Published on December 10, 2023

Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent is well placed for a final push to claim one of three golden tickets for the 2024 LIV Golf League roster after posting a five-under-par 67 to sit two off the lead in the third and penultimate round of the potentially life-changing LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Vincent, winner of this year’s International Series Vietnam, sits in second place outright, two behind Finland’s Kalle Samooja and one ahead of England’s Laurie Canter, after an eventful third round on the Abu Dhabi National on Sunday morning.

Teeing off hole 7 in the 7:15 am (local time) shotgun start, the 25-year-old, who is aiming to join his brother Scott on the LIV Golf League, got off to a blistering start, with a birdie on his second hole and an eagle on 10. A double bogey on 11 briefly threatened to derail his start, but birdies on 13, 17, 18 and four left him well placed and one round away from a coveted spot on the LIV Golf League next season.

International Series regulars Jaco Ahlers of South Africa, Poom Saksansin of Thailand and Jinichiro Kozuma of Japan are also well placed for one final push in a five-man group at T4, three under par and four back from leader Samooja, who played full seasons on the Asian Tour in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Ahlers, who has finished T10 and T11 in the first two rounds to qualify for the final day, dropped a shot on 16 after starting on 14, but bounced back with consecutive birdies from one to three, before adding another on five and back-to-back birdies on seven and eight.

Poom, who had started his final day on 12, birdied his first two holes, and hit back from a bogey on 16 with another two birdies on 17 and 18 before playing the front nine and his final two holes in regulation.

The Thai trio of Suradit Yongchareoenchai, Suteepat Prateeptenchai, and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam will need to put the foot down in the final round if they want to claim one of the three spots on the LIV Golf League next term. They sit on one under alongside fellow International Series stalwart Steve Lewton, one ahead of their compatriot Gunn Charoenkul and Australian Kevin Yuan who are on level par.

Gaganjeet Bhullar, the winner of the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta last month, the final event on schedule for The International Series, had a disappointing morning and finished three over.

The innovative qualifying event will finish with a final round on Sunday afternoon, with tee times from 12:00pm to 12:30pm (local time) on the first and tenth holes.

Published on December 9, 2023

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai led 20 qualifiers into the final day of the LIV Golf Promotions event after shooting an imperious bogey-free eight-under-par 64 today – setting the stage for tomorrow’s 36-hole thriller, with three places on the line for next year’s multi-million-dollar LIV Golf League.

Fresh from his victory in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last week – his maiden title on the Asian Tour – the 30-year-old made eight birdies, including four in the last four, here at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

His compatriot and fellow Asian Tour player Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Steve Lewton from England, Jediah Morgan from Australia and American Braden Thornberry were next best with 66s.

Eleven players from the Asian Tour made it through to Sunday, when the lives of the top three players will be transformed.

As strictly the top-20 and no ties progressed today, a sudden-death play-off took place as five players ended in joint 17^th place after returning 69s, including Asian Tour members Kevin Yuan from Australia and New Zealand’s Ben Campbell. They were joined by England’s Laurie Canter, France’s Joel Stalter and Kevin Chappell from the United States.

Canter made birdie on the first extra hole, the par-five 18^th, to make it through as did Yuan and Chappell with pars. Campbell and Stalter surprisingly three putted for bogeys, leaving them to battle it out for the final spot, which the Frenchman won after holing a 10-footer for birdie on the same hole. Campbell, winner of this year’s Hong Kong Open, missed from a slightly shorter range.

“Today I didn’t make any mistakes,” said Suteepat, who was in the same group as Suradit Yongcharoenchai, his compatriot who also survived with a 67.

“I played really good, especially my putting, so that really helped me for a low round today. I am just playing my own game, try to go out and have fun. Getting through to the final was more than I expected, so just enjoy the final round for tomorrow.”

Today’s performance is yet another high point in an outstanding rookie season for Suteepat, who claimed the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit last year to earn his Asian Tour card.

He added: “After the victory [last week] I’m feeling more confident in my game, especially my driver. When I came over for this week, I was just positive on my game. I’m just feeling confident, just tee it up and hit every shot.”

Asked when was the last time he played two rounds in one day, he replied: “I don’t remember. A long, long time. I think maybe playing 36 holes with a golf cart, but I think tomorrow we’re going to be tired.”

He earned a place in the starting field this week thanks to his win last week while Lewton got through after finishing in the top-25 on The International Series Order of Merit.

Said Lewton: “Really happy, got off to a good start. Didn’t hit it very good to start with and then slowly got into the round a bit. Kind of got it going. Made a really good eagle on eight, hit two really good shots and made a great putt there. I putted really nicely today.

“I was [feeling the pressure] but I got to five under through 10, and I looked at the leaderboard and I thought ‘I’m doing alright here’. Just after that I thought ‘fairways and greens’, and see if we can roll some in.”

All 20 players play both rounds tomorrow and in true LIV Golf League fashion the third round will be a shotgun start at 7.15am before a two-tee start for the decisive final round, commencing at mid-day.

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Promising Thai golfer Gunn Charoenkul took full advantage of his first-round exemption to book his place in the final day of the LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi and was quick to praise his younger brother as he secured a spot in the final 20 for the potentially life-changing final 36-holes shootout.

Charoenkul booked his place in round two after finishing seventh on The International Series Order of Merit, and a four-under round of 68 on day two was enough to secure a T11 and a shot at the three golden tickets for the LIV Golf roster up for grabs on the final day.

Gunn is one of 10 players from The International Series Order of Merit to progress to the potentially life-changing final day.

However with players at three under being dragged back in for a nerve-wracking play-off, Gunn admitted he never felt fully comfortable until he sunk a knee-trembling birdie on 18 to move to four under.

The 31-year-old, who managed a season-high finish of outright second behind Andy Ogletree in the International Series Qatar back in February, admitted things might have been different if only he had listened to younger brother Karn, who works at a nine-hole course back home in Thailand but is on caddie duties this weekend.

Gunn said: “He’s a very good green reader. If I trusted him on a couple of the putts earlier in the round I would have made it easier! He got 70-80% of them right but I just didn’t see them. He’s an aggressive putter and that’s not me, I just couldn’t trust him. But the last two holes I trusted him completely!”

And tomorrow, with a place in the lucrative LIV Golf League at stake, will Gunn take a different approach?

“Yes I will trust him 80-90% anyway,” he joked. “I have been hitting some really good shots today but just not reading putts well. All day I had some really good shots but I was burning the edges with the putter. I had a very nervous final few holes and when I looked at the leaderboard I knew I was on the line. So that putt was important! I’m exhausted today, I felt I was under pressure but I made it to the final round to give myself a shot.”

For Gunn’s little brother Karn, the final 36 holes provide another opportunity to support big bro with some sound putting advice. So what’s his plan if Gunn doesn’t listen tomorrow?

“I leave it up to him and if he doesn’t listen, I just give him a look,” smiled Charoenkul junior.

 

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Asian Tour star Suradit Yongcharoenchai is halfway to a dream ticket onto the LIV Golf League roster next season after progressing from the first two rounds of the LIV Golf Promotions event, and the Thai player is hoping some expert advice from a close friend will help his quest.

Suradit qualified for the innovative event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club thanks to his 28^th placed finish on The International Series Order of Merit this year, with a third-place finish in Qatar and a T16 in England the highlight of a promising season for the 25-year-old.

And to further boost his chances of claiming one of the three golden tickets onto the LIV Golf League roster next season, he called on good friend and fellow Asian Tour professional Prom Meesawat to caddie for him in Abu Dhabi.

And the pairing has worked wonders so far. Starting in a field of 60 on day one, Suradit squeezed through into the second round at T18 with a two-under 70, bouncing back from a bogey on three with birdies on eight, 13 and 14.

Starting the second round in a field that included the top-20 and ties, as well as 13 exemptions, Suradit burst into life with two birdies in his opening two holes.

After dropping a shot on four, he picked up four more shots on eight, 10, 12 and 14 to engineer a slick five-under round of 67, comfortably making his way into a top 20 that will now face a 36-hole shootout on Sunday for those three coveted spots.

Reflecting on the partnership that has brought such success already this weekend, Suradit said: “Prom is like a big brother for me, he teaches me a lot. I practice a lot with him and he knows my game, he helps me a lot mentally and with all aspects of my game.”

Prom missed out on The International Series Order of Merit qualification this season, with a T25 at the Hong Kong Open his best from the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour. After losing out on the qualifying event, the 39-year-old was only too happy to help a good friend who he regularly plays and practices with.

He said: “I have seen Suradit playing through the years – and I know his form is good because we practice together every week. He is playing well, but today he struggled a bit with his driver compared to yesterday. But he hit his irons pretty well and his putting, the controlling speed was very good and we had a couple of good reads on couple of holes.”

Both players are philosophical about their chances tomorrow, with 20 players in a straight shoot out for three places over 36 holes.

But Suradit left it to his trusted bag man for the weekend to explain the game plan. Prom, whose father Suthep was the first Thai to win the Thailand Open back in 1991, said: “For me I think we just go out there and enjoy it. You just never know. We just need to put the effort in, and if we have a good round in the first session, maybe we can try to hang in there. And if we don’t have a good round, we can go all out aggressive instead in the final round! We just have to manage our energy on the course.”

Published on December 8, 2023

Korean-American Seungsu Han, who so impressively won this year’s Kolon Korea Open wire-to-wire, shot a fine six-under-par 66 to finish day one in second place at the LIV Golf Promotions event here at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

He was one of 18 Asian Tour players to qualify for round two and take a step closer to securing one of the three cards up for grabs on next year’s incredibly lucrative LIV Golf League.

New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle leads the way following a 64, in the inaugural three-day, four round competition that offers a life-changing opportunity to the graduates.

A total of 29 players out of a starting field of 60 players made it through to tomorrow’s second round, where they will be joined by 13 exempt players.

Han’s victory in his national Open in June is one of the standout performances of the year on the Asian Tour, and after today’s round, made up of eight birdies and two bogeys, he has emerged as one of the week’s dark horses.

The 37-year-old was in the first group out, along with Asian Tour regular Jaco Ahlers from South Africa, who also progressed following a 68.

“Our season ended about three weeks ago in Korea, and it’s been really cold,” said Han, whose western name is Steve.

“Haven’t been able to get a lot done game-wise. So yeah, it was really nice to just come here and play golf in the warm weather more than anything. Yeah, just excited to be here.”

Born in Incheon, Korea, he moved to the United States when he was 13, where he still lives, and first started to play in Asia back in 2010. His other wins to date are the Casio World Open in Japan in 2017, and the 2020 LG Signature Players Championship in Korea.

He also enjoyed success in the amateur game, attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and winning the 2006 Porter Cup – a long-standing, prestigious amateur event in the United States won by some of the game’s biggest names, including Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ben Crenshaw.

He added: “I putted well today, so that helped a lot. I felt a little bit rusty all day, but putts dropped, so I think I got the job done today.

“I was really excited to be here. My brother is here this week with me, so just the opportunity that’s ahead, it’s very exciting. I like being here. I came here a few years ago during the HSBC, and just happy to be here and to have the opportunity.”

His victory in the Kolon Korea Open is the reason for him being here as one of the exemption categories is tournament winners from this year’s Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and Sadom Kaewkanjana, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, Jinichiro Kozuma from Japan, and Korean Junghwan Lee are the next best Asian Tour players, after carding 67s.

Poom credited his wife Ing Ing, whom he married just two weeks ago in Bangkok, for his strong start.

“She is the reason I played well today and why I have been playing well for a while,” he said.

She also caddied for him in September when he won the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei, which was his first victory in five years on the Asian Tour.

Despite his fine start, he joked: “I have a two percent chance of making it through as there are only three places available.”

Ahler was also five under playing the famous par-five 18^th but dropped a shot after finding trouble off the tee when his ball landed near a cactus plant. He bravely chose to pitch it out from there and appeared to hurt his hand, but later said: “The second shot, the cactus? A little thorny maybe, but it’s [the hand] okay. No, I tried to go left at it, and my caddie talked me out of it. At the end, it was the right decision. I like where I sit. Should get the job done. That’s what we wanted today.

“This is career changing. I’ve had a pretty long career, played in South Africa, played in Asia, played in Europe, everywhere. It would be nice. It’s a career-finishing moment, so it would be nice.”

The qualifying mark was two under, which Korea’s Bio Kim made with the last roll of the dice as he made a birdie on 18.

Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen was another to qualify for Saturday, with his performance made extra special by a hole in one on the par-three 15^th. He shot a 67.

The scores will be reset tomorrow with the top-20 making it through to the 36-hole showdown on Sunday. However, unlike today only the top-20 and no ties will make it through, meaning there is a strong likelihood of a play-off for the final places.

Five players from the top eight on The International Series Order of Merit are part of the 13 exempt players who join the field for tomorrow’s round.

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Among the hundreds of congratulatory messages waiting for Gaganjeet Bhullar after his stunning win at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE – an International Series event on the Asian Tour last month – was a special one from his friend and LIV Golf star Anirban Lahiri. Story by Joy Chakravarty.

“He knew that the win would get me into the Promotions event. He congratulated me and said he was waiting for a second Indian to join him at LIV Golf,” said the 35-year-old Bhullar, the third most successful player in Asian Tour history with 11 titles.

Bhullar has been a contemporary of Lahiri, having started playing junior golf at the same time. The two were India’s best amateur stars and represented the country in several international tournaments. They were teammates when India won the 2006 Asian Games silver medal in Doha.

Bhullar is one of two Indians who have qualified for LIV Golf Promotions this week at Abu Dhabi Golf Club – his Chandigarh compatriot Karandeep Kochhar being the other one.

The 24-year-old Kochhar is heralded as the next Indian superstar, and blitzed his way into the Promotions field with a late burst that included a tied fifth place at the Volvo China Open and a second place at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE in a space of three weeks last month.

There are three cards for next year’s LIV Golf League available through the Promotions event and the two Indian players are among 73 vying for it through the three stages to be played until Sunday.

Both Bhullar and Kochhar were excited about the opportunity ahead of them and paid glowing tribute to Lahiri, a lynchpin of Crushers GC who played a massive role in Bryson DeChambeau’s team winning the Team Championship in Miami, for providing them with the inspiration.

The 36-year-old from Bengaluru may not have won a title on LIV Golf yet, but he came close three times in 2023, finishing runner-up in Adelaide, Chicago and Bedminster.

Bhullar, who has fond memories of Abu Dhabi Golf Club when he played in the leader group alongside Phil Mickelson in the 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, said: “I’ll be very honest. I’ve listened to so many interviews of all different players this week and I think my comment is going to be very similar. It’s a life-changing opportunity for all of us.

“Regarding expectations, I’m definitely coming off a few good weeks in the last few months. I started playing well from Scotland, all the way up to Indonesia. The format is a little different this week and the pressure situation is a bit different. But I guess that’s the same for everybody.”

Emulating Lahiri will be a motivation for Bhullar.

“I’ve played so much golf with Anirban, from junior and amateur to pro golf. He’s been inspiring all of us, young players playing the domestic PGTI events to players on the Asian Tour like myself. What he has done for Indian golf in the last seven or eight years is just remarkable,” said Bhullar.

“It’s not that easy to step up your game and move to a level and compete with the big boys. I think Anirban has shown us time and again that it is very much possible.”

Kochhar echoed Bhullar’s thoughts.

“I was asked by a media person which team I’d like to be on if I made it to LIV Golf,” said Kochhar. “I did not have to think about it. I’d love to be with Anirban in Crushers.

“The way he has played over the past decade or so, the way he survived for so many years on the PGA Tour, and what he did on LIV this year…he has been an inspiring force not just for me, but for Indian and Asian golf in general.

“I think he carried the Crushers team a bit, especially in that last event in Miami where he shot a seven-under to help them win the title. It’s all so remarkable and inspiring for younger players.

“It’s not just his golf. When the Indian women’s team was here for World Amateur Team Championship, he drove from Dubai and walked with them. I hear he is planning to come down again on Sunday. He has promoted and motivated us in more ways than just through his golf.”

Unlike Bhullar, who has a bye to the second round as part of top-eight players from The International Series Order of Merit, Kochhar needs to play the opening round today and be inside the top-20 to proceed to the weekend.

“It’s a different format and you need to play consistent, if not spectacular, golf to make it to the 36-hole final stage on Sunday. But I am trying not to think of top-20 being the mark for the first two days. I am gonna think that I need to win each round. That should take care of everything,” said Kochhar, who is yet to win on the Asian Tour.

 

Published on December 7, 2023

Miguel Carballo was technically the last man from the Asian Tour contingent to secure his place on the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi this weekend, and the Argentine golfer is hoping to make the most of his opportunity after claiming his berth in the most nerve-wracking way possible.

A tied sixth in a star-studded field at the Hong Kong Open, the penultimate event of The International Series schedule, gave the 44-year-old a wonderful chance of securing his place in the first round of the innovative qualifier which offers three berths on the LIV Golf League roster next term.

But a missed cut the following week at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE ensured a nervous 48 hours as Carballo could do nothing but look on and hope to stay ahead of the other players around him on the International Series Order of Merit.

Ultimately his T6 in Hong Kong and a previous T8 at the International Series Qatar were enough to secure 39^th place on The International Series Order of Merit, and claim that precious spot in category 1.4, for the leading 25 available players within the top 40 of the 2023 rankings.

Reflecting on his tension filled 48-hour wait for confirmation in Indonesia, which included multiple visits to the tournament office to check on the live standings, he laughed: “Once we missed the cut, we were simply relying on what the projection showed. On Saturday it started moving up and down, and up and down, and on Sunday it just went crazy.

“We were out of the rankings and then back in and then out again, there were so many changes. On the Sunday (once play had finished), we were at the 18th lounge with some friends but we still could not celebrate properly.

“We got a call saying ‘wait, you are not officially in yet’, so we had to wait before you can celebrate. But then we got the good news, and it was a real relief.”

Carballo will line up for an 8:50am (local time) Friday tee time alongside PGA Tour of Australasia star Lachlan Barker and Shinhan Donghae Open champion Guntaek Koh from Korea, knowing he needs to finish in the top 20 and ties to secure his place in round two alongside 14 additional players who received first-round exemptions.

Should Carballo make it to Saturday, he will then face another battle to make the final top 20 for a 36-hole shootout on Sunday, with the top three securing places on the LIV Golf roster for 2024.

Weighing up his chances he said: “I feel confident and my preparation has been solid, I have been working hard this week and I’m ready.

“My form has felt great all year and it is a wonderful opportunity to be in the field this week, it shows the good year I have had and the opportunities that I took earlier this year. Those weeks, the putter was hot, I know the game is there, and this week it is going to be the same plan – to get it on the green and give myself as many chances as possible.”

While Carballo was last man to qualify in 39^th spot, Jaco Ahlers is also in the field on 40^th spot. The South African earned his way onto the event via category 1.6 as a 2023 Asian Tour winner thanks to his triumph at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in September, with a T3 at the St Andrews Bay Championship his best for 2023 on The International Series.

With cuts on day one and day two leaving only a top 20 for the final-day shootout, many players may feel the need for a more aggressive approach than normal around the Abu Dhabi National course.

Ahlers admits that’s just not his game, and the 11-time Sunshine Tour winner is not keen on making any radical changes – even for a weekend that offers such rewards. He said: “Me and my caddie were talking about it, I don’t want to change the game plan. I’m not the most aggressive player but I can still shoot good around this course without aggression.

“Yes, there will be some instances where I will be more aggressive than normal. But think about it, I just need to finish 15, 15, 3 – I wouldn’t have to finish (top of the leaderboard) every time, I just have to give myself a chance on Sunday. I just want to play solid and as good as we can and hopefully that is good enough.”

Ahlers, who tees off first at 8am (local time) on Friday morning alongside Seungsu Han and Suteepat Prateeptienchai, has already had the inside line from his compatriots playing on the LIV Golf League in the all-South African Stinger GC team of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmeister.

“I had a chat about coming here last week, Charl and Dean were playing the last two weeks in South Africa, and they were very supportive. We all know what LIV Golf is about, it is a game changer, making golf exciting and getting more younger people into the game. It is potentially life changing, so it is a no-brainer to be honest.

“Of course this whole week it has got my mind going, about what it going to be like and how I should try to play round by round. It is a little nerve wracking to be honest, but in the end you have to trust the process, trust the game and see what happens. I believe I’m good enough to do it, and I just have to go from there.”

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This weekend’s LIV Golf Promotions event is a wonderful opportunity for the next generation of golfers on the Asian Tour to fast track their careers by winning a spot on the lucrative LIV Golf League next season. However, they will be facing stiff competition from the oldest player in the field at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Veteran Australian golfer Scott Hend is also relishing the prospect of a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity this weekend.

The 10-time winner on the Asian Tour turned pro back in 1997 – long before many of the Asian Tour stars and other players from around the world in the 74-strong field for this weekend’s event were even born.

But the 50-year-old believes age is no issue in an innovative format that will see a cut in both round one and two, leaving a top 20 to battle it out over 36 holes on the final day for the three top spots and golden tickets onto the LIV Golf roster.

He said: “It’s an old cliche, isn’t it? The golf clubs don’t know how old you are. Anything can happen with 20 guys getting through every day until you get to rounds three and four and the slate being wiped clean every day.

“You’ve got to get yourself to rounds three and four and get a hot putter, and anything can happen – all of a sudden the doors are wide open.

“I feel like it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in events that are this format, to try and possibly get a LIV card. It’s a special opportunity for a guy, especially my age, at this point in my career, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

Hend joins a strong cohort of players from the Asian Tour who qualified for the unique promotions event either through The International Series Order of Merit, or as tournament winners on the Asian Tour this season.

The strong turnout – particularly from players from the Order of Merit – is a clear indicator of the pathway created by The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events formed through a groundbreaking partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to sustain and boost golf in the region.

All will be vying for three lucrative spots onto next season’s roster, joining American sensation Andy Ogletree, the three-time International Series winner who qualified outright as this season’s Order of Merit champion.

Hend said: “It is life changing and there’s a variety of international players here trying to get on to the tour. If one of these guys that have qualified through the Asian Tour get through, they get on to LIV.”

Referring to the group of Asian Tour regulars including Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai who experienced LIV Golf in its inaugural season, Hend added: “All the Asian Tour guys that came out and played the first year of LIV, look what it’s done for them – their confidence is amazing.

“For the other golfers, younger guys looking up to them, it seems like they’re all motivated to try and come out and get a spot on this tour. It’s just life changing.

“It would just be an amazing thing for one of the young guys to get through and get one of the cards. Not that I’m saying I’m pushing for them to get it. I’d rather try and beat them! But if one of them gets it, it would be fantastic for the region.”

Published on December 6, 2023

Ten of Thailand’s finest golfing stars will be in action in Abu Dhabi this week, as part of a strong Asian Tour cohort in search of three golden tickets to the LIV Golf League through the innovative new LIV Golf Promotions event.

The Thai ten are part of a field of over 70 players who will battle it out over four rounds in three days at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from 8-10 December for three spots on the roster for next season’s LIV Golf League.

A total of 60 players will start on Friday, and only the top 20 from round one will start again with a score reset on day two, where they will be joined by an additional 13 players with exemptions.

From there, a final top 20 will battle it out on Sunday over two rounds, with scores once again reset at the start of the day, for those three golden tickets onto the LIV Golf League.

Nine of the ten Thai players qualified through their high placings on The International Series Order of Merit, the Asian Tour’s set of 10 marquee events, while Nitithorn Thippong, last season’s International Series Singapore champion, also made it through thanks to his victory in the Mandiri Indonesia Open on the Asian Tour in August.

Nine of the ten will start in round one on Friday, with only Gunn Charoenkul receiving an exemption into round two thanks to his seventh-place finish in the OOM standings.

Gunn is putting in the hard yards, both in terms of fitness and short game, as he aims to take advantage of his first-round bye. His brother Karn is also on the bag this week.

The 31-year-old, whose best result was runner-up in the International Series Qatar in February to eventual Order of Merit champion Andy Ogletree, said: “I am looking forward to a great experience. My ball striking has been much better since China, Hong Kong and Indonesia (the final three events of The International Series schedule). If I could refine my short game, I think I will be in a good spot, so that’s what I’m concentrating on.

“I’m also doing a bit more endurance training, because of the 36 holes (on the final day). Other than that, I’m prepping myself by doing more physical training, and since there’s a cut every day, I feel like I need to play more aggressively to go as low as possible. It would mean everything to qualify.”

Sarit Suwannarut goes into the qualifier in good form, having leapt up the standings to 13th thanks to a superb victory in the Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen last month.

Although forced to withdraw from defending his Indonesian Masters title two weeks ago because of illness, Sarit is planning on sticking with his usual aggressive approach in a bid for glory, as he looks to secure a place on the roster alongside some of the world’s best.

He said: “I feel pretty confident, I have had a lot of practice following Indonesia – I didn’t go back home and instead tried to prepare myself there, and I feel confident that I am going to be able to make that top three overall if I can play my game and feel good.

“I will try to think like every other week, my plan is the same; to play the same game and have a good game plan and try to not put too much pressure on myself mentally and enjoy it. I know what I can do and I know what I cannot do, I just need to feel like it is like another week, go out there and preform my best.”

Regarding the format, where only the top 20 will qualify from the first two rounds with a score reset, Sarit added: “I don’t think anything will change. I love to play day by day anyway, so my game plan is always the same – play aggressive. And if the hole looks like I can’t play aggressive I will find a way, that’s still the plan – to play as aggressive as I can.

“Making it to LIV Golf would change everything for me, it is a big league with a lot of top players playing there, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith for example. I’m ready and I would love to make it onto LIV to play against the top guys in the world.”

Phachara Khongwatmai just missed out on an exemption into the second round on the last day of action on The International Series, dropping one place to ninth in the Order of Merit standings at the death thanks to Gaganjeet Bhullar’s incredible wire-to-wire victory at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE.

The 24-year-old is still in fine form going into the week however, with three top 25 finishes in the final three events on The International Series including a T3 in the Hong Kong Open, after a thrilling battle with eventual champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand and LIV Golf sensation Cameron Smith.

Phachara, who was in the field for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London in 2022 and also lined up in LIV Golf Invitational events held in Thailand and Saudi Arabia last year, said: “I feel pretty good about my game at the moment. I had some decent results in the past few months which boosts my confidence up a bit. I’m trying to rest as much as I can and hopefully be ready for this big week in Abu Dhabi.

“My mentality for all three days will be to go for it, the format will not affect my play too much since only the top 20 will advance.

“It would mean the world to me to be playing in LIV again. My time at LIV was so great. This opportunity is huge for us players. Not only financially but also a chance to prove ourselves playing with top players. I am so excited for this opportunity.”