Two years after being part of the Korean team that famously claimed the gold medal at the Asian Games, Wooyoung Cho [main picture] has become a winner on the Asian Tour for the first time after triumphing at the Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission today.

He registered a hard-fought victory following stiff resistance from Pavit Tangkamolprasert, beating the Thai by four shots on the unforgiving East Course at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, in Manila.

Cho, two behind overnight leader Karandeep Kochhar from India at the start of the day, fired a final round five-under-par 67, for a four-round total of 11-under – in the opening event of the season on the Asian Tour.

He and Pavit played together in the second from last group and made it a two-horse race for much of the day.

The 24-year-old Korean dropped his only shot of the day on the opening hole but took the lead with birdies on two and three. He was never caught but Pavit made him work hard until the very end.

Wooyoung Cho.

Cho made crucial par saves on 11 and 12 and led by two with two to play but both front-runners missed the green on the challenging par-three 17^th.  Pavit then hit a brilliant bunker shot up to six feet to give himself a fighting chance, but he missed his par putt while Cho holed his from a slightly shorter distance. Soon after, the Korean finished in style with a birdie on the par-four 18^th.

“It feels very amazing,” said Cho, who turned professional immediately after winning Asian Games gold.

“This is my first event in 2026. I started off the season very well and I really enjoyed it.

“The most important thing in my game today were the saves on 11 and 12. On hole 11 I just wanted to make bogey, just an easy bogey, but I think it was lucky to make par. On hole number 12 I think it was very important to make par as well. That’s why I won this tournament.”

The par save on 17 was equally key to his victory.

He explained: “I just wanted to hit the green, but I missed it right. I didn’t care about Pavit’s ball, whether he’s on the green or not, whatever. I just wanted to save a par. That chip to the green was very, very good to make the par. So yeah, God bless.”

He earned a cheque for US$90,000 plus another US$10,000 for carding the lowest round of the day, which the club sponsored for each round.

His previous best finish on the Asian Tour was second place at the Bharath Classic toward the end of last year. He is also a two-time winner on the Korean PGA Tour, once in 2023 as an amateur and then in 2024 in his first full season as a member of the paid ranks.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

His team-mates in the Korean side that won the Asian Games were PGA Tour stars Siwoo Kim and Sungjae Im, plus Yubin Jang.

Pavit was trying to win an Asian Tour event for the first time since 2019.

He said: “I played my best today. I mean, hitting good irons, giving myself a chance. I hit it in the fairways, and I was hoping my putts would drop. But congrats to Wooyoung, he made some really, really important putts on the back nine. I was trying to get my momentum back, but yeah, I couldn’t do it.”

Australian Travis Smyth returned a 73 for third, six behind Cho, while Kochhar shot a 77 for fourth, two further adrift.

The Asian Tour ventures to the Southern Hemisphere next for the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort.

The event, which has been part of the Asian Tour since 2018, will be played at Millbrook Golf Resort in Queenstown, from 26 February – 1 March.

Australian lefthander Ryan Peake will defend his title, in an event that boasts overall prizemoney of NZ$2million (approximately US$1.2million).

Travis Smyth.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Karandeep Kochhar celebrated his return to the Asian Tour by breaking the course record on the famous East Course at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club to take the third-round lead in the Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission today.

The Indian, who finished in the top-10 on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit last year to regain his Asian Tour card, fired an astonishing bogey-free seven-under-par 65 for a tournament total of eight-under.

South African Ian Snyman (70), Travis Smyth (71) from Australia, Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (71) and Korea’s Wooyoung Cho (71), share second place – two strokes behind.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert (68) is in sole possession of sixth, another shot back.

Smyth, Sarut and Cho started the day sharing the lead along with Korean Jeunghun Wang – who returned a 73 today and is four behind the leader.

Breaking par on the East Course – respected for being one of the most challenging courses in the region – is an outstanding achievement. Kochhar’s round, therefore, may well remain as the performance of the year – even though this week is the season-opening event on the Asian Tour.

Karandeep Kochhar after making birdie on 17.

The golfer from Chandigarh said: “I think the way this course has been playing for the past two days and today, with a little bit of rain, which was there for maybe seven, eight holes, I would say I think it was probably one of my finest performances.

“Because it’s not easy out there to score, the greens are tiny, they can get quick if you’re on the wrong side of the hole. And yeah, I think I just played really well tee to green, that’s been the mantra this week, just try to hit as many greens as possible.”

He made six birdies: four in the first six, back-to-back ones on 11 and 12 and the final one, that allowed him to break the previous course record by one, on the legendary par-three 17^th.

About the penultimate hole, he explained: “I think I was adjusting between clubs today, between an eight and seven, because I think because of the weather, the way it was, it was a little bit humid, the ball wasn’t flying as far. So, my caddie and I just decided on the seven iron, like a chippy seven iron there.

“My iron play has been very good this week, and then I hit a good putt. I hit a good shot to whatever, like six, eight, feet or whatever, and then just trusted the line, trusted the pace. Which is what I did pretty much the whole day, tried not to get ahead of myself.”

He is back to the Asian Tour full time this year after finishing fifth on the ADT Merit list. He won the Egypt Golf Series – Red Sea Open on the ADT last year and had a runner-up result in Morocco.

He’d impressed on the Asian Tour in 2022 and 2023 but surprisingly lost his card in 2024 but looks determined to set the record straight from the get go this year.

Travis Smyth.

His round could not have come at a more appropriate tournament as the player who shoots the lowest each day wins a cheque for US$10,000, which the club are sponsoring.

The majority in the leading pack, including Kochhar, are trying to win for the first time on the Asian Tour.

Smyth is one of the exceptions, having claimed the Yeangder TPC in 2022.

“It was a bit bipolar today, honestly,” said Smyth about his day.

“My back nine I was hitting it all over the place. I don’t know how many fairways I hit. I would have only hit maybe two or three. And you know, to miss the fairway, like the fairways aren’t that hard to hit here, because you’re hitting four iron off the tee, and hybrid and five iron and stuff like that, and I was hitting it down the tree lines with those clubs.

“So, it was sort of the front nine was really solid and I somehow managed to shoot one under on the back, although I was hitting it everywhere. Anything under par is a good score, and today was one of those rounds where I’m just, I’m honestly surprised that I even managed to shoot under par. Like, it was a gritty, gritty up and down sort of round.”

Ian Snyman.

Snyman is another looking for a maiden win in the region, having come close on numerous occasions.

He said: “Very steady, basically, what the scorecard showed us today. I hit a lot of greens, hit a lot of fairways, when I was in trouble I managed to get up and down most of the time.”

He is also another who likes the course – despite the high level of difficulty.

“I like it, smart play and good ball striking gets rewarded, and that’s what excites me. I don’t like lucky golf, so if you’re in the trees it should be difficult. If you’re in the rough, it should be difficult, so this is my type of golf course,” he said.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

There was an element of nostalgia in Jeunghun Wang’s two-under-par 70 today at the Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission.

It moved him into a share of the lead on day two on five under at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Manila – reviving memories of his first ever appearance on the Asian Tour here 15 years ago.

His compatriot Wooyoung Cho (70), Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (71), the first-round leader, and Australian Travis Smyth (69) are on the same total – in the season opening event on the Asian Tour.

One shot back are South African Ian Snyman (68) and Marcus Plunkett (70) from the United States.

In 2011, aged 16 and still an amateur, Wang [main picture] competed in the Philippine Open here and although he missed the cut it marked the start of his career on the international stage. He went on to win three times on the DP World Tour, one of those, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open – a tournament joint sanctioned with the Asian Tour.

Said the 30-year-old: “I don’t actually remember the course from back then, but when I played here, I was really nervous. That’s what I remember, actually.”

Wooyoung Cho.

There were no such nerves today. He was bogey free, making his first birdie on the 16th – he started on 10 – before another birdie on the fifth.

The Korean has not tasted victory since the 2017 Qatar Masters although he has been on the cusp of winning many times, including at last year’s Moutai Singapore Open, where he was beaten by Japan’s Yosuke Asaji in a sudden-death play-off.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t make any bogeys today. Yeah, I’m really happy, and hopefully I can keep not making bogeys on this course,” he added.

“I hit a lot of fairways and my short irons have been pretty good this week. So always just regulation play on the greens, and just two putts. I’m not too aggressive on this course.”

He revealed he visited the course two weeks ago and practiced for about an hour and a half at the famous venue, to get a headstart.

Cho, also started on 10, and drew level with Wang after making birdie on the ninth, his final hole. He also made a birdie on the daunting par-three 17th, which rarely sees twos.

On his birdie on the last he said: “It was a very hard shot. The second shot was from the [fairway] bunker. I was in the bunker and had a very high bunker lip, so I was just trying hit it very high, yeah, that was it.”

Sarut Vongchaisit.

On the 17th, he explained: “Yeah, I pray every time I get to 17 but yesterday was a very nice shot and today also a very nice shot, so I have good confidence in my iron game.”

The Korean, a professional for two years, is looking to win for the first time on the Asian Tour.

He arrived in the Philippines having spent the off-season practicing in Thailand, getting away from the winter in Korea.

“I’ve just had a lot of practice in Thailand, so that’s why I’m hitting it very nice now. In the winter season I was in Pattaya at Siam Country Club,” said the Korean, who explained he hit a lot of two and three irons off the tees to tackle the famously tight and tough East Course.

Sarut, playing just his second season on the Asian Tour, struggled on the first half, going out in two-over, having been three over after seven due to three bogeys. Order was restored soon after when he nailed birdies on eight, 11, 12 and 14.

“Good comeback!” he said. “Happy to shoot under on this course. It’s not a long course, just tight. It suits me as I don’t hit the furthest out here, and you definitely need to know your way out here, so that definitely helps.”

An eagle on the par-five 15^th saw Smyth take the lead on six under later in the day but a bogey three holes later saw him drop back into the pack.

Travis Smyth.

Smyth, enjoying the challenge of Wack Wack, said: “First time yeah, I love it. It gives me like, sort of Hong Kong Golf Club vibes. A little bit where you just sort of place it around off the tee, a lot of like four irons and hybrids off tees and it was even a couple of six irons off some of the par four tees. So, it’s quite cool, I’m enjoying it, it’s good.”

Snyman, Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Tomoyo Ikemura from Japan shared the US$10,000 prizemoney for lowest round, which the club are sponsoring each day.

The cut was made at four over – a reflection of the stiff challenge the East Course presents.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Wack Wack Golf & Country Club’s East Course lived up to its tough reputation today with Sarut Vongchaisit’s four-under-par 68 good enough to take the first-round lead in the Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission.

On a hot and windy day in Manila in the season-opening event on the Asian Tour, it gave him a one-shot lead over American Charles Porter and Jeunghun Wang and Wooyoung Cho, both from Korea.

Wang Wei-hsuan and Hung Chien-yao from Chinese-Taipei, Australians Travis Smyth and Kevin Yuan, and Marcus Plunkett from the United States, returned 70s, for a tie of fifth.

Sarut rallied strongly at the end of last year, finishing 64^th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – which sees the top 65 keep their cards. He also won earlier in the year at the Nam A Bank Vietnam Masters on the Asian Development Tour – for his maiden professional victory.

Despite a two-week break from the game during the off season it appears he has not lost his touch. He made six birdies and two bogeys, having started on the 10^th.

Charles Porter.

He was out in the morning session with the target he set proving unreachable for the afternoon flights.

“I’m feeling good. Just put it in play and my all-around play was good, pretty much, no bad shots,” said the 26-year-old, who has been a professional for two years.

“Definitely tough out there, with the wind, especially on the back nine, my front nine. I did prepare well for this course. I know it’s a tight course, so I hit a lot of rescues off the tee. So, I have been practicing, a lot of those.”

Two top 10s on the Asian Tour last year, at the SJM Macao Open and Mandiri Indonesia Open, put him on track to keep his card for this year.

“I took a break from golf for like two weeks. That was nice but I definitely missed it. It was nice to get back to it,” he added.

“I would definitely love to get a win out here on the Asian Tour, yeah, and hopefully get the spot for LIV next year.”

His strong start means he already has cash in the bank this week as the club is rewarding the player who shoots the lowest round each day with US$10,000.  Porter is another rookie from last year who played well in the second half of the season to keep his playing privileges. He finished 29^th on the Merit list, catching the eye by finishing tied second in the Yeangder TPC in September before nearly winning the season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF, where he was joint third.

Wang Wei-hsuan pictured with his girlfriend Cindy Zhou.

Said the 26-year-old, who is the tallest player in the field at 6 feet 9 inches: “It was playing tough, because it was windy. I just tried to hit the fairways. It’s easier when you hit it in the fairway, but I wouldn’t say it’s ever easy. I just think plodding around, as opposed to hitting lots of drivers, is important. It’s good. It’s really challenging

‘I got to play two practice rounds here with a member on Saturday and Sunday. So that was huge. It’s friend of a friend of a friend of a friend, but super welcoming. And I love the Philippines. Lots of jet lag though having come from the US.”

As well as the cash prize for the lowest round of the day, there are impressive prizes on two of the par threes for holes in one. An ace on the seventh comes with a BMW i5 eDrive40 520i Hybrid, while a one on the 17th lands a BMW i5: the BMW all electric BMW 5 Series.

Making an ace on the penultimate hole would be quite a feat. The 191-yard hole is infamous and iconic as it is one of the hardest on Tour. The treacherous hole is guarded by bunkers and has a ‘camels back’ green and saw only 14 birdies today from a starting field of 142 players.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Overview: Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission

For the second season in succession the Asian Tour commences its year in the Philippines – this time at this week’s Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission.

It is a brand new event, in one of the Asian Tour’s most popular nation’s – popularly known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’. Its National Open raised the curtain on last year’s season.

The Philippine Sports Commission is the driving force behind all sports in the archipelago and one of their key pillars is sports tourism – through international events like this week’s tournament.

The tournament is organised under the auspices of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Committee (NST-IAC) along with the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP). The Asian Tour is the official regional sanctioning body.

BingoPlus is also an Official Sponsor – building on its expanding golf sponsorship portfolio which saw it become presenting partner at last year’s hugely successful International Series Philippines.

Taichi Kho.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission
• Date: 5-8 February, 2026
• Venue: Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, Manila
• Par/Yards: 72 / 7,188 yards
• Purse: US$500,000
• Asian Tour leg: First
• Edition of tournament: First
• 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.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016)
• Nationalities: 26
• Top contenders: Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Wang Wei-hsuan (TPE), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Jinichiro Kozuma (JPN), Lee Chieh-po (TPE), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), Taichi Kho (Hong Kong), Sarit Suwannarut (THA)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Suteepat Prateeptienchai #267
• No. of amateurs in the field: 9
• No. of Filipino players in the field: 42

Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.

Tournament Notes

• The 2019 Order of Merit winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand finished the 2025 season very strong with two consecutive top six results in Saudi Arabia and India, plus posted four top-10s in his last eight events. The seven-time Asian Tour winner collected six top-10s last season with the highlight being a T2 at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May. This good form resulted in him finishing eighth on the Order of Merit. He was also in contention to earn a spot on the LIV Golf League in the Promotions event in January until a final round 72 derailed his chances.
• Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan had a breakthrough season in 2025 and recorded three top-three finishes in a span of a month in September-October, finishing T2 at the Yeangder TPC, third at Mercuries Taiwan Masters and losing a play-off at the SJM Macao Open to finish a career best ninth on the Order of Merit. He also won three events on his local Taiwan PGA Tour last year and won that Order of Merit.
• Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand had his best ever season of the Asian Tour in 2025, placing fourth on the Order of Merit after a win at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, a T2 at the Yeangder TPC and a T3 in the Moutai Singapore Open. Last year’s win was his third on the Asian Tour after winning the 2024 SJM Macao Open and the 2017 Thailand Open.
• Fellow Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai is the highest ranked player on the OWGR this week at number 267, after another fine season in 2025 where he won the Mandiri Indonesia Open and had three other top-10s to finish 14^th on the Order of Merit. He is now four-time Asian Tour winner after having previously won the 2023 and 2024 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open as well as the 2024 Yeangder TPC.

Jinichiro Kozuma.

• Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma was playing in the LIV Golf League the past two seasons as part of the Iron Heads GC, now called Korean GC, and last year had a T2 in Dallas, a T7 in Korea and a T10 in Andalucia as his best results. Not picked up by a team this season, we might see more of him on the Asian Tour – especially in The International Series events. Kozuma is a three-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, the last coming at the 2024 Sansan KBC Augusta Golf Tournament.
• Lee Chieh-po from Chinese Taipei is another player who was competing on LIV last season with a T12 in Hong Kong and a T13 in Chicago as his best results on the circuit. Playing a limited Asian Tour schedule last year, the 2024 winner of the International Series Thailand posted a T11 in the Jakarta International Championship as his best effort.
• Among the local players in the field this week it is Justin De Los Santos, playing on the Japan Golf Tour mainly, who is the highest ranked player on the OWGR, while Justin Quiban was the highest ranked Filipino on the 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit.
• A total of 30 players out the 35 who earned their cards at Qualifying School in December are competing, including the winner Lin Yuxin from China, and the other talented player who finished second Shaurya Bhattacharya from India. Another graduate, Korean teenager Minchan Kim is also competing. He was a 16-year-old amateur when he made it through the School and also won the All Thailand Golf Tour Qualifying School the following week. Now aged 17, he’s making his debut as a professional this week.
• The top-10 players from last year’s Asian Development Tour Order of Merit – who earned full playing status on this year’s Asian Tour – have also entered, led by the Merit list champion Tawit Polthai.
• The Asian Tour last visited Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in 2014 for the Philippine Open – when Australia’s Marcus Both claimed victory on the East Course. Other players to have won the Philippine Open there since the Asian Tour was formed in 2004 are: Scott Strange (2006), Frankie Minoza (2007), Angelo Que (2008), Berry Henson (2011), and Mardan Mamat (2012). Lin Wen-tang also claimed the Solaire Open in 2013 at the famous venue. The golf club holds a special place in golfing history, having hosted the 1977 World Cup of Golf, where Spain’s Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido successfully defended their title. The golf club’s name is pronounced “Wark Wark” not “Wack Wack”. It is named after the noise the native crows make. Hence the club logo features two black crows.
• Henson is in the field this week after successfully negotiating a return to Q-School last December.

Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

The Singapore Open will offer a direct pathway to golf’s oldest Major when it returns to the Serapong Course [main picture] at Sentosa Golf Club from 23-26 April this year, with two places having been made available for the 154th Open Championship – The R&A confirmed today.

The tournament will form part of the Open Qualifying Series (OQS), with the top two players, not otherwise exempt, earning places at The Open – adding major championship significance to one of Asia’s most treasured national opens.

This year’s Open Championship will take place at Royal Birkdale from 16-19 July.

The announcement comes as the Singapore Open makes a highly anticipated return to one of its most iconic venues. The Serapong Course has been a defining feature of the event’s modern era, hosting 14 editions won by many of the game’s greatest players, including Australian Adam Scott, a record three-time winner, Spain’s Sergio Garcia, England’s Ian Poulter, and Matt Kuchar from the United States.

Sadom Kaewkanjana poses with The Open 18th Pin Flag following his win at last year’s Kolon Korea Open, part of the Open Qualifying Series. Picture by Chung Sung-Jun/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

The 2026 Singapore Open will be part of The International Series and is expected to attract a strong global field, with players competing for both the national title and a coveted place at the Open Championship. Japan’s Yosuke Asaji triumphed last year when the event made its return after a three-year hiatus.

The other Asian Tour events part of the OQS this year are the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort and the Kolon Korea Open. Last year’s Link Hong Kong Open is also part of the series for this year’s Open.

The Asian Tour will return to Chinese-Taipei, one of the region’s golfing strongholds, with even greater anticipation this year as the region welcomes the return of the Taiwan Open – after a break of 20 years – an increase in prizemoney for the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and an important date change to the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.

The Yeangder Group have confirmed they will revive the Taiwan Open, last played in 2006, and become the historic tournament’s title sponsor.

The event will be played at Linkou International Golf & Country Club [main picture], from 17-20 September, and boast prizemoney of US$1.2million. The move means the event will replace the Yeangder TPC, which enjoyed a 15-year run of its own.

“After a 20-year hiatus, the Taiwan Open is officially making its return!” said Emmet Hsu, Chairman, Yeangder Group.

“The Taiwan Open has long been one of the most iconic events in Chinese-Taipei’s golfing history and was once our most prestigious international professional golf tournament.

Rattanon Wannasrichan dons the green jacket from former champion Jbe Kruger at last year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“We sincerely thank the Golf Association of the Republic of China for their support and approval in allowing this legendary tournament to return to the spotlight and shine once again.”

The Golf Association of the Republic of China (GAROC) is the long-time guardian of the event and is delighted at the prospect of its return.

Hsu added that in his efforts to revitalise golf in Chinese-Taipei, he is also hoping to bring back the women’s Taiwan Open, as well as contribute NT$30 million (approx. US$950,000) annually to GAROC to support junior golf development, elevate the standard of youth tournaments, and pave a long-term pathway for young Chinese-Taipei players.

Hsu said he also intends to run for GAROC presidency.

The Yeangder Group’s sponsorship of the Taiwan Open also represents an increase in prize money, as the Yeangder TPC boasted a purse of US$1million.

They will also continue to back the Ambassador ADT Open and HCT Open on the Asian Development Tour.

In another boost for the game on the island nation, organisers of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters confirmed they will increase the total prizemoney to US$1.2 million, up from US$1million.

The event, won last year by Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand and played on the Asian Tour since 2000, will be held at Taiwan Golf & Country Club from 24-27 September – the week after the Yeangder Taiwan Open.

In what will be a popular scheduling development, the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open will move from its slot towards the end of the season to the first half of the year. It will be staged from 7-10 May, at Taifong Golf Club, allowing Asian Tour members to enjoy an earlier visit to the well-liked country.

Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu was victorious in the event last November.

The Philippine Golf Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission is the new name of the season opening event on the Asian Tour – officials confirmed today.

The inaugural tournament is due to tee-off at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, from 5-8 February, and following elevated support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) it received a new designation.

Boasting prizemoney of US$500,000, organisers have also secured BingoPlus as an Official Sponsor – building on their expanding golf sponsorship portfolio.

“If we can host and organise world-class sports tourism events every month, we will do it—from WTA tennis to the Asian Tour,” said PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

“These events make the country proud. They make the city proud. They make Filipino athletes proud, and they inspire our youth to aspire,” added Gregorio, also the Chairman of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Committee (NST-IAC).

The tournament, organised under the auspices of the NST-IAC, had originally been named the Philippine President’s Trophy.

Jazz Janewattananond. Picture by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

“Golf is an integral part of this strategy, and we are happy to collaborate with the National Golf Association of the Philippines,” said Gregorio.

“When international athletes visit the Philippines, they don’t just compete, they experience our culture and embrace our spirit.”

An outstanding line-up of stars have entered – all hoping to make a fast start to the year.

Former Asian Tour number ones, American Sihwan Kim and Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand have entered along with Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho plus Chinese-Taipei ace Lee Chieh-po.​​

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour over the past two years, will be joined by five other champions from last year: Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Rattanon Wannasrichan, Poosit Supupramai and Ekpharit Wu, as well as Germany’s Dominic Foos.

Last year’s Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion Tawit Polthai from Thailand and Qualifying School winner Lin Yuxin from China will add even greater depth to the field. Nearly all of the 35 players who graduated from the School have entered.

Qualifying School winner Lin Yuxin. Picture by Jason Butler.

For BingoPlus the tournament represents another exciting opportunity to connect with the game. Last year they were the presenting partner for the hugely successful International Series Philippines.

Mr. Rafael Jasper Vicencio, President of AB Leisure Exponent Inc. said: “Through this partnership, BingoPlus, alongside our parent company DigiPlus, shows its strong commitment and reaffirms its support in sports – bridging the gap and making it more reachable and accessible to aspiring local athletes out there.

“As DigiPlus remains the leading digital entertainment platform, it aims to strengthen the partnership and collaboration between public and private sectors. The tournament is expected to have a world-class experience, draw golf fans and media attention as all eyes will be on Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in the first week of February. The inclusion of the Philippines on the Asian Tour calendar opens up new opportunities to enhance local golf athletes and future professionals while also boosting the Philippine sports tourism industry.”

Lucas Herbert will return to Queenstown next month, confirming his place in the field for the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook – set to be played across Millbrook Resort’s Coronet and Remarkables courses.

The Australian, winner of last year’s International Series Japan presented by Moutai, is known for his aggressive style of play and comfort on fast, firm layouts — qualities well suited to Millbrook’s championship courses.

His return to the NZ$2 million tournament signals his continued affinity for the event.

Speaking about his return, the LIV Golf star said he was looking forward to once again experiencing everything the week has to offer.

“I’ve always loved coming back to Queenstown and playing the New Zealand Open,” Herbert said. “The New Zealand Open is always a highlight on the schedule.”

“Queenstown is an incredible place to play golf; the courses are first class, and the support from fans is fantastic. I’m really excited to be coming back.”

Ryan Peake pictured winning last year. Picture by Steve McArthur/Photosport.

Previously ranked as high as 40th in the world, Herbert went close to claiming the New Zealand Open title in 2020, finishing runner-up to fellow Australian Brad Kennedy and is aiming to go one better.

“I was close in 2020 and narrowly missing out, like that sticks with you. I didn’t have my best stuff during that final round and Brad did, so fair play to him,” Herbert added.

“I know what it takes to contend at Millbrook Resort, and I’m coming back with the aim of being the one lifting the trophy at the end of the week and playing myself into the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.”

New Zealand Open Tournament Director, Michael Glading, welcomed Herbert’s confirmation, noting the value his presence brings to the event.

“Lucas is a proven international performer, having won three times on the DP World Tour and once on the PGA Tour and the Asian Tour, and now starring on LIV Golf,” Glading said. “Having him return to Queenstown reinforces the global standing of the New Zealand Open and the quality of field we continue to attract.”

Herbert’s countryman and defending champion Ryan Peake has also confirmed his participation.

The New Zealand Open returns to Millbrook Resort in Queenstown from 26 February to 1 March 2026, and is once again part of the Open Qualifying Series.