Maguire beats Catlin after overtime cliff-hanger at Black Mountain
Unheralded Michael Maguire from the United States denied his in-form compatriot John Catlin a third victory of the year after winning the US$2million Black Mountain Championship today, following a dramatic sudden-death play-off in heavy rain on the par-five 18th at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Maguire, in just his second season on the Asian Tour and without a win in the professional game, made par on the second play-off hole to take the title after Asian Tour and The International Series number one Catlin missed his 15-footer for par.
Both players made birdie on the first play-off hole, where Catlin, with a short birdie putt, appeared to have won before his opponent sensationally holed a 20-footer for a four from the fringe.
Both players had finished 72-holes tied on 23-under after Maguire shot a seven-under-par 65 and Catlin carded a 66 – in The International Series’ fifth event of the season, and the 15th leg of the Asian Tour.
Michael Maguire. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, joint leader at the start of the day with Catlin and paired in the final group with Maguire and Catlin, closed with a 72 and finished four short of the play-off.
Chinese-Taipei’s Max Lee Chieh-po agonisingly missed the play-off by one, with his 65 leaving him solo third.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell (64), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (66) from Thailand, and Italian Stefano Mazzoli (66), finished in a tie for fourth, another two strokes back.
Said Maguire: “Big weight off my shoulders. You know, kind of been close, you know, kind of a journeyman, played on every tour you can think of and finally to get a win on a big, big tour like this is huge!”
The American was one behind Catlin playing the last, with the former, so often unbeatable in this position, the hot favourite to win.
Maguire found the front bunker in two while Catlin faced a 12-footer for birdie. However, in a surprise turn of events Maguire sensationally nearly holed his bunker shot for an eagle leaving him a straightforward birdie putt while Catlin missed his putt for the victory to send the event into overtime.
Michael Maguire. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
Maguire, aged 31 and from Florida, made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School at the beginning of last year, in fourth place, and kept his card after finishing 56th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
That season was helped in a big way by tying for fourth in the International Series Vietnam, which had been his best finish on the Asian Tour before today’s epiphany.
“It was a fun battle down the back,” he added. “We were kind of back and forth. I think I tied him on the seventh hole, six hole, and then we had a two-shot swing on nine. It was kind of big, but I knew two shots is nothing out here on this course, especially with the finish, you know, having a couple holes we could reach, by getting close to the green with drivers. So, it was just staying close and just kind of being patient was kind of my biggest thing, and then having to roll in a few nice ones.”
Catlin was attempting to win three titles in a season for the second time in his career. He achieved the feat in 2018, and it looked like the hat-trick was well within his grasp throughout today.
“I mean, I gave it everything I had, I went bogey free,” said the American, who won the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, in a play-off, and the Saudi Open presented by PIF, back-to-back earlier this year.
“I thought I had it in the first play-off hole, and I thought I had it in regulation, and he just hit an amazing bunker shot and then holed about a 20-footer to extend the play-off.”
He also lost the International Series Morocco in extra-time this year after Campbell stormed through at the end holing a succession of stunning putts.
John Catlin. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
He added: “I mean it kind of feels like Morocco, like I really didn’t do that much wrong, and here I am standing on the wrong side of it, so it is what it is.
“I kind of kept telling myself I was like, Michael’s kind of pushing me, like I could feel that. Like he kept holing good putts and hitting good shots in there, and I kind of used that. I was like okay, he’s gonna push me on, I gotta keep staying strong.”
The result means he extends his lead on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings ahead of next week’s International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club in Bangkok.
The Black Mountain Championship has kicked off a six-tournament closing stretch to The International Series which offers brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent an incredible opportunity to rescue their LIV Golf League dreams after both finished in the relegation zone this season.
Elder brother Scott, who has been playing for the Iron Heads GC for the past two seasons since being crowned The International Series Rankings champion in 2022, finished in the drop zone despite producing a respectable seven finishes in the top 25.
Kieran, last season’s International Series Vietnam champion, was relegated after just one season on Jon Rahm’s brand-new Legion XIII team after three top 25s.
The Zimbabwean had qualified on one of three golden tickets after a stellar season and a thrilling sudden death play-off in the LIV Golf Promotions event.
Kieran Vincent. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
The International Series guarantees one spot on the LIV Golf League next season to the rankings champion, and both brothers now view the run-in of six events in eight weeks as crucial. Six chances to earn priceless points and fight for that all-important spot at the top of the rankings.
Scott said: “That is the goal, I have said to my team and that is what we are doing. But I cannot just sit here and point at the finish line. I must do all the little things along the way. And so for me, it is little wins each and every day about what I believe I need to be doing for those things to potentially happen.
“The results I cannot control, but how I attack, handle and prepare for each day, I can control. So that is the best way for me to get the outcome I am hoping for.”
Kieran admits he had a steep learning curve but acknowledges he could not have asked for a better set-up. Alongside two-time major winner Rahm, the Spaniard’s Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton and highly-rated American youngster Caleb Surratt, he claimed a season-high four team victories.
He said: “I really enjoyed my time out there, and especially with the group of guys that I had, they just made it so awesome. If there is any way of being able to get back out there, why wouldn’t I do it?
Scott Vincent with The International Series Rankings trophy in 2022.
“I want to do the best I can, I always do but having the availability of six events which is more than half a season and with two good weeks and suddenly, things can change. That is definitely on the forefront of my mind.
“But it is also about figuring out how I can continue to keep getting better, how I can continue to use what I have learned to help me get better? That is also something I am trying to do for the rest of the season.”
His elder brother may be determined to bounce back, but he also has a philosophical approach to his time on LIV Golf.
He said: “As I am reflecting, I know I must take those things that I learned forward – this is a journey. I had an amazing experience playing on LIV Golf, what a dream to play against the best players in the world on the biggest stages across the world. I have got so much to be thankful for.
“But what can I learn and what can I use to move forward, progress and continue from here? Because on The International Series I still get to play golf at the highest level as a professional, and very few people do that. I need to be grateful for that.”
Both players made it through to the weekend at Black Mountain but were unable to challenge the leaders meaning they have work to do over the remaining five International Series events.
The International Series boasts 10 lucrative events that are part of the Asian Tour. This week’s Black Mountain Championship is the fifth leg of the series, and the 15th stop on the Asian Tour – which features 21 in total.
Gaganjeet Bhullar’s game finally clicked today, after uncharacteristically struggling this season, as he took the third-round lead at the Black Mountain Championship.
The Indian was at his imperious best shooting a six-under-par 66 for a tournament total of 19-under, and a two-shot lead over none other than the player of the year so far, American John Catlin.
Catlin fired a 65 here at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand – where conditions were far from ideal with grey skies and rain persisting all day.
His compatriot Michael Maguire carded a 68 and is another shot back, while Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po fired the lowest round of the day, a 64, to sit in fourth, an additional stroke behind, with David Boriboonsub from Thailand, who returned a 67.
John Catlin. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.
Bhullar, the 36-year-old from Amritsar, has triumphed 11-times on the Asian Tour – the most by an Indian – but dogged by a sore hip this year he has not finished better than joint 33rd, at the International Series Morocco. After missing the last three cuts he is currently 123rd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
However, the rebound appears to have begun this week, and a 12th win is a real possibility.
“It was a good round of golf to be honest,” said the Indian star, who made six birdies and started the day sharing the lead with Suteepat Prateeptienchai from Thailand.
“I think the best part was that it was a bogey-free round. I probably hit about 17 greens in regulation, so that gave me a good opportunity to make lots and lots of birdies. I putted quite well today, I would say as good as yesterday, and drove the ball well, just missed two fairways today. But other than that, I think it was a solid round.”
He holds the course record here, a round of nine-under back in 2009, and has only dropped two shots all week. And despite the poor weather today, which fortunately was just rain and no lighting, he has continued to dominate the course.
“Normally it’s a thunderstorm and we don’t play, but yeah, it was quite challenging. Actually, in the last few holes I had to change my strategy off the tee, because I was just not comfortable hitting driver on all the holes. On number 16 I had to hit a three wood, and on the 17th I had to hit a four iron.”
Michael Maguire. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour
Catlin is aiming to complete a hat-trick this week, after a phenomenal season that has seen him win twice: International Series Macau presented by Wynn and Saudi Open presented by PIF, back-to-back.
He also nearly claimed the International Series Morocco, but was stopped in his tracks by New Zealand’s Campbell, after the Kiwi won on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off. Catlin was also second in the Yeangder TPC, joint third in the Malaysian Open and equal fourth in the SJM Macao Open.
He is the runaway leader on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
He said: “It was a grind, you know, it’s hard to keep everything dry. It was on and off all day, it was rain and then it kind of stopped, and then it would come back. And then it would get heavy, I felt like I was constantly having to adjust my numbers and what shots I was playing, so yeah, to come out with 65 is definitely nice.”
The American is clearly revelling playing in Hua Hin – his home away from home, as, just under a decade ago, he chose to base himself here when playing on the Asian Tour.
He said: “Yeah, it’s great being here, anytime I can play a tournament in Hua Hin it’s awesome. This has been kind of a second home, and I’ve basically had a place here for eight years. I’ve played this golf course more times than I can count, so all of that is definitely helping me play well.”
He only dropped one shot today and carded eight birdies.
Maguire, a graduate from last year’s Qualifying School, has the opportunity tomorrow to improve on his best performance on the Asian Tour, which is tied fourth in last year’s International Series Vietnam.
“Tricky conditions out there with the rain,” commented Maguire, who has made just one bogey in three rounds.
“I think we only had two holes where it wasn’t raining, so just trying to manage keeping everything dry, and trying to just figure out how far the ball is flying. Because yesterday it was hot in the afternoon, the ball was going miles, and today, with the rain, it kind of cooled down a little bit. So, yeah, happy with the way I played.”
Suteepat shot a 71 and is five behind Bhullar, along with Italian Stefano Mazzoli, in with a 70.
In-form Suteepat Prateeptienchai from Thailand and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar both added second-round six-under-par 66s to their opening day 65s to take the lead at the Black Mountain Championship today.
They have reached 13-under for the US$2 million event here at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, and lead by one from American Michael Maguire (64), Italian Stefano Mazzoli (65) and Canadian Richard T. Lee (66).
China’s Liu Yanwei, the joint-first round leader, was in a share of the lead playing the last but made a bogey and returned a 68 to also be one back.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana (66) and Nitithorn Thippong (68), Englishman Matt Killen (67), Mexico’s Santiago De la Fuente (68), plus Australian Kevin Yuan (68) are an additional stroke back – in the fifth event of The International Series season on the Asian Tour.
Gaganjeet Bhullar. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.
Suteepat won the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei three weeks ago and sitting in ninth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit continues to go from strength to strength, rarely putting a foot wrong.
“I’m very happy about my score, I’m doing very well. My game is very good now,” said the 31-year-old, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, having claimed last year’s Taiwan Glass Taifong Open – also in Chinese-Taipei.
“I changed my swing a little bit this year, and it’s made me more confident. Yeah, and after winning I’ve been feeling relaxed because I don’t have to worry about keeping my card, so I play for fun. It’s very good.”
He started on the back nine and made his move with three birdies on-the-trot from the 15th. He made eight birdies in total and two bogies, one of those coming on his last which saw him slip back into a tie.
Bhullar is India’s most successful player on the Asian Tour, with 11 magnificent wins, but he has been conspicuous by his absence this season on the leaderboard.
He has been battling to find his form due to a sore hip and missed the last three cuts but after two fine rounds this week the serial winner looks to be getting back on track in time for the business end to the season.
Stefano Mazzoli. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
Said Bhullar, whose most recent win was last year’s BNI Indonesian Masters, also part of The International Series: “You know, mentally, I think I’m probably as sharp or as strong as I played last year. This year physically, I’ve been struggling a bit with my hip. It’s not an injury, it’s not a sports related injury, but I’m just not feeling … You know, the first half [of the season], that was the reason I struggled a bit. But now towards the second half, I think I’m getting my momentum right and the body is feeling in good shape. Definitely feeling the mojo back. And I think the last few tournaments of the year, I would definitely expect myself to play well.”
He has made 15 birdies in two days and registered just two bogeys – in keeping with a player who holds the course record here.
“I still hold the lowest course record here, nine under back in 2009,” said the 36-year-old.
“You know, this is probably one of my favourite golf courses on the Asian Tour. I’ve played here a bunch of times. In fact, in the off season, I used to come and practice here for a couple of weeks whenever I used to get off. And, you know, it’s a great layout. Anybody who’s putting well definitely has an advantage. And as I said, one of my favourite venues, I expect to play well on the weekend.”
Mazzoli is enjoying a fine first season on the Asian Tour having finished eighth at this year’s Qualifying School, and currently sits in 48th place on the Merit list – helped by finishing in a tie for fifth at the International Series Morocco in July.
“I’m pretty pleased, I’ve been playing well,” said the Italian.
“I played really good last week in China on the Challenge Tour, so it’s good to come here. I’ve been pretty steady both two days. Yesterday maybe I made a couple of bad mistakes, but I’m really pleased. Pretty consistent, hopefully I can keep it going.”
Lee looked set to also finish 13 under, helped by successive birdies on the outward half, but he dropped a shot on the penultimate hole.
He said: “I definitely made a lot of putts, even yesterday and today. I had a good five birdie stretch on the front nine, and just couldn’t really convert any birdie putts on the back nine. Unfortunately, I had a tough 30-yard bunker shot on 17 that caused me to make a bogey, but I think there’s still a lot of golf left the next two days, so we’ll see what happens.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.
John Catlin carded a 65 and is just three behind the leaders. The American, who lives in Hua Hin when competing in Asia, is once again in position to consolidate his lead on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
American Pierre-Henri Soero and Australian Todd Sinnott – the other joint first-round leaders with Liu and Thailand’s CharngTai Sudsom – carded 72s and are five behind the leaders. CharngTai fell back with a 73 and is seven under.
Evergreen South African Jbe Kruger admits a LIV Golf League spot is on the mind of every player that line ups on The International Series – a motivating factor as he looks to bring his recent winning form to the Black Mountain Championship this week in Hua Hin.
The 38-year-old recently wrapped up a third Asian Tour victory at the weather-affected Mercuries Taiwan Masters, despite “not playing as well” as he wanted.
Because of Typhoon Krathon, the field played three rounds of shotgun starts on the two weekend days, and it was Kruger who came out on top, two shots better than South Korean Jeunghun Wang and Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand.
That victory moved him to 12th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and he will be looking for a similar result on duty in The International Series as he bids to climb from his current position of 44th after four tournaments.
Jbe Kruger. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
He started well at the Black Mountain Championship – a five-under first round of 67 left him just three off the early frontrunners in a bunched leaderboard.
With six events in eight weeks wrapping up The International Series season, and the crucial rankings race which will give the champion a place on the LIV Golf League roster, he said: “I think it (the LIV Golf League place) is in the back of everyone’s mind. You have to win multiple tournaments, it’s the only way.
“It’s probably the biggest draw card for the Asian Tour. They have grown with The International Series events. I think everyone wants to try and play on LIV Golf, if they’re not on the PGA Tour. At the moment, it’s the only way.”
Kruger is optimistic he can make a challenge, even though he’s still not truly convinced of his form.
He explained: “I’m battling on the driving range at the moment, battling with ball striking. I’m not hitting it as well as I should. And then the putter is on and off – it’s never really warm, it’s never really cold. I just have to keep grinding, even though the game’s not there.
“But with any win, it definitely boosts your confidence. I still believe I can win, even when I’m not playing great.”
Kruger all smiles after clinching the 2024 Mercuries Taiwan Masters title.
When asked about the pressure of playing an elevated event on The International Series, he added:
“Something I learned over the years is they (tournaments) are not bigger or smaller. You still have to hit good shots. You still have to make putts. Even if the prize money is bigger, it’s still a golf tournament.”
With a reduced schedule of three rounds in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, did Kruger feel suited to the LIV Golf format?
Completely different experiences, he laughs.
“Yes we played three rounds or 54 holes, but we played 27 holes the first day, and then 27 holes the second day. So that’s almost the opposite of LIV Golf. But you know, I think that shows that it’s the guy that can adapt the best that can win. I think it is as simple as that.”
Former touring professional turned CrossFit Games athlete Pierre-Henri Soero muscled into a share of the lead today at the US$2 million Black Mountain Championship at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.
The American carded an eight-under-par 64 along with Thailand’s CharngTai Sudsom, Liu Yanwei from China and Australian Todd Sinnott.
Soero played on the Asian Tour back in 2011 and fully justified his invite to The International Series event this week by making an eagle, seven birdies, and just one bogey.
The 41-year-old said: “I used to do this for a living, that was my job, playing 25 events a year but I was able to be successful at something else.
“It’s all mental, I am in a good head space here. I am here on vacation with my wife. It’s all a bonus. If I play well, I play well, if not it’s still a vacation.”
Liu Yanwei. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
Now based in Florida, he is a personal trainer and has competed in the CrossFit Games on six occasions.
That solitary bogey of his came on the last, the ninth hole as he began on 10, meaning he just missed out on the outright lead.
“It was a good bogey actually, I was in the rough, a lot can happen, so I am okay with that,” he added.
“Golf is about muscle memory, I used to grind six hours a day practicing, so it’s still there.”
CharngTai and Liu clearly inspired one another today as, paired in the same group, they both pounded the course in synergy making eight birdies apiece.
They are both battling to keep their Asian Tour cards this year, with CharngTai languishing in 85th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and Liu 109th – so their opening salvos will give them great hope as the season enters its final stages.
CharngTai Sudsom.
CharngTai, a graduate from last year’s Asian Development Tour, said: “Today, my drive was quite good, and my putting was quite sharp, kept it simple. I probably only missed one fairway.
“Feel like I have only just started to find some form today. Just hope this continues.”
CharngTai and Liu mirrored each other on the back nine, making birdies on 12 and 13, plus the final three holes.
“I think our group is 20-under for three of us combined,” said Liu, who made it through this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School.
“So, yeah, normally, this is the stuff you want to see. I think for all of us we fed off good shots, and then I don’t think any of us made a bogey today. So, I think that’s pretty positive, yeah, so hopefully, our group can keep it up.”
Mexico’s Santiago De la Fuente, who recently turned professional and won this year’s Latin America Amateur Championship, Thailand’s David Boriboonsub, Poosit Supupramai, Suteepat Prateeptienchai , Nitithorn Thippong, and Nopparat Panichphol, plus Indonesian Jonathan Wijono, Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin, Chanmin Jung from Korea, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Kevin Yuan from Australia all returned 65s.
American John Catlin, the leader of both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, shot a 69 and is tied for 58th.
The Asian Tour will welcome the Philippine Open back onto its schedule next year in the best way possible by positioning the historic event as the season-opening tournament.
The Philippine Open, the region’s oldest national Open and one of the longest running events in professional golf, will be played at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club [main picture] from January 23-26.
It will be the first time the event will have been played in six years, while it was last played on the Asian Tour in 2015 – when the country’s number one golfer Miguel Tabuena claimed the title.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, said: “The return of the Philippine Open is an outstanding development for golf in the region and we thank our friends at the National Golf Association of the Philippines and Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club for clearing the way for its return.
Miguel Tabuena is a two-time winner of the Philippine Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
“The Asian Tour has a long-standing relationship with the tournament and the golf community in the Philippines as a whole, and we have been looking forward to the day when we could welcome it back.
“It is a tournament that brings with it history, excitement and an extremely important responsibility as the flagship event for one of region’s golfing strongholds.
“We will announce details of our full schedule in due course, but we could not ask for a more appropriate event to start the season than the National Open of the Philippines.”
The Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters course will host the tournament, which has been played at Manila Southwoods on four occasions before: in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1999.
Said Miguel Tabuena: “As a professional golfer, your national open is a tournament that always holds a little more weight than the others. It just feels different to win on home soil, and I’m so blessed to have been able to win our Philippine Open twice. We travel all over, playing in different stops on the Asian Tour but it’s been a hope of mine to, at some point, enjoy a home stop again. So, this is awesome news! Thank you to everyone that helped make this happen. There’s a lot of Philippine golf to be seen!”
The Asian Tour’s key partners in staging the event – the National Golf Association of the Philippines and the Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club – welcomed the return of the Philippine Open and pledged to do the best they can to make it a resounding success.
“The Philippine Open is back and we’re really happy and excited to have it again,” said Al Panlilio, Chairman of the National Golf Association of the Philippines. “We want to host it the best way we can by attracting the best players and increasing the prize money.”
Frankie Minoza is also a double champion of the event. Picture by Khalid Redza /Asian Tour /Getty Images.
For his part, Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club chairman Robert John Sobrepeña said they are extremely pleased that the Philippine Open will tee-off the Asian Tour’s 2025 season.
He said: “We’re very happy that we’re hosting it again. We will be the first leg of the Asian Tour and we will work closely with the Asian Tour on every aspect that will make the return of the Philippine Open a big success.”
The Philippine Open was first played in 1913 and was won a record 12 times by Filipino Larry Montes – the first in 1929 and the last in 1954.
A wealth of famous names from the Asian Tour have raised the trophy, they include Tabuena (2015 and 2018) Steve Lewton (2017), Mardan Mamat (2012), Berry Henson (2011), Angelo Que (2008), Frankie Minoza (1998 and 2007), Felix Casas (2001), Gerald Rosales (2000) and Anthony Kang (1999).
The International Series is widely viewed by players around the globe as a pathway to the big time and a place on the LIV Golf League. However, one well-known former Ryder Cup star is viewing it as an important step on his road to recovery following years in the wilderness.
Rewind to 2016 and Chris Wood was flying high. The Englishman had initially hit the headlines in 2008 by winning the silver medal as highest amateur in The Open at Royal Birkdale, where he was equal fifth, and he followed that with a joint third finish the following year at Turnberry.
Wood then claimed four big wins: the Thailand Open in 2012, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 2013, Lyoness Open in 2015 and BMW PGA Championship in 2016, on his way to securing a place in Team Europe for the 2016 Ryder Cup.
Fast forward again to 2024, and the 36-year-old has been invited to play in the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, which tees-off today, and International Series Thailand at the Thai Country Club in Bangkok, next week.
Chris Wood during the singles matches for the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in 2016. Picture by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America via Getty Images.
While remaining cautious, there is real optimism for Wood as he views these elevated Asian Tour events as important dates on his long road back from the crippling anxiety that has blighted his game for years.
Wood said: “I was diagnosed with chronic anxiety and burnout. I’ve been through a really rubbish time over the last few years where my golf has really impacted me mentally.
“I’ve actually been like that since 2019 but it took maybe four years before I did anything about it. It took literally bottoming out to stop, and I didn’t play at all last year. I took a whole year off, and this year has been about trying to get a card in my hand again.”
Wood’s target at the start of the year was to play six to eight events, and after a run on the Challenge Tour and one DP World event in Qatar, he’s now looking at the Thailand double-header as an important step in highlighting his recovery.
He said: “I’m very open minded, the important thing is getting a card back in my hand. I use the word exposure, and these events are upper level, obviously a very high standard. The fields are great, The International Series tournaments themselves are great, the players have spoken very highly of them.”
Wood with the silver medal at The Open in 2008 alongside the champion Padraig Harrington. Picture by David Cannon/Getty Images.
In fact, it was a round with none other than The International Series Rankings leader John Catlin that inspired Wood to consider approaching the organisers of the elite, LIV Golf League promoted events which are sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
He explained: “I’ve played a couple of times with John earlier in the year, and we’ve talked about it. He’s obviously done really well. I played with him in Abu Dhabi in April, along with my friend (English golfer) Lee Slattery.
“He had just shot his 59 (at International Series Macau presented by Wynn) and it was a really good three ball. Me and Slats were both saying how impressed we were with John’s game.”
One of the things that has attracted Wood is the atmosphere on the Asian Tour, which was also recommended by another English pro, Ollie Fisher.
Wood explained: “We are sharing a house this week, and Ollie said to me that one of the big things he’s noticed is how friendly everyone is here. It’s how it should be and how it was (pre-Covid) really, and one of the things he spoke highly about.”
Wood revealed he received a lot of support from the DP World Tour medical staff and its helpline on his road to recovery, and although it is early days, he is hoping to overcome his issues and once more be a force in the world of golf.
Wood said: “It’s still very, very hard, but I’m still doing it because I want to, and because I feel like I’ve got so much more to offer. I know the quality of shots I’ve got and I can hit, so that’s why I’m still in it.
“Ten years ago if you had said to me, you will be in this position mentally, I was so unaware of what those words meant, and it takes going through something like this, or someone very close to you going through it, before you can appreciate what those struggles are actually like.”
“It’s hard because I still believe I’ve even got a Ryder Cup in me, I truly believe that, and I wouldn’t still be putting myself in positions where I feel anxious and exposed unless I felt like it’s going to be worth it.
Wood tees-off today at 12.05pm with Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and Jared Du Toit from Canada.
Hi everyone! I guess it’s been a while since the last diary after International Series England. The first tournament after England was the Mandiri Indonesia Open, and I didn’t play well. It was a tough golf course and my game wasn’t there, so we’ll skip discussing Indonesia and focus on Korea instead.
The Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea was more interesting for me to say the very least. Okay, so on the first day I played really well, I shot four under without a bogey. In the second round the first nine holes looked okay, but on the back nine, it was a bit of a different story…
It all started on the par-five 13th hole. I hit my tee shot four yards right off the edge of the right side of the fairway, so it should have been a safe ball. However, the fore caddie couldn’t find it, so I had to go and play my tee shot again. I hit it left, and when I had hit my fourth shot the fore caddie told me they found the first ball. At that time I was like three under, so I was right on the cut line and it was kind of an important par five. When I saw where they found the ball, it was like, probably 205 yards to the pin, which is a six-iron for me, which would have been perfect but obviously I could not play the ball now.
My ball was further forward than we thought. The fore caddy told me they had originally thought my ball was plugged and that they didn’t see it bounce, so I thought we would just look around the landing spot. So, we didn’t find it the first time, when in fact it was that much further up. So, yeah, things got messed up on the 13th, and I made a double, I’m still mad at about it.
David Boriboonsub. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
Then things got worse on 15… I hit my three-wood right and couldn’t find my ball. I needed to make a bogey to at least have a chance to make the cut, but missed the bogey putt and then it just went a little fast from there. I five putted it for a nine. The video kind of went viral; I think it’s like a million views now, and I looked at the comments, they were mostly negative.
So, after Korea, I changed my mentality and went for the first stage of DP World Q-School at Donnington Grove Golf Club in England. We first did some London sightseeing tours just trying to get away from the golf, and then went for Q-School and made it past the first stage.
In the last round I was one over after 10 holes and looked like missing the cut, but I made five birdies and one bogey in the last eight holes to qualify by one. In the last four holes I needed three birdies at least to make the cut, and I did made those three birdies. It wasn’t easy, but yeah that felt good.
At the next Asian Tour event, the Yeangder TPC the following week, I mean, I was tired. I just came back from England on Monday and arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday. I was just tired, so it didn’t work out at all.
And then back to the UK again for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews Scotland. The tournament is played as a Pro-Am over three courses, The Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns Golf Links, and I had a great experience. My partner was a businessman, who owns the Queens Park Rangers Football Club. So, yeah, we had a good time with him, went to his party – a curry party. The scoring wasn’t what I was hoping for, and I didn’t play well. Shot one under but the cut line was nine under, tough cut to make.
But I found something that just clicked in Scotland, and I started hitting my driver really well. So, my driver last week at the SJM Macao Open week was good, my driver and iron game. I think I averaged like nine fairways and 15 greens for four days at Macau Golf and Country Club. But yeah, I feel way better with my driver after Scotland.
David Boriboonsub. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
I’m happy with my play in Macau in finishing tied ninth, it was a good week ending in the top 10 again despite being jet lagged. I didn’t arrive in Macau until Tuesday night, Wednesday I didn’t have a practice round, just went to the range, then just played on the first day. Yeah, I would say it was a good week, but I just need to hole more putts. I think if I holed more putts in the first two days, or first three days, I think my score would have been deeper than it was.
But the bad thing about last week was that my phone was stolen on Thursday night. I dropped it in the taxi, and I tried to find the taxi, but he was gone. I called my phone and someone picked it up, and they said, “if you want your phone back, you have to give me money”. So I decided, yeah ok, I’m gonna give him money. Then he said, nah, he’s not returning it. So yeah, it was a bad week in that sense. Macau is such a great place, but I guess there are bad eggs everywhere.
Now we have the Black Mountain Championship this week, and the International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club the week after. I didn’t play well at the first two International Series events at Black Mountain in 2022 and 2023; I missed the cut by one for two years in a row. So hopefully I will have some progress this time around. For Thai Country Club, I’ve played there a lot, and I think I know the course well. That may be the week that we’re looking for.
Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam has history at the stunning Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, but he’s not expecting that to count in his favour as he prepares for this week’s Black Mountain Championship, the fifth tournament on The International Series schedule.
Last year at the same venue, Chonlatit lost out to Wade Ormsby in a thrilling play-off, after a missed birdie attempt from eight feet gave the Australian the International Series Thailand title.
However, he’s playing down any expectations on his return to the iconic course as he takes on a strong field that includes The International Series Rankings leader John Catlin, the International Series Macau presented by Wynn champion, and nearest challenger Ben Campbell, the International Series Morocco winner.
The Thai, affectionately known as ‘Nine’ by his peers, is widely considered to be one of the best prospects to emerge from the country recently, after breaking through from the Asian Development Tour with a standout 2022 season.
Chonlatit Chuenboonngam reacts on the 18th green after losing a play-off against Wade Ormsby at last year’s International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
During that campaign, Nine recorded one win at the Gunung Geulis Invitational, and also earned three second-placed and two third-place positions.
He said: “I think the course will suit me well since the fairway is hard, and the greens are fast. Recently I feel I have played better, during the past few weeks, but my putting game still needs to be improved.
“I will put all my effort to win, but my putting games is not perfect at the moment. So for just now, I will just aim to make the cut and then see what position I am in, and I can plan my game.”
Chonlatit sits outside the top 100 of The International Series Rankings but knows that he could ignite his push for that place on the LIV Golf League with a decent display either in Hua Hin this week or at International Series Thailand which takes place at the Thai Country Club in Bangkok next weekend.
He’ll be facing stiff opposition, however. As well as Catlin and Campbell, the field also includes International Series England champion and RangeGoats GC star Peter Uihlein plus recent Asian Tour champions Rattanon Wannasrichan, Jbe Kruger, Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Steve Lewton.
His Asian Tour results have been hit and miss this season, with the highlight being another agonising play-off defeat: this time to local hero Hongtaek Kim in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open after leading by a shot with three still to play.
Chonlatit in action at this year’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open, where he also lost in extra time. Photo courtesy of Korean Golf Association/Asian Tour.
Despite twice ending up on the losing side of a play-off, he played down any concerns of mental scarring, as he said: “Actually, when the play-off started, I only thought that I need to play my best.
“I wished I could win but deep down inside I knew it was not my time yet. I don’t want to put myself under pressure. I need to accept the outcome.”
The Black Mountain Championship, the fifth of 10 events on The International Series, takes place from 17-20 October at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, with International Series Thailand following from 23-27 October at Thai Country Club in Bangkok. The Rankings leader at the end of the 10 events will earn an automatic place on the LIV Golf League roster for the 2025 season.
Recent Comments