Published on September 28, 2023

The stars of global golf continue to line-up for the Hong Kong Open with American Talor Gooch, India’s Anirban Lahiri, Australia’s Matt Jones and Spanish phenom Eugenio Chacarra the latest players joining the stellar field for the return of the city’s oldest professional sporting event from November 9-12 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

They will join last year’s Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, two-time Hong Kong Open victor Wade Ormsby, and local hero Taichi Kho – winner of March’s World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The world’s top golfers are making the trip to Fanling drawn by the Hong Kong Open’s prestigious history, its new status as an event on The International Series – 10 elite-level tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour, providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League – and its prize pool of US$2 million.

The 31-year-old Gooch is making his Hong Kong Open debut.

He enters Asia’s world city in record-breaking form, having won three times already this season on LIV Golf – in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía – becoming the first-ever player to achieve that feat on the fledgling global circuit.

“I am excited to be making my debut appearance at the Hong Kong Open in 2023. I have heard a lot about the city and the Hong Kong Golf Club from other players, and I look forward to playing in front of the knowledgeable galleries in Fanling,” said Gooch.

After his historic third LIV Golf title at Valderrama earlier this summer, Gooch said: “It’s super special!”

“Last year I didn’t get a win, so this year I was just so focused on getting an individual win. You don’t think much past the first one until you get it. I definitely didn’t have three in mind for the season, but it’s cool to be here.”

Gooch and Smith are two of the three LIV Golf stars in contention, along with American Bryson DeChambeau, for the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion crown to be decided at Royal Greens in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on October 13-15.

Between them, Gooch and Smith have combined to win five of the first 12 regular season LIV Golf tournaments, with Gooch leading with three titles to Smith’s two.  A top- 10 finish for Gooch at the LIV Golf Chicago has him in contention for the individual title on 162 points in the individual standings, eight behind Smith’s leading 170.

Another confirmed star for the Hong Kong Open, Lahiri, performed even better in Chicago, finishing tied for second in what was his third top-10 finish already this season.

The 36-year-old is no stranger to Fanling, with seven Asian Tour titles to his name, he has a best finish of tied for seventh at the Hong Kong Open back in 2015.

Lahiri will also be familiar with fellow headliner Smith, having finished as runner-up to the young Australian at The Players Championship in 2022.

Chacarra is ranked eighth in The International Series Order of Merit standings.  The Spanish phenom turned pro in 2022 to join the LIV Golf League and struck gold on his fifth ever event winning the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.

His debut non-LIV Golf win came on The International Series at the Asian Tour’s inaugural
St. Andrew’s Bay Championships in August, when he defeated Matt Jones in a 10-hole playoff, the longest in Asian Tour history.

Jones is currently ranked ninth in The International Series Order of Merit chase. The 43-year-old’s runners-up finish in St. Andrews Bay Championship was his best result of the season so far.

As well as the enthralling, world-class golf looming, the Hong Kong Open’s Fan Village will once again entertain tens of thousands of visitors across the event week.  The Fan Village is the place to enjoy all the sun and fun off the course at the beautiful Hong Kong Golf Club with a host of activities and entertainment with DJs performances, walking bands, golf simulators and other sport games, premier food and beverage offerings, shopping, face painting and more.

Tickets for the Hong Kong Open 2023 are now available via Ticketflap at www.ticketflap.com/hongkongopen2023.

Admission on Thursday and Friday, 9-10 November is free while daily prices for Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November are HK$200 per day or HK$300 for a weekend pass.

For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com.

Published on September 27, 2023

While Thailand’s Poom Saksansin took the limelight last week by winning the Yeangder TPC, there were two players in contention, who both eventually tied for fourth, who also stood out: Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang and Indian Rashid Khan.

That’s because it was those two who went head-to-head in a sudden-death play-off at last year’s US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters – the country’s most lucrative golf tournament, which tees-off tomorrow at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Both are clearly in good form heading into this week’s event, with Chan looking for a successful defence and Khan attempting to finish one place higher as the Chinese-Taipei golfer defeated the Indian on the second-hole extra-hole 12 months ago, at the same venue, after coming from three shots behind with five to play.

Unbelievably, he made birdie on the par-four 18^th on three successive occasions to snatch the win. A brilliant nine-foot birdie putt saw him secure the coveted title, after Khan had missed his birdie attempt from 20 feet.

“Good result last week. Gave me a lot of confidence coming to this week for my title defence,” said Chan, who has not won since then.

“I can’t believe it’s been a year since I won here. Great memories from last year! I’m just going to play shot by shot this week, nothing special. Just do that and see how it goes.”

The victory was Chan’s fifth on the Asian Tour and third in 10 months: he won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of November in 2021, and he triumphed again in Thailand in 2022 at the Royal’s Cup in February.

The win also maintained his one hundred percent record in play-offs, having won two on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and one on the Taiwan PGA circuit.

“I do feel this week could be even harder though,” added the 37-year-old, who is also a six-time winner on the ADT.

“The quality of play on the Asian Tour has improved a lot and it’s very good to see, you can tell the depth of talent now based on last week’s scoring.

“Also, the rough is up this week and the fairways are narrower. It’s going to be more challenging than before. It’s going to be very important to hit it straight off the tees. Distance control will also be key.”

In last season’s play-off Khan had been attempting to win on the Asian Tour for the first time in eight years – with both of his previous successes coming in 2014, at the SAIL-SBI Open in India, and the Chiangmai Golf Classic, in Thailand.

That third victory has remained elusive this season as well, although he came close at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in February, where he finished second.

He said: “Just one spot better this year, so yeah that’s my target. Like I’m a person who doesn’t set any targets. Just that I love playing golf and enjoy myself out there. That’s what my motto is.”

Last year he had a one-shot lead at the turn and after a birdie on 10 and 13 he looked a safe bet for the title. But Chan drew level with birdies on 15 and 18, while Khan dropped a shot on the penultimate hole.

Despite the loss it was another fine performance by him in the event, as he also tied for fifth in 2019 and equal third in 2015.

“I like playing on these grainier greens,” said Khan.

“You know when I see the grain I can really see the line as well. It’s just that when I’m playing on bent grass it’s really a different putting green for me, and normally when we play in India, the greens are like this. A little difference is that they are patchy somewhere, and you really need to give yourself a good putt. And if you’re confident about your putter I think you can score well.”

He tees-off in the morning at 7.35 with Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsiang and American Turk Pettit, while Chan is out at 11.55 with former winners Steve Lewton from England and Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai.

“It always feels great to come back to Taiwan, I mean I love this place,” said the Indian.

“Especially the Teppanyaki restaurant and that’s the reason I really like the place. And the greens, I really liked playing on these greens, you know, short game, if you’re strong enough to not make a mistake I think that’s the key for the tournament.

“And this year also, I have seen there is a there is a lot of rough, and a lot of fairways have been cut narrower, so I think it’s gonna be a little different than last year. So, I’m looking forward to it.”

Published on September 26, 2023

After the disappointment of narrowly failing to defend his Yeangder TPC title on Sunday, Travis Smyth goes again this week at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, feeling “like a win is just around the corner”.

The Australian finished second last week, three strokes behind Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, in the first of two back-to-back Asian Tour events in Chinese-Taipei, with this week’s US$1 million tournament being played at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

“I mean I’m playing good. I’ve been hitting the ball quite nicely for a while so anything can happen,” said Smyth, who has moved into third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM).

However, he does face a very different golf course this week, which will be much more taxing compared with last week’s host venue, Linkou International Golf and Country Club, of which he said: “This golf course loves me, and I love it!”

“This week’s course and this tournament are much harder, or it has been for me, so I’m just hoping I can play solidly, make the weekend, contend, hopefully, come Sunday,” said Smyth, who missed the cut by one last year.

“But yeah, it’s a bit more of a demanding course, the rough is thicker, the layout is a little bit trickier, the wind swirls more. So, in the past, I think I’ve played this tournament twice and haven’t played that good, so I’m hoping I can just play solid.”

His victory in the Yeangder TPC last year remains his only win on the Asian Tour to date but the 28-year-old from Sydney has been in fine form this year. He finished third in the World City Championship, in Hong Kong – for another of seven top 20s. In addition, he has not missed a cut in 10 starts.

He added: “I think I’ve putted poorly here in the past and my putting has been pretty consistent for a while now. So hopefully I can improve from previous years just on that alone, but also just like kind of understand the course more, and know when to attack certain pins and when not to.

“And how to play from the rough, it’s quite grainy, like it’s pretty hard to control. But yeah I usually play less club when I’m in the rough for the flyers, that sort of thing. In the past I just kind of didn’t really know how to play this golf course, and I think now I’ve played a few times hopefully I can, along with some good putting and good form, I can play well.”

Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei is back this year, as is the man he beat in a sudden-death play-off India’s Rashid Khan.

Other former winners Steve Lewton from England, Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Australian Scott Hend are also here, as is Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar – who finished third last week.

Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, currently fourth on the OOM, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, in ninth place, are also competing.

Published on September 25, 2023

Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau won LIV Golf Chicago in spectacular fashion, shooting a final-round eight-under-par 63 at Rich Harvest Farms, that was reminiscent of his record-breaking performance last month in Greenbrier when he shot a closing 58 to win his first LIV Golf title.

But Sunday’s win came at the expense of one of his teammates, Anirban Lahiri – the Asian Tour’s number one in 2015 and six time winner – who was seeking his first victory in eight years. Lahiri, who held the lead for most of the day after overtaking 36-hole leader Sebastián Muñoz, missed a par putt on the 18th hole that would’ve forced a playoff with DeChambeau.

“To be honest with you, I was actually sad,” said DeChambeau, who was watching from just off the green. “I really wanted him to make that so we could go battle it off in a playoff and finish it off the right way. That was the first emotion that I had.

“Secondly, you’ve got people coming over and congratulating you, and it’s just like, ‘Oh, I really didn’t feel like I won. This isn’t the normal feeling I usually have when you win a tournament.’ It was definitely a huge mix of emotions.”

DeChambeau, who started the day eight strokes off the lead, finished at 13-under while Lahiri and Ripper GC’s Marc Leishman tied for second at 12=under. Leishman, who shot 66, took second-place points via the better final-round score than Lahiri, who shot 69.

DeChambeau and Lahiri did celebrate the team victory together, as the Crushers shot a 15-under counting score on Sunday to finish at 33-under, three strokes ahead of Fireballs GC. Along with DeChambeau’s 63, Charles Howell III (67) and Paul Casey (68) contributed counting scores. Fireballs GC took second while league-leading 4Aces GC claimed third via tiebreaker over RangeGoats GC.

The victory is the second this season for the Crushers, who moved into second place in the team standings with one regular-season tournament left next month in Jeddah. The top four teams in the standings after that event will receive byes going into the Team Championship in Miami.

“This is why I love what we’re doing,” Casey said. “It’s the individual and the team element, and the individual element is rewarding to a certain level, and the team element is rewarding to a whole ‘nother level. They’re different. You can’t compare them but boy, does it feel good to play good with these guys.”

Lahiri’s tie for second on the traditional leaderboard is his seventh runner-up finish in all his starts since joining LIV Golf last year. He was seeking his first victory since a pair of wins in February 2015.

He was a bogey-free four-under on his round through 14 holes, but he three-putted the 15th and 18th holes and admitted afterward that, “I played really bad, to be honest. I was fighting my swing the whole day.”

Meanwhile, DeChambeau birdied seven of his last 12 holes as his putter heated up. His lengthy putt at 12 left him in disbelief, as he continued to move up the leaderboard.

“I just kept trying to hit as many fairways as I could and hit the irons close and make some putts,” DeChambeau said. “That’s ultimately just kind of what happens when I get on a roll. It just doesn’t stop. Kind of like, uh-oh, here comes the train.”

Lahiri knew his captain was playing well, as the Crushers had moved up the team leaderboard. While the team element remains a vital part of the LIV Golf competition, he knows the individual trophy remains the primary objective.

“I think all four of us would agree that you’re trying to win the tournament outright first,” Lahiri said. “At least that’s how I look at it. Anyone else who says otherwise is lying. But the team win was something that we all knew we needed to pull off, and we knew we should pull off.”

As much as DeChambeau was elated about his own performance, he was also respectful of his teammate’s disappointment.

“It’s one of those things you never want to see a teammate go through,” DeChambeau said. “But it is what it is, and I think he’s learned a lot, obviously. … Your time is coming.”

On Sunday, it was DeChambeau’s time, and he now moves to third in the individual standings, giving him a chance for the outright title next month in Jeddah along with No. 1 Cameron Smith and No. 2 Talor Gooch.

Text courtesy of LIV Golf.

Published on September 24, 2023

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin returned from the golfing wilderness today to win his first Asian Tour title in five years after claiming the US$750,000 Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei.

He closed with a six-under-par 66 to finish on 24-under for a fine three-stroke victory over defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia.

Smyth, bidding to become the first player to successfully retain the title, carded a 67, here at Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taipei.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won this event in 2012, fired a 69 to settle for third place. His birdie on the last allowed him to finish one ahead of his countryman Rashid Khan (68), Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-Chang (66), and Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (67).

After securing his fourth Asian Tour title, Poom said: “I don’t know what to say, happy, is all I can say. I’m so lucky today. I played well and had some good luck. Made some good decisions.”

Poom, the overnight leader by two thanks to an eagle on par-five 18^th yesterday when he sensationally holed his third from 112-yards, has rarely been in contention on the Asian Tour for the past five years – with the exception being in last year’s Bangladesh Open, where he tied for fourth – but he showed no lack of competitive edge today, bravely holding the lead from start to finish.

He had a one stroke advantage at the turn, thanks to three birdies for an outward nine of three-under-par 33, from Smyth, who was playing in the penultimate group.

He then made birdies on 10 and 13 to go three ahead of Smyth – reminding the chasing pack why his nickname is the ‘baby-faced assassin’.

Smyth closed the gap to two with a birdie on 16 but Poom birdied the same hole soon after for a healthy cushion playing the last few holes.

Poom’s last win on the Asian Tour came in the BNI Indonesia Masters in December of 2018, the event he also claimed in 2016. His other victory came at the 2017 TAKE Solutions Masters, in India.

His impressive frontrunning win today is typical of the Thai golfer: he claimed his first Indonesian Masters title by five shots, the second by three, and triumphed in India by going wire-to-wire.

This week was made more special by the fact that his fiancee Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing’, caddied for him.

“It makes her feel successful!” said Poom, who won US$135,000 this week.

“Because two weeks ago I almost won on the All Thailand Tour. I had a good chance to win but I three putted 17. She cried and I felt guilty. I think this time she’s going to forget that moment.”

The 30-year-old has talked about giving up tournament golf in the past because of the pressure of having to make the cut, week in, week out, but now heads to the Asian Games next week with renewed confidence.

Smyth went bogey-free, like Poom, but fell just short of his second win on the Asian Tour.

“Played pretty damn good, I shot bogey free five under,” said the 28-year-old.

“I had a lot of looks, wasn’t able to keep it going, but can’t really ask for much more. If you had told me you can have that before the round, I would have said yes, probably, so it was a good day.

“I love this place and I think this course likes me as well. You know, I hit it in the trees a couple times and got some lucky kicks back into the fairway and that sort of thing. I don’t know, I just I got a good feeling about this place. And yeah, two years in a row. It’s funny, you know, because I came here before I won, I played here one other time, and I hated it. I played terrible.

“It was my first year on the Asian Tour and I couldn’t figure out the grain, putted awfully, and I don’t know. I just feel like playing in Asia for so long now I can read the lies from the rough, I can read the greens a lot better, a lot more comfortable. And I don’t know what it is, I like this place.”

The Asian Tour remains in Chinese-Taipei next week for the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters at Taiwan Golf & Country Club, from September 28 to October 1.

Published on September 23, 2023

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin sensationally holed his third shot from 112 yards on the par-five 18^th for an eagle to take the third-round lead in the Yeangder TPC today at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

His eight-under-par 64, for an 18-under total, opened up a two-shot lead from defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia, who carded a 68, Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, the runner-up last year, in with a 66, and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, the 2012 winner here, who shot 67.

Chinese-Taipei amateur Su Ching-hung returned a 66 and is one shot further back.

Poom is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour but his most recent victory came in 2018 at the Indonesian Masters and he has rarely featured since that win – which was his second success in the tournament, having also triumphed in 2016.

Said 30-year-old Poom: “On the first nine holes I could control everything, good driver, good irons and putting well, but on the back nine I was stuck with the wind reading a little bit, and then lost confidence with the driver. But on the last hole I got lucky and holed it from 112 yards for eagle.”

He made six birdies in his first 10 holes before his explosive finish.

“I think because I am playing less golf now, I don’t expect so much, just enjoy my golf that’s what I think. I always see my coach and then practice like one or two hour a day, some days I don’t practice,” added the Thai golfer, whose fiancé Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing’, is caddying for him this week.

Smyth is attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the event and is well placed to achieve that ahead of tomorrow’s final round.

“Another tough day, super windy, a lot of cross breezes,” he said.

“Anything under par was a good score but everyone’s going low so four under doesn’t seem too good. But yeah, two behind the lead, good position one more day to go.

“It was a bit mix and match, hit some poor tee shots but recovered well. My short game has been good so I’m gonna go work on the driver now. If I can hit a good off the tee tomorrow, I think I’ll be hard to beat.”

He made a fast start by making birdies on the first two holes but then dropped his only shot of the day on four, before rebounding on the back nine with birdies on 10, 12 and 13.

Lee lost by two shots to Smyth last year but will have a chance tomorrow to make amends for that tomorrow, although he will play in the final group, with Smyth in the pairing ahead.

“I just played a solid round, and yesterday and today I was putting well so that’s about it,” said Lee.

“I just need to keep patient tomorrow and make sure that I get the wind direction is right, and do my best. Today sometimes the wind changed direction, it’s getting a little bit harder. And the pins were also tough today.

Bhullar made five birdies and was bogey free and is looking for his first win since last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open – which was his 10^th Asian Tour title.

Said the Indian: “Today I had a little shaky start. I thought I hit the ball well but just missed fairways. Three straight pars but then birdie on four gave me some momentum. After that made some more good birdies and kept attacking the flags. My swing feels great and the goal is to try and keep the ball in play. Coming back here every year I know this course demands you to hit the ball straight. It is not that long but as long as you are in the fairway you can go low.”

Indian Rashid Khan (66), Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat (67) and Phachara Khongwatmai (68) and American Micah Lauren Shin (67) are tied for sixth four behind Poom.

Published on September 22, 2023

Defending champion Travis Smyth took the second-round lead in the Yeangder TPC today, putting himself two rounds away from becoming the first player to successfully retain the trophy.

After yesterday’s seven-under-par 65 he joyfully said: “This golf course loves me, and I love it!”, and he backed that up today with a 67 at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

He leads the Asian Tour event on 12 under, by one from the 2012 winner Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) from India and Australian Jack Thompson (66).

A further shot back are Thailand’s Poom Saksansin (66), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (67), Phachara Khongwatmai (68), and Nitithorn Thippong (68), Lee Chieh-po (67) from Chinese-Taipei – second here last year – Justin Quiban from the Philippines (68) and Swede Bjorn Hellgren (70).

“It was pretty tough conditions today,” said Australian Smyth, whose victory last season remain his only win on the Asian Tour.

“The wind was mainly across on like just about every hole, so it was hard to get pin high – had to be very patient. It wasn’t as clean as it was yesterday. But to shoot five under, it was a pretty good score. I would have been happy with anything under par to be honest, it was it was tough.”

One birdie on the front and four on the back, including on 18, saw him snatch the outright lead at the end, to set up a thrilling weekend.

He added: “I mean, it’s good that [last year’s win] is in the back of my mind. It’s in the memory bank, but that was last year, this is this year. A lot has changed, a lot can happen. A lot of golf to be played, so I just keep trying to hit good shots and good putts and add it up at the end.”

Bhullar eagled the first and made five birdies and two bogeys and is looking for his first win since last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open, which was his 10^th Asian Tour title.

He said: “Yeah I played well, I’ve been driving the ball really well, even yesterday and today. You know, I hit the ball very really well. I got off to a really good start, hit a driver and six-iron on the first, nearly holed my second shot, so started with an eagle. And then, you know, just kept on building the momentum after that.”

Thompson, winner of this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School, has been showing glimpses of his potential this season and did so today with an sensational second nine – which is the course’s front nine as he started on 10. He played it in 29 strokes, thanks to an eagle and five birdies.

“I played the back nine first and I actually lost my tee shot on the first hole, so pretty happy with the result considering that,” said the Australian, who was eight under for his last 10 holes.

“I think it was one of those ones that just everything was clicking. Once I sort of made a few on the front nine the pressure was sort of, I guess gone. I’ve been putting it well, so I just hit it and I gave myself looks and I made the putts, so it was good.”

Phachara’s presence on the leaderboard is no surprise as two weeks ago he said he had rediscovered his golf swing and is playing some of the best golf of his career, after narrowly losing a sudden-death play-off in Korea.

He was beaten by Korean Guntaek Koh on the first hole of extra-time at the Shinhan Donghae Open but was buzzing with excitement after ironing out kinks in his swing with his coach, the week before.

“I just like play my game now and go make a lot of birdies and try to shoot low,” said Phachara.

“Hopefully I can have a chance this week. Right now, I’m hitting it pretty good on whatever course I play – if it’s time to win, I’m going to have a chance.”

He made four birdies and did not drop a shot, having started on 10 with three birdies on that half.

He added: “My all-round game is back now, driving well, but also getting up and down.”

The 24-year-old claimed his first title on the Asian Tour at the 2021 Laguna Phuket Championship but to the surprise of many he has not added to that but with renewed confidence in his game that might change soon.

First-round leader Natipong Srithong from Thailand carded a 73 and is eight under in a tie for 17^th.

Published on September 21, 2023

Thailand’s Natipong Srithong posted a classy bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to take the lead after round one of the Yeangder TPC today at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

Nine birdies, including four-in-row from the 12th, saw him take to the front ahead of Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, in with a 64.

Defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia returned a 65, along with Kosuke Hamamoto and Chapchai Nirat from Thailand, Chinese-Taipei amateur Su Ching-hung, and Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, the winner here in 2012, finished with a 66, with seven others.

Natipong has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2015 Resorts World Manila Masters – which was only his fourth event on the Asian Tour – and has made the perfect start to try and add to that, although he rode his luck with some wayward tee shots.

“Today was a good day,” said the Thai golfer, a qualified lawyer and former amateur star, having won gold medals in the team and individual events at the 2015 Southeast Asia Games in Singapore.

“I hit three bad shots with my driver. On hole four I hit my driver right, it hit the cart path, and landed on another fairway. I then hit my second shot onto the green and made birdie. Then on hole nine, hit it right again, hit the cart path to another fairway. I hit two on and made par, and on another hole, I drove into the trees, but the ball bounced back, and from there I made birdie.”

Hellgren, tied third here last season, eagled the first and 10^th holes, made five birdies, and dropped one shot.

“First time I have made two eagles in a round on the Asian Tour, last summer I had back-to-back eagles,” said the Swede, who leads the driving distance statistics on Tour.

“I played great. Nobody in my group knew where I was at as I kept missing putts and when we got to the hole I was always close. It could have been really lower, but I am not disappointed. The greens are tough. I am looking forward to the rest of the week. I am here with a new caddie, and we are going for the win!”

Smyth, whose victory last year was his first on the Asian Tour, summed up his day by saying: “This golf course loves me, and I love it!”

Having begun on the back nine he had an incredible run of holes starting from the 17^th, which he birdied, and then went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie.

“It was very, very good. Played solidly, got off to a slow start, and then the middle part was insane, probably the biggest hot streak I have ever had,” he said.

“Initially I kept missing putts within 15 feet. I was getting a little frustrated as my playing partners got off to good starts. But then I hit a great shot into 17 and made birdie there. 18 is a short par-five were I was able to capitalise.

“The first hole is also a short par-five that I hit nine iron into, and on the second hole thought I would hit driver and go for the green. I missed it a little to the left but luckily I had a gap through the trees. I hit a great chip shot from about 20 metres that landed on the green and rolled into the hole. This golf course is very short so you can definitely have streaks like that.”

Asian Games-bound Su, just 22 years old, and playing in this event for just the second time also enjoyed a bogey free day, posting seven birdies.

He said: “I first played in 2017 when I was 16 years old and I made the cut then. Nice to be back playing here this week. I’m hoping for a good result as it will be a great boost in confidence for me for the Asian Games next week. Everything went well today. I drove the ball good, my iron-play was good and I putted well. Seven birdies and no bogeys, can’t complain. Nice to finish with a chip-in birdie on the 9th.”

Preferred lies were played on an extremely hot but calm day.

Published on September 19, 2023

Australian Travis Smyth defends his Yeangder TPC title this week without a win since tasting victory here last year, at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, but still enjoying the warm glow of what was his maiden victory on the Asian Tour.

The 28-year-old from Sydney has been in resplendent form this year, with a best finish of third in the World City Championship, in Hong Kong – for one of six top 20s. In addition, he has not missed a cut in nine starts.

“It was a great boost to my confidence,” he said of his win last year, which saw him beat defending champion Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei, by two shots.

“I have continued to play solidly, since the win. It did me a world of good. I have had a solid season; got off to good start in Saudi; I have played solid in The International Series; I played my first Major this year, thanks to the Hong Kong event; had a bunch of top 10s and a lot of solid play. I am happy with where the game is at.”

That Major was The Open in July – which he qualified for via his strong finish in Hong Kong – and although he failed to make it through to the weekend, he made headlines worldwide by making a hole-in-one on the new par-three 17^th at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, which was the first-ever ace there.

It was another memorable moment in the early days in the career of a young golfer who hopes to go far in the game.

He said: “I definitely want to win again but I am just focused on getting better, keeping doing the things I am doing, working hard on all aspects of my game, off the course as well. Hopefully, if I keep doing what I am doing, I will get more and more consistent, and contend for titles more often on Sunday.”

He played near perfect golf to win here last year, firing successive six-under-par 66s over the weekend to finish on 19-under.

The Australian had started the final day with a one-shot lead and proved uncatchable after he birdied four out of the first six to make the turn in four under before virtually wrapping things up by making three birdies in a row from the 10th.

With a healthy lead, a surprise double-bogey on the 15th, which were his only dropped shots of the day, was not too damaging, particularly as he responded with his final birdie of the day on the next.

The victory, which saw him become the first Australian to win the event, made up for narrowly failing to win the International Series England in June where he was second – a result that earned him starts on the LIV Golf Invitational series.

“All the memories of the win have come flooding back this week,” said Smyth.

“I played nine holes and remembered every shot I hit on the back nine in the final round last year. It’s really good to be back and have no lock down situation like last year. We are free to roam the city and go out to restaurants, so I am really looking forward to this week.

“It’s a really, really, tight course and you have to hit it really, really straight off the tee. The small greens mean you require a lot of precision with your approach shots. Putting was quite difficult. The greens are a little bit slower than what we are used to week in, week out. But the course is in great condition this year, everyone is in for a treat.”

Lee, who won the event in 2021 when it was part of the Chinese-Taipei domestic circuit and not the Asian Tour because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, is looking go one better this year.

He said: “I am very happy to be back playing the Yeangder TPC. Came very close to winning last year. I’m excited to give it another go this week. I’ve been playing well this year. Had a couple of good finishes as well so I’m ready to give my best again this week. The aim is to do better than I did last year.”