American stars Gooch and Reed eager to face Hong Kong Open challenge
LIV Golf League champion Talor Gooch is hoping that his incredible 2023 season form can translate at the Hong Kong Open after getting the inside line from one of his stablemates and rivals on a unique course that is “a little bit different” to the norm.
Gooch, a member of the Range Goats GC, finished top of the standings in the LIV Golf League ahead of Cameron Smith thanks to three tournament wins around the world this season – at Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucia.
Smith clearly didn’t take the overall result too badly; the Australian was still happy to give Gooch the benefit of his experience on the Composite Course at Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling after finishing T9 in 2014.
The American is relishing the prospect of testing himself on a renowned course and tournament which has an illustrious line of champions including Greg Norman, Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer and Rory McIlroy. He said: “You only hear great things about this place. A couple months back when I knew I was going to come out here I was talking with Cam and he was raving about the golf course.
Talor Gooch. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“With Wade Ormsby (defending champion and a fellow Australian) playing with him a little bit the last year and a half, he likes this place a little bit I think, you just hear great things about this place. It is my first time to Hong Kong obviously so I’m very excited.
“I am looking forward to the week. I was at the golf course yesterday and played the front nine and it’s in great shape. It’s a little bit different to the golf I am used to from back home, but in a good way, so I’m excited and we’ll see if we can go and have a good one.”
“It’s my first time here in Hong Kong, you hear so many great things not only about the golf course, but about the tournament – there’s such a rich history at this tournament, at this golf course and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Gooch has tasted success in the region before, having wrapped up victory at LIV Golf Singapore with an incredible performance and play-off win over Sergio Garcia from Spain at Sentosa, and he’s relishing the prospect of another week of world-class competition in golf-mad Asia, at one of the Asian Tour’s 10 elevated events on The International Series.
He said: “I love it! I love the culture, I love the food, the golf courses, all of it. The fans here in Asia they love their golf, there’s a passion behind the fans and the sport so it’s fun to be a part of it’s fun to get outside of my home, the United States and come see how much people love golf abroad. So, I love Asia and loved my first time here in Hong Kong so far and looking forward to a fun week!”
Patrick Reed is another big-name American golfer who loves playing in this part of the world. He’ll be lining up in his fourth attempt at the Hong Kong Open, and he admits marquee events like this on The International Series have all the ingredients needed for a top weekend’s work on a course he loves to play.
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion and member of the victorious 4Aces GC team on the LIV Golf League, said: “I love the golf course. I think it’s one of these that it’s more a kind of old style so it’s not just a ball hitter’s golf course – you actually have to think and methodically place your way around the golf course.
“I feel that’s what separates golf these days, when it seems like everyone gets longer and longer and longer. When really there are defences in places like this, where it’s more positional. If you’re hitting the ball really well, you can attack but at the same time if you’re just a hair off, it’ll make you struggle.”
Reed is a big fan of taking a global approach to the game, and that’s one of the reasons he participates on The International Series events, having confirmed he will also tee it up at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, the final event of the 10-date schedule.
“It’s crucial, in my career, I’ve always wanted to be a worldwide player and because the PGA Tour is mainly in the United States, it was hard to become the worldwide player that I wanted to be. So when I had the opportunity to be a part of the European Tour (DP World Tour) that allowed me to touch some of these areas and regions.
“But really the biggest thing is, joining LIV allowed me to venture out and not only to play around the world, but also allowed me to have a schedule to come play events like this on The International Series.
“I’m excited to come to new places and new venues, and to a place that I’ve played before, here in Hong Kong’s beautiful area, because I feel like a lot of people want to play golf, but they also they want to see the top players in the world.
Patrick Reed. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“They want to have that drive rather than just see him on TV see him in person and there is something special for them. So, to come over and play always means a lot to me.
“I’ve always felt like this is an area that we all can help grow – not just in the game of golf but also to teach kids about the morals and things that go along with golf. It’s ‘all you’ out there while you’re playing, and you teach them the drive and motivation to get up in the morning, get started, get working and taking ownership and do the hard work.
“I feel like there’s a lot of things that people can learn about it. Why not come to an area that really supports and really loves golf.”
The prestigious Hong Kong Open, one of the crown jewels of Asian golf, makes its much-anticipated return this week after a hiatus since early 2020 due to the global pandemic. This year the US$2 million event will also be part of The International Series – 10-elite level tournaments integrated into the Asian Tour schedule.
One of the oldest national open championships in Asia, second only to the Philippine Open, it was first held in 1959 and in 1962 it became one of the five tournaments that made up the inaugural Asia Golf Circuit together with the national opens of the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, plus a final tournament in Japan. The event would become a fixture on the Asian Tour in 1997 and has been one of the highlights on the schedule ever since then.
It has been played at the historic Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling throughout its rich history, and the famous Composite Course – an old-school tree-lined course playing just over 6,700 yards, made up of the best holes of the New and Eden courses – has crowned a who’s who list of some of the most famous players in the world during its time.
The inaugural 1959 event saw the famous Lu Liang-Huan from Chinese Taipei, or ‘Mr Lu’ as he was also known, claim the first of his two Hong Kong Opens by one shot over Australians Bruce Crampton and Kel Nagle. Lu would also go on to win the 1974 edition in a play-off over another famous Australian Graham Marsh.
Miguel Angel Jimenez during the final round of the 2013 Hong Kong open – his fourth win in the event. Picture by Ian Walton/Getty Images.
The following year Australian legend and five-time winner of the Open Championship Peter Thomson posted the first of his three Hong Kong Open wins, the others coming in 1965 and 1967. Thomson was a prolific winner around the world during the 1950s and 1960s with 98 professional wins on his resume, the last coming in Japan in 1976.
Australian superstar Greg Norman, who was ranked number one on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for 331 weeks in the 1980s and 1990s, would win the first of his two titles at Hong Kong Golf Club in 1979 over a trio from Chinese Taipei. Norman, who is the current LIV Golf Commissioner & CEO, would also lift the trophy in 1983 when he beat Englishman Mark James by three.
In 1987, Welshman and 1991 Masters Tournament champion Ian Woosnam claimed the title by four shots over Sam Torrance from Scotland and Northern Irishman David Feherty. This was a year in which he also topped the DP World Tour Order of Merit and set a record for global tournament earnings at the time, GBP£1,062,662.
Two-time Masters Tournament winner Bernhard Langer from Germany won the 1991 edition of the Hong Kong Open in dominating fashion by seven strokes over Korean Choi Sang-ho and Lu Wen-teh from Chinese Taipei. Langer is like Woosnam a previous world number one and has the distinction of being the sport’s first number one ranked player following the creation of the OWGR in 1986.
The following year saw another giant of the game emerge victorious, as eight-time Major winner Tom Watson from the United States won by three strokes over Northern Irishman Ronan Rafferty. Watson was the leading money winner of the PGA Tour five times, Player of the Year six times, and inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.
Wade Ormsby poses with the trophy in 2020. Picture by Ivan Shum – Clicks Images/Getty Images.
In the new century and nine years later in 2001, it was Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup hero, who came out on top against Norwegian Henrik Björnstad, and this also marked the first year the event was co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
Fellow Spaniard and Ryder Cup stalwart Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed the first of his impressive four Hong Kong Open titles in 2004 when he edged out Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and South African James Kingston by a single stroke. Nicknamed “The Mechanic” and in recent years famous for his warm-up routine and love of wine and Cuban cigars, Jimenez would also win the event in 2007, 2012 and 2013 and is currently the most winningest player of the Hong Kong Open.
Perhaps one of the most famous moments in the Hong Kong Open’s history came in 2008 when Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang beat Italy’s Francesco Molinari and current world number two Rory McIlroy, who was in his first full season on the DP World Tour, in a playoff. On the first play-off hole Lin would hit his tee shot left in the trees, seemingly in jail and just having to chip out, but after a heroic hook-shot through the branches Lin’s ball ended up four feet from the pin to make birdie to tie with McIlroy. After McIlroy hit his tee shot left in the trees on the second playoff hole but made a miraculous recovery to 12 feet, Lin, who was in the fairway, calmly stuck his second shot to a foot for an easy birdie, and after McIlroy missed his birdie attempt the Chinese Taipei player had an easy tap in for the win.
The four-time Major champion McIlroy would get his Hong Kong Open title a few years later in 2011, when he holed out from the bunker on the 72nd hole to post a score of 12 under ahead of the final two groups that no one could catch.
Lin Wen-tang on his way to victory in 2008. Picture by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.
The most recent years between 2014 until the last time the Hong Kong Open was held in 2020 saw three Australians win – 10-time Asian Tour winner Scott Hend won in 2014 in a playoff against Filipino Angelo Que, Sam Brazel in 2016 by one over Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain, and two-time winner and defending champion Wade Ormsby in 2017 and 2020. The latter by four strokes over the 2019 Open Championship winner Shane Lowry from Ireland. Two Englishmen also got their names engraved on the trophy during this time, the 2013 U.S. Open Champion and Ryder Cup star Justin Rose in 2015, and two-time DP World winner Aaron Rai in 2018.
Eight months on from his astonishing, history making victory in the World City Championship here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, Taichi Kho is back in action at the famous venue this week to compete in the tournament which for so long he considered “the biggest event in the world”, the Hong Kong Open.
Kho, who is the club’s ambassador, is playing in the event for the first time as a professional, having made numerous appearances during his fine amateur career, for yet another landmark moment for the player who has spent 15 years in awe of the tournament.
“I don’t remember my first round here [at Fanling],” said 22-year-old.
“I played here when I was really, really, young, but I remember watching Rory [McIlroy] here in 2008. I always looked up to the event. I remember going every November and December time for the Hong Kong Open, it was like the biggest event in the world in my perspective. To be able to play in it as a professional now is a dream come true.”
The Hong Kong star won the gold medal in the Asian Games last month and having finished second in the Volvo China Open on Sunday, thanks to holing his chip for an eagle on the final hole, he arrives this week on the crest of giant wave.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
There is enormous pressure on his young shoulders this week with huge crowds expected to come out and support him when the tournament commences on Thursday but despite this the level-headed golfer is taking it all in his stride and admits to treating it as just another event.
He added: “The expectations usually come from the outside. For myself I am out here playing like any other week. I am just trying to progress my game. I understand there are a lot of outside expectations but from my part I am just going to play golf and whether I play well or not I know I am going to learn a lot.”
When he won the World City Championship in March he shot rounds of 64, 64 and 70 for a winning three-round total of 12 under – after the event was reduced to 54-holes because of inclement weather. It saw him become the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event.
The Hong Kong Open does of course represent a very different challenge as the US$2 million event is part of The International Series and features an all-star cast including: 2022 Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, reigning LIV Golf League individual champion Talor Gooch, 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed, reigning champion Hong Kong Open and two-time winner Wade Ormsby, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and LIV Golf headliners Harold Varner III, Thomas Pieters and Eugenio Chacarra.
He’s been paired with Smith and Reed for the first two rounds for added inspiration and excitement as he looks to draw on all his local knowledge to try and create history again by becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win the Hong Kong Open.
“The process this week stays the same. I have the advantage of knowing the sidelines off the tees,” he said.
“Most of the work now is understanding how the course is this week. Usually through the year it is not as firm and fast, it’s about getting adjusted to that. Other than that, it’s preparation. The goal is the same, the process is the same. It’s just like any other week, but it is at home.
“I see the course not in the same way everyone else sees it. I see quite a few drivers off the tee. You don’t need to overpower the course, but use your driver to your advantage, and be really sharp around the greens.
“Because I have played this course so many times I understand the dispersion patterns, and hopefully I can use that to my advantage.”
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
When he played in this tournament in 2020, the last time the event was played before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, he carded a 74 and 69 to miss the cut by two.
He’s come a long away since then to become the region’s most exciting young golfer, a role model for Hong Kong’s next generation of golfers and the ultimate ambassador for one of the grandest venues of them all, Hong Kong Golf Club.
Golfing superstar Cameron Smith is relishing the prospect of a return to “one of the best courses in Asia” at the Hong Kong Open, and the Australian is hoping that his debut on the Asian Tour’s International Series at the Hong Kong Golf Club will help to “maintain the mojo” that saw him finish second in the LIV Golf League’s individual standings.
Smith, the 2014 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, comes into the storied tournament as one of the marquee names in a star-studded field that also includes LIV Golf stablemates Harold Varner III, Talor Gooch, Graeme McDowell, Patrick Reed and Thomas Pieters as well as Asian Tour stars including International Series Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree and local hero Taichi Kho, the Asian Games gold medal winner.
Smith’s late-season form is sure to be box office for the Fanling galleries. The world No.20 secured two wins in the latter half of the season on the LIV Golf League in London and Bedminster, in a charge that secured runner-up spot on the podium behind Range Goats GC Gooch in the 2023 standings.
The 2022 Open champion is eager to continue that form and believes that the unique style of the Hong Kong GC’s composite course can help to bring on his game. He said: “We don’t get to play too many courses like this, it is more of a strategic course and playing courses like that is something I enjoy.
Cameron Smith of Australia pictured looking at the winner’s trophy names during a press conference at the M+ Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District ahead of the Hong Kong Open on Tuesday November 7, 2023 at the Hong Kong Golf Club. The US$ 2 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I like to be creative and a course like this allows you to be that creative player and person, and I can’t wait to get out there and play the type of golf I really enjoy playing. The golf course is one of the best in Asia and everyone is excited to be here for sure.”
The 30-year-old feels the ninth stop on The International Series schedule is the perfect location to continue working on his game as he makes his way back to Australia for some well-earned rest and relaxation, and a number of tournaments Down Under.
Smith is glad to return to a tournament that he last played nine years ago, as a promising young golfer looking to make his name. On that occasion Smith finished ninth, and he said: “It has been nice to have a couple of weeks off, as it has been a pretty busy year. I’m feeling a little refreshed. The difference in nine years is a lot. I’ve had nine more years of professional golf which is one thing.
“I remember that week was a pressure week for me as I needed to play well to get into the CIMB Classic (co-sanctioned PGA Tour event in Kuala Lumpur).
“I managed to have an OK week, and I learned a lot about myself and my game that week, I had to grind, and that’s something it is good to go through as a young professional.
“It is good to be back in a place that I feel comfortable – it is a golf course I really love and we don’t get to play that style much anymore – it is a style of course I grew up with being Australian, so I can’t wait to get out there.
“It’s one of my favourite places here in Hong Kong – not only the city but the golf club as well. I have some pretty good memories here, it has been a while since I’ve been here so it will be interesting to see if there are any changes but I loved it last time and can’t wait to get out there and compete again against these boys this week.”
The Ripper GC star is delighted to get some game time in on The International Series, the elevated events on the Asian Tour, with the LIV Golf League having finished for the year. He added: “It’s a busy off season, I have added a couple more tournaments in Australia, and I want to improve and make my game better for next year. It was a big reason why I came here, was to fill up a five-to-six-week gap.
“I feel I don’t play well coming off the big gaps and it is nice to come here to get the mojo back or keep the mojo going, I’m looking forward to it, and I’m looking forward to getting back home – I haven’t been since April and will be staying until January – that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
For more information on the Hong Kong Open, please visit asiantour.com
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut shot a fearless final round eight-under-par 64 to win the Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club today by the runaway margin of six-shots, to claim his second title on the Asian Tour, and put him behind a surprisingly poor season.
A fine four-round aggregate of 19-under-par 269, saw him finish comfortably ahead of second placed Taichi Kho from Hong Kong, who sensationally chipped in for an eagle on the 18th for a 65, and Chinese youngster Chen Guxin, the third-round leader in with a 73.
Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, the leader at the halfway mark, fired a 68 to finish in outright fourth, a further shot back, in the US$1.5 million event being played on the Asian Tour for the first time since 2019, and part of The International Series.
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sarit’s nickname is ‘Safe’ but he was far from that today as he attacked the course from the start with a new found confidence that has been missing for the whole season.
The 25-year-old started the day three back from Chen. However, he quickly caught his Chinese playing partner with three birdies on the trot from the second and overtook him when he made another birdie on seven – a pivotal hole as Chen made a double. It meant Sarit had a three-shot lead.
By the turn he was two in front before a birdie on the 12th gave him a commanding four-shot buffer as Chen bogeyed the hole. He then cruised home for the win unchallenged with birdies on 14, and the final two holes.
After winning the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE at the end of last year, also an International Series event, Sarit was expected to achieve further success, but he struggled this season, recording just one top-10 in the Mandiri Indonesia Open and missing six cuts in 13 starts before this week.
Yesterday he credited a week’s holiday in Japan with his family before coming here and deciding to go back to using the putter he used when he triumphed in Indonesia for his return to form.
“To be honest I just wanted to come here and have fun,” said Sarit.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I wanted to find something this week because it has been a tough year. It has been a really tough year. I have missed a lot of cuts. I didn’t finish good at all but … it happens. My iron game and my putting were the problem, especially the putting. My putting this week was lights out, it’s insane. Feel like I saw every line, saw how to putt, saw everything.”
He earned a check for US$270,0000 and becomes the second Thai to win China’s national Open, after Prayad Marksaeng in 1996.
The big-hitting golfer also leapt from 85th to 12th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM).
Kho chipped in from 20 yards on the driveable par-four 18th for a two to record yet another impressive finish to build on his phenomenal season.
He said: “Walking up to that chip I was saying to my caddie that I have to do a better job with my short game; to just trust it and let go. I was able to let go on the chip, it was a really good chip, it looked good all the way and I was really happy to cap off the week like that.
“I think big picture that is what I’m working on, being able to let go and trust my visuals and instincts. I feel that will take me to the next level, I’m really happy with how I was willing to do that today – to let go and see what happens rather than try to hold on and grind.”
Chen was bidding the become the seventh Chinese winner of the Volvo China Open and at just 20 years of age it’s youngest. He will be grateful to finish third as he bids to keep his Asian Tour card for next year. He’s now moved into 40th place on the Asian Tour OOM from 115th place, with four events remaining. The top-65 retain their playing privileges.
“I have a peaceful mind as 73 was my aim to be honest,” said Chen, who won twice on the Asian Development Tour last year and calls himself ‘Mr 54’ as he has struggled to finish off tournament’s on the final day.
“I think it adds to my experience. The putting of Sarit was really extraordinary, he can hole everything. He played very well. By contrast, I just play badly, but I need to learn how to play well in the final round.”
American Andy Ogletree had a chance to wrap up The International Series Order of Merit today with two International Series events remaining. He needed to finish in outright third or better, but he closed with a 69 to finish in a tie for seventh.
Chen Guxin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour crosses the border next week for the Hong Kong Open, where Ogletree is most likely to secure The International Series merit title. The US$2 million event, which is the penultimate stop on The International Series, is being played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from November 9-12.
Australian Wade Ormsby returns to defend the title he won in 2020, the last time the celebrated event was played before the COVID-19 global pandemic struck.
Little-known young Chinese golfer Chen Guxin is threatening to record a shock victory in the US$1.5 million Volvo China Open after carding a six-under-par 66 to take the third-round lead on 14-under today at Hidden Grace Golf Club, in Shenzhen.
The 20-year-old, currently in lowly 114th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), is three ahead of a resurgent Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand, who returned a joint best of the day 65, and China’s amateur sensation Ding Wenyi, last year’s US Junior Amateur champion, in with a 67.
Overnight leader Eugenio Chacarra from Spain surprisingly slipped to a 73 and is tied fourth on eight under in a five-man group still within touching distance. The LIV Golf League star is joined by Australian John Lyras, who birdied five out of the last six to shoot a 67, Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao who hit a 66, Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman with a 69, and Berry Henson from the United States, who signed for a 70.
Chen Guxin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chen was playing on the Asian Development Tour last year, where he won two events and finished fifth on the OOM to earn his Asian Tour card for this season. Wearing his trademark wide-brimmed cricket hat, Chen is on track for the tournament of his life after a brilliant round made up of seven birdies and just one bogey on 18, following a three-putt.
He began the day one back from the leader Chacarra before a four-under-par front nine with birdies on two, four, six, and nine saw him make the turn with a one-shot lead. Birdies on 10, 12 and 17 saw him move four ahead before he three putted from 30 feet on the last.
“I always regarded myself as ‘Mr 54 hole’,” joked Chen, referring to the occasions when he’s led after three days before a bad final round.
“Might as well aim to shoot 73 tomorrow. Then I can relax and have a good rest tonight. But more seriously, I suppose the winning score will be 18 under. I need to shoot three or four under.”
The top-65 on the OOM keep their Tour cards for 2024 and with just five events remaining, including this week, Chen has chosen the right time to kick start his season. He has played 10 events this season, recorded a best finish of joint 14th in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard, and missed four cuts.
He is also very aware of the threat that his Asian Games team-mate Ding poses.
“He has everything. He can drive far, hit great iron shots and putts brilliantly.”
Ding Wenyi. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Eighteen-year-old Ding is clearly looking for redemption after losing the Asian Amateur Championship in a sudden-death play-off last Sunday.
“I didn’t hit it well on the range in the morning, so I am little surprised to be in second place,” said the towering six foot three inch golfer, who is attached to Hidden Grace and finished runner-up in this event in 2020, when it was played as a China-only event due to the global pandemic.
“My long game was not good today and I made several mistakes. However, my putting was okay, though not as good as yesterday. The important point is, when I make the mistakes, I recovered well.
“I will just try to play my best. I suppose everything could happen tomorrow, who knows.”
He started slowly with one birdie on the front half before tearing the back nine apart with five birdies and just one bogey.
Returning to the putter he used to win last December’s BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE – his one Asian Tour victory to date – and a vacation recently has helped Sarit regain much needed form after a poor season when he has been unable to get into contention and missed numerous cuts.
“Everything went the right way, just like the Indonesian Masters last year,” said the Thai golfer.
“I feel confident, feel like I can hit where I want to and be really aggressive. A vacation last week with my family helped a lot. I took a week off from golf as this year has been tough. I really wanted time with my family and got it. I really needed that and after I got back I found something with my coach. Worked a little bit on my swing and my putting.
“I knew this year would be up and down, I just didn’t expect it to go that low. It’s golf, it’s life. At beginning of the year I had an injury but then mainly putting was the problem. But now I switched back to the same putter I used at the Indonesian Masters and it’s getting better.”
American Andy Ogletree had a poor day by his standards carding a 72, which included a triple bogey on the 15th, but sits in ninth place on seven under and is still well placed to wrap up The International Series Order of Merit title.
He’ll lift that trophy tomorrow and book a place on next year’s LIV Golf League if he finishes outright third or better and Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe finishes outside the top-five. Vincent, second on the Merit list, fired a 72 and is four-under in a tie for 23rd.
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
A victory by Chacarra would mean Ogletree needs to finish outright second to clinch the title, with two International Series events remaining: next week’s Hong Kong Open and the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE the week after.
Graeme McDowell believes the next generation of rising stars currently playing on The International Series are the real deal, as he backed some of the Asian Tour’s most promising stars to step up and give themselves a life-changing opportunity to join the LIV Golf League next season.
The 2010 US Open champion and Ryder Cup legend was paired with talented Thai Phachara Khongwatmai and home hope Shao Minghao, the Chinese amateur, for the opening two rounds of the Volvo China Open at the Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen.
McDowell will get plenty of opportunity to see how the latest crop react to pressure: the Volvo China Open is the first of three tournaments in three weeks that will decide the Order of Merit on The International Series, the Asian Tour’s set of 10 elevated events, with the Hong Kong Open and BNI Indonesian Masters presented TNE next on the schedule.
Those events determine the standings on the Order of Merit, with the outright winner securing a lucrative place on the LIV Golf League next season. An additional 32 eligible players will also have the chance to play the LIV Golf Promotions event from 8-10 December, a qualifier in Abu Dhabi which gives three entry onto the 2024 LIV Golf League.
L-R – Andy Ogletree, Graeme McDowell and Taichi Kho pictured at a press conference on Wednesday November 1, 2023 ahead of the Volvo China Open at the Hidden Grace Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
McDowell is confident some of the Asian Tour’s youngsters have the raw materials needed, as he singled out Phachara and Thai compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana as danger men. He said: “I have played a bit of golf with Sadom and Phachara and I’ve been impressed with both.
“I feel they are on the edge of making that next step, but it is how you make that next step. The only way to do is to get on big stage and find that belief in yourself. No one can teach it and it can’t be found on a range – it can only be found during a big event.
“So, you must get onto that LIV Golf Promotions event, get a big weekend in, get onto LIV and then have a big year there next year. Unfortunately, there is no way to practice that. Phachara is a nice player., I like his game and his attitude. It is tough to speak for all on the Asian Tour, but a lot of these kids are so easy going yet so competitive and talented.”
Never known as one of the biggest hitters in golf, McDowell is still happy taking a methodical approach to golf, comparing his rounds to a game of chess.
The 44-year-old, who has played for Cleeks GC for the past two seasons on the LIV Golf League, admits that many on the new wave of the Asian Tour are a lot closer to the style of Northern Irish compatriot Rory McIlroy, a four-time major winner and six-time Ryder Cup star renowned for his big hitting with the driver.
He laughed: “Listen, the young breed just drive it so far now, they are very aggressive. I played with Shao Minghao, the young Chinese lad, and he literally hit driver everywhere. I joked with my caddie, Kenny, ‘we need to play hard the next few years and make a couple of quid’ (a lot of money) -the game is passing us by a bit!
“I am a bit of a conservative player – I don’t overpower golf courses. But these kids don’t play chess, I’m not sure what game they are playing. Shao was very aggressive and used the biggest weapon in his bag – the driver.
“I used to play with Rory and he was ahead of his time in the way he took on courses. I used to scratch my head but now everyone does it. It is great to see the sport kick on and be physical. I’ve played the same way for 30 years., I can’t change now unfortunately!”
McDowell highlighted three other rising stars regularly playing on The International Series as shining examples of talented youngsters bringing their A game and wowing golf fans from all over the region.
Spaniard David Puig, compatriot Eugenio Chacarra and American Andy Ogletree have all won on The International Series this year, and the latter is all but confirmed to join the Spanish duo on LIV Golf next season by way of top spot on the 2023 Order of Merit title.
Graeme McDowell. Picture By Ian Walton.
McDowell said: “It is interesting for these young guys, you look at Chacarra and Puig in particular, they have chosen the LIV path, and we are not really familiar with that path. They have taken a massive risk in a way but they have both kicked on and I’m really happy with these guys.
“They have been ostracised a little bit from the young golfing world, but they have used the LIV Golf League as a platform and taken things to the next level. I’m happy to see them kick on the way they are – they are going to be great young players. I hope the world opens up for them and they get the opportunity to try and win Majors as well.”
Eugenio Chacarra’s pre-tournament billing as one of the hot favourites was substantiated today when he took the halfway lead on nine-under following a four-under-par 68 at the US$1.5 million Volvo China Open.
The Spaniard leads by one from China’s Zhang Huilin, who won this event in 2020, and Chen Guxin, who fired rounds of 69 and 68 respectively at Hidden Grace Golf Club.
Australian Jack Thompson, winner of the Qualifying School back in January, had appeared on course to finish the day in front on 11 under with six to play but struggling with the fading light he bogeyed the fifth and eighth and made a double on nine – his last hole having started on 10.
He signed for a 70 to finish in a tie for fourth on seven under with American Andy Ogletree, the runaway leader of The International Series and Asian Tour Order of Merits, who took a step closer to wrapping up those titles early on after carding a 69, and his compatriot Paul Peterson, who returned the same score.
Zhang Huilin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chacarra won the St Andrews Bay Championship in August after a record 10-hole play-off against Matt Jones from Australia for his first win as a professional in a 72-hole strokeplay event and looks like being the man to catch this weekend.
He started his day on hole 10 and was three under after five before struggling through the transition with a bogey on 15 and double on 18, where he three-putted from five feet. However, he returned to his familiar attacking game on his homeward nine with birdies on two, six, seven and nine.
“I did a good job with my caddie on the second nine, focused shot by shot and I ended up playing well,” said the 23-year-old from Madrid, who has only been a professional for a year.
“Nine under at the start of the tournament is good. Some work to do this afternoon on the range and check a few things with my coach but happy.
“I have been struggling with my sleep. I came in here from the US with a 14-hour delay in an airport sitting down which didn’t help my body and it’s a 13-hour difference where I live. I went to bed at 9pm, woke up at 2, didn’t fall back to sleep until 4.30 and woke up at 5 to go and play so it’s just tough and something we need to get used to. I am loving China and I think it is a great country, great people and obviously great golf course.”
Zhang claimed this event three years ago when it was held as a China event only due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but is having little difficulty in adjusting to it being back on the Asian Tour.
A strong finish helped put him in prime position on what is his home course.
“For me, the 17th hole is very important,” he said.
Chen Guxin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“My drive is very good at that hole but then my second shot went into water. However, I played my fourth shot very well to get on the green and I holed the eight foot par putt. On 18 I hit a good drive, then an eight iron from 156-yards, then a great birdie putt.”
He won this event by nine strokes at the same venue, the year that amateur star Ding Wenyi came second. Ding is just three off the lead after a 68.
Thompson, enjoying a fine run of form having now made seven successive cuts, was disappointed with his poor finish but remains confident going into the weekend.
“I was probably rushing a bit because it was getting dark,” he said. “But I am playing well and looking forward to the next two days. I will learn from what happened today and come back stronger.”
Ogletree is just over US$560,000 ahead of second place David Puig from Spain on The International Series Order of Merit with three events to go including this week and could well wrap the title this weekend – which would confirm his place on next year’s LIV Golf League.
Said Ogletree, who has won two International Series events this year: “I had a couple of mistakes out there, but I was able to save a couple of shots. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to birdie either one of the par fives on the front nine. So, just need to clean it up a little bit. But, in a good position heading into the weekend, and the game feels like it’s really close. I think work on some stuff this afternoon and get ready to go and try to win a golf tournament.”
A total of seven players were unable to complete their rounds as darkness fell. They will resume at 7.20am (local time) on Saturday.
Ben Leong made a brilliant par save on the par-five ninth, his final hole, at Hidden Grace Golf Club to grab the first-round lead in the Volvo China Open today.
The Malaysian, who is in 67th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and battling to keep his playing rights for next year, played a gutsy fourth shot from 235-yards, with rescue, in to 40-feet from where he drained the putt for a six-under-par 66.
China’s Li Linqiang, the China Tour’s number one ranked player celebrating his 20th birthday today, and Zhang Huilin, the winner here in 2020, Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Itthipat Buranatanyarat and Settee Prakongvech plus Australian Jack Thompson all carded 67s.
A month ago Leong had to pull out of the SJM Macao Open before he could tee-off on the opening day, feeling unwell – putting even more pressure on him with the season in its closing stages.
Ben Leong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “I’d just finished in the top-20 in the International Series Singapore and I was looking forward to the Macau Open but unfortunately I got sick in Macau and didn’t tee it up. So, after that I went back home to get ready for China, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
“I caught a cold in Macau, I was in the clubhouse waiting to play and I didn’t feel good. My body temperature was about 38 degrees so the doctor advised me not to play.”
The rest has appeared to serve him well as he shot six birdies today and was the only player to go bogey free.
“Stuck the ball really well which was a surprise and made my fair share of putts. The drives here are pretty demanding, but I drove the ball pretty well. It’s a good golf course, in great shape,” said the 37-year-old from Sabah.
“That par on my last will certainly make dinner taste a lot better.”
Li handed himself the best possible birthday present with a great start to the biggest and most important tournament in his country.
He currently tops the China Tour Order of Merit after three wins this year, including last week’ s Hengdian International Golf Elite Pro-Am, and is clearly peaking at the right time for this week’s US$1.5 million event – which is being played on the Asian Tour for the first time since 2019 and is part of the blossoming International Series.
Li Linqiang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Seven birdies and two bogeys saw him move into contention, in an event that has been won on six occasions by golfers from China: Cheng Jun (1997), Zhang Lianwei (2003), Wu Ashun (2015), Li Haotong (2016), Zhang Huilin (2020), and Zhang Jin (2021). The latter two triumphed when the tournament was played as a China-only event due to the global pandemic.
“I didn’t look at the score on the leaderboard, just stuck to my rhythm and strategy,” said Li, who like Leong is playing in this event for the first time, and also debuting on the Asian Tour.
“My target was to play even today as it is the first time for me to play at Hidden Grace Golf Club. I feel my putting was excellent. Not only did I have just 28 putts, but also I holed two long par putts, both about 20 feet.”
Despite being in fine form he added: “I don’t think I am at my best. I had an injury on my left waist these two months, but it didn’t affect my swing. I just feel painful. Certainly, no plans to celebrate my birthday tonight. I don’t have time.”
Chuenboonngam, playing his first full season on the Asian Tour, also enjoyed a good day on the greens.
“I had a lot of big putts today,” said the 25-year-old.
“On hole 17 I holed from 20 feet, downhill, made it. And hole 10 I holed from the same distance. And all my other birdies were from same length. I like this course, but the tee shot is a bit narrow. The condition is very good.”
He has impressed this year and is the highest ranked Thai on The International Series Order of Merit in 13th position – helped by finishing second in the International Series Thailand, where he was defeated in a sudden-death play-off by Australian Wade Ormsby.
Chonlatit Chuenboonngam. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It’s my putting, it’s been really good this year, that’s why I am playing well,” said the Thai golfer, who broke through on the Asian Development Tour last year finishing second on the Order of Merit, winning the Gunung Geulis Invitational, finishing second three times, and third twice.
American Andy Ogletree, leader of both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits, is in a tie for ninth following a 68.
China’s amateur star Ding Wenyi, who lost in a play-off at the Asian Amateur Championship last weekend, fired a 70, while Asian Games gold medallist Taichi Kho from Hong Kong shot a 71.
Play was suspended at 6.01 pm local time due to fading light. A total of 16 players will resume Round 1 at 7.30am on Friday, with Round 2 to commence at 6.40am as scheduled.
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