Miguel Carballo was technically the last man from the Asian Tour contingent to secure his place on the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi this weekend, and the Argentine golfer is hoping to make the most of his opportunity after claiming his berth in the most nerve-wracking way possible.

A tied sixth in a star-studded field at the Hong Kong Open, the penultimate event of The International Series schedule, gave the 44-year-old a wonderful chance of securing his place in the first round of the innovative qualifier which offers three berths on the LIV Golf League roster next term.

But a missed cut the following week at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE ensured a nervous 48 hours as Carballo could do nothing but look on and hope to stay ahead of the other players around him on the International Series Order of Merit.

Ultimately his T6 in Hong Kong and a previous T8 at the International Series Qatar were enough to secure 39^th place on The International Series Order of Merit, and claim that precious spot in category 1.4, for the leading 25 available players within the top 40 of the 2023 rankings.

Miguel Carballo. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

Reflecting on his tension filled 48-hour wait for confirmation in Indonesia, which included multiple visits to the tournament office to check on the live standings, he laughed: “Once we missed the cut, we were simply relying on what the projection showed. On Saturday it started moving up and down, and up and down, and on Sunday it just went crazy.

“We were out of the rankings and then back in and then out again, there were so many changes. On the Sunday (once play had finished), we were at the 18th lounge with some friends but we still could not celebrate properly.

“We got a call saying ‘wait, you are not officially in yet’, so we had to wait before you can celebrate. But then we got the good news, and it was a real relief.”

Carballo will line up for an 8:50am (local time) Friday tee time alongside PGA Tour of Australasia star Lachlan Barker and Shinhan Donghae Open champion Guntaek Koh from Korea, knowing he needs to finish in the top 20 and ties to secure his place in round two alongside 14 additional players who received first-round exemptions.

Should Carballo make it to Saturday, he will then face another battle to make the final top 20 for a 36-hole shootout on Sunday, with the top three securing places on the LIV Golf roster for 2024.

Weighing up his chances he said: “I feel confident and my preparation has been solid, I have been working hard this week and I’m ready.

“My form has felt great all year and it is a wonderful opportunity to be in the field this week, it shows the good year I have had and the opportunities that I took earlier this year. Those weeks, the putter was hot, I know the game is there, and this week it is going to be the same plan – to get it on the green and give myself as many chances as possible.”

While Carballo was last man to qualify in 39^th spot, Jaco Ahlers is also in the field on 40^th spot. The South African earned his way onto the event via category 1.6 as a 2023 Asian Tour winner thanks to his triumph at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in September, with a T3 at the St Andrews Bay Championship his best for 2023 on The International Series.

With cuts on day one and day two leaving only a top 20 for the final-day shootout, many players may feel the need for a more aggressive approach than normal around the Abu Dhabi National course.

Ahlers admits that’s just not his game, and the 11-time Sunshine Tour winner is not keen on making any radical changes – even for a weekend that offers such rewards. He said: “Me and my caddie were talking about it, I don’t want to change the game plan. I’m not the most aggressive player but I can still shoot good around this course without aggression.

Jaco Ahlers. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

“Yes, there will be some instances where I will be more aggressive than normal. But think about it, I just need to finish 15, 15, 3 – I wouldn’t have to finish (top of the leaderboard) every time, I just have to give myself a chance on Sunday. I just want to play solid and as good as we can and hopefully that is good enough.”

Ahlers, who tees off first at 8am (local time) on Friday morning alongside Seungsu Han and Suteepat Prateeptienchai, has already had the inside line from his compatriots playing on the LIV Golf League in the all-South African Stinger GC team of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmeister.

“I had a chat about coming here last week, Charl and Dean were playing the last two weeks in South Africa, and they were very supportive. We all know what LIV Golf is about, it is a game changer, making golf exciting and getting more younger people into the game. It is potentially life changing, so it is a no-brainer to be honest.

“Of course this whole week it has got my mind going, about what it going to be like and how I should try to play round by round. It is a little nerve wracking to be honest, but in the end you have to trust the process, trust the game and see what happens. I believe I’m good enough to do it, and I just have to go from there.”

This weekend’s LIV Golf Promotions event is a wonderful opportunity for the next generation of golfers on the Asian Tour to fast track their careers by winning a spot on the lucrative LIV Golf League next season. However, they will be facing stiff competition from the oldest player in the field at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Veteran Australian golfer Scott Hend is also relishing the prospect of a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity this weekend.

The 10-time winner on the Asian Tour turned pro back in 1997 – long before many of the Asian Tour stars and other players from around the world in the 74-strong field for this weekend’s event were even born.

But the 50-year-old believes age is no issue in an innovative format that will see a cut in both round one and two, leaving a top 20 to battle it out over 36 holes on the final day for the three top spots and golden tickets onto the LIV Golf roster.

Scott Hend. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

He said: “It’s an old cliche, isn’t it? The golf clubs don’t know how old you are. Anything can happen with 20 guys getting through every day until you get to rounds three and four and the slate being wiped clean every day.

“You’ve got to get yourself to rounds three and four and get a hot putter, and anything can happen – all of a sudden the doors are wide open.

“I feel like it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in events that are this format, to try and possibly get a LIV card. It’s a special opportunity for a guy, especially my age, at this point in my career, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

Hend joins a strong cohort of players from the Asian Tour who qualified for the unique promotions event either through The International Series Order of Merit, or as tournament winners on the Asian Tour this season.

The strong turnout – particularly from players from the Order of Merit – is a clear indicator of the pathway created by The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events formed through a groundbreaking partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to sustain and boost golf in the region.

All will be vying for three lucrative spots onto next season’s roster, joining American sensation Andy Ogletree, the three-time International Series winner who qualified outright as this season’s Order of Merit champion.

Hend said: “It is life changing and there’s a variety of international players here trying to get on to the tour. If one of these guys that have qualified through the Asian Tour get through, they get on to LIV.”

Scott Hend. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

Referring to the group of Asian Tour regulars including Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai who experienced LIV Golf in its inaugural season, Hend added: “All the Asian Tour guys that came out and played the first year of LIV, look what it’s done for them – their confidence is amazing.

“For the other golfers, younger guys looking up to them, it seems like they’re all motivated to try and come out and get a spot on this tour. It’s just life changing.

“It would just be an amazing thing for one of the young guys to get through and get one of the cards. Not that I’m saying I’m pushing for them to get it. I’d rather try and beat them! But if one of them gets it, it would be fantastic for the region.”

Ten of Thailand’s finest golfing stars will be in action in Abu Dhabi this week, as part of a strong Asian Tour cohort in search of three golden tickets to the LIV Golf League through the innovative new LIV Golf Promotions event.

The Thai ten are part of a field of over 70 players who will battle it out over four rounds in three days at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from 8-10 December for three spots on the roster for next season’s LIV Golf League.

A total of 60 players will start on Friday, and only the top 20 from round one will start again with a score reset on day two, where they will be joined by an additional 13 players with exemptions.

From there, a final top 20 will battle it out on Sunday over two rounds, with scores once again reset at the start of the day, for those three golden tickets onto the LIV Golf League.

Gunn Charoenkul. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

Nine of the ten Thai players qualified through their high placings on The International Series Order of Merit, the Asian Tour’s set of 10 marquee events, while Nitithorn Thippong, last season’s International Series Singapore champion, also made it through thanks to his victory in the Mandiri Indonesia Open on the Asian Tour in August.

Nine of the ten will start in round one on Friday, with only Gunn Charoenkul receiving an exemption into round two thanks to his seventh-place finish in the OOM standings.

Gunn is putting in the hard yards, both in terms of fitness and short game, as he aims to take advantage of his first-round bye. His brother Karn is also on the bag this week.

The 31-year-old, whose best result was runner-up in the International Series Qatar in February to eventual Order of Merit champion Andy Ogletree, said: “I am looking forward to a great experience. My ball striking has been much better since China, Hong Kong and Indonesia (the final three events of The International Series schedule). If I could refine my short game, I think I will be in a good spot, so that’s what I’m concentrating on.

“I’m also doing a bit more endurance training, because of the 36 holes (on the final day). Other than that, I’m prepping myself by doing more physical training, and since there’s a cut every day, I feel like I need to play more aggressively to go as low as possible. It would mean everything to qualify.”

Sarit Suwannarut goes into the qualifier in good form, having leapt up the standings to 13th thanks to a superb victory in the Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen last month.

Although forced to withdraw from defending his Indonesian Masters title two weeks ago because of illness, Sarit is planning on sticking with his usual aggressive approach in a bid for glory, as he looks to secure a place on the roster alongside some of the world’s best.

Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

He said: “I feel pretty confident, I have had a lot of practice following Indonesia – I didn’t go back home and instead tried to prepare myself there, and I feel confident that I am going to be able to make that top three overall if I can play my game and feel good.

“I will try to think like every other week, my plan is the same; to play the same game and have a good game plan and try to not put too much pressure on myself mentally and enjoy it. I know what I can do and I know what I cannot do, I just need to feel like it is like another week, go out there and preform my best.”

Regarding the format, where only the top 20 will qualify from the first two rounds with a score reset, Sarit added: “I don’t think anything will change. I love to play day by day anyway, so my game plan is always the same – play aggressive. And if the hole looks like I can’t play aggressive I will find a way, that’s still the plan – to play as aggressive as I can.

“Making it to LIV Golf would change everything for me, it is a big league with a lot of top players playing there, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith for example. I’m ready and I would love to make it onto LIV to play against the top guys in the world.”

Phachara Khongwatmai just missed out on an exemption into the second round on the last day of action on The International Series, dropping one place to ninth in the Order of Merit standings at the death thanks to Gaganjeet Bhullar’s incredible wire-to-wire victory at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE.

The 24-year-old is still in fine form going into the week however, with three top 25 finishes in the final three events on The International Series including a T3 in the Hong Kong Open, after a thrilling battle with eventual champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand and LIV Golf sensation Cameron Smith.

Phachara, who was in the field for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London in 2022 and also lined up in LIV Golf Invitational events held in Thailand and Saudi Arabia last year, said: “I feel pretty good about my game at the moment. I had some decent results in the past few months which boosts my confidence up a bit. I’m trying to rest as much as I can and hopefully be ready for this big week in Abu Dhabi.

“My mentality for all three days will be to go for it, the format will not affect my play too much since only the top 20 will advance.

Sadom Kaewkanjana. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

“It would mean the world to me to be playing in LIV again. My time at LIV was so great. This opportunity is huge for us players. Not only financially but also a chance to prove ourselves playing with top players. I am so excited for this opportunity.”

Evergreen Australian Wade Ormsby is ready to “give it everything” at this week’s LIV Golf Promotions event, as he joins a multinational field preparing to do battle in “one of the greatest opportunities that has ever been presented in world golf”.

The 43-year-old is part of a formidable group from the Asian Tour who qualified for the unique four-round event at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club from 8-10 December via this season’s standings on The International Series Order of Merit.

Thanks to his sixth-place finish in the standings at the end of the season, the International Series Thailand champion is one of 13 players who go straight into round two of the event, where they will join the top 20 who progress from a 60-strong field in round one.

Only the top 20 at the end of day two will then progress to the final day, and a two-round shootout from scratch for those three golden tickets.

Wade Ormsby. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

He said: “I want to give it everything I can because it is a great opportunity, one of the greatest opportunities that has ever been presented in world golf, so that guys can graduate straight through to the LIV Golf League, which has proved to be pretty lucrative and exciting and a fun format.”

Ormsby knows what is at stake. The four-time Asian Tour winner was a member of the Punch GC team playing in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in the 2022 season and was reserve for the all-Australian Ripper GC team for the 2023 season of the inaugural LIV Golf League.

He said: “I had a taste of it in 2022 and I want more of it, so it is up to me to grab one of those three spots, it is about putting my best foot forward. It is an exciting format, it is shorter and faster and the camaraderie among the players and teams is completely different to what I have experienced before.

“Definitely that team aspect, I have experienced that at Punch and now Ripper GC, and that was a lot of fun. Pulling for your mates is a different feel to looking after yourself. Put all that together and it is pretty exciting and a lot of fun.”

With decades of experience and four professional wins on the Asian Tour under his belt, Ormsby is relishing the prospect of trying something new as he prepares to tee it up at the LIV Golf Promotions event which has brought together over 70 players from 23 different countries for a make-or-break weekend in the UAE.

Ormsby is one of 11 Australians taking a shot at glory over the weekend. Discussing the format, which sees the best 20 qualify from rounds one and two with a score reset, he said: “It is very new to everyone, and if I get through, I think it is a good format! Obviously it is short and sharp, and that is what LIV is all about. I’m looking forward to it, it is new to everyone – arguably the biggest Q school on world golf.

“In terms of preparation, I’ve just played three weeks straight – two weeks on The International Series, and then the Australian PGA. I took the week of the Australian Open off to do some extra work and prepare myself, and I will fly over on Tuesday.

Wade Ormsby. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

“A Saturday start feels a bit strange for a big event, but I know the course and will get two looks at it (Wednesday and Thursday practice rounds), and then with Friday as an off day for me I can still get some practice in. I feel my game is in a pretty good spot, and I’m looking forward to it – it is my last event of the year and I’m ready to give it everything.”

As a field of hopefuls prepares for a potentially life-changing weekend at the LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club this week, Asian Tour star Kieran Vincent is doing everything he can to ease the pressure and focus on securing one of three golden tickets to next year’s LIV Golf League roster.

The up-and-coming Zimbabwean comfortably secured his place in the field for the innovative qualifying event running from 8-10 December thanks to a fourth-place finish on The International Series Order of Merit.

While 32 spots were on offer in total for players on the Order of Merit, Vincent is one of a select number who received an exemption into round two by way of his high finish at the end of the season, thanks largely to his victory at the International Series Vietnam in April.

That means the 25-year-old will join the top 20 finishers from Friday’s first round on Saturday in a shootout for a place in the final day, where the field will once again be whittled down to a top 20 who will start from scratch and play back-to-back rounds with LIV Golf League playing rights up for grabs to the top three on the leaderboard.

Kieran Vincent with the International Series Vietnam trophy. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Not bad for someone who only turned pro in June last year. Despite so much at stake, Vincent is relishing the week ahead. He said: “Every week is an important week when playing golf but obviously this one is special – given the fact this one could have playing rights on LIV Golf for next year.

“Ask me a year ago and I would think it mad that I would have the opportunity to play on LIV. To be in this position at this point of my career, is just a huge advantage compared to where I thought I would be at this stage.

“It is an important week, but I will go out and have some fun. At the end of the day, golf is just golf and the more we try to up play the situation, the more pressure you can feel, so it is important to keep it simple. We live for those pressure moments.

“If there wasn’t any pressure, there wouldn’t be any privilege to it. I look forward to the opportunity, I’m not sure how we are going to handle it, but I will go out one shot at a time and take it from there.”

‘One shot at a time’ is a line that has also been used by Vincent’s older brother Scott, and it is a mantra that has paid dividends for the former Asian Tour regular.

Vincent Sr secured his LIV Golf playing rights a year previously by winning the inaugural International Series Order of Merit, and he more than proved his worth in the LIV Golf League by securing his place in the Lock Zone, the top 24 of the Individual Standings.

The 31-year-old also finished as one of the highest four players with counting scores in the team format last season, with a 92% rate for the Iron Heads GC, just behind Major winners Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith, who returned 94% of their rounds for Smash GC and Ripper GC respectively.

Will Kieran be asking for some brotherly advice ahead of the big week in Abu Dhabi?

“Absolutely! It would be naïve of me to think I know it all, especially when I have people that have gone there and experienced things ahead of me in the past. Everything is in my own hands, but I have a brother that I am close with, who I can reach out and ask for advice. I have already asked him for advice on travel, he’s very appreciative of this kind of thing so I’m happy to have his support.”

Vincent will be familiar with many in the field who also qualified via The International Series Order of Merit which covers the Asian Tour’s set of 10 marquee events every year.

And he is confident the Asian Tour massive will be rooting for each other as they all go in search of those three life-changing golden tickets to the LIV Golf League.

L-R – Kieran and Scott Vincent at last year’s International Series Singapore. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I have been fortunate enough to play here for a whole year now with this group of guys and the camaraderie and spirit is I think what separates us from other tours.

“No one thinks they are above anyone else, everyone is trying to do the very best they can, and everyone tries to help each other out. I hope that stays, the guys have taken me under their wing and treated me like family ever since I joined the tour, it is very special.”

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai cantered to a four-shot victory in the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open today to secure his first victory on the Asian Tour.

The Asian Tour rookie, who had a two-stroke lead at the start of the day, shot a fine four-under-par 68 to finish on 19-under here at Taifong Golf Club – in the second from last event of the season on the Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai fired a 66 to finish second with Malaysian Shahriffuddin Ariffin who came in with a 69. It is the best performance by both players on the Asian Tour.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand and Korean Seungtaek Lee tied for fourth, after they both returned 68s.

Atiruj Winaicharoenchai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Five birdies in a row from the third set up Suteepat for the win and allowed him to stroll to victory exactly one year after he came second in this event to wrap up the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit (OOM). The tournament was making its debut on the Asian Tour this week.

Thirty-year-old Suteepat, a professional since 2017, burst onto the scene last year with three ADT wins, all in Indonesia, which helped earn him his place on the Asian Tour as the top-10 finishers from the OOM secured their cards.

He had enjoyed as strong debut season on the main Tour with five top-20 finishes before putting the icing on the cake today.

“Really happy, I love this place,” said Suteepat, who won US$72,000 and leapt into 24^th place on the Asian Tour OOM, from 53^rd.

“I won the ADT title here, I got my Asian Tour card from here, yeah, I love it. I just stuck to my game plan and my putter got really hot with those five birdies in row. None of the putts were short really, the shortest was 10 feet.”

With a substantial lead heading into the back nine he could afford to make three successive bogeys from the 14^th before he restored order with a birdie on 17.

He added: “I didn’t chip well on those holes. I missed all those greens and could not get up and down.”

Atiruj and Ariffin have both taken giant steps forward to securing their Tour cards for 2024, with the former moving into 55^th place on the OOM, from 80^th, and the latter into 60^th position, from 91^st.

The top-65 earn their playing rights for the new season, with just one more event remaining, the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund at Riyadh Golf Club from December 14-17.

“I was thinking about the Order of Merit all day to be honest, but I have been in this situation before, so I have experience,” said Atiruj.

“I just kept my head down and concentrated. I felt a bit nervous on the last few holes. It was a long week and a tough year. I just changed my swing with my coach and the results have now come.”

Shahriffuddin Ariffin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Said Ariffin: “It’s a big relief. The top five was my target so I am really happy to have done better than that. When he [Suteepat] made those five birdies in a row I knew we were playing for second. Just need to play well in Saudi.”

American Andy Ogletree’s confirmation as the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion will have to wait, as Filipino Miguel Tabuena, who is second on the Merit list, is considering playing in the season-ending event in Riyadh. The Filipino can catch the runaway leader but only if the wins and Ogletree misses the cut.

Nearly 30 members of the Asian Tour will head to the LIV Golf Promotions event next week at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from December 8-10. The top-three finishers there will secure passage onto the LIV Golf League next season.

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai raced into a two-shot lead after round three of the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open today after shooting a six-under-par 66 to go to 15-under.

His compatriot Chapchai Nirat carded a 69 and is in second place, here at Taifong Golf Club, while Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin is a further shot back following a 66.

Suteepat’s emergence is perhaps no surprise as he finished joint second in this event last year, when it was the season-ending event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). The result saw him wrap up the ADT Order of Merit title, after a breakthrough season when he triumphed three times.

Despite today’s fine round he is reserved about his chances on Sunday.

“I’d take a top three finish tomorrow to be honest as there as so many top Chinese-Taipei players,” he said.

Chapchai Nirat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Chapchai and Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman has started the day in front with Suteepat one back, but a back nine of five-under-par 31, which included birdies on 17 and 18, both par fives, saw Suteepat take the lead for the first time in an Asian Tour event.

After a long first season on the Asian Tour, which has seen him retain his playing rights for next year as he is 53^rd on the Tour’s Merit list, it’s the perfect way to end the season. Just one more event remains after this event, the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, the week after next.

He added: “I have already kept my card for next year, so I can just relax, but it definitely has been a tough and challenging year with so many top players competing.”

Chapchai aged 40 and looking for his first Tour win since claiming the Selangor Masters in 2014, also birdied the last two.

The former golden boy of Thai golf has won four Asian Tour titles and has been on a mission to make it number five in the twilight of his career.

“I am in a good position again,” said the Thai golfer, who for so long was one of the biggest hitters on Tour and is still ranked sixth on the Driving Distance stats.

“The wind was up today but it didn’t bother me. It’s all about being mentally strong tomorrow, and not thinking too much.”

Ariffin also graduated from last year’s ADT, as he was fourth on the Merit list, and is bidding to become the first Malaysian to win on the Asian Tour since Danny Chia’s victory at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2015.

The joint first-round leader will want to finish his round tomorrow in the same spectacular fashion he did today. He was six under for the last six holes with birdies on 13, 14 and 15, another on 17 and an eagle on the last.

Siddikur will be bitterly disappointed with his 75, that saw him slip back to seven-under. He has kept his Tour card with ease for the past 12 years but is in danger of losing it as he is 89^th on the Merit list. The top-65 keep their cards.

Shahriffuddin Ariffin. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat returned a 68 and is fourth on 11 under.

Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, the defending champion, also came in with a 68 and is on his own on 10 under.

It looks very much like American Andy Ogletree will be confirmed the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion tomorrow as the only player who can catch him, Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, returned a 73. He needed to win this week to have any chance of catching Ogletree, but he is now 10 behind the leader.

Veteran playmakers Siddikur Rahman and Chapchai Nirat rekindled the kind of magic that saw them win multiple titles on the Asian Tour by taking a share of the halfway lead in the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open today at Taifong Golf Club.

Bangladesh’s long-time number one golfer Siddikur, who is in 89^th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and striving to keep his Tour card with just one more event to go after this week, carded a six-under-par 66, while Chapchai, from Thailand, shot his second successive 67.

They lead on 10 under by one from Chinese-Taipei’s Liao Huan-jyun, the joint first-round leader, and Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, who returned rounds of 70 and 67 respectively.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Natipong Srithong, after rounds of 67 and 69, are an additional stroke behind.

Chapchai Nirat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Rahman, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour with the most recent the Hero Indian Open a decade ago, collected eight birdies and dropped two shots.

“It was a wonderful day, and my feeling was excellent,” said the 39-year-old from Dhaka.

“I don’t think so much about trying to keep my card because if I think about it the pressure will be on me, so I don’t want that pressure. I just want to enjoy my game, that was the plan, and this is the plan that will remain.”

Rahman has comfortably retained his Tour card for the past 12 seasons on the Asian Tour and will need to draw on all his experience to do so again this year to finish in the top-65. The final event is the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, the week after next.

He added: “I have been playing well but I just could not score well, but I still have a strong believe that I can still score well, that is the inspiration for me.”

Chapchai, aged 40, birdied the 17^th and eagled the 18^th, both par fives to leapfrog to the top. He made five birdies in total and two bogeys.

“I am just here to enjoy myself,” said the Thai golfer, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“The first time I played here it was difficult but last year I found it ok. Not too much thinking at the weekend is the most important thing.”

He’s attempting to win his first Asian Tour title in nine years, a target he has set himself over the past two seasons after deciding to refocus and work harder on his game with his coach, as well as improve his fitness.

Liao Huan-jyun.

Unlike the majority of the front runners, Liao, who led after a first-round 65, wasn’t able to make up ground on the two par five closing holes, as he made par on both, but he is well and truly in the hunt, at the forefront of the local challenge.

“Yesterday was my first time getting a share of the lead on the Asian Tour,” explained the 22-year-old, who plays on the Taiwan PGA Tour.

“I felt good but no pressure. I just went out and played today, didn’t think too much. I putted well, made a few good par saves, like the six-footer on the 18th and the first hole.

“I am surprised to still be close to the lead because I didn’t play as well as I did yesterday. Going to keep things the same for the next two rounds and see how it goes. I would love to go to the Asian Tour Qualifying School, but I will have to wait another year as I’m going into the army next month.”

Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin, who also shared the first-round lead, fired a 73 and is six under in a tie for ninth.

One of the players he is tied with is Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who came in with a 71.

He needs to win to have an outside chance of catching runaway Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree from the United States, who is not competing this week.

The Thai golfer is in fifth place on the Merit list and is the only player who can catch the American, but he’ll also need to win the Saudi event.

He will be disappointed to have dropped shots on his 10^th and 12^th but is well placed heading into the weekend.

Chinese-Taipei’s Liao Huan-jyun and Shahriffuddin Ariffin from Malaysia both fired matching bogey-free seven-under-par 65s to take the first-round lead in the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open today – in the penultimate event of the season on the Asian Tour.

They lead from Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, who carded a 66 here at Taifong Golf Club and is ahead of seven players in with 67s: Prom Meesawat, Poom Saksansin, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Natipong Srithong, and Chapchai Nirat, also all from Thailand, plus local players Liu Yu-jui and Liu Yung-hua.

Liao said he had technical issues heading into this week, but that was certainly not evident today as he made three birdies on the front and four on the back, like Ariffin.

The 22-year-old, who has been a professional since 2021 and plays on the Taiwan PGA Tour, could not have rediscovered his game at a better time as the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is making its debut appearance on the Asian Tour, having been promoted from the Asian Development Tour (ADT), where it was played for seven successful seasons.

Shahriffuddin Ariffin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I played really well today, from off the tees to putting, everything went well for me,” said Liao, who claimed his first title on the local Tour in September and is eighth on the Order of Merit, suggesting he could be a threat this week.

“This is my third time playing the Taifong Open. I can say I’m pretty familiar with this course. We play here every year. Wasn’t expecting to shoot such a low round, there weren’t much wind this morning, so I guess that was an advantage.

“My ball flight was off coming into this week. I was trying to make adjustments so really surprised with my score today. Hitting fairways is key on this course.”

Ariffin is one of a large number of players here this week trying to keep their playing privileges for the 2024 season. He graduated to the Tour by claiming fourth place on last year’s ADT Order of Merit – helped by winning the Selangor Masters – but now faces a battle to stay as he is 91^st on the Merit list.

Only one more event remains after this week, the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, with the top-65 receiving their cards.

“Just the start I needed,” said the Malaysian, who is playing his 17^th event of the season.

“This is a difficult course, I am just keeping it in the safe positions. I am here to try and keep my card. That’s the goal.”

His round was practically identical to his co-leader as he birdied four of the same holes, including 17 and 18, although he played in the afternoon and, unlike Liao, he began on 10.

Itthipat is another battling to retain his card as he is 87^th on the standings.

“I hope I will get my card from this week, but I am not putting pressure on myself,” said Itthipat, who chipped in from 25 yards for an eagle on 18 and made six birdies and two bogeys.

“It was a good round for me but not the best round. I got two bogeys before finishing but [those two holes] are too easy for bogey.

“In Chinese-Taipei the course is normally difficult because of the wind. But now it is good weather for me. I am trying to be happy and just enjoy the game. When I have played here in the past on the ADT this is my favourite course. I am really happy to be here.”

Ittiphat Burananatanyarat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Prom is in 81^st place on the Merit list and needs a good finish this week. Like Itthipat he is taking it in his stride.

He said: “I am not worrying about it. I started playing well since Singapore and I just want to play more to find my momentum, get ready for next year, and just come here and enjoy, see my Taiwanese friends as it’s like a second home. We have long time friends here and everyone was telling me I should come, I should come.”

He started on 10 and got off to a poor start when he made a double bogey on the 13^th.

“I chipped out from the rough and I hit it pretty good, but I had a bad break, it had a bad bounce and went over the green and I had a lost ball on that hole,” he said.

Birdies on 17 and 18 helped him turn in even before a sensational second nine made up of five birdies, including on the last three, moved him into contention.

Poom finished later in the day, and it looks like he intends to keep American Andy Ogletree waiting a little longer before he is confirmed as the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

The Thai golfer, who won the Yeangder TPC here in Chinese-Taipei in September, is fifth on the Merit list and is the only player who can mathematically catch Ogletree.

However, he first needs to win this week to have any chance of catching the runaway Merit list leader, who claimed two International Series events this season, in Qatar and England.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, winner of this event on three occasions, came in with a 69.

His compatriot and defending champion Hung Chien-yao carded a 72.

Lee Chieh-po competes in the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open this week at Taifong Golf Club and could not have asked for a better tournament to play in at this stage of the season.

The Chinese-Taipei golfer has enjoyed a breakthrough year on the Asian Tour – he is currently in 15^th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – and the only thing missing is a first victory on the circuit.

That could potentially all change this week at an event he has won once before – in 2021, when because of the COVID-19 pandemic the only sanctioning body was the local tour – and finished in the top-10 on five occasions when it was held on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).

“I always feel good coming back to play here at Taifong Golf Club,” said Lee ahead of this week’s event which is debuting on the Asian Tour after seven successful seasons on the ADT schedule.

Lee Chieh-po. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I grew up in Yunlin County which is not too far from here so it’s nice to be back. The game has been feeling good. I played very consistently, especially in the second half of the season.

“I was able to stick to my game plan and routines and execute the shots I wanted to hit. The string of top-10 finishes gave me a great boost in confidence. Hopefully I can putt well this week.”

The ‘string of tops-10 finishes’ downplays a brilliant run of form in successive events that saw him finish joint ninth in the International Series Singapore, tie for fourth in the SJM Macao Open, claim a share of seventh in the Volvo China Open and secure equal eighth in the Hong Kong Open.

Back in April he was also one of the runner ups at the Mandiri Indonesia Open –  his best result of the year. The only other time he has come second was in last year’s Yeangder TPC, on home soil, an event he won a year earlier when again, because of the pandemic, it was played as a local event.

He added: “I am happy with how I performed so far this season. I have played some steady golf which is good. Obviously, the goal at the start of the season is to win on the Asian Tour. I did give myself a few opportunities, but I think I still have a lot to learn before I can finally claim that win. I know as long as I stay competitive in every tournament I tee up in, my chance will come.”

He was joint fourth here last year and tees-off tomorrow as one of the hot favourites.

“There is an advantage for me this week as I know the course very well,” explained the baby-faced 29-year-old, who enjoyed a fine amateur career prior to turning professional 2015.

Lee pictured with the keys to his new BMW after his ace in Hong Kong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I play here very often. It’s great to see the event being elevated from an Asian Development Tour event to an Asian Tour event this year, considering how high standard this golf course is, it’s worth it. It is going to be a special venue for the foreign players this week.”

Lee is hoping to follow in the footsteps of five-time Asian Tour winner Chan Shih-chang, who is also a six-time champion on the ADT, as he’s a close friend of Chan and godfather to his son.

The close association appears to rubbing off on Lee.

At the Hong Kong Open in November he made an ace with a beautifully struck 196-yard seven iron on the eighth hole at the Hong Kong Golf Club, to become the lucky new owner of a BMW i5 eDrive40 MSE.

It was the sign of a player who is on top of his game, and one of the finds of the Asian Tour’s 2023 season who looks like being one of the stars of the future.

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the penultimate event of the season, and will be followed in two weeks by the Saudi Open presented by the Public Investment Fund.