Reed rumbles Link Hong Kong Open with astonishing 59 to take lead
LIV Golf star Patrick Reed said earlier this week he had come here to win the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open and not treat it as a warm-up, and he spectacularly backed that claim up today by shooting an 11-under-par 59 to take the third-round lead.
Five birdies in a row started it and four on the trot finished it as the American leapt into the lead on 18-under.
Indian Rashid Khan and Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand share second place, three behind the leader. Khan shot a 63 and Nitithorn a 66.
Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, the leader at the start of the day, is one shot back following a 68.
Rashid Khan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It is only the second 59 recorded on the Asian Tour – the caveat being that preferred lies were played so it does not stand officially.
The only other 59 was registered back in March when American John Catlin recorded the magic number at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn.
Remarkably, Reed played with Catlin on that day, and it was also in the third round.
Reed sealed the deal with a confident 15-foot birdie putt on the famous par-four 18th here at Hong Kong Golf Club.
“Yeah, you know, it was kind of one those days,” said Reed, who is attempting to win for the first time in four years and claim his maiden Asian Tour title.
“I got up, I felt a little tight but felt ready to go and got out here and had probably one of the worst warm-ups ever.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I looked at my caddy, and he goes, hey, a warm-up is a warm-up, let’s go out and just play golf. He goes, some of your best rounds have come from a poor warm-up.”
Reed also made birdies on seven and 13 and was bogey free. He has only dropped two shots in three rounds.
Added the 2018 Masters champion: “And you know, I stepped up on that first tee and did a great drive, and then from that point on, just quality iron shots, leaving myself a lot of really good looks, and was able to make a lot of putts.”
He has been a regular visitor here over the past 10 years and came close to winning in 2015 when he tied for third.
Khan, who made five birdies on the back nine, two on the front and was also bogey free, is in a battle to keep his Asian Tour card, in 90th place on the Order of Merit. He needs a big finish tomorrow to take the pressure off.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “I feel great. I mean, you know, it’s been very long since I have been in contention playing. You know, to get a trophy home, I’m really working hard and really enjoying myself right now. That’s all I can say. I mean, when you’re playing golf, when you’re playing an event, a competitive round, it’s all about being comfortable on the golf course and just having fun out there.”
He is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, but it has been a while as both those wins came a decade ago.
Campbell was in far less prolific form today but did well to stay in touch with the front runner.
“I just putted really poorly today,” said the Kiwi.
“The putter was ice cold, so it was frustrating. It felt like it should have been a pretty low one out there, I think I only missed one or two greens, and I think I missed one fairway or something like that. So, I hit it easily well enough to have a really good score out there.”
Australian Wade Ormsby, winner of this event in 2017 and 2020, has a chance of adding a third title after carding a 64 to sit six off top spot. He is tied with Hong Kong ace Taichi Kho, after a 66.
England’s Justin Rose, the 2015 champion here, returned a 65 and sits eight behind “Mr 59.”
Ben Campbell’s defence of his US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open title continues to go according to plan after he took the halfway lead at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
The Kiwi fired a five-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard on 12-under by one from first-round leader Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand.
Nitithorn backed up his opening day 62 with a 67 and is two ahead of a trio of players in third place: Korean Yongjun Bae (62), Kevin Yuan (68) from Australia, and Japan’s Kazuki Higa (68).
Hong Kong’s number one Taichi Kho did what everyone was hoping for and made his move carding a 65 and is in a group of five players one stroke back.
Campbell appears to be in his comfort zone on the Fanling course, making four birdies on the back nine, one on the front and zero bogeys.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I just think it’s a course where, you know, I’m not the longest hitter, so it’s good that you just got to sort of plot your way around and just be patient I think,” said the 33-year-old, who is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour having also won this year’s International Series Morocco.
“I hit a lot of shots to sort of 10-15 feet today, and sort of just played patient. I didn’t fire at a few flags when I wasn’t quite in position and then rolled in a couple of 15 footers. So, yeah, I think it’s just all about being patient around here and sort of not trying to overpower the golf course.”
Nitithorn, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour trying to make amends for a poor season, courageously bounced back from a bogey-ridden start.
Having started on the back nine he bogeyed three holes in a row from the 14th, suggesting another disappointing day on the golf course was ahead. But he was able to respond in the correct manner by making a birdie on 17 and then three on the trot from the third.
He explained that a new relaxed approach is helping him to stay on track.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Actually, I didn’t think about it that much,” said the 28-year-old, about mis-firing early on.
“I mean, I feel like I really flowed today, and didn’t think about if I made a bogey, but just let it go. And it’s good that I have Sebastian, my caddie with me too, so he made me really have fun on the course and didn’t think about it.”
He was helped by chipping in for birdie on the fifth, about which he said: “I just pictured that shot chipped it and it went in.”
Nitithorn has been one of the Asian Tour’s rising stars over the past few season. His first win came at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in 2022, and he triumphed again that year at the International Series Singapore. He also claimed the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year.
Kho is exactly where he wants to be heading into the weekend, on the shoulder of the leaders.
“I thought today was a really solid round out there,” said Kho.
“I feel like I was able to capitalize on a lot of looks that I had that I quite didn’t do yesterday. I feel like I was able to really get going in my round from the first hole, and I was proud of how I was able to be in the right state of mind and being zoned in from the get-go. So, I’m happy about myself about that, and hopefully I sharpen up a couple things tomorrow, and yeah, we’ll get going.”
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It’s been a good two days work for a player who has been out of action for close to two months with a back injury.
He added: “My back has felt a lot better this week. It felt pretty good last week, and this week is progressing really nicely. So, lots of props to my team for getting me out here again, and yeah, it’s almost a surprise to me that my body is feeling so good. So, I’ll just continue to do what I’ve been doing, and hopefully I’ll get back to 100% really soon.”
A history-making winner here last year at the World City Championship, when he became the first golfer from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour, he is now trying to become the first from the territory to claim the Link Hong Kong Open.
England’s Justin Rose carded a 66 and is five under, while American John Catlin, leader of both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, surprisingly missed the cut.
Catlin returned a 68 and finished one over with the cut made at two under.
Two events remain this year, next week’s International Series Qatar, followed immediately by the PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers where the American needs to steady the ship if he is to remain on top.
“I’ll go and work on some things and tidy some things up,” said Catlin.
“It is all in a lifetime, sometimes you make a few mistakes, and you learn from them, and you move on. I’ve still got plenty to play for. I know where I want to be and I know what I have to do and do it, it’s all about going out there and doing it.”
Commentator Dom Boulet is known for his expertise by golf fans all over the world thanks to his deep knowledge of the game.
He will be even more on point for viewers this week commentating on the Link Hong Kong Open, having played the tournament multiple times as an amateur and professional before trading in the clubs for the mic and headphones to work behind the camera.
Boulet, a Hong Kong native, managed a fourth and sixth-placed finish as well as multiple top-20 placings in just under 20 starts as an amateur and professional, in groups featuring the late, great Payne Stewart, Peter Senior and Scott Hoch to name just a few.
This year’s tournament features Major winners Justin Rose and Patrick Reed, as well as rising star Tom Kim, a former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, and Boulet says it is the perfect chance for regional rising stars to learn from the best while trying to beat them.
He said: “It was a fantastic experience. I remember my first one the best playing 1984 with Peter senior, a great Australian player. Seeing the pros, how they play, at home in front of friends and family was a great experience. Now it is a bigger event in terms of set up, but it has always been a huge event with big crowds, it was always exciting to play in front of good crowds.”
Dom Boulet in action at the Pro-Am ahead of the International Series Thailand last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Boulet was a firm fan favourite in Hong Kong, and he enjoyed the experience of holing from the bunker on 18 in front of nearly 10,000 spectators while playing the same course with Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie back in the 1990s, a once-in-a-lifetime moment he described as “the biggest roar” he had ever experienced.
As a member of the Hong Kong Golf Club, he knows the Composite Course here better than most and said: “You must be precise, especially the front nine as there are dog legs and it is tree lined, so you must hit some quality golf shots. I might be a little bit biased, but I know a lot of the players very well, and they genuinely enjoy this golf course. It is a ‘second shot’ golf course.”
As commentator for the Asian Tour and the LIV Golf League plus on the Asian Tour’s Board of Directors, Boulet understands the pathway that The International Series offers to players through its rankings race better than most, with the champion getting an automatic berth and 32 players offered entry into the LIV Golf Promotions event in Saudi Arabia to compete for another spot on the roster.
He joked: “I’m jealous of these guys. The opportunities and money they have now, we never had. The players appreciate it and are genuinely excited. It is a game changer; it has reignited the tour and given us a great outlook for the future.
“When I’m commentating, I can feel the tension, and see it is in the back of a player’s mind – in a position where they have got a good chance. The quality of the golf has shot up as well – you can tell from the scores and the number between the leader and the cut mark.
Boulet in on-course commentator mode at the LIV Golf Bangkok in 2022. Picture by Peter Van der Klooster/Getty Images.
“You can see the quality of the field, the depth of the field The International Series is one of the factors, as these guys are working harder for bigger rewards.”
Boulet learned from players such as three-time major winner Stewart back in the day, and this latest generation is getting a similar schooling from some of the best in the game.
“Take the guys like Patrick Reed for example. The chance to see them up close and learn from them is invaluable. How often do you get the chance to learn from a Masters champion with a short game like that? It is literally a life-changing opportunity for the guys on the Asian Tour. To take a step to the next level.
“Think about Kieran Vincent last season on Legion XIII – he won his place onto the LIV Golf League, and he got the chance to play practice rounds and hang with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton all season. Goodness me, for a young man in his early 20s, what an incredible learning experience and opportunity.”
Boulet is a graduate from the revered Northwestern University in Illinois, and he believes the US college system is starting to look at The International Series as a viable route to the big time, given the bigger prize money on offer, and its pathway to the LIV Golf League.
He said: “I think what golfers are very good at, is they like to talk. And as big a game it is, it is also a very small industry, so players all know each other. And I’m sure the likes of Andy Ogletree, who won the rankings race last year and joined the HyFlyers GC, went back and spoke about the well-run events, the purse, the intense competition. It is a great option.”
Nitithorn Thippong courageously bounced back from a bogey-ridden start to keep his lead in the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open today.
He added a three-under-par 67 to his first day 62 to hold the clubhouse lead on 11-under by three shots at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, after the morning flights came in.
Hong Kong’s number one Taichi Kho did what everyone was hoping for and made his move carding a 65 to sit in second place, along with Tomoyo Ikemura from Japan, who fired a 67.
One stroke back are Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai, plus Italian Stefano Mazzoli, who all shot 66s, Korean Yeongsu Kim, in with a 67, and Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines and American Patrick Reed, who both returned 68s.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Nitithorn, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour trying to make amends for a poor season, was in trouble early on when, after starting on the back nine, he bogeyed three holes in a row from the 14th.
It suggested another disappointing round was on the cards, but he was able to respond in the correct manner by making birdie on 17 and then three on the trot from the third.
He explained that a new relaxed approach is helping him to stay on track.
“Actually, I didn’t think about it that much,” said the 28 year old, about mis-firing early on.
“I mean, I feel like I really flowed today, and didn’t think about if I made a bogey, but just let it go. And it’s good that I have Sebastian, my caddie with me too, so he made me really have fun on the course and not think about it.”
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He was helped by chipping in for birdie on the fifth, about which he said: “I just pictured that shot chipped it and it went in.”
Nitithorn, whose nickname is “Fever”, has been one of the Asian Tour’s rising stars over the past few season. His first win came at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in 2022, and he triumphed again that year at the International Series Singapore. He also claimed the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year.
Kho is exactly where he wants to be heading into the weekend, on the shoulder of the leader.
“I thought today was a really solid round out there,” said Kho.
“I feel like I was able to capitalize on a lot of looks that I had that I quite didn’t do yesterday. I feel like I was able to really get going in my round from the first hole, and I was proud of how I was able to be in the right state of mind and being zoned in from the get-go. So, I’m happy about myself about that, and hopefully I sharpen up a couple things tomorrow, and yeah, we’ll get going.”
It’s been a good two days work for a player who has been out of action for close to two months with a back injury.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “My back has felt a lot better this week. It felt pretty good last week, and this week is progressing really nicely. So, lots of props to my team for getting me out here again, and yeah, it’s almost a surprise to me that my body is feeling so good. So, I’ll just continue to do what I’ve been doing, and hopefully I’ll get back to 100% really soon.”
A history-making winner here last year at the World City Championship, when he became the first golfer from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour, he is now trying to become the first from the territory to claim the Link Hong Kong Open.
England’s Justin Rose carded a 66 and is five under, while American John Catlin, leader of both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, surprisingly looks like missing the cut.
Catlin returned a 68 and is one over with the cut looking set to be two under.
Two events remain this year, next week’s International Series Qatar, followed immediately by the PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers where the American needs to steady the ship if he is to remain on top.
“I’ll go and work on some things and tidy some things up,” said Catlin.
“It is all in a lifetime, sometimes you make a few mistakes, and you learn from them, and you move on. I’ve still got plenty to play for. I know where I want to be and I know what I have to do and do it, it’s all about going out there and doing it.”
Scott Vincent is in the mix at this week’s Link Hong Kong Open, and the Zimbabwean has been quick to credit the support of his wife after she made a one-off return to caddie duties for the tournament.
The 32-year-old shot a first round five-under-par 65, an encouraging start as he looks to finish the season strongly with three events remaining including this week. He was paired with Thailand’s Nitithorn ‘Fever’ Thippong, who opened with a stunning 62.
Said Vincent after his first round: “That was really good, solid golf. I felt I was getting left behind – Fever is playing incredible golf right now. But all throughout the day it felt really good and solid, I was just trying to be patient and let it come to me, trying not to chase anything. It was a really good example of just sticking with your game and just letting it come to you.”
Scott Vincent. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Vincent was quick to credit the big part wife Kelsey played in the performance, after she made a cameo turn on the bag. The pair met during Vincent’s time at Virginia Tech on a golf scholarship, with Kelsey on the university’s women’s soccer team, and she caddied for him from 2017 before giving up the position in 2019 ahead of the arrival of their first child.
Vincent explained: “She had given me the thumbs up to come out here to play. I asked if she wanted to caddie and she was all about it. This is her first time back since 2019, so it is special for us to do this just for this week. It’s a one-off, the kids are in good hands with my mum and my wife’s mum, and seem pretty happy because they are getting spoiled.
“She has that experience, and she just knows. I got to train her the way that I wanted her to caddie, which was great, and she remembers all that. I didn’t have to say anything out there today, she knew exactly what to do, which is cool. What she brings is just that calm, that warm smile and good energy. It is nice having someone that cares about you so much right next to you.”
The winner of the 2022 International Series Rankings has played on the LIV Golf League for the past two seasons for Irons Heads GC but finished in the drop zone this year.
However, he is determined to make an immediate return by winning the Rankings race once again or by making it through via the LIV Golf Promotions event at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia from 12-14 December.
Nitithorn Thippong’s season just brightened up considerably after he holed out from a greenside bunker for a battling par on the 18th to seize the first-round lead in the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open.
The Thai golfer, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour but enduring one of his worst seasons, shot a morale-boosting eight-under-par 62.
Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, Australian Kevin Yuan and Japan’s Kazuki Higa are next best placed following 63s, in the third from last event of the season on both the Asian Tour and The International Series.
Indian Rashid Khan and Korea’s Jaewoong Eom fired 64s – here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
Nitithorn goes by the nickname “Fever” and lived up to that billing with a red-hot round made up of an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey.
Nittihorn Thippong after holing out on 18. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It did look like his day would be spoiled when he hit his second into a bunker on the par-four last, and then failed to get out from a plugged lie. However, facing the prospect of a double or worse he proceeded to hole his fourth to loud cheers from the large gallery.
“I shanked that second shot on 18 after a great drive,” said the 28 year old.
“On the first bunker shot the lie was just too bad but the next one I calmed myself down, it was great to hole it.
“The key for me today was to make myself flow and stick with the plan. That’s all I did today, and it really worked. I pushed myself too much early on but then settled down
“I have been thinking too much about my golf and my swing. I have had a problem with my mental game this year.”
He has also been pre-occupied with thoughts of his father as he suffered a stroke recently, but the Thai star says he is on the mend.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Lying in 81st place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit he needs an exceptional week here and next week, at the International Series Qatar, to book his place in the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Advisers, which is exempt for the top-30.
His most recent victory came at last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open, which with its two-year exemption means he is not worried about losing his card next year.
Campbell famously holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole here last year to edge Australian Cam Smith by one and picked up where he left off today. He also birdied the 18th once more, although that was midway through his round as he started on the back nine.
Persistent rain all week, which meant yesterday’s Pro-Ams had to be cancelled, has left the course very wet under foot. With little roll on the ball competitors are facing a very different golf course.
“I said to Mike my caddy, you know, we sort of have to forget everything about this course,” said Campbell.
“Prior knowledge and how we played it last year goes out of the window because my driver wasn’t going anywhere near as fast, everything was just stopping.
“So, yeah, I think it was just one of those days you just had to sort of play the course right in front of you and be pretty aggressive. Because, yeah, obviously you weren’t bouncing off into bad places or anything.”
Kevin Yuan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His win last year was his first on the Asian Tour and has been something of a turning point in his career. In July he claimed the International Series Morocco and along with a host of other strong outings he is currently fourth on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
He added: “I think my driving and putting are important around here, I didn’t miss a fairway today. I’ve been driving the ball really well lately and then you know, I managed to hole a few good putts on the back nine. I think that’s going to be the key out there.”
With only three events remaining this season, including this week, the 33-year-old from Queenstown needs a prolific finish to catch American John Catlin on the Asian Tour Merit list but The International Series Rankings – which sees the winner earn a prized place on next year’s LIV Golf League – is wide open. Catlin also leads the rankings.
Yuan is at the other end of the Merit list. Sitting in 56th place he is in a fight to keep his Tour card for next year, as the top 65 retain their playing privileges.
Yuan said: “It has definitely been on my mind. Playing the Asian Tour for the past couple of years, it is such a strong Tour. I haven’t been playing my best, as the results have shown. It is a huge goal to play well this week and hopefully next week to secure my card.”
Kazuki Higa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He started the season promisingly by finishing fifth in the Malaysian Open, for one of his finest finishes on the Asian Tour – his best is equal second in last year’s International Series Vietnam – but he’s struggled to replicate that form since.
“I am very happy with how I played today,” he added.
“I started off pretty strong, with a birdie on the first and third and had opportunities on four and five. I was rolling the putter well. It’s been pretty good and then I tried to keep it in the fairway for the last stretch.”
Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho signed for a respectable 67, England’s Justin Rose, who won here in 2015, carded a 69, while Korean Tom Kim – making his first appearance on the Asian Tour in two and a half years – returned a 71.
“I played so well today, but missed so many putts on the edge,” said the 22-year-old Kim, now a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“Really nothing I could do, played really well. Ended up one over, but didn’t feel like one over. Just gotta keep going at it.”
Catlin had a surprisingly poor day shooting a 73.
Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, Australian Kevin Yuan and Japan’s Kazuki Higa all carded seven-under-par 63s to seize the clubhouse lead mid-way through the first round of the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open today.
They lead from Indian Rashid Khan and Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, who fired 64s, here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
Campbell famously holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole here last year to edge Australian Cam Smith by one and picked up where he left off today. He also birdied the 18th once more, although that was midway through his round as he started on the back nine.
Persistent rain all week, which meant yesterday’s Pro-Ams had to be cancelled, has left the course very wet under foot. With little roll on the ball competitors are facing a very different golf course.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I said to Mike my caddy, you know, we sort of have to forget everything about this course,” said Campbell.
“Prior knowledge and how we played it last year goes out of the window because my driver wasn’t going anywhere near as fast, everything was just stopping.
“So, yeah, I think it was just one of those days you just had to sort of play the course right in front of you and be pretty aggressive. Because, yeah, obviously you weren’t bouncing off into bad places or anything.”
His win last year was his first on the Asian Tour and has been something of a turning point in his career. In July he claimed the International Series Morocco and along with a host of other strong outings he is currently fourth on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
He added: “I think my driving and putting are important around here, I didn’t miss a fairway today. I’ve been driving the ball really well lately and then you know, I managed to hole a few good putts on the back nine. I think that’s going to be the key out there.”
Kevin Yuan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
With only three events remaining this season, including this week, the 33-year-old from Queenstown needs a prolific finish to catch American John Catlin on the Asian Tour Merit list but The International Series Rankings – which sees the winner earn a prized place on next year’s LIV Golf League – is wide open. Catlin also leads the rankings.
Yuan is at the other end of the Merit list. Sitting in 56th place he is in a fight to keep his Tour card for next year, as the top 65 retain their playing privileges.
Yuan said: “It has definitely been on my mind. Playing the Asian Tour for the past couple of years, it is such a strong Tour. I haven’t been playing my best, as the results have shown. It is a huge goal to play well this week and hopefully next week to secure my card.”
He started the season promisingly by finishing fifth in the Malaysian Open, for one of his finest finishes on the Asian Tour – his best is equal second in last year’s International Series Vietnam – but he’s struggled to replicate that form since.
“I am very happy with how I played today,” he added.
“I started off pretty strong, with a birdie on the first and third and had opportunities on four and five. I was rolling the putter well. It’s been pretty good and then I tried to keep it in the fairway for the last stretch.”
Korean Tom Kim, one of the event’s marquee players making his first appearance on the Asian Tour in two and a half years, returned a 71.
Kazuki Higa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I played so well today, but missed so many putts on the edge,” said the 22-year-old, now a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“Really nothing I could do, played really well. Ended up one over, but didn’t feel like one over. Just gotta keep going at it.”
With three of the richest events remaining on the Asian Tour this season, starting with this week’s US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open, followed by the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar and the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings are still up for grabs – although quite different scenarios are necessary to topple John Catlin who leads both.
The American currently has a commanding lead on the Merit list with 3,030.06 points, ahead of Richard T. Lee from Canada, who is second with 1,775.29.
Lee is also second on the Rankings, which Catlin leads with 900.58 points to Lee’s 660.64.
On the Merit list Catlin is going to be extremely hard to catch; it requires a superhuman effort by one of his pursuers while he starts missing cut, an extremely unlikely scenario.
Anyone down to 28th could technically surpass Catlin’s points but it would take winning all three events.
Richard T. Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
However, it would be his closest challengers Lee, Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po in third on 1,490.73 points, Ben Campbell from New Zealand, fourth with 1312.72, Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai, in fifth with 1,309.11, and American M.J. Maguire, who is sixth with 1,246.18 points, that have the best chance, even if slim, of catching Catlin.
With a win this week at Hong Kong Golf Club worth 787.5 points none of Catlin’s pursuers will be able to pass him, and only the two Lee’s have a chance to do so with a win in both Hong Kong and Qatar. This scenario would get the Canadian Lee to 3,350.29 points and his Chinese Taipei namesake to 3,065.63 while also requiring that Catlin does not earn any points in the two events.
The final and richest event of the season, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, will have 1,050 points going to the winner and 570 for a solo second place, but with the world-class field assembled at Riyadh Golf Club the points there will be hard earned.
Even with two consecutive wins in the next two events plus a solo second in Riyadh in the season ending event, only then would Suteepat and Maguire be added to the list of players that could potentially overtake Catlin.
Lee Chieh-po. Picture courtesy of Taiwan PGA.
The International Series Rankings race is an all-together different story as there is still plenty to be decided before that automatic spot on the LIV Golf League 2025 roster is confirmed.
The Link Hong Kong Open offers a prize breakdown of 360, 220 and 126 points for the top three places, similar to the seven previous tournaments on The International Series.
However, with the ensuing events in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have significantly more weighting.
First prize at Qatar will land the winner 450 points, with 275 and 157.50 for second and third place. In Saudi, the winner will get 1,000 points with 525 for runner up, 300 for third, 235 for fourth and 200 points for fifth.
In effect, the rankings race is alive until the final event of the season, with the top six of Catlin (900.58), Lee (660.64), Uihlein (621.10), Campbell (597.63), Lee Chieh-Po (572.52) and Maguire (509.75) all technically still in it.
However, a win for Catlin in Hong Kong or Qatar would effectively end the contest if his closest challengers failed to secure any significant points.
Lastly, let’s not forget the battle for a spot inside the top 65 on the Merit list in progress for players trying to secure their playing rights for next season.
Currently it’s Indonesia’s Jonathan Wijono who sits in 65th place with 200.4 points, but with big points on offer in all three remaining events this could go up considerably.
With a short field of only 120 players in next week’s International Series Qatar due to daylight, this week’s Link Hong Kong Open could be the last chance for many players to earn points to keep their cards.
The talent emerging from the local golf scene is well represented at this week’s Link Hong Kong Open, with nine players in the field for the US$2million event which takes place from 21-24 November.
Taichi Kho needs little introduction after winning the World City Championship here at the Hong Kong Golf Club last year as well as claiming the Asian Games gold medalist in China.
This week he is joined by four players from the professional ranks and four leading amateurs who all hope to use local knowledge going into the tournament.
Michael Regan Wong, one of two players to book his place in the tournament via a two-round qualifier at the course last month, is a Trainee PGA Professional working out of the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The 27-year-old showed his talent with a first-round 64 but needed a 12-foot clutch putt on 18 on day two to book his spot alongside Terrence Ng, who had Kho on the bag for the two rounds.
Leon D’Souza poses for a photograph with his new LAB putter during an official practice round before the Link Hong Kong Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Lining up alongside three Major champions, big names from the LIV Golf League and Asian Tour stars battling it out for vital points on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, Wong is doubling down on home advantage.
Aside from his own course knowledge, he will have another ace up his sleeve.
Fellow HKGC pro Steven Lam is on the bag for Wong this week. He said: “He’s a good player, too. So, with things like club selection, reading greens, even that extra 10% could be a great help.
“I’ve been working and trying to find time to practice. My form has been okay, and I’m just trying to prepare the best I can. It’s never going to be perfect so this week it’s about enjoying every moment and having fun. I’m thrilled to be here and there are some great players playing an amazing golf course.”
Wong last played the tournament 10 years ago as a 17-year-old in the edition won by Scott Hend, an experience he likened to being “a kid in a candy shop”.
He recently had the benefit of some top-level experience after qualifying for the SJM Macao Open, an Asian Tour tournament which featured Open champion Bryan Harman and Australian Min Woo Lee.
He said: “The whole week was great, just seeing some great players and being able to play amongst them and play – it is really just playing against the golf course, but then also seeing them there, it’s really cool.”
The other local players representing Hong Kong in the field this week are Leon D’Souza, Shun Yat Hak and the amateur quartet of Wang Ngai Shen, Isaac Lee, Alexander Yang and Timothy Chan.
D’Souza has a real air of confidence here after qualifying through his position on the Hong Kong PGA Order of Merit standings.
He said: “There’s no place like home and it’s nice to be back and playing on a course I’m familiar with and getting to see a lot of familiar faces. It only happens once a year so I’m just looking forward to being somewhere I’m comfortable.
“I just tell myself that at the end of the day, my game is good enough to be here. So, it is good enough to contend in a tournament like this. All the other players are trying to do the same thing, trying to do the best that they can do. That’s why we practice, and you tee it up and see how it goes on Thursday.”
D’Souza has lofty ambitions – he’s hoping to make the step up to the Asian Tour in the near future, with the dream scenario being to earn a place through a sensational week in his home tournament.
“That’s my next goal to get full status on the Asian Tour,” he said. “If you have a good week this week, then that takes care of it. I’m playing final stage (Q School) next month so we’ll see how that goes. But you can’t force anything. You can’t think too far ahead. You just got to take it day by day, do the best that you can do, and see where that gets you.”
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho has admitted the Link Hong Kong Open is the tournament that “means the most to me in the world”.
It is not overly surprising given the significance of the event to him and the importance of its famous venue, the Hong Kong Golf Club – for whom he is their ambassador – but it’s a timely statement given the tournament, which is also part of The International Series, tees off tomorrow.
The 24-year-old [pictured at a press activity yesterday] will once again try and become the first Hong Kong player to win the tournament, which is celebrating its 63rd edition, and despite having been out of action for most of the past two months because of a back injury, he is confident and upbeat.
“I am just super grateful to be back at the Link Hong Kong Open playing in front of all my friends and family,” said the uber-talented star, who claimed the World City Championship here last year, becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour.
Taichi Kho pictured at a press conference at the Xiqu centre on Tuesday November 19. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“This is the tournament that means the most to me in the world and to be here with the people that watched me grow up and helped me get to where I am is amazing.
“I am very grateful to be in this position. I will definitely give it my all. I hope to share a sense of pride by being here representing Hong Kong and China.”
Kho had been in fine form before back issues set in, recording four successive top-15 finishes. He is presently in 47th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and looking to finish the season strongly with two events remaining after this week, the International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
“I feel really good, I feel really motivated, I feel refreshed,” he adds.
“I think some time away from the game has helped me and given me some direction, so that clarity in my mental game and that motivation is really strong.”
He’s not sure how the injury happened, whether it was through playing golf or being in the gym, but he has been assured it’s not serious, and now knows the things to do to mitigate it in the future.
(L-R) Tom Kim and Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Recovery has been a patient process, but I feel a lot better now,” says Kho.
“I am just really looking forward to this week. I am playing with Pat (Reed) and Justin (Rose). I get to learn a lot from them. I want to put up a good performance in front of my family, friends, and the fans.”
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