The Asian Tour has announced details for its 2023 Qualifying School, which will be held in the United States for the first time in its history, as well as in its regular home in Thailand starting this November.

The Qualifying School, which comprises two stages, the First Qualifying Stage and the Final Qualifying Stage, will be played over two months from November 2022 to January 2023.

Players have the option of entering the First Qualifying Stage through one of the five sections, on a first come first served basis via an online application. The top-placed players from the First Qualifying Stage will progress to the Final Qualifying Stage.

The Final Qualifying Stage will take place from January 18 to 22 and will be played over five rounds. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the pivotal final round, which will be held on January 22. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 (and ties) will be ranked accordingly for the 2023 season.

The last version of the Asian Tour Qualifying School, held in Thailand in 2020, saw Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith top the class following a gruelling 90-hole battle in the Final Stage.

Korea’s Bio Kim and Taehoon Ok, both winners on Tour this season, as well as South African standout Ian Snyman, also came through the qualifying school in 2020.

Over the years, the Asian Tour Qualifying School has witnessed the emergence of many top players in the region. Successful graduates include Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee (1999), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2009) and Sadom Kaewkanjana (2019), Australian Scott Hend (2007), Korea’s Yikeun Chang (2016), as well as the American duo Kurt Kitayama (2018) and John Catlin (2018).

Click HERE to apply.

For Qualifying School enquiries, please contact [email protected].

Prize money at this month’s Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) has been increased by 40 per cent.

Ahead of the Asian Tour’s eagerly-awaited return to Chinese Taipei, organisers confirmed that the purse will rise to US$700,000 when the popular event gets underway at its regular host venue at Linkou International Golf and Country Club from September 22-25.

When the tournament was last staged as part of the Asian Tour in 2019, prize money totalled US$500,000.

Although the Yeangder TPC has gone ahead on the domestic Chinese Taipei circuit in the past two years, it was three years ago that the prestigious tournament was last part of the Asian Tour, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2019, Yikeun Chang became the first Korean to lift the Yeangder TPC title when it celebrated its 10th consecutive edition on the Asian Tour.

CHINESE-TAIPEI – Yikuen Chang of Korea pictured with the winner’s trophy during round four on Sunday September 8, 2019, at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei, a USD$ 500.000 Asian Tour event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, said: “We are very thankful to the sponsors and organisers of the Yeangder TPC, which has been a permanent fixture on our schedule for more than a decade.

“Given the excellent long-standing relationship we have had with this tournament, we are especially appreciative of the gesture to increase the prize fund by US$200,000 to US$700,000 this year.”

The inaugural Yeangder TPC was won by legendary Thai Thaworn Wiratchant in 2010. He triumphed again in 2013 and remains the only player to date to have his name etched on the trophy twice.

The victories of Thai Prom Meesawat (2014) and Spaniard Carlos Pigem (2016) were notable for the fact that they were achieved after play-offs, while Lu Wei-chih (2011) is the only Chinese Taipei players to have savoured success in the event.

Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar’s four-stroke success in 2012 remains the largest winning margin in the event’s history.

Also on the Yeangder TPC roll of honour are South African Shaun Norris (2015), Indian Ajeetesh Sandhu (2017) and American John Catlin in 2018.

The Yeangder TPC will be the 15th event on this year’s Asian Tour schedule, and the first in Chinese Taipei.

A two-week Chinese Taipei swing will conclude the following week (September 29-October 2) with the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Cho said: “With the return of these outstanding events to the Asian Tour and the addition of the new International Series, this season will boast the strongest schedule in Asian Tour history.”

More updates for the 2022 season to follow.

Ends.

The promise of rich rewards awaits the leading players on this year’s Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit (OOM).

In a timely motivational boost to ADT participants, officials have confirmed that the top-10 from this year’s final Merit list standings will earn their cards for the Asian Tour next year.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, said: “Providing playing opportunities for our members, along with a viable career pathway, has always been high on the list of our priorities.”

Previously, the leading seven players, not otherwise exempted, on the final ADT Order of Merit were awarded Asian Tour playing rights for the following season.

Cho added: “In recent years, the ADT has been a springboard to the Asian Tour for dozens of players, including reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim of Korea and American John Catlin, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“With 10 spots now on offer to the 2023 Asian Tour directly via the ADT, there will be added incentive for all our ADT players to work even harder at their games in the coming months.”

This change in number of cards was initiated by the Tournament Players Committee who felt that the Asian Tour must fairly reward more players competing across a full season on the ADT.

The ADT staged its 10^th event of the season at the weekend, the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia. Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai took the title in a nail-biting finish, that saw his compatriot Chonlatit Chuenboonngam tie for second and keep the lead on the ADT’s Order of Merit standings.

The ADT visits Vietnam this week for the first time in its 12-year history, for the BRG Open Golf Championship at BRG Da Nang Golf Resort, from August 31 – September 2.

The Tour will then head to two more events in Indonesia: the OB Golf Invitational presented by Jababeka (September 13-16), and then the Combiphar Players Championship (September 20-23), before the inaugural Saudi Open (December 8-10).

Announcements regarding the remainder of the tournaments that will help bring the season to a close will be made in due course.

By Joy Chakravarty reporting from Boston

Anirban Lahiri made a superb debut in his first LIV Golf event as a full-contracted player, producing a bogey-free four-under par 66 that left him three adrift of the leaders after the opening round in the $25-million LIV Invitational Boston.

Lahiri was in a group of five players tied for fifth place.

American Matthew Wolff brought his final-round form from Bedminster to Boston. A 64 on Sunday in New Jersey  had uplifted him to second place behind champion Henrik Stenson, and not only did the 23-year-old make a hole-in-one on Friday, he also snatched the early lead.

Wolff shot a seven-under par 63, including the ace on the par-three second hole which took the wolf calls up by several decibels. He was tied at the top alongside fellow American Taylor Gooch, who started with five birdies in his first seven holes before finishing on seven-under.

 World No2 and the reigning Open champion Cameron Smith of Australia and Chile’s No19 Joaquin Niemann, the two new signings of the Series, made immediate impact and tied for the third place two shots behind the leaders at 65. Smith’s round included a double bogey on the 14^th hole.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana lived up to his promise to himself and finally started a LIV tournament with a sub-par round. He was also bogey-free in shooting three-under par 67.

Earlier, Bedminster champion Stenson had to pull out at the last minute with a bout of vertigo. His place in the field was taken by Jordan’s Shergo Kurdi, who started with a creditable one-over par 71 while playing in the company of Smith and former world No1 Dustin Johnson.

“I played pretty solid. I’ve been playing good coming into this week. I got a couple of weeks to get some work done on my game. I think it was a good week for me to ease into. I played quite a few holes before I started today, almost more than I usually do. So, I was very comfortable on the golf course,” said Lahiri, the seven-time champion on the Asian Tour.

“I’ve been driving it decent, and hit my irons pretty good. My short game wasn’t that great, because I could have definitely made a couple more putts. That was disappointing because there was no wind today and these are probably the best conditions you’re going to get.

 “There are three-four holes on this golf course which are dangerous, and if you can manage them, then you have an opportunity to really go deep if you’re playing well. I did manage those holes well, but missed several birdie chances from the 10-15 feet putt range. These greens are so good and true, you should be making at least 50 per cent of those putts, but I did not make many.”

Sadom, who finished tied 11^th at The Open Championship, found every fairway with his driver and hit 17 greens in regulation in a solid display of golf.

Anirban Lahiri of India . (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

“I am really happy with the way I played. I gave myself a lot of chances with my iron play, and three-under par is a good start. I said before the tournament that I really wanted a sub-par start in a LIV event, and I have finally got a good one. It’s not time to build on this over the next two days,” said the 23-year-old.

Wolff’s hole-in-one was also the first ever in LIV Invitational Golf history.

“Being the first one to do anything is always special, but I know for a fact I’m not going to be the last,” said Wolff. “The ace was great. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled and all, but I’d rather be holding that trophy at the end of the week.

“It really helped to put a good round together and keep that momentum going, but I just tried to do my part for myself and my team to post a good number.”

Smith, the highest ranked player in the field, once again put a magnificent short-game performance, but his driver seemed off and put him under pressure on several holes.

“That round kind of had a bit of everything, very up-and-down. It probably wasn’t one of my best driving performances there. I was a bit disappointed with how I drove the ball, so that’s something to work on tomorrow,” said Smith, who spent an entire season on the Asian Tour before earning his card on the PGA Tour and moving to America.

Among the other Asian Tour players in the field, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent was tied 31^st at even-par 70, while Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand was tied 42^nd at +2.  Wade Ormsby started with a +3, but American SIhwan Kim struggled with his driver and finished on +17.

It’s safe to say Scott Vincent is in a very happy place. The smile never fades from his face and there is a genuine expression of contentment with life.

Probably, that is the reason why the Zimbabwean is playing some of the best golf of his life right now. And if he is contending this week at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston against a world-class field, it should not come across as a surprise.

The 30-year-old is ranked No81 in the world – the best ranking of his career – and he continues to improve. Back-to-back wins in the International Series England on the Asian Tour and the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour have been the major highlights of this year. Vincent is No5 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit and No1 in the International Series OoM, which is how he secured his spots at the lucrative LIV Invitational events, writes contributing editor Joy Chakravarty from Boston.

Just last week in Japan, he was in contention again as tried to defend his Sansan KBC Augusta title. However, he slipped to tied 12th place after a disappointing four-over par final round. You expected black clouds lingering on top of his head and fumes coming out of his ears, but that’s definitely not how the new Scott Vincent reacts.

“I am just trying to be joyful,” said Vincent, explaining his newfound mantra of life.

“This game is so easy to get caught up with the results and just the numbers. It doesn’t really give you the true reflection of how the person is playing and developing.

“I think last week worked out perfectly for me … exactly how it was supposed to. It was amazing. It was the first time I was defending a tournament as a professional, which was all very new for me. I needed to learn from that experience, and hopefully, be in that position a lot more. So, you know, regardless of the result, just the whole week was a great learning opportunity and a great success.”

Vincent said he could not put a finger on what exactly has led to the upsurge in his form.

“It’s hard to really say exactly what’s taking place. Obviously, I’m always trying to get better, I’m always trying to find little pieces that I can add to the puzzle that we’re trying to build here. As you get older, you train to take some of those experiences that you’ve had as a younger player and use them to develop. So, I think it’s a combination of so many things.

“But I think one of the biggest things is my mental coach Jim Murphy. He’s made a tremendous impact. We’re constantly talking about different scenarios and situations and trying to prepare visually for big performances and being in contention on Sunday and handling pressure better. There is always this urge to learn and grow.”

Scott Vincent may look as calm as a saint on the course, but he admits to getting angry and frustrated at times.

“I try not show it to people, but sometimes, releasing a bit of emotion is a good thing. I think what’s more detrimental to yourself and your performance is getting very negative. I think showing a bit of emotion is okay,” Scott said.

“I have my moments. I get angry. But yeah, I am trying to do a better job of not getting caught up in the different circumstances and, as I said before, just being more joyful.”

There’s something else apart from good form that Vincent is excited about this week at The International course outside Boston.

“It’s a beautiful golf course, perfectly manicured,” added Vincent. “It’s such a treat coming and playing on bent grass, especially coming from Asia where we don’t see it very much just because of how hot it is there. So, coming up north is always a very nice change turfwise.

“I went to school at Virginia Tech and our courses were very similar, just with the grass and layout. All this seems very familiar to me. It’s different to what we’ve been playing in Asia, so there’s a bit of an adjustment to be made.

“Having said that, there are some shots here that are challenging to me. But that’s another thing that we’re working on – getting comfortable being uncomfortable. But that is okay. It’s just about dealing with that and handling it. So, I’m excited for the challenge this week.”

Scott Vincent is thankful for the playing opportunity he is getting with the LIV Invitational Golf.

“This is just another week for me to learn and grow. There are more amazing players that are joining this Tour. It’s an opportunity for someone like me, who has dreamt about playing with some of these guys and aspire to be who they are. I’ll take whatever I learned from this week and carry it forward,” said Vincent.

“And yeah…I want to compete against them. I’m not here to just learn, I’m here to compete and, and give it my best. And hopefully, I’ll have an exciting finish on Sunday.”

The Boston field showcases seven No1-ranked players within their respective countries, 12 major champions with a combined 22 majors, and four former world No1 players. The global field has 13 Olympians representing 14 different countries and features 20 players with 10 or more professional wins. It also includes current and future stars of the game who have earned NCAA National Championships and US Amateur Championships among other accomplishments.

Players will compete in golf’s most exciting new format for $25 million and the chance to become LIV Golf’s fourth individual and team champions and earn points towards LIV Golf’s season-long individual competition. The 48-man field will play across 12 teams of four players each.

Among the other Asian Tour players in the field are Sihwan Kim of the US, Phachara Khongwatmai and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand, Wade Ormsby of Australia, and India’s Anirban Lahiri, who is making his debut as a full-time contracted player of the Series.

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Bio Kim from Korea, and his compatriot Taehoon Ok, who won last week’s International Series Korea, are just two of the big-name players who have confirmed their participation in The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open, which is the next stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Sihwan Kim from the United States, the only two players who have won twice this season will also compete in the tournament, which will be played at Koma Country Club in Japan, from September 8-11.

It’s the first time the prestigious tournament – which is returning to the Tour following a three-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – will have been played in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours it boasts prizemoney of KRW 1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,050,500).

Bio Kim of Korea.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Bio, whose aim it is to top both the Asian and Korean rankings this year, moved in to first place on the Merit list for the first time this year last weekend by finishing second in the International Series Korea; he took over from Sihwan Kim, who is now second, with Nitithorn third. Nitithorn triumphed in the International Series Singapore the week before Taehoon Ok’s win.

And, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won the Mandiri Indonesian Open at the beginning of August, has also entered the tournament.

South African Jbe Kruger (main picture) won the Shinhan Donghae Open when it was last played on the Asian Tour in 2019 and will bid for honours again this year along with while five other former champions: Korea’ s Sanghyun Park (2018), Canada’s Richard T. Lee (2017) and Korean legend Jongduck Kim (2005).

Rising Korean stars Yoseop Seo, who has featured on the leaderboard at the past two Asian Tour events, and Hanbyeol Kim, winners in 2022 and 2021 respectively, when it was played solely as a Korean PGA Tour event because of travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, will also tee off at Koma.

Last year’s champion Yoseop Seo.

In addition to the crème de la crème of the Asian Tour competing, the tournament will also see Korean stars Siwoo Kim – a three-time winner on the PGA Tour – and “KT” Kim playing, as well as the leading players from the Japan Tour, including Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who is currently ranked first in Japan following two wins this year, his illustrious compatriot Ryo Ishikawa – the winner of 17 titles in Japan – and American Chan Kim, who finished second behind Kruger three years ago.

Asian Tour CEO and commissioner Cho Minn Thant has  underlined the importance of the new LIV Golf-partnered International Series, explaining the many benefits of the ‘player-centric’ flagship series of elevated marquee events.

The International Series events are played in strategically selected venues around the world, with stops on the 2022 Asian Tour so far in Thailand, England, Singapore and Korea, with two new North African destinations, in Morocco and Egypt, announced on Sunday.

Speaking on the sidelines of last week’s US $1.5m International Series Korea, where victory went to Taehoon Ok at the Lotte Skyhill Country Club Jeju, he said: “The International Series is beneficial to the Asian Tour for a number of reasons. First, we get eight new tournaments this season and moving forward it will be at least 10 next year.

“These events are very player centric, and all about the player experience. We take care of the player accommodation, F&B, activities and even services such as a barber shop and players recreation area in the locker room. We go the extra mile to take care of the players and from that perspective I hope they are happy with it.

Taehoon Ok of Korea celebrates on the 18th green on Sunday August 21, 2022, during round four of the International Series Korea at the Lotte Skyhill Country Club, Jeju, Korea. The Asian Tour US$ 1.5 million event is staged August 18-21, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“From the LIV Golf perspective, our association means we are a platform that LIV Golf can use for players to progress to the LIV Golf Invitationals this year and the LIV Golf League in future, so it acts as a feeder into their series.

“Also, the LIV Golf Invitationals is eight events this year and the LIV Golf League will be 14 next year. Outside of these, professional golfers need to play to fill out their schedule and hopefully the International Series is an option for them to come and play outside the LIV Golf events, to keep sharp and come and play competitively.”

A number of LIV regulars such as Patrick Reed, Chase Keopka, Peter Uihlein, Andy Ogletree, and Turk Pettit have already chosen to take part in International Series events. Asian Tour members Wade Ormsby, Sihwan Kim, Sadom Kaekwanjana, Scott Vincent, Travis Smyth, Viraj Madappa, Kevin Yuan, Justin Harding and Phachara Khongwatmai have likewise experienced LIV’s new 54-hole format through good performances in the series.

Cho played down any concerns that his members might have about potential ineligibility for PGA Tour events through their participation in the series, because of its association with LIV Golf.

“There are some players who are concerned about playing International Series events and becoming ineligible for PGA Tour. That’s not the case – we have clarified this with the PGA Tour that the restriction is not in play.

“The International Series is fully sanctioned by the Asian Tour. It forms part of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and there are several players who have played on the International Series who are playing on the PGA Tour, Korean Joohyung Kim (Recent winner of the Wyndham Championship on PGA Tour) being a prime example.”

The high-profile International Series tournaments are underwritten and promoted by LIV Golf, with commercial sponsorship a major focus moving forward for the team at the Asian Tour. Cho explained: “We are extremely grateful to LIV Golf for their support. Ultimately, the goal is for corporate sponsors to sustain the tournaments themselves and for LIV to revert to being a promoter at these events.

“Each International Series event will have the ‘presenting partner’ position available, and the focus next year will include sponsor activations and engaging more spectators to attend events.”

Cho also explained how the Asian Tour has already supported LIV Golf in their bid to secure world ranking points.

He said: “LIV Golf are applying for world ranking points independently, but the process requires a nomination by one of the full-member Tours.

“As a good partner, it was our responsibility to help LIV Golf submit their bid for world ranking points and that is underway now – the Asian Tour has nominated them, and they are providing technical information that will support their application with the intention of getting world ranking points next year.”

While the landmark partnership is incredibly important to the Asian Tour, pragmatic Cho views it as one of many options for Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour members.

He explained: “Our mandate is to provide a pathway for our members to further their careers. We now provide our members with the opportunity to play LIV Golf events but we also support members like Joohyung Kim who choose the PGA Tour path. We have many members who are dual members of other Tours and play in Japan, Europe or Australia, we don’t have a problem at all.”

“For the longest time the Asian Tour has been a path to Europe, but we are hoping with new tournaments and more sponsors and with bigger prizemoney, our top players will stay and play in Asia rather than having to go to Europe.”

The International Series Korea was the fourth International Series event of the season so far on the Asian Tour.

The Asian Tour’s ground-breaking International Series gathers further momentum with two more tournaments added to the schedule, in two of the most exciting and exotic destinations it has ever visited, Morocco and Egypt.

The Tour will first travel to the International Series Morocco, to be played at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, in Rabat, from November 3-6, before going on to the International Series Egypt the following week, at Madinaty Golf Club, in Cairo, from November 10-13.

Both events will boast prize money of US$1.5 million and play a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the International Series money list winner.

The Asian Tour season is due to be completed in the month of December with several additional events to be announced in due course.

“This has been an unprecedented season and we are delighted to be able to announce exciting news about the Asian Tour’s first visit to North Africa,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.

“The International Series Morocco and International Series Egypt are two spectacular additions to our schedule that will provide our members with a unique opportunity to compete somewhere new while allowing the Tour to broaden its reach.”

The two destinations have highly contrasting golfing history. Morocco, with its rich golfing pedigree, has been a regular fixture on the global golfing calendar hosting numerous international golfing events over the past two decades. On the other hand, Egypt is a relatively new market for professional golf with the International Series set to be the largest golf event ever staged in the country.

Taehoon Ok of Korea pictured with the winner’s trophy on Sunday at the International Series Korea. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“We are excited to be heading to Morocco, which has illustrious golfing heritage, as well as breaking new ground in Egypt. Outside of golf, these two destinations are undeniably high up on anyone’s travel bucket list with their storied past and spectacular historical sites,” added Cho.

The International Series was launched earlier this year thanks to a new landmark partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to invigorate the game in Asia and the Middle East.

“LIV Golf’s investment in the Asian Tour through the International Series is already delivering new opportunities for golfers from all over the world. These events are enhancing the player experience, creating pathways for career development and reinforcing golf’s growth on a global scale,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner. “This series of events has received tremendous feedback and it continues to build exciting momentum for our sport’s future.”

This Sunday the Tour saw Taehoon Ok from Korea win the International Series Korea, at Lotte Skyhill Country Club Jeju; which comes a week after Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong was triumphant in the International Series Singapore at Tanah Merah Country Club.

The International Series Thailand kicked off the series in March and was won by American Sihwan Kim at Black Mountain Golf Club. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent claimed the International Series England in June at Slaley Hall – an event that marked the Tour’s first-ever tournament in the UK.

The additions of two more International Series events means this year’s Asian Tour schedule is on target to offer at least 20 events this season.