Yeangder TPC: As a matter of fact
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Yeangder TPC
- Date: September 26-29, 2024
- Venue: Linkou International Golf and Country Club, Taipei
- Par/Yards: Par 72 / 7,108 Yards
- Purse: US$1 million (first place US$200,000)
- Asian Tour leg: 12th event of 2024 season
- Edition of tournament: 14th
- Total number of players: 150
- Format 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds to the leading 65 pros plus ties
- Social Media Hashtags: #TimeToRise #YeangderTPC
A detail view of the iconic clubhouse tower at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
- Nationalities: 22
- Past winners of tournament in the field: Poom Saksansin (2023), Travis Smyth (2022), Lee Chie-po (2021), John Catlin (2018), Ajeetesh Sandhu (2017), Carlos Pigem (2016), Prom Meesawat (2014), Gaganjeet Bhullar (2012)
- Defending champion: Poom Saksansin (THA)
- Top contenders: John Catlin (USA), Minkyu Kim (KOR), Travis Smyth (AUS), Lee Chie-po (TPE), Miguel Tabuena (PHI)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: John Catlin #135
- Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: John Catlin #1
- of amateurs: 2
- of Chinese Taipei players in the field: 48 (3 invite players TBA)
Poom Saksansin pictured winning last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Tournament Notes
- Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin is already a two-time winner this season, having captured the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF in consecutive events in March and April. The American also posted a runner-up placing in the International Series Morocco after losing a play-off to Ben Campbell. A tied third finish in the season-opening Malaysian Open secured him a spot in the 152nd Open Championship where he finished tied 16th for his best result in a Major. Catlin won the Yeangder TPC in 2018 for his third victory that year, eventually earning him the Players’ Player of the Year award at the end of the season.
- Australian Travis Smyth came close to winning the Shinhan Donghae Open two weeks ago, coming up just one shot shy of eventual winner Kensei Hirata from Japan. He has been a consistent high performer this season, finishing tied fourth in the Mandiri Indonesia Open, tied fifth at the International Series Morocco plus two other top 10s. Smyth won the Yeangder TPC in 2022 and came close to defending the title last year, finishing second to Poom Saksansin. He is currently sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Korean Minkyu Kim sits in seventh place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to a win in the Kolon Korea Open and a tied fourth finish in the recent Shinhan Donghae Open. He also posted a victory on the Korean PGA Tour in early June, capturing the 14th Descente Korea Matchplay.
- Local hero Lee Chie-po won the Yeangder TPC during Asian Tour’s Covid 19 hiatus in 2021 when it was played on the Taiwan PGA Tour, and he came close to defending his title in 2022 losing to Travis Smyth by two strokes. He posted his best result of the season at the Shinhan Donghae Open, finishing in a tie for ninth place.
- Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena is having a solid season with three top 10s so far to sit in 17th place on the Order of Merit. He has two previous runners up at the Yeangder TPC, having lost in a play-off to Prom Meesawat in 2014 and by two shots to Shaun Norris in 2015.
- Defending champion Poom Saksansin from Thailand has not had his best season so far, but he will be hoping that a return to Linkou International will see him return to the form of 2023 when he finished seventh on the Order of Merit. He win last year was his first success in five years on the Asian Tour.
Golf legend Justin Rose, who won here in 2015, and rising South Korean talent Tom Kim are the latest stars to join the 2024 LINK Hong Kong Open parade as The Hong Kong Golf Club prepares to welcome the historic tournament back for its 63rd edition from 21-24 November.
When Rose lifted the trophy at Fanling in 2015, he was in the middle of a 12-month hot streak that began with a T2 at the US Masters and ended in 2016 when he captured gold for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics.
This year, the 44-year-old returns to the US$2 million LINK Hong Kong Open having tied for second at The Open Championship in July. Rose is thrilled to have the opportunity to return to a course – and a city – that holds many dear memories.
“Hong Kong holds a special place in my heart, as does the Hong Kong Open, as when I won at Fanling I was playing some of the best golf of my life,” said Rose, the 2013 US Open winner. “I’ve had some great form this year and can’t wait to return.
“I cannot believe that seven years has slipped by since I was last in Hong Kong. You know, I tell people whenever I’m asked that it’s one of my favourite cities in the world; Hong Kong is right up there at the top of the list. I have great memories of the tournament and the golf course especially.
Tom Kim. Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Images.
“The Hong Kong Golf Club is a true classic in the sense that it’s got an old school feel about it. It tests everybody’s game, whether you’re a long hitter or a short hitter,” said Rose.
Rose came from two strokes off the pace with nine to play to beat Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard by a stroke in 2015, adding another dramatic closing chapter to Hong Kong’s longest running professional sports event, one that this year is also helping The Hong Kong Golf Club ring in its 135th anniversary.
History surrounds the event, which The Hong Kong Golf Club has staged since 1959 – ranking it alongside only the renowned Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts The Masters, as a club that has hosted the same professional tournament for more than 60 years.
At the tournament launch in August, LINK Hong Kong Open 2024 ambassador Gary Player labelled the tournament, “Asia’s Major”.
“It’s got a nice ring to it, The Hong Kong Open has stood the test of time,” said Rose of Player’s description.
“Opens have something special about them, you build history and rapport with the golf course and things like that. That does count for a lot when you’re building the prestige of an event. The Club has got a very proud membership who love the golf course. It’s got a very old school charm about it, which is something that is very difficult to create. It’s got history, and you can’t reproduce that. You can’t recreate it. So it just has something very, very special about it. Those are the types of venues that I really, really like that have that charm and that history. It’s had great sponsors, and has attracted an international field throughout the years too… it has managed to keep its elevated feel and character,” added Rose.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell carved himself a little piece of that history with a one-stroke victory over Australia’s Cameron Smith and Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand last year, when for the first time the event became part of The International Series.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho is writing his own story as the city’s first ever Asian Tour winner, when he lifted the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club in March 2023. He would go on to become the city’s first Asian Games gold medallist later that year in Hangzhou.
Both players have also signed on for their returns – as has one of the most exciting young golf talents on the planet.
The 22-year-old, Seoul-born Kim has already won two Asian Tour events – to go with the three he has won on the PGA Tour and a T2 at The Open Championship last year. He’s looking forward to returning to Fanling for the first time since 2020, when he finished T18 at the tender age of 17.
“I know some of the greats of the game have won the Hong Kong Open down through the years and I’d love to see my name on the trophy alongside them,” said Kim, the Asian Tour’s 2020-21-22 Order of Merit winner. “I have great memories of playing the composite course at Hong Kong Golf Club back in 2020, and I look forward to taking it on again this year.”
There has been exciting news for the tournament already this past month, with leading international real estate investor and asset manager Link Asset Management Limited (LINK) coming on as title sponsor for the next three years starting from 2024.
The LINK Hong Kong Open is once again part of The International Series, 10 events over the course of the season which offer elevated prize funds and a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
Last year the Hong Kong Open was named The International Series Tournament of the Year and a Players’ Choice winner for Course of the Year.
The leading points-scorer in The International Series Rankings receives exemption into the following season’s LIV Golf League. Held throughout the year across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, The International Series contributes US$23.5 million to the Asian Tour’s 2024 total prize fund this season.
Admission to the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday, 21-22 November, is free for the public. Daily prices for Saturday and Sunday 23 and 24 November are $200 per day or $300 for a weekend pass. Tickets will be on sale from Friday 27 September at KLOOK.
For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com.
LIV Golf League star Paul Casey is the first big name confirmed for the Black Mountain Championship and International Series Thailand.
The back-to-back Thai events launch a thrilling six-tournament stretch over eight weeks to decide The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour.
The Englishman, a former world No.3 who has claimed three PGA TOUR victories, two Asian Tour wins and 15 DP World Tour titles, will line up among the cream of the Asian Tour and LIV Golf League stablemates for the dates which take place at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin from 17-20 October and the Thai Country Club, Bangkok, from 24-27 October.
The five-time Ryder Cup star played twice on The International Series in 2023, in Vietnam and the St Andrew’s Bay Championship in Scotland.
John Catlin. Pictured by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Casey, a member of Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC team on the LIV Golf League, said: “I have always loved playing on the Asian Tour, and have very happy memories of playing there.
“I look forward to returning to Thailand, and playing on The International Series again – these elevated events give LIV Golf players wonderful opportunities to compete in great destinations around the world, and also offer Asian Tour players a potential pathway to the LIV Golf League.”
John Catlin and Ben Campbell, the leader and nearest challenger on The International Series Rankings, will both be in the field, vying for that coveted spot on the LIV Golf League that goes to the end-of-season rankings champion.
Catlin has won twice this year and also leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Hosting back-to-back tournaments in Thailand, at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin and Thai Country Club in Bangkok, presents a unique opportunity to showcase elite-level golf at two of the country’s most prestigious venues over a two-week stretch.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“These events not only build on Thailand’s rich golfing tradition but also showcase Thailand’s elite golf tourism sector where both venues are very much at the top of the golfing bucket list in Thailand.”
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Our upcoming events in Thailand have real significance. They kick off a hectic schedule of six tournaments in eight weeks that will determine the end-of-season rankings champion, and that spot on the 2025 LIV Golf League roster.
“On top of that, there is also plenty more at stake, for the players looking to climb the rankings and earn a place on the LIV Golf Promotions event, where once again three golden tickets onto the league will be up for grabs.
“We are delighted that this thrilling conclusion to the season will start, and play out, in one of the heartlands of Asian Tour golf.”
John Catlin, the runaway leader on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, is one of the headliners in a powerful field at this year’s BNI Indonesian Masters.
The American, who has also been enjoying success on the LIV Golf League this season, will be joined by LIV Golf stars Richard Bland from England and Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, plus New Zealand’s Ben Campbell – another player in eye-catching form this year.
They are the first of what will be a long list of world-class golfers to confirm their participation in the US$2million event, which will return to Royale Jakarta Golf Club. The tournament will be played from October 31-November 3 and will be the 17th leg of the season on the Asian Tour.
It will also be the seventh of 10 stops on The International Series – the multi-million-dollar series of upper-tier events that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
Richard Bland. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said: “The BNI Indonesian Masters provides local Indonesian golfers the chance to compete against top international players, and in doing so allows BNI to support the development of golf in Indonesia.
“In addition, the tournament, which we have sponsored since 2015, always provides BNI with the opportunity to strengthen its Go Global branding, as we are proactive in promoting our branding and exploring new global business opportunities.”
Added Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “With less than two months to go before the 12th edition of the BNI Indonesian Masters, we are thrilled to confirm that John Catlin, Richard Bland, Eugenio Chacarra, and Ben Campbell, all proven winners, will grace the tournament with their presence.
“This is great news to start build-up preparations for a tournament that is so important to golf in Indonesia and the region as a whole. The BNI Indonesian Masters has been a consistent, popular and ever-present force for over a decade and we are thrilled to see things are taking shape for this year’s event.
“We thank BNI, The International Series and Royale Jakarta Golf Club for their firm commitment in making this event such a great success, which ensures it plays a key role in helping to contribute to another exciting conclusion to the season.”
Eugenio Chacarra. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Catlin has won twice this year on the Asian Tour: winning the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF back-to-back.
He also nearly claimed the International Series Morocco, but was stopped in his tracks by Campbell, after the Kiwi won on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off. It was Campbell’s second Asian Tour victory after his success in last year’s Hong Kong Open – also part of The International Series.
Both players have made appearances on the LIV Golf League this year as reserve players, with Catlin, in particular, performing well. He finished seventh in Nashville showing he feels completely at home on the game-changing franchise.
Bland, who plays for Cleeks GC on the LIV Golf League, hit global headlines this year by winning two Senior Majors in the US: the Senior PGA Championship in May and the US Senior Open two months later.
It has been an incredible run of form in the twilight of his career, with fans in Indonesia soon able to watch him play.
Chacarra is a winner on both The International Series, having triumphed in last year’s St Andrews Bay Championship – after an incredible 10-hole sudden-death play-off, an Asian Tour record – and the LIV Golf League, with victory in LIV Golf Bangkok in 2022.
Said Hendro Sutandi, President Director, Royale Jakarta Golf Club: “Since the debut of the Indonesian Masters in 2011, Royale Jakarta Golf Club has consistently been a trusted venue. We are honoured to be part of this tradition and to remain a valued partner of the event. The BNI Indonesian Masters is a major highlight for everyone at Royale Jakarta, from our members to our staff.
“Hosting such a distinguished group of players and gaining international exposure through its global television broadcast is a remarkable opportunity and a privilege that we truly appreciate.”
Since the launch of the Indonesian Masters in 2011, Royale Jakarta Golf Club has always been its host venue.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar won last year’s BNI Indonesian Masters, succeeding Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand – who triumphed the year before, when the event first became part of The International Series.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “The BNI Indonesian Masters is an important date on The International Series calendar. The past two editions have played a huge part in determining the end-of-season rankings race, and we anticipate that this season will be no different.
“It is important that we continue to bring The International Series to the traditional Asian golf markets as well as the new territories that we diversify into. The International Series offers opportunity at many levels, a direct pathway to the LIV Golf League and a wonderful chance for local talent to compete with some of the best in the world.”
Sentosa’s Serapong course will stage its third consecutive LIV Golf Singapore event in 2025 as organisers announced the first group of elite venues set for next season’s calendar.
The Serapong has been the setting for some of the most dramatic moments in the history of the star-studded international event, and its third edition will be staged on March 14-16, 2025, said organisers, who confirmed Sentosa among the first four venues for next season.
In 2023, standout player Talor Gooch captured individual victory in the inaugural event, which saw the Bubba Watson-led RangeGoats GC take the team trophy.
In 2024, fellow American Brooks Koepka, the Smash GC captain and a five-time Major champion, became the first player to bag four individual titles when he won at Sentosa in May this year.
Cam Smith’s Ripper GC took the team title in May, completing quickfire back-to-back LIV Golf wins after triumphing in Adelaide a week earlier.
2023 champion Talor Gooch. Picture by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images.
The Australian former Open champion said Sentosa ranked among the very best courses the LIV Golf roster visited during the year.
“I love Singapore, and I love this golf course. It’s definitely up there at the top of what we’re playing this year. I think the greens we putt on this week are probably the best greens we putt on all year”, he said at this year’s event.
Sentosa Golf Club, a member of Asian Tour Destinations, won the coveted World’s Best Golf Course title at the 2023 World Golf Awards, and it has an esteemed history of staging some of the world’s greatest tournaments, including the Singapore Open, the HSBC Women’s World Championships as well as LIV Golf Singapore.
Andrew Johnston, General Manager, Director of Agronomy and Resident Golf Course Designer at Sentosa Golf Club, said: “It’s a real vote of confidence in the quality and stature of our club that LIV Golf is returning here for a third straight year. We are so proud some of the world’s best golfers want to come and test themselves here. We can’t wait to welcome the world back in March next year.”
Greg Norman, LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO, said: “Hosting LIV Golf Singapore for a third consecutive year is a testament to how important this market is to the growth of our league and to the game itself. There’s a commitment to excellence and innovation at Sentosa Golf Club that sets it apart from the rest, and the award-winning Serapong is a favourite amongst our players. We look forward to returning to one of the top championship courses in the world and making our 2025 event Singapore’s biggest, yet.”
Those who have subscribed to LIV X, the LIV Golf loyalty and rewards program, will receive early access to tickets. For more information on 2025 events and tickets, visit LIVGolf.com. The festive event will once again feature team and individual competitions, live music and fan activities for all ages. Hospitality tickets go on-sale on October 17, followed by general ground passes on November 6.
Golf fans are in for a treat at the 2024 SJM Macao Open, where 2023 Open Champion Brian Harman will be making his debut in the famous event. Held during a momentous year that marks the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR, this year’s event will see the world No. 19 go head-to-head with defending champion Min Woo Lee from Australia alongside a stellar line-up of Asian Tour stars. Among those competing at the Macau Golf & Country Club from 10 to 13 October 2024 are USA’s John Catlin, Ben Campbell from New Zealand, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and many others.
Harman’s career to date includes three PGA Tour wins, most notably his dominant victory at last year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, where he won by six strokes to claim his first Major championship. As only the third left-handed Open champion, Harman took control of the championship in the second round, carding a 65, and maintained a five-shot lead going into the final day before coasting to victory.
Harman shared his excitement about competing in Macao: “I’m thrilled to be part of the SJM Macao Open this year. I’m excited about the challenge of competing against some of the top stars on the Asian Tour. I’ve heard good things about the course, and I’m eager to give the fans in Macao a great show.”
Another strong contender in the field is Catlin, who currently sits atop the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM). Catlin, who will be aiming for his second win in Macao this year, has been a dominant force on the Asian Tour, securing back-to-back titles at the International Series Macau and Saudi Open presented by PIF, along with two other top-10 finishes. Following his historic victory in Macao earlier this year, where he recorded an 11-under-par 59 in the third round, Catlin is determined to replicate his success when he returns to the same venue in October.
Min Woo Lee pictured with the winner’s trophy last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Anticipating his return to Macao, Catlin said: “I’m looking forward to being back in Macao. I really enjoyed my time in the region, and it’s a special place for me. The Macau Golf & Country Club’s course suits my game well. I’m looking forward to competing in the SJM Macao Open and hopefully adding another win to my season.”
Campbell, who claimed a remarkable victory over Catlin in the International Series Morocco, is another top player who will feature at the SJM Macao Open. Campbell seized victory in Morocco after a sensational finish where he holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to win on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off, having been three shots behind Catlin with two holes to play. This marked Campbell’s second win on the Asian Tour, following his dramatic victory at the Hong Kong Open in 2023, where he nailed a 15-foot birdie on the final hole to edge out 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith from Australia and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.
One of the stars of the Greater Bay Area – Kho – will also compete in the upcoming SJM Macao Open. Kho made history last year when he became the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour at the 2023 World City Championship. Building on his stellar breakout campaign, Kho continued to set records by capturing Hong Kong’s first-ever medals in golf at the Asian Games, winning both the individual gold and team bronze medals at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
As he prepares to compete in Macao, Kho is eager to build on his regional success and deliver another strong showing. Kho expressed: “I always enjoy competing in the Greater Bay Area, where I feel the strong support from the fans. I look forward to bringing my best game to the SJM Macao Open and hopefully capture another win.”
A South Korean star hoping to climb up the Asian Tour OOM with a second win of the season is Hongtaek Kim, who currently ranks 7th. Kim captured the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May, his first victory on the Asian Tour. Also looking to rise up the Asian Tour OOM rankings is Jeunghun Wang, who is eyeing his second Asian Tour title after a solid second-place finish at this year’s Malaysian Open.
Thai stars Poom Saksansin and Phachara, who finished second and third respectively in last year’s SJM Macao Open, will be eager to improve their performances this year. Poom, who captured his first Asian Tour title in five years last year at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei, pushed last year’s champion Lee to the limit and hopes for another strong showing.
Poom expressed his determination: “Last year’s finish motivated me to return stronger. The competition is always strong at the SJM Macao Open, but I believe I have what it takes to go one step further and win the title this year.”
Other Thai stars who will compete in this year’s SJM Macao Open include Asian Tour champions Nitithorn Thippong, alongside Sadom Kaewkanjana, David Boriboonsub, and Suteepat Prateeptienchai.
Fans are encouraged to register early for free tickets to catch the SJM Macao Open live, where each person can register for up to 10 tickets. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit www.sjmmacaoopen.com.
The Shinhan Donghae Open witnessed some phenomenally low scoring last Sunday.
The champion, Kensei Hirata from Japan, finished 22-under-par at Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon, helped by a third round 10-under-par 62 – the best score of the week.
Preferred lies were in play, meaning nothing counted officially, but it was still representative of a sky-high skill level, nearly matched by Australian Travis Smyth, who finished one shot back in second place.
The Australian, playing some of the best golf of his career, went out in eight-under-par 28 on the last day, helped by making birdie on the first seven holes. The official record is nine in-a-row, which Austrian Bern Wiesberger did at the Maybank Championship in 2017.
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Smyth came home with nine straight pars for a 64 and his third runner-up finish on the Asian Tour, to go along with his one win so far, the 2022 Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei. It was also his fifth top-10 result of the season and moved him up five spots to sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Not surprisingly such good golf by the top two saw them lead the way in putting statistics. Hirata ranked first in both Putts per Green in Regulation (GIR) and Putts per Round, with 1.58 and 25.5 respectively, while Smyth was second in Putts per GIR on 1.60 and fourth in Putts per Round with 26.25.
Of the players that finished inside the top-10 six of them were also ranked in the top-10 of the Putts per GIR category.
Smyth topped two statistics categories: Fewest Bogies or worse with just three, along with Filipino Miguel Tabuena, and he was first in Scrambling, getting up and down 85% of the time.
Ian Snyman. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It all bodes well for the 29-year-old from Sydney, who competes in the Yeangder TPC the week after next, where as well as winning two years ago, he finished second last year.
Ian Snyman also caught the eye last week. The South African tied for 13th and topped the GIR section with a solid 84.72%.
Statistics Categories leaders at the 40th Shinhan Donghae Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round: Kensei Hirata (JPN) 25.5
- Putts per GIR: Kensei Hirata (JPN) 1.58
- GIR: Ian Snyman (RSA) 84.72%
- Fairways Hit: Kosuki Suzuki (JPN) 87.5%
- Driving Distance: Riki Kawamoto (JPN) 337.4 Yards
- Total Eagles: Yongjun Bae (KOR) 3
- Total Birdies: Minkyu Kim (KOR) 27
- Fewest Bogies or Worse: Travis Smyth (AUS), Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 3
- Scrambling: Travis Smyth (AUS) 85%
In-form Travis Smyth is gearing up for another tilt at the Yeangder TPC title in two weeks and goes into the Chinese-Taipei event with renewed confidence, fuelled in large part by a transformation in his approach to diet.
The 29-year-old, who won the title two years ago by finishing two shots clear of defending champion and home favourite Lee Chieh-po, is currently on a red-hot streak after finishing T4 at the Mandiri Indonesia Open and second last week at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea.
He is reaping the rewards of a new dietary regime that he put in place shortly after that victory at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, his first and only win on the Asian Tour.
It was just after that career highpoint in 2022 that Smyth began to experience recurring ‘flu-like symptoms’, prompting him to explore his health, and make radical changes to his dietary habits while also continuing to work hard on his game.
“It was hard to put it down to one thing,” he said. “Obviously, I’m working hard on my golf game and that is one thing that I’m always trying to improve. It’s working, but it’s not just golf, it’s my diet as well. For just over a year now, I would say I’m very strict with my diet.
Travis Smyth picture winning the Yeangder TPC two weeks ago.
“I did all this because I was getting really sick. I got blood tests and the doctor said I was fine. He advised taking multivitamins and that sort of stuff day-to-day, and my gut instinct was telling me this is not going to work.
“I was very fortunate that my golf coach, Dean Kinney, lives an insanely healthy lifestyle, and he put me in touch with a leading gastroenterologist.
“We started talking about what I eat, what I don’t eat, and what I should eat and basically, I’m eating the way he told me to and it’s working. I feel great almost all the time now so that’s obviously going to help a lot with my consistency. Over the space of 12 months or so, I’ve played the most consistent golf of my life and it’s definitely the nutrition side of things that has added a lot to that.
“I want to have a long-lasting, successful career and I want to be the guy that’s walking around and looks like he’s having a good time.”
A graduate of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018, Smyth has shown compelling evidence of his undoubted talent recently.
On the Asian Tour, he kicked off the season with a T9 at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, and he has been trending in the right direction with his T4 in Indonesia and his outright second finish at the Shinhan Donghae Open, where he lost to Kensei Hirata by one shot after a final round of 64 that included an astonishing eight birdies and par on the outward half.
On The International Series, the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour, he has been a picture of consistency this season, with a T10 in Oman, a T14 in Macau, a T5 in Morocco and a T30 in England – fine form that has placed him sixth in the Asian Tour Order of Merit and 10th in The International Series Rankings.
Travis Smyth.
Smyth admits he is putting special preparations in place as he gets ready to contest six tournaments in a hectic eight-week spell on The International Series, with a place on the LIV Golf League at stake for the rankings champion and spots on the LIV Golf Promotions event available to around 30 high-ranking players.
The run in starts with a double-header in Thailand next month; the Black Mountain Championship (17-20 October) and International Series Thailand (24-27 October), and ends with the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers from 4-7 December, a star-studded event in Riyadh that will offer a bumper US$5 million purse.
He said: “I feel like I’m playing good golf and really feel like a win is going to be coming very soon but I need to go out and earn it. I can’t get in my own way and think about winning too much. It’s going to require a lot of patience, digging deep and focusing on those good shots. What do I have to do to hit those good shots? Then I think I’ll be in a good position.”
The Sydneysider admits he is putting all his focus into The International Series this year because of the ‘life changing’ rewards that are up for grabs.
He highlights brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent as shining examples. Elder brother Scott joined Iron Heads GC after winning The International Series Rankings race in 2022, while Kieran joined Jon Rahm’s new Legion XIII team for the start of the 2024 season after claiming one of three golden tickets at the LIV Golf Promotions event.
Smyth, who played on the first three LIV Golf Invitational tournaments back in 2022, said: “You look at Kieran and Scott, they’re the perfect example. They’ve come out to the Asian Tour and The International Series and played really well and got themselves onto LIV, which is life changing.
“The way I view it is, there’s only 10 events on The International Series. So, I try to plan my year around those 10 weeks. I’m trying to peak, as you might say, to play as best as I possibly can and put all my focus into The International Series, because it’s just so life-changing to be able to get onto that tour (LIV Golf League). I look at those 10 events on The International Series as my majors.
“I’ve had a little bit of a taste of that tour. I got to play three events when the tour first got off the ground. I felt how amazing that tour was, so I’m doing everything I possibly can to try and get back there. That’s where I want to play.”
Kensei Hirata, in the form of his life, won the Shinhan Donghae Open today to make it two wins in two weeks after a fantastic final day duel with Travis Smyth.
Japan’s Hirata won the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour last weekend and was once again in winning form this week in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.
He closed with a blazing six-under-par 66, for a staggering tournament total of 22-under, here at Ocean Course at Club72 near Incheon International Airport, to win by one shot from Smyth. Australian Smyth fired a spectacular 64 – after an astonishing eight birdies and one par on the outward half.
Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki, who started the day sharing the lead with Hirata, fired a 70, to take third place, three behind Smyth.
Kensei Hirata.
Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of this year’s Kolon Korea Open, carded a 68, for fourth place, one shot back.
“Early on in the round I did not think I would win, so this is a surprise and honour,” said Hirata, who becomes the fourth player from his country to win this event.
“I have just won; it has not sunk in yet. I tried to play my own game. Even if I had looked at the leaderboard and seen Travis playing well I would have focused on what I was doing. I shot 62 yesterday, it’s hard to follow that up, but to be honest I did not think about that round.
“This now gives me a huge chance to play on the global stage with cards now in Japan, Korea and Asia. I have only played in Japan.”
The 23-year-old from Osaka revealed that his grandparents lived in Korea and have Korean heritage and said: “Perhaps that’s why I won here in Korea.”
He began today three ahead, along with Suzuki, and was tied at the turn with Smyth, playing in the group ahead.
Kensei Hirata.
Smyth had caught him thanks to starting, sensationally, with seven successive birdies, a par on eight, and another birdie on nine. It was one of the finest nines ever seen on the Asian Tour, but as preferred lies were played it couldn’t stand officially.
Hirata kept pace by making an eagle, and three birdies, and also not dropping a shot.
It was stunning golf played in front of the thronging galleries so typical of this event, on a hot sunny day.
On the second half, Hirata pulled away by moving one ahead when he made birdie on 11 and two ahead with birdie on 13. Another birdie on 15 meant he was three in front and cruising to victory.
In an all together different back nine Smyth made nine straight pars and was unable to close the gap on the Japanese leader, who made the contest closer when he dropped his only shots of the day on 16 and 18.
Smyth was looking to win for second time on the Asian Tour and moved from 11th to sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“Bittersweet, after shooting eight under, but not winning,” said the 29-year-old from Sydney.
Travis Smyth.
“Seven under yesterday and then eight under today; amazing weekend. To fall one short sucks a bit, but my game is in a good spot; I think I am pretty close. I am just proud of the way I played.”
“The front nine, I honestly don’t know. Obviously, everything went my way. I do have the ability to hit good shots but to hit so many good shots in the space of nine holes is pretty amazing. The front nine is pretty gettable. If you drive it in play you have a lot of wedges, whereas the back was a little bit tougher. It was amazing, it was good shot after good shot.
“Never had seven birdies in a row, that’s another PB of mine.”
It’s great preparation for the Australian as next up on the Asian Tour is the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei in two weeks time, the event he won two years ago.
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