Kazuki Higa [main picture] has been bestowed with one of the highest honours after winning The Kyi Hla Han Award for the Player of the Year on the Asian Tour.

The Japanese star won two tournaments on his way to claiming the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last year, and his achievements have been recognised by his peers as the Award is voted for by the Asian Tour membership.

It is a ceremonial nod to an outstanding season, when he became the first player from his country to win the Merit list.

Voting was concluded this week with the other winners being, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, which was recognised as the Tournament of the Year, and the Link Hong Kong Open – which earned The International Series Tournament of the Year..

Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), venue for the International Series Morocco, was picked as the Players’ Choice Course of the Year – something that Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent would agree with as he won the event.

Josele Ballester after winning the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers last year. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “The 2025 season was another year of growth and development and with it came some exceptional performances by our players – helped in such a big way by world class tournaments and venues.

“We congratulate Kazuki Higa on his success. Kyi Hla Han, our former Executive Chairman and Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, would have been delighted to see a Japanese player finish the year ranked number one – it is such a significant achievement for the region.

“And we applaud the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the Link Hong Kong Open and Royal Golf Dar Es Salam for their important contributions and worthy acknowledgment by our players.”

Last year Higa became the first player to win both the Asian Tour’s Merit list and the Japan Tour Money List, which he claimed in 2022.

He recorded back-to-back wins in September at the Shinhan Donghae Open, in Korea, and the Yeangder TPC, in Chinese-Taipei, before adding a joint second place at the International Series Philippines in late October. That result in the Philippines saw him regain top spot on the Merit list from Vincent, and from there on in he could not be caught.

For the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers it marks the third time in four years it has been named Tournament of the Year, following success in 2022 and 2023.

Tom McKibbin pictured with the Link Hong Kong Open trophy last season. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Rising Spanish star Josele Ballester was victorious at the event last year, when it was played at Riyadh Golf Club for the second successive year.  The two preceding years before that it was staged at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, in Jeddah.

This year’s voting also means more accolades for the Link Hong Kong Open and its venerable venue the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC).

In 2023 it was named The International Series Tournament of the Year, while HKGC was the Players’ Choice Course of the Year, along with Al Mouj Golf. The following season the event was again hailed as The International Series Tournament of the Year.

Andy Kwok, Captain, HKGC, said: “For the Link Hong Kong Open to be voted The International Series Tournament of the Year for the third successive time is an incredibly special honour and something everyone at the Club is very proud of. Our tremendous thanks to the players of the Asian Tour for this wonderful recognition and to all tournament officials and sponsors for making this historic event what it has become today.”

The Asian Tour’s 2026 season will commence in just over two weeks at the Philippine President’s Trophy – being played at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.

Scott Vincent won the International Series Morocco at Golf Course of the Year Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course). Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.