Ekpharit Wu [main picture] defends his Taiwan Glass Taifong Open title this week, attempting to make it a hattrick of wins for Thai players in the tournament.

His countryman Suteepat Prateeptienchai was triumphant here at Taifong Golf Club, on the west coast of Chinese Taipei, in 2023 and 2024 – having finished second in 2022, when it was part of the Asian Development Tour

Wu is getting the chance to defend much earlier than expected as the event was played in November last year and he is upbeat ahead of tomorrow’s first round.

He said: “It is very special to be a defending champion on the Asian Tour. I will try and do my best.  To be honest, I want to be a champion again, that’s what I want. I try to beat the other players in every tournament.”

His victory last year was his first on the Asian Tour, in his rookie season, having negotiated the 2025 Qualifying School at the end of 2024.

He finished 17^th at the School but was in danger of losing his card until everything came together at the right time in Taifong.

Ekpharit Wu with his father and wife, Pam, last year. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

He shot a five-under par 67 round on Sunday to win by two shots from Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, who bogeyed 15 and 16 to leave the door open for the rising Thai star.

Ekpharit jump from 73rd to 28th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and with a new found confidence went on to tie for third in the Bharath Classic later in the month. He finished 24^th on the final Merit list and was beaten to Rookie of the Year Award by American Olle Schniederjans, who ended in 13^th place.

Last year’s success here was particularly special as Epkpharit’s wife, Pam, was caddying for him, while his father is a Chinese Taipei native.

“I was lucky because my dad was there that week, so he came to cheer me on,” said 26-year-old, who turned professional in 2020 and is a two-time winner on the All Thailand Golf Tour, having won back-to-back titles in 2024.

“I hit a lot of a good shots that week and had a hole in one. I made birdies from a lot of good putting, so on that week I was very confident.”

He aced the par-three eighth on day three helping him to finish one shot behind Hung heading into the final round.

He said: “Last year had everything for me, like it was amazing for me. Normally my dad doesn’t go to watch me, although my wife always carries my bag. It had a lot there, so yep, I was very happy for that.”

Hung is also back this week. He won this tournament in 2020, capitalising on the absence of foreign players due to travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic.

His compatriot Chan Shih-chang will be bidding for a fourth title, having claimed the event a record three times, in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Overview

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open has traditionally been held in the latter part of the season but the venue and organiser, Taifong Golf Club, assisted the Asian Tour with a request for an earlier date.

Mr Lin Po-shih, Chairman of Taifong Golf Club, helped facilitate this move allowing the Tour to build up the early part of the season in the Spring of North Asia – a beautiful time to play golf in the region.

The tournament continues to mature on the Asian Tour, having successfully made the transition from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2022.

For the past three seasons it has made an important contribution to the Tour’s narrative, especially with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai winning in 2023 and 2024 and his young compatriot Ekpharit Wu last year.

The success of the event is the result of a flourishing partnership between the host venue, Taiwan Glass and the Taiwan PGA – the local sanctioning partner.

The event was played on the ADT from 2014 to 2022 and was one of its most lucrative and popular tournaments.

It was first played in 2005, when Chinese-Taipei’s Yeh Weh-tze, winner of the Malaysian Open in 2000, triumphed. His countryman Chan Shih-chang has won the event a record three times in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Taifong Golf Club has been the event’s permanent home since its inception.

The Club is located in Changhua City on the west coast of Chinese-Taipei – once an expansive agricultural landscape, now a thriving business hub.

The course was designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Watanabe in 1977, and commands stunning views – nestling in a mountainous region it is famous for.

The club is one of the investment projects of Lin Yu-chia – the former president of Taiwan Glass.

Mr Lin Po-shih, Chairman of Taifong Golf Club, pictured with the players last year.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: Taiwan Glass Taifong Open
• Date: 7-10 May
• Venue: Taifong Golf Club, Changhua, Chinese Taipei
• Par/Yards: 72 / 7,302 yards
• Purse: US$500,000
• Asian Tour leg: Sixth
• Edition of tournament: Fourth on the Asian Tour, 17th in total.  It was first played in 2005, when Chinese-Taipei’s Yeh Weh-tze triumphed. It was played on the local tour until 2014 when it was also sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour (ADT) eight years.
• Previous winner: Ekpharit Wu (THA)
• Winning score in 2025: 268 (-20)
• Total number of players: 144
• Format: Stroke play tournament over four rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 players (including amateurs) plus ties.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016)
• Nationalities: 27
• Top contenders: Cameron John (AUS), Ekpharit Wu (THA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Ian Snyman (RSA)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Cameron John (AUS) #222
• Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) #3
• Number of amateurs in the field: No amateurs
• Number of Chinese Taipei players in the field: 46

Chan Shih-chang.

Tournament Notes

• Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, currently in third place on the Order of Merit, started 2026 with excellent results after a runner-up at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship and a T2 in the International Series Japan. He also had an early season T2 on the All Thailand Tour after a play-off loss to compatriot Danthai Boonma.
• Australian Cameron John has been playing great golf lately, with a runner-up finish at the Singapore Open and a T7 at International Series Japan. The result in Singapore also meant that he punched his ticket to The Open at Royal Birkdale this summer via the Open Qualifying Series. He also won two tournaments on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier in 2026 to finish second to compatriot Travis Smyth on their 2025/26 Order of Merit.
• South African Ian Snyman is coming off a great tournament in Korea, finishing T3 at the notoriously difficult Namseoul Country Club at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open last week. He also started off the year well with a T5 at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship.
• Ekpharit Wu from Thailand won this title by two shots over Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao for his first Asian Tour win last November, and quickly followed it up with a T3 in India two weeks later. In 2026 he has made the cut in all four Asian Tour events, and his best results have been T29’s at the Philippine Golf Championship and International Series Japan.
• Fellow Thai Jazz Janewattananond had a good result at the Singapore Open two weeks ago finishing T3, as well as a runner-up on the Asian Development Tour in late March. The 2019 Order of Merit champion is currently tied for ninth in all-time Asian Tour wins with seven, the last one coming at the 2022 International Series Morocco.
• The five-time Asian Tour winner Chan Shih-chang from Chinese Taipei won this tournament twice when it was part of the ADT in 2014 and 2018, and also in 2010 when it was part of the local tour. He holds the record with most wins.
• Lee Chieh-po, also from the host nation, is back on the Asian Tour after a season on the LIV Golf League. He won this tournament in 2021 when it was only played as a local event due to the global pandemic.
• Another local, Hung Chien-yao, has been victorious in the tournament twice, the first time in 2020 when it was played on the local tour and also in 2022 when it was part of the ADT. He was runner up in the tournament last year to secure his card for the 2026 season.
• Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai won the tournament in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024, after having finished T2 in the 2022 edition of the tournament. He is a four-time winner on the Asian Tour and three of his victories have come in Chinese Taipei. In addition to his two wins in this event, he also grabbed the title at the 2024 Yeangder TPC.

Main picture: Ekpharit Wu pictured celebrating last year.

The Asian Tour and Maeil Business Newspaper have come together to form an exciting new media partnership that will further strengthen their relationship.

Maeil Business Newspaper is one of Korea’s leading business media outlets and are owned by Maekyung Media – the long-standing title sponsor of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, which took place last week.

The new arrangement will see Maeil Business Newspaper provide year-round coverage of Asian Tour events in their online edition, in Korean and English.

It promises to be important exposure in a key market for the Asian Tour, who will work closely with the newspaper to ensure they are fully supported in order to maximise coverage.

Maeil Business Newspaper celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026.

Since publishing its first issue on March 24, 1966, it has served as a trusted guide to Korea’s economy.

It is the flagship publication of Maekyung Media, which connects with an audience of more than 20 million through an integrated network spanning newspapers, magazines, and digital/mobile platforms. This reach includes MBN, a nationwide general programming television channel, and Pulse, its English-language news platform. It is also internationally known for hosting the World Knowledge Forum, Asia’s largest business forum, as well as the GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

Founded in 1982 by Maeil Business Newspaper, the GS Caltex Maekyung Open is one of Korea’s most prestigious atournaments. It is known as Korea’s Masters, as the winner dons a Green Jacket.

Main picture: Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour and Jeonghwan Wi, CEO of Maeil Business Newspaper pictured at the signing ceremony at the weekend.

What they said at last week’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open, where Korea’s Minhyuk Song defeated his compatriot Mingyu Cho in a compelling sudden-death play-off.

First Round

First-round leader Taehee Lee from Korea on his eagle on the par-four 18^th hole:

• “My tee shot went right down the middle of the fairway. The pin was front-right, and I wanted to hit a high shot, but I couldn’t because of a divot. I had 130 yards left, but considering the uphill slope and the wind, I aimed to send it about 155 yards and hit an 8 iron. Because it was uphill, I couldn’t see the green, but the gallery started clapping. When I got there, the ball was in the hole. It’s my first eagle on the 18th hole!”

On his success at this tournament, and being the only player to win in back-to-back years (2019-2020) he said:

• “I’ve played in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open nearly 20 times, I think the most important thing is being myself. Being able to play my own game in any situation is key. Belief in myself and confidence are the most important factors. I know the dangerous areas better than other players on this course, so in that sense, I feel more comfortable.”

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin after his 67 (-4) in the first round:

“I’m not really expecting that here, I planned not to come here this year, to be honest”

Asked how he managed to get the better of the course this time after a string of missed cuts in 2023, 2024, and 2025 he said:

• “I don’t know. Normally, I just cannot hit from the fairway here – it’s just like I cannot control the ball. The second shot is very important here. You have to be precise, due to the pin location. You cannot go over the pin. Also, I just scored well on the par threes today. I made three under on them. So, that’s why I scored well. And I found good places to make to up and downs.”

Fellow Thai Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who already has two runners-up this season, after his 66 (-5):

• “I never played good here, but honestly, this year after the first four events, I feel more confident about my game. Everything I think is about mindset. Everything felt smooth today and continued my momentum. It was a little bit of a colourful score card. It’s like I am always attacking. I’m very, very happy with how I play today.  I came out strong mentally. That’s why I am playing well.”

Minhyuk Song.

Second Round

New Zealander Nick Voke after his second round 66 (-5):

• “Very pleased with it. You know, as you said, challenging golf course, but challenging conditions as well. This wind is tricky, it’s strong, it’s coming from all sorts of directions. So, one of the better ball striking rounds for me. I think I hit 17 greens, a lot of two putts from 20 feet, and a couple of them went in. So it was a good day. You can get in trouble out here at Namseoul when you’re… Legit, you’d rather have 15 feet up the hill than an eight-foot coming down, like it’s crazy. So you’ll be really precise with your numbers into the greens. I put it in the right spots, had a lot of looks, and it was pretty stress free.”

Asked if it was helpful to play with Julien Sale (72-66) and Mingyu Cho (66-70) who also played well the first two days:

• “Yeah, we were feeding off each other. You know, when the cameras came around, we’re like, oh, it’s our time to shine now, boys. You know, Julian played sensational, Mingyu really well yesterday. Yeah, just feeding off each other, a lot of fist pumps, lot of good putts, good shots. It was cool.”

On his strategy to score well at Namseoul Country Club:

• “Yeah, there’s only one thing, and that’s to keep it under the hole. Like you find your front number and the pin is your back number, hit in between that and you’ll do well.”

Julien Sale from France after his 66 (-5) that included two eagles on his last nine holes:

• “Made a good birdie on one, and then holed on two, for eagle. I think I had like, 130 metres. Had a pitching wedge. I actually didn’t see it go in, because I was a bit below, but yeah, my caddy was just on top of the hill looking at it, and he’s like saying it’s looking good, looking good, and it went in. At first I didn’t believe him, but I heard the crowd cheering. And then after that, on the par five, hit a good tee shot, with a three wood. The wind was helping, and then a nice seven iron that rolled to like five metres and made the putt.”

Joint leader Yubin Jang on how a year on the LIV Golf League in 2025 has made him a better player:

• “Having played on LIV Golf across a variety of courses and conditions, I found it relatively easy to adapt to the windy conditions today. That experience has been a great help. Even in situations where I might normally take a more aggressive club, I’m now trying to play more steadily. I do feel that I’ve grown as a player.”

On what this tournament, one of Korea’s Majors, means to him:

• “Since my days on the national team, the tournaments I’ve most wanted to win are the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the Kolon Korea Open. I was in contention in both 2023 and 2024, but it was disappointing not to win. Those missed opportunities have stayed with me, so I’ll do my best to play without any regrets.”

Mingyu Cho.

Third Round

Co-leader Mingyu Cho from Korea after his third-round 67 (-4):

• “There weren’t any major crises or big opportunities on the front nine, I made pars throughout. I knew I had lost the lead, but I didn’t dwell on it. I just kept playing, believing chances would come naturally. I started playing golf in 1999 and have been on tour for over 20 years. From experience, you shouldn’t attack the course recklessly – especially not this one. It’s important to stay patient and play within yourself.”

On what a win at home would mean after over 20 years winless on Korean soil, but with two victories on the Japan Golf Tour:

• “A new opportunity presents itself. If I win in Korea, it feels like all the pieces will finally come together. And my son was born on Monday, so I want to draw strength from that and give it my best as a father.”

Compatriot Minhyuk Song also shared the lead after three rounds following a 66 (-5):

• “Namseoul Country Club is a course where I’ve had some of my best results. I especial love the huge galleries. I tried to be myself today, just as I did in the first and second rounds. Rather than thinking about protecting my position in the third round, I focused on moving up the leaderboard. I think that mindset helped me get into a share of the lead. There were a lot of leaderboards out on the course, so I checked them frequently. I kept track of where I stood and played accordingly.”

South African Ian Snyman after his third round 67 (-4) on having his brother Ryno on the bag and other family members in the gallery this week:

• “It’s been quite special having, let’s say half of the full family here. I nearly shed a tear before the round, because my sister, she came and she saw my brother, and she started crying, and it’s just been a whole special feeling. And it was a big thing for me to make the cut. This is always a week where it’s tough, and to make it with him, it’s just extra special. And to have a fun day like today, where I could see he was excited with every putt made. It was a moment that I’ll cherish for a long time, and hopefully we can make some more memories tomorrow.”

Final Round

The champion Minhyuk Song from Korea after securing his first professional victory in a playoff against compatriot Minguy Cho after a final round 70 (-1):

• “I really wanted to win, but I also told myself that even if I stumbled, as long as I had the strength to get back up, I could become a player capable of winning. I’m just very happy that such a great opportunity came sooner than I expected. I thought I might cry after my first win, but in the moment, I just felt overwhelming joy and couldn’t stop smiling. Up until last year, my father caddied for me, but this year I’m working with a professional caddie. My dream was to win with my father on the bag and bow to him as a celebration. Although I couldn’t fulfil that this time, my caddie did an amazing job and really helped me perform well.”

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Korea’s rising star Minhyuk Song overcame compatriot Mingyu Cho on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off to win the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today – on one of the most dramatic Sunday’s the tournament has ever seen.

Song, aged 22, secured his first victory in the professional game by parring the first extra hole at Namseoul Country Club, after Cho made bogey.

It was an incredible turn of events as Cho looked to be on course for the win leading by two playing the last. However, he missed a three-foot bogey putt and made double bogey to fall back into a tie with playing-partner Song.

Adding to the drama, Korean Inhoi Hur looked set to join the play-off but after signing his scorecard he was penalised two shots for an incident that took place yesterday.

All three had finished tied on 11 under, with Song and Cho, the joint leaders at the start of the day, both shooting 70 and Hur a 64.

Minhyuk Song.

Hur’s tournament total was subsequently changed to nine under and he finished joint third with South African Ian Snyman and Korea’s Taehee Lee. Snyman returned a 67 and Lee 69.

Song trailed Cho the whole of the back nine before he made a solid par on the 18^th to keep his hopes alive. Cho had pushed his tee shot right, punched back into the fairway and ended up three putting.

“I really wanted to win,” he said, “but I also told myself that even if I stumbled, as long as I had the strength to get back up, I could become a player capable of winning. I’m just very happy that such a great opportunity came sooner than I expected.”

He had a bogey free front nine and made birdies on three and four to stay level with Cho. He dropped his first shot of the day on 11, where a tiddler horse shoed the hole, recovered with a birdie on the next before dropping a shot on 16.

He added: “I thought I might cry after my first win, but in the moment, I just felt overwhelming joy and couldn’t stop smiling. Up until last year, my father caddied for me, but this year I’m working with a professional caddie. My dream was to win with my father on the bag and bow to him as a celebration. Although I couldn’t fulfil that this time, my caddie did an amazing job and really helped me perform well.”

It was a case of coming full circle as he finished second here as an amateur in 2023, before turning professional at the end of that year.

Mingyu Cho.

In the play-off Cho hit another poor drive but on this occasion down the left. He found the greenside trap with his second and splashed out to eight feet. Song two putted from the back of the green for par, while Cho missed his attempt.

It was once again a bitter pill to swallow for Cho. He was looking for his first win on Korean soil in 16 years as a professional.

The 37-year-old also came close to winning this event in 2022 when he finished in second place, two behind his countryman Bio Kim. On that occasion he held the lead on the front nine but suffered a huge set back on the ninth when he was penalised two shots for playing his third off a temporary green.

For Hur it was also a case of what might have been. He made a brave run at the title with three birdies on the trot from the 11^th. The 2021 champion parred home from there before being informed of a two-shot deduction following a review by the rules committee.

He had been assessed a stroke and distance penalty on hole seven in the third round, where he made a par four after having played a provisional.

Officials determined that his original tee shot was out of bounds and his provisional ball became ball in play thus his score was corrected from four to six.

Inhoi Hur.

The Asian Tour heads to Chinese-Taipei next week for the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open. The tournament tees off on Thursday at Taifong Golf Club. Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu starts as the defending champion.

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

It is proving to be a big week for Ian Snyman at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open with a lot of inspiration, on and off the golf course.

Most importantly he is in hot pursuit of the leaders after a fine third-round four-under-par 67 yesterday. He is five-under and just five behind the leaders heading into today’s final round, at Namseoul Country Club.

It means that once again he has a chance to win for the first time on the Asian Tour, something he has been consistently close to since he started playing full time in the region in 2022.

His performance so far this week could not have come at a more opportune time as his brother, Ryno, is on the bag and his sister, Liezl, who lives in Korea, came to watch. Their sister was unaware that Ryno was here, with his wife Mariette, and got a wonderful surprise when she thought she came to watch just one sibling in action at the start of the second round on Friday.

“It’s been quite special having, let’s say half of the full family here,” said Snyman, after the third round.

“I nearly shed a tear before the round, because my sister, she came and she saw my brother, and she started crying, and it’s just been a whole special feeling.

“And it was a big thing for me to make the cut. This is always a week where it’s tough, and to make it with him, it’s just extra special. And to have a fun day like today, where I could see he was excited with every putt made. It was a moment that I’ll cherish for a long time, and hopefully we can make some more memories tomorrow.”

From left to right: Jihwan Bach, Liezl, Ian, Ian, Hay-Leigh, Mariette, and Ryno.

His sister, Liezl, moved to Korea 15 years ago to teach English, and married a Korean gentleman, Jihwan Bach. They have two children, Hay-Leigh and Ian – named after his uncle.

“I usually get to see Liezl a few times a year, which is nice, when I am playing events here. And then my parents can come every few years, but it’s an expensive trip, so my brothers haven’t been able to come. This year, I told them, well, why don’t you come carry for me, and we can surprise them. And that was kind of the whole idea behind it, and nobody knew a thing.

“My parents in South Africa didn’t know. We video called them yesterday, it was so funny, and everyone was just ecstatic and so happy that we can all be together. And my sister needs it. She’s got an amazing family over here but she misses home as well, and this is very special. And that’s how golf connects, I guess, the whole family to the world.”

There’s also a lot more happening this week.

He is using new clubs for only the second week, having first used them last week in Singapore. Despite the concern of changing to new equipment he says the Titleist clubs are working extremely well.

It could all lead to big celebrations later today should he win or go close in what is one of Korea’s premier events, known as Korea’s Masters as the winner dons a Green Jacket.

He has been hindered by one thing this week though: a bad back.

His exceptional golf has masked an unpleasant pain halfway up his back. It started last week in Singapore, and he is noticeably struggling with his movement. He is still to determine what the issue is, with a lot of treatment helping to get him through.

It’s very much a case of beware the injured golfer as he attempts to become the first westerner to win on this course since New Zealand’s Eddie Lee was back in 2002.

Korean Mingyu Cho [main picture] will seek restitution in the final round of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open tomorrow after taking a share of the third-round lead.

He shot a four-under-par 67 today for a three-day total of 10-under, along with his young compatriot Minhyuk Song, who carded a 66.

Korean Taehee Lee, the back-to-back champion here in 2019 and the following year, returned a 70 and is three behind in solo second, while his countrymen Minjun Kim (68), Doyeob Mun (69), the defending champion, and Minkyu Kim (70) are all another stroke behind.

Cho finished in second place here at Namseoul Country Club in 2022, two shots behind the winner: fellow Korean Bio Kim.

It was bitter sweet as on the ninth hole he played his third off a secondary green and was quickly told he should have taken a drop. He was subsequently penalised two strokes. It remains his best finish in a tournament that he has unfinished business.

He was rock solid today, shooting all four of his birdies on the back nine and not dropping any shots.

Minhyuk Song.

“There weren’t any major crises or big opportunities on the front nine, I made pars throughout,” said Cho.

“I knew I had lost the lead, but I didn’t dwell on it. I just kept playing, believing chances would come naturally. I started playing golf in 1999 and have been on tour for over 20 years. From experience, you shouldn’t attack the course recklessly – especially not this one. It’s important to stay patient and play within yourself.”

He said he played in the final group with Korean Kyungtae Kim when he won in 2011. “He was incredible at the time, and playing alongside him helped me understand how to approach Namseoul Country Club,” he said.

The 37-year-old is a two-winner in Japan but surprisingly he has not won in Korea. In 2022 when he frustratingly lost this week’s event he was second in the Kolon Korea Open and Shinhan Donghae Open, another of the country’s biggest events.

Victory tomorrow would also be especially significant with a new arrival in the Cho family.

He said: “A new opportunity presents itself. If I win in Korea, it feels like all the pieces will finally come together. And my son was born on Monday, so I want to draw strength from that and give it my best as a father.”

All the big guns of Korean golf are hot on his heels, including the next generation.

Song is just two 22 and has been a professional for two years. He hit the headlines in 2023 when he tied second in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, when he was an amateur.

“Namseoul Country Club is a course where I’ve had some of my best results. I especial love the huge galleries,” he said, who is knocking on the door of a first win in the pro game with four top fives on home soil last year.

“I tried to be myself today, just as I did in the first and second rounds. Rather than thinking about protecting my position in the third round, I focused on moving up the leaderboard. I think that mindset helped me get into a share of the lead. There were a lot of leaderboards out on the course, so I checked them frequently. I kept track of where I stood and played accordingly.”

Taehee Lee.

South African Ian Snyman (67), plus Koreans Jinho Choi (69), Daihan Lee (70) and Seonghyeon Kim (71) are next best placed, five behind the leaders.

Overnight leader Yubin Jang from Korea suffered a poor day carding an uncharacteristic 78 to tumbledown the leaderboard into joint 45^th on one over.

Pictures courtesy Korean Golf Association.

Yubin Jang staked his claim for a maiden win in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today after taking a share of the halfway lead at Namseoul Country Club, following a two-under-par 69.

The golden boy of Korean golf, who played on the LIV Golf League last year, is six under in a congested leaderboard with just eight shots separating the leaders from those on the cut line.

He leads along with compatriots Mingyu Cho, Sanghun Shin and Taehee Lee, the winner here in 2019 and 2020. Cho and Shin shot 70s while Lee a 71.

A large group of eight players are five under, including New Zealander Nick Voke (66), plus two-time Korea Open champion Minkyu Kim (67) and Seonghyeon Kim (69), a PGA Tour player, from Korea.

Jang played for Iron Heads GC on LIV Golf last season and while he was unable to keep his playing status on the franchise he has clearly returned an even stronger player.

“Having played on LIV Golf across a variety of courses and conditions, I found it relatively easy to adapt to the windy conditions today,” said the 23-year-old.

Cho Mingyu.

“That experience has been a great help. Even in situations where I might normally take a more aggressive club, I’m now trying to play more steadily. I do feel that I’ve grown as a player.”

A brilliant 2024 in Korea when he topped the Order of Merit and was the Player of the Year helped get an invite onto the LIV Golf League. He was also part of the Korea team that claimed the gold medal at the Asian Games the year before.

He said: “Since my days on the national team, the tournaments I’ve most wanted to win are the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the Kolon Korea Open. I was in contention in both 2023 and 2024, but it was disappointing not to win. Those missed opportunities have stayed with me, so I’ll do my best to play without any regrets.”

He tied for fourth in the 2024 GS Caltex Maekyung Open and was equal eight the year before when still an amateur.

The rising star is a three-time winner on the Korean Tour, his first success coming as an amateur in 2023 at the Gunsan Open, before twins in 2024.

Cho, Voke and Frenchman Julien Sale were paired in one the groups of the day. Sale joined Voke by shooting a 66 and is one shot back in a tie for 13^th.

Cho came close to winning this tournament in 2022 when he finished second, two shots behind the winner Bio Kim, also from Korea. Cho was sharing the lead on the front nine before disaster struck. While playing his third shot at the ninth, he stepped foot on the hole’s second green, unaware that he should have taken a drop. It was an error for which he was docked two shots – a cruel and decisive blow to his chances.

While he watched his playing partners shoot 66 today, he was able to enjoy having shot the same score yesterday.

Nick Voke.

Voke made six birdies and dropped just one shot to put himself into one his best positions heading into the weekend on the Asian Tour

“We were feeding off each other,” said Voke. “You know, when the cameras came around, we’re like, oh, it’s our time to shine now, boys. You know, Julian played sensational, Mingyu played really well yesterday. Yeah, just feeding off each other, a lot of fist pumps, lot of good putts, good shots. It was cool.

“Very pleased with the round. You know, challenging golf course, but challenging conditions as well. This wind is tricky, it’s strong, it’s coming from all sorts of directions. So, one of the better ball striking rounds for me I think, I hit 17 greens, a lot of two putts from 20 feet, and a couple of them went in. So, it was a good day.”

Sale, winner of the Philippine Open at the beginning of last year, is also putting together one of his strong performances and was helped by a pair of eagles, on the par-four second and par-five fourth.

“Things got hotter on the front nine,” he said.

“Made a good birdie on one, and then holed on two, for eagle. I think I had like, 130 metres. Had a pitching wedge. I actually didn’t see it go in, because I was a bit below, but yeah, my caddy was just on top of the hill looking at it, and he’s like saying it’s looking good, looking good, and it went in. At first I didn’t believe him, but I heard the crowd cheering.

“And then after that, on the par five, hit a good tee shot, with a three wood. The wind was helping, and then a nice seven iron that rolled to like five metres and made the putt.”

Defending champion Doyeob Mun from Korea also returned a 66 to recover from his opening 72. He is well placed also at four under with Sale and four other players including England’s Steve Lewton.

Lewton was reeling the leaders in at the end of the day but made a double on the 16^th before closing with a birdie on the last for a 71.

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Taehee Lee’s bid to become the first player to win the GS Caltex Maekyung Open three times got off to the perfect start today when he took the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.

He finished his round in the morning session at Namseoul Country Club, the scene of his successes in 2019 and 2020, but it was enough to keep the lead by the end of the day.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert plus Koreans Mingyu Cho, Sanghun Shin and Baekjun Kim are in second following 66s, while Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, Englishman Steve Lewton and Korea’s Yubin Jang, Teayang Jung, Eunshin Park, Yujun Jung, and Minsu Kim, an amateur, are next after 67s.

Lee [main picture] is the only player to win this tournament – considered a Major here and called Korea’s Masters as the winner dons a Green Jacket – back-to-back, although his second win came when it was only part of the Korean PGA Tour and not sanctioned with the Asian Tour due to the global pandemic.

Come Sunday afternoon he will dearly love to play the par-four 18^th like he did today.

“My tee shot went right down the middle of the fairway. The pin was front-right, and I wanted to hit a high shot, but I couldn’t because of a divot,” said the Korean, one of five players to win the event twice.

“I had 130 yards left, but considering the uphill slope and the wind, I aimed to send it about 155 yards and hit an 8 iron. Because it was uphill, I couldn’t see the green, but the gallery started clapping. When I got there, the ball was in the hole. It’s my first eagle on the 18th hole!”

Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

Having start on 10 it was his ninth and allowed him to make the turn in four-under 31, thanks to three birdies and just one dropped shot. Two birdies on the second half saw him reach six under.

He said: “I’ve played in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open nearly 20 times, I think the most important thing is being myself. Being able to play my own game in any situation is key. Belief in myself and confidence are the most important factors. I know the dangerous areas better than other players on this course, so in that sense, I feel more comfortable.”

Pavit and Poom were quick to point out that today’s rounds are their best ever at an event where they have always struggled due to the notoriously difficult Namseoul course, which is in south Seoul.

The former has made the cut twice in five starts here, with a best of joint 33^rd in 2024, while the latter has not made it through to the weekend in four attempts.

Pavit arrives here extremely well and truly on point, in third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – thanks to two runners-up finishes.

“I never played good here,” said Pavit, “but honestly, this year after the first four events, I feel more confident about my game. Everything I think is about mindset.

“Everything felt smooth today and continued my momentum. It was a little bit of a colourful score card. It’s like I am always attacking. I’m very, very happy with how I play today.  I came out strong mentally. That’s why I am playing good.”

The ‘colourful’ part refers to his front nine, where he made an eagle, five birdies and two bogies. Two birdies and two bogies made for a calmer second half.

He is in pursuit of his third title on the Asian Tour, the last being seven years ago at the Sabah Masters.

Poom was equally as surprised to see his name on the leaderboard.

Having arrived here following a seven-under-par 64 last Sunday to finish in a tie for sixth at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times, the Thai started as one of the favourites. However, there was a look of confusion on his face after signing his scorecard.

Poom Saksansin.

“I’m not really expecting that here,” said the Thai, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour – the most recent the 2023 Yeangder TPC.

He missed the cut in 2018, 2023, 2024, and 2025. He also withdrew in 2019 and 2020.

“I planned not to come here this year, to be honest,” he added.

Asked how he managed to get the better of the course this time, he said: “I don’t know. Normally, I just cannot hit from the fairway here – it’s just like I cannot control the ball. The second shot is very important here. You have to be precise, due to the pin location. You cannot go over the pin.

“Also, I just scored well on the par threes today. I made three under on them. So, that’s why I scored well. And I found good places to make to up and downs.”

After starting on the front nine, he made the turn in four under thanks to birdies on 13, 15, 17 and 18. One of those, the 17^th, is a par three. The back nine was not as strong but the bogeys he made on five and seven, where countered by birdies on three and six – both par threes.

It’s the first time he has been back to Korea since compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana beat him by two shots on an epic final day at the Kolon Korea Open last year.

“That hurt a little bit, because the winner gets a five-year exemption to play in Korea,” he said.

Korea’s Jeongwoo Ham, winner of last week’s Singapore Open presented by The Business Times, fired a 70 while his countryman and defending champion Doyeob Mun will be disappointed with his 72.

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Vijay Kumar, who passed away on Tuesday, aged 57, following a cardiac arrest at his home in the northern Indian city of Lucknow, will forever be remembered as a legend of the sport in the country. Story by By Joy Chakravarty – Asian Tour contributor.

Winner of nearly 100 titles on the domestic PGTI since debuting as a professional in 1988, his biggest win was the 2002 Royal Challenge Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club. That Sunday, he did not have his A-game but crafted a typically gritty one-under par 71 round to beat Canadian Rick Gibson by two shots.

The Indian Open title was his only win on the Asian Tour, a number that would have increased several times if not for his reluctance to travel outside the country. It wasn’t the golf courses or finances that were an issue; it was his craving for Indian food for every meal and the prospect of missing the several hours he’d spend chit-chatting with his friends in the caddyshack after every round.

I once asked him why he hadn’t played more in Asia, and his reply was quintessential Vijay. “Why do you work hard? So that you can earn a decent salary that takes care of the family and provides for good food. I can do that playing in India, so why put myself through all the trouble,” he explained.

A self-taught player growing up in a village called Martinpurwa outside Lucknow Golf Club, Vijay used to be a forecaddie and fell in love with the sport. The village kids, after supplementing their family income during the day, would then play their own version of golf on the streets with handmade clubs and balls. Playing on gravelly roads with equipment from the Neanderthal age, and a 1-iron that he picked up from a trash bin, Vijay transformed himself into a four-time Order of Merit champion in India.

Vijay Kumar pictured playing in 2024 HSBC India Legends Championship. Picture by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images.

He also had an important role in boosting golf in Asia, even though it was a heartbreaking moment for him personally. In 1995, when the Asian PGA Tour – Asian Tour’s precursor – was formed, Delhi Golf Club hosted the US$500,000 Gadgil Western Masters. The size of the tournament was a breakthrough moment for golf in India, and for the continent.

On Sunday, it became a two-man battle between Gaurav Ghei, the favourite child of Delhi Golf Club, and Vijay. Coming down the par-5 18th hole, Vijay stuck two stupendous 1-iron shots to reach the green. Ghei was on 12-under, but his second shot had drifted right and left him with a difficult chip from 35 yards. A par looked like the best possibility from there, and that would tie the clubhouse mark set by Jyoti Randhawa. Vijay, at 11-under, was sitting some 15 feet for a very makeable eagle.

As it turned out, Ghei chipped in and pandemonium erupted. Like Vijay had done all his life, he took the knockout punch with a smile, respectfully took off his cap, and congratulated the champion. A jubilant Ghei became the front-page picture of every newspaper in the country the next day.

People from Lucknow are known for their impeccable manners and respect for others, and nobody embodied it better than Vijay.

The PGTI, as a mark of respect and honour for Vijay, is considering hosting a tournament named after the man who single-handedly put his city on the golfing map.

In a statement, Kapil Dev, the former Indian cricket captain and now President of DP World-PGTI, said: “Vijay Kumar was one of the true stalwarts of Indian golf. His achievements, humility and commitment to the sport made him a role model for generations of golfers. His passing is a great loss to Indian golf, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Such has been Vijay’s influence on Martinpurwa that the whole village plays golf on the streets, a sight unlike any other in India, which is besotted with cricket. Talk to these kids, and each one of them would say their favourite golfer is Vijay Kumar. Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy would come after Vijay.

Shiraz Kalra, who was one of India’s top amateur stars, hails from Lucknow and has personally felt the impact of Vijay Kumar on his career.

“He would have had a role to play in each of these kids playing golf. Vijay was just so generous with his time, patience and money. If you see them playing with proper golf balls, most likely, Vijay would have given it to them. He would pass on his clubs to any youngsters who showed promise. He paid the entry fee for many of them for amateur and professional events,” reminisced Kalra.

“There was a reason everyone would call him Vijay Bhaiyya (big brother).”

Vijay Kumar is survived by his wife and three sons.

Main picture. Vijay playing in the Johnnie Walker Classic in India in 2004 (Getty Images).