Thailand welcomes the very first LIV Golf Invitational event to be played in Asia this week at Stonehill, but among its all-star line up of golfing elite are a wealth of players who are certainly not first timers to Thailand or the region, who boast a treasure trove of Asian Tour trophies.

They have also been visitors to this part of the world for decades, and none more so than Englishman Lee Westwood – the proud winner of nine Asian Tour titles, which includes two Thailand Golf Championships, two Malaysian Opens, and three Indonesian Masters.

Indeed, from-the-get-go, a mere 28-years ago, Asia has been on his travel schedule.

He says: “Right from the beginning of my career, 1994, I think my second or third event ever was the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, Blue Canyon, and fell in love with Asia then, and have always enjoyed coming back here.”

It took him just two years to win in the region after that first visit, at the 1996 Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Tour (where he was also victorious the ensuing two years) before he claimed his first Asian Tour title at the Malaysian Open in 1997.

“It’s nice to be back,” said Westwood, who turns 50 next April.

“It’s a part of the world I look forward to come and play in and I’ve been successful, which makes it even better. It’s nice to be here with LIV and taking golf around the globe again. Obviously wasn’t possible through COVID over the past couple of years, three years, and I’ve missed it.”

Ian Poulter (picture by Joe Maher/LIV Golf/Getty Images).

Close friend and compatriot Ian Poulter, the winner of the nationals Open of Singapore and Hong Kong, also started his Asian campaign not long after turning professional in 1995.

“[I have played here] right from the year 2000, once I got my European Tour card, traveling around Asia, playing, and having a level of success,” said Poulter, who like Westwood has also won in Japan and Australia.

“[I’ve] so enjoyed the aspect of playing internationally and obviously just not in one place. I’ve loved my success in all the years that I’ve been traveling for the last 24 years.

“We really didn’t have that option through COVID, but obviously now the new schedule and how it’s going to lay itself out with LIV, it’s a fantastic opportunity because we’ve got so many fans that we’ve picked up through all the years of winning great tournaments in this part of the world, and it will be great to see them all again.”

Australian Cameron Smith, the current world number three who won the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago last month in just his second start on the LIV Golf Series, is another player who is no stranger to the Asian Tour, even though it was just one season.

In 2014, the year after making the transition to the play for pay game, Smith competed on the Asian Tour and impressively finished in the top-10 seven times before ending in fifth position on the Order of Merit.

Said the reigning Open champion: “My time when I was a young professional over in Asia are some of the best times of my life. Traveling with good friends and playing really good tournaments was something I will never forget, and I’m really looking forward and really excited for what this Tour [LIV Golf] is going to bring to the golf world.”

Kevin Na (picture by Charlie Crowhurst/LIV Golf/Getty Images).

And American Kevin Na, before embarking on a successful career on the PGA Tour where he has triumphed on five occasions, also cut his professional teeth in this part of the world, most notably winning the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2002.

When asked if he plans to play more in Asia having spent the best part of his life playing in North America he responded: “You just said best part of my life I played on the PGA TOUR. I don’t know, I think the best part of my life is coming. I played Asian Tour in 2002 and 2003. I really enjoyed it.

“I had a lot of great memories playing the Asian Tour, and I was able to see guys [this week], former players that work for the Tour or in TV, it’s nice to catch up with them and see that they’re still in the golf world.

“Yes, I plan to play a little bit more in Asia here and there. It’s nice that we’re in Thailand. The last time I played in Thailand was probably 2013, and I really enjoyed playing there, playing in Thailand then, and I’m already enjoying it now.”

The list of players with success in Asia goes on, and on – Spaniard Sergio Garcia has six Asian Tour trophies and South African Louis Oosthuizen three – and there is no doubt they will all dearly love to add the first LIV Golf Invitational event in Asia title to their ongoing Asian narrative.

Local golf fans will be out in force at this week’s LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok to cheer on Iron Heads GC, featuring Thai players Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai alongside captain Kevin Na and Sihwan Kim, both from the US, after LIV Golf confirmed the 12 teams ready to compete in the US$25 million inaugural event, which starts on Friday, as LIV Golf’s season-long team competition hits the home stretch.

Securing four consecutive wins in five tournaments this season, the 4 Aces GC team of Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez leads the pack as the series touches down on the all-new Stonehill course located on the outskirts of Bangkok.

The Smash GC team of Brooks Koepka, younger brother Chase, Peter Uihlein and Jason Kokrak will be looking to dethrone the 4 Aces after losing in Chicago by one stroke following Johnson’s final hole birdie to secure the team win.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson’s Hy Flyers GC, featuring Matthew Wolff, Bernd Wiesberger and Cameron Tringale are coming into form ahead of this week’s event. The Hy Flyers finished in third place in points at Chicago’s Rich Harvest Farms, edging out via tiebreaker the all-Australian Punch GC team of individual winner Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Wade Ormsby and Matt Jones. Both teams finished at 17 under and split third-place money.

Japan’s Hideto Tanihara, a 17-time winner on global tours, joins Chilean star and team captain Joaquin Niemann, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Australia’s Jediah Morgan on an international Torque GC team in search of its first podium.

“We are eager to present LIV Golf’s innovative format and elite competition to one of the most exciting and rapidly developing golf landscapes in the world,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman. “The field is comprised of players with local ties and international acclaim, all committed to performing their best and supporting their teammates in pursuit of a title. It’s sure to be a weekend of excitement for LIV Golf’s Asian debut at Stonehill.”

PATHUM THANI, THAILAND – OCTOBER 05: Sadom Kaewkanjana during a practice round prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bangkok at Stonehill Golf Course on October 05, 2022 in Pathum Thani, . (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Alongside the team format, golf fans will also get the chance to watch 48 of the world’s best golfers compete in the individual format, with 2022 Open champion Smith and two-time major winner Johnson leading a star-studded field that includes 12 Major champions and four former World No. 1s.

The three-day event will offer a multitude of off-course excitement for visitors to Stonehill. A variety of opportunities to test one’s golfing skills will include a high-tech golf simulator, chipping green and mini-golf, as well as music and immersive entertainment. Younger fans will also be able to enjoy arts and crafts, educational workshops, face painting, and virtual reality entertainment.

Tickets for the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok remain available, with a single-day grounds pass starting at 800THB, with three-day passes on sale for 1600THB at LIVGolf.com or thaiticketmajor.com. Single day and three-day hospitality packages for the popular Club 54 and Gallery Club experiences are also available.

Complete, live coverage of LIV Golf tournaments is globally available direct to consumers on LIVGolf.com and YouTube. LIV Golf event broadcasts are also aired live on a global roster of leading premium and free-to-air broadcasters providing coverage in over 180 territories around the world. The list of global networks covering the LIV Golf Invitational Series is available on LIVGolf.com.

The eyes of the golfing world turn to Thailand this week as ‘the land of smiles’ gears up to host the biggest tournament ever-to-be-held on Asian soil: the US$25million LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.

Forty-eight of the best golfers on the planet are in the Thai capital to battle it out for individual and team glory as LIV Golf breaks new ground with Asia’s debut LIV Golf Invitational, taking place at Stonehill, October 7-9.

A stellar field including defending Open champion Cameron Smith, big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau and multiple-major winners Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and Brooks Koepka are competing.

They will be joined by hometown heroes Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai – two of 12 Asian Tour members playing – plus a host of Ryder Cup and major-winning stars including Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Reed.

The sixth event of eight in LIV’s inaugural year, the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok will hold the distinction of becoming the first international tournament to be staged at the all-new Stonehill in the northern suburbs of Bangkok, situated in the Pathum Thani province.

LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman said: “Everyone at LIV Golf is enormously excited to bring our innovative format and elite competition to Thailand and the people of Asia, one of the most exciting and rapidly developing golf landscapes in the world. At LIV Golf, we’re committed to creating opportunities that grow the game and reach new audiences around the globe. Thailand is our first Asian stop as we continue our launch, and the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok promises to be a truly incredible week for players and fans alike.”

“I’ve been looking forward to saying this for a long time: Asia, here we come!”

Phachara Khongwatmai (picture by Mike Stobe/LIV Golf/via Getty Images).

The revolutionary tournament format of LIV Golf aims to supercharge the sport of golf. Each event sees a world-class 48-man field compete in 12 teams of four, with a shotgun start, on-course music and entertainment that creates an electric atmosphere.

After three rounds of golf, both an individual and team champion is crowned and a prize of US$25million shared.

An incredibly strong field for Bangkok features no less than 12 Major champions and four former World No.1s set to be on the hunt for individual and team glory.

Thai star Phachara has featured in all five of this year’s LIV Golf Invitationals, earning his spot through some top performances in the Asian Tour’s new marquee International Series events, which are supported by LIV Golf.

He said: “To be playing in an event of this scale at home in Thailand is something I could only have dreamed of growing up. The quality of the field is unlike any golf event that will ever have competed here, which makes this a huge moment for not only golf, but sport in Thailand and in Asia.

“These LIV events bring together the best golfers in the world, in a new format which works for both players and spectators. The atmosphere has been incredible in all the events I have played so far, and to be able to experience the same on home turf is something I’m really going to relish. It’ll be something very special for Thai golf and golf fans.”

Sadom, a two-time Asian Tour winner who has also teed it up in all LIV Golf events so far this season, said: “Playing in Thailand confirms that LIV Golf is a global league, bringing the best in the world to our country and growing the game across the region. LIV Golf is something different, something very exciting, and this week is further evidence that the series is connecting with new audiences all around the world.”

Indian star Anirban Lahiri, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour, is delighted to be bringing the series to Asia. Lahiri, who signed on with LIV Golf in late August, finished runner-up on his Boston debut in a thrilling three-way playoff defeat to Johnson, which also featured Chilean star Joaquin Niemann.

He said: “From my experience so far, LIV Golf is something very special – I could hardly have got off to a better start. The LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok brings something special to Thailand and also the wider region. There are so many golf fans in the Asian region and they will all be able to enjoy some world-class golf featuring some of the best in the game. The players love the atmosphere at the tournaments, as well as the format, and the fans in Asia are in for a real treat.”

Chan Shih-chang claimed the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today, to finally win an Asian Tour event on home soil for the first time, but only after a titanic battle with India’s Rashid Khan.

The Chinese-Taipei star beat Khan on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, incredibly, after coming from three shots behind with five to play before making birdie three times on the par-four 18^th.

A brilliant nine-foot birdie putt saw him secure the title, after Khan had missed his birdie attempt from 20 feet, while Chan holed a 21-foot putt for birdie on the first extra hole, before Khan made his from two feet. Chan sensationally forced the play-off when he holed a nine-foot birdie putt on the 72^nd hole as Khan agonisingly missed his birdie chance from six feet.

Both players carded four-under-par 68s to finish on 15 under and beat the previous best tournament total – set by Chinese-Taipei’s Tsai Chi-huang’s in 2002 – by one shot.

Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman and Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand tied for third, six shots back after both carding 71s.

“Really happy to win my first Asian Tour title at home. I have always wanted to do this. To be honest, it’s really pressurising. My friends, sponsors and family were out there supporting me today,” said the 36-year-old Chan, who won US$200,000 and moved into 10^th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Rashid Khan.

The Chinese-Taipei star started his come from behind win with a birdie on the 15^th, before his Indian opponent dropped a shot on the penultimate hole to set up the thrilling showdown on the last.

“This is my first time playing in the final group in my many years of playing in this tournament. I just keep telling myself to stay calm and stick to my game plan and stay positive out there,” he added.

This is Chan’s fifth victory on the Asian Tour and third in 10 months: he won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of November last year, which was the Asian Tour’s first event back after a two-month break caused by the pandemic; and he won in Thailand again this year at the Royal’s Cup in February. He was also victorious in the King’s Cup in Thailand in 2016 and two months later the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan.

He also tied third here last year and equal second the year before, when on both occasions the event wasn’t on the Asian Tour schedule because of travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The win also maintained his one hundred percent record in play-offs, as he has won two on the Asian Development Tour and one on the Taiwan PGA circuit.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Khan was in search of his first Asian Tour title 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.

Siddikur Rahman  (Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images).

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.

“It was going really well, just that I knew the last four holes are crucial,” said Khan, who also three-putted the par-five 15^th having reached the green in two.

“I hit a good shot on the 15th hole, but I ended up missing it on the side of the green where I haven’t practiced. And I had no idea about the read at all. So, I three putted and that’s where you know … because last two holes are not so easy to play.

“On the 17th hole I got a little hurried, hit a good shot and I thought it’s gonna be fine on the left side of the green, but it ended up being just over the bunker in the rough. And you know, I thought the green is slow from the front, but it wasn’t, and I missed it like 15 feet past the pin.”

Rahman, who last won on the Asian Tour at the Hero Indian Open in 2013, was thrilled with his best finish for some time.

He said: “Oh, it was a wonderful day, I just couldn’t putt well today, rest of the game was excellent. Just because of putting I couldn’t make a better score, but, overall, I’m happy about my round.”

The result will also allow him to keep his playing privileges for next season.

“That’s a big relief for me because I was really struggling from the beginning of this year. I mean, and now I just finished tied third, so I think I have secured my card for next year. Definitely, I will be able to play without tension,” he added.

The Asian Tour heads to the International Series Morocco next from Royal Golf Dar Es Salam from November 3-6.

India’s Rashid Khan opened up a healthy four-shot lead after round two of the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today after firing a masterful seven-under-par 65.

He leads on 12 under from Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (68) and Wang Wei-hsiang (70), the defending champion and first-round leader, and Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand (69), who are all in second position.

A trio of Thai golfers, Danthai Boonma (66), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (69) and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (71) are two shots further back, at Taiwan Golf and Country Club – in what is Chinese-Taipei’s richest golf tournament.

Khan, whose two victories on the Asian Tour came back in 2014, has been a regular contender this year and looks hungry to transfer form into silverware this week after a bogey free round with four birdies on the front, and three on the back.

“It was pretty good, it was stress free,” said the 31 year old, who began his round on 10.

“I really enjoyed it. I was hitting the ball well and even rolling the putts really well. So just keeping myself on the green, give yourself a lot of chances and that’s what I did. I only missed like two greens, I’ll say, the 10th where I started, and the last hole, but a really good par on the last.”

Nitithorn Thippong.

On that final hole, the ninth, he just missed out of bounds with his tee shot, chipped out leaving himself an approach from 140 yards from where he hit his third to 25 feet and courageously holed the putt to complete a brilliant round.

He added: “I played well here last time also, I finished fifth [in 2019]. I know that a lot of things are required at this golf course, especially if you miss the green, the ups and downs are not easy. So, I’m just gonna hit the greens and you know, give myself chances.”

His round was two shots short of the course record set by Chinese-Taipei’s Lin Wen-hong in 2008.

Nitithorn, the highest ranked player in the field sitting in third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, put himself in perfect position to attempt to win for the third time this year.

He said: “I had a really great round today. I think I missed only three greens today, same as yesterday. Just like keep playing and a lot of positive things today.”

The rising star, who won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March and the International Series Singapore in August, eagled the par-five ninth after drilling his second into nine feet and holing the putt. He moved further up the leaderboard with birdies on 13 and 14 before dropping his only shot of the day on 15.

“I have been playing really good on the first day, but the last three days, like before this tournament, I don’t know just some of the days my mentality was not so good. It’s not the pressure, but I play too comfortable and like too confident. So, this week, I just tried to really focus on my game and my process,” he added.

Wang Wei-hsiang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Wang shot a 66 yesterday to make the ideal start to his title defence but endured a rocky front nine mixing three birdies with three bogeys before he steadied the ship with a two under par back nine thanks to birdies on 15 and 16.

“The pin positions were tricky today,” said Wang, whose brother Wang Wei-hsuan claimed the title in 2020.

“Overall, it’s still ok. Still in a good position for the weekend. Will keep to the same strategy and see how it goes. Not thinking too much about it. Just go out and play. The conditions out there are pretty much the same as yesterday. Wind direction was hard to gauge. Just had one bad hole on the sixth where I lost my ball. But overall, it’s alright.”

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, the winner here in 2019 when the event was last played on the Asian Tour, carded a 71 and is further shot back with Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman (69) and Filipino Miguel Tabuena (70)

Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star, returned a 73 to end the day one under and sit in a tie for 27^th.

Defending champion Wang Wei-hsiang picked up today where he left off in last year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters by shooting a six-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead.

A bogey-free scorecard at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, with four birdies on the front and two on the back, saw him top the leader board again in the US$1 million event and comfortably handle the fact that this year the event is back on the Asian Tour, unlike last season when, because of the global pandemic, it had to be played as a local event.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, Donlaphatchai Niyomchon and Nitithorn Thippong, India’s Rashid Khan, and Hung Chien-yao from Chinese-Taipei shot 67s

Suradit Yongcharoenchai from Thailand, the winner here in 2019, and Chinese-Taipei star Chan Shih-chang fired 68s, along with four other players.

Remarkably, when Wang Wei-hsiang triumphed in 2021 it came a year after his brother Wang Wei-hsuan had been victorious – again when, due to COVID-19, the event was not on the Asian Tour schedule.

“Not thinking too much about my title defence,” said Wang Wei-hsiang, 26 and three years older than his brother, who carded a 74 today.

Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Not much pressure to be honest. I told myself to stay relax and not give myself too much pressure. The conditions this week are not quite similar to last year. The course has improved and the greens are faster. It felt like summer wind out there, different from past years. Felt like we were playing in Southeast Asia. I was actually aiming to shoot even par today.”

He has engaged the services of local professional Chen Yu-zhen to caddie for him this week, which based on today’s round, could well mean he is the man to beat this week.

“It’s his home course here so he knows the course very well. He helped me a lot with the greens this week. He gave me a lot of good advice,” he added.

Sarit chose laundry over practice yesterday, but that rest day paid dividends today when after dropping a shot on the first he birdied the second and third before more birdies followed on seven, 11, 15 and 16.

“I skipped a day of practice yesterday because I ran out of golf shirts after last week,” said the Thai golfer.

“I stayed in to do laundry and just did a workout in the hotel. Everyone was telling me the greens are tough and it’s not easy out there, so I didn’t expect much.

Chan Shih-chang (picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)

“Started with a three-putt bogey today but was nice to bounce back strong. I hit my wedges really well today. It’s really hot out there. Quite easy without much wind. It’s good to start with an under-par round, sets me well for tomorrow. I took advantage of the par fives today. Hit it good off the tee, gave myself easy iron shots and then easy chips to make birdies.”

Donlaphatchai was the last Asian Tour player to win in Chinese-Taipei before the global pandemic stopped play as he claimed the Taifong Open on the Asian Development Tour at the end of 2019.

He said: “Feels good to be back in Chinese-Taipei, especially after I won the ADT Taifong Open here in 2019. Hopefully I can continue to play the same tomorrow.

“This is my first time here so I’m very happy to shoot a 67 today. I hit my approach shots very well, giving myself a lot of birdie chances which I managed to convert. Not so much wind today so it’s slightly easy.”

As expected Chan, a four-time Asian Tour winner including two in the last 10 months, is in the hunt, making five birdies and dropping one shot.

“I made a great birdie on 10 from seven yards; on this course, long putts are easier than short ones, I think. The short ones are hard to read the lines and speed. That’s the challenging part of the Tamsui course,” sad Chan, who is eager to win an Asian Tour event for the first time on home soil.

“So, I think I putted well overall today. Was hoping to make it three birdies in a row on the eighth but the ball stopped right outside the hole. The wind direction was pretty messy today. It’s hard to gauge. The greens are better now. Last time, it was hard to stop the ball. That’s why you see some low scoring this week.”

Thailand’s teenage amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat came in with a 70 to put himself in a good position to make the halfway cut, something which he didn’t do in last week’s Yeangder TPC, which was his first Asian Tour event since June.

Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images).

“I am happy with that, I am going to be honest, I have not been playing great, I didn’t play well last week,” said the 15 year old, who won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour in April.

“I started off bogeying the first very easy holes today, like the way I played last week, which was not great so just happy I pulled myself back and shot four under for the rest of the round so I am definitely happy, but I think I need to get back into that proper mindset, the real TK mindset. I made four bogeys today, the real TK would be disgusted, so I need to get my confidence back.

“I am enjoying playing the course, it’s tough and reminds me when we played Tanah Merah at the start of the year when only three of us, including me, finished under par.”