Published on December 18, 2023

Springfield Royal Country Club and Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Thailand’s popular golfing hub Hua Hin, will jointly-host the Final Stage of next year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School, the Tour announced today.

Springfield Royal’s C&B nines and Lake View’s A&B layouts will be used for the five-round event, which will be played from January 16-20.

Springfield Royal and Lake View will be used for the first four days while Springfield Royal will stage the all-important final round.

Both clubs have regularly hosted the Qualifying School over the past two decades and are fitting venues for such an important tournament that decides the future of so many talented golfers.

A total of 35 Tour cards will be awarded with another pressure-packed week filled with drama expected.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “We are pleased to confirm final details for the 2024 Asian Tour Qualifying School – which helps set the scene for the new season.

“In Springfield Royal Country Club and Lake View Resort and Golf Club we have two tried and trusted venues who will ensure a smooth-running event that will allow us to get the year off to a perfect start.”

Qualification for places in the Final Stage are already well underway with First Round Qualifiers having taken place in Australia, the United States and last week in Thailand.

A total of 43 players have secured their places in the Final Stage, with three more First Stage Qualifiers remaining, all to be played in Thailand.

At the Final Stage the top 140 players (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to round three and four. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the final round, which will be held on January 20. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will be ranked accordingly for the 2024 season.

For the 2023 Qualifying School, 563 players entered the pre-qualifiers with 110 making it through to the finals, joining 124 exempt players, with 35 countries represented.

Australian Jack Thompson graduated top of the class and went on to enjoy a fine rookie season finishing in 48th place on the Order of Merit, with four top-15 finishes in 17 starts.

The Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule will be announced shortly.

Today’s venue announcement is an update as Lake View was previously planned to host the entirety of the Final Stage at its 36 hole facility.

Published on December 17, 2023

Denwit Boriboonsub completed a rare hat-trick of titles today when he recorded a brilliant three-shot win in the US$1million Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund today at Riyadh Golf Club.

The 19-year-old Thai, who won the Thailand Open on the All Thailand Golf Tour last week and the Aramco Invitational on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) the week before, shot a final round seven-under-par 64 for a four-round-aggregate of 18-under 266.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson raced through with a 65 to secure second place while Travis Smyth from Australia was third after a 67 – in an event that brought to a conclusion the Asian Tour’s 23-event, US$35 million season.

Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand, the overnight leader, signed off with a 70 and tied for fourth, five behind the champion, with his nation’s brilliant young amateur Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwant, in with a 66, and Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma, who closed with a 67.

Denwit also has the distinction of becoming the first player to win the final events of the year on both the Asian Tour and ADT, as the Aramco Invitational was also the season-ender.

He started one back from Phachara today and dominated the final day. Three birdies in-a-row from the first and again from 11 were the mark of a player on top of his game. He made eight birdies in total and dropped just one shot.

At the turn he had a two-shot lead, which was the gap he had playing the last, where he closed with a birdie to put the icing on the cake.

He also made par saving clutch putts from eight feet on 15 and 17 to fend off his pursuers.

“It is an unbelievable feeling because it is incredible winning three weeks in a row. It is like magic!” said the Thai youngster, whose English name is David and who won US$180,000, leaping into 21^st place on the final Asian Tour Order of Merit from 133^rd.

“I was really confident before coming to this week because I just know my game. I hit my drives good, my irons and putting were also good, so my goal this week was to win. Fortunately, I made it.”

This is only Denwit’s 15th start on the Asian Tour, and he mirrors the performance of American Berry Henson back in 2011 by winning on the Asian Tour a fortnight after claiming an ADT event.

Three weeks ago, on the eve of the Aramco Invitational, he was 30^th on the ADT Merit list and facing an uncertain future before a lifechanging month of golf.

He said: “[At Aramco] I told my caddie that there is nothing to lose now. If we didn’t make this tournament we had to go to Q School but I just tried to play my best and hopefully just make top three but luckily I won it.”

2016 Open champion Stenson, playing in the third from last group out, made a valiant late run making four consecutive birdies from the 12^th and another on 17 but he ran out of holes.

He said: “It’s been a good week here in Riyadh. It’s been my first trip to the capital, it’s been nice to see something else than Jeddah as well in that sense, where we played a lot of golf both the Saudi International and the LIV tournaments. So nice visit, a lot of friendly people. I came in with two months off, so it was a good opportunity for me to kind of see where we’re at and what needs to be worked more on when we start preparing for next year in the middle of January.”

The battle on the bubble to finish in the top-65 and secure Tour cards for 2024 as expected saw a close finish with those playing this week.

Kozuma made the biggest move from 76th to 53rd after his fine finish, Björn Hellgren from Sweden also made it through to next year after tying for 18th to go from 60th to 57th.

Koreans Yongjun Bae and Yeongsu Kim also managed to stay on the right side of the top-65 cut-off mark, moving from 63rd to 59th and 62nd to 61st respectively.

And South African Jbe Kruger who was in the 65th and final spot coming into the week moved up to 63rd after a tense weekend that saw him end in a tie for 18th.

Published on December 16, 2023

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai shot a four-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead after three-rounds of the US$1 million Saudi Open presented Public Investment Fund today.

He leads on 12-under from compatriot Denwit Boriboonsub here at Riyadh Golf Club – in the Asian Tour’s season-ender.

Australian Travis Smyth carded a 64 and is a further shot back with Indian Veer Ahlawat, who returned a 66, and Todd Sinnott, also from Australia, who came in with a 69.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson gave himself a shot at the title tomorrow after shooting a 67 and is tied for sixth with three other players on nine-under.

All eyes will be on Phachara as he attempts to win his second title on the Asian Tour. It was two years ago that he claimed his maiden title, the 2021 Laguna Phuket Championship, before a stream of near misses followed.

He began the day in a share of the lead with Denwit and Sinnott and later took control with three birdies from the 10^th for a three-shot advantage. Wayward approach shots on 16, where he made a bogey, and 17, where he saved a par, stopped his momentum.

“Today started very good, until like the end,” he said.

“All driver, all putting, all chipping, perfect until like the end. I struggled with my iron on last couple of holes.

“I missed the par-five 15^th, hit it big right, and maybe after that feel like I am not trust myself, but I just tried to keep score, not lose my mind.  If my game is like today I still have a chance tomorrow because today I hit perfect, make a lot of birdie.

“Today I played safe instead of try and reach the green with one shot. I can make birdie with two shots to green. Maybe tomorrow will be same plan.”

In-form Denwit missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the last to draw level with Phachara. He is bidding to complete the hat-trick tomorrow having won the Aramco Invitational, also in Saudi Arabia, two weeks ago on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), followed by the Thailand Open last week.

He said: “Today the first nine was quite nervous for me, because it was my first time playing in the final group on the Asian Tour. And then I made double on the 10th, so that double just changed my mentality. Just play it, whatever happens it happens, and after that double it got better and better.

“I’m very happy because before I’ve never played this well. So, to be here, just in like seven eight weeks, it’s a big improvement for me.”

After his 64, the second best round of the day, Smyth said: “Yeah, it was amazing. You know, for the last three months I feel like the putter has been letting me down, and today yeah, I hit some okay shots, but I was getting lucky, I’ll be honest. I was holing like 20-footers, 40-footers, I think I even holed a 50-footer as well. So it was a little bit of luck, but it felt amazing, especially with the last few months that I’ve had it just felt unreal.”

Thailand’s amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat came in with a 67 and is eight under in a tie for 10^th.

Published on

While the race to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) has already been decided with American Andy Ogletree securing the crown, it will still be a drama- filled weekend at the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund for players on both sides of the bubble trying to keep their cards by finishing inside the top-65. Report by Olle Nordberg.

This week’s US$1million tournament is the last event of the 2023 season and is being played at Riyadh Golf Club.

The OOM points for this week have been elevated to a tier-3 tournament on par with International Series events – so points available will be considerably higher than other US$1 million events this season. The winner for example will earn 700 points, solo 10^th 80 points, while those in last place receive just four points.

Ogletree, who is not playing this week, triumphed twice this year and has an unassailable lead of 2,128.68 points.

Coming into this week the points required for the 65^th and final spot were 290, and it was South African Jbe Kruger sitting in this unenviable position. The two-time Asian Tour winner safely made the cut yesterday and sits in tied 34^th place after rounds of 71 and 70, but with projected points for 65^th place going up to around the 320-335 mark, he will still have some work to do over the weekend to secure his status.

Sweden’s Björn Hellgren is 60^th on the OOM with 317.43 points and almost certainly needed to make the cut to have a chance to keep his card. Handling the pressure well, he returned rounds of 69 and 67 to sit in solo fifth place and has an excellent chance of keeping his card.

Closely behind in 61^st place and in the same situation is Ajeetesh Sandhu from India on 316.2 points, and while he made the cut by one shot, he was still in the danger zone as the projection after day two had him hanging on in the 65^th and final place.

Korean Yeongsu Kim started in 62^nd place with 311 points and he also made it to the weekend just one stroke above the cut line but he is currently projected to slip to 66^th and will need to shift gear.

Yongjun Bae, also from Korea, came into the week ranked in 63^rd place and after round two was tied 26^th. He should have a good chance to stay inside the top-65 if he holds his position.

Entering the tournament in 67^th position and needing a good week was Thailand’s Itthipat Buranathanyarat. Having made the cut he still has a lot of work to do and needs to finish in around 20^th place, depending on number of ties, to keep his card.

Australian Douglas Klein, ranked 68^th, finished tied 13^th on Friday and needs to maintain that form in order to have a chance, while Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, in 70^th, started today tied 34^th place and will need a strong finish to make it through to 2024.

Two Thai players in with a chance to perhaps make the biggest jump this week, although they are in very different situations, are Denwit Boriboonsub and Panuphol Pittayarat

Denwit won the season-ending Aramco Invitational on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) two weeks ago and has already locked up an Asian Tour card for next year by winning the ADT Order of Merit. However, being tied for the lead on eight-under-par at the halfway stage, he now has a chance to move into the Tournament Winner’s category or improve his priority ranking if he should move into the top 65. Starting the week in 133^rd place on 54.73 points, he would likely need a tied second for this to happen.

Panuphol, better known as “Coconut”, lost his card when his medical extension ran out earlier this year and came into this week in 109^th place on the Merit list with 116.54 points.

He needs a huge week to get his playing rights back and is on track after sitting in solo fourth after two rounds. An outright third-place finish will ensure that he’s back on the Asian Tour again next year.

One player who sadly won’t finish in the top-65 is Bangladesh star Siddikur Rahman. Sitting in 80^th on the rankings he was gunning for a good week but had to withdraw because of a sore back. It’s the first time in 13 years he has finished outside the top-44.

Published on December 15, 2023

Denwit Boriboonsub has put himself in position to claim a unique hat-trick of titles in successive weeks after taking a share of the lead today following round two of the US$1 million Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund.

The 20-year-old Thai golfer claimed the Aramco Invitational, also in Saudi Arabia, two weeks ago on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), followed by the Thailand Open last week and is clearly still in the zone after shooting a five-under-par 66 at Riyadh Golf Club.

He leads on eight-under along with countryman Phachara Khongwatmai, who also returned a 66, and Australian Todd Sinnott, after a 67 thanks to holing his second for an eagle two on his final hole, on a much calmer day following yesterday’s windier weather – in the season-ending event on the Asian Tour.

Pittayarat “Coconut” Panuphol from Thailand is one shot back after a 67, while Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren returned the same score and is a further stroke behind.

Korea’s Bio Kim and Henrik Stenson from Sweden, who made a double on his final hole, carded 67s and are five-under along with Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, both in with 68s.

First-round leader Chapchai Nirat from Thailand is also five-under after shooting a 73.

Denwit beat England’s William Harrold in a sudden-death play-off at Rolling Hills Golf Club to win what was the final event on the ADT’s season 12 days ago, which also allowed him to claim the ADT Order of Merit title.

The Merit list victory earned him his Asian Tour card for next year, and judging by today’s performance he has what it takes to compete on the main tour.

“Today’s round was very good golf,” said Denwit, who triumphed in his national Open – an event on the All Thailand Golf Tour – after leading from the second round onwards.

“I was just being patient out there but was lucky there was no wind out there today.

He made an eye-catching birdie on the par-four 18th after reaching the green from the tee.

He added: “It’s a 318 carry to the front edge. I just tried to hit a bomb and it was down wind a little bit.”

Birdies on three of the last four holes saw him take the lead. He made six birdies in total and dropped just one shot.

Asked about the secret to his success recently he said: “Yeah, it’s just a bit lucky in those last few events, but yeah, I’ve worked hard for this, and I want to finish strong this year. Just being happy, that’s the main key.”

Phachara’s presence at the top of the leaderboard will surprise no one as he has been close to victory in the last few months with five top-15 finishes in his last seven starts, including losing in a sudden-death play-off at the Shinhan Donghae Open.

He said: “Today I started pretty good and then made bogey, bogey on 16 and 17 on my first nine, and on my back nine five under. You know, it was solid round today, maybe struggled with my putter on some holes but I had a lot of good putts today.

“Today is quite less wind, the conditions were very good and the greens softer. Yesterday I think it was harder because it was windy and many people struggled, but I still played under par and then today got better.”

Asked if he thought he could finally win this week, he answered: “I don’t think about that, you know, I just like to play my game. Play and let the people watch and have fun together.”

Sinnott, who is in 58^th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and needed a good week to finish in the top-65 to keep his card for next year, used a sand wedge to hole out on the par-four ninth – his final hole as he began on 10.

“I had 103 meters and kind of a hair off the right wind, so I just hit a little hold up sand wedge,” said Sinnott.

“That was perfect, I thought it would be close but yeah, a nice little cherry on top when it goes in.

“The tournament is moving on nicely. I probably hit a fair bit better than what I scored today I feel. I kind of just felt like every hole I was just going over the edge of the hole, feeling like I was hitting good putts. So yeah, I just hung patiently and got a couple back on the last hole which was nice, kind of evened it out.”

Ratchanon ‘TK” Chantananuwat, Thailand’s amateur phenom, fired a 72 and is four under and in a tie for 12th.

Published on December 14, 2023

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat rolled back the years today shooting a seven-under-par 64 to take the lead in the US$1 million Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund – the season-ending event on the Asian Tour.

His young amateur compatriot Ratchanon ‘TK” Chantananuwat, brimming with confidence having recently been accepted to Stanford University next year, is in second following a 66, along with Mexico’s Luis Carrera, while American Kevin Na, Korean Jung Chanmin and Australia’s Todd Sinnott shot 67s – on an unexpectedly windy day here at Riyadh Golf Club.

Forty-year-old Chapchai, who claimed the last of his four Asian Tour titles in 2014, threatened to win the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open two weeks ago, leading at the halfway mark before a final day 75 saw him slip back into a tie for 11^th.

“Today so happy,” said the Thai golfer, who started on 10 and made an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.

“The wind is so strong. I had to keep the tee shot in the fairway. I was lucky. I started on the back nine. I was three under for the nine, that was good.”

Having been in the golfing wilderness for several seasons, he has bounced back this year and is 31^st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. A third-place finish in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March being his best performance in five years.

He added: “I am not thinking about my game too much, I am in a good place.”

TK, aged 16 and the region’s most exciting young golfer, birdied 17 and 18 to complete his best round on the Asian Tour for a considerable period, as following his sensational victory in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour last year, his focus has been on his studies.

“I haven’t shot anything better than a four under in an Asian Tour event for quite some time so it’s really refreshing to see myself play good golf,” he said.

“I had lots of fun out there. I think the wind made it super interesting.  It’s been dead for the past three days so for it to have wind I am super happy.”

He didn’t drop a single shot today, making a birdie on the second, before further gains on 10 and 15.

His relief at finally mounting a challenge was palpable.

He added: “It has been very busy for the past two years, actually. Ever since I decided I wanted to go to Stanford it has just been super hectic. Just school and golf. I barely had time to breathe.

“Now that I have been accepted obviously the workload is still there and I have to graduate high school with pretty much three top grades, but the fact that I can let the world know, I can confirm it … I know I am going, I have got that acceptance letter, it relieves a lot of the pressure, mentally mostly.”

Five-time PGA Tour winner Na came into this week feeling his game is in a good place and backed that up today with a strong start.  A missed six-footer for birdie on the last costing him outright second place.

“I played really good. The front nine I played winds were low,” said the 40-year-old, now enjoying life on the LIV Golf League, where he is captain of Iron Heads GC.

“I took advantage of that and shot four under. At the turn the wind started pumping. There were some balls moving 20 plus yards in the cross winds. Made it difficult.

“Overall, I played good. Made a couple of mistakes. I was a little disappointed about that six-footer lipping out on the last hole, but we have three more days to go.

“My game felt good coming into this week. Took some time off and thought about my golf game. I made a couple of minor little changes that I felt could be good for next year and I wanted to test it out. First round it felt pretty good out there.”

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Gunn Charoenkul, Panuphol Pittayat and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit plus Korean Seungtaek Lee fired 68s.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, one of the event’s marquee players, came in with a 70.

Published on December 13, 2023

Henrik Stenson says he is looking forward to seeing what kind of shape his game is in at this week’s US$1 million Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund having had nearly two months away from competitive golf.

“We are in the middle of the off season,” said the 47-year-old LIV Golf star today at Riyadh Golf Club.

“I think it is a great opportunity to see where I am at. I have had some down time and probably more focus on fitness, than golf practice of late.”

The Swede’s last event was LIV Golf Miami in October and he counts this week’s event, which is the season-ending tournament on the Asian Tour, as part of his preparations for 2024.

He added: “Since I knew I was coming here I have done a couple of sessions. Even in the off season you kind of keep it going. I played some rounds with my son, and with some friends.

“It has been two months now since we played competitive, since Miami, so it will be good to test, to see where we are at with an eye on next season. I have a couple of weeks holiday ahead with the family, then we have some time to rev up before the season starts.”

His preparations for tomorrow’s start were derailed today when poor weather and the threat of a sandstorm meant the Pro-Am had to be cancelled when he was about to reach the turn.

“I have just got to figure out a game plan to come up with for the back 10 holes as I have only played the first eight,” he said.

“It’s an old-style course like we are used to playing in Dubai and Qatar, and other places in the region.”

Grey skies, rain and much cooler conditions accompanied the change in weather catching everyone by surprise, including Stenson.

Said the 2016 Open champion: “Well, I thought it was going to be a little bit warmer than this. I think I will have to go clothing shopping a little bit later to get one extra layer for the rest of the week, but I am excited to be back and to see Riyadh. I have been multiple times. I can’t even remember how many. About six or seven, to Royal Greens in Jeddah.”

This week marks his third appearance of the season on the Asian Tour as he also competed in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers and the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.

The Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, which has been upgraded this year from the Asian Development Tour, provides him with the final chance to lift a trophy this season.

His most recent win came in the LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster last year.

“The year has been alright,” explained Stenson, an 11-time winner in Europe, six-time champion on the PGA Tour plus a winner on the Asian Tour at the 2006 Qatar Masters.

“Obviously, you can always do better. Had some strong finishes on LIV Golf and had a pretty decent showing at The Open as well.

“It has been okay, it could have been better, but it certainly could have been worse as well.”

He has been paired in the first two rounds with Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar and Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand. They start at 11.35am local time tomorrow.

Published on December 12, 2023

At the age of 40 Kevin Na is approaching the twilight of his career but announced today that one thing he still wants to do is be ‘a multiple winner on the Asian Tour’.

He will have an opportunity to do that this week as he is competing in the Tour’s season-ending US$1 million Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund at Riyadh Golf Cub, although he needs to overcome the fact that his first victory in Asia came at the Volvo Masters of Asia 21-years-ago.

“Makes me sound old, 21-years-ago, there are some golfers who are younger than that out here,” said Na, when reminded about his win at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“I remember like it wasn’t too long ago, that was my first win. It was a big deal for me. I always loved the Asian Tour and it’s nice to back. I have a lot of friends out here. I played a couple of practice rounds with them the past couple of days. You know this is where it started and hopefully I can be a multiple-winner on the Asian Tour. So, let’s give it a shot this week.”

Na was just 19-years-old when he claimed the Volvo Masters of Asia, the Tour’s season-ender that year, in what was his rookie year as a professional.

Despite two decades having passed since that victory his memories are still very vivid.

He said: “Oh, I remember exactly how I felt on 18. There was water down the right, I was nervous. I aimed down the left, I hit a cut out there, laid up, hit a wedge to 14 feet. I thought two putt, but I wanted to make it, and I missed and I had a two-footer coming back, and I was still a little nervous over that two footer.

“And I remember waiting on 18 green just to see how it played out to get my first win. I played really good that year.”

He shot a brilliant four-under-par 66 on the final day to come from three shots back and win by two from Scotland’s Simon Yates, Anthong Kang from the United States, India’s Arjun Singh and Craig Kamps from South Africa.

The result also allowed him to finish as Rookie of the Year.

Na made it onto the PGA Tour in 2004 and never looked back, winning there on five occasions, the most recent being the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii.

His career moved into another exciting new phase in 2022 when he joined the LIV Golf League and his close association with the Asian Tour makes him fully appreciative of The International Series, the Tour’s feeder platform for the series.

“The Asian Tour being the pathway to LIV Golf, it gives these kids something to aim for, to play for and to have the opportunity to make it straight to the biggest league, with the biggest names in golf. I think it is very inspiring,” said the Korean-American.

He says the signs are there that his game is trending in the right direction after a mixed season when he captained Iron Heads GC.

“I felt like when I had the opportunity to have a high finish I finished poorly in the last few holes and that was very frustrating,” said Na.

‘There were a few times when I was second or third with a few holes to go and I made mistakes coming in. I wasn’t too far from having a decent year. I feel like things are changing. My game and my mental state are better and taking a little break right now it put me in a better position. I feel like my swing is in a good place.”

That bodes well for this week when a win would be a phenomenal achievement that allows him to complete the cycle and triumphantly return to his beginnings.

Published on December 11, 2023

The clear pathway onto the LIV Golf League from The International Series could not have been better emphasised than by Kieran Vincent claiming one of three golden tickets on the 2024 roster, in a thrilling play-off which brought the curtain down on the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The Zimbabwean had earned an exemption into round two of the unique qualifying event thanks to his high finish on The International Series Order of Merit (OOM), finishing fourth after a successful campaign across 10 events that included a win at the International Series Vietnam in April.

Vincent, who took one of 32 spots available to the Asian Tour via the OOM, then finished T6 in round two to comfortably book his place in the 36-hole finale.

He was second outright, behind Kalle Samooja of Finland after a quality five-under par third round of 67. And after another impressive 18 holes, he had enough in the tank to emerge from the play-off at the second attempt alongside Japan’s Jinchiro Kozuma, at the expense of the unfortunate Laurie Canter from England, to join champion Samooja on the podium.

He said: “Obviously it has been a great year and it keeps getting better. Credit to so many people, the Asian Tour, The International Series and LIV Promotions and so many others. Without that support and hard work from other people, I wouldn’t be here today. I can’t take a lot of the credit and I’m super grateful to be here.”

He joins elder brother Scott, who earned his place on the LIV Golf Roster by winning the Order of Merit outright in 2022.

Outlining his plans for the forthcoming year, he said: “Next year is going to have its own opportunities, I hope it propels my career to a whole new level. My goal is to try and make it the Olympic Games, we just have to try and figure out the best way.

“The International Series has already set me up for the best path going forward and I’m forever grateful, so I will look forward to teeing it up there again next year.”

The final field of 20 players featured 11 players who regularly tee it up on The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events created by a landmark US$300m deal between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf in 2022, underscoring the opportunity that it offers the cream of the Asian Tour and international players from around the world.

Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar was one of the favourites going into the weekend thanks to a wire-to-wire win at the BNI Indonesian Masters by TNE last month which secured eighth place in the OOM, and direct entry to round two at the weekend.

Bhullar just could not reproduce the form which he showed in Jakarta on the Abu Dhabi National. He said: “Getting the opportunity to play for those three spots on LIV Golf means a lot. Unfortunately I just struggled a bit with my form. I definitely learned a lot this week, you do live and learn from these situations.

“I played well in pretty much all The International Series events last year, I finished fifth in Scotland and the momentum was building up and it all came together in Indonesia. You need to be mentally prepared. I was patient enough, playing well and ready to take advantage of that and click at the right time.”

Englishman Steve Lewton had qualified for the first round by finishing 22^nd in the Order of Merit, and the 40-year-old made the most of his opportunity by shooting a four-under 68 to finish T10 on Friday and progress from round one. Things were looking even better after scores were reset, as he carded a six-under round to finish T2 on Saturday.

But the 36-hole finale on Sunday proved a step too far, leaving Lewton to think about his prospects next year.

One of his main priorities will be earning a higher spot on the Order of Merit to try and gain an exemption into round two of the qualifying event next year.

He said: “The International Series has been magnificent for us on the Asian Tour, it has opened so many doors. Each year we have travelled to more and more countries to play on really great courses against very strong fields, as a lot of the LIV boys play most of the weeks. For us it is great because you want to play against the best to get better.”

Chinese amateur Sampson Zheng impressed this weekend, and although he finished just one place off the top 10, and a place on all 10 events on the International Series next season, he is eager to take that pathway in the future and follow in the footsteps of Andy Ogletree, who won the Order of Merit to qualify for a LIV Golf spot this season.

Sampson, who is in his final year on the University of California Berkeley, said: “I performed decent over last couple of days but it came down to putting and I couldn’t get the momentum going. But I beat a lot of good players this week and there are a lot of positives to take away.

“I think the International Series is a great series with some amazing tournaments, they have a ton of good players from LIV in the field, and a lot of quality players from the Asian Tour, so I hope to play on them as well. It’s a good bridge (for me) between amateur golf to turning professional.”

Published on December 10, 2023

All of Kieran Vincent’s dreams came true today at the LIV Golf Promotions event when he was one of the three players who secured playing rights on the 2024 LIV Golf League, following a gripping and intriguing finish in extra-time at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The Asian Tour member finished second after surviving a three-man sudden-death play-off under lights late in the day, on the famous par-five 18^th, with Jinichiro Kozuma from Japan and England’s Laurie Canter, for the second and third qualifying places.

Vincent prevailed after making a birdie on the second play-off hole, having reached the green with two fine blows, while Kozuma finished third after making a par. Canter made life much easier for his opponents after hitting his second into water before going onto make a double bogey.

It was an incredible turn of events as all three parred the first play-off hole, where Canter missed a very makeable six-footer for birdie to win and Kozuma bravely drained a 12-foot par putt having found water off the tee.

Finland’s Kalle Samooja had earlier won the event in normal time when he birdied the 18^th for a fourth-round one-under-71 to finish on eight under, one better than the trio who tied for second.

Vincent, playing in the final pairing with Samooja, closed with a 70, while Kozuma, also an Asian Tour member, carded a 68 and Canter a 69.

The result means Vincent will join his older brother Scott on next year’s multi-million-dollar LIV Golf League – which commences with LIV Golf Mayakoba, at the El Camaleón Golf Course, in Mexico from February 2-4.

“I don’t think words can put it together,” said a tearful Vincent, who was exempt for the first round this week after finishing fourth on The International Series Order of Merit.

“It’s going to be awesome. I am just excited. Next year is going to have its own opportunities, its own fun just like today. A lot of guys battled so hard out there. Obviously, I am just so grateful to be on the winning side of it.

“I have to give credit to a lot of people. Credit to my team. And obviously excited to play with my brother next year. It is going to be awesome. I don’t think tears are doing it justice.”

Thirty-six holes were played today and after this morning’s third round, which was a shotgun start, Vincent was two behind the leader Samooja after shooting a 67.

He was in the driver’s seat for much of the final round after going three under for his round after 10 following birdies on three, nine and 10. However, he dropped a shot on the par-four 14^th, which was his only bogey in the afternoon, after his ball plugged in a greenside bunker. He did well to drop only one shot after brilliantly extricating his ball from the tough lie. He parred home from there to make the play-off while Samooja eased ahead after making birdies on both 17 and 18. A critical 30-footer on 17 was the highlight for the Finnish golfer, who played on the Asian Tour from 2011 to 2013.

It’s proved to be a whirlwind 18 months for Vincent since he turned professional mid-way through 2022. He’s shone on the Asian Tour, winning the International Series Vietnam in April, which was his maiden win in the pro game, before today’s lifechanging result.

All three qualifiers received gold coins for the achievement.

Asian Tour regular Jaco Ahlers from South Africa agonisingly missed the play-off by one shot. He closed with a 69, lipping out for birdie on 17.

A total of 11 Asian Tour members were in today’s final 20. Thailand’s Poom Saksansin was next best placed after shooting a 71 to tie for seventh, three short of the play-off.

Players finishing fourth to 10th – Canter, Ahlers, Zach Bauchou, Poom, Kevin Chappell, Martin Trainer, and Suradit Yongcharoenchai – have the consolation of being exempt for next year’s 10-event International Series.