday of Jakarta, but I found out from my dad after the final round.”

Catlin explained she had been stable for a while and there was a huge emotional shock when she passed, the week of the Indonesian Masters.

In addition, narrowly failing to earn a place on the LIV Golf League after just missing out on winning The International Series Rankings, also hit him hard – he said.

“You know, there was a lot of other things – including not earning my spot on LIV. I wish I would have handled that thing a little bit better. You know, those things happen.

“I think mentally, internally I mean, I wish I would have just handled it a little bit better.”

Catlin is currently in 46^th place on the Merit list – well below par for a six-time winner on the Tour.

Today’s round, bogey-free, with seven birdies, shows he is on the road to recovery.

“I feel much stronger now. I feel like I’ve processed through a lot of it. I feel as good as I ever have. I’ve been really enjoying this week,” he said.

Jack Thompson.

He heads home to Florida after this week, where he will prepare for the LIV Golf Promotions event in January – where two places are up for grabs on the LIV Golf League.

But first up is the Saudi Open presented by PIF where win number seven on the Asian Tour would confirm the return of John Catlin.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Another first awaits the Asian Tour this week at the season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF. For the first time in its history a player from either Japan or Zimbabwe will claim the Order of Merit title.

Kazuki Higa is the hot favourite as the Japanese star has a healthy lead while Zimbabwean Scott Vincent has an outside chance, sitting in second place.

They are the only two players who can claim the coveted title with Higa needing to make the cut to stay ahead, provided Vincent finishes outside the top-four.

Both players are laser focused on finishing the year in first place and succeeding American John Catlin as the Order of Merit champion.

They have been paired together for the first two rounds here at Dirab Golf & Country Club, along with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – the 2019 Merit champion.

Said Higa: “I chose to start playing the Asian Tour for the first time last year, in order to achieve success overseas. So, to be in this position now is like a dream. There is still work to be done though.”

He leads the Merit list with 1,958.59 points and controls his own destiny, with Vincent 142.47 points behind.

Kazuki Higa.

The 30-year-old from Okinawa should be able to see it through following an outstanding season.

He stormed out of the gates in the beginning of the season with three straight top 10’s, posting a T8 at the season-opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open, a T5 at the International Series India presented by DLF and a T2 at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

It was as in September that he stepped on the gas recording back-to-back wins in the Shinhan Donghae Open and Yeangder TPC.

And late in October he added a T2 at the International Series Philippines to regain top spot from Vincent, and he’s held it ever since.

“It’s taken a lot of had work to get to this point. I was really happy to play well last year on the Asian Tour. I finished 32^nd on the Order of Merit and was third in the Hong Kong Open – it gave me a lot of confidence,” he added.

His success overseas has been built on a fine record at home.

He won the Japan Tour money list in 2022, thanks to four victories – including the Shinhan Donghae Open, an event, like this year, jointly sanctioned with Asia, Japan and Korea. Now an eight-time winner in Japan, he will become the first player to win both the Japan and Asian Tour rankings should he be successful this week.

An incredible work ethic and level of commitment over the past two years, that has seen him become super fit and hit the ball considerably further, have also been behind his success.

It is of no surprise that one of the other players known for such discipline is the man hot on his heels Vincent.

Scott Vincent.

The Zimbabwean wrapped up The International Series Rankings three weeks ago to secure his return to the LIV Golf League next year.

He’ll also be hoping to play on the multi-million dollar franchise as the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

A relaxed Vincent has arrived in Riyadh, ready for the challenge.

“I am very refresh,” said Vincent, who won the International Series Morocco in July.

“I had two weeks off. That was so welcomed. Time with family in Zimbabwe, so really looking forward to this week. Thankful to be here, what a great spot for us to close out the year.

“It’s been an incredible season and lots to be thankful for. One more event to decided, the Order of Merit spot. I am looking forward to it, and I know Kazuki is as well. We are teeing it up on Wednesday and we are going to give it our best.”

He admitted he put a lot of pressure on himself in order to win The International Series Rankings, probably more than he needed

“There is a little bit of relief but now I am just trying to re-prioritise things. Just use this week to learn something more to get ready for next season,” he explained.

This year marks the 10^th staging of Saudi’s National Open, and the third time it has been part of the Asian Tour. Catlin is the defending champion.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

The Saudi Open presented by PIF returns to the Asian Tour this week for the third successive season, back in the prestigious season-ending position.

When it debuted on the Asian Tour in 2023, it also brought the year to a close. On that occasion, Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub claimed the title at Riyadh Golf Club.

The following year it returned to the same venue, where American John Catlin stole the show with a commanding start-to-finish victory. It was played in April but this week makes a popular return as the season finale at a new venue- Dirab Golf & Country Club, just outside Riyadh.

The country’s National Open was first played in 2015 as a local event before being elevated to the Asian Development Tour in 2022, when Naraajie Ramadhan Putra from Indonesia triumphed at Rolling Hills Golf Course.

This year’s marks the 10^th staging of the tournament.

Jazz Janewattananond.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: Saudi Open presented by PIF
• Date: 10th – 13th December 2025
• Venue: Dirab Golf & Country Club, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Par/Yards: 72/7,280 yards
• Purse: US$1million
• Asian Tour leg: 21st
• Previous winner: John Catlin (USA)
• Edition of tournament: 10th (Asian Tour 2024, 2023, Asian Development Tour 2022)
• Total number of players: 110
• Format: Stroke play tournament over four rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 pros plus ties.
• Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise, #thesaudiopen, #DirabGolfCountryClub, #golf_saudi

Julien Sale.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
• Nationalities: 35
• Top contenders: Kazuki Higa (JPN), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Wang wei-hsuan (TPE), Poosit Supupramai (THA), Jeunghun Wang (KOR)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kazuki Higa (JPN) #113
• Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Kazuki Higa (JPN) #1
• No. of amateurs in the field: 16
• No. of Saudi players in the field: 9

Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Tournament Notes

• Kazuki Higa from Japan leads the Order of Merit after a brilliant season that included back-to-back wins in the Shinhan Donghae Open and Yeangder TPC in September. The 30-year-old also stormed out of the gates in the beginning of the season with three straight top 10’s, posting a T8 at the season-opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open, a T5 at the International Series India presented by DLF and a T2 at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. He also added a T2 at the International Series Philippines in late October to regain the top spot from Scott Vincent, and he’s held it ever since.
• Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who won The International Series Rankings that concluded at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers three weeks ago, earned his ticket back to the LIV Golf League and is in second place, 142.47 points behind Higa. The two-time Asian Tour winner has been impressive all season, and in addition to his win at the International Series Morocco in July, he has collected five other top-10’s including runner-up finishes at the Shinhan Donghae Open and Jakarta International Championship. To win the Order of Merit he needs at least a solo-fifth to surpass the leader in the unlikely scenario that Higa misses the cut.
• The 2019 Order of Merit winner Jazz Janewattananond came close to winning the Bharath Classic two weeks ago in India, eventually finishing in a tie for third place. The seven-time Asian Tour winner has collected five top-10’s this season with the best being a T2 at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in early May. If Jazz gets his putter working this week, he will be a threat to win his first title since the 2022 International Series Morocco.
• Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese Taipei has enjoyed a great second half of the season racking up three top-three finishes in a span of a month, finishing T2 at the Yeangder TPC, third at Mercuries Taiwan Masters and losing a play-off at the SJM Macaco Open. He has also won three events on his local Taiwan PGA Tour, and has clinched that Order of Merit with one event remaining.
• Asian Tour’s latest winner Poosit Supupramai of Thailand got his breakthrough victory in India two weeks ago, taking the title at the inaugural Bharath Classic. He had also posted a T6 in his previous event, the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.
• Korean Jeunghun Wang is a one-time Asian Tour winner, having won the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open that was co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour. This season his best result came in the Moutai Singapore Open where he lost a play-off to eventual winner Yosuke Asaji, and he also had a T9 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. In addition to the Mauritius victory Wang has two other DP World Tour titles on his resume, the 2016 Trophee Hassan II and the 2017 Commercial Bank Qatar Mastes, and was at his peak in 2017 ranked 39^th on the OWGR.
• Only two players are still able to win the 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit title, Kazuki Higa and Scott Vincent. They would both be the first from their respective countries to do so.
• Much of the drama will likely centre around those trying to secure playing rights for next year by finishing in the top 65. Currently holding the 65th spot on the Merit list is Sean Ramos from the Philippines with 227.58 points, with Argentina’s Miguel Carballo just outside in 66th, a mere 2.54 behind with 225.04.
• Dirab Golf & Country Club is nestled amidst the scenic vistas of Dirab, just a short 45-minute drive from the bustling heart of Riyadh and lies within Tawfiq Valley. Opened in 1994 it has the distinction of being the first all-grass golf course in the Kingdom.
  It is a premier leisure property with an 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole academy course, which is floodlit, while it also boasts an equestrian centre.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

At this week’s season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF all eyes will be on the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Japan’s Kazuki Higa is aiming to hold on to first place from Scott Vincent in second. The Zimbabwean has an outside chance of adding the Merit title to The International Rankings he secured a few weeks ago.

However, the battle at the bottom of the list, will be equally as exciting with players attempting to keep their cards for next year. In this instance, the bottom means position 65 as it’s the cut off mark for retaining privileges for next year.

Filipino Sean Ramos is currently in 65^th place and the last guy in but that could all change when this week’s US$1million event commences on Wednesday at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

He is one of a number of players on the bubble – in the unenviable ‘bubble boys’ category.

As ever, there are some famous names in need of a good week to ensure they are back playing with full rights next year.

Nitithorn Thippong pictured with the Mandiri Indonesia Open trophy in 2023. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

One of those is Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who just three years ago triumphed twice in one season, and won again the following year.

He is in 95^th place following a hugely disappointing season. He’s missed nine cuts in 18 starts, with a best finish of joint 23^rd in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

It’s been an astonishing turnaround in fortunes for a player who won The DGC Open and International Series Singapore in 2022. Two wins in one year granted him a three-year exemption but that runs out this year, as does his win at the 2023 Mandiri Indonesia Open, which had a one-year exemption.

He currently has 116.69 points and needs a top-five result this week to keep his card. However, the ever-smiling 29-year-old is showing little sign of the difficult task that confronts him, and is focusing on a more positive outlook to help him work his way back.

“I mean, it’s quite okay right now,” he explains.

“It’s getting better every day. And you know when I go back to Thailand and practice, it’s always good. But I just have, like, some problems with my mentality, on the course, but now it’s getting better and better. So, I think this way is going to be good.

“I just lost my confidence a bit, because the way I was thinking and the way I am swinging the club is not going like I thought. And because of that kind I was thinking too much. But now, I am stopping that and trying to have fun on the course. I have got out of the bad thoughts.”

Nitihorn Thippong’s first win on the Asian Tour came at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He has also been working on transferring his positive approach from practice rounds to tournaments.

He says: “Especially tournament rounds. I play really, really good when I practice, but when it’s a tournament round, I am like thinking bad too much.”

The break in the schedule following the International Series Morocco in July also could not come at a better time.

“It’s good that we had a gap after Morocco, so I had time to talk to myself and think about how to improve.

“I worked on my swing, which was already in process. So that gap, gave me a lot of time to do that and also work on my mentality. I just talked to myself, and said ‘why are you still playing golf, how do I feel when I play well,’ things like that to try to get back in zone.”

Nicknamed “Fever” he will be aiming to turn up the temperature this week and return to the forefront of the Asian Tour, as one it’s most exciting young golfers.