Bhullar takes giant leap on The International Series Order of Merit
Gaganjeet Bhullar walked away with much more than the trophy and bumper US$270,000 winner’s cheque at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE last Sunday.
His brilliant wire-to-wire victory also secured the all-important eighth place on The International Series Order of Merit (OOM), a result that secured an automatic bye into round two of the LIV Golf Promotions event and took the Indian a step closer to one of three golden tickets to the LIV Golf League roster next season.
Going into the weekend, Bhullar was sitting 46th on the OOM, outside the top-40 which would generate seven second-round exemptions from those placed two to eight, and 25 first-round places for Asian Tour players.
The 11-time Asian Tour winner booked the final berth in the second round and edged out Phachara Khongwatmai into a first-round spot, the Thai star just falling short of that bye despite a rollercoaster third place at the Hong Kong Open the week before.
Karandeep Kochhar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Bhullar said: “This feels very special because before this week, since it is the cut off, coming here this week the standings was definitely on the back of my mind, and motivating me to play well and get the chance of a place in the LIV Golf qualifier. I played well last week too but struggled on Sunday, but this week the goal was to stay in the zone, and I managed to do that.”
In-form runner-up Karandeep Kochhar was also celebrating his big result as the brilliant final-round 63 took him from 37th and up to 15, for one of 25 places on the first round of the LIV Golf Promotions event at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club from 8-10 December.
Kochhar has been a big mover in the past three weeks, coming out of nowhere with an impressive joint fifth in the Volvo China Open and an equal 25th at the Hong Kong Open before his runner-up spot at Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
He said: “Before these three weeks, it wasn’t on my mind. But yesterday I did have a look in the evening. I went on the Order of Merit and just trying to kind of see where I stood and everything. Anyway, if I played my game, I would be in.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for players like me in Asia, trying to get on the LIV Series which is arguably the best tour in the world. I’m really looking forward to that opportunity and have a good week in Abu Dhabi hopefully.”
Andy Ogletree had already wrapped up The International Series Order of Merit and LIV Golf League golden ticket at the Hong Kong Open, the penultimate tournament on The International Series – the schedule of 10 elevated marquee events on the Asian Tour.
Spaniard David Puig finished runner up in the standings after an impressive tied third-placed finish in Indonesia alongside Hong Kong Open champion Ben Campbell, who moved up to third in the standings.
The International Series Vietnam winner Kieran Vincent, Wade Ormsby, Gunn Charoenkul and Bhullar complete the Asian Tour’s second round contingent in Abu Dhabi, where they will try to qualify for a fascinating 36-hole final day.
Kieran Vincent. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Vincent was delighted to claim an exemption. He said: “Every week is an important week in golf but the fact that this one could have playing rights next year on LIV is amazing. I can’t wait to get there, never been to Abu Dhabi and it is going to be a great event.”
At the other end of the standings, Korea’s Kyongyung Moon secured a place in the first round in Abu Dhabi, his impressive fifth-placed finish at Royale Jakarta enough to leapfrog from 53 up to 36.
Below him, compatriot Taehee Lee (37), Australian Zach Murray (38) and South African Jaco Ahlers (40) did enough to keep their places on the top 25. Miguel Carballo must have had a nervous afternoon however; the Argentine held on to the second from final spot at 24, and 39 in the International Series Order of Merit despite a missed cut in Jakarta.
Gaganjeet Bhullar produced a virtuoso performance to win the US$1.5 million BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE today, for his fifth title on Indonesian soil and the fourth wire-to-wire win of his career on the Asian Tour.
The 35-year-old from Amritsar eagled the par-five 18th here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club for a closing four-under-par 67 to finish on 24-under, which was five shots ahead of second-placed Karandeep Kochhar, also from India.
Ben Campbell from New Zealand, winner of the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, and Spaniard David Puig shot rounds of 65 and 66 respectively to claim third place, six back of Bhullar – in the final event of the season on The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour.
It marks the first time Bhullar has raised this trophy, and it will proudly sit alongside three Indonesian Open wins and one Indonesia President Invitational title.
Gaganjeet Bhullar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Plus it is the 11th win of his career on the Asian Tour – the most by an Indian, with Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa next best with eight titles.
And it’s also his first victory since winning the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August of last year.
He started the day with a comfortable seven-shot lead and was in complete control before a couple of mistakes over the closing stages kept the large gallery guessing.
On the par-three 15th he shocked everyone when he found water with his tee shot, but after taking a drop he played a superb third to six feet and holed the putt for bogey.
His lead was cut to three from Kochhar and Puig at that point and when he left his second shot short in a tricky lie on the grassy slope of a greenside bunker on the par-four 16th it looked as if the gap would be closed further.
However, he made arguably the shot of the tournament when he holed out for an unlikely birdie to restore his lead to four.
His closing eagle on 18 was set up by a beautifully struck fairway wood to 20 feet.
“It wasn’t that easy. This is my fourth Asian Tour wire-to-wire,” said Bhullar, who showed incredible mental fortitude to win having led the event since his opening round 63.
Karandeep Kochhar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“And this was a victory with a seven-shot lead and I just kept telling myself I have done that in the past and I am ready to do that this week.
“Today I played pretty well actually. I struggled a bit in the middle of the round, there was a stretch when I was trying my level best but I was not making the birdies. But the chip in on number 16 turned around everything. And of course the eagle on the last was the icing on the cake.”
His other wire-to-wire wins came in the Macao Open in 2012 and 2017 and at the 2013 Indonesia Open.
“Overall, I think it is a great sense of achievement for myself and I am really proud of myself,” added Bhullar, who revealed today that his grandma was born in Indonesia.
“I have been doing meditation since I was 14 years old, and I think this is my 17th year on Tour. I learned over the years how to deal with the pressure and especially the conditions and the situation I was in the last three rounds. So, I think the past experience has really helped me.”
An added bonus is that victory catapulted him from 46th place on The International Series Order of Merit to eighth, and it’s only those from second to eight who are fast tracked into the second round of the LIV Golf Promotions event in three weeks time in Abu Dhabi. The top three finishers there will earn places on next year’s LIV Golf League.
Kochhar will also be competing in Abu Dhabi and today celebrated his best finish on the Asian Tour.
He said: “Obviously a very good day from start to finish. I told myself that the way I was hitting the ball the last few days I’m going to have a lot of opportunities, so it was all about being patient.
“And I think I did that very well today. I was patient throughout, gave myself opportunities and made some good putts down the stretch as well. A couple of good two putts in the end, which I think kind of kept the momentum going. So yeah, overall really pleased and been looking forward to a week off.”
Korean Kyongjun Moon fired a 65 and finished in outright fifth, seven behind the champion.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour heads to Chinese-Taipei next for the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open. The US$400,000 tournament, which is making its debut on the Asian Tour having previously been played on the Asian Development Tour, will be staged at Taifong Golf Club from November 30 to December 3.
Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar’s bid to add the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE title to the four other events he has already claimed in Indonesia continued unabated today after he shot an eight-under-par 63 for a 20-under total and a commanding seven-shot lead.
Spaniard David Puig fired an equally impressive 62 to sit in solo second here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club, while New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, in with a 63, Indian Veer Ahlawat, who carded a 65, and Richard T. Lee from Canada, after a 68, are tied for third a further stroke back.
Of his 10 magnificent victories on the Asian Tour – the most but any player from his nation – three have been wire-to-wire, and he looks like adding to that impressive statistic tomorrow having led here from start to finish.
He only dropped one shot today and nailed nine birdies.
Gaganjeet Bhullar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I think, as I said yesterday, the goal was to keep the ball in play from the tee and hit it close from the fairway,” said Bhullar, whose other wire-to-wire wins came in the Macao Open in 2012 and 2017 and the 2013 Indonesia Open.
“And then the goal is to putt better, and today I putted really well. I missed the shortest birdie putt of the week on number three, which was like three feet, I think after that, that just kind of motivated me to read the lines properly and just some sort of a trigger in my mind. And I think after that I just kept reading the lines properly and the pace was really good today.”
Of his four wins in Indonesia, three have been in the country’s national Open, in 2013, 2016 and in August last year – which is his most recent win on the Asian Tour – while he first tasted victory on Indonesian soil at the Indonesia President Invitational 14 years ago.
Puig’s brilliant bogey free 62 is the lowest round of the week, although it could not officially count as one of the lowest in the event’s history as preferred lies were played.
“It’s hard to believe but I played pretty much like today the other two days,” said the 21-year-old, who won the International Series Singapore in October.
“I putted it awful the first two days, and even though I shot nine under today, I feel that I left some out there, which is pretty impressive. Very happy with my ball striking. I’ve been hitting it very, very good throughout the week, and yeah, a little happier today with my putting. Hopefully I’ll have a good chance tomorrow to maybe get my second win, it would be awesome.”
David Puig. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Campbell won the Hong Kong Open on Sunday and an opening round 73 here suggested another good week here was a bridge too far but rounds of 65 and 63 have given him a chance to be the first back-to-back winner on the Asian Tour since Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond at the end of 2019.
He said: “It was a weird 73 on day one, I think I only missed two or three greens, just couldn’t hole a putt. I said to my caddie at the end of the day I felt like I was swinging it better than last week.
“Even yesterday I hit it great and didn’t hole a whole lot but at the end of the day it was nice to hit a couple of really close ones, so yeah finding the greens a little bit tricky to read but hopefully get a few more to drop tomorrow.”
Tomorrow’s final round will also determine who qualifies for the LIV Golf Promotions event from The International Series Order of Merit, as this week’s US$1.5 million event is the last International Series tournament of 2023.
Players ranked two to eight will earn an exemption into round two while the leading 25 available players from within the top-40 (excluding those exempt into round two) will gain entrance into round one.
The three-day four-round tournament, to take place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from December 8-10, will see the top three finishers earn exemptions into next year’s multi-million-dollar LIV Golf League.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
American Andy Ogletree booked his place on the LIV Golf League after securing The International Series Order of Merit title last week in Hong Kong, while the big mover tomorrow looks like being Bhullar, who, if he wins, will leap from 46th place to eighth on the Merit list and hence by pass round one in Abu Dhabi.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar is clearly the man to catch at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE after leading for the second day in a row following a four-under-par 67.
Bhullar put himself on course to win for the fifth time in Indonesia after moving to 12-under here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club, in the final International Series event of the year.
He leads by three from Canadian Richard T. Lee, who also shot a 67, and by four from American Patrick Reed, in with a 68.
Bhullar took to the front after a 63 yesterday and was unchallenged at the top today, starting convincingly with four birdies in his first eight.
Richard T. Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He dropped his first shot of the week on nine and another on 17 but they were the only mistakes for a player who has triumphed 10 times on the Asian Tour, the most by an Indian golfer.
“I drove the ball really well yesterday and today,” said the golfer from Amritsar, who chipped in twice today.
“I think one factor which really led me to where I am, 12 under after two rounds, is my driving ability. In the last two rounds I think I only missed two fairways, and the more and more fairways you hit you give yourself more opportunities to be closer to the flag, and that’s what I did yesterday and today.
“The goal was to stay in the moment. The goal was to basically just stay in the zone, stay focused and keep on grinding. Keep on doing what I’m trying to do.”
Bhullar’s most recent win on the Asian Tour came at the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August last year – which marked the third time he had won the event. He first tasted victory on Indonesian soil at the Indonesia President Invitational 14 years ago and based on his form so far this week, another success here looks within range.
Of his success in Indonesia, he commented: “I personally feel that it could be the weather, it could be some sort of thing to do with the greens, with the grass, with the size of fairways or probably the size of rough.”
Patrick Reed. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Three shots back, Lee has once again put himself into position to win his first title on the Asian Tour in six years.
Over the past two seasons, Lee has regularly been in contention, including at the Hong Kong Open last weekend when he claimed third place – his joint best finish of the year as he was also equal third in the Shinhan Donghae Open in September.
And he’ll be hoping that his renewed confidence with the putter will continue over the weekend so he can make it a third win on the Asian Tour, having triumphed in the Solaire Open in 2014 and the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017.
“I actually finally got my putting back again,” said the 33-year-old.
“Back in form with that, that’s the key to my game. I can strike it pretty well and if I can sink the putts I can go pretty low.
“The change is more set-up based, and eye line. It seems to be working this week, and last week.”
Having started on the back nine, Lee got off to the ideal start when he chipped in for an eagle from 20 yards on the par-five 12th.
He said: “I was pretty happy, it was a good booster, gave me some confidence.”
He also made three birdies on the trot starting on 18.
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, birdied two out of his last four, including the last. After completing two good days of work, the LIV Golf League star admitted he was hoping to do better.
“It was a frustrating day at three under,” he said.
“It’s just kind of one those days where energy levels are a little low, I couldn’t really get around on a lot of iron shots, a lot of tee shots were blocked a little bit. Yeah, I hit a lot of balls inside 20ft just didn’t make anything and finally made that one on the last which will obviously make it feel a little better for the day.
Gunn Charoenkul. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Energy levels were a little low this morning but besides that I gave myself a lot of looks, but my putter was a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde today.”
Korea’s Seungtaek Lee (65), American Micah Lauren Shin (66), Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul (68), and Zach Murray (68) from Australia are joint fourth, five behind Bhullar.
Andy Ogletree from the United States looked like he was going to miss his first cut of the season. However, he produced the kind of golf that saw him win this year’s International Series Order of Merit to make it though, with five birdies in the last seven holes. He carded a 65 to finish on three under, narrowly surviving the cut which was made at two-under, the lowest in 11 editions of the tournament.
Defending champion Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand had to withdraw earlier in day, suffering from a migraine.
Canadian Richard T. Lee has once again put himself into position to win his first title on the Asian Tour in six years after taking the clubhouse lead during round two of the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE today.
He carded a four-under-par 67 here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club to move to nine-under-par for the US$1.5 million event, one better than American Patrick Reed, who fired a 68.
Korea Seungtaek Lee (65), Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul (68), and Zach Murray (68) from Australia are a further stroke behind, after the morning groups came in – in what is the final International Series event of the year.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, the overnight leader following a brilliant 63, is in the afternoon session.
Patrick Reed. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Over the past two seasons Lee has regularly been in contention, including at the Hong Kong Open last weekend when he tied for third place – his joint best finish of the year as he was also equal third in the Shinhan Donghae Open in September.
And he’ll be hoping his improvement on the greens will continue over the weekend so he can make it a third win on the Asian Tour, having triumphed in the Solaire Open in 2014 and the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017.
“I actually finally got my putting back again,” said the 33-year-old.
“Back in form with that, that’s the key to my game. I can strike it pretty well and if I can sink the putts I can go pretty low.
“The change is more set up based, and eye line. It seems to be working this week, and last week.”
Having started on the back nine he got off to the ideal start when he chipped in for an eagle from 20 yards on the par-five 12th.
He said: “I was pretty happy, it was a good booster, gave me some confidence.”
He also made three birdies on the trot starting on 18, contributing to his haul of four birdies, while he made two bogeys.
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion who now plays on the LIV Golf League, birdied two out of his final four, including the last, to complete two good days of work although he was hoping for better.
“It was a frustrating day at three under,” he said.
“It’s just kind of one those days were energy levels a little low, couldn’t really get around on a lot of iron shots, a lot of tee shots were blocked a little bit. Yeah, I hit a lot of balls inside 20ft just didn’t make anything and finally made that one on the last which will obviously make it feel a little better for the day.
Gunn Charoenkul. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Energy levels were a little low this morning but besides that I gave myself a lot of looks but my putter was a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde today.”
Ben Campbell from New Zealand, winner of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, recovered from an opening round 73 with a 65 to go to four under.
India’s Anirban Lahiri, who won this event in 2014, fired a 67, and is two under.
Defending champion Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand had to withdraw earlier in day suffering from a migraine.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar struck again on Indonesian soil today, firing a sizzling bogey-free eight-under-par 63 for the first-round lead in the US$1.5 million BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE.
He has the lead here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club, ahead of second-placed Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand, American Paul Peterson and Honey Baisoya from India, all in with 65s.
American Patrick Reed, Canada’s Richard T. Lee, Australians Wade Ormsby and Travis Smyth plus Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the winner here in 2019, and Gunn Charoenkul are next best placed following 66s – in the final International Series event of the season.
(Left to right) Peter Uihlein congratulates Phachara Khongwatmai for holing his second shot for an eagle on hole five on Thursday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Bhullar is the most successful player from his country on the Asian Tour with 10 victories, but he is winless this year and searching for a solution.
“The whole year I have been feeling strong mentally and physically,” said the Indian.
“Thought I have been playing well but not really delivering. This is golf. I am sure my subconscious mind will figure it out.”
The 35-year-old has a phenomenal record in Indonesia having won on four occasions – three Indonesian Opens and the Indonesian President Invitational – while he has come close many other times.
An adjustment to his putting helped to trigger today’s windfall of birdies.
He said: “I figured out something with my stroke on the first few holes and kept on repeating the same action. In the end the result was eight under par.
“It was more to do with the way I was looking at the lines. I just changed the way I was visualising the putt. Nothing changed in my stroke, just the ability to change reading the lines from a different point of view.”
Paul Peterson. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Starting on hole 10 he made three birdies going out and five on the back, including the last two.
Phachara came close to winning the Hong Kong Open last week, finishing in third, and despite nursing a bad back, he is in the frame again this week.
He said: “Yesterday, I hurt my back and thought I might have to withdraw. I could not take the club back so had to withdraw from the Pro-Am after one and a half holes.
“I have had this a couple of times, it’s not a huge problem. The physio helped yesterday.”
His round reached a crescendo when he holed his second on the par-four fifth, with a seven-iron from just over 200 yards.
Asked if he was disappointed about last week’s result, where he made a costly double bogey on 16 and three-putted 18, he said: “Not really disappointed because golf is like that. I’ll take the third place. I am playing great right now, that’s why I’m always go, top, top, top.”
This is only the third appearance of the season by Peterson on the Asian Tour as he has been playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he retained his playing privileges for 2024.
“I thought we hit a lot of our boxes today. There were a couple of tough pins out there which were tough to get at,” said the American, who claimed the Myanmar Open in 2018.
The 35-year-old lefthander admitted he is happy to back in the region.
“Familiar faces, gotta be the friendliest Tour in the world. It is nice to be back,” said Peterson. “There’s no place hotter in the world of course but it’s fun to be out here and see guys you have not seen for a while, and just have a good time.”
Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat put together an astonishing run of seven birdies in a row and was on track to match the record of nine – set by Austrian Bernd Wiesberger at the Malaysian Championship in 2017 – before dropping a shot on 17. He did manage to bounce back with a birdie 18 for a 67.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, who won the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, and Anirban Lahiri from India carded 73s.
Honey Baisoya. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Defending champion Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand returned a 74, as did American Andy Ogletree, who wrapped up The International Series Order of Merit title at the Hong Kong Open last Sunday to secure his place on next year’s LIV Golf League.
Play was stopped for the day at 5.05pm local time due to inclement weather. Eighteen players, none of who are in the running today, will return to complete their rounds tomorrow morning.
The BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, since its launch in 2011, has lit up the Asian Tour schedule every year, helped through its ability to attract international stars and the cream of the Asian Tour.
The tournament has produced a veritable treasure trove of dramatic stories at its permanent home Royale Jakarta Golf Club, with former world number ones clinching the trophy, while providing breakthrough wins for some of today’s hottest Asian Tour players and deciding Order of Merit crowns that changed careers.
This week will be no exception, with the event returning as the final event on The International Series featuring some of the stars of the LIV Golf League including Patrick Reed, Graeme McDowell and Thomas Pieters.
Indeed, the tournament, which was conceived by Indonesian businessman Jimmy Masrin, the current chairman of the Asian Tour, has come a long way since Ryder Cup legend and eight-time Asian Tour winner Lee Westwood from England won the first edition in 2011 by three shots over Thai star Thongchai Jaidee.
The victory meant he regained the world number one status he had previously held for 17 weeks from late October 2010, notably ending Tiger Woods reign on top of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Anirban Lahiri screams in delight with his caddie, Rajiv Sharma, after winning his first title outside India, the 2014 Indonesian Masters. Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images.
Westwood would return in 2012 to successfully defend his title winning by two strokes over Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, and he would add to his trophy collection again in 2015 when he beat Chapchai Nirat, also from Thailand, in a play-off.
In 2013 Austrian Bernd Wiesberger won a tightly contested battle against four-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa. Having been tied after three rounds a stroke behind Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka, Wiesberger’s final round of 67 was good enough to beat Els by a single stroke after Kataoka could only manage a 70 to finish a shot further back. The victory was Wiesberger’s second Asian Tour win, having won the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Ballantine’s Championship in April of 2012.
The 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Anirban Lahiri of India was already a three-time Asian Tour champion coming into the Indonesian Masters in 2014, but all his previous wins had come in his home country. Starting the final round one shot behind the leader Cameron Smith of Australia, Lahiri fired a 68 on Sunday to finish one ahead of the 2022 Open Championship winner Smith and Korea’s Seukhyun Baek for his first international win.
The 2016 edition of the tournament would prove to be the breakthrough victory for Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who prior to the victory had a runner-up at the 2014 Queen’s Cup as his best Asian Tour result. In the lead by two shots going into the final round Poom cruised to a five-shot win over compatriots Phachara Khongwatmai, Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura. Poom would also go on to claim the trophy in 2018 when he won by three shots over fellow Thai Jazz Janewattananond.
When Justin Rose won the event in 2017, he did so with the blistering score of 29-under-par and set a new tournament scoring record in the process. With scores of 62, 69, 66 and 62, the Englishman finished eight shots clear of Phachara, the runner-up for the second time in two years.
Rose returned to the tournament in 2018 as the number two ranked golfer in the world and had a chance to move back to world number one if he could finish tied 16th with one other player, and if he finished tied 12th or better, he would have been guaranteed the number one spot at the end of the year.
Entering the final round in tied-fourth and seven shots behind eventual winner Poom, Rose could only manage a 75 after a rough start and agonizingly finished in a tie for 17th place.
Jazz would get his hands on the trophy the following year, when in his Order of Merit winning season he triumphed by five shots over countryman Gunn Charoenkul.
Jazz Janewattannond of Thailand pictured celebrating with the trophy after winning of the BNI Indonesian Masters in 2019. Picture by Khalid Redza.
It was Jazz’s third win of the season, having won the SMBC Singapore Open and the Kolon Korea Open earlier in the year, but perhaps the most significant as it would guarantee the young Thai a top-50 in the world ranking at the end of the year, punching his ticket to the Masters Tournament in 2020. Amazingly he would also follow it up with another win the very next week at the Thailand Masters for his fourth win of the season.
Due to the global pandemic the tournament was not held in 2020 and 2021, but when it returned to the schedule in 2022 it was another Thai who had his breakthrough Asian Tour victory – Sarit Suwannarut who won by four over Lahiri. After a solid season with two previous top-10s the Qualifying School graduate was already assured of keeping his tour card for the following season, but the win meant he would finish the year ranked 10th on the Order of Merit.
His victory saw him become the 10th winner of Indonesia’s biggest and best golf tournament.
Anirban Lahiri is ready to relive some fond memories this week at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, with the Indian former champion describing the host country as “a little piece of home away from home”.
Lahiri clinched the title in 2014, for a maiden victory away from Indian soil. He then followed that up with victory in the Venetian Macau Open in the same season, before winning the Maybank Malaysian Open and the Asian Tour Order of Merit the following season.
The 36-year-old, who has secured his spot in the LIV Golf League next year following a solid year in Crushers GC colours, also finished runner-up in the 2022 edition of the event, four shots behind Thai star Sarit Suwannarut, and he aims to go one better this week.
“It’s always fun to be back here, I really enjoy coming back. I enjoy this golf course. I think it sets up nice for me and I’ve done well over the years and yeah, it’s always fun to come here,” said Lahiri.
Anirban Lahiri. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Over the years, Indonesia was one of my favourite stops when I was playing on the Asian Tour because there was a massive Indian expat community. There still is but I remember coming here in my early days, 2008, 2009, 2010 and there would be a massive community of Indians, we would go to their homes for dinner and it felt like a little piece of home away from home. I’m going back 15 or 16 years and ever since then, it was like a love affair just to come here and enjoy the hospitality.”
Lahiri hopes to get the W he feels his form merits this week. His final-day seven-under in Miami last month was instrumental in Crushers GC winning the season-ending team tournament.
He said: “I’ve been playing really well but haven’t had a win to show for it. So, that’s going be the focus this week – to just keep doing what I’m doing because obviously I’m doing some things right but come Sunday, try and get into the same mindset that I found in Miami (LIV Golf Team Championship Miami) week and stay locked in and hopefully get over the line.
“Royale Jakarta in 2014 was my first international win outside of India and even before that, I had contended here and even since I’ve come close, on numerous occasions, so obviously, I enjoy playing here and looking forward to going one better than last year.”
The BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE is the final event on the 2023 International Series schedule, and a last chance for the players to secure crucial positions on the Order of Merit which could potentially secure entry into the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi come December.
“When you look at the last stretch, these three events can be significant in determining who wins it. Well, obviously, Andy’s (Andy Ogletree) run away with it, but there is still the opportunity to get on the LIV Golf Promotions event. Just the fact that you’re going to be playing in a quality field with a lot of us here. You’re playing for you know, one a half, two million dollars, sometimes more. I think it’s phenomenal!”
Lahiri is joined in the field by International Series Order of Merit champion Ogletree, reigning Indonesian Masters winner Sarit, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and 2018 Masters victor Patrick Reed.
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed visits Indonesia this week for the first time in his career to compete in the US$1.5 million BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, and clearly means business after saying today: “The biggest thing is to get a ‘W’, a win.”
The American has enjoyed enormous success on the LIV Golf League for the past two seasons playing for the 4AcesGC team, who have won the team title both occasions, but has not tasted victory individually since claiming the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour in 2021.
He has finished runner-up twice individually on the LIV Golf League, in Bangkok last year, and London in July.
“I feel like the game has improved this year,” said the American.
“When I look back at previous years, when I first turned pro, the game feels just as good, if not better. For golf, everything has to be on. You have to hit the ball well, you have to be there mentally. Your short game has to shine.”
Patrick Reed. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The 33-year-old Texan played well in the Hong Kong Open last week, finishing in a tie for 15th and starts as one of the favourites this week in a tournament that includes defending champion Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand, American Andy Ogletree, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, and former champion Anirban Lahiri from India.
“Last week was probably the best I have hit the ball in a long time, but the putter was flat, it disappeared, I think it was still jet-lagged,” he added.
“I feel like it will be here with me this week and with that being said I hope to close off the ‘W’.”
He hit global headlines when he won the Masters in 2018 and is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour. He has also claimed two WGC events during his stellar 12-year professional career, at the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship and WGC-Mexico Championship in 2020.
He has also competed in three Ryder Cups, with his fine performances in the Match Play event earning him the nickname “Captain America”.
“My ambition has always been to travel and play globally. Being here in Indonesia, and Hong Kong last week, is an example of that and the same goes for LIV Golf,” he said.
“And you know one of the many things I am always impressed with when I come out here to Asia is all the hidden gems. Guys we have never heard of but when you come over here and watch them play you see the talent. And it is amazing they now have this vehicle on The International Series to play and take their game to the next level.
This week’s event is the final leg of this year’s 10-tournament International Series, while two more events remain on the Asian Tour schedule.
For someone who claims to be a good math student in school, Sarit Suwannarut has very strong opinion on numbers. Story by Joy Chakravarty.
“I hate them. I hate calculating numbers,” said the Thai, recent winner of the Volvo China Open in sensational fashion by six shots and the defending champion at this week’s BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE.
No wonder Sarit is a rare species in modern professional golf, one of the very few elite-level players who have shunned the use of launch monitors like Trackman or GCQuad. He even does not like using the lasers much, letting his caddie Guna do all the necessary calculations.
“I am a very ‘feel’ player. I don’t like using devices. In fact, I don’t even like going to the driving range much. If someone gives me the choice of hitting a thousand golf balls on the range and playing 36 holes in the heat and humidity, I will always go for the latter,” said Sarit, a two-time champion on Asian Tour and currently ranked 380th in the world.
“In most ranges, the balls are not that good. And sometimes, you are not even hitting off the grass. So why not go on the course and see the real result?
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I always tell my coach that if he wants to set up the Trackman or GCQuad, I only need him to give me the results. Just tell me what I need to resolve. Just tell me what to do. I don’t want to look at any numbers. I have seen some players getting all worked up because they are hitting one degree left or a degree right. How can you fix one degree?
“With my coach and with Guna, I just ask them to tell me what I need to do. I don’t even like looking at the yardage book much. My caddie does all the calculations and I trust him 100 per cent. Give me how long you want me to hit the shot, and if you want a cut or draw and an idea of the wind. After that, if I am not close to the flag, it’s all Guna’s fault!”
It took Sarit almost a full year to win his second title on the Asian Tour, even though he has been in contention several times.
“I have been playing ok, but I haven’t putted well all year. I have not been very good in reading the greens. I started using AimPoint recently and it has helped me a lot. It’s again a feel thing. I can get the feel of the slopes better that way, just by standing on the greens,” added Sarit, who is currently 12th in The International Series Order of Merit and ninth in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Sarit feels his four-shot win in the BNI Indonesian Masters over India’s Anirban Lahiri in Jakarta last year was a big moment of his career.
“I think the biggest thing was just me being able to hold myself together because it was the first time I found myself in situation where I had a chance to win. It was an awesome experience and I almost started crying walking up the 18th hole. I felt relief when I got it done,” said Sarit.
“Any time you win, it just makes you feel confident. I had my doubts before that. Will I ever be able to win on the Asian Tour? But after that, it changed my mindset in a good way. I have said this before, but if I did not win the Indonesian Masters last year, I don’t think I could have pulled off the win in China.”
However, Sarit is not taking anything for granted as he returns to Royale Jakarta Golf Club this week.
“I won last year and it’s already in the past. This week is a new event. It’s going to be a new course, and I will face the challenge of new players. So, I’m just going to focus on what I can do and try not to make any big mistakes,” said Sarit.
“I am playing well and I’ve been in good form. I will have a little more expectation to win another trophy. But it’s golf. You never know what’s going to happen. I will just try my best.”
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