Wang sets early pace at Moutai Singapore Open
Korea’s Jeunghun Wang was the first to make the most of the Moutai Singapore Open’s return today – shooting an eight-under-par 64 for the clubhouse lead mid-way through the opening day.
The tournament was last played in 2022 while it is the first time it has been held at Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) in a quarter of a century. Wang celebrated the occasion by shooting nine birdies and dropping just one shot.
He leads by a stroke from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe, all in with 65s – here on the New Course at SICC.
Germany’s Dominic Foos, winner of the SJM Macao Open three weeks ago, and American Micah Shin are next best placed followings 66s.
Wang burst onto the scene just under a decade ago winning three times on the European Tour. One of those was joint-sanctioned with the Asian Tour: the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2016.
Gunn Charoenkul.
Not long after that he had to do 18 months of national service in Korea, and he has been gradually working his way back since.
“I haven’t won a tournament in almost eight years, so I really want to get a win again,” said the 30-year-old.
“My irons were really good today — I hit the ball solid all day. My putting was hot too, and I didn’t really miss any shots. Overall, I’m very happy with how I played.”
Since his return to the game he has finished second twice and recorded two-other top five finishes on the Asian Tour.
Gunn is working hard to keep his card for next year, sitting in 56th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with four events remaining including this week.
He has been one the Tour’s most consistent performers over the past four years but has failed to find his rhythm this season.
“It’s not been a very smooth season,” he said.
“Been a bit of a struggle on the second half of the season with my health as well, and, you know, with bit of the equipment. So, with those two issues, you know, I’m borderline at the moment.
“So hopefully, I really want the win this week, you know. So, try to have theconfidence but not expect anything. So yeah, hopefully it all turns out.”
Kieran Vincent.
He was unwell at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in September and lost 20 pounds. He never established what caused it. He has slowly returned to full fitness while a change in driver this week appears to be helping.
“Made some big changes this week, I have changed my driver. Hopefully that’s the right decision so far. My misses with the old driver were way too big,” he explained.
“I also putted it phenomenal today. Put myself in great positions. So, everything was pretty smooth today. I was pretty lucky.”
Vincent, brother of The International Series Rankings leader Scott Vincent, finished joint third in the Jakarta International Championship last month for his best performance of the season and still looks to be in good form.
It helped being paired in the same group as Foos and Shin.
Said Vincent: “I was trying to play catch up to my playing partners. They got off to a flyer as well. And I’m like, I can’t miss that on this party. And so, yeah, it was just kind of, we’re feeding off some good energy out there, both Dominic and Micah.
James Leow.
“And so between the three of us, you know, we kind of saw a couple of putts go in. And, you know, from there, it was just kind of feeding off each other. And I thought, yeah, we did a really good job between three of us.”
James Leow posted a fine 68 and is the leading Singaporean, the same as Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, who won the International Series Philippines recently.
Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
England’s Paul Casey played down suggestions that he is simply tuning up his game during his LIV Golf off-season, instead insisting that a win is the only thing on his mind as this week’s Moutai Singapore Open.
The 48-year-old needed toe surgery this time last year but showed strong enough form throughout the past season for a 16th-place finish on the LIV Golf Individual Standings. But he is still seeking his first ever individual win – an agonising play-off defeat to American Patrick Reed back in June was the closest he came this season.
The former Ryder Cup player is one of the marquee names at Singapore Island Country Club this week, and he gets his first round underway today at 12:20pm alongside recent Jakarta International Championship winner Wade Ormsby of Australia and in-form Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Kazuki Higa of Japan.
With 21 professional titles to his name, Casey is going into the prestigious tournament, the eighth of nine events on The International Series, in the right mood – eager to bounce back from a disappointing T59 at the Link Hong Kong Open last week. He said: “I don’t want to say that I am using these events to stay competitive. I went to Hong Kong to try and win, and I am here this week to try and win.
Paul Casey.
“These aren’t just to try and stay competitive. That is totally the wrong messaging for me. I am here because I love playing golf around the world. I don’t get on a plane and travel for 6,000 miles to just have a Singapore Sling or something down at Raffles. That is not what I do.
“It is better after Hong Kong; I got some practice in last week. My season has ended so it was a little bit of trying to get the game in tournament shape for Hong Kong. Wasn’t quite there. I played with this guy (Miguel Tabuena) for the first couple of days. He saw that. But now the game is getting pretty good, in a weird way.
“This time last year I had just come off surgery on my toe, so I feel like I am in a much better place with my golf game. And I am excited about my game, working very hard on it. It is my 25th season and I am still excited and full of energy. Although I haven’t won this year, there has been some very, very good golf played.”
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Miguel Tabuena has admitted that a chance to play on the LIV Golf League was “nowhere near my radar” just over two weeks ago.
That all changed when he claimed the International Series Philippines – for one of his country’s greatest sporting triumphs – to shoot up into second place on The International Series Rankings.
At that time only the winner of the rankings qualified for the league but earlier this week it was announced the top two will go through next year.
Tabuena sits in second behind Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent with just two events to go: this week’s Moutai Singapore Open and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers the week after next.
“Yeah, was nowhere near my radar before the Philippines, for sure,” he said today at a press conference before the Moutai Singapore Open tees off tomorrow on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club.
“But after that week at home, it certainly is. Now it [qualifying for LIV Golf] is not something that I have to force to happen, you know. It’s not something you should force to happen. It’s something where you have to stick to your game plan, stick to what works for you, your process, your recovery, and just let everything happen on its own. No, you can’t really force it. Well, you can’t. You have to let it happen and be free on the golf course.”
Success in the Philippines, his fourth win on the Asian Tour and first on The International Series, rocked the nation – with fans telling him “It made me proud to be a Filipino again.”
He won it by three shots, roared on by huge local support.
“It was a special week, a couple of weeks ago. It was nice to get an International Series event under my belt. I’ve wanted that since it started four years ago, and it was nice that I was able to do it back home.
“Game wise, I struggled a bit the last couple of days in Hong Kong, but I was able to post a decent score. So, I’m not as worried, but I am pretty tired. You know, it’s very mentally draining when you come up on top.
“We’re here in Singapore. I love coming back to Singapore. We were here two years ago at a different golf course, but it’s nice to be back. Albeit a different golf course, totally different golf course.”
He has a fine record in Singapore’s national Open: he was fourth in 2016 and eighth in 2018.
LIV Golf also confirmed they will change their format to four rounds next year.
Tabuena is not racing ahead with his plans, but on that news he said: “Shotgun starts are different, but that’s fine. I just have to keep my head down and let my golf do the talking. Whether it’s three or four rounds, we’re still competing against the best players in the world.”
On the idea of playing team golf he added: “I’ve played the Asian Games and the Olympics, but never college golf — and I think that’s the closest comparison. I think I’d love it.
“After almost 15 years as a pro, it would be nice to play for something more than just yourself. But I’m not getting ahead of myself — if that time comes, I’ll give you a better answer then.”
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The Moutai Singapore Open makes its long-awaited return this week – marking a bold new chapter for one of Asia’s most historic golf tournaments.
The tournament was first held at The Singapore Island Country Club (SICC), in 1961, and returns blending tradition with fresh momentum.
This year marks the debut of Kweichow Moutai as title sponsor – a partnership that aligns the tournament’s rich heritage with the brand’s global prestige and cultural resonance. It’s a partnership that has also extended to the support of the International Series Japan and the Link Hong Kong Open.
Singapore’s National Open has long been one of the most iconic events on the Asian Tour calendar, and its return is one of the highlights of the year.
Wade Ormsby.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Moutai Singapore Open
- Date: 6th – 9th November 2025
- Venue: The Singapore Island Country Club (New Course: Millennium & Peirce)
- Par/Yards: 72 / 7,295 yards
- Purse: US$2million (winner US$360,000)
- Previous winner: Sadom Kaewkanjana (2022)
- Asian Tour leg: 17th
- International Series leg: Eighth
- Edition of tournament: 56th
- Total number of players: 144
- 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 # InternationalSeries #ThisIsEverything
Miguel Tabuena.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2013)
- Nationalities: 29
- Top contenders: Scott Vincent (ZIM), Kazuki Higa (JPN), Miguel Tabuena (PHI), Seonghyeon Kim (KOR), Talor Gooch (USA), Charles Howell III (USA), Paul Casey (ENG)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kazuki Higa #113
- Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Kazuki Higa (JPN) #1
- Highest ranked player in 2025 International Series Rankings: Scott Vincent (ZIM) #1
- Number of amateurs: 4
- Number of Singapore players in the field: 11
Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Tournament Notes
- Japan’s Kazuki Higa has led the Order of Merit since his T2 at the International Series Philippines two weeks ago, after earlier winning the Yeangder TPC and Shinhan Donghae Open in back-to-back weeks in September. He also had a strong start to his 2025 campaign, going T8, T5 and T2 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, International Series India Presented by DLF and New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sports respectively. On the Japan Tour he has recorded six top 10’s this season, including wins at the Shinhan Donghae Open and at the ISPS HANDA Explosion in the Summer in mid-August.
- Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe tops The International Series Rankings after a win at the International Series Morocco in July, a runner-up at the Jakarta International Championship three weeks ago and a T10 at the International Series India presented by DLF earlier this season. He now sits in second place on the Order of Merit after Kazuki Higa passed him with a T2 in the Philippines, and among Vincent’s other strong finishes are T2 at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September, T4 in the Kolon Korea Open and T8 at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open. In addition to his good results on the Asian Tour this season he has also posted three top-fives on the Japan Tour, the most recent at the Sansan KBC Augusta Golf Tournament in late August.
- Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines had a story-book week at home a fortnight ago, winning the International Series Philippines on his home course for his fourth Asian Tour victory. Starting out the 2025 season with a T5 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open he also added another T5 at the Yeangder TPC in September. With his win at Sta Elena two weeks ago, along with a T11 in the Jakarta International Championship a T14 in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and a T21 in last week’s Link Hong Kong Open, Tabuena sits in second place in The International Series Rankings.
- Korean Seonghyeon Kim, who played on the PGA Tour in 2023 and 2024, finished eighth on this year’s Korn Ferry Tour Points List to secure his ticket back to the PGA Tour for next year. In his lone appearance on the Asian Tour this year he finished sixth at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September.
- Talor Gooch from the U.S., who plays in the LIV Golf league as part of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC team, has won in Singapore before when he took the LIV Golf Singapore title in 2023. It was his second consecutive win after winning in Adelaide the previous event, and that season he topped LIV’s individual standings after three wins and a runner-up. This season he recorded a win at LIV Golf Andalucia at the famous Valderrama course in Spain and finished sixth in the individual rankings.
- American Charles Howell III won three times on the PGA Tour before moving to the LIV Golf League in 2022, and he has posted one win there at the 2023 LIV Golf Mayakoba in Mexico. Now a member Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC team, he also played on the American Presidents Cup team in 2003 and 2007.
- Fellow Crushers team mate Paul Casey from England had a long career on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour before jumping to LIV in 2022, and during that time he recorded 15 and three wins on those tours respectively. He represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2018 and 2021 and was part of the winning side on three of those occasions. Casey has a good record in the four Majors with 12 top 10’s with his best result a T2 in the 2020 PGA Championship. This season he came close to winning at LIV Golf Dallas, just losing out in a playoff which was won by Patrick Reed.
- Past Champions of the Moutai Singapore Open in the field this week: Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Last week’s Link Hong Kong Open winner Tom McKibbin [main picture] produced an accomplished ball striking show for the wire-to-wire win. His 27-under total over four rounds shattered the tournament scoring record by five.
The young Northern Ireland star was near flawless from tee to green missing only five Greens in Regulation over four rounds – four less than anyone else, and easily led the GIR statistics with 93.06%.
He was also dialed in off the tee on the treelined Hong Kong Golf Club’s Composite Course, hitting 76.79% of the Fairways, ranking T4.
His rock-solid tee to green play resulted in 28 birdies, second only to runner-up American Peter Uihlein with 30, and with only three dropped shots he topped the Fewest Bogies or Worse category.
The 22-year-old’s other stats for the week were: Putts per GIR 1.672 (18th), Driving Distance 314.38 yards (24th), and Putts per Round 29.5 (T39). It all helped him secure a spot in The Open and the Masters Tournament.
Peter Uihlein.
Uihlein is known as one of the best putters on tour, so it was no surprise to see him on top of the Putts per GIR statistics with an average of 1.6, and he also ranked highly in Putts per Round with 27.75 (T6). His skills with the flat stick produced an amazing 30 birdies to lead the category.
Unfortunately, two disastrous holes cost him a chance to challenge McKibbin for the title: a triple-bogey on the ninth hole in round two and a quadruple-bogey on the 14th hole on Sunday.
His other stats were: Driving Distance 328.75 yards (6th), GIR 83.33% (T8), and Fairways Hit 50% (T66).
Statistics Categories leaders at the Link Hong Kong Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Pavit Tangkamolprasert: 26.5
- Putts per GIR – Peter Uihlein (USA): 1.6
- GIR – Tom McKibbin (NIR): 93.06%
- Fairways Hit – Settee Prakongvech (THA): 85.71%
- Driving Distance – Weihsuan Wang (TPE): 334.63 yards
- Most Eagles – Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA), James Piot (USA), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA), Sarut Vongchaisit (THA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Austen Truslow (USA), Sam Horsfield (ENG), Jason Kokrak (USA), Khalid Attieh (KSA): 2
- Most Birdies – Peter Uihlein (USA): 30
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Tom McKibbin (NIR): 3
- Scrambling – Patrick Reed (USA): 87.50%
- Bounce back – Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN): 75%
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Thanks to his maiden victory on the Asian Tour just over two weeks ago, Dominic Foos is in a very different headspace ahead of this week’s Moutai Singapore Open.
The German triumphed in the SJM Macao Open, by overcoming Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan on the second play-off hole, and admits it was a psychological breakthrough.
“It’s been 10 years since I last won,” said 28-year-old Foos, today at Singapore Island Country Club – where the tournament commences on the New Course on Thursday.
“It was a very good learning experience. I definitely feel like it’s a big mental win for me, more so than anything else. Just knowing that, when I am in that position, I can get the job done number one, and number two – it just gives you a quick momentum.”
It was rich reward and relief for a golfer who made it through the previous two Asian Tour Qualifying Schools and was battling to keep his card for next year.
Foos was a teenage star and won numerous amateurs titles, including a hat-trick of titles in 2012: the German Match Play, German Boys Open, German National Boys Championship.
Dominic Foos holes out for the win in Macau. Paul Lakatos/IMG.
In 2015, a year after turning professional, he hit global headlines by winning The Gant Open on Europe’s Challenge Tour. He was just 17 years old and the Tour’s youngest ever winner at the time.
Few thought it would take another 10 years before he would win again, on the other side of the world.
He doesn’t dwell on why that was but does point to how he dealt with it.
He explains: “I mean, it was challenging, it was tough, but at the end of the day, I always looked at it as a test and finally, I’ve kind of broken through.
“The most important thing is actually the people around you. Because if you’re like, out there by yourself, and you have no idea what to do, and you’re struggling, it’s easy to look for something else. But obviously, having, my dad there with me, and, like, really believing in me, my family, people like Mr. Kramski.”
Mr Kramski is Wiestaw Kramski – the man behind the Kramski Putter, and a close friend.
“He’s a very close family friend. I have been putting with the Kramski Putter for over 15 years now. So very close relationship, and he’s been helping me through and through and just believing in me. So that was very vital to have good people around me, that believe in me,” added Foos.
After winning in Macau, the German missed the cut in both the Philippines and Hong Kong but felt he was not far off his best golf.
“Obviously been playing few weeks in a row, and then the week after Macau was Philippines. It was game on right away again. So obviously, a time to celebrate and enjoy, but also, you know, you got to get back and get the job done. I missed the cut by one there in the Philippines, but still played well. I just didn’t make any parts. I actually played really well. I almost hit the ball better than in Macau, I thought, but yeah, I mean, that’s golf, right?
“You’re winning one week, and then you feel like your game is in great shape the following week, but you’re missing the cut, feeling really good. Okay, yeah, I played solid in Hong Kong as well. Just a couple of things weren’t quite as sharp.”
This week is his eighth event in a row, and he is looking forward to a break.
He’ll play the two upcoming events in Saudi Arabia on the Asian Tour, and plans to ‘re-evaluate’ at the start of next year – where thankfully there will be no Qualifying School for him.
His win in Macau earned him a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour. He is aiming to make full use of it, carefully plan his year and look forward to some stability as he enters an exciting new phase of his career.
The Moutai Singapore Open is the penultimate event on The International Series this year – the set of tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar, that provide a pathway on to the LIV Golf League. The two two finishers on The International Series Rankings will qualify for the LIV Golf League in 2026.
Singapore’s national open will once again take centre stage as the Moutai Singapore Open returns to The Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) this week. Recognised as one of Asia’s most historic championships, the tournament will bring together a world-class field and serve as an important platform for both international stars and Singapore’s leading golfers to shine on home soil.
Fans can anticipate an exciting week of golf, with several of the LIV Golf League’s top players set to compete, having secured their places for next season by finishing inside the tour’s “Lock Zone” (top 24). Among them are Talor Gooch, the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion, who finished in sixth position in the final individual player standings, and Thomas Pieters, a six-time European Tour winner.
They will be joined by Crushers GC teammates Paul Casey and Charles Howell III, who have both delivered consistent performances throughout the season, contributing to Crushers GC’s three team victories and second-place finish in the league’s team standings.
Beyond the LIV Golf contingent, spectators will witness some of the Asian Tour’s most in-form players in action. Scott Vincent, who currently leads The International Rankings, will aim to secure a second International Series title this season after his success in Morocco. Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the current leader on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, will seek to extend his impressive 2025 campaign, highlighted by victories at the Yeangder TPC and the 41st Shinhan Donghae Open, along with four additional top-10 finishes.
Singapore Island Country Club.
Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, winner of the International Series Philippines two weeks ago, is also here. He is second on the Rankings and third on the merit list.
Adding to the excitement is the participation of Luke Kwon, one of the most recognisable digital golf personalities worldwide, with a social media and YouTube following exceeding 600,000.
Flying the flag for Singapore will be Mardan Mamat, the nation’s most accomplished professional golfer. A trailblazer for the sport locally, he became Singapore’s first Asian Tour winner at the Indian Open in 2004, the first to triumph in a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour, at the 2006 Singapore Masters, and the first to qualify for The Open in 1997. He will be joined by a talented group of local professionals and emerging amateurs, competing proudly in front of local supporters.
Alongside the world-class golf on offer, spectators can enjoy a welcoming tournament atmosphere at the Fan Village, where light bites and drinks will be available throughout the week. Fans can also visit the SPARMS photo booth and retail area to buy sun-protection sleeves, while a large outdoor LED screen with seating allows fans to relax and comfortably watch the live broadcast between the action on the course.
The Moutai Singapore Open will be open to the public free of charge. Fans can register for free tickets through Eventbrite.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The International Series campaign has taken on added significance this season, with LIV Golf announcing today the top two eligible players on The International Series Rankings will receive places on the LIV Golf League roster next year.
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent [main picture] and Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, currently sit first and second respectively on the Rankings, with two events remaining: this week’s Moutai Singapore Open and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers in three weeks.
“This is an extremely positive development for our members and firmly cements our partnership with LIV Golf. The extra spot is a phenomenal opportunity for our members to rise to one of the pinnacle platforms in our game and there is no doubt that the top two positions will be fiercely contested over the next two events,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
Vincent and Andy Ogletree from the United States both progressed to LIV Golf through The International Series Rankings in 2022 and 2023 respectively, while Kieran Vincent, Scott’s younger brother, Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and Kalle Samooja from Finland all earned a place through the LIV Golf Promotions event in 2023. Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei made it through by winning the promotions event last year.
2024 LIV Golf Promotions winner, Lee Chieh-po. Picture by Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, added: “We offer a proven, open pathway onto the LIV Golf League and with this season’s route offering not one but two opportunities to progress, there is a real life-changing opportunity for the players to grasp.
“The International Series is committed to presenting the players with opportunity, be it the pathway to LIV Golf or the chance to face up against world-class players. We also provide local elite talent in each of our destinations with the opportunity to compete against proven champions. Recent results – where Asian Tour players have triumphed, is clear evidence of the wealth of talent in the region that is enhanced by the opportunities of The International Series.”
The announcement comes in a season which has seen the Series grow in stature, with two tournaments also offering a direct pathway to Major Championships.
International Series Macau presented by Wynn provided three places at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July, while last week’s Link Hong Kong Open offered the champion, Tom McKibbin, a place in the field for the Masters Tournament and the Open Championship next year.
Tom McKibbin’s first-ever start on the Asian Tour will be remembered for a long time after he won the US$2million Link Hong Kong Open today – at the prestigious Hong Kong Golf Club.
A final-round seven-under-par 63 saw the Northern Irishman complete a stunning start-to-finish victory in the celebrated tournament, with a four-round aggregate of 27-under 253.
American Peter Uihlein was his nearest challenger. Uihlein closed with a 68 to finish seven behind, while Tomoyo Ikemura (65) from Japan, South African Louis Oosthuizen (67) and America’s MJ Maguire (70) tied for third, a shot further back in the seventh of nine events on The International Series, the set of LIV Golf-backed tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar.
McKibbin’s performance saw him break the tournament’s 72-hole low scoring total and match its biggest margin of victory, while it also earned him a place in The Open and Masters Tournament next year.
Tom McKibbin.
“Yeah, it was obviously amazing,” said the 22-year-old after his second victory as a professional.
“I played some of the best golf I have probably ever played. So, yeah, to have that sort of golf and to shoot those scores around here is pretty special.”
The LIV Golf star, who plays for Jon Ram’s Legion XIII team, had a one-shot lead over Maguire at the start of the day and after holding off the chasing pack on the front nine – going out in three under with birdies on one, three and eight – he pulled away on the second half with birdies on 10, 11, 13, 14, and 16.
A bogey on the last was only his third of the week.
He added: “It means a lot. I mean, with a tournament with so much history behind it, and you know, great players that have won this tournament, to have the scoring record is pretty special, and something that will definitely live with me forever.”
The previous lowest 72 total was 22-under – held by José María Olazábal (2002), Ian Poulter (2010), and Patrick Reed (2024) – while both Bernhard Langer and Bill Brask won by seven in 1991 and 1984 respectively.
Peter Uihlein.
It was a timely victory by the young Northern Irishman as this year marked the first time that Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A have invited the winner to their Majors.
It will mark his debut in the Masters Tournament and third appearance in The Open.
“Very excited to go back and play my third Open, it will be very, very cool. And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it will be even more special. You know, I think sort of historic tournaments like this deserve those spots, and yeah, it’s great to sort of take advantage of those.”
A calamitous quadruple bogey eight on the par-four 14th put fellow LIV Golf star Uihlein out of the running, but he did well to finish runner-up.
He said: “It was a bit of a mixed bag today – had a tough quad out there. Actually, I had both a quadruple and a triple bogey this week. So, to still finish second despite that, I’ll take it.
“I love the course, love the event, and I love coming here, for LIV. It is honestly one of my favourite stops of the year. I will definitely keep coming back as long as I am playing.”
As for McKibbin, he said: “Unreal. He played unbelievably well. There is really nothing more to say – shooting seven-under on a Sunday is incredible. I think he missed just one green, and even then he made par. He was so efficient and composed. Super impressive. That was awesome to watch.”
MJ Maguire.
The Asian Tour and The International Series head to the Moutai Singapore Open next week.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Overnight leader Tom McKibbin [main picture] kept his hopes of a wire-to-wire victory alive at the Link Hong Kong Open but the Northern Irishman is being pushed all the way with the American duo of MJ Maguire and Peter Uihlein breathing down his neck at the top of a busy leaderboard going into the final round at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
McKibbin had started the day with a two-shot lead over Uihlein after following up his course-record 60 with a five-under 65, his second consecutive bogey-free round.
A second round of 65 on the spin kept the Legion XIII man in front on 20-under, after Maguire had roared into life with a nine-under 61 to move to 19-under. Two late bogeys from playing partner Uihlein (65) left the Range Goats GC man a shot further behind on 18-under.
MJ Maguire of the USA
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (66), starting in the final group with McKibbin and Uihlein, is three behind in T4 alongside Scott Hend after the veteran Australian – a champion here in 2014 – rolled back the years with a six-under 64.
LIV players Charles Howell III of America and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa are T6 on 16- under, following four-under rounds of 66, with U.S. star Charles Porter on 15-under alongside Korean-American Micah Shin (66) and Poom Saksansin of Thailand (65) after putting together an impressive seven-under round of 63.
McKibbin’s bogey-free run ended abruptly with a dropped shot on three, although he was back in credit after bouncing back with two straight birdies on four and five.
Three more birdies followed on six, nine and 12, before a second bogey on 15, but another two birdies on 16 and 17 got him back in front of Maguire after the American had roared into the race with seven birdies and an eagle in an impressive display.
That shot could prove crucial going into the final day with places on next year’s Open Championship and Masters at stake, as well as points on The International Series Rankings race. McKibbin felt he did well in more difficult conditions on day three. He said: “It was pretty good overall. I felt the course was playing a little tougher – the pins seemed harder but I played some very nice golf. I holed a few good putts, and everything felt solid.
“I think everyone came here knowing those spots are available, but for me, finishing second or third doesn’t make a big difference. I went into the week with the mindset of giving it a good go, and that’s what I’ll try to do.”
Maguire was ticking along with two birdies in his front nine but he sprang into contention with a run of three birdies and an eagle from 10 to 13, including a hole out on his second at 11, and then back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18.
Maguire, a winner on The International Series last year at the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, Thailand, said: “Yeah it all kind of kicked off on 11, I holed out the second shot.
“Had some tree trouble, was thinking about going over the trees. Hit a little punchy eight iron and it rolled in like a putt. You know, I was just happy to get that on the green and to see it drop. That was the kickstarter and I was able to make a few more birdies in a row.”
Peter Uihlein of the USA
Uihlein, who shot a triple bogey on 10 in round two when sitting nine under with two left to play, had another eventful day. Having picked up five birdies by 14, he went bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey and ultimately settled for a 65 to stay two off the lead – where he had started.
Range Goats GC star Uihlein said: “The start was all right, right? And then the last four, well, I guess 15 and 18 were bad, but it felt fine compared to yesterday, it felt like way less of a roller coaster than yesterday.”
Referring to The Open and Masters places that will go to the champion, the two-time International Series winner added: “It’s obviously amazing that the governing bodies have recognized this event for the quality that it is. It has obviously given us an opportunity to try and win, and a couple shots back, you still got to make a bunch of birdies, so we will see.”
The 10-time Asian Tour champion Hend is handily placed, three back from McKibbin after a bogey-free six-under 64. He said: “I just tried to play solid golf. I missed a fair few putts out there, but when I missed the green, I managed to get it up and down.
“Overall, it was about staying steady and keeping things simple. I’ll need a low one because Tom is playing some good golf. We’ll see what happens. I’d love to be a Hong Kong Open champion again. That’s the main goal. For me, this is a special tournament on the schedule, and I always look forward to playing here. Everything else is just a bonus.”
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand
Thailand’s Kiradech, making his first Asian Tour start of the season, struggled with two early bogeys but he hit back with four birdies and an eagle to stay in the hunt, level with Hend.
He said: “Rough start, two over through five and I missed couple of shots. But I’m just enjoying this week. Today I was playing with my good friend Peter Uihlein, one of the best – we had a lot of chat and I played a lot better on the back nine. The team has done an amazing job here – the conditions are the best I have ever seen. There are a lot of opportunities to make birdies but if you don’t pay attention you can get hurt.”
The Link Hong Kong Open is the seventh of nine elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League through the season-long Rankings race.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
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