Ryder Cup legend McDowell lining up for International Series encore
If Graeme McDowell is in need of inspiration ahead of this week’s US$2million International Series Singapore, then that will surely come from one of the events he made his name in, the Ryder Cup – which came to such a thrilling conclusion in Rome last Sunday.
The Northern Irishman helped Europe win three out of the four Ryder Cups he played in – he was also unbeaten in the singles matches, and vice-captain in 2018 and 2021 – and on the eve of this week’s tournament, which is being played on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club and is part of The International Series, he was in buoyant mood after Europe regained the biennial competition.
“Great victory and congrats to Luke and the whole team,” said McDowell, who holed the winning putt for Europe in 2010 – arguably his greatest year, as he also joined golf’s elite, when he became only the second European to win the U.S. Open in 85 years.
“They played phenomenal, that looked like a lot of fun. I missed a couple of hours of the early sessions, just during the time zones I was in. I really enjoyed it, it was the first time I have watched the Ryder Cup on TV, in a very, very long time. It is one of my favorite events that I have competed in. It is pretty special, a lot of great memories, a lot of friendships forged.
Graeme McDowell pictured during the Pro-Am event on Wednesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I was disappointed not to be there; it was great to cheer the boys on from afar.”
McDowell has been enjoying life playing on the LIV Golf League this and last year but on occasion has also competed on The International Series – the 10-tournament set of elevated events on the Asian Tour, which sees its Order of Merit winner earn a place on LIV Golf’s multi-million dollar circuit.
“As a LIV player I am happy where I am, I think it is a great product, but 14 events is not enough for me so I need more playing opportunities, and I think The International Series serves a lot of purposes,” he added.
“As LIV starts to stabilise its season it gives The International Series the ability to build their schedule around perhaps the LIV schedule and attract more of the best players in the world, which only continues to elevate the Asian Tour.
“I kind of I grew up in this part of the world. I have spent a lot of time here. I have always enjoyed travelling. It grounds you as a player.”
The 44-year-old’s last victory came in the 2020 Saudi International, and he is clearly hungry to get back to winning ways.
Said McDowell: “I am hitting it really well. I feel like my game is trending in the right direction, the last few months. It has been difficult getting any momentum for me on the LIV Golf League. I feel like it is a very competitive Tour, you just can’t afford to have a slow nine holes. I feel like I have struggled to build on my momentum and confidence.
“I am actually playing six in the next seven weeks: here, Jeddah, Miami, China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. I am actually excited to see if I can get a little bit of a head of steam up and to see if I can win some tournaments.”
McDowell later at the press conference. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He has been paired in the first two rounds with Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz and South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers, winner of last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Kieran Vincent competes in the US$2 million International Series Singapore this week – the event that marked his debut appearance on the Asian Tour last year – saying of the past 12 months: “I can’t dream of anything more”.
The Zimbabwean, brother of Scott Vincent who is now plying his trade with great success on the LIV Golf League and also competing this week, claimed the International Series Vietnam in April for a first win in the play-for-pay ranks, but that has been balanced by his fair share of disappointments.
“It has been a very up and down ride. I have had so many highs – so cool to be able to say now that I am an Asian Tour member, as well as have a win under my belt,” said the 25-year-old from Harare, who played college golf at Liberty University in the US.
“Not only that but I think I have grown as a person as well. I think I have been able to look at the last 12 months and see how much I have grown as a person on the course as well as off the course.
Kieran Vincent, Taichi Kho, defending champion Nitithorn Thippong and Jaco Ahlers pose with the winner’s trophy at the Jewel Changi on Tuesday October 3, 2023, ahead of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course). The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I think it has been pretty huge. I am blessed to be out here in Singapore again, and I am excited for the week.”
Low points include failing to progress to the weekend in the events played in Chinese-Taipei over the past two weeks, but Vincent is using that to his advantage.
He said: “I think a lot of people will look and say back-to-back missed cuts is not the best, but I have learned so much and it challenged me. I was able to get a sixth-place finish in Korea recently which was a huge momentum shift. So, a lot of confidence has come over the last few weeks, although it may not look like it. I have just been making small mistakes which have cost me a little bit.”
Vincent tied for 22nd in Singapore last year, when like this week the event was played on the Tampines Course here at Tanah Merah Country Club, and on that occasion his older brother said: “He is a great player, I have no doubt he will do something really special with his golf, and whether it is here or whether it is down the road it is going to be really good to see him playing well because he is very capable and we’ll just see how he does coming in.”
Prophetic words by the older brother, as Kieran quickly showed his potential by recording top-10 finishes in International Series events in Morocco and Egypt last year.
And he made it a unique brotherly double on the Asian Tour, when he claimed the International Series Vietnam – just 10 months after Scott won the International Series England.
Kieran holed a decisive 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to beat Anirban Lahiri from India and Australian Kevin Yuan by one stroke.
Has the pressure of that win been a help or a hinderance?
“You want to do well every time you tee if up and Vietnam just gave me that opportunity to show that ‘hey you got this, you can do this’ – but yes I did put way too much pressure on myself,” he said.
“This week is about going out there and having some fun again as a year ago I had barely any status anywhere. So to find myself here with full status for the next couple of years, I can’t dream of anything more.”
Kieran and Scott Vincent at last year’s event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His fellow African Jaco Ahlers is also here this week, on the back of his win in last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters – a first on the Asian Tour.
“It has been a bit of whirlwind,” said the South African.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Got on a plane on Sunday night, came here and walked the course yesterday, my wife arrived last night and is on the bag this week. It will probably sink in this week.”
South African Jaco Ahlers triumphed in the 37th edition of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters today, finally clinching his first title on the Asian Tour, after patiently winning a war of attrition at Taiwan Golf and Country Club – which has proven to be one of the toughest golf courses this season, with brutal rough and tapering fairways.
Ahlers is a prolific winner of titles on the Sunshine Tour on home soil, with 11, including their Tour Championship in April, and finally got off the mark in Asia following a two-shot victory over India’s Chikkarangappa S. – in the US$1million event, which is Chinese-Taipei’s richest tournament.
A player who says he enjoys more demanding courses, he proved that with a closing three-under-par 69 to finish on four-under – the highest winning score of year – while Chikkarangappa, the joint overnight leader with Korean Taehee Lee, carded a 74.
Australian Travis Smyth (69) and David Drysdale from Scotland (71), tied for third, an additional shot back.
Lee (76), India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (71) and Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei (71), were equal fifth, on even par.
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Ahlers, three off the lead at the start of the round and playing in the third from last pairing with his brother Hein on the bag, made his move on the back nine with birdies on 12, 14 and 15 and could afford to drop a shot on 16, with his nearest challengers unable to close the gap.
Chikkarangappa, popularly known as ‘Chikka’, had the best chance to catch him but the birdies dried up on the back nine and crucially he dropped shots on 13 and 16.
“It was tough,” said 40-year-old Ahlers, who becomes the first player from his country to win the event.
“It was a grind but very glad to be standing here with the trophy. This means a lot to me. I am feeling comfortable here now. I said to a friend of mine last week I feel like I can win on this Tour. So, there we go. I just tried to keep it in play and make a few birdies, missed a few as well.”
He has been knocking on the door in Asia for several seasons, including at the St. Andrews Bay Championship in August, where he tied for third.
For Chikka, chasing his first win on the Asian Tour, it was another frustrating near miss. He has now finished second three times, third once, and fourth twice.
He said: “Honestly, I feel really good. The way I hit the ball. And I putted extremely good, I am really happy about that. That was my weakness in the last couple of months but this week I made every putt when I had to. Even on the last hole today that was a clutch putt. I think something bigger is waiting for me.”
Smyth’s fine finishing round completed two excellent weeks in Chinese-Taipei, as he was second last week in the Yeangder TPC, where he was defending champion.
“It was extremely difficult, I am very happy to be under par for the week, that was my goal at the start of the week,” said the Australian.
“To cap it off with a three under, I am very pleased. I was playing from the rough pretty much every shot – the fairways are like 10-yard wide out here. It is just about managing the ball from the rough best you can. The difference today was my ball landed okay on the par fives, so I was able to get up and down for birdie quite a lot. I haven’t played well on this course, and it’s been nice to come off a second last week.”
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The tournament also marked the best finish by Drysdale on the Asian Tour, since making it through Tour School in January.
Said the former European Tour regular: “Difficult, lots of bogeys, lots of birdies. Just a difficult, difficult golf course – really enjoyed the challenge this week. A cross between Valderrama and the US Open. It’s so easy to make mistakes.
“I had a good finish today, like yesterday, so I am pleased with that because I think yesterday I was five over but had three birdies in the last six and then today I was a couple over but had three birdies in the last half dozen. I have enjoyed these past two weeks in Taiwan, it has been very hot for a Scotsman, but all in all enjoyed both golf courses. I look forward to coming back hopefully in the future. Looking forward to next week in Singapore.”
Next stop on the Asian Tour is next week’s International Series Singapore on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club, from October 5-8.
Korean Taehee Lee shot a three-under-par 69 and birthday boy Chikkarangappa S. from India a 71 to share the lead in the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters after round three at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, Tamsui.
They are in front on four-under, by one from New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, the overnight leader, who carded a 73, with India’s Veer Ahlawat (70), South African Jaco Ahlers (72), Angelo Que (72) from the Philippines, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana (73), and American Jarin Todd (74) two shots back.
Lee had no trouble making birdies, he recorded six of them, including three in succession from the fourth, but made three bogeys on one of the most challenging courses this year because of the narrow fairways and punishing, deep rough.
“It’s a tough course, no doubt, and the greens are difficult to read but my short game was very good – it has to be,” said Lee.
“And the wind was changing on every hole. It is my second time here. Tomorrow I will keep my mind clear and stay calm. Treat it like a normal day.”
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His co-leader Chikkarangappa S., or ‘Chikka’ as he is known, felt he played some of his best golf of the week, recording three birdies and two bogeys.
“Hit the ball better today and holed some good putts,” said the Indian, who turned 30 today.
“I could have made a few more birdie putts, I guess. But the greens are tough for everyone. I am pretty happy. Any round shooting red on this course is good.
“I am just sticking to my plan and process. Focus on my routine and the rest will fall into place. Doing things the right away and not thinking about the scores.
“It is a very, very challenging golf course – it is the most difficult it has ever been. It is tough for everyone, as you can see, day by day it is getting tougher for everyone. Anything red is good.”
Campbell had a one shot lead at the start of the day but struggle today.
He said: “It was tough to get into a bit of a rhythm. Battled with the swing today, what I have been working on did not quite work. But I hung in there and still have a chance tomorrow. I played some good golf in there but just a few bad holes. Had some chances coming in but just missed, gonna do some work on the game now.”
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (70), Jbe Kruger from South African (73) and Scotland’s David Drysdale (74) are in a tie for ninth – in contention, just four off the lead.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei came in with a 73 and is one over, in a group of players that includes Indian great Jeev Milkha Singha – the 51-year-old who is looking for his first Asian Tour victory in 15 years. He shot a 73.
Ben Campbell moved into the second-round lead at US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today on four-under after carding a three-under-par 69 – to be the only player to shoot two sub-par rounds.
American Jarin Todd (69) and Dodge Kemmer (72) and India’s Chikkarangappa S. (72) are one back at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, which once again posed a huge challenge, with the rough up and the fairways very tight – US Open style.
Scotland’s David Drysdale and Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand, also carded 72s, and are a further shot back – in what is the most lucrative golf tournament in Chinese-Taipei.
Campbell traded five birdies with two bogeys, and goes into the weekend looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.
“Played good at the start, dropped a couple in the middle, they were soft bogeys, unfortunately, which is easy to do out here,” said the New Zealander, who shone at this year’s New Zealand Open, coming home in a tie for second place.
Dodge Kemmer. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I hit it close on a few and played the par fives well, which makes it easier. I kept the ball in play nicely off the tee. It was really windy at the start but the last few holes it died a bit which was a big help for me. It is playing firm and fast and coming out of the rough it is hard to hold the greens.
“My game is obviously improving but there is still a way to go. I feel like the last few weeks have been getting better and better. Feel like my game is trending in right direction.”
Kemmer made amends for a double bogey on his final hole yesterday which cost him the outright lead, with a solid round that has him well placed with two rounds to go.
Said Kemmer: “First time here. It is interesting, it is difficult. You have to get lucky in the rough, and the fairways are so tight, it’s hard to hit them. You can’t try and force it too much. Par is a good score. You must stay patient.”
He made four birdies – two of which were the result of getting up and down on par fives seven and 15 – and four bogeys.
“I didn’t make quite as many putts as yesterday. It made the bad holes better, like nine and 10 – made enough birdies to stay around par,” added Kemmer, who is currently in 104th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) and needs a strong finish to the year to keep his playing privileges for 2024.
He is playing on the Asian Tour this year thanks to a card-securing top-10 finish on last season’s Asian Development Tour (ADT) OOM. He missed keeping his card by one place on last year’s Merit list before strong season-ending performances on the ADT salvaged his season.
Chikkarangappa S.’ scorecard was dominated with pars, with just a bogey on 10 and a birdie on 15.
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I putted really well. I was scrambling and the wind made things difficult. I kept making those clutch par putts,” said the player best known as ‘Chikka’.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei carded a 75 and is even for the event, tied for 12.
Lachlan Barker completed an outstanding week of golf today by winning the Asian Tour’s opening First Stage qualifier, at Mt Derrimut Golf & Community, in Melbourne.
The promising South Australian golfer closed with a final-round one-under-par 71 for a four-round aggregate of 16-under-par 272 – to lead eight players through to next January’s Final Stage, in Thailand.
Australia’s Andre Lautee and Nathan Barbieri both carded 66s to tie for second, two shots back – in the first of six First Stage qualifying events, and only the second time Australia has staged one of the qualifiers.
Australians Kyle Michel, Max Charles (amateur), William Bruyeres, and Maverick Antcliff along with New Zealand’s Sam Jones (amateur) secured the other spots. Jones edged out his countryman Jared Edwards with a sliding seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to claim the final spot.
Barker matched the course record on day one with a 64 and played exemplary golf on the small, firm greens, showing his ability to put the ball in the right position to score.
The eight qualifiers at Mt Derrimut Golf & Community.
Said Barker: “Course played great, and for four days in a row it was presented beautifully. I think on that back nine, a bit more wind kept me on my toes. I know I made a couple of bogeys just after the turn and that was when the wind picked up, and the holes played a bit differently than they had the first few days. Overall, I was fairly in control of it out there and got the job done. So, I’m happy with my week.
“My fondest memory has to be Tuesday, my opening 64, that was pretty good plus the day as a whole, as I had a good group of guys, and the putts were dropping.”
He led the event from start to finish and was six ahead at the halfway point and started today two in front.
“Mount Derrimut really embraced the event,” said David Rollo, Chief Operating Officer, Asian Tour.
“Putting surfaces were excellent, fast and true thanks to superintendent Simon Cochrane and his team, while general manager Ian Crews and his volunteer team provided comprehensive support. This included organising live scoring on the final day, which helped players and spectators understand what was needed to do to make it through over the closing stages.”
Soboba Springs Golf Club in California will host the next qualifier, from November 7-10.
Thailand, which has such a strong association with the Qualifying School, will then stage the ensuing events, at Grand Prix Golf Club, Kanchanaburi from December 12-15, and Pattana Sports Resort, Chonburi from December 19-22.
The final two First Stage qualifiers will be played simultaneously from January 9-12 at the Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok and Grand Prix Golf Club.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang has picked up where he left off in the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters by taking a share of the first-round lead today.
He shot a three-under-par 69 at Taiwan Golf and Country Club – where players have said the course is excellent but punishing, due to exceptionally narrow fairways and deep rough – along with veteran Angelo Que, Jaco Ahlers, Chikkarangappa S. and Dodge Kemmer.
Like the vast majority of the field, Chan, who started on 10, battled to get to grips with the back nine, playing it in one over with a bogey on 11, before a strong second half with birdies on one, three, five and six.
An impressive round considering he was nursing a cold, which he picked up from his son.
“The difficulty has definitely increased compared to last year,” said the Chinese-Taipei star, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour – who has also triumphed on six occasions on the Asian Development Tour.
“I didn’t play bad on my front nine, just wasn’t making any putts. I started sinking putts on the back. I will just play shot by shot this week, don’t think so much. I should have a chance on Sunday, if I can stay consistent for the next few rounds.”
Angelo Que. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
He beat Indian Rashid Khan on the second extra-hole here last year, to win this event for the first time, after making birdie on 18 thrice – once in normal play and twice in extra time.
Que, 44, rolled back the years and was quick to comment on the condition of the course.
“The conditions are very good, I think the best I have ever played at Tamsui!” he said.
“The greens are so nice. You don’t have to hit it so hard. Hopefully, I keep doing what I am doing. The key this week is just to keep it in play.”
The Filipino is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour but his last came in 2010 at the Selangor Masters.
“It was good today, played with Mardan [Mamat] and Liu [Yen-hung] – that was good, allowed me to play in my comfort zone,” he added.
“Started on 10 and started bad, made a double there, but was hitting it good. I just kept on doing what I was doing and everything clicked.”
He also dropped a shot on 14 and made the turn in three over but enjoyed a brilliant run of holes from the third, making three birdies on the trot, followed by an eagle – where he hit his second to a foot – and another birdie.
Ahlers, an 11-time winner on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, including their Tour Championship in April, has been a regular feature on the leaderboards in Asia this year and is once again pressing for a first win in the region.
Said the South African, who is playing here for the first time: “It was good, played solid, and putted nicely. It’s an interesting golf course – you have to be patient. Made some nice short putts, birdied the par fives.”
Jaco Ahlers. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
India’s Chikkarangappa S, popularly known as “Chikka”, was delighted to finish on three under. He also started on 10 and turned in even par but made three birdies on the second half.
“It is very tough out there,” he said.
“I have been playing here since 2016 and I think is the toughest I have seen the rough, it’s really up. If you miss it around the green or off the tee, it is very punishable, especially with the fairways very narrow. Only a crazy short game can save you.”
Chikka has competed on the Asian Tour since 2014 and is also looking for his first win, having come close before on many occasions. He has finished second twice, third once, and fourth twice – including at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard this year.
“Honestly, I didn’t have a good start. But I putted well and got back into it. I chipped in on 16 from 10 yards, so that helped,” said 29-year-old, who does have two Asian Development Tour titles to his name.
“Still working on my ball striking but luckily the short game has been good. I am just working on a couple of things and those things are falling into place. I feel I am getting there day by day.”
American Kemmer had looked set for the outright lead but made a double on his final hole, the ninth.
Scotland’s David Drysdale, Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand, Australian Todd Sinnott and Micah Lauren Shin from the United States are next best placed with 70s.
Khan is once again in the hunt having returned a 71 and is tied for 10th, in a group that includes his decorated compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh.
Chinese-Taipei legend Hsieh Min-nan also played today, breaking his own record for being the oldest player to tee off on the Asian Tour. The 83-year-old shot a very respectable 85, two better than another of the country’s greats ‘TC” Chen.
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Play was suspended at 7am for 50 minutes due to heavy rain, meaning one group were unable to finish.
The stars of global golf continue to line-up for the Hong Kong Open with American Talor Gooch, India’s Anirban Lahiri, Australia’s Matt Jones and Spanish phenom Eugenio Chacarra the latest players joining the stellar field for the return of the city’s oldest professional sporting event from November 9-12 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
They will join last year’s Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, two-time Hong Kong Open victor Wade Ormsby, and local hero Taichi Kho – winner of March’s World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The world’s top golfers are making the trip to Fanling drawn by the Hong Kong Open’s prestigious history, its new status as an event on The International Series – 10 elite-level tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour, providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League – and its prize pool of US$2 million.
The 31-year-old Gooch is making his Hong Kong Open debut.
He enters Asia’s world city in record-breaking form, having won three times already this season on LIV Golf – in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía – becoming the first-ever player to achieve that feat on the fledgling global circuit.
Cameron Smith of Australia poses with the trophy after his win on day three of LIV Golf – London at The Centurion Club on July 09, 2023 in St Albans, England. Picture by Tom Dulat/Getty Images.
“I am excited to be making my debut appearance at the Hong Kong Open in 2023. I have heard a lot about the city and the Hong Kong Golf Club from other players, and I look forward to playing in front of the knowledgeable galleries in Fanling,” said Gooch.
After his historic third LIV Golf title at Valderrama earlier this summer, Gooch said: “It’s super special!”
“Last year I didn’t get a win, so this year I was just so focused on getting an individual win. You don’t think much past the first one until you get it. I definitely didn’t have three in mind for the season, but it’s cool to be here.”
Gooch and Smith are two of the three LIV Golf stars in contention, along with American Bryson DeChambeau, for the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion crown to be decided at Royal Greens in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on October 13-15.
Between them, Gooch and Smith have combined to win five of the first 12 regular season LIV Golf tournaments, with Gooch leading with three titles to Smith’s two. A top- 10 finish for Gooch at the LIV Golf Chicago has him in contention for the individual title on 162 points in the individual standings, eight behind Smith’s leading 170.
Another confirmed star for the Hong Kong Open, Lahiri, performed even better in Chicago, finishing tied for second in what was his third top-10 finish already this season.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to Fanling, with seven Asian Tour titles to his name, he has a best finish of tied for seventh at the Hong Kong Open back in 2015.
Lahiri will also be familiar with fellow headliner Smith, having finished as runner-up to the young Australian at The Players Championship in 2022.
Chacarra is ranked eighth in The International Series Order of Merit standings. The Spanish phenom turned pro in 2022 to join the LIV Golf League and struck gold on his fifth ever event winning the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.
His debut non-LIV Golf win came on The International Series at the Asian Tour’s inaugural
St. Andrew’s Bay Championships in August, when he defeated Matt Jones in a 10-hole playoff, the longest in Asian Tour history.
Jones is currently ranked ninth in The International Series Order of Merit chase. The 43-year-old’s runners-up finish in St. Andrews Bay Championship was his best result of the season so far.
Anirban Lahiri of India pictured on Friday August 25, 2023 during Round Two of the St. Andrews Bay Championship. The US$1. 5 million event is staged at Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance Course) from August 24-27, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
As well as the enthralling, world-class golf looming, the Hong Kong Open’s Fan Village will once again entertain tens of thousands of visitors across the event week. The Fan Village is the place to enjoy all the sun and fun off the course at the beautiful Hong Kong Golf Club with a host of activities and entertainment with DJs performances, walking bands, golf simulators and other sport games, premier food and beverage offerings, shopping, face painting and more.
Tickets for the Hong Kong Open 2023 are now available via Ticketflap at www.ticketflap.com/hongkongopen2023.
Admission on Thursday and Friday, 9-10 November is free while daily prices for Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November are HK$200 per day or HK$300 for a weekend pass.
For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com.
While Thailand’s Poom Saksansin took the limelight last week by winning the Yeangder TPC, there were two players in contention, who both eventually tied for fourth, who also stood out: Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang and Indian Rashid Khan.
That’s because it was those two who went head-to-head in a sudden-death play-off at last year’s US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters – the country’s most lucrative golf tournament, which tees-off tomorrow at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Both are clearly in good form heading into this week’s event, with Chan looking for a successful defence and Khan attempting to finish one place higher as the Chinese-Taipei golfer defeated the Indian on the second-hole extra-hole 12 months ago, at the same venue, after coming from three shots behind with five to play.
Unbelievably, he made birdie on the par-four 18th on three successive occasions to snatch the win. A brilliant nine-foot birdie putt saw him secure the coveted title, after Khan had missed his birdie attempt from 20 feet.
“Good result last week. Gave me a lot of confidence coming to this week for my title defence,” said Chan, who has not won since then.
Chan Shih-Chang receives the winner’s trophy last year from Mr George Wong, chairman of Mercuries Group, at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Picture by Chen So-ko/Asian Tour.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since I won here. Great memories from last year! I’m just going to play shot by shot this week, nothing special. Just do that and see how it goes.”
The victory was Chan’s fifth on the Asian Tour and third in 10 months: he won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of November in 2021, and he triumphed again in Thailand in 2022 at the Royal’s Cup in February.
The win also maintained his one hundred percent record in play-offs, having won two on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and one on the Taiwan PGA circuit.
“I do feel this week could be even harder though,” added the 37-year-old, who is also a six-time winner on the ADT.
“The quality of play on the Asian Tour has improved a lot and it’s very good to see, you can tell the depth of talent now based on last week’s scoring.
“Also, the rough is up this week and the fairways are narrower. It’s going to be more challenging than before. It’s going to be very important to hit it straight off the tees. Distance control will also be key.”
In last season’s play-off Khan had been attempting to win on the Asian Tour for the first time in eight years – with both of his previous successes coming in 2014, at the SAIL-SBI Open in India, and the Chiangmai Golf Classic, in Thailand.
That third victory has remained elusive this season as well, although he came close at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in February, where he finished second.
He said: “Just one spot better this year, so yeah that’s my target. Like I’m a person who doesn’t set any targets. Just that I love playing golf and enjoy myself out there. That’s what my motto is.”
Last year he had a one-shot lead at the turn and after a birdie on 10 and 13 he looked a safe bet for the title. But Chan drew level with birdies on 15 and 18, while Khan dropped a shot on the penultimate hole.
Despite the loss it was another fine performance by him in the event, as he also tied for fifth in 2019 and equal third in 2015.
“I like playing on these grainier greens,” said Khan.
“You know when I see the grain I can really see the line as well. It’s just that when I’m playing on bent grass it’s really a different putting green for me, and normally when we play in India, the greens are like this. A little difference is that they are patchy somewhere, and you really need to give yourself a good putt. And if you’re confident about your putter I think you can score well.”
He tees-off in the morning at 7.35 with Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsiang and American Turk Pettit, while Chan is out at 11.55 with former winners Steve Lewton from England and Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai.
Rashid Khan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It always feels great to come back to Taiwan, I mean I love this place,” said the Indian.
“Especially the Teppanyaki restaurant and that’s the reason I really like the place. And the greens, I really liked playing on these greens, you know, short game, if you’re strong enough to not make a mistake I think that’s the key for the tournament.
“And this year also, I have seen there is a there is a lot of rough, and a lot of fairways have been cut narrower, so I think it’s gonna be a little different than last year. So, I’m looking forward to it.”
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