Kho’s Journey from Hong Kong to Hoylake
Four months may have elapsed since Taichi Kho’s momentous victory in the inaugural World City Championship. But the ramifications of that historic triumph are still being felt. Report by Spencer Robinson – Contributing Editor, Asian Tour – from Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
In winning at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the third week of March, not only did Kho become the first player from the Special Administrative Region of China to triumph on the Asian Tour.
That stunning success, in what was only his fourth appearance as a professional, earned him a cheque for US$180,000. With the World City Championship designated as part of The Open Qualifying Series, Kho also secured one of the four starting spots on offer for The 151st Open Championship.
The impressive young star is one of 14 Asian Tour members competing this week. The list includes Korean Bio Kim, as he also qualified via the Hong Kong event; Seungsu Han from the United States, who made it through to this week thanks to his victory in the Kolon Korea Open last month; and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, after he survived the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at Royal Porthcawl this month to line up his fourth Open Championship appearance.
“The World City Championship week will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable weeks of my life … no matter what happens going forward,” said the 22-year-old, preparing for his Major championship debut at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Thursday.
Taichi Kho poses with his caddie prior to The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.
“To be able to play well at home, in front of the people I grew up with, was honestly a dream come true. It’s set me up for some great opportunities early in my career so I look forward to learning from all that comes at me and hope to play well along the way,” added Kho, who attended the University of Notre Dame from 2018 to 2022.
After the highs of Hong Kong, Kho’s form has fluctuated. But after some time at Royal Liverpool last week scoping out the course, he’s raring to go.
Kho, currently 10th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, said: “I feel mentally and physically ready for the challenge ahead. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to play golf on the biggest stage and it’s a dream come true.
“I’ve worked on developing feel for different shot shapes and yardages and have worked diligently on my short game leading up to this week.”
He’s also been able to call on a little bit of links experience.
“I played Final Open Qualifying last year after the British Amateur at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s. So, I’ve had some experience playing competitively in these conditions before.
“I’ve taken all of my learning experiences from last year and came to the United Kingdom early to acclimatise myself to this style of golf so I am ready come tournament week,” he said.
Had fortune shone upon him in Dubai in late 2021, Kho would have made his Major debut at St Andrews last year.
Playing in the 13th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Kho ended the regulation 72 holes atop the leaderboard, tied with Japan’s Keita Nakajima, then the number one player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
In extra time it was Nakajima who prevailed and was rewarded with an invitation to the 2022 US Masters and last year’s 150th Open at St Andrews.
Watching those events on television as Nakajima brushed shoulders with the game’s finest, Kho might easily have felt a twinge of regret.
Not a bit of it. He said: “When I was watching the 2022 Masters Tournament and the 150th Open Championship, it definitely hit me that I can be competitive at that stage.
Kho plays a shot during a practice round at Royal Liverpool. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.
“So, it gave me a huge confidence boost and a sense of belonging to be at the professional level. To be at the 151st Open reminds me that everything happens for a reason.”
And now that he’s here, is there any one in particular he’d like to be drawn to play alongside with? “Anyone late Sunday afternoon would be lovely,” he said.
Kho tees off on the first day at 12.09 pm local time with American Zach Fischer and Kyle Barker from South Africa.
Click here for tee times.
Following its successful introduction to the Asian Development Tour (ADT) schedule last season, the BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang will once again be staged at Da Nang Golf Resort, from 31 August – 2 September.
The event broke new ground in 2022 marking the first time the ADT had visited Vietnam and was won by rising Chinese star Chen Guxin – following a sudden-death play-off against Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines.
This year sees the introduction of SeaBank as the tournament’s newest partner and with this new relationship it is anticipated that the prize money for the event will top the US$75,000 on offer at the inaugural event last year.
“The BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang is a long-term project with local-promoter, VGS Events, and we welcome the second staging of an important tournament for Vietnam and the Asian Development Tour,” said Ken Kudo, Associate Director, Partnerships, Asian Tour.
“We thank Da Nang Golf Resort for their continued support and look forward to another edition of this popular new event which earned rave reviews from players last year.”
Chen Guxin of China won the inaugural BRG Open last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The tournament will boast a diverse international field of 144 players from across the region, including 99 ADT members who will play alongside 20 professionals nominated by the Vietnam Golf Association.
Added Kudo: “Importantly, this year’s event will play a key role in promoting the city of Da Nang as a tourist and golfing destination. It is also part of the Da Nang Golf Tourism Festival and will act as a platform to inspire young Vietnamese golfers to pursue professional golf as a career.
“The country enjoyed great success at the SEA Games this year, with Le Khanh Hung winning gold and Nguyen Anh Minh bronze in the men’s individual event. Their performances helped Vietnam claim silver in the team competition, and we are confident the BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang will build on this momentum.”
Chen’s win last year, fittingly coming on Vietnam’s National Day, was his second on the ADT after claiming the Blue Canyon Classic in May.
Victory for the young Chinese golfer helped him to finish fifth on the Final ADT Order of Merit to secure full playing rights on the 2023 Asian Tour, with the top 10 on the Merit list earning Tour cards for the following season.
Today’s news comes soon after the announcement in May, that the Da Nang Golf Resort had become a member of Asian Tour Destinations – the exclusive network of world-class golfing venues in the region with direct ties to the Asian Tour.
The impressive Da Nang City venue, which boasts two 18-hole courses, one designed by Jack Nicklaus and the other by Greg Norman, became only the second golf club in Vietnam to join ATD, which now boasts a total of 13 members across the region.
The Nicklaus course will be used for the BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang.
The 2023 edition of the Indonesia Open will return this year once again with Mandiri on board as the title sponsor and Jakarta’s Pondok Indah Golf Course as the host venue.
The time-honoured event – so memorably won last season by Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar, for a record-setting third time – will be played from 3-6 August, and boasts prizemoney of US$500,000. It will be the 11th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, said: “We were privileged to witness a great moment in Asian golf history last year when Gaganjeet Bhullar claimed Indonesia’s national Open for a third time – something no player has achieved.
“His victory added another thrilling chapter to the tournament’s rich history. Indeed, the event has given us so many great moments and, as ever, we look forward to returning there in a few months, at the mid-point of our season. We thank Mandiri, the Indonesian Golf Association and Pondok Indah Golf Course for their much-valued support and commitment.”
The prestigious tournament is also the next event on the Asian Tour following last month’s Kolon Korea Open – where victory went to American Seungsu Han. And it precedes the Asian Tour’s trip to the UK later in the month for the International Series England and the St Andrews Bay Championship – an inaugural event, also part of this year’s 10-leg International Series.
Watershed moment for Gaganjeet Bhullar Picture by Graham Uden, Asian Tour.
Local fans will have a firm eye on their rising star Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra who, as an amateur, led after the third round in 2019, before finishing fourth behind the champion Miguel Carballo from Argentina.
The Indonesian has since turned professional and won three times on the Asian Development Tour – including this year’s season-opening Singha Phuket Open in May
Last year at Pondok Indah, Bhullar produced one of the finest rounds of his career, a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 for a formidable tournament total of 20 under and a two-shot victory over England’s Steve Lewton and Indian Rashid Khan.
The Indian put on a putting masterclass, holing brilliant birdie putts and crucial par saves, to record his 10th win on the Asian Tour and first since 2018. He has won more titles on the Asian Tour than any other player from his country. Bhullar claimed the event in 2013 and 2016 – with the latter win also at Pondok Indah.
Pondok Indah has been rated as one of Indonesia’s leading golfing courses for more than 40 years. They have hosted many international tournaments, including the World Cup of Golf in 1983, and boasts a Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed course, opened in 1976.
The Indonesia Open was able to return to the calendar last year following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dating back to 1974, its roll of honour includes late, great American Payne Stewart (1981) and fellow Major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2014).
Other international golfers who have savoured success in the championship include New Zealander Frank Nobilo, Australian Craig Parry and South African Justin Harding.
Among the famous Asian players to have had their names inscribed on the trophy are Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thais Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsi-chuen and Lu Chien-soon.
Kasiadi is the only Indonesian golfer to have lifted the trophy, his triumph coming in 1989.
Cameron Smith stood on the 18th green, put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, trying to process the conflicting range of emotions following Sunday’s dramatic finish at LIV Golf London.
He was elated to win the individual title, his second victory in 13 regular season starts since joining LIV Golf. It was a perfect way to build momentum entering his title defense in two weeks at the Open Championship.
Yet he was disappointed to have missed a six-foot putt for par that would’ve forced the first team playoff in LIV Golf history. Instead, his bogey on the final hole at Centurion Club dropped his all-Australian Ripper GC into second, one shot behind 4Aces GC, this season’s points leaders that won their second team title of the season while having to sweat out Smith’s putt.
“Obviously thrilled about the individual win, but it would’ve been nice to get up there with the boys,” said Smith, who shot a final-round three-under 68 for a winning score of 15 under. “It’s a bit of mixed emotions at the moment.”
Cameron Smith of Australia tees off from the 10th hole during day three of LIV Golf London at The Centurion Club on July 09, 2023 in St Albans, England. Picture by Tom Dulat/Getty Images.
Smith and teammate Marc Leishman, playing in the final group Sunday, were the last hope for the Rippers to catch the 4Aces, who rallied from four strokes down to start the day to take the lead at 34 under. The Rippers were at 33 under going into the final hole, the par-five 18th. Individually, Smith had a two-shot lead over the 4Aces’ Patrick Reed.
Smith was forced to lay up after his drive found the rough, but Leishman’s second shot was just off the back of the green. As Smith played his third shot, a gust of wind pushed his ball into the bunker. He blasted out to six feet. Leishman then completed his two putt for birdie, leveling the team leaderboard while finishing in a tie for second individually with Reed.
Then the unexpected happened. After a brilliant week of putting – especially on Sunday as he holed more than 105 feet of putts in his first 10 holes – Smith’s par attempt slid past the hole. His individual win was sealed, but the opportunity for the Rippers’ first team victory was lost.
“I really wanted Cam to make the one on the last there,” Leishman said. “He played great and putted great all week. To win the tournament and still walk off the green disappointed, I guess that’s what this is all about, the team format.”
The 4Aces certainly seem to have the formula for success in the team competition. Sunday’s win was their sixth regular-season team title going back to last season, and their second this season, having won in Adelaide. It also increases their lead in the team point standings to 39 points over Torque GC, the three-time tournament winners this year.
Reed provided the Aces with their lowest score of the day, a 65 that moved him to 14 under. The other two contributing scores belonged to Pat Perez, who shot a bogey-free 66, and captain Dustin Johnson with a 67 (with Peter Uihlein’s 68 not counting).
The 4Aces had started slowly on Friday, shooting just three under as a team, before shooting 31 under on the weekend. While they haven’t been as dominant as last season, they remain the team to beat through nine events. Sunday’s outcome was the latest evidence.
“We were seeing a lot of those teams getting too close to us at the top of that board,” Reed said. “I felt like as a team, we just weren’t really getting the numbers we wanted to. This week meant a lot for us to go out and make a statement.”
Winners of the Team event, members of the 4Aces, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Pat Perez and Peter Uihlein pose with the trophy. Picture by Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images.
One of those statements involves the ability to finish off tournaments. Reed was a bogey-free seven under on his first 11 holes. Perez was four under on his last seven holes. Johnson supplied an eagle and a birdie in the back end of his round as the Aces kept cutting into the Rippers’ lead – and eventually overtaking them.
“That was the biggest thing,” Reed said. “We kept pressure on them.”
It came down to the last hole, with LIV Golf’s best putter in the spotlight. Six feet away from forcing LIV Golf’s first team playoff.
“Cam hasn’t missed one of those in his life, so I’m pretty shocked,” Perez said. “Nonetheless, it would’ve been cool. That would’ve been a separator again in golf, to have a team playoff. I think it would’ve been awesome.”
It didn’t work this time for Smith and his Rippers, but their second-place finish – the team’s best result – is something to build on.
“We showed that we’re a contender of the team stuff,” Smith said. “That’s where we want to be every week.”
Text courtesy of LIV Golf.
Chan Shih-chang will be hoping a return to the scene of the most coveted win of his career will spark a strong finish to the 2023 Asian Tour season.
After a titanic battle with Indian Rashid Khan, Chan (main picture) emerged victorious in last year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the historic Taiwan Golf & Country Club.
It’s a success he’ll be aiming to repeat when the 37th edition of the US$1 million event takes place from September 28 to October 1.
Set to act as the 16th leg of the 2023 campaign, confirmation of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters means Asian Tour members can look forward to a two-week swing in the country.
A week earlier, Linkou International Golf and Country Club will be the venue for the Yeangder TPC.
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour’s Commissioner & CEO, said: “The Mercuries Taiwan Masters has been a backbone event on the Asian Tour since the turn of the century and returning to the Tamsui course at Taiwan Golf & Country Club is always a pleasure for our members.
Rashid Khan was beaten in extra time at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last year. Picture by Chen So-ko/Asian Tour.
“As a popular stop on the Asian Tour for many decades, we’re delighted to be able to stage back-to-back events in Chinese-Taipei again this year.”
On the back of his defeat of Khan at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off last year, Chan placed sixth on the 2022 Order of Merit. It was the third occasion the man with five Asian Tour titles and six Asian Development Tour wins to his name had finished in the top-10 in the standings.
During the first half of 2023, though, Chan struggled for consistency, missing the cut in four of the nine events in which he competed. His best performance came in the International Series Qatar where he tied for 13th.
However, given his intimate knowledge of the tree-lined Tamsui Course that was founded in 1919, Chan will be looking to further improve on his remarkable record at the storied venue and become only the second player to make a successful title defence, after compatriot Lu Wen-teh (2007 and 2008).
Prior to his first Asian Tour victory on home soil last year, Chan tied third in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2021 and equal second in 2020. Due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament was not part of the Asian Tour for those two years.
Lu Wen-teh is the only player to have successfully defended the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Picture by David Paul Morris/Asian Tour via Getty Images.
The richest professional men’s golf tournament in the country, the Mercuries Taiwan Masters has been dominated by home players since its inauguration in 1987.
With four wins, Lu Wen-teh is the most successful player in the tournament’s history followed by Lu Wei-chih (three wins) and Tsai Chi-huang (two).
The most recent overseas players to triumph are Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai (2019), Brazilian Adilson da Silva (2018) and Malaysian Gavin Green (2017).
Professionals and top amateurs alike will be afforded the opportunity to compete in this summer’s inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship through an 18-hole qualifying tournament – organisers announced today.
The qualifier will take place on 15 August at Fairmont St Andrews, the venue for the US$1.5 million event, to be played from 24-27 August.
Six places will be up for grabs in the Asian Tour event, which is part of The International Series, from a maximum starting field of 120 players.
It represents an incredible chance to play in an extremely lucrative tournament in the historic region where golf originated, against some of the game’s best players, as Spain’s Sergio Garcia, and Chileans Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira, have confirmed their participation, with further marquee player announcements to follow.
Said Callum Nicoll, Director of Golf & Estates at Fairmont St Andrews: “The 18-hole qualifier is a gateway into the St Andrew Bay Championship that will provide an outstanding opportunity, particularly for many of the top golfers in Scotland, to experience playing in a world-class event, against world-class opponents.
Sergio Garcia will be the star attraction at the St Andrews Bay Championship. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“Fairmont St Andrews is excited to be a part of what is a new and important event on the golf calendar here in Scotland. It is going to be an incredible week of golf and the countdown to tournament week essentially starts with the qualification event.”
Players can enter online as of today with places allocated on a first come first served basis, based on the categories for all golfers. Included in the 120 places are a minimum of 10 Asian Tour members and 20 amateur places, which will be allocated in a handicap ballot. The maximum handicap limit for amateurs is 0.4 at time of entry.
Entries must be made via the entry form here, where all information relating to the event can also be found: St. Andrews Bay Championship Qualifier Event : (golfgenius.com)
All online entries must be received by 5.00pm on Monday 31 July.
A draw will be made by 2 August to select entrants, as well as to select a list of reserves.
The qualifier is open to all male amateur and professional golfers of any nationality, embracing the Asian Tour and International Series’ core values of diversity and inclusivity.
The St Andrews Bay Championship will be the 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the sixth stop on The International Series.
Part of the Asian Tour’s 2023 ‘UK Summer Swing’, the St Andrews Bay Championship will be preceded by the International Series England, at Close House in Newcastle.
Last week Scotland’s Rory Franssen won the 18 qualifier for the International Series England. Six players in total made it through at Close House.
As Talor Gooch stood over his 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation Sunday afternoon at LIV Golf Andalucia, his confidence level was extremely high. In addition to making a positive stroke, he imagined the celebration afterward when the putt dropped.
“Just felt like I was going to make it,” Gooch said. “Before I even hit the putt, I was already visualizing the fist pump that was coming with it. I’m glad it went in.”
Gooch’s dramatic birdie at Real Club Valderrama gave him a one-stroke victory over a battling Bryson DeChambeau and makes the RangeGoats GC star the first three-time individual winner in LIV Golf’s young history. Gooch shot a final-round four-under-par 67 to finish at 12 under, with the Crushers GC captain at 11 under after his 69. Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka finished third at nine under.
All three of Gooch’s victories in 2023 have come outside his native United States, as he previously won back-to-back events in Adelaide and Singapore to become the first player to win consecutive LIV Golf events.
“Last year I didn’t get a win, so this year I was just so focused on getting an individual win,” said Gooch, who now leads the Individual Champion race by 27 points over Koepka. “You don’t think much past the first one until you get the first one. I definitely didn’t have three in mind for the season, but it’s cool that we’re here, and it’s especially cool to have the third one here at Valderrama.”
Gooch wasn’t the only three-time winner Sunday. The Spanish-speaking Torque GC, captained by Joaquin Niemann, also won its third team title of the season with a final-round best seven-under counting score to finish at 16 under, five strokes ahead of the RangeGoats, with Crushers GC finishing third. Niemann and Sebastián Muñoz posted 69s while David Puig contributed a 69. Those three played the last three holes of their rounds in a cumulative four under.
CADIZ, SPAIN – JULY 02: Joaquin Niemann, David Puig, Sebastian Muñoz and Mito Pereira of Torque GC celebrates the victory of the Torque GC team at LIV GOLF during day three of LIV Golf – Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama on July 2, 2023 in Cadiz, Spain. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images).
It’s the second consecutive win for Torque, who won last month in DC. Torque is now just seven points behind season-long leader 4Aces GC, who finished fourth at Valderrama.
The win was especially sweet for the 21-year-old Puig, the youngest player on the LIV Golf League roster and one of three Spanish-born players in the field along with Fireballs GC’s Sergio Garcia and Eugenio Chacarra.
“It’s amazing,” said Puig. “Playing at home is always good, and it’s even more special when you get a win and when you get a win with this group of guys. It was a great week.”
Said Niemann: “Having David also the main character of this tournament is really special for us. I think it makes it a lot easier when we do everything together like we are a team.
“You can see in the results, we’re playing great golf, and just looking forward for the rest of the season, try to keep doing the same and having a good time, as well.”
Gooch certainly is playing great golf as he went toe-to-toe with major champions DeChambeau and Koepka in the final group. After making his only bogey of the day at the par-four ninth, Gooch was a bogey-free four under on the back nine.
DeChambeau was two strokes ahead at the turn but Gooch caught him with birdies at 10 and 13. They each birdied the par-five 17th to remain tied. Gooch then hit a brilliant approach shot to 12 feet, while DeChambeau had to navigate trees with his second shot, his ball landing in the rough behind the green. His chip shot set up an easy par, but Gooch made it a moot point by draining his birdie putt.
“My game is obviously in a good state, and I knew if I could get myself in the fairway a bunch, we were going to have a chance to win down the stretch,” Gooch said. “We just kept plodding along, plodding along, and didn’t really make a bunch of putts. That was the longest putt of the day, obviously, so it was nice to save the best one for last.”
Former world number five Ian Poulter, will join his long-time friend and Majesticks GC co-captain Lee Westwood, in an ever-strengthening field for the upcoming International Series England, at Close House from 17-20 August.
The fifth tournament of The International Series 2023, and 11th on the Asian Tour, can expect the flamboyant fashionista to bring some colour to the famously monochromatic city of Newcastle, and not for the first time.
Poulter has dazzled golf fans at Close House previously – the Englishman put rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 70 together to finish tied-11th on his last competitive visit in 2017.
Now looking ahead to the hotly anticipated North-eastern showdown, Poulter said: “I always enjoy the opportunity to tee-up on home turf and Close House is a fantastic venue where the crowds are packed with knowledgeable golf fans.
Ian Poulter with the trophy after winning the Barclays Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club in 2009. Picture by Ian Walton/Getty Images.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some of the top talents of the Asian Tour first-hand in the [LIV Golf] League, especially Andy Ogletree who stepped in for Lee in DC and turned in a 62! So, I’m looking forward to my International Series debut.”
Nicknamed ‘The Postman’ for consistently delivering vital points for Team Europe in The Ryder Cup, the 47-year-old has 17 professional victories under his, often brightly coloured, belt.
Two of Poulter’s wins have come on the Asian Tour, including the 2009 Singapore Open and 2010 Hong Kong Open, the latter of which is now also among the 10 International Series events contributing to the Asian Tour schedule in 2023.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are the definition of global golfers – having played, and won throughout the world. They are beloved by English golf fans, and anyone attending International Series England is in for a very special week.
“The International Series now regularly welcomes titans of the game, with Patrick [Reed], Eugenio [Chacarra] and Abraham [Ancer] all competing alongside Ian [Poulter] and Lee [Westwood] this August, demonstrating the strength of the Asian Tour right now.”
Tickets to the International Series England are still available from SeeTickets. Prices start from £10 for adults with free admission for under-16s when entering with a paying adult.
Poulter on his way to victory at the 2010 UBS Hong Kong Open at The Hong Kong Golf Club. Picture by Ian Walton/Getty Images.
The International Series England is part of an exciting ‘UK summer swing’ for the Asian Tour and is followed by the St Andrews Bay Championship – being played on the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, 24-27 August.
Korean-American Seungsu Han claimed the jewel in the crown of Korean golf today after recording an astonishing wire-to-wire victory in the Kolon Korea Open.
On another hot and sunny day at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club he coolheadedly handled the pressure of front running from the-get-go to close with an even-par 71 for a six under par winning total and a commanding six-shot win over Korea’s Kyungnam Kang, who also carded a 71.
Korean Seungbin Choi claimed third, a shot further back, after shooting a 68 – the best round of the day, and one of only two sub 70 rounds, on the taxing Woo Jeong Hills track.
Han’s magnificent triumph also allowed him to secure one of the two spots on offer in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Kang took the other.
Any doubts that Han, who started today with a slim one-shot lead over Jaekyeong Lee from Korea, would succumb to the pressure were put to rest on the front nine when he made the turn with a five-shot lead, on seven under, ahead of Korean Junghwan Lee.
Kyungnam Kang. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.
It was just the cushion he was looking for despite an up and down front nine, consisting of three birdies and two bogeys. His lead was seven at one point on the back nine with the rest of the field going backwards while he was coasting.
He averted a potential disaster on the par-four 15th after a wayward tee shot left saw his ball finish in a terrible lie – in long, thick grass. Bravely opting not to take a drop he hit an explosive recovery shot back into play, reached the green with his third and to the roar of the crowd holed a 30 footer for an astonishing par save – affirming this was most certainly his week, and the greatest of his career so far.
His lead was cut to six on the ensuing hole after a bogey and by the 18th he was five ahead, but he put the icing on the cake by holing a six-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th.
“This is such a great honour,” said Han, the 36 year old who was born in Incheon, Korea, but moved to the United States when he was 13, where he still lives, and first started to play in Asia back in 2010, enjoying most of his success in Japan.
“I was really struggling with foot pains and my throat wasn’t good either, so it was tremendously challenging. I hardly looks at the scores, maybe a few times. I didn’t look at it on purpose. It was about being mentally strong and my putting was great, I holed some long ones.
“I first started playing in Korea when I was 13, so the Korea Open means a lot to me. I think it is the best tournament in Korea.”
Remarkably he was the only player to finish under par, and for his fine effort he earned a cheque for US$222,222.
He becomes the 12th wire to wire winner of the tournament, and the seventh American to win after Ricky Fowler (2011), Edward Loar (2004), John Daly (2003), Mike Cunning (1994), Scott Hoch (1990 and 1991), and Orville Moody, who won the first three editions of the event starting in 1958.
Han’s six-shot winning margin also matched the record set by Fowler, based on records going back to 1996.
It is the biggest victory of his 14-year professional career, although his other wins were also significant: the Casio World Open in Japan in 2017, and the 2020 LG Signature Players Championship on the Korean PGA Tour.
He also enjoyed success in the amateur game, attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and winning the 2006 Porter Cup – a long-standing, prestigious amateur event in the United States won by some of the game’s biggest names, including Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ben Crenshaw.
Kyungnam Kang and Seungsu Han both qualified for The Open. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.
While it will be the second time he has played in a Major – he made the cut in the PGA Championship in 2018 – it will be 11-time Korean Tour winner Kang’s maiden appearance.
Defending champion Minkyu Kim of Korea returned a 73 to tie for fourth on two over par with countrymen Dongmin Lee, Jaekyeong Lee and Junghwan Lee, and Australian Brendan Jones – this year’s New Zealand Open champion.
This week’s KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,075,000) event was the 10th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.
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