The Saudi Open presented by PIF returns to the Asian Tour this week for the third successive season, back in the prestigious season-ending position.

When it debuted on the Asian Tour in 2023, it also brought the year to a close. On that occasion, Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub claimed the title at Riyadh Golf Club.

The following year it returned to the same venue, where American John Catlin stole the show with a commanding start-to-finish victory. It was played in April but this week makes a popular return as the season finale at a new venue- Dirab Golf & Country Club, just outside Riyadh.

The country’s National Open was first played in 2015 as a local event before being elevated to the Asian Development Tour in 2022, when Naraajie Ramadhan Putra from Indonesia triumphed at Rolling Hills Golf Course.

This year’s marks the 10^th staging of the tournament.

Jazz Janewattananond.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: Saudi Open presented by PIF
• Date: 10th – 13th December 2025
• Venue: Dirab Golf & Country Club, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Par/Yards: 72/7,280 yards
• Purse: US$1million
• Asian Tour leg: 21st
• Previous winner: John Catlin (USA)
• Edition of tournament: 10th (Asian Tour 2024, 2023, Asian Development Tour 2022)
• Total number of players: 110
• Format: Stroke play tournament over four rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 pros plus ties.
• Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise, #thesaudiopen, #DirabGolfCountryClub, #golf_saudi

Julien Sale.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
• Nationalities: 35
• Top contenders: Kazuki Higa (JPN), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Wang wei-hsuan (TPE), Poosit Supupramai (THA), Jeunghun Wang (KOR)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kazuki Higa (JPN) #113
• Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Kazuki Higa (JPN) #1
• No. of amateurs in the field: 16
• No. of Saudi players in the field: 9

Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Tournament Notes

• Kazuki Higa from Japan leads the Order of Merit after a brilliant season that included back-to-back wins in the Shinhan Donghae Open and Yeangder TPC in September. The 30-year-old also stormed out of the gates in the beginning of the season with three straight top 10’s, posting a T8 at the season-opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open, a T5 at the International Series India presented by DLF and a T2 at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. He also added a T2 at the International Series Philippines in late October to regain the top spot from Scott Vincent, and he’s held it ever since.
• Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who won The International Series Rankings that concluded at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers three weeks ago, earned his ticket back to the LIV Golf League and is in second place, 142.47 points behind Higa. The two-time Asian Tour winner has been impressive all season, and in addition to his win at the International Series Morocco in July, he has collected five other top-10’s including runner-up finishes at the Shinhan Donghae Open and Jakarta International Championship. To win the Order of Merit he needs at least a solo-fifth to surpass the leader in the unlikely scenario that Higa misses the cut.
• The 2019 Order of Merit winner Jazz Janewattananond came close to winning the Bharath Classic two weeks ago in India, eventually finishing in a tie for third place. The seven-time Asian Tour winner has collected five top-10’s this season with the best being a T2 at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in early May. If Jazz gets his putter working this week, he will be a threat to win his first title since the 2022 International Series Morocco.
• Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese Taipei has enjoyed a great second half of the season racking up three top-three finishes in a span of a month, finishing T2 at the Yeangder TPC, third at Mercuries Taiwan Masters and losing a play-off at the SJM Macaco Open. He has also won three events on his local Taiwan PGA Tour, and has clinched that Order of Merit with one event remaining.
• Asian Tour’s latest winner Poosit Supupramai of Thailand got his breakthrough victory in India two weeks ago, taking the title at the inaugural Bharath Classic. He had also posted a T6 in his previous event, the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.
• Korean Jeunghun Wang is a one-time Asian Tour winner, having won the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open that was co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour. This season his best result came in the Moutai Singapore Open where he lost a play-off to eventual winner Yosuke Asaji, and he also had a T9 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. In addition to the Mauritius victory Wang has two other DP World Tour titles on his resume, the 2016 Trophee Hassan II and the 2017 Commercial Bank Qatar Mastes, and was at his peak in 2017 ranked 39^th on the OWGR.
• Only two players are still able to win the 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit title, Kazuki Higa and Scott Vincent. They would both be the first from their respective countries to do so.
• Much of the drama will likely centre around those trying to secure playing rights for next year by finishing in the top 65. Currently holding the 65th spot on the Merit list is Sean Ramos from the Philippines with 227.58 points, with Argentina’s Miguel Carballo just outside in 66th, a mere 2.54 behind with 225.04.
• Dirab Golf & Country Club is nestled amidst the scenic vistas of Dirab, just a short 45-minute drive from the bustling heart of Riyadh and lies within Tawfiq Valley. Opened in 1994 it has the distinction of being the first all-grass golf course in the Kingdom.
  It is a premier leisure property with an 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole academy course, which is floodlit, while it also boasts an equestrian centre.

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

At this week’s season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF all eyes will be on the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Japan’s Kazuki Higa is aiming to hold on to first place from Scott Vincent in second. The Zimbabwean has an outside chance of adding the Merit title to The International Rankings he secured a few weeks ago.

However, the battle at the bottom of the list, will be equally as exciting with players attempting to keep their cards for next year. In this instance, the bottom means position 65 as it’s the cut off mark for retaining privileges for next year.

Filipino Sean Ramos is currently in 65^th place and the last guy in but that could all change when this week’s US$1million event commences on Wednesday at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

He is one of a number of players on the bubble – in the unenviable ‘bubble boys’ category.

As ever, there are some famous names in need of a good week to ensure they are back playing with full rights next year.

Nitithorn Thippong pictured with the Mandiri Indonesia Open trophy in 2023. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

One of those is Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who just three years ago triumphed twice in one season, and won again the following year.

He is in 95^th place following a hugely disappointing season. He’s missed nine cuts in 18 starts, with a best finish of joint 23^rd in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

It’s been an astonishing turnaround in fortunes for a player who won The DGC Open and International Series Singapore in 2022. Two wins in one year granted him a three-year exemption but that runs out this year, as does his win at the 2023 Mandiri Indonesia Open, which had a one-year exemption.

He currently has 116.69 points and needs a top-five result this week to keep his card. However, the ever-smiling 29-year-old is showing little sign of the difficult task that confronts him, and is focusing on a more positive outlook to help him work his way back.

“I mean, it’s quite okay right now,” he explains.

“It’s getting better every day. And you know when I go back to Thailand and practice, it’s always good. But I just have, like, some problems with my mentality, on the course, but now it’s getting better and better. So, I think this way is going to be good.

“I just lost my confidence a bit, because the way I was thinking and the way I am swinging the club is not going like I thought. And because of that kind I was thinking too much. But now, I am stopping that and trying to have fun on the course. I have got out of the bad thoughts.”

Nitihorn Thippong’s first win on the Asian Tour came at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He has also been working on transferring his positive approach from practice rounds to tournaments.

He says: “Especially tournament rounds. I play really, really good when I practice, but when it’s a tournament round, I am like thinking bad too much.”

The break in the schedule following the International Series Morocco in July also could not come at a better time.

“It’s good that we had a gap after Morocco, so I had time to talk to myself and think about how to improve.

“I worked on my swing, which was already in process. So that gap, gave me a lot of time to do that and also work on my mentality. I just talked to myself, and said ‘why are you still playing golf, how do I feel when I play well,’ things like that to try to get back in zone.”

Nicknamed “Fever” he will be aiming to turn up the temperature this week and return to the forefront of the Asian Tour, as one it’s most exciting young golfers.

The Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) race reaches its conclusion at the Saudi Open presented by PIF this week.

The US$1million season-ending tournament will tee-off at Dirab Golf & Country Club, outside of Riyadh, on Wednesday.

The OOM battle will not only determine who wins the crown – and the five-year exemption that goes along with it – but also, importantly, it will decide who keeps their card for next year by finishing in the top 65.

TWO HORSE RACE

Even with an elevated points breakdown and 787.5 points going to the winner this week, compared to the normal 525 points for a win in a US$1million event, it is a very short list of players that can walk away with the OOM trophy on Saturday: Japan’s Kazuki Higa [main picture], presently ranked first, and second-placed Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe. Both players would be the first from their respective countries to win the title.

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand and Japan’s Yosuke Asaji would also have had a mathematical chance to top the list, in second, third and fourth respectively, but are not here this week. A heavy flu has ruled out Tabuena.

Scott Vincent. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Higa currently leads the rankings with 1,958.59 points and controls his own destiny, after a brilliant season that included back-to-back wins in the Shinhan Donghae Open and Yeangder TPC in September.

The 30-year-old, who started the season with three straight top 10’s, tied for second at the International Series Philippines in late October to take the top spot from Vincent, and he’s held it ever since.

Vincent, who wrapped up The International Series Rankings title three weeks ago to book his place back on the LIV Golf League, is in second place with 1,816.12 points – 142.47 points behind Higa.

The Zimbabwean has also been impressive all season, and in addition to his win at the International Series Morocco in July, he has collected five other top-10s, including finishing runners-up at the Shinhan Donghae Open and Jakarta International Championship.

The 32-year-old Denver, Colorado, resident, needs at least a solo-fifth to surpass the leader in the unlikely scenario that Higa misses the cut.

Higa needs only to make the cut to stay ahead – provided Vincent finishes outside the top-four.

BOYS ON THE BUBBLE

Much of the drama will likely centre around those trying to secure playing rights for next year by finishing in the top 65. Those just inside and those hovering closely outside are on the bubble and aptly named, the “bubble boys”.

Sean Ramos. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.

Currently holding the precarious 65^th spot on the Merit list is Sean Ramos from the Philippines with 227.58 points, with Argentina’s Miguel Carballo just outside in 66^th, a mere 2.54 behind with 225.04. Just behind, of those playing this week are Korea’s Bio Kim (67), Ahmad Baig (68) from Pakistan and Australian Brett Rankin (70) with 222.64, 217.65 and 213.73 respectively.

On the right side of the cut-off line, but still very much in the danger zone, we find Sarut Vongchaisit from Thailand in 60^th position on 262.68 points, with Australian Jed Morgan a fraction behind with 262.56 points and in 61^st place.

These two players can likely secure their status for next season by making the cut, with a top-40 finish should guarantee it.

Australian Jack Thompson sits in 62^nd with 254.11 and Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom a further point behind 253.14 in 63^rd. Filipino Justin Quiban is in 64^th place with 242.67 points and starting his week fifteen points clear of the last position that keeps their cards.

This last group of Thompson, Sudsom and Quiban will likely all need to at least make the cut, and perhaps quite a bit better than that, to finish their season inside the top-65.

In a scenario where the magic number would be 265 points to keep the card, Thompson would need to finish 52^nd, Sudsom 50^th and Quiban 40^th.

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Some notable tournament winners, and multiple tournament winners, also finding themselves on the outside looking in, starting with Chan Shih-chang from Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who both won twice in 2022 and have been playing on a Multiple Tournament Winner category the last three years. Nitithorn also won in 2023, but that event only carried a one-year exemption.

Chan Shih-chang.

Chan is a five-time Asian Tour winner and is currently in 74^th place on 204.73 points and needs something like a top-20 or better to retain his playing rights.

Nitithorn, a three-time champion, is further down the list in 95^th position with 116.69 points and likely needs a top-five to keep his card after a poor season.

Ajeetesh Sandhu from India, with one Asian Tour win from 2017 on his resume, is currently 72^nd on 210.22 points could be safe with a finish around top-25.

Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, with two Asian Tour wins, has been playing on a Country Exemption category this season. Ranked 88^th with 126.70 points he would likely need a top-five result to get back into the top-65.

American Berry Henson, winner of the 2011 ICTSI Philippine Open, is ranked number 103 on 98.92 points after playing eight Asian Tour events this season. He probably needs a solo-fourth or possibly a T4 with one other player to earn his card for next year.

Todd Sinnott from Australia won the 2017 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open but has had a difficult last two years. Sitting in 106^th place with 94.59 points he is in a similar position as Henson above.

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat is a four-time Asian Tour champion but in 110^th on the OOM with 84.82 points, a solo-fourth could likely be required. Currently 13^th on the Career Earnings list with over US$3 million made, he would still have this category to fall back on next year for playing privileges should he not finish inside the top-65.

Khalin Joshi from India, winner of the 2018 Panasonic Open India, is in 131^st place with 53.38 points and probably needs a T3 with one other player to secure his playing rights.

Spaniard Carlos Pigem won the Yeangder TPC back in 2016 and finished a career best 13^th on the Merit list that season. After playing sparingly on sponsors invites in 2025, he is 139^th in the rankings on 44.48 points and would also require a T3 with only one other player to earn his card back.

So, what on earth do you do for an encore after you’ve shot a 59 and won your previous tournament in a play-off? It’s a pretty daunting scenario, unless your name happens to be John Catlin and you’re enjoying the form of your life. Story from the 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.

It was on the third Sunday in March, that 33-year-old American Catlin bettered Spaniard David Puig in a sudden-death play-off at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn in what was the fourth leg of the 2024 Asian Tour schedule.

Following a five-week break, the Tour resumed at the Riyadh Golf Club for the US$1 million Saudi Open presented by PIF, in April.

However, the lay-off did nothing to halt the momentum that had catapulted Catlin into the international spotlight.

“I rested for a bit after Macau. I gave myself about a week off and then I got right back to grinding. There were some things I wanted to improve upon. I was able to do it, and I feel like I am getting there. It’s a never-ending process … there are always things we can do better,” he said, offering a glimpse into his mindset and pursuit of excellence.

If his victory in Macau had been a tense nail-biter, Catlin’s wire-to-wire win in the Saudi Arabian capital was simply emphatic.

John Catlin pictured with the winner’s trophy last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He blew away his rivals with a stunning seven-stroke triumph that served to underline his status as one of the hottest golfers on the planet at this point in time.

“I’m tired, but very, very happy,” said Catlin, after clinching his sixth victory on the Asian Tour and became the first player to win successive events on the circuit since Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond in 2019.

“I’ve never gone back-to-back. It’s pretty special to finish back-to-back events holding the hardware. It was just a special week, and I feel very lucky to be the champion,” said Catlin, who posted a four-day aggregate of 24-under-par 260.

The outcome was pretty much decided by the end of the third round at which stage Catlin held an eight-stroke advantage following rounds of 65, 67 and a course record nine-under-par 62.

A stress-free final-round of 66 completed his Riyadh romp. The numbers were just staggering, finishing seven shots clear of Australian Wade Ormsby, the runner-up, and no fewer than 15 strokes in front of those who shared 10th place.

If there was one slight cause for regret for Catlin it was the fact that he came mighty close to becoming the first player in Asian Tour history to complete a 72-hole tournament without a solitary blemish.

Such was his dominance of the Riyadh Golf Club course that he navigated the first 67 holes without a bogey on his card.

Along with the galleries, even his rivals were pulling for him to complete what is a rare feat. But it was not to be, a seven-foot par putt failing to disappear below ground on the 14th – his 68th hole of the week. It proved to be his only dropped shot.

Not that it took any gloss off a supremely commanding performance, highlighted by a sublime week on and around the greens. As well as ranking second in Putts per Round with 26.5, or 1.47 per hole, he was third in Putts per Greens in Regulation with 1.625.

John Catlin after holing the winning putter. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Furthermore, he ranked first for the week in scrambling, managing to get the ball up and down 93.75% of the time when not hitting the green in regulation.

Catlin also had a good week with his all-round game, ranking tied sixth in Greens in Regulation with 77.78% and seventh in Driving Accuracy with 60.71%.

The combination of all these stats made him unbeatable.

Yet, with such a large lead he also needed to guard against complacency and be strong mentally to stop his mind from wandering.

He said: “I just kept telling myself to stay in the present. The brain always wants to think about what might happen, or what could happen, and you just keep hitting the shot in front of you. I just kept doing that, kept telling myself over and over again, just keep in the present, keep executing this golf shot. I was able to do it.”

With the first-place cheque for US$180,000, Catlin overhauled Puig at the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM). Puig closed with a 67 to finish in sole possession of fifth, 10 back from Catlin.

With two early-season wins under his belt, the 2024 OOM crown was clearly on Catlin’s radar. “It will definitely be on my mind. It would be a nice feather to add to the cap. There have been a lot of great Order of Merit champions, and I would be honoured to be among them,” he added.

Thai amateur Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, playing in his final Asian Tour event before heading off to start his first year at Stanford University, tied for 33rd.

Japanese star Yosuke Asaji [main picture] is still coming to terms with the reality of officially becoming a LIV Golf League player for the 2026 season – describing the achievement as something he might only truly feel after teeing off in his first event.

Securing a place on the LIV Golf League is one of the ultimate goals for every player competing on The International Series this year, yet only two have made it a reality: The International Series Rankings champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, and Asaji by finishing second on the Rankings.

The Japanese golfer’s journey to this milestone has been remarkable. Following his first International Series victory at the Moutai Singapore Open, he earned his LIV Golf card just two weeks later at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the Series’ season ending event, despite missing the cut.

Even now, Asaji admits the moment still feels surreal. “It still doesn’t feel real yet. It’s hard to fully grasp at the moment, but I’ve received so many congratulations. I suppose I’ll understand it better when the time comes.”

Yosuke Asaji with the Moutai Singapore Open trophy.

He is already looking ahead to the next chapter of his career, focusing on key areas of his game that will allow him to compete at the highest level. Putting, in particular, will be an area of attention. “I’ll be practising especially within seven feet to sharpen my short-game skills, and I also plan to work on speaking better English so I can communicate more effectively on tour,” he said.

The opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best players and Major champions excites him most. “I’m really looking forward to testing myself on a weekly basis against the top players in the world. It’s an incredible opportunity and a challenge I’m ready to embrace.”

Asaji’s breakthrough has also delighted those closest to him, including his best friend Jinichiro Kozuma, a member of Iron Heads GC on LIV Golf League.

Kozuma shared how inspiring it has been to watch Asaji’s late-season surge, especially after a challenging stretch on the Japan Tour. He explained: “Towards the end he wasn’t playing well back home, but coming out to these events and performing the way he did really motivated me. I’m thrilled to see him making such a big move in his career.”

Scott Vincent and Yosuke Asaji with the gold coins they received for finishing first and second on The International Series Rankings.

Reflecting on his season across The International Series and Asian Tour, Asaji says he is proud of what he has accomplished. “I never expected to earn a spot in LIV Golf, so I feel very fortunate. I see this as a reward for giving my best at each tournament.

“I also plan to continue playing on the Asian Tour and International Series as much as possible next year.”

With Asaji and Vincent securing the two LIV Golf places from The International Series Rankings, the focus now shifts to the upcoming LIV Promotions event from 8–11 January 2026 at Black Diamond Ranch GC in Florida, where two more coveted spots will be decided.

The leading 10 available players from top 20 of the final 2025 International Series Rankings will receive a bye into round two, while the next 25 available players within the top 40, who are not already exempt, will earn entry into round one of the event.

Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai [main picture] secured his first Asian Tour title at the Bharath Classic last Sunday with a final round three-under-par 69. He made a fine birdie on the last at Kensville Golf Resort to hold off the fast-charging Korean Wooyoung Cho by one shot.

The Thai trio of Jazz Janewattananond, Panuphol Pittayarat and Ekpharit Wu, plus Sachin Baisoya from India finished a further three shots back in a tie for third.

Poosit posted solid stats on and around the greens, ranking T7 in Putts per Round and 15^th in Putts per GIR with 26.75 and 1.673 respectively, and his Scrambling percentage of 85% was second only to Panuphol who led the field with 87.5%.

The brilliant scrambling was crucial to avoiding dropped shots and Poosit topped the Fewest Bogies or Worse category together with Panuphol, with only three bogies during the week. He also had four hole-outs from off the green during the tournament, including a hole-in-one on the 16^th hole on Saturday, which tied the high mark with fellow Thai Chonlatit Chuenboonngam and William Harrold from England.

Panuphol Pittayarat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The winner’s other stats for the week: GIR 72.22% (T19), Driving Distance 295.75 yards (47^th), Fairways Hit 50% (T59).

Cho, who closed with a final round of 65 that included birdies on three out of his last four holes, had an excellent week on the greens and was third in Putts per Round with 26 and fourth in Putts per GIR with 1.571. His skills with the putter produced 23 birdies for the tournament, third best after Baisoya with 27 and Shaurya Bharathan with 24.

Cho’s other stats: Driving Distance 312.25 yards (14^th), Fairways Hit 64.29% (T22), GIR 68.06% (T34).

Statistics Categories leaders at the Bharath Classic (of players making the cut):

• Putts per Round – Shaurya Bharathan (IND): 25
• Putts per GIR – Shaurya Bharathan (IND): 1.512
• GIR – Runchanapong Youprayong (THA): 86.11%
• Fairways Hit – Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND): 82.14%
• Driving Distance – Sudhir Sharma (IND): 324 yards
• Most Eagles – Justin Quiban (PHI), Heemin Chang (KOR): 2
• Most Birdies – Sachin Baisoya (IND): 27
• Fewest Bogies or Worse – Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), Poosit Supupramai (THA): 3
• Scrambling – Panuphol Pittayarat (THA): 87.5%
• Bounce back – Kosuke Hamamoto (THA): 62.50%

David Puig has recorded his third victory in the professional game – adding the Australian PGA Championship to his two Asian Tour titles.

On Sunday, the LIV Golf star fired a bogey-free five-under-par 66 to secure his first DP World Tour title.

China’s Ding Wenyi also shot a 66 to finish second, two behind, with Australian Marc Leishman and New Zealand’s Nick Voke, like Puig an Asian Tour member, tied for third one shot further back.

Puig becomes the first Spanish winner of the event since Seve Ballesteros in 1981.

David Puig. Picture by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“It feels amazing,” said Puig.  “I’ve really had a lot of close calls in a few events throughout this year and last year and I wasn’t able to pull it through.

“I was pretty nervous, especially thinking about the past a little bit, what I could have done a little better. But I kept my composure really well.”

The 23-year-old first tasted victory in 2023 at the International Series Singapore, before claiming the Malaysian Open the following year. He also lost in a sudden-death play-off at last year’s International Series Macau presented by Wynn against American John Catlin.

Puig plays for Fireballs GC on LIV Golf and finished 10th on the League’s individual rankings this year.

Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai made a brilliant birdie on the par-four 18th to win the inaugural Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat today – breathing a huge sigh of relieve after recording his maiden victory on the Asian Tour.

A powerful nine iron to 10 feet, from where he duly converted for a three to close with a three-under-par 69 and a tournament total of 18-under, saw him win by one from Korean Wooyoung Cho, who returned a 65.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (72) and Panuphol Pittarayat (69), both paired with Poosit on another Shotgun Start day, fellow Thai Ekpharit Wu (67) and Indian Sachin Baisoya (62) tied for third another two shots backs

The US$500,000 event was held at Kensville Golf Resort, just outside of Ahmedabad city, and was joint-sanctioned with the newly-launched Indian Golf Premier League.

Poosit and Jazz, chasing his eighth win on the Asian Tour, started day locked in a share of the lead but the former edged it after brave performance.

Poosit Supupramai.

He started the event, the penultimate tournament of the year on the Asian Tour, 81^st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, hoping to move closer to finishing in the top 65 to keep his card.

The 32-year-old went far and beyond that moving into 29th position on the list while the win has handed him a one-year exemption on the Tour.

“Amazing, I can’t believe it,” said Poosit, whose previous best result on the Asian Tour was joint third at last year’s SJM Macao Open.

“I was struggling on the front nine, I was not playing well. It was all about mindset – that got me through.”

He made the turn in one-over, after two bogies and one birdie, and trailed the front runner Jazz. But he was able to turn things around on the back nine. He made three birdies in a row from the 12^th, before another on 18.

On the 18^th he was one ahead of Jazz, who made bogey. Cho, who finished on the ninth hole, birdied his last two holes to close the gap.

Added Poosit: “I came here to try and improve my ranking on the Merit list. It was on my mind, not winning. But to secure my card this week with the win, it’s beyond my dreams.

“Before the last two tournaments I changed the loft and lie on my putter. It made such a big difference – I started holing putts.”

Jazz Janewattananond.

He clearly likes playing in this part of the world, as his victory on the Asian Development Tour in 2017 came at the Defence Raya Golf Championship in Pakistan, which is not far from Ahmedabad.

Cho led at the halfway mark, slipped out of the running yesterday but rebounded well today – for his best finish on the Asian Tour.

“My feeling yesterday was very, very bad for me, because I didn’t have good timing with my swing,” he said.

“Today I tried just to focus on my swing, and that’s why I could shoot 65. I thought I would have a chance if I just played minus five today, but I saw the scoreboard on my last hole, and I thought, I can do this, I can get the win.

“I didn’t think Poosit would make a birdie on the last hole, so I just tried to make birdie on my last hole. But I saw that he made the birdie, so it’s okay.”

Jazz was bitterly disappointed to finish poorly having led for much of the day but continues to take heart from improved performances.

Of his final round, he said: “Just scruffy, just haven’t played the way I played the first three days. Didn’t hit it close enough, and the putts didn’t want to go in, so nothing was going in until the 16th where I holed a putt. Literally nothing. It was like, first of all I holed putt, and then three putted right away. And then from then on, it just been a grind. Just try to make pars and then, you know, just not hitting good enough consistently to win yet.”

There is a one week gap now before the Asian Tour heads to the Middle East for the Saudi Open presented by PIF. The US$1million event is the season-ending event and will be played at Dirab Golf & Country Club, just outside the capital Riyadh. American John Catlin, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, is the defending champion.

Pictures by Jaydeep Singh Jadeja/Asian Tour.

Poosit Supupramai [main picture] produced a stunning finish to take a share of the third-round lead at the Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat today – making a hole in one on the 16^th and chipping in for a birdie on the last.

He and fellow Thai, Jazz Janewattananond, comfortably adapted to the rarity of a Shotgun Start, to lead the field on 15-under, here at Kensville Golf Resort, near Ahmedabad.

Poosit shot a six-under-par 66 while Jazz went one better with a 65.

Both players were bogey free and lead by three from their countryman Panuphol Pittarayat (70), Heemin Chang (71) from Korea, and Indian amateur Ishaan Chawhan (68).

It’s the penultimate event of the season on the Asian Tour with many of the contenders looking to cement their status on the Tour next year by finishing in the top 65 on the Order of Merit.

Jazz Janewattananond.

Poosit is in 81^st place and in desperate need of two good final events, or a victory this week which brings with it a full one-year exemption.

He said: “Oh, it was a fantastic round for me, because I got a hole in one on number 16 and chip in on the number 18, my last hole.”

He was in the second pairing that started on the first. He made birdies on six and seven, and another on 12 before his sensational finish.

On the par-three 16^th he made an ace using a seven iron.

“I played as well as the first two rounds, but today I got lucky on many shots, especially the hole in one and the chip in. Yeah, I’m very happy today,” said the 31-year-old.

“I didn’t see my ball go in on 16. I heard the sound and somebody was cheering, so I got my range finder and then I didn’t see a ball on the green.”

He is chasing his first win on the Asian Tour, having recorded his best at the SJM Macao Open last year where he was third.

Poosit Supupramai and Panuphol Pittarayat.

Jazz said yesterday he is playing this week to get his game sharp for the LIV Golf Promotions event in the United States in January, where two will make it through to the LIV Golf League.

His game in clearly close to where he wants it to be.

“It was good, bogey free is always nice,” said the Thai.

“I actually made some good birdies as well out there, I’m very happy with where my game is heading at.

“There’s a couple that I left on the golf course. I didn’t take all the opportunities on the par fives and stuff like that. I definitely took some. The par fours, I don’t think I can play the par fours better than this, but the par fives I can definitely do a bit better.”

At 14^th on the Merit list, and the highest ranked player in the field, he is one of the few here not worrying about his playing status for next year. A victory would be his eighth on the Asian Tour but first since winning the International Series Morocco in 2022.

England’s Steve Lewton (69) and Carlos Pigem (71) from Spain are tied for sixth, four off the pace. They are also looking to secure their cards, although the former is 59^th and the latter 162.

Korean Wooyoung Cho, the overnight leader, fell back with a 74 and is in group that are a further shot back.

Heemin Chang.

The US$500,000 event is being joint-sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League – which was launched a few months ago and is introducing new elements like Shotgun Starts.

Pictures by Jaydeep Singh Jadeja/Asian Tour.

Wooyoung Cho came to India this week to try and finish the season on a high, after a poor year. He is proceeding to do just that after taking the halfway lead in the US$500,000 Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat.

The Korean carded a fine six-under-par 66 today at Kensville Golf Resort to lead on 12-under by a shot from compatriot Heemin Chang.

Chang, the first-round leader after a 64, shot a 69 – in the penultimate event of the season on the Asian Tour, where tensions are high. Many of those in contention are trying ensure they keep their Asian Tour cards by staying in top 65 on the Order of Merit. Only one event remains after this week, the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

Spain’s Carlos Pigem (65) and Panuphol Pittayarat (66) are a stroke further back. Panuphol sensationally eagled his last hole to surge closer to the top.

Cho, in just his second year as a professional and one of his country’s most highly rated players, is in 56^th place on the Merit list. He is secure but a win this week would truly cement his place on Tour next year.

Heemin Chang.

“I am just trying to be confident with my game, my swing, and my putting,” said the Korean, who has won twice on the Korean PGA Tour.

“It was a very good day for me, so I will try to keep going with 66s. I think my wedge shots, were very, very good. I could make birdies because my wedge game was so good.”

He did make a lot of birdies, seven in total, and dropped just one shot.

Chang needs to win this week if he is to keep his card as he is in a distant 127^th place on the Merit list, having played just five events this campaign.

He was bogey free today, making three birdies to stay very much in the hunt.

Said the Korean: “When I was warming up on the range my driver wasn’t very good, so I thought it wouldn’t be easy today. But I think I finished well today because my putting was working was good.

“I didn’t know things would go well this week, but since it’s going so well, I want to get the highest rank possible to gain as much experience as possible.”

Carlos Pigem.

Pigem, a winner on the Asian Tour back in 2016 at Yeangder TPC, carded the joint lowest round the day. He is another struggling in 162^nd position on the Merit list and also in need of a win this weekend.

“I think in Taiwan two weeks ago, I played better than the score, especially the second day and the fourth round, and I think that helped give me a little bit more confidence,” said the Spaniard.

“I know this course is a little bit tricky. You have to hit it really straight. But I missed where I could miss, and I hit really good shots when I had to. And I’m really happy for the weekend. I’m not gonna change. I think we are gonna follow the same path. Maybe you can try to hit par fives in two on the weekend, and try to be a little bit more aggressive if you need it.”

Mexican Santiago De la Fuente (67) and Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai (69) share fifth, three behind Cho.

De la Fuenta is 62^nd on the Merit list while Poosit is in 81^st place.

Said Poosit: “I’m not thinking about securing the card, I just try my best. If I play like today on the weekend, hopefully I can secure my card for next year.”

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour and gradually returning to form came in with a 70 and is tied for seventh four off top spot.

The morning session saw two players make a hole in one.

Englishman Harold William aced the par-three 11^th enroute to a 65. He is five under. Soon after Harendra Gupta holed his tee shot on the par-three fifth. The Indian golfer is also five under. William used a pitching wedge while Gupta a six iron.

This week’s event is being joint-sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League. The circuit was launched recently with the aim of increasing the profile of the game in India. It aims to add a new dimension to the game, with this weekend’s final two rounds commencing with a Shotgun start.