Asaji is the toast of the Moutai Singapore Open after play-off win
Yosuke Asaji became the first player from Japan to win the Moutai Singapore Open in nearly 50 years today – after he beat Korea’s Jeunghun Wang on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.
Asaji made a birdie putt from six feet in the play-off, on the par-five 18th on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club, after Wang found water with his second and ended with a six.
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (66) and Korean Soomin Lee (69) tied for third, one shot back, in the penultimate event of the season on The International Series – the set of upper-tier events on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
It came after a dramatic finish in regulation play when Asaji, playing in the penultimate group, brilliantly made a difficult left to right breaking birdie putt from 10 feet on the last to set the mark in the clubhouse on 19-under. He carded a five-under-par 67.
Soon after, Wang, playing in the final group, faced an almost an identical putt and remarkably also drained it for a 68, to force the play-off.
Yosuke Asaji in celebratory mode after the win.
The win means Asaji has moved to fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and second on The International Series Rankings.
His victory will come as no surprise to many as his game has been in the ascendency this year. In May he claimed The Crowns tournament, which is one of the biggest events in Japan, and he tied second in the International Series Philippines two weeks ago.
“I am so, so happy. Today I was able to read the lines on the greens well, it was perfect,” said the 32-year-old, who hit a fine wedge in close on the play-off hole.
“I think the putt for par on 15 was the most important one. This win means so much to me. It is my first win overseas – something I have always dreamed of.”
He started the day one off the pace and enjoyed an incredible start by making five birdies in succession from the second, which saw him seize the lead. But after 11 holes he was tied with Rattanon – who made six straight birdies from the sixth – and Korean Soomin Lee on 18 under.
Jeunghun Wang.
However, a birdie on 12 saw Asaji move one ahead before he made a career putt to stay in front on the 15th, crucially holing a par putt from 10 feet.
He missed a putt from a similar length for par on the ensuing hole but that was shortly after Rattanon bogeyed the 17th, meaning Asaji led by one with two to play from Rattanon, Lee and Wang.
Rattanon then got back into contention by making birdie on the last to draw level with Asaji. With Wang making birdie on 17 to catch them both it set the set the scene for that gripping finish on 18.
Asaji becomes the sixth golfer from Japan to raise the trophy but the first since Kesahiko Uchida in 1976, when the event was also played at SICC.
Wang was attempting to win for the first time in eight years but was heartened by his performance.
He said: “I finished strong on 17 and 18 and made a great putt on the last hole, so I’m really happy with how I played today — just a little disappointed about the play-off, but that’s okay. I actually knew before putting on 18 that I needed to make that one to get into the play-off, so when it dropped, I felt really confident and excited heading into the extra holes.
“Overall, I played really well this week. It just came down to a bit of bad luck in the play-off — I hit a great tee shot that landed on a downslope and ended up short, and then I caught the next shot slightly on the heel. But I’m happy with my game and just need a bit more luck next time.”
He was Rookie of the Year on the European Tour in 2016, helped by winning the Trophée Hassan II and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open – an event joint sanctioned with the Asian Tour. And the following year he claimed the Qatar Masters, for a third title in Europe.
Not long after, he went for national service in Korea for nearly two years but after today’s performance it is clear he is close to getting back to his best.
Korea’s Bio Kim fired a 70 to finish in solo fifth, four off the play-off.
Rattanon Wannasrichan.
The Asian Tour heads to the Middle East in two weeks for the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Riyadh Golf Club.
The US$5million event is the most lucrative event of the season, the final date of the year on The International Series and the penultimate tournament on the Asian Tour.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
It was neck and neck all the way until the very end today at the Moutai Singapore Open before overnight leader Soomin Lee from Korea, in front at the start of the day, edged ahead to lead after the third round with compatriot Jeunghun Wang and James Piot from the United States.
Lee, two ahead after round two, shot a 69 today, while Wang and Piot both returned 67s on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club.
They lead on 15 under by one from Japan’s Yosuke Asaji (65), and Korean Bio Kim (67), in what it the penultimate event of the season on The International Series – the set of upper-tier events on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (68), the winner of this event in 2019 at a different venue, is another stroke back along with Australian Kevin Yuan and South Africa’s Ian Snyman, both in with 69s.
Lee finished second on this course in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2011 and will look to go one better tomorrow.
He birdied the par-five 18th after reaching the green in two to catch Wang and Piot to give himself a great chance of winning his first title on the Asian Tour and The International Series. He was bogey free and made three birdies, the other two coming on the front nine.
Jeunghun Wang.
“It was really tough today actually,” said Lee. “On the front nine I had good opportunities but I made mistakes on a few putts, but still I shot two under. And then on the back nine, I thought my back nine would be better than the front nine. I had many chances to make birdies. But it started getting windy when I played the back nine, it was really tough and I struggled but yeah, I still played bogey free. And even at the last hole, I made a long two putt for a birdie. Yeah, that was really good.”
The 32-year-old turned professional three years after the Asia-Pacific Amateur and has won once before on the DP World Tour, at the 2016 Shenzhen International, and is a five-time winner on the Korean PGA Tour. He has played on the Asian Tour for the past decade, finishing second on two occasions. He recorded a top-10 finish in the International Series Philippines two weeks ago
“I will just play my own game tomorrow. I think I’ll play with Jeunghun Wang so it’ll be really fun,” he added.
Wang is a multiple tour winner, with three victories on the DP World Tour including one joint-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, but he has not tasted victory in seven years.
He showed his class today with a fine round, made up of six birdies and one birdie, and will need to draw on those previous wins to end his drought tomorrow.
He said: “Actually, I hit it really well today, but my putting wasn’t as good yesterday. So, I’m really happy about my round, and I’ll try to enjoy my next 18 holes.
“Actually, the first round it wasn’t windy that much, but the second and third rounds were really windy so I’m really happy about my five under today.”
Piot, the 2021 US Amateur champion, only started playing on the Asian Tour three years ago and is chasing his first win on the Tour. His best result to date is a fifth-place finish in International Series Egypt in 2022.
.James Piot.
He also birdied the last to draw level and was bogey free. Birdies on the first two holes provided the perfect start for the 27-year-old.
Asaji tied for second in the International Series Philippines two weeks ago while earlier this year won one of the biggest events in Japan: The Crowns tournament.
He has put himself on the brink of another win tomorrow shooting the best round of the day. He missed an eight footer for birdie on the last.
“This week it’s been difficult to read the lines on the green, so I’ve been very focused on reading my putts,” he said.
“I’ll try to play the same as today and I just hope to go out there and enjoy myself tomorrow.”
Filipino Miguel Tabuena returned a 70 and is 10 under and extremely well placed to make up ground on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series leaders.
Kazuki Higa from Japan, the merit list leader, and Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, who tops the rankings, both failed to make it through to the weekend.
Tabuena is third on the merit list and second on the rankings.
Bio Kim.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Soomin Lee [main picture] grabbed the lead at the halfway mark of the Moutai Singapore Open today after making birdie on the last two holes – rekindling memories of previous exploits here on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club a mere 14 years ago.
The Korean shot a second-round eight-under-par 64 to reach 12-under for a two-shot advantage over a group of 10 players: Kevin Yuan (64), Matthew Cheung (64), Ian Snyman (65), Wang Wei-hsuan (66), John Catlin (66), Sarit Suwannarut (66) James Piot (66), Caleb Surratt (68), Ollie Schniederjans (68) plus Jeunghun Wang (70).
The US$2million event, being played for the first time since 2022, is the penultimate stop this year on The International Series – the series of upper-tier events on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League.
Remarkably, Lee shot a 64 here in 2011 to finish second in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, behind none other than former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan – who claimed the title for the second successive year.
John Catlin.
“I have good memories here, no doubt,” said Lee. “It’s why, when I come here, I feel comfortable, and play with more confidence.”
He is facing a very different New Course this week as it has been re-designed but that did not hold him back as he carded nine birdies, including four on the trot from the third, and one bogey. That bogey came on the second, before it was followed immediately after by those four birdies.
He said: “I started a little slow but bounced back. Yesterday I felt something really good with my putter. I felt if I hit fairways and greens, I would have chances today. That’s why I played well today.”
The penultimate hole is a reachable par-four, while the par-five 18th is within range in two.
“Number 17 and 18, I felt are easy holes,” he explained. “I can hit the green at number 17 and 18. If I hit a good driver I can go for the green on 17, like today. On 18 I was just short in two and got up and down for a four.”
The 32-year-old turned professional three years after the Asia-Pacific Amateur and has won once before on the DP World Tour, at the 2016 Shenzhen International, and is a five-time winner on the Korean PGA Tour.
He has played on the Asian Tour for the past decade, finishing second on two occasions.
He recorded a top-10 finish in the International Series Philippines two weeks ago – a timely result that helped move him into 72nd position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, putting him back in the running to keep his card for next year.
Wang Wei-hsuan.
That issue will be resolved by a good week here.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Catlin was bogey free today, making an eagle and four birdies.
“Pretty solid,” said the American, a six-time winner on the Asian Tour.
“You know, I drained a long one for eagle on four, it’s always nice, but it’s just a solid bogey free round of golf, it’s nice to play some good golf.
“I’m definitely playing better, you know, the misses are better. I felt like my good rounds have been good, but my bad ones have been costing me. And, you know, last week in Hong Kong, it was the same, I felt like my misses were very playable.
“I didn’t get as much out of my game as I would have liked, but yeah, I felt like my misses are very playable. And, you know, I kept that going this week, and I think I got only two bogeys for 36 holes, so yeah, it’s nice to see the hard work paying off.”
Wang lost in a sudden-death play-off at the SJM Macao Open three weeks ago and is leading this year’s Taiwan PGA Tour, with three wins.
He is back in contention this week, crediting his debut on the PGA Tour this year for his fine form.
“In June I got into the Canadian Open for my first PGA Tour event, and I watched a lot of great players,” said the Chinese-Taipei golfer, who is one the biggest hitters on the Asian Tour.
Brayden Lee.
“I think that was good for my improvement. I could see what the best in the world do and how they hit their shots. I saw what I needed to improve on to get better.”
He made it through to the tournament after negotiating a pre-qualifier.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, The International Series Rankings leader and second on the merit list, both surprisingly missed the cut – to open the door for their nearest challengers. The cut was made at four under with Vincent agonisingly missing by one after a 69, and Higa by three following a 73.
Filipino Miguel Tabuena, who is third on the merit list and second on the rankings, came in with a 68 and is in the driver’s seat on eight under.
Two members of the Singapore amateur team who competed in the World Amateur Team Championship on home soil recently, also excelled today.
Brayden Lee fired a 68 to move to seven under, while Troy Storm shot a 72 to sit at five under. Storm, just 16, fired a brilliant 67 yesterday but was three over for his round today after 13 holes and in danger of missing the cut. However, he produced a stirring fight back on his home course, making birdie on three of the last four. He is in exalted company, tied with England’s Paul Casey, one of the tournament’s marquee players, who carded a 70.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Korea’s Jeunghun Wang is the first to make the most out of the Moutai Singapore Open’s return – shooting an eight-under-par 64 today, to take the lead on the opening day.
The tournament was last played in 2022 while it is the first time it has been held at Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) in a quarter of a century. Wang celebrated the occasion by shooting nine birdies and dropping just one shot.
He leads by a stroke from Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Gunn Charoenkul plus Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe, all in with 65s – here on the New Course at SICC. Kiradech made bogey on the last, having looked set to finish the day tied for first.
Germany’s Dominic Foos, winner of the SJM Macao Open three weeks ago, Americans Micah Shin, Ollie Schniederjans and Caleb Surratt, and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong are next best placed followings 66s.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Wang burst onto the scene just under a decade ago winning three times on the European Tour. One of those was joint-sanctioned with the Asian Tour: the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2016.
Not long after that he went for 18 months national service in Korea, and he has been gradually working his way back since.
“I haven’t won a tournament in almost eight years, so I really want to get a win again,” said the 30-year-old.
“My irons were really good today — I hit the ball solid all day. My putting was hot too, and I didn’t really miss any shots. Overall, I’m very happy with how I played.”
Since his return to the game he has finished second twice and recorded two-other top five finishes on the Asian Tour.
Kiradech, the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion in 2013, bogeyed the first and last, sandwiching nine birdies. On the par-five 18th he found water with his second shot, a four iron.
Gunn Charoenkul.
“Not the way I wanted to start and finish,” he said. “Alot of positives in there, a whole lot of good putts, and hitting. A lot of great shots today, looks like everything going the right plan.
“The rough pulled the clubface a little bit on the last. It turned the ball over right to left and into the water.”
Gunn’s strong start is timely as he is working hard to keep his card for next year. He is sitting in 56th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with four events remaining including this week.
He has been one the Tour’s most consistent performers over the past four years but has failed to find his rhythm this season.
“It’s not been a very smooth season,” he said. “Been a bit of a struggle on the second half of the season with my health, as well, and, you know, with bit of the equipment. So, with those two issues, you know, I’m borderline at the moment.
“I really want the win this week, you know. So, try to have confidence but not expecting anything. So yeah, hopefully it all turns out.”
Kieran Vincent.
He was unwell at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in September and lost 20 pounds. He never established what caused it. He has slowly returned to full fitness while a change in driver this week appears to be helping.
Vincent, brother of The International Series Rankings leader Scott Vincent, finished joint third in the Jakarta International Championship last month for his best performance of the season and still looks to be in good form.
It helped being paired in the same group as Foos and Shin.
Said Vincent: “I was trying to play catch up to my playing partners. They got off to a flyer as well. And I’m like, I can’t miss out on this party. And so, yeah, it was just kind of, we’re feeding off some good energy out there, both Dominic and Micah.
“And so between the three of us, you know, we kind of saw a couple of putts go in. And, you know, from there, it was just kind of feeding off each other. And I thought, yeah, we did a really good job between three of us.”
Singapore amateur Troy Storm, who represented his country in the recent World Amateur Team Championship on home soil, fired a brilliant 67. The 16-year-old, playing on his home course, dropped a shot on the final hole but is still the leading local player.
Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Kazuki Higa from Japan carded a 70, while Scott Vincent, who tops The International Series Rankings, returned a 72.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Korea’s Jeunghun Wang was the first to make the most of the Moutai Singapore Open’s return today – shooting an eight-under-par 64 for the clubhouse lead mid-way through the opening day.
The tournament was last played in 2022 while it is the first time it has been held at Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) in a quarter of a century. Wang celebrated the occasion by shooting nine birdies and dropping just one shot.
He leads by a stroke from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe, all in with 65s – here on the New Course at SICC.
Germany’s Dominic Foos, winner of the SJM Macao Open three weeks ago, and American Micah Shin are next best placed followings 66s.
Wang burst onto the scene just under a decade ago winning three times on the European Tour. One of those was joint-sanctioned with the Asian Tour: the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2016.
Gunn Charoenkul.
Not long after that he had to do 18 months of national service in Korea, and he has been gradually working his way back since.
“I haven’t won a tournament in almost eight years, so I really want to get a win again,” said the 30-year-old.
“My irons were really good today — I hit the ball solid all day. My putting was hot too, and I didn’t really miss any shots. Overall, I’m very happy with how I played.”
Since his return to the game he has finished second twice and recorded two-other top five finishes on the Asian Tour.
Gunn is working hard to keep his card for next year, sitting in 56th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with four events remaining including this week.
He has been one the Tour’s most consistent performers over the past four years but has failed to find his rhythm this season.
“It’s not been a very smooth season,” he said.
“Been a bit of a struggle on the second half of the season with my health as well, and, you know, with bit of the equipment. So, with those two issues, you know, I’m borderline at the moment.
“So hopefully, I really want the win this week, you know. So, try to have theconfidence but not expect anything. So yeah, hopefully it all turns out.”
Kieran Vincent.
He was unwell at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in September and lost 20 pounds. He never established what caused it. He has slowly returned to full fitness while a change in driver this week appears to be helping.
“Made some big changes this week, I have changed my driver. Hopefully that’s the right decision so far. My misses with the old driver were way too big,” he explained.
“I also putted it phenomenal today. Put myself in great positions. So, everything was pretty smooth today. I was pretty lucky.”
Vincent, brother of The International Series Rankings leader Scott Vincent, finished joint third in the Jakarta International Championship last month for his best performance of the season and still looks to be in good form.
It helped being paired in the same group as Foos and Shin.
Said Vincent: “I was trying to play catch up to my playing partners. They got off to a flyer as well. And I’m like, I can’t miss that on this party. And so, yeah, it was just kind of, we’re feeding off some good energy out there, both Dominic and Micah.
James Leow.
“And so between the three of us, you know, we kind of saw a couple of putts go in. And, you know, from there, it was just kind of feeding off each other. And I thought, yeah, we did a really good job between three of us.”
James Leow posted a fine 68 and is the leading Singaporean, the same as Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, who won the International Series Philippines recently.
Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
England’s Paul Casey played down suggestions that he is simply tuning up his game during his LIV Golf off-season, instead insisting that a win is the only thing on his mind as this week’s Moutai Singapore Open.
The 48-year-old needed toe surgery this time last year but showed strong enough form throughout the past season for a 16th-place finish on the LIV Golf Individual Standings. But he is still seeking his first ever individual win – an agonising play-off defeat to American Patrick Reed back in June was the closest he came this season.
The former Ryder Cup player is one of the marquee names at Singapore Island Country Club this week, and he gets his first round underway today at 12:20pm alongside recent Jakarta International Championship winner Wade Ormsby of Australia and in-form Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Kazuki Higa of Japan.
With 21 professional titles to his name, Casey is going into the prestigious tournament, the eighth of nine events on The International Series, in the right mood – eager to bounce back from a disappointing T59 at the Link Hong Kong Open last week. He said: “I don’t want to say that I am using these events to stay competitive. I went to Hong Kong to try and win, and I am here this week to try and win.
Paul Casey.
“These aren’t just to try and stay competitive. That is totally the wrong messaging for me. I am here because I love playing golf around the world. I don’t get on a plane and travel for 6,000 miles to just have a Singapore Sling or something down at Raffles. That is not what I do.
“It is better after Hong Kong; I got some practice in last week. My season has ended so it was a little bit of trying to get the game in tournament shape for Hong Kong. Wasn’t quite there. I played with this guy (Miguel Tabuena) for the first couple of days. He saw that. But now the game is getting pretty good, in a weird way.
“This time last year I had just come off surgery on my toe, so I feel like I am in a much better place with my golf game. And I am excited about my game, working very hard on it. It is my 25th season and I am still excited and full of energy. Although I haven’t won this year, there has been some very, very good golf played.”
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Miguel Tabuena has admitted that a chance to play on the LIV Golf League was “nowhere near my radar” just over two weeks ago.
That all changed when he claimed the International Series Philippines – for one of his country’s greatest sporting triumphs – to shoot up into second place on The International Series Rankings.
At that time only the winner of the rankings qualified for the league but earlier this week it was announced the top two will go through next year.
Tabuena sits in second behind Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent with just two events to go: this week’s Moutai Singapore Open and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers the week after next.
“Yeah, was nowhere near my radar before the Philippines, for sure,” he said today at a press conference before the Moutai Singapore Open tees off tomorrow on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club.
“But after that week at home, it certainly is. Now it [qualifying for LIV Golf] is not something that I have to force to happen, you know. It’s not something you should force to happen. It’s something where you have to stick to your game plan, stick to what works for you, your process, your recovery, and just let everything happen on its own. No, you can’t really force it. Well, you can’t. You have to let it happen and be free on the golf course.”
Success in the Philippines, his fourth win on the Asian Tour and first on The International Series, rocked the nation – with fans telling him “It made me proud to be a Filipino again.”
He won it by three shots, roared on by huge local support.
“It was a special week, a couple of weeks ago. It was nice to get an International Series event under my belt. I’ve wanted that since it started four years ago, and it was nice that I was able to do it back home.
“Game wise, I struggled a bit the last couple of days in Hong Kong, but I was able to post a decent score. So, I’m not as worried, but I am pretty tired. You know, it’s very mentally draining when you come up on top.
“We’re here in Singapore. I love coming back to Singapore. We were here two years ago at a different golf course, but it’s nice to be back. Albeit a different golf course, totally different golf course.”
He has a fine record in Singapore’s national Open: he was fourth in 2016 and eighth in 2018.
LIV Golf also confirmed they will change their format to four rounds next year.
Tabuena is not racing ahead with his plans, but on that news he said: “Shotgun starts are different, but that’s fine. I just have to keep my head down and let my golf do the talking. Whether it’s three or four rounds, we’re still competing against the best players in the world.”
On the idea of playing team golf he added: “I’ve played the Asian Games and the Olympics, but never college golf — and I think that’s the closest comparison. I think I’d love it.
“After almost 15 years as a pro, it would be nice to play for something more than just yourself. But I’m not getting ahead of myself — if that time comes, I’ll give you a better answer then.”
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The Moutai Singapore Open makes its long-awaited return this week – marking a bold new chapter for one of Asia’s most historic golf tournaments.
The tournament was first held at The Singapore Island Country Club (SICC), in 1961, and returns blending tradition with fresh momentum.
This year marks the debut of Kweichow Moutai as title sponsor – a partnership that aligns the tournament’s rich heritage with the brand’s global prestige and cultural resonance. It’s a partnership that has also extended to the support of the International Series Japan and the Link Hong Kong Open.
Singapore’s National Open has long been one of the most iconic events on the Asian Tour calendar, and its return is one of the highlights of the year.
Wade Ormsby.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Moutai Singapore Open
- Date: 6th – 9th November 2025
- Venue: The Singapore Island Country Club (New Course: Millennium & Peirce)
- Par/Yards: 72 / 7,295 yards
- Purse: US$2million (winner US$360,000)
- Previous winner: Sadom Kaewkanjana (2022)
- Asian Tour leg: 17th
- International Series leg: Eighth
- Edition of tournament: 56th
- Total number of players: 144
- Format: Stroke play tournament over four rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 pros plus ties.
- Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise # InternationalSeries #ThisIsEverything
Miguel Tabuena.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2013)
- Nationalities: 29
- Top contenders: Scott Vincent (ZIM), Kazuki Higa (JPN), Miguel Tabuena (PHI), Seonghyeon Kim (KOR), Talor Gooch (USA), Charles Howell III (USA), Paul Casey (ENG)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kazuki Higa #113
- Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Kazuki Higa (JPN) #1
- Highest ranked player in 2025 International Series Rankings: Scott Vincent (ZIM) #1
- Number of amateurs: 4
- Number of Singapore players in the field: 11
Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Tournament Notes
- Japan’s Kazuki Higa has led the Order of Merit since his T2 at the International Series Philippines two weeks ago, after earlier winning the Yeangder TPC and Shinhan Donghae Open in back-to-back weeks in September. He also had a strong start to his 2025 campaign, going T8, T5 and T2 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, International Series India Presented by DLF and New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sports respectively. On the Japan Tour he has recorded six top 10’s this season, including wins at the Shinhan Donghae Open and at the ISPS HANDA Explosion in the Summer in mid-August.
- Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe tops The International Series Rankings after a win at the International Series Morocco in July, a runner-up at the Jakarta International Championship three weeks ago and a T10 at the International Series India presented by DLF earlier this season. He now sits in second place on the Order of Merit after Kazuki Higa passed him with a T2 in the Philippines, and among Vincent’s other strong finishes are T2 at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September, T4 in the Kolon Korea Open and T8 at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open. In addition to his good results on the Asian Tour this season he has also posted three top-fives on the Japan Tour, the most recent at the Sansan KBC Augusta Golf Tournament in late August.
- Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines had a story-book week at home a fortnight ago, winning the International Series Philippines on his home course for his fourth Asian Tour victory. Starting out the 2025 season with a T5 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open he also added another T5 at the Yeangder TPC in September. With his win at Sta Elena two weeks ago, along with a T11 in the Jakarta International Championship a T14 in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and a T21 in last week’s Link Hong Kong Open, Tabuena sits in second place in The International Series Rankings.
- Korean Seonghyeon Kim, who played on the PGA Tour in 2023 and 2024, finished eighth on this year’s Korn Ferry Tour Points List to secure his ticket back to the PGA Tour for next year. In his lone appearance on the Asian Tour this year he finished sixth at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September.
- Talor Gooch from the U.S., who plays in the LIV Golf league as part of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC team, has won in Singapore before when he took the LIV Golf Singapore title in 2023. It was his second consecutive win after winning in Adelaide the previous event, and that season he topped LIV’s individual standings after three wins and a runner-up. This season he recorded a win at LIV Golf Andalucia at the famous Valderrama course in Spain and finished sixth in the individual rankings.
- American Charles Howell III won three times on the PGA Tour before moving to the LIV Golf League in 2022, and he has posted one win there at the 2023 LIV Golf Mayakoba in Mexico. Now a member Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC team, he also played on the American Presidents Cup team in 2003 and 2007.
- Fellow Crushers team mate Paul Casey from England had a long career on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour before jumping to LIV in 2022, and during that time he recorded 15 and three wins on those tours respectively. He represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2018 and 2021 and was part of the winning side on three of those occasions. Casey has a good record in the four Majors with 12 top 10’s with his best result a T2 in the 2020 PGA Championship. This season he came close to winning at LIV Golf Dallas, just losing out in a playoff which was won by Patrick Reed.
- Past Champions of the Moutai Singapore Open in the field this week: Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Last week’s Link Hong Kong Open winner Tom McKibbin [main picture] produced an accomplished ball striking show for the wire-to-wire win. His 27-under total over four rounds shattered the tournament scoring record by five.
The young Northern Ireland star was near flawless from tee to green missing only five Greens in Regulation over four rounds – four less than anyone else, and easily led the GIR statistics with 93.06%.
He was also dialed in off the tee on the treelined Hong Kong Golf Club’s Composite Course, hitting 76.79% of the Fairways, ranking T4.
His rock-solid tee to green play resulted in 28 birdies, second only to runner-up American Peter Uihlein with 30, and with only three dropped shots he topped the Fewest Bogies or Worse category.
The 22-year-old’s other stats for the week were: Putts per GIR 1.672 (18th), Driving Distance 314.38 yards (24th), and Putts per Round 29.5 (T39). It all helped him secure a spot in The Open and the Masters Tournament.
Peter Uihlein.
Uihlein is known as one of the best putters on tour, so it was no surprise to see him on top of the Putts per GIR statistics with an average of 1.6, and he also ranked highly in Putts per Round with 27.75 (T6). His skills with the flat stick produced an amazing 30 birdies to lead the category.
Unfortunately, two disastrous holes cost him a chance to challenge McKibbin for the title: a triple-bogey on the ninth hole in round two and a quadruple-bogey on the 14th hole on Sunday.
His other stats were: Driving Distance 328.75 yards (6th), GIR 83.33% (T8), and Fairways Hit 50% (T66).
Statistics Categories leaders at the Link Hong Kong Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Pavit Tangkamolprasert: 26.5
- Putts per GIR – Peter Uihlein (USA): 1.6
- GIR – Tom McKibbin (NIR): 93.06%
- Fairways Hit – Settee Prakongvech (THA): 85.71%
- Driving Distance – Weihsuan Wang (TPE): 334.63 yards
- Most Eagles – Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA), James Piot (USA), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA), Sarut Vongchaisit (THA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Austen Truslow (USA), Sam Horsfield (ENG), Jason Kokrak (USA), Khalid Attieh (KSA): 2
- Most Birdies – Peter Uihlein (USA): 30
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Tom McKibbin (NIR): 3
- Scrambling – Patrick Reed (USA): 87.50%
- Bounce back – Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN): 75%
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Thanks to his maiden victory on the Asian Tour just over two weeks ago, Dominic Foos is in a very different headspace ahead of this week’s Moutai Singapore Open.
The German triumphed in the SJM Macao Open, by overcoming Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan on the second play-off hole, and admits it was a psychological breakthrough.
“It’s been 10 years since I last won,” said 28-year-old Foos, today at Singapore Island Country Club – where the tournament commences on the New Course on Thursday.
“It was a very good learning experience. I definitely feel like it’s a big mental win for me, more so than anything else. Just knowing that, when I am in that position, I can get the job done number one, and number two – it just gives you a quick momentum.”
It was rich reward and relief for a golfer who made it through the previous two Asian Tour Qualifying Schools and was battling to keep his card for next year.
Foos was a teenage star and won numerous amateurs titles, including a hat-trick of titles in 2012: the German Match Play, German Boys Open, German National Boys Championship.
Dominic Foos holes out for the win in Macau. Paul Lakatos/IMG.
In 2015, a year after turning professional, he hit global headlines by winning The Gant Open on Europe’s Challenge Tour. He was just 17 years old and the Tour’s youngest ever winner at the time.
Few thought it would take another 10 years before he would win again, on the other side of the world.
He doesn’t dwell on why that was but does point to how he dealt with it.
He explains: “I mean, it was challenging, it was tough, but at the end of the day, I always looked at it as a test and finally, I’ve kind of broken through.
“The most important thing is actually the people around you. Because if you’re like, out there by yourself, and you have no idea what to do, and you’re struggling, it’s easy to look for something else. But obviously, having, my dad there with me, and, like, really believing in me, my family, people like Mr. Kramski.”
Mr Kramski is Wiestaw Kramski – the man behind the Kramski Putter, and a close friend.
“He’s a very close family friend. I have been putting with the Kramski Putter for over 15 years now. So very close relationship, and he’s been helping me through and through and just believing in me. So that was very vital to have good people around me, that believe in me,” added Foos.
After winning in Macau, the German missed the cut in both the Philippines and Hong Kong but felt he was not far off his best golf.
“Obviously been playing few weeks in a row, and then the week after Macau was Philippines. It was game on right away again. So obviously, a time to celebrate and enjoy, but also, you know, you got to get back and get the job done. I missed the cut by one there in the Philippines, but still played well. I just didn’t make any parts. I actually played really well. I almost hit the ball better than in Macau, I thought, but yeah, I mean, that’s golf, right?
“You’re winning one week, and then you feel like your game is in great shape the following week, but you’re missing the cut, feeling really good. Okay, yeah, I played solid in Hong Kong as well. Just a couple of things weren’t quite as sharp.”
This week is his eighth event in a row, and he is looking forward to a break.
He’ll play the two upcoming events in Saudi Arabia on the Asian Tour, and plans to ‘re-evaluate’ at the start of next year – where thankfully there will be no Qualifying School for him.
His win in Macau earned him a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour. He is aiming to make full use of it, carefully plan his year and look forward to some stability as he enters an exciting new phase of his career.
The Moutai Singapore Open is the penultimate event on The International Series this year – the set of tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar, that provide a pathway on to the LIV Golf League. The two two finishers on The International Series Rankings will qualify for the LIV Golf League in 2026.
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