LIV Golf heavyweights gear up for showdown in Thailand
Recent International Series England champion Peter Uihlein heads a strong LIV Golf contingent as The International Series makes two stops in Thailand for back-to-back tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar.
First up, the RangeGoats GC star will compete at the Black Mountain Championship from 17-20 October alongside Kieran Vincent of Legion XIII plus Jinichiro Kozuma and Scott Vincent from Iron Heads GC.
The LIV Golf stars then head to Thai Country Club in Bangkok for International Series Thailand, from 24-27 October, where they will be joined by Fireballs GC youngster Eugenio Chacarra, the 2022 LIV Golf Bangkok champion and a winner on The International Series last year at the St Andrews Bay Championship.
South African Branden Grace of Stinger GC, Danny Lee of Iron Heads GC and Sam Horsfield of Majesticks GC are the other LIV Golf stars joining the field for the second date in Thailand.
Kieran Vincent. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
Rankings leader John Catlin, the International Series Macau presented by Wynn champion, is also in the field for both events alongside nearest challenger Ben Campbell, who beat the American in a play-off at International Series Morocco, as well as Wade Ormsby, last year’s International Series Thailand champion at Black Mountain Golf Club.
All three travelled with the LIV Golf League this season as alternates to cover for injury to the roster, and Catlin in particular caught the eye with a T7 at LIV Golf Nashville in June while representing Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC.
Uihlein is heading to Thailand in red-hot form, having claimed his maiden victory on both the Asian Tour and The International Series at Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey, England. The American is eager to maintain that winning streak as he returns to Thailand for the first time since 2022, where he secured a top-20 finish at the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.
The former world amateur No.1 warned that the competition will be fierce as he said: “There’s plenty of talent, really good players, and I think they just haven’t really had as big a platform to showcase their skills.
“The International Series helps, knowing these guys and seeing the quality of their game go to a different level. The International Series is just going to continue to keep growing and getting better, and I think you’ll start seeing more talent be recognised.”
Scott Vincent. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
Aside from the race for the LIV Golf League spot, Uihlein believes The International Series plays an important role in player development as he added: “Playing a global schedule is beneficial long term. Being able to play different types of courses, different types of grass, different cultures, really enhances your ability to play quality golf around the world.
“The international scope that they have allows guys to do that and getting outside of Asia and going into Africa and Europe has been great for the Asian Tour and The International Series, and it’s only continued to keep getting better and better.”
The two events kick-off a six-tournament stretch over eight weeks, with the overall rankings champion ultimately claiming a spot on the LIV Golf League for the 2025 season, while a number of high-ranking players will also earn places on the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event which last year yielded three additional spots on the roster.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series said: “With six events left on the calendar, we have two-thirds of the season’s rankings points and $US 15.5 million in prize purses still available. There is an opportunity for anyone to make a move, and we are delighted that this thrilling conclusion gets started with two tournaments in the heartlands of Asian golf.”
Rattanon Wannasrichan’s nickname is “Fluke” but there was certainly no element of luck in his nine-under-par 61 today at the SJM Macao Open.
The outstanding opening round gave him a two-stroke lead over Australian Sam Brazel, who returned a 63 – who like the Thai leader eagled the par-five 18th.
Filipino Miguel Tabuena, Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Liu Yung-hua plus Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, shot 64s, here at Macau Golf & Country Club, while Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan and Gunn Charoenkul from Thailand are next best placed following 65s.
Rattanon has been playing this event for 10 years but hasn’t come close to shooting such a low round here before.
He started on 10, making four birdies on the back nine, all four in-a-row from hole 13, and an eagle on 18, where he drained a 40-footer. Birdies on three, four and nine completed one of the finest rounds of his career.
Sam Brazel. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
“It’s not my lowest as I have shot 10 under on the Asian Development Tour but it’s amazing,” said the 29-year-old, who tied for fourth in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the weekend for his best result of the season.
“I was just hoping to shoot a couple under today, didn’t expect to go so low. But I do like this course, there are a lot of chances to shoot birdies.”
He is trying to win for the second time on the Asian Tour, having won the 2017 Thailand Open. He came close to a second title in 2022 when he was beaten by Korean Tom Kim at The Singapore International following a sudden-death play-off.
“It’s a great start but there is a lot of golf still to be played,” he added.
Americans John Catlin, who won the International Series Macau at this same venue in March and is ranked first on the Asian Tour and International Series, and 2023 Open winner Brian Harman, are in a group of players tied for 11th following 67s.
Miguel Tabuena. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee has started slowly with a 68 – last year he fired rounds of 62, 64, 65 and 63 – while South African Jbe Kruger, winner of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, is in a group of players who shot 70.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, runner-up here last year, has work to do after firing a 71.
A relaxed Min Woo Lee has returned to defend his SJM Macao Open title this week – an ominous sign for a player who so magnificently overpowered Macau Golf & Country Club to win here last year.
The Australian, the world number 40, racked up three eagles, 26 birdies and made just two bogeys – one of those, almost playfully, on his very first hole – enroute to winning with a four-round total of 30-under, a tournament-record.
It was one of the finest performances of the year on the Asian Tour and with the weather forecast good and the course in excellent shape, the 26-year-old starts as a firm favourite this week, along with Asian Tour number one John Catlin from the United States – although that is clearly not a burden for the laidback star.
He said: “Just here to have fun and obviously try to win, but I mean, everyone’s here to win. Yes, obviously it would be nice to defend, but again, just have fun.”
One month after winning here he claimed the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, and he is looking for a similar finish to the season – particularly to make up for a disappointing Presidents Cup two week ago. He was part of the International team that lost to the United States, during a week when he posted one tie and one loss in two appearances.
Min Woo Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
“Always nice to come back to a course that you play well in and very excited for the week,” added Lee, who finished 60th in this year’s FedEx Cup after two runner-up finishes in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
“We’ve got some good players here. Hopefully it turns out to be a good one.
“I have a bit more experience now [of the course] I guess. It’s been a year so parts of my game have gotten better but just more experience over the last year.”
He is trying to become only the second player to win this event back-to-back. China’s Zhang Lianwei achieved the feat in 2001 and 2002. The 59-year-old is also playing this week.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who pushed Lee all the way last year, before finishing two shots back in second place, Catlin – winner of the International Series Macau at this week’s venue back in March – Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, and South African Jbe Kruger, who claimed last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, are just a few of those ‘good players’ he refers to here this week.
Harman, who was on the victorious American team at the Presidents Cup, is making his debut in the SJM Macao Open.
“Super excited to be here,” said the American, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“Never been to Macau. I’m excited to go see the golf course. It’s nice being able to use some success to travel the world and showcase my talents all over the place, so I’m really excited to be here.”
“I was lucky enough to get picked for the Presidents Cup at the end of September, so I’ve tried to keep my game in really good shape towards the end of the year. Got that done, was home for a week and a half and here I am, and I’m ready to get going. I’m excited to be here.”
Brian Harman. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Harman has been paired with Kruger and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai for the first two days, while Lee is playing with Catlin, also the leader of The International Series Rankings, and Korean Jeunghun Wang – runner-up in Taiwan on Sunday.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: SJM Macao Open
- Date: October 10-13, 2024
- Venue: Macau Golf & Country Club, Macau
- Par/Yards: Par 70 / 6,750 Yards
- Purse: US$1million
- Asian Tour leg: 14th event of 2024 season
- Edition of tournament: 21st
- Total number of players: 144
- Format 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds to the leading 65 pros plus ties
- Social Media Hashtags: #TimeToRise #SJMMacaoOpen
Min Woo Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016)
- Nationalities: 24
- Past winners of tournament in the field: Min Woo Lee (2023), Gaganjeet Bhullar (2017, 2012), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (2016), Scott Hend (2015, 2013), Jason Knutzon (2004), Zhang Lianwei (2001, 2002)
- Defending champion: Min Woo Lee (AUS)
- Top contenders: Min Woo Lee (AUS), Brian Harman (USA), John Catlin (USA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Jbe Kruger (RSA)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Brian Harman #23
- Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: John Catlin (USA) #1
- Number of amateurs: 3
- Number of Macau players in the field: 3
A general view of the 18th hospitality pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday October 8, 2024 ahead of the SJM Macao Open at the Macau Golf & Country Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Tournament Notes
- Defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia represented the International squad at the Presidents Cup in Montreal two weeks ago, posting one tie and one loss in two appearances. The 26-year-old set an incredible scoring record at the SJM Macao Open last year, posting 30 under par on the Macau Golf and Country Club layout to beat Thailand’s Poom Saksansin by two strokes. Lee is a PGA Tour regular and finished 60th in this year’s FedEx Cup after two T2 finishes in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
- The 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Harman also played in this year’s Presidents Cup and was part of the winning U.S. team. The 37-year-old American finished 31st in the FedEx Cup this season, posting a T2 at the Players Championship, a T5 at The Sentry and a T9 at the Travelers Championship as his best results. Harman, who will be making his debut in the SJM Macao Open, is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour and was part of the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
- Order of Merit leader John Catlin is already a winner at Macau Golf and Country Club this season, having captured the International Series Macau in March after firing a 59 in the third round and beating Spaniard David Puig in a playoff. The 33-year-old American would follow it up with another win at the very next event, the Saudi Open presented by PIF in April. In his last Asian Tour event, the Yeander TPC two weeks ago, Catlin finished runner-up after a close battle with eventual winner Suteepat Prateeptienchai from Thailand. He also posted a runner up in the International Series Morocco in July after losing a playoff to eventual winner Ben Campbell. A tied third finish in the season opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open secured him a spot in the 152nd Open Championship where he finished tied 16th for his best result in a major.
- Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert won the SJM Macao Open in 2016 for his first Asian Tour title and is coming into this week in great form. In the last two weeks Asian Tour events, the Yeangder TPC and the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, the 35-year-old finished fifth and T2 respectively and has gone from 64th to 18th on the Order of Merit and easily securing his card for next year.
- South African Jbe Kruger picked up his third Asian Tour title, and first one since 2019, at the weather shortened Mercuries Taiwan Masters with a two-stroke victory over Korean Jeunghun Wang last week. The 38-year-old had only posted one top 10 finish on the Asian Tour previously this season, a T10 at the International Series Macau Presented by Wynn, but the win in Taiwan last week boosted him into 10th on the Order of Merit from 69th. Wang is also competing.
Macau Golf & Country Club did exceptionally well in handling the devastating aftereffects of Typhoon Koinu that passed over the area on Monday of the SJM Macau Open week a year ago, but it had to kneel and bow to the brute force that was Typhoon Lee.
Min Woo Lee was sensational in winning the tournament that has remained one of the most popular stops of the Tour since 1998 but was resuscitated after a gap of five years because of the pandemic.
The 25-year-old Australian phenom started in the most inauspicious manner – making a bogey on his first hole itself. The 411-yard, par-four 10th hole of Macau Golf & Country Club would trouble him later as well when he dropped another shot there in Saturday’s third round.
However, apart from those two bogeys, nothing bothered the uber-talented Perth resident. On a course drenched by the buckets of rain dumped by Koinu, the long-hitting Lee was unstoppable as he racked up three eagles and 26 birdies in the remaining 70 holes, cruising to a tournament-record total of 30-under-par.
Min Woo Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Lee’s four-day effort was just two short of the Asian Tour all-time scoring record of 32-under, set by Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat at the SAIL Open in 2009, and 10 shots better than Scott Hend’s all-time best Macau Open winning total of 20-under par in 2015.
It was his first Asian Tour title, beating a dogged Poom Saksansin by two shots. The unassuming Thai star, who has made it a habit of chasing superstars and battling them down the stretch, was snapping at Lee’s heels until the bitter end, before finishing at 28-under-par – eight shots better than his third-placed compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai (20-under par).
Despite preferred lies in play on the short course (6,606 yards, par 71), it was a remarkable performance from the top-two and came in contrasting fashion. Lee dazzled with his 190 miles per hour ball speed that helped him surmount just about every challenge off the tee. Poom, one of the shortest hitters on Tour with an average driving distance of 262.5 yards, was armed with laser-guided irons and making almost every putt he faced. Together, they simply ran away from the field.
Poom made a total of 32 birdies but would eventually rue the fact that two of his four bogeys came on par-five holes in Saturday’s third round.
Scotland’s David Drysdale matched Lee’s nine-under-par 62 on the opening day, but the Australian seized the sole lead on Friday with a bogey-free 64 and never looked back.
Lee had arrived in Macau as the highest-ranked player in the world at number 46 and lived up to the pre-tournament hype. The performance kickstarted a brilliant end to his year as he then went home and won the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and was third at the ISPS Handa Australian Open. It also broke a title drought of more than two years and two months when he won the 2021 Scottish Open and helped him finish the year ranked 33rd in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“I played wonderful, really flawless golf for a lot of the holes, there were only a few holes that I could really look back on. But yeah, I’m really proud of the way I handled myself,” said Lee, popularly known as ‘The Chef’ and a massive favourite with Gen Z.
L-R – Min Woo Lee and Poom Saksansin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“As soon as the week started, I had a couple of days rest because of the typhoon, and the course was looking amazing from the beginning. Obviously, it was pretty bad for a couple of days there, so it was props to the green keepers for keeping the course in such good condition.
“Poom played unbelievable – he’s a bad son of gun! He never left, he just stayed around. I tried my best and ended up on top, but he was giving it to me for the whole time.”
Poom, who won the Yeangder TPC in September to end a five-year-long title drought, was also tied third in International Series Singapore. The 30-year-old has repeatedly made a mockery of reputations in the past – including pulling off a sensational fourball win over Henrik Stenson and Alexander Levy in the 2018 EurAsia Cup single-handedly and then beating Paul Casey in the singles – but his terrific form was still not enough to get him past Lee.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to putt like this again. I would say that I played very well today but needed a miracle to win. I would have to hit at least 10-under to win. Lee is a very good player. He hits it very far and had a very good game plan. His chipping and putting are awesome. He should have been better than 30-under par,” said Poom.
Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po (63) and Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena (65) were tied fourth at 18-under.
A fascinating side story of the tournament was the performance of American Jason Knutzon. The 2004 champion finished tied sixth at 17-under, despite playing his first professional event after a gap of five years. The 47-year-old, now a teaching professional back home in Des Moines, Iowa, started with two rounds of 68 each, before adding a 66 and a 65 over the weekend.
“I would say I am incredibly happy. I had no expectations for the week,” said Knutzon, who also revealed he did not have the best build-up for the tournament after falling sick for a couple of weeks before flying.
A strong local contingent will be among the challengers as the Asian Tour swings into Thailand for back-to-back tournaments on The International Series, the 10 elevated events that form a pathway onto the LIV Golf League.
The inaugural Black Mountain Championship takes place next week at the iconic Black Mountain Golf Club from 17-20 October, with the third edition of International Series Thailand taking place a week later at the Thai Country Club in Bangkok from 24-27 October.
A host of top local talent will be aiming for glory in an elite international field that contains LIV Golf League stars and the cream of the Asian Tour.
Sadom Kaewkanjana is currently the highest challenger on The International Series Rankings, at No.11 thanks largely to his impressive fourth-placed finish at International Series England last time out in August.
David Boriboonsub. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
David Boriboonsub, a winner of three titles on the spin late last year, is next best at 24th and last season’s Volvo China Open champion Sarit Suwannarut sits 30th in part due to his season-high T14 on the series at International Series Oman.
Sadom, a two-time Asian Tour champion, is excited to be playing consecutive elevated events home soil. He said: “Having back-to-back tournaments in Thailand this year is such an honour. I’m very excited to tee off in front of the home crowds and have my family be there to support me.
“I think it’s always exciting to see Thai flags at the top of the leaderboard and it would be even more special to have a Thai player win on home soil.
“The competition is definitely tougher this year with more LIV Golf players in the field. It is a good opportunity and experience for Thai golfers to be able to play against great golfers, and in the long run, with all the big-name players joining the tour, it will help expand the game of golf in Asia and potentially create more opportunities for Asian golfers.”
Boriboonsub, the 2023 Saudi Open presented by PIF champion on the Asian Tour, echoed Sadom’s thoughts, stating: “I’m really excited about having both the Black Mountain Championship and International Series Thailand back-to-back this season. Competing in two tournaments in home conditions is definitely an advantage for me and the other Thai players.
“We’ll have the opportunity to leverage our familiarity with the courses and the local conditions, which can help us perform at our best. Additionally, playing in front of home crowds is always motivating. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sarit, a two-time champion on The International Series with a win at the BNI Indonesian Masters in 2022 as well as his runaway Volvo China Open victory in 2023, emphasised the ever-growing challenge at events on The International Series as he said: “The competition is getting stronger and stronger on the Asian Tour now.
“The cut line is getting higher and the winner score is getting lower, due to the LIV Golf players competing and the players now competing from all over the world from countries like Australia and the USA.
“The Asian Tour players can now compete with the best in the world and that has a real benefit for everyone involved. Everyone wants to win but it would be really good if a Thai player could do it.”
Phachara Khongwatmai, who represented Thailand at the Olympic Games earlier this year and finished runner-up at International Series Thailand two years ago, is also in the field alongside countrymen Poom Saksansin and Suradit Yongcharoenchai, two talented home hopes who proved their credentials by finishing in the top 10 of the innovative LIV Golf Promotions event last year, giving them playing rights for all 10 events this season.
Seven-time Asian Tour winner and 2019 Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond is another big name in the field hoping for home advantage alongside three-time Asian Tour champion Nitithorn Thippong, the 2022 International Series Singapore winner.
Suteepat Prateeptienchai is in red-hot form and the highest Thai on the Asian Tour Order of Merit at No.8 after his wire-to-wire victory at the Yeangder TPC last month, while Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, next highest at 17, will also be one to watch.
Chonlatit narrowly lost out to Australian Wade Ormsby last year on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off for the International Series Thailand title at Black Mountain Golf Club.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert, joint second in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the weekend, is also in both fields.
After a marathon weekend of 54 holes of golf played, due to Thursday and Friday’s play being washed out because of Typhoon Krathon, it was South African Jbe Kruger who came out on top after a tight battle with Jeunghun Wang from Korea.
Tied for the lead going into the last hole at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, Kruger made a birdie on 18 while Wang dropped a shot. He gave the South African a two-shot victory over the Korean and Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
The notoriously tricky Tamsui Course at Taiwan Golf and Country Club did not give up many low scores during the week – the lowest being five-under-par 67 by Wang, Lu Sun-yi, Trevor Simsby, Jaco Ahlers and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam. Kruger’s eight-under-par winning score is also the highest on the Asian Tour so far this season.
Kruger’s approach game was impressive considering Tamsui’s small greens; he missed only 12 greens for a Greens in Regulation (GIR) percentage of 77.78% to rank second in this statistics category for the week.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He also had a good week off the tee and on the greens, ranking joint sixth in Driving Accuracy and equal fifth in Putts per GIR, with 54.76% and 1.67 respectively.
Wang, who led for a big part of the final round, was solid across the board and ranked ninth in Putts per GIR with 1.69, and tied 16 in GIR with 64.81%, plus 16th in Driving Distance with 297.5 yards.
Pavit, who birdied his final hole to grab a share of second place, led the field in Putts per GIR with 1.56 and was joint second in Putts per Round with a 26.6 average. He was also tied top for the most Birdies for the week on 15, with Kruger, Michael Maguire, and Nitithorn Thippong.
Their excellent results in Taipei meant big jumps on the Asian Tour Order of Merit for Kruger and Pavit, with the South African moving from 69th to 10th, and the Thai from 40th to 18th respectively.
Wang, who was sitting in 15th place before the week began thanks to a runner up at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open and a equal eigtht at the International Series Morocco, moved up five spots to number 10.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round: S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND) 26.33
- Putts per GIR: Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 1.56
- Greens In Regulation: Maverick Antcliff (AUS) 81.48%
- Fairways Hit: Poom Saksansin (THA) 71.43%
- Driving Distance: Wang Wei-hsuan (TPE) 327.5 Yards
- Most Eagles: Trevor Simsby (USA) 2
- Most Birdies: Jbe Kruger (RSA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Michael Maguire (USA), Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 15
- Fewest Bogies or Worse: Rashid Khan (IND) 5
- Scrambling: Austen Truslow (USA) 87.5%
Jbe Kruger triumphed at the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today – for his first victory on the Asian Tour in five years – after an extraordinary weekend of golf, that saw three rounds played, each shotgun starts, as a result of Typhoon Krathon.
The South African beat Korean Jeunghun Wang and Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand by two shots here at Taiwan Golf & Country Club following a gripping finish.
Kruger and Wang, playing in the final group, reached the 18th tied before the South African made a birdie, from six feet, while the Korean, in trouble off the tee, dropped a shot.
The champion carded a three-under-par 69 to finish the event, which had been reduced to 54 holes, on eight-under. Wang, leader for most of the final day and attempting to win for the first time in seven years, closed with a 73, while Pavit returned a 69.
The extremely poor weather brought by Typhoon Krathon meant no play was possible on Thursday and Friday, meaning there was a strong possibility that the event would be cancelled.
However, with the weather improving considerably the stage was set for a fascinating two days of golf when the tournament’s organisers reverted to a LIV Golf League-style event by playing 54-holes, with each round a shotgun start – a first on the Asian Tour.
The second round finished this morning with Wang carding a 69 for a one-shot lead over Poom Saksansin from Thailand, while Kruger was a shot further back.
Wang, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2016 and trying to win for the first time since returning from National Service two years ago, had a two-stroke cushion over Kruger at the turn.
Kruger, with his wife Denise caddying for him, caught Wang with a birdie on 13, after the Korean made bogey on 12, and then pulled one ahead with a birdie on 15. Kruger then let Wang back in when he dropped a shot on 16 before the crucial two-shot swing on the last.
It’s a timely win for the South African who was in 69th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and battling to keep his playing privileges for next year, but he’s moved up to 10th on the Merit list.
“It means the world,” said 38-year-old Kruger, now a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, having won the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2019 and the 2012 Avantha Masters.
“I did not come here with any form. Not been playing great, so it’s unbelievable. It’s been glory to God. With the typhoon, with everything that has been happening.
“I probably made it as hard as I could on myself. I can’t get it on the fairway, I can’t get it on the green, I am trying to make birdies, and then the last hole I hit it in the fairway finally.”
To make the moment event better he was given the Mercuries Taiwan Masters Green Jacket by his good friend and compatriot Jaco Ahlers – the defending champion, who tied for 10th.
Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (70) and Rattanon Wannasrichan (71) plus Indian Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (70) tied for fifth, three back from Kruger.
They head to the SJM Macao Open next week, where Australian Min Woo Lee will attempt to defend his title at Macau Golf & Country Club.
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