Southport, England: New Zealander Ryan Fox has not followed a conventional path in professional golf. It was not until he was 25 that he relinquished his amateur status. He was a rookie pro on the DP World Tour at 30 and a rookie on the PGA Tour at 37. Now, at the grand old age of 39, he’s a Major champion. Story by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

“I’m definitely not following the trend at the moment. But if I can keep getting better a little bit every year, I’ll be pretty happy,” said the New Zealander, clutching the Claret Jug following his victory in the 154th Open Championship.

“It’s something you dream of. I used to get up in the middle of the night to watch this tournament back home. To be the Champion Golfer of the Year, it’s unbelievable, surreal, crazy. I don’t have enough words in my vocabulary to explain it,” added Fox, who holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final green at Royal Birkdale Golf Club to claim a one-stroke win from American Cameron Young.

With a closing two-under 68, he posted a four-day aggregate of 10-under 270 over the fabled Lancashire links.

In so doing he has become just his country’s fourth Major winner, following in the footsteps of Sir Bob Charles, who triumphed at nearby Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1963, Michael Campbell, winner of the US Open in 2005, and Dame Lydia Ko, a three-time LPGA Tour Major champion.

Ryan Fox. Picture by David Cannon/Getty Images.

“To have my own little piece of history, I don’t know if it’s something I ever thought was possible. But we’re here now. I think this will be huge for New Zealand golf,” said Fox, who represented his country in the first three editions of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC).

With rounds of 77 and 79 he missed the cut in the inaugural AAC at China’s Mission Hills in 2009. The following year he was tied for 34th at Kasumigaseki Country Club, improving to joint 17th in the championship’s third iteration at Singapore Island Country Club in 2011.

His three-under total of 285 there was 12 shots behind fourth-placed Australian Cameron Smith and 15 strokes worse off than Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the winner.

Now, Fox has joined Smith (Open Championship 2023) and Matsuyama (Masters Tournament 2022) as the third AAC alumni to win a men’s Major.

“Congratulations to Ryan. His win makes all New Zealanders proud,” said fellow-Kiwi Philip Hassall, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.

Victory at The Open was not even a consideration for Fox at the half-way stage of the championship when he found himself in a share of 52nd place. However, an eight-under 62 on Saturday – equalling the best ever single round score in men’s Major, saw him soar into contention before completing the turnaround on Sunday.

His victory marks the largest 36-hole comeback in men’s Major history by position.

Main picture: Ryan Fox. Picture by Getty Images.

Southport, England: Stirred by strong family support, Cameron John is proving to be one of the surprise packages at the 154th Open Championship. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

Cheered on from outside the ropes by his wife, parents and grandparents, the Australian continued to confound the odds with a composed one-under-par 69 in round three at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

With a three-day aggregate of four-under 206, John finds himself in a share of 11th place heading into Sunday’s final round, six shots off the pace being set by American Sam Burns.

Now the three-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this past season is daring to dream of pulling off what would rank as one of the biggest shocks in the championship’s storied history.

Reflecting on the elevated position in which he finds himself, John, who qualified for The Open by finishing second at the Asian Tour’s Singapore Open in April, part of the Open Qualifying Series, said: “It’s kind of pinch me stuff. But I feel like over the past two years this is kind of what we’ve built my game around. I feel like I’m capable of competing at the highest level. Hopefully I’ve shown enough of that already this week … and hopefully I can do even more tomorrow.

“I feel like I’m playing great golf, and today I was hitting the ball probably better than the first two days. Score-wise, it felt like there was a couple that I let go and there was a couple that went my way. That’s golf. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing, I’m always going to give it 100 per cent, and hopefully that holds me in good stead come tomorrow.

Cameron John. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.

“I had big goals for the week, and I think that’s important. It’s still 18 holes of golf and focus on trying to win the tournament … or at least give myself a chance with nine holes to go.”

The least well known of the three Camerons in the starting line-up here, John has outperformed his compatriot and 2023 Open champion (Cam) Smith who missed the cut, and is one in front of American (Cam) Young, the world number four.

John is quick to attribute his outstanding Open debut performance to being surrounded by close family, most notably his wife Georgia, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

“It’s amazing to have all my family here – my grandparents, who were with me on my first international trip and who have flown across the world to see me play; my mum and dad, who have been supporting me my entire life … and my wife, who’s an absolute trooper. I couldn’t be more thankful for having her,” said John.

John began the week in 256th place in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). A good final round here will likely see him surpass his career-best of 219th. That’s quite a leap for a man who ended 2025 languishing in 589th position in the standings before finding form in Australia and Asia.

Those who know of his background and have followed his progression through the ranks are not surprised to see him faring so well.

At the start of the week, Nick O’Hern, a top former player and now a respected golf media personality, told the Golf Australia website: “The one thing I noticed with Cam is that when he gets a sniff, he’s not afraid to go for it. And that’s such an under-rated quality and a very rare quality in a lot of the young players especially.

“You can almost see them tensing up and freezing a little when they get in contention. Whereas Cam, he almost thrives in that sort of situation. That’s really going to help him on the biggest stage. And the Majors are the biggest stage.

Cameron John. Picture by Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images.

“Links golf is a whole different kettle of fish, but he did win down at The National and at 13th Beach so he obviously loves playing in the wind, firm, fast conditions. It’ll be exciting to see what he can do.”

As O’Hern pointed out, John is well versed in links-style conditions, a product of his golfing upbringing.

John said: “I’m a Member at Commonwealth Golf Club and I’ve been there since I was 13 years old. The course has gone through some recent renovations, but that’s probably helped because the greens have been firm for the last couple of years. Growing up in the Melbourne Sand Belt area it’s really similar (to conditions at Birkdale). It’s probably a little bit wider and more forgiving off the tee but the shots you have to hit, controlling the bounce and how far it rolls is very comparable.”

Of the three other Asian Tour members who made the cut, American Marcus Plunkett added a 71 to earlier returns of 70 and 71 and will head into the final round in a share of 64th place on two-over 212.

That’s one stroke in front of Japan’s Kazuki Higa, last year’s Order of Merit winner, and American Peter Uihlein both of whom carded 72s and are tied for 71st on three-over 213.

Main picture: Cameron John. Picture by Getty Images.

Southport, England: No wonder Lucas Herbert was filled with mixed emotions. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

With an eight-under-par 62 in round two of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the Australian equalled the all-time low round in the 166-year history of men’s Major championship golf. A fabulous feat worth celebrating.

While justifiably proud of his achievement, Herbert was also left to ponder on a final-hole bogey that denied him the chance to create history with a first-ever 61 at the very highest level of the game.

“I’m absolutely disappointed (not to shoot 61), and at the same time, so proud of today,” said Herbert, whose 62 was emulated by American Sam Burns less than an hour later.

They join Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele (twice), Shane Lowry and Kurt Kitayama as the only other players to post 62s in the history of the men’s Majors.

“That’s a really cool list to be a part of. I’m very, very proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a Major championship. So, it’s kind of holding two emotions there at the same time. It’s a tricky one. I’m sure once the dust settles, I’ll be able to sort of decompress it a little bit,” said Herbert, who finished the day with a two-shot half-way lead.

Lucas Herbert of Australia acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.

As followers of the Asian Tour will be aware, this was not the first time that the 30-year-old Herbert has posted a 62 this year.

On the last day of February, Herbert soared into contention at the 105th New Zealand Open in Queenstown with a swashbuckling nine-under-par 62 on Millbrook Resort’s Composite layout in the penultimate round of the event that formed part of the Open Qualifying Series.

That effort helped him to finish runner-up and claim the second and final spot on offer at Royal Birkdale, where he’s intent on making the most of the opportunity.

Winner of the International Series Japan on the 2025 Asian Tour, Herbert opened with an even-par 70 here on Thursday.

On Friday morning he came out all guns blazing, setting off with five successive threes en route to an outward six-under 28, matching The Open record for best front nine score.

He picked up further strokes at 11 and 12 to reach eight-under.

He said: “The first 12 holes, I might not play 12 better holes in my life. That whole back nine today, it was not lost on me the amount of history in Major championships and the opportunity I had to obviously break the record, but then to tie it as well is still something I’m really proud of.

“I’m a golf nerd anyway, so I know all the numbers, all the records, everything like that.”

Cameron John. Picture by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

He also knows there’s the little matter of the Claret Jug at stake over the next 48 hours. Is that something he’s dreamed of, he was asked?

“Yes, I think so. It’s two worlds apart, though, to have dreams and then to have even a glimpse of it sort of come to reality. Dreams of winning The Open Championship for sure … and I’m in a great position to do that. There’s still a lot of golf to go and a lot of work to do.

“I think that’s the dream I would love to tick off more than shooting 62. Yes, I’ve got a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting after it on the weekend.”

On a bright day for Asian Tour members, Australian Cameron John, Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Americans Peter Uihlein and Marcus Plunkett all made it through to the weekend.

John, who is playing this week by virtue of finishing second in the Singapore Open – an Open Qualifying Series event – excelled, carding a 67 and is three under – in a tie for 17th. Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Higa and Uihlein shot 68s while Plunkett a 71. All three finished one over – right on the cut line.

Main picture: Lucas Herbert shakes hands with his caddie Nick Pugh on the 18th green after his 62. Picture by Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images.

Southport, England: There’s clearly something about Lancashire links courses and the northwest of England that agrees with Tom Kim. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

It was three years ago that the Korean caused a major stir when he placed runner-up to American Brian Harman at Royal Liverpool in what was only his second Open Championship appearance.

This week, the former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is aiming to go one better at Royal Birkdale, a course that is less than 30 miles north of the venue at which he made his first run at a Major title in 2023.

On the opening-day of the 154th edition of golf’s original championship, Kim found himself on the wrong side of the draw, a 1.31 pm start time meaning he was among those who experienced the most challenging of the conditions with the winds whipping up in the afternoon.

Undaunted, 24-year-old Kim buckled down to the task at hand and had every reason to be contented with an even-par 70. American Jackson Suber holds the lead following a 65.

“I did well. It’s a Major championship, so the golf course is going to be tough. Obviously, the wind in the afternoon is blowing. I felt like I did a pretty good job, low stress. Just a few more birdies would have been nice, but overall, it’s a decent start,” assessed the man who emerged from a dip in form that saw him miss the first two Majors of 2026 by claiming a tie for third in last month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

His resurgence continued last week when he captured his fourth PGA Tour title, topping the leaderboard at the Genesis Scottish Open.

No wonder there’s been an unmistakable spring in his step since setting foot on Royal Birkdale.

There’s also been a sense that we’re seeing a calmer, more measured version of Kim. He does not disagree.

“Yes, I do believe I have matured a lot in the last few years, the way I approach the game, the way I go about my business on the golf course. It is very different,” said Kim, who acknowledges that his Asian Tour triumphs at the Panasonic Open India in 2019 and the Singapore International in 2022 were important catalysts in his rapid development.

Promisingly, he also accepts that further improvement is required if he’s to write his name into golfing folklore this week by becoming just the second Korean male Major champion (after YE Yang) and the first Asian to raise aloft the Claret Jug and be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

Summing up his day one performance over the Birkdale links, he said: “Today was just a quiet round – two birdies, two bogeys. But I do have to do a better job of trying to figure out how I can get these days a little better.”

Main Picture: Tom Kim (Getty Images).

Southport, England: He may not have one of the most recognisable faces among competitors at the 154th Open Championship. But, at six-foot five inches tall, Marcus Plunkett stands head and shoulders above most of his rivals in the 156-player starting line-up. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

Despite sitting a lowly 777th in the Official World Golf Ranking, the 32-year-old American has been garnering plenty of attention ahead of his Major debut at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. And not just because of his height.

As he completed a final practice session on the range within metres of his Major-winning compatriots Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau, Plunkett could have been forgiven for pinching himself.

“It’s awesome. This is as cool as it gets,” said the man who hails from Atlantic Beach, Florida and who currently sits in 20th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

By any measure, Plunkett’s journey in golf is unusual and serves to explain why he’s intent on soaking up every moment at the sun-drenched Lancashire links this week.

Marcus Plunkett holds up The Open pin flag after qualifying for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale at Dundonald Links Golf Course in June. Picture by Ross Parker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

He played college golf at the United States Military Academy at West Point and was named 2013 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Three years later he was part of the Army team that won the 2016 Patriot League Championship.

He then hung up his golf clubs and served five years as a transportation officer in the US Army, including deployments in South Korea, Colorado and Afghanistan.

He returned to competitive golf towards the end of his military career, turning professional in 2021 and played on the Korn Ferry Tour. When he lost his playing rights there, he decided to try his luck in Asia and made it through Q-School.

From five events this year, he’s made four cuts and enjoyed joint sixth-place finishes at the IGPL Bharath Classic in India and the Singapore Open.

Those encouraging performances persuaded him to head to Scotland to take part in Final Qualifying for The Open at Dundonald Links. Defying the odds, he posted rounds of 69 and 72 to secure the fifth and final spot on offer at golf’s self-proclaimed ‘original championship’.

Having waited so long for his moment in the global golfing spotlight, Plunkett is unconcerned that he won’t tee-off until 4.10 pm on Thursday in the penultimate flight of the opening day alongside Naoyuki Kataoka of Japan and Norway’s Baard Bjoenevik Skogen.

Simply being here makes the wait worthwhile.

Main picture: Marcus Plunkett. Picture by Getty Images.

Southport, England: Travis Smyth cut a contented figure as he strolled around the village of Birkdale, taking in the sights and sounds of the area that is playing host to this week’s 154th edition of The Open Championship. Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor.

“Birkdale village is so beautiful. You’ve got awesome little cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s got a really nice vibe to it,” said the 31-year-old Australian. “Pretty much everyone here is getting around the tournament which is really cool.”

Ahead of his second Open Championship appearance, Smyth has every reason to be at peace with himself – and confident about his prospects in the northwest of England.

On the back of topping the standings in the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, helped in a big way by victory at the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship in March, and the International Series Japan on the Asian Tour in April, Smyth’s stock has risen considerably.

So, too, has his status in the game. Since the turn of the year, he’s soared more than 200 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking to 145th. A good performance at Royal Birkdale Golf Club this week will give him the chance to progress further and improve on his career-best ranking of 134th, achieved three months ago in the immediate wake of his Japan success.

Travis Smyth pictured eagling the 18th to win the International Series Japan. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

No wonder he’s looking forward to the challenge which will begin when he tees-off in the first round at 8.47 am on Thursday in the company of American Michael Thorbjornsen and Japan’s Kota Kaneko.

It was three years ago that Smyth arrived at Royal Liverpool for his Open debut with high hopes which were effectively extinguished when he returned an opening 78.

A six-shot improvement on day two, highlighted by a hole-in-one at the 17th, lifted his mood but was not enough to enable him to survive the 36-hole axe.

This time it feels different for the man who’s currently sitting proudly atop the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, and The International Series Rankings.

“I’ve been playing pretty well and the practice rounds here have gone smoothly. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but swing-wise and practice-wise I don’t feel like I have to go out there and find something going into the tournament.

“It’s a nice, comfortable position to be in. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but …,” said Smyth, halting himself mid-sentence, equally aware of his past Open experience, and the importance of staying in the present.

“I’m extremely excited … and I’m extremely nervous. I can’t wait for Thursday to come,” he said.

Main picture: Travis Smyth celebrates after acing the  17th at The Open in 2023. Picture by Getty Images.

Nine Asian Tour members will have the honour of competing on arguably golf’s greatest stage this week, when they play in The Open – the fourth and final major of the season.

The 154^th edition of the game’s oldest major commences on Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, located in Southport on the north-west coast of England, and as is regularly the case the Asian Tour is represented by a strong contingent.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, will lead the way – in what will be his third appearance in the event.

Scott Vincent, winner of The International Series Rankings last year, has made the trip. The Zimbabwean, who has excelled on the LIV Golf League this year with six top-15 finishes, is in through the International Federations category on the World Rankings and will be playing for the second time.

Australian Travis Smyth, the current leader of the Order of Merit and the Rankings, will line-up thanks to topping the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit earlier this year.

Three Asian Tour players have qualified thanks to the Open Qualifying Series, which included a number of Asian Tour events: Korean Jeongwoo Ham and Cameron John from Australia, first and second respectively at the Singapore Open, and Kolon Korea Open winner Jiho Yang from Korea.

A general view of the 18th green pin flag prior to The 154th Open Championship. Picture by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

And another three will tee-off on Thursday having successfully negotiated the 36-hole Final Qualifying events recently held in the UK: Americans Peter Uihlein, Austen Truslow and Marcus Plunkett.

After shooting rounds of 66 and 68, Truslow made it through at Burnham and Barrow after tying for third.

After that performance, he said: “It’s been one hell of a ride, honestly the last year I’ve questioned whether I want to continue doing it. Not even because my game isn’t getting better but I want to get married and have kids and a stable life and this career is a tough one to do, even if you’re on the PGA Tour or LIV making a lot of money, it’s still not the easiest.

“But I love it, and my fiancée loves that I play, so I’ve kept going and I have a great team around me, and good sponsors. I have a lot of people to thank for my ability to keep going. My fiancée knows my score before I do, she follows everything.”

Few Asian Tour members have made a run at The Open, where experience of playing links golf is paramount.

Korea’s Tom Kim, winner of the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday, proved it can be done in 2022 after tying for second, the same year that Sadom Kaewkanjana excelled when he tied for 11^th – far and away the best finish by a Thai.

The challenge this week is to improve on those results which came on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Tom Kim’s career blip looks to be over after he claimed the Genesis Scottish Open at the weekend – a timely lift ahead of this week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The Korean, winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit four years ago, fired a final round six-under-par 64 for a two shot-victory over Australia’s Min Woo Lee.

The victory, at The Renaissance Club, was his maiden title on the DP World Tour and first win in three years.

Kim shot to prominence on the Asian Tour in 2019 by winning three events on the Tour’s feeder circuit, the Asian Development Tour. It earned him a battlefield promotion onto the main Tour, where he claimed the Panasonic Open India – remarkably, in the same year. He was just 17 years old at the time.

The global pandemic temporarily halted his rise but when play resumed on the Asian Tour at the end of 2021 he quickly picked up where he left off by winning the Singapore International in January of the following season, enroute to lifting the Merit title.

Later in 2022, he won for the first time on the PGA Tour, first at the Wyndham Championship and then the Shriners Children’s Open – which he also claimed the following season.

Tom Kim holds the trophy following victory at the Genesis Scottish Open. Picture by Octavio Passos/Getty Images.

He was arguably the hottest young property in the game before a loss of confidence saw him tumble down the world rankings.

He was just outside the top 150 over a month ago, shortly before he finished third at the US Open, signaling a revival was on the cards.

“I can’t really wrap my mind over it,” said an emotional Kim. “It’s really special and I’m just at a loss for words.

“Obviously I’ve had a tough couple years. I got to taste a lot of that humble pie, and I got to really learn about myself and I’m still trying to grow, still trying to learn.

“I’m definitely appreciating this more now than I did a couple years ago, which is really cool. I thought about my family, all the people around my corner that have suffered with me and also celebrated with me and kind of remembering all those people really brought tears to my eyes.”

The 24-year-old also said American Tiger Woods, one of his team-mates on TGL Golf League, was one of the first to congratulate him.

During his meteoric rise to the top a few years ago he also tied for third at The Open in 2023, and after his performance at the weekend he will be among the favourites at Royal Birkdale, where nine Asian Tour members are competing.

Keeping with its tradition of attracting some of the biggest names in the game, organisers of the SJM Macao Open announced at a press conference today that former Open champion Henrik Stenson from Sweden and Korea’s Sungjae Im will compete this year.

Stenson, winner of The Open in 2016, will make his debut while Im his second appearance when the event returns to the picturesque Macau Golf & Country Club from 15-18 October.

The US$1million event will be the 12th leg of the year on the Asian Tour and the 23rd edition of the popular event.

Stenson said: “I am delighted to be heading to the vibrant city of Macao for the first time to compete at the SJM Macao Open this October. Many of the world’s best have played at the Macau Golf & Country Club and I cannot wait to experience the course for myself and hopefully see my name amongst the greats on its roll of honour.”

Im, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, finished in a tie for seventh place 12 months ago and will be looking to improve on that next time out.

Sungjae Im. Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Images.

He said: “I am looking forward to returning to Macao this October to compete at the SJM Macao Open. I had a top 10 finish last year and hope to do even better this time around. I really enjoyed my time off the course in Macao last year with the warm welcome and great hospitality provided by SJM, and I am excited to revisit some of the places I visited and explore new ones.”

Joining them in the 144-player field will be defending champion Dominic Foos from Germany, who beat Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan in a sudden-death play-off last year.

Foos said: “Winning last October was one of the most defining moments of my career so far. Macao is an amazing city, and I got to discover that for myself last year. The support from the spectators and the atmosphere throughout the week made the victory even more special. I am excited to return and compete against some of the best players in the region once again.”

The SJM Macao Open is jointly organised by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (MSB), title sponsor SJM Resorts, S.A. (SJM) and IMG. It is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Macau Golf Association.

Ms. Lei Si Leng, Acting President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, said: “SJM Macao Open has become one of Asia’s most representative and influential international golf events. It not only fully demonstrates Macao’s professional capability to host world-class large-scale sports events, but also successfully combines international sports with Macao’s unique cultural heritage, showcasing Macao’s distinct charm to the world. This year, community promotion efforts will be further deepened to introduce golf to people of different age groups. There are also plans to add cultural elements to the event and set up cultural and creative product booths at the venue. This will make the international event more diversified, while driving the development of Macao’s tourism and society through the synergy between sports and culture.”

VIPs at today’s press conference in Macao.

Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM commented: “The Macao Open is not only a stage for the world’s leading golfers to compete, but also an important platform through which SJM advances the integration of sports and tourism. Through this iconic event on the Asian Tour, we hope to showcase Macau’s diverse tourism appeal to the world and further strengthen its position as a vibrant ‘City of Sports.”

Starting this year, the tournament will extend a dedicated invitation spot to the top-performing Macao golfer from the previous year’s tournament, creating a new pathway for local players to showcase their talent on the international stage. This year’s recipient is Ma Kaijun, the top local finisher at SJM Macao Open 2025. The Old Dominion University graduate also represented the city at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. The 22-year-old commented: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to compete at the SJM Macao Open again. It always feels amazing to play in front of a home crowd, and I will do my best to represent Macao once more this year. The tournament allows young players like myself to test our game against some of the best in the world, and I will always be thankful to the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, SJM, and the Macau Golf Association for the opportunities they provide as I continue my journey to become a professional golfer.”

The SJM Macao Open Qualifier will return in September at the Macau Golf & Country Club. First introduced in 2024, the qualifier aims to provide more opportunities and pathways for rising stars in the region by offering them a chance to compete for a place in the main draw. Building on its commitment to support the local community, the SJM Macao Open 2026 will bring golf closer to Macao’s neighbourhoods by sharing the joy and excitement of the sport with people from all walks of life and reaching an even wider audience.

Admission to the tournament will once again offer free admission to the public. Fans can register for complimentary tickets from today onwards, with each person able to request up to four tickets. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit www.sjmmacaoopen.com.

An outstanding week of golf culminising in Taichi Kho’s one-short victory over Bubba Watson meant there was an awful lot to talk about over all four days. Here are some of the best reactions …

First Round

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert after his 65 (-8) on Thursday:

• “I feel like today everything was right for me. I haven’t really played well since Namseoul, where I shot six or seven under on the first day, and it’s been a bit of a struggle over the last few events — even in Woo Jeong Hills and last week in Mazagan. I couldn’t really putt well, so I just kept grinding, kept my head up, and reminded myself this is The International Series — it’s a big opportunity. So yeah, today everything just came together.”

Asked if he had rediscovered his form after a lean spell the last few events he said:

• “Yeah, I think so. After struggling with putting in Korea and then again last week, I actually went and practiced for almost two hours before my round recently — I was even asking my friend to wait because we shared a car. So yeah, I’ve just kept working hard, and I guess the hard work paid off this week.”

Travis Smyth from Australia talking about what was working well in his opening 67:

• “Yeah, first of all, I just love this golf course. It’s a place where I feel I can play well, so I arrive with good vibes straight away. I love the challenge of having to shape the ball both ways and hit different trajectories. I enjoy moving the ball around and visualising different shots, and this course really suits that style of play. With the tree-lined fairways, it forces you to be creative, which I enjoy. I’m playing nicely at the moment and hitting it well, so it was a really good day.

On what he likes about Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Red Course:

• “The whole course is a challenge, to be honest. You have to drive it straight, and you need to be able to shape the ball both ways. I’ve always found the draw a little more difficult than the fade, but I still try to hit every shot that’s required. What I like about this course is that it almost forces you to shape shots because of the trees and the way the holes are designed. For me, that makes it more enjoyable. I like being challenged and having to think my way around the course. Overall, I just really like the layout and the test it provides.”

Asked if his recent experience on the LIV Golf League has helped his confidence  he said:

• “For sure. I think winning in Japan earlier this year took a huge weight off my shoulders. Before that, I would come into International Series events knowing how important they were and probably put a bit too much pressure on myself. I’d be trying harder, maybe not sleeping as well, and feeling a little more stressed. Since that win, and then going on to play well in Singapore and having some great experiences with Crushers GC in LIV Golf, I’ve felt much more relaxed. I feel like I’ve proven to myself that I can get the job done when I’m playing well. That gives you confidence and allows you to trust your game a little more. Playing against the level of competition on LIV Golf has also been a massive confidence boost. It makes me feel that if I come out here, stuck to my game plan and play solid golf, I can put myself in contention by Sunday.”

Bubba Watson and Pavit Tangkamolprasert pictured on Saturday.

Second Round

Co-leader Pavit on recovering his round with a 70 after getting off to a poor start:

• “Yeah, I didn’t start my round today so good, made some mistakes, but still trying to keep it in the fairway, hit it in the right positions. But yeah, I know that if I played to the same standard, I can make a comeback. So yeah, it was a comeback today.

Asked which hole turned it around for him he said:

• “I think the turning point was on number nine, it’s a tough par three. I bogeyed on the easy par five eighth to go back to one over, but yeah, I think the birdie on nine, that’s very important to keep to get the momentum coming. After nine birdies followed on 12 and 13, yeah, I think number nine is the momentum came from.”

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson from the U.S. on his 66 to share the lead with Pavit:

• “Today was good. I made a few putts and just kept the round going. Waking up that early, you never really know how your body is going to feel, but I got into the right positions physically and gave myself chances.”

Asked his opinion about the Red Course that he’s playing for the first time he said:

• “You have to be a strong ball striker. You can’t fake it around here. But on this golf course, the greens and the green complexes are the biggest challenge. They’re really good, but they’re also very difficult. Around here, the putter is key.”

Jazz Janewattananond.

Third Round

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho describing his round after posting a 68 to move up to joint-second place:

• “Yeah, it was really good. I kind of started off, I wouldn’t say shaky, but I just didn’t feel quite comfortable. But I think something that I’ve learned this year is I can still play freely and play well, despite feeling uncomfortable. So felt like I rode that momentum well and found the rhythm of the round really well, and yeah, towards the end I felt like I was kind of on a wave, and yeah, just kept surfing.”

On which point in the round he felt like got his momentum going:

• “Yeah, honestly, like after I birdied the par five 12^th. I felt like I made a good par on 11 after missing the fairway, and then birdied 12, birdied 13, birdied 15, and I felt like I really got it going after a good tee shot on 16. Probably hit the wrong club on 17, because I absolutely pured it [long] into the water. So that felt like, if I picked the right club there, which it’s always easier to talk about these things in hindsight, I felt like that would have really just kept me going. But honestly, a par there felt like a birdie, so yeah, I felt like the last six holes I did really well.”

Asked about how much hard work he’s put in getting into the form that saw him finish T2 in Japan the previous week he said:

• “Yeah, I think honestly, you know, I feel like we work the hardest when we’re struggling, and I think as professional golfers, we work so hard. Like everyone out here I have have so much respect for. So you know, I think it’s been good for me to kind of take ownership of my game and understand the areas to work on, and areas to continue to improve. And yeah, I’ve been working on the right things, and I think seeing good results feels like a bonus. But the real reward comes from the work that I do, and I’m proud of the work that I’ve been doing. And yeah, it feels nice to get a couple good scores in, but I’ve been fulfilled far before that.”

On getting paired with Jazz Janewattananond and Bubba Watson in the final group on Sunday:

• “Yeah, it’s great. Haven’t played with Jazz in a while, and I know he’s good fun. And yeah, I’ve never played with Bubba either, so I think it’s gonna be a really cool experience, and learning from a two-time Masters champion is gonna be gonna be really cool.”

Jazz Janewattananond after finishing his round birdie-eagle for a 66 to share second place with Taichi Kho:

• “I’m just hoping I can bring the same level of ball-striking, putting and overall play from the last two days into the final round. If I can do that, I think I will give myself a really good chance going into the last round tomorrow and making a strong push. The 17th is really a drivable hole, so you almost feel like you need to make birdie there to keep pace. I did my job on that hole. I didn’t hit a particularly good chip, but I made a good putt to save the birdie.”

Watson talking about his 69 which put him in the lead by one going into Sunday:

• “It was a long day out there today. The round seemed to take forever, which made it difficult to get into a rhythm at times. I only made one bad mistake with a three-putt on the 15th hole. Other than that, it was a great day.”

On having his family with him in Morocco during the tournament:

• “My daughter couldn’t care less what I’m shooting, and that’s pretty awesome. It’s great to have her out here. Normally she’s not old enough to walk all the holes, so it’s nice to see her out supporting me. She loves me no matter what I shoot, and that’s always a great feeling.”

Final Round

An emotional Kho after his 68 to beat Bubba Watson by one shot after making a birdie on the 72^nd hole:

• “It’s been a long year, you know, it’s had a lot of, you know, hardships and bit of adversity, but I think through it all, I think I really grew as a person. I kind of realized the work I put in surpasses any results, and golf’s a funny game, you know. It really gives and takes, and I was very, very fortunate the last couple weeks to be on the good side of it. But I just have a lot of gratitude towards the game itself, you know, the people around me, the people that make it possible.”

Asked in the press conference if the win had sunk in yet he said:

• “Not really, it hasn’t sunk in. I think the adrenaline from the golf is still wearing off. I was so pumped up on the golf course, and playing with Bubba was almost a dream come true. I remember watching him win two Masters when I was a little kid. He was playing on my TV, and for me to be going neck and neck with him for five hours today, the little kid inside me was jumping up and down. It hasn’t really sunk in yet because I was running on such an adrenaline high. I don’t know if it will sink in, to be honest.”

After a runner-up in Japan the previous week Kho was obviously in good form coming into the week, but he also added:

• “It’s just an insane game, because after I played about six weeks ago, I called my parents and my manager and said, ‘I don’t want to play anymore, I’m done’. I’m not saying I’m exempt from hardship, and I’m not saying I’m unique in this, because I know all my peers go through the exact same thing. For me, it was about being able to take ownership of my game, ownership of the things I work on, and being able to see golf from a different perspective. I have so much respect for everyone out here, because every day the way we hit the golf ball, or the way we play golf, dictates our livelihood. That is a big pressure to take, and I think that pressure was getting to me earlier this year. The golf wasn’t going my way, and I felt like I wasn’t working on the right things. But being able to see the bigger picture, and see it in a way that helps me play freer, has really changed my perspective on the game. It has shaped my relationship with the game, and as that relationship has improved over the last few tournaments, my golf has naturally improved as well. Again, it is a psychological battle on and off the golf course. This year, I have learned a lot of gratitude and a lot of perspective for my peers, all the players out here, and for myself.”

On his putt to win on the 72^nd hole he had this to say in the press conference after the tournament:

• “I didn’t even think of winning until the last putt dropped! Golf is a really psychological game, and I think one thing that I continue to learn is that a lot of thoughts are going to go through your mind, whether they’re good or bad, and it’s my ability to be able to play freely and play to my instincts through those thoughts. That is what really made the difference for me. My last four-footer winning putt felt like a truly impossible putt. I did not know how it was going to break. The putt felt so long, and the hole felt so small, but there was a part of me that knew I had the ability to be free in that situation. That’s what really helped me hit a good putt. It’s a real mental battle out there, but I’m really glad to get that done.”

Asked how proud he was of his accomplishment and game after coming out on top in a battle with Watson:

• “I think just walking those fairways I already felt pride, because I watched Bubba win two Masters on my TV when I was 12 and 14, and for me to play with that hero that I looked up to growing up, you know, watching him shape the ball as he did on TV 10-12 years ago, it really is just a testament to how far I’ve come and how far the people around me have come. So I’m just so proud of the fact that I put myself into this position, and to follow through with my game plan is another cherry on top.”

Runner-up Watson on what positives he will take from the week:

• “Yes, I played great. I played as well as I could. Taichi beat me by one, and it was great to see a young player like that perform so well. It shows the game of golf is in a great spot, and it was fun to watch how well he played today.”

Asked if it was inspiring to see younger players like Taichi on The International Series and Asian Tour developing and competing at this level alongside him he said:

• “Yes, he actually told me after the round that he used to watch me growing up, so that was pretty special. He said it was a blast to play with me and to be able to watch me play. And honestly, it was great to see. I told him he’s a great player, if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to have a great career. He played really well all week.”

Jazz on his initial reactions to his 71 and finishing T3:

• “Yeah, I mean, too many mistakes today. Last hole stung a little bit, because lost a lot of money on the last hole, but it is what it is, you know. This golf is never ending, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Asked what positives he will take from the week he said:

• “I think it’s close. It’s close. It just, momentum need to be better, I think. Swing, everything is on the right track today. So excited to see what I have for the rest of year, and then hopefully back to being multiple winners again. That’s my goal for this year, winning more than once, because it’s close. I can feel it. It just, I just need a little bit more momentum, need to learn how to win again, and then once I get it done, I think the second one should be easier.”

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.