Hats off to Taichi Kho!
Three weeks ago Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho recorded an historic and life-changing victory on the Asian Tour but ahead of the International Series Vietnam, which starts Thursday at KN Golf Links, he remains typically grounded and level headed.
“It would be easy to get carried away with such an exceptional week,” said Kho, who won the World City Championship at the Hong Kong Golf Club last month to become the first player from his country to win on the Asian Tour.
“I have been trying to get back to the regular routine of training and practice. I am trying to get back to normal prep and getting one per cent better every day and get ready.”
This week is his first tournament back since that stunning victory, which was only his third start as a professional having made it through the Tour’s Qualifying School in January.
L-R – Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, Michael Tran of Vietnam, Taichi Kho of Hong Kong and Chikkarangappa S. of India pose with the International Series Vietnam trophy on Tuesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It was the highlight of my career so far, and to perform well in front of my family and friends was truly really special, just having the hometown support,” he added.
“I felt like a lot of momentum was on my side because so many people were supporting me. On top of that playing such good golf was why I was able to have such a good week.”
This week is the fourth International Series event of the season, after Qatar, Oman and Thailand, and the eighth leg of the Asian Tour.
An outstanding field has entered the US$2million event including England’s Paul Casey, Anirban Lahiri from India and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
He said: “A win here would be incredible. The International Series always poses an incredible challenge in terms of quality of field and the courses. To get a win here would be incredible.”
His very first tournament as a professional was in fact in an International Series event, in Thailand, and he showed signs there of what was to come starting with an opening round 66 at Black Mountain before tying for 34th.
Kho pictured on Tuesday during an official practice round. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Two events later the impressive young golfer triumphed by two shots in Hong Kong from New Zealand’s Michael Hendry to fittingly celebrate the week he was announced as an ambassador of the Hong Kong Golf Club and the return of international tournament golf to the Special Administrative Region of China for the first time in 38 months.
His success also meant he secured one of the four spots up for grabs in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July. That will mark his first appearance in a major championship.
And his win, worth US$180,000, moved him into sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, setting up him for an outstanding first season that has put him in pole position to secure the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year Award.
Playing on The International Series has brought the best out of Travis Smyth, following recent qualification for The Open at Royal Liverpool, and he is hoping his consistent form of late can continue at this week’s inaugural International Series Vietnam.
The Australian has enjoyed a blistering start to the 2023 season on the Asian Tour, recording three top-10 finishes at the PFI Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, International Series Qatar and most recently at the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The 28 year old stated that: “If there was one word to describe the start of the season so far it would be fight, I feel like I fought really well.”
His third-place finish at the World City Championship saw him secure one of the four spots available in The Open in July as the event had the honour of being part of The Open Qualifying Series, but speaking of his LIV Golf experience last year Smyth said: “It might be controversial, but I feel like I’ve played three majors already with the three LIV events that I have already played.”
Bio Kim, Taichi Kho, Travis Smyth, and Michael Hendry secured their places in The Open at the World City Championship recently. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Smyth played in those LIV Golf events by virtue of finishing second in the International Series England last year, which at the time was his best performance on the Asian Tour. But he bettered that by the only way possible later in the year by winning the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, for his maiden Asian Tour victory.
He admits that he is now fueling his confidence tournament-by-tournament.
“I’ve knocked off a number of top 10s on the Asian Tour now and I’ve had a win last year, so I am starting to get really comfortable at this level of competition.
“It has been really good for my confidence to play well in Saudi against all the LIV players and even at all The International Series events now we’re getting a handful of LIV players competing every time. When you start to beat those guys, you do get a little chip of confidence!”
The International Series Vietnam, which starts Thursday, will be held at the Greg Norman-designed KN Golf Links, situated on the south-central coast in Cam Rahn, and is set to be the biggest and most lucrative golf tournament ever staged in Vietnam.
Smyth shared his excitement for the week ahead, and said: “I can’t wait, I looked at the photos online and I’ve spoken to a couple of the guys who have played there, and they said it’s amazing, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’ve heard it’s really good, Vietnam has blown up in terms of resort golf and they’re definitely trying to push it.”
Smyth claimed the Yeangder TPC last year, for his maiden win on the Asian Tour. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Sydney native is enjoying the opportunities that The International Series provides, allowing him to develop as a player and play in different parts of the world where there are many similarities to his home city.
“It’s been amazing! I am loving that aspect, getting out to other parts of Asia and other parts of the world and learning and competing to play in all different types of conditions, it can only improve us as players if you look at it the right way.
“When you turn up to those countries and it’s harsh weather these are climates and conditions that I am used to coming from Sydney because we kind of get all four seasons in a day almost.”
The US$2 million Vietnam event is the fourth tournament on The International Series this season and the eighth stop on the Asian Tour.
By Joy Chakravarty in Augusta, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
The 87th Masters hasn’t even teed off and Joohyung ‘Tom’ Kim, one of the Asian Tour’s greatest graduates, made sure that a childhood dream was realised.
The Korean star played nine holes with five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods, the 1992 winner Fred Couples and the yet-to-be-jacketed Rory McIlroy on the first official practice day on Monday.
It was an experience that money can’t buy, and something that took Couples – enamoured by the massive game, character and attitude that the boy wonder exhibited during the Presidents Cup last year – only a couple of phone calls to fix.
Tom Kim (L), Tiger Woods (second from L), Rory McIlroy (second from R) and Fred Couples (R) all try to ‘skip’ their tee shots onto the 16th green during a practice round on Monday. Picture by David Cannon/Getty Images.
“I did not put the group together,” said Kim, winner of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit at the end of the COVID-19 hit 2020-2022 season.
“That’s impossible for me. But Fred was telling me ever since the Presidents Cup, let’s play a practice round together. Just a couple of weeks ago, I got a text: ‘Hey, it’s going to be you, me, Tiger, Rory’. I was like, ‘okay, cool’.
“I think my first memory of just watching golf was the Masters and Tiger winning it, and for me to be able to share my first official practice round with him was a dream come true, really. And to not just play with Tiger but to have Fred Couples and Rory join us, it was, as I said, a dream.”
It turned out to be a long nine holes – almost three hours – but Kim insists every minute spent with the threesome was worth its weight in gold.
“It was really cool to see just the amount of work Tiger does around the greens – to pick which chip shots he was hitting and stuff like that. The positions he put himself in, was really cool to pick as well. I walked the back nine again after we played it and I got to kind of see where he pitched from. He has years and years of knowledge here and some success, so I’m pretty sure there’s a reason why he’s there,” said the 20 year old.
Couples helped set up the dream practice round. Picture by David Cannon/Getty Images.
“You don’t really need to talk to them and ask for advice. You can just see it and think to yourself, why are they hitting those shots to those pins? Why are they chipping from that particular spot? I guess they leave themselves that.
“Obviously, game plans are different because our games are different, but you can have an idea of how the course plays during tournament weeks and why they are chipping or putting.”
One of the oft-repeated comments about Augusta National is how cruel the golf course can be to first timers. The only Masters debutant (if you do not count the inaugural edition in 1934) to win the Green Jacket was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1977.
Kim is eager to change that particular Masters stat.
“I hope so, that I can change that. I got some really good work done, and this course actually does suit my eye a little bit. So, I’m trying to prepare really well. Obviously, some of the guys have been here a lot more than I have, but I have to adjust and adapt quickly,” said Kim.
“If I win, it would exceed expectations, for sure. But everyone wants to win the Masters. Everyone wants to park in the champions parking lot. Everyone wants to go to the Champions Dinner. Everyone wants to fight for it and I’m the same way. Hopefully, I’ll just be able to have a chance on Sunday. That would be a dream.”
Kim tees off at the iconic 18th. Picture by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.
As important as his two wins on the PGA Tour late last year were to muscle into the global golfing spotlight, Kim is in no doubt that his formative years in Asia played a huge role in his success story.
Three rapid-fire victories on the Asian Development Tour in 2019 earned him an instant promotion to the Asian Tour that year, and he duly celebrated by winning the Panasonic Open India, to become the second youngest professional to win an Asian Tour event, aged 17 years and 149 days. And after the global pandemic briefly halted his meteoric rise, he wrapped up the Tours’ Order of Merit title at the beginning of 2022, helped by victory in the season’s penultimate event, The Singapore International.
“I turned pro a lot earlier than what a lot of people do. I didn’t have a plan to go to college or play college golf. Obviously, back in Asia, it is allowed. I spent time there and I felt like it was a great time for me to adjust faster. Of course, I always wanted to be on the PGA Tour as early as possible,” said Kim, now ranked 19th in the world.
“Those times that I spent traveling and adjusting to the new courses, adjusting to new countries, eating different food…it helped me adjust quicker when I got here because I was so used to new conditions and adapting. Those three, four years, spending time on different tours in Asia definitely made my foundation really strong.
“Every single golfer wants to win the Masters, but for an Asian golfer to win is going to be a lot more impactful, because of how far all this feels growing up in Asia.
“Hopefully, this week, whether it’s me or any other Asian golfer, we will have a chance to win on Sunday and inspire the generations coming up.”
Kim has been paired with McIlroy and the in-form Sam Burns for the first two rounds.
The battle for two trophies came down to the final group on Sunday at LIV Golf Orlando, played at Orange County National, and the outcome was a split decision, with Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka winning the individual trophy while Torque GC claimed its first team title.
Koepka’s win, by one stroke over Torque’s Sebastián Muñoz, makes him the first two-time winner in LIV Golf. The four-time Major champion won the regular-season finale last year in the Invitational Series in Jeddah. It’s also his first professional victory in his home state of Florida.
“I’ve been playing good for a few weeks,” Koepka said after his final-round three-under-par 68 left him at 15 under. “It just hasn’t really shown on the scorecard, making dumb mistakes. It was nice to come out this week and play mistake-free pretty much.”
Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, who overhauled his roster during the offseason to add new LIV players Muñoz and Mito Pereira while bringing in LIV free agent David Puig, was happy to get the team title in just their third start with the new lineup. Torque’s Spanish-speaking four-man roster is the youngest in the LIV Golf League.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Niemann said. “… The chemistry between the four of us is pretty good since day one. All the practice rounds, the games we do, it’s pretty easy for the four of us to hang out together. I think we knew we could win since the first week. It just came a little bit later than we thought, actually.”
Sebastian Munoz, Mito Pereira, Joaquin Niemann and David Puig of Torgue GC celebrate winning the team event at the LIV Golf Orlando tournament. Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.
Both the individual and team competitions developed into potential playoffs during a tightly contested final round.
Koepka started the day with a three-shot lead but Muñoz – who opened with a record-tying 62 on Friday – provided constant pressure. He holed out from behind the green at the 16th hole to move within a stroke of the lead. At that point, Torque also tied Smash on the team leaderboard. Pereira then birdied the 17th hole to give Torque the lead.
It ultimately came down to the final hole and the final group. Both Koepka and Muñoz found the green with their approach shots but faced long birdie putts. Both attempts came up well short, giving each player nervy four-footers to maintain their positions. They both made their par putts, allowing Koepka to celebrate an individual win and Torque to celebrate the team win at the same time.
“I knew it was back-and forth between Torque and us, and then Sebastián, I knew where he was the entire time. It helps playing with him, obviously,” Koepka said. “He battled really hard. .. The fact he just wouldn’t go away was props to him because that’s just competing right there.”
Muñoz shot a final-round 66 to lead the Torque counting scores, with Puig shooting 67 and Pereira shooting 68.
“I just knew that I had Brooks against me, and I couldn’t let him beat me [in counting scores] because I wanted Torque to stay on top,” Muñoz said.
Asked how he balanced the success of the team against coming so close to the individual win, Muñoz replied, “Yeah, I had a moment right now when we were taking pictures. I had a trophy in my hand but finished second. It threw me off. But I’m really proud of what we achieved as a team, and I feel like it’s even tougher to win as a team.”
Meanwhile, Koepka had the same balancing act with Smash coming so close to its second team title. But he doesn’t have time to dwell on the outcome. He and 17 other LIV Golf members will be competing in the season’s first Major at the Masters next week.
“I’m very happy to get the win,” Koepka said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the team win, which kind of is a little bittersweet. But look, I’m happy the way I’m playing going into Augusta.”
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, winner of the International Series Order of Merit on the Asian Tour last year, finished in 24th place after closing with a 71, to end on six under for the tournament.
Text courtesy of LIV Golf.
Brooks Koepka has 16 professional wins in eight different countries, but he’s never won an elite event in his home state of Florida.
That could change Sunday at LIV Golf Orlando.
Koepka, the Smash GC captain, shot his second consecutive six-under-par 65 to grab the 36-hole individual lead at 12 under at Orange County National. He’ll take a three-shot lead over Torque GC’s Sebastián Muñoz, the first-round leader who followed his record-tying 62 with a 71. Three players – Laurie Canter (Cleeks GC), Mito Pereira (Torque GC) and Patrick Reed (4Aces GC) – are at eight under.
Asian Tour star Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, who is playing on the LIV Golf League this year by virtue of winning last year’s International Series Order of Merit, is in a tie for 14th after carding a 67 to move to five under.
Fueled by Koepka, Smash leads the team competition at 26 under, two shots ahead of Torque, with Cleeks another three shots back at 21 under.
Koepka, who grew up in the West Palm Beach area, played collegiately at Florida State, and currently lives in South Florida, wasn’t sure of the last time he won a golf tournament in the state.
“Probably a minor league golf event I remember playing in like 2012, 2013,” he said.
Sebastian Munoz of Torgue GC plays his shot from the seventh tee during day two of the LIV Golf Orlando event at The Orange County National on April 01, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images).
His family is attending LIV Golf Orlando this week, cheering for both Brooks and his younger brother Chase, who also plays for Smash. It could be a big celebration if Brooks and his team can claim both trophies on Sunday.
“They’ve got to be loving it, right?” Koepka said of his family. “I’ll speak for me, it’s pretty cool to have my brother, playing alongside him, being able to go do practice rounds, playing an event with him, seeing all the behind-the-scenes stuff that you guys might not see all the time and be able to spend more time with him, more QT. I think that’s been a big thing. It’s been pretty dope.”
Koepka will also be seeking his second LIV Golf individual title, having won last year in a play-off against then-teammate Peter Uihlein in the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah. Including the 2022 Invitational Series, the first nine regular-season events in LIV Golf’s young history have been won by nine different players, so Koepka is in position to be the first individual to celebrate a second time atop the podium.
“It’s kind of tough to have multiple wins in nine events,” Koepka said. “If you do, you’re doing something right.”
Muñoz was one of 18 players in the 48-player field who did not break par Saturday. He realizes how difficult it is to back up a low round with another one, especially in the windy conditions offered by the Crooked Cat course. Despite the even-par score, he remains in contention in just his third LIV Golf start.
“I felt like my ball-striking was the same as yesterday,” Muñoz said. “I might have hit a few less fairways. Putts didn’t go in, and that’s a nine-shot difference. Pretty crazy.”
Canter is making his third start as a reserve player filling in for Cleeks GC Captain Martin Kaymer, who is close to returning from offseason wrist surgery.
“I kind of look at it like if this is the last LIV event I ever play, then it’s been awesome,” Canter said. “… I haven’t tried to put too much pressure on myself in terms of got to take the opportunity because golf doesn’t really work like that. Well, not for me anyway.”
Text courtesy of LIV Golf.
Torque GC’s Sebastián Muñoz played his first 11 holes in Friday’s opening round of LIV Golf Orlando in eight under. The thought of shooting 59 certainly was on his mind as he headed toward the tee box at the par-four seventh hole.
“Last year I shot 60 two times, so it’s one of my goals, to get to 59 one day,” Muñoz said. “I thought I hit a good shot on seven. I gave myself a 45-footer and I three-putted that one. I knew that was going to kind of be the end of the 59 strategy.”
Even so, Muñoz finished his round with consecutive birdies to shoot a nine-under-par 62 at Orange County National. That ties for the lowest score in LIV Golf history and gives the Colombian star a two-shot advantage going into the weekend of the third event on the LIV Golf League schedule. Cleeks GC’s Richard Bland is in solo second at 64, while Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka and Tucson winner Danny Lee of Iron Heads GC share third at 65.
“Great day,” said Muñoz, who began his round with an eagle at the par-five 14th. “Felt really in control of my driver, irons, putting. … Everything felt kind of easy today.”
Smash leads the team leaderboard with a cumulative 14 under, one stroke better than Torque. Chase Koepka and Matthew Wolff supported their captain with counting scores of 67.
Smash is one of three teams that have yet to finish inside the points (top eight) through the first two events. Majesticks GC (third place at 11 under) and Cleeks GC (tied for 4th at 10 under) are the other two.
Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational – Orlando at The Orange County National on March 31, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“It’s nice to see the team finally playing well,” Brooks Koepka said. “Chase played well and then Matt has been doing what he’s been doing. Just nice to see us actually compete, and hopefully we’re there on Sunday.”
The Koepka brothers were both born and raised in Florida. Brooks Koepka said he played some junior events at Orange County National two decades ago, but it’s his younger brother Chase who has more experience on the Crooked Cat course.
“He’s had Q-school here so many times,” Brooks said. “He was telling us what to do in the practice rounds, so that doesn’t happen too often, just because we’ve played so many different golf courses of the years. … It definitely helps, so I’ll take his advice.”
Bland began his round with a double-bogey but quickly bounced back with consecutive birdies and eventually finished with an eagle to climb into solo second.
“I kind of righted the ship pretty quick,” Bland said. “I played the front nine great. Whenever I kind of had a look, I made it.”
Despite winning two weeks ago in just his second LIV Golf start, Lee said he did not enter Orlando with high expectations. He started his round with a bogey but eventually found his groove, shooting a bogey-free six under on his last 14 holes.
“Monday through Thursday, my body wasn’t feeling well,” Lee said. “I was feeling weak, wasn’t sleeping well because of the time difference coming over from the West Coast. I didn’t know I was going to play this well.”
Text courtesy of LIV Golf.
Global star Paul Casey and one of Asia’s greatest golfing exports Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand have confirmed they will compete in the inaugural International Series Vietnam – contributing to what will be the biggest and most lucrative golf tournament ever staged in Vietnam.
The US$2 million event will be played at the Greg Norman-designed KN Golf Links, Cam Rahn, on the south-central coast in just two weeks, from 13-16 April, and will be the fourth event on the International Series this season and the eighth stop on the Asian Tour.
International Series and Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) leader Andy Ogletree from the United States will also compete along with the three most recent winners on the Asian Tour: Wade Ormsby from Australia, Filipino Miguel Tabuena and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho.
Casey has been a regular visitor to Asia during his brilliant 23-year professional career and has won twice on the Asian Tour.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat pictured at the International Series Thailand this month. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His two Asian Tour victories both came in China in 2005 at the TCL Classic and the Volvo China Open, adding to his portfolio of 21 wins on the international stage.
Kiradech’s decision to play in Vietnam will come as no surprise as he has been very vocal about enjoying playing more regularly on the Asian Tour, his home Tour where he has tasted victory on three occasions and claimed the Asian Tour OOM in 2013.
The Thai star made a fine debut on the International Series last year finishing joint fifth in Morocco.
The International Series was launched in 2022, through a partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf, to create an elite level of events to develop the next generation of global stars and invigorate the game of golf in Asia, the Middle East and beyond.
Rahul Singh, Head of the International Series, explained: “The International Series Vietnam tournament is shaping up to be a fantastic event and with the commitment of Paul, Kiradech and our leading players it illustrates the quality of players that we are attracting from all corners of the world.
“We have had an extremely positive start to the 2023 schedule welcoming new destinations in Oman, and Qatar. We are delighted to be taking the International Series to Vietnam for the first time and KN Golf Links will undoubtably provide a breathtaking venue for the tournament.”
International Series and Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
While the addition of Ormsby, who won the International Series Thailand, Tabuena, The DGC Open presented by Mastercard champion, and Kho, who triumphed on Sunday in the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club is outstanding for the event so is the participation of Takumi Kanaya, who in February became the first player from Japan to win an International Series tournament at the International Series Oman. Vietnam will be his first Asian Tour start since then.
For the second year in a row, the prize fund has been increased at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC).
To celebrate the return of the tournament to the Asian Tour schedule last September after a three-year absence due to COVID, the purse rose by 40 per cent from US$500,000 in 2019 to US$700,000.
For 2023, a further US$50,000 has been added, meaning players will be vying for US$750,000 in total prize money when the event returns to Linkou International Golf and Country Club from September 21-24.
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour’s Commissioner & CEO, said: “Our thanks go to the Yeangder Group and its Chairman Emmet Hsu for their continued support. By increasing the purse to US$750,000, the Yeangder TPC will move up to the next tier of points for our Order of Merit.”
Among those relishing the prospect of a return to Linkou International will be Travis Smyth.
Thanks to four sub-70 rounds, the Australian recorded his maiden Asian Tour triumph there last year.
Travis Smyth pictured with the winner’s trophy at the Yeangder TPC at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The inaugural Yeangder TPC in 2010 was won by Thailand great Thaworn Wiratchant. 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 player 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, when Sihwan Kim, last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, finished second.
The Hong Kong Open, one of the Asian Tour’s most iconic golf tournaments steeped in rich history, will make its long-awaited return this year to its traditional home the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC), in Fanling, and in a landmark development will be part of the burgeoning International Series.
The tournament, which is the oldest professional sporting event in Hong Kong, will offer a lucrative purse of US$2 million and will be played on the HKGC’s acclaimed Composite Course from November 9-12.
The famous venue was the scene of one of Hong Kong’s greatest sporting moments at the weekend when Taichi Kho triumphed in the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club to become the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour. The event marked the return of international tournament golf to the Special Administrative Region of China for the first time in 38 months and was especially significant as the hugely impressive Kho was announced as an ambassador for the club during the week.
Wade Ormsby pictured with the Hong Kong Open trophy in 2020, he also won in 2017. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
Wade Ormsby, who sits second in the International Series Order of Merit, courtesy of his victory at the International Series Thailand just three weeks ago, was the last player to win the Hong Kong Open, in January of 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the season to a premature conclusion. The Australian also claimed the event in 2017.
The 42-year-old, who has stated his aim to tee-up in all 10 of the International Series events in 2023 in pursuit of a return to the LIV Golf League, said: “To have a crack around a course I’ve had success at is fantastic. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Australians have enjoyed a rich vein of success at the Hong Kong Open, producing more winners than any other nation, with fellow antipodean victors including golf legends Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, and Kel Nagle plus Scott Hend, who is tied third for the most Asian Tour wins of all time with 10 victories
Past champions from further afield include Major winners Rory McIlroy (NIR), Justin Rose (ENG), Padraig Harrington (IRE), Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP), Bernhard Langer (GER), Ian Woosnam (WAL), and Orville Moody (USA).
The Hong Kong Open has been a pre-eminent event on the Asian Tour for decades and was first held in 1959. The HKGC has staged every edition.
Andy Kwok, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club , said: “This event has a proud history of welcoming golf’s leading talents from around the world, and in that sense shares values with The International Series, the expanded entry criteria for which makes this a compelling proposition for tour players around the world.”
Taichi Kho celebrates his win on Sunday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Rahul Singh, Head of the International Series, said: “The International Series is an exciting new initiative, but part of its success has been its ability to build relationships with historic tournaments and events like the Hong Kong Open and the Hong Kong Golf Club.
“The International Series offers life-changing pathways for players and with the Hong Kong Open scheduled at the ‘business end’ of the year it will play a vital role in deciding which players make the coveted top 32 and qualify for the LIV Promotions Event.”
The International Series, introduced last year through a landmark investment by LIV Golf, sits within the Asian Tour schedule and has already seen three events this season in the Middle East and Thailand with the next tournament scheduled in April in Vietnam.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, said: “The Hong Kong Open’s return and its positioning as an International Series event is outstanding and adds another exciting dimension to the 2023 season, which has enjoyed such a successful start.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody at the Hong Kong Golf Association and the Hong Kong Golf Club for their support and we cannot wait to have yet another memorable Hong Kong Open in November.”
Taichi Kho made history today by becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event after he recorded a hugely popular and significant victory at the inaugural World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Kho, who only turned professional in January, triumphed by two shots from New Zealand’s Michael Hendry on another wet day at the Hong Kong Golf Club to fittingly celebrate the week he was announced as an ambassador for the club and the return of international tournament golf to the Special Administrative Region of China for the first time in 38 months.
Twenty-two-year-old Kho closed with an even-par 70 to finish the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes because of the inclement weather, on 12 under, and also secure one of the four spots up for grabs in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.
Hendry shot a 68 while Australian Travis Smyth returned a 66 to finish third, three behind Kho. Korean Bio Kim (65) and Miguel Tabuena (72) from the Philippines tied for fourth, a shot further back.
Taichi Kho pictured with the winner’s trophy on Sunday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Hendry, Smyth and Kim also made it through to The Open, where Kho will also become the first Hong Kong Chinese player to compete in the game’s oldest and most prestigious Major. Kim secured his berth ahead of Tabuena due to a better world ranking.
“Being at home, in front of everyone, having my parents here, it just means the world to me. I want to say thank you to everyone,” said Kho.
“I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have this opportunity. To play on the Asian Tour and represent Hong Kong Golf Club, to play well with both those things it is very special. The fans gave me a lot of momentum, thank you to Hong Kong.”
Yesterday’s poor weather meant Kho could only play two holes of his third round before play was stopped for the day at which point he had a healthy four-shot lead over Tabuena. But when played resumed this morning at 8.05am he struggled to find his rhythm, to the concern of his many local supporters, and dropped shots on the third and sixth to see his lead reduced to two.
However, to the delight and relief of everyone watching he sensationally got back on track when he holed out from 50 yards for a birdie on the par-four ninth before holing a difficult five-foot putt for par on the next.
L-R- Open qualifiers – Bio Kim of Korea, Taichi Kho of Hong Kong, Travis Smyth of Australia and Michael Hendry of New Zealand pictured with the Open championship flags and the Claret Jug. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
A dropped shot on the ensuing hole was again cause for alarm especially as further ahead Smyth and Korean Yoseop Seo had made birdies to close the gap to one.
But Kho produced another master shot on the short par-three 12th nearly holing his tee shot. He confidently holed a four-foot putt there for a birdie and a two-shot advantage.
On the par-five 13th he reached the green in two to set up a birdie for a three-shot cushion. He then had a chance to go four ahead on the following hole but missed a 12 footer for birdie before he dropped a shot on the next after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.
That mean he had a two-shot lead over Smyth with three to play but it soon moved to three when the Australian dropped a shot on the last.
And by the time he reached 18 his lead was back to two over playing partner Hendry, who made a strong finish with birdies on 16 and 17. Kho opted to hit driver on the famous par-four closing hole and to the thrill of the large gallery watching his ball landed safely to help set up a comfortable, drama free par.
He said: “I definitely wasn’t fearless, I was nervous, which was perfectly natural in the moment, but I said to myself I will be a better player by the end of it. I stuck to my game plan, did not shy away from him it and fully committed to what I have in my book. I told my coach last night whether I have a two-shot lead or back by one on the last hole, I am taking driver, and I fully committed to that. That’s the reason why I succeeded this week.”
This is only Kho’s third event as a professional on the Asian Tour as he made it through the Tour’s Qualifying School in January. He is the third fastest graduate from the school to win on tour.
“I’ve been playing really solid for a while now,” said Hendry.
Michael Hendry. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Pretty much all year I’ve been playing really well, I had win on the Aussie Tour not long ago and I sort of keep putting myself out there or there abouts, so I’m really happy with the game and excited. I only got the opportunity to play this event on Saturday, so to come here and have a great event, and get myself an Open start, that’s awesome.”
The Asian Tour now has a two-week break before the inaugural International Series Vietnam at KN Golf Links from April 13 to 16.
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