Clutch Putts Ease the Pain for Ogletree
As his 11-foot par putt on Royal Troon’s 18th green disappeared below ground, Andy Ogletree’s relief was obvious.
Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
After winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit in fine style last year, 2024 has proved especially challenging for the American.
Beset by injuries that have affected his form, Ogletree has not been able to build on the successes he achieved around Asia in 2023.
But clutch putts on the final two holes at Royal Troon simultaneously reignited his season and ensured that Ogletree will be vying for glory over the weekend at the 152nd Open Championship.
After signing for a second-round one-over-par 72 for a 36-hole aggregate of 147, Ogletree was more upbeat than he’s been for many months.
US golfer Andy Ogletree plays from a bunker beside the 8th green during his second round, on day two of the 152nd British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon on the south west coast of Scotland on July 19, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
“I’ve had a really tough season, to be honest with you. I haven’t played the way that I wanted to and I’ve been banged up with some injuries, wrist and elbow. I’m trying to play through the pain right now,” said Ogletree, who earned his place in the LIV Golf League by virtue of topping the International Series Order of Merit last year.
He added: “Coming into this week, the expectations weren’t that high. But I’ve been working really hard lately, just trying to play better … trying to figure it out.
“It felt great to make that putt on 18. It felt like being rewarded after such a tough year.
“I had to step in there with the wind gusting and the hands shaking. To make that putt I felt like I won the tournament – but I just made the cut! We’re trying to celebrate the little moments and go from there.”
After his 75 on Thursday, Ogletree knew there was little margin for error on day two if he was to qualify for the weekend.
By the time he reached the par-three 17th, the cut-line was being predicted to fall at five-over, the figure at which he was at.
Having overshot the green with his tee shot, he chipped to nine feet. He was fully aware it was a ‘must make’ – and he duly made it.
“There are huge TV screens out there that were saying the cut was going to be five-over. So I stepped in on 17 and made a big putt for par. I then did it on 18. I’ll remember those two putts for a long time,” he said.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann plays his fifth shot from a green-side bunker on the 8th hole during his second round, on day two of the 152nd British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon on the south west coast of Scotland on July 19, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Also progressing to the final two rounds are Korean Jeunghun Wang and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.
Wang has been a model of consistency in returning back-to-back 72s.
On day one, he had three birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey five at the Postage Stamp eighth. On day two there were just two bogeys and a solitary birdie at the par-four 15th.
It’s the first time in seven attempts that Wang has succeeded in making the cut in a Major and a case of third time lucky at The Open have missed out here at Royal Troon in 2016 and Royal Birkdale in 2017.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 18: Jeunghun Wang of South Korea lines up a putt on the sixth green on day one of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 18, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
For Niemann, it was a day of wildly fluctuating fortunes.
His prospects of making the cut appeared doomed after running up a quintuple-bogey eight at the eighth. But he recovered brilliantly, playing the final 10 holes in four-under to sign for a second successive even-par 71.
It was a stunning comeback that will leave Niemann happy to still be in contention, but perhaps a little sad as a Postage Stamp par would have meant he’d be entering the weekend in a share of second place at five-under.
Ends.
Missing the cut can be a devastating blow to a professional golfer. But, as Michael Hendry can attest, it’s far from the be-all and end-all.
Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
The New Zealander may not have qualified to play on the weekend at the 152nd Open Championship, but the mere fact that he was able to tee-up at Royal Troon made him a winner.
Just consider that it was less than 15 months ago that Hendry was diagnosed with leukemia. He spent several months in hospital and lost 14 kilograms in weight. He also lost the opportunity to take his place in the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool.
However, thanks to a miraculous recovery, not only did he return to playing competitive golf last October, but he won a tournament in his home country. Less than three months ago he triumphed on the Japan Golf Tour.
More good news had arrived earlier when The R&A confirmed that he’d be granted a medical exemption to participate at Royal Troon.
With rounds of 74 and 78, there may not have been the fairytale ending that he’d have hoped for, but his appearance at Royal Troon has been one of the week’s feel-good stories.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry reacts after holing his putt on the 4th green during his second round, on day two of the 152nd British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon on the south west coast of Scotland on July 19, 2024. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Reflecting on an emotional week in Scotland, Hendry said: “Words can’t really describe how grateful I am, not only to The R&A, but to all of the doctors and nurses who have helped me over the last 12 months.
“This is one thing that really got me through my recovery. To finally be here and teeing it up was extremely special. It was incredible.”
Hendry, who played in the Open Championship in 2017 and 2018, admitted to a bout of the jitters prior to teeing off on Thursday.
He said: “Nervous, like you always are, I suppose, at the beginning of an Open Championship. Also quite emotional.
“Like I said, this was a key to my recovery, knowing that I could play this if I got healthy. So, I dedicated myself as much as I could; did as much as was in my control to get healthy.
“I feel like this week hopefully will draw a line through that part of my life, and I can move on.”
Even during the darkest days of his hospitalisation, Hendry never allowed himself to contemplate the possibility of not returning to golf.
He said: “At no point did I think I wouldn’t play golf again. I’d made my mind up that, even if I was sick, if I was healthy enough to play, I was going to try and play.
“I decided early on in the piece that I was going to try to dictate my life rather than this dictating my life. I had no doubt that I would get back. To the level, I wasn’t sure.
“It was a long road back. I lost a lot of weight and I’m super grateful for my support team and getting me back to at least some kind of physical capabilities to play at a decent level.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve won in Japan not long ago. I was pretty surprised how quickly my game came back to me.
“I’d kept it reasonably quiet early on, but the golfing fraternity is pretty small. Word got round pretty quickly. I just remember the first couple weeks being in hospital, my phone just going berserk with messages from all over the world from people I knew well, people I’d never met within the golfing world, sending messages of well wishes.
“We’re all competitors, but we spend so much time together. At the end of the day, most of us want the best for each other. It really came through when I got sick. It was very humbling.”
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 18: Michael Hendry of New Zealand tees off on the first hole on day one of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 18, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Adding further poignancy to his week at Royal Troon, was the fact that Hendry was able to share the experience with his family.
He said: “It was very special. I really hoped I was going to be healthy enough to play so I could bring them over. I’m no spring chicken any more, and we don’t get that many opportunities to get into Major events.
“This could very well be my last British Open. So having a young family, and my girls are now just at the age where they can kind of understand what Dad does, and to have them here and experiencing The Open, which is the biggest, the oldest, the best golf tournament of the lot, I think it gives them a really cool perspective as to what Dad does.”
Ends.
Asian Tour members Jeunghun Wang and Minkyu Kim upstaged their illustrious Korean compatriots with solid first-round performances at the 152nd Open Championship.
Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
On a day when conditions were described by many players as ‘brutal’, Wang and Kim held firm at Royal Troon Golf Club.
Playing in the final flight which teed-off at 4.27 pm, Wang took advantage of the slightly more mild early evening weather to post a one-over-par 72.
With barely a handful of spectators still at the course, the 28-year-old completed his round with a flourish, holing an 11-footer for birdie on the 18th green for a back nine of one-under 34.
Heading into Friday’s second round, Wang is joint 31st, one stroke ahead of Kim.
The winner of this year’s Kolon Korea Open was one of the fastest starters of the day, birdies at the first two holes seeing his name appear on page one of the television leaderboards.
Back-to-back bogeys at five and six slowed his progress but he returned to red figures when he snared an 11-footer at the seventh.
It proved to be his final birdie of the day but with eight pars and three bogeys to follow he remains ahead of Korean PGA Tour players Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Siwoo Kim (all 76).
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 18: Jeunghun Wang of South Korea tees off on the first hole on day one of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 18, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Tom Shaw/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Along with Wang and Kim, other Asian Tour members who are well placed to qualify for the weekend here are Chilean Joaquin Niemann who is tied 18th after an even-par 71 and New Zealander Michael Hendry, who was hailed for his gutsy 74.
Also in contention to make the cut is American Andy Ogletree, last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner who found himself at even-par through 11 holes but dropped four shots over the next six holes to sign for a 75.
Alongside Ogletree in equal 82nd place at the end of day one were Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, Swede Charlie Lindh and England’s Sam Horsfield.
Current Order of Merit leader John Catlin carded a 76 and is tied 96th, while Thai Denwit Boriboonsub and South African Louis Oosthuizen, the 2015 Open champion, are languishing in 129th place after 78s.
Completing the 13-strong Asian Tour contingent are Spaniard David Puig (80) and Korean Guntaek Koh (81).
Ends.
On a day when many players were left cursing the vagaries of links golf, Joaquin Niemann embraced the challenge – and reaped the dividends.
Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
Maintaining an even keel throughout, the 25-year-old Chilean relished the chance to display his shot-making skills.
The result was a round that contained two birdies, two bogeys and 14 pars. It all added up to an even-par 71, an outstanding effort in trying conditions at Royal Troon Golf Club.
“This type of golf is completely different than what we’re used to,” said Niemann, who took up membership of the Asian Tour at the start of 2023.
“We only play this type of golf probably once or twice a year. I’m just trying to enjoy this moment. I feel like it’s fun,” added Niemann, who is well placed to make his third cut in five Open Championship appearances and better his previous best performance of 53rd at St Andrews in 2022.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 18: Joaquin Niemann of Chile and his caddie, Gary Matthews look on from the fifth green on day one of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 18, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
As evidenced during the opening day here, a strong mindset and an ability to shape shots are pre-requisites for succeeding in these type of circumstances. On both counts, Niemann excelled.
He said: “I feel like it’s about how much you know your game and how much you trust your game. You’ve got to hit a lot of different shots during the round with different winds, different bounces. You’ve just got to adjust to that.
“You’ve got to be so creative in your mind in trying to hit those shots. There’s a lot of shots that you go with different trajectory, or it could be (a choice of) two different clubs.
“You just have to stick to one of those shots, and hopefully it will be the right one and you commit to that. I feel like that’s a lot of fun, and that’s the way I like to play.”
Order of Merit leader John Catlin spearheads an 13-pronged Asian Tour challenge at the 152nd Open Championship. Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
A two-time winner already this year, the 33-year-old American is hoping it will prove to be a case of third time lucky for him at The Open this week.
On his two previous appearances in the championship – Royal St George’s in 2021 and St Andrews in 2022 – Catlin failed to progress to the final two rounds.
Now a little older and wiser, the expectations of the man who is 158th in the Official World Golf Ranking have been elevated.
Based on his outstanding form in 2024, Catlin has every reason to feel confident about his prospects among the world’s finest players.
“I feel I belong in this company. I want to put myself in a position where I can be challenging on Sunday,” said Catlin, who last played here as a 12-year-old when on a family golfing holiday to Scotland.
By his own admission, his only memory of the course from that trip 21 years ago was the famous par-three eighth hole, named ‘Postage Stamp’.
After securing his starting spot here this week by virtue of finishing in a share of third place in the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open, Catlin posted back-to-back triumphs in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn followed by the Saudi Open presented by PIF.
John Catlin after winning the International Series Macau presented by Wynn in March. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His win in Macau was marked by a third-round of 11-under-par 59, the Asian Tour’s first sub-60 return. Nonetheless, he needed extra time to clinch the win, pipping Spaniard David Puig in a sudden-death play-off.
Intriguingly, the duo will lock horns again in the first two rounds at Royal Troon where they’ve been drawn together, along with a third Asian Tour member, Guntaek Koh of Korea.
Like Catlin, Puig himself has enjoyed a memorable year to date, winning the Malaysian Open to go with three other top-10 finishes that have lifted him into second spot in the Merit standings.
Other Asian Tour members with designs on challenging for glory this week include reigning Order of Merit champion Andy Ogletree of America, Michael Hendry of New Zealand, Chilean Joaquin Niemann and South African Louis Oosthuizen, winner of The Open when it was staged at Andrews in 2015.
Keep an eye out, too, for Swede Charlie Lindh, who earned his Asian Tour card at this year’s Qualifying School. He secured his maiden Major championship appearance through final qualifying at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club last week, after coming through a play-off with Abraham Ancer and Anirban Lahiri for third and fourth place.
Guntaek Koh and Minkyu Kim pictured during a practice round at Royal Troon. Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
Also flying the flag for the Asian Tour this week are Korean duo Minkyu Kim and Jeunghun Wang as well as Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, along with Affiliate Member Sam Horsfield of England.
Wang, a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, was in the field when The Open was staged at Troon in 2016, missing the cut after signing for two 75s. He also missed the cut the following year at Royal Birkdale.
Denwit David Boriboonsub makes no excuses for daring to dream big. Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
Ahead of his Major championship debut at Royal Troon this week, the 20-year-old is strolling around the fabled Scottish venue with a broad grin on his face.
As well as being determined to soak up the unique atmosphere of an Open Championship, he is adamant he’s not here simply to make up the numbers.
“I’m very excited to play in The Open Championship. It’s my first Major. It’s amazing,” said the sole Thailand player in the field for the 152nd edition of the championship.
Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub putts on the 8th green during practice ahead of the 152nd British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon on the south west coast of Scotland on July 15, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite his indifferent form in recent months and a lack of experience in links golf, Boriboonsub is not shy about talking up his prospects.
“Being here is an experience that money can’t buy. I’d love to win. That would be a dream. My goal is to win,” said Denwit, who has spent the past five months looking forward to lining up here, having clinched his Open spot by finishing tied third at the Asian Tour’s season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open in mid-February.
In seven Asian Tour appearances since then, he’s missed three cuts and had only two top-20 finishes – ninth at The International Series Macau and tied 17th at the Saudi Open PIF where he rocketed up the leaderboard with a barnstorming closing 63.
As he prepares for his 4.16 pm tee-off on Thursday alongside the English duo of Daniel Brown and amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry, Denwit can take heart from his efforts to get to know – and understand – the intricacies of the Royal Troon layout.
In addition to making a scouting trip in June when he was able to play three practice rounds, he was back at the venue immediately after the International Series Morocco, where he tied for 49th.
“The course is so different to what I’m used to playing. It’s difficult. It’s next to the beach and the wind can blow. I’ve been practising for the last four days and it’s been quite calm. I hope it stays like that for the tournament,” said Denwit, 395th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
He’s been grateful for the plentiful advice given to him by friends and fellow players. “Many have told me to hit low shots … and keep my ball in the fairway. That’s what I’ll be trying to do.”
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 16: A general view of the seventh green during a practice round prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 16, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Ben Campbell roared into The International Series Rankings race in emphatic style with an incredible play-off victory in Morocco last Sunday, and the New Zealander is hoping that quality time with some of the biggest names in world golf will help him claim the title and a place on the 2025 LIV Golf League roster.
The New Zealander is in Spain as an alternate for LIV Golf Andalucia this week, and the 32-year-old’s confidence will be sky high if he is required as a stand-in, after seeing off Rankings leader John Catlin from the United States in a thrilling sudden-death play-off on Sunday to claim the International Series Morocco trophy at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s testing Red Course.
The tournament in Morocco was the third of 10 International Series events on the Asian Tour offering a pathway onto the LIV Golf League for the Rankings champion, and additional opportunities for others placed high enough on The International Series Rankings to get in to the LIV Golf Promotions event.
Victory lifted Campbell up to second in the standings behind Catlin, with both players leapfrogging Oman champion Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz. With seven events left, there is plenty at stake as the Asian Tour’s best chase top spot and that lucrative place on the LIV Golf League.
Victory in Morocco was Ben Campbell’s second on The International Series. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Last season, Campbell also snatched victory from 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith from Australia and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai on the last at the 2023 Hong Kong Open, a win on The International Series that led to his invite to travel with the LIV Golf League.
This season he has travelled for all nine events as an alternate in between competing on the Asian Tour, gaining invaluable experience along the way.
So far, Campbell has filled in for Ripper GC captain Smith on the final two rounds in Miami, shooting 71-73, and replaced Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm from Spain in the final round in Houston, producing an impressive five-under final round of 67.
He said: “Hopefully next year I can get a full card out here, through either The International Series or the LIV Golf Promotions event.
“I think the good thing (about being an alternate) is it gives you motivation to get out here, once you have experienced it. I am trying to get my game into the best possible place for those events on The International Series. It is an amazing opportunity for the Asian Tour.”
Ben Campbell caught John Catlin with an eagle birdie finish in Morocco and then triumphed with a birdie in the play-off. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Campbell gained some incredible on-course experience at the weekend in Rabat. With 70 holes already played, and three shots back, he produced a sensational eagle-birdie finish on 17 and 18.
That effort drew him level with Asian Tour Order of Merit front-runner Catlin, the leader for all three rounds and a back-to-back champion at International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF earlier this season.
A play-off birdie with just his fourth putt in the last five holes played was enough to claim the spoils against Catlin, who had recently earned a place as a LIV Golf League stand-in for Charles Howell III on the Crushers GC team thanks to his incredible form in 2024.
Away from the white heat of the competition, he has enjoyed the learning process on LIV. He explained: “It is quite an interesting process to be here and to learn the set-up of some of the players. I have taken a couple of invaluable takeaways from it.
“Golf is a funny game, just seeing some of the best players in the world and what they are doing and how they are training, playing with them on practice rounds can give you little things that you can take and put into your own game.”
Campbell admits the big names have surprised him in many ways off the course. He said: “The one thing that surprised me is just how hard these guys are working. You can go to the gym at 6:30 in the morning and there are already three of four guys in there.
“When you go to dinner, you could end up at a dinner with five or six of the guys you have looked up to your whole life.
“They are telling stories, and you learn from them. You can learn more sitting at a dinner than you would watching on a range or putting green. That has been really valuable, and even hanging out with the caddies, you can ask questions, and learn a bit.”
Campbell is next in action at International Series England, the fourth event on the Series and the ninth event on the Asian Tour which takes place from 8-11 August on the Longcross Course at Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey. Information and tickets are available at www.internationalseries.com.
Denwit Boriboonsub’s preparations for next week’s Open Championship, where he will be making his first appearance in a Major, have been high on his list of priorities of late – including in June when he played three rounds at Royal Troon. It was another busy month, when he also secured a new sponsor. Denwit was speaking to Asian Tour contributor and former Tour player Olle Nordberg.
Hi again everyone!
Since the last diary I’ve been quite busy with tournaments and preparing for the biggest tournament in my life so far, my first Major, the Open Championship at Royal Troon next week! So, let’s start from there.
I decided to try to go over for an early practice session to Scotland in June, so we contacted the course and asked if it would be possible. I was very happy and grateful that they agreed to my request, so many thanks to Royal Troon and my manager Tom Su to help set this up!
I also was lucky enough to hire Colin Montgomerie’s old caddie Colin Cotter to help guide me around the course, since it was my first time playing a true links course with very different conditions to what I’m used to. He just led the way and helped me get to grips with links golf – explaining where to lay up or where to play aggressive.
But at The Open it’s gonna be my regular caddie Guy on the bag, of course he wants to caddy. It’s his first Major too, it’s gonna be exciting.
Denwit Boriboonsub has been a professional since 2020. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
I managed to play three rounds at Troon, and I found out that playing this course is very difficult with the wind; it was blowing like around 35 to 50 kilometers per hour. And, yeah, of course it’s links golf, so it’s very difficult. Also, the weather was cold, it was like below 10 degrees and the wind was absolutely howling.
It was my first time playing a true links course, and I totally like it. I think with that style of game you gotta be patient out there and stay focused, because the wind will just blow the ball everywhere. You have just gotta be patient and stay focused. Royal Troon being a links course that’s quite tight and narrow, it’s going to be a bit difficult for me.
I am in Scotland this week again, for five or six practice rounds, having spent a few days in London!
Anyway, after the early practice at Troon I went to play in the Kolon Korea Open, but things didn’t really go well. I didn’t hit my driver well and I didn’t have much time for rest because I came back from Scotland and landed on Sunday, and on Tuesday I went to Korea. I was a bit jet-lagged from the big time change from the UK, and I didn’t prepare for that course so well. I missed the cut. It’s the first time that I played Woo Jeong Hills and I think it might be my last time there as well.
On more bit of exciting news is that I got a new sponsor after Korea. My team have been trying to find some new sponsors, and after talking to Betagro, two or three weeks ago, they got the deal done! Betagro is Thailand’s leading comprehensive food business operator, and they sponsor some of the best Thai golfers like Thongchai Jaidee on PGA Tour Champions and Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn on the LPGA – to support Thai pros around the world. Hoping for more sponsors too!
Last week was International Series Morocco and it was my first time in Morocco, it was amazing. It was my first time in Africa, and I loved the weather there, plus the food was amazing too! Rabat was a really nice city; I can’t really describe it. It looks very historic, and our hotel, the Hotel Fairmont La Marina, was looking over the beach and the old town. It just looks like an ancient city.
I played two practice rounds at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Red Course: on Monday a full 18 holes and Tuesday just with a wedge and putter, while taking notes around the greens.
On that course you just got a hit straight. And yeah, it was also all about putting I think, because the greens were a bit slopey and not that fast. If I had driven the ball like I did in Malaysia at the start of the year it would have been easier, but unfortunately I drove it more like in Korea so it was difficult.
It was a tough week playing there: I couldn’t hit my driver, couldn’t putt, my long irons were not good. It just says everything. I was happy to make the cut, but yeah, I’m not really happy with the result.
Other than that, I didn’t do much in Morocco, just watched a lot of the Euros football, cheering for the Dutch!
So full steam ahead now for next week’s Open; wish me luck and follow me on IG for my updates from Troon!
Bank Mandiri, one of Indonesia’s premier financial institutions, will title sponsor the Indonesia Open for the third successive season in 2024 – once again demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the development of the game locally and internationally.
The tournament, which is one of the region’s most-treasured National Opens, will also be returning to Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, for the first time in a decade.
It will be played from August 29 – September 1, and boast prizemoney of US$500,000, with the winner earning US$90,000.
Darmawan Junaidi, President Director of Bank Mandiri, said: “Bank Mandiri feel privileged to partner with the Indonesia Open. The tournament is not only important for the domestic game, but it has enormous regional appeal and is therefore an outstanding sporting property for Bank Mandiri to be associated with.
“Our sponsorship is also tied in with our initiative to help the development of the game in Indonesia, and our desire to see the country’s leading professionals make their mark internationally. This requires a long-term and consistent approach, which is why we are lending our support to the tournament as title sponsor for the third consecutive season.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, speaking at today’s press conference.
The tournament, won last year by Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, will be the 10th event of the season on the Asian Tour.
Japto Soerjosoemarno, Persatuan Golf Indonesia (the Indonesia Golf Association) Chairman, said: “We are truly grateful to Bank Mandiri for their loyal support of our National Open. We have enjoyed two excellent years working with them and their unprecedented three-year title sponsorship of our event is testament to their wish to help grow the game in Indonesia.
“We are also extremely appreciative to Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course for hosting the tournament for the first time in 10 years. We are excited to be heading back to one of Indonesia’s finest golf clubs that boasts a world-class golf course.”
The course is known locally as “The Spirit of the Sea” as it lies close to the coastline of the Java Sea, in North Jakarta and was designed by legendary golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Budiarsa Sastrawinata, President Director of Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, said: “It is an honour for Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course to be hosting the country’s National Open again. Our PIK course is a true championship test that is perfect for a tournament of this stature. The club will be working 24/7 to make sure we are able to stage one of the finest editions of the tournament.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, added: “In recent seasons the Mandiri Indonesia Open has added tremendous strength to our mid-season schedule; we are grateful to Bank Mandiri for helping to facilitate this and for their steadfast three-year title sponsorship of the event. We also thank the Indonesia Golf Association and indeed Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course for their considerable efforts in enabling the staging of the Indonesia Open.”
Nitithorn Thippong was victorious last year.
When Nitithorn triumphed last year, his name was added to a trophy that includes many household names including Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who won the title when last played at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course in 2014.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar is the only player to win on three occasions (2013, 2016, 2022), the first of those coming at this year’s venue.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant has been victorious twice (2005, 2011); while other notable names are his compatriot Thongchai Jaidee (2009), Craig Parry (1997) from Australia, Kiwi Frank Nobilo (1994) and the late, great American Payne Stewart (1981).
Kasiadi is the only Indonesian golfer to have lifted the trophy, his triumph coming in 1989. Indonesia’s Rory Hie came close in 2011 when he tied for second, one behind Thaworn, when the event was also held at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell proved at the International Series Morocco, played on the formidable Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, why you should never give up when in contention on a Sunday afternoon.
Standing on the easily reachable par-four 17th tee, three strokes behind playing-partner John Catlin from the United States, he pulled off a stunning eagle, birdie finish – something that Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond did to win in 2022 – to match Catlin in regulation play, when the American could only manage two closing pars.
A stunning 20-foot birdie putt from just off the 18th green then sealed the deal on the first play-off hole in the New Zealander’s favor, as he won his second International Series title after having pulled off a similar come-from-behind win against 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith from Australia in last year’s Hong Kong Open.
The victory has moved him to number two in The International Series Rankings, which Catlin leads by some margin. However, there are still seven more International Series events to be played this season before the winner of the Rankings is decided. The top ranked player earns that life-changing place on next year’s LIV Golf League.
Ben Campbell holes out for the win. He finished third in Putts per Round for the week. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Looking at the statistics for last week, not surprisingly, Campbell’s best categories came in putting and short game.
He was a clear winner in Scrambling, with a super impressive average of 91.30%, followed by Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma at 80%, quite some distance behind.
Remarkably, he was 100% in Sand Saves, making eight out of eight – which included three out of three in the last round. He was joint top of that category.
He finished third in Putts per Round, with an average of 27, and 10th in Putts per Green in Regulation, with 83.
He had solid statistics in other key categories such as Greens in Regulation (GIR), averaging 68.06% to finish tied 36th; Driving Distance, with a median of 299 yards for equal 26th; and Fairways in Regulation, with his 65% placing him in a share of 15th of the players making the cut.
However, the one category that really stood out, and a direct consequence of constantly getting up-and-down, was Fewest Bogies – which he topped with three. Teeing off in round four, the man from Queenstown had not made a bogey in 105 holes, not since his third hole in the second round of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, his last Asian Tour event.
Campbell was 100% in Sand Saves making three in the final round. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He was just a nine-hole stretch away from tying Korean LPGA star Jinyoung Ko’s incredible run of 114 holes in 2019 for the professional world record. And he was also close to American Tiger Woods clean sheet of 110 holes in his banner season of 2000, when he won three Majors and 10 events in total.
Bogies on the opening two holes and another on 12, quickly put paid to any records being matched or broken but it was still a brilliant performance by a golfer clearly entering the prime of his career.
Catlin barely put a foot out of place in the first three rounds, leading from the first round until teeing off in the last but like Campbell he also began the last round with two straight bogeys. However, an even par 73 final round while in the lead is not a bad outing under the conditions, and the current International Series Ranking leader should be commended for another fantastic performance for the week.
While Catlin’s stats were slightly better than Campbell’s pretty much across the board – Fairways in Regulation 66.67%, GIR 72.22%, Putts in GIR 1.67, Driving Distance 301.8 yards – making six bogies versus Campbells three proved to be the deciding factor in an exciting and extremely close fought battle.
Statistics Categories leaders at the International Series Morocco (of players making the cut):
- Average Putts per Round – Charlie Lindh (SWE), Phachara Khongwatmai (THA): 26.5
- Putts per GIR – Charlie Lindh (SWE): 1.64
- Greens in Regulation – Taichi Kho (HKG): 86.11%
- Fairways in Regulation – Junghwan Lee (KOR): 78.33%
- Driving Distance – Eugenio Chacarra (ESP): 331.60 yards
- Most Eagles – Yurav Premlall (RSA): 3
- Most Birdies – Jeunghun Wang (KOR): 22
- Fewest Bogies – Ben Campbell (NZL): 3
- Scrambling – Ben Campbell (NZL): 91.30%
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