Of all the players who excelled in 2024, and there were many, it is Lee Chieh-po who perhaps best represents the underlying messaging of the Time to Rise campaign – launched so successfully by the Asian Tour last year.

After nearly a decade of coming close to winning on the Tour, he finally claimed his maiden title, at the International Series Thailand in October. It was part of an outstanding burst of form in Q4 that also saw him record joint third and fifth placed finishes, plus four other top 10s before he hit the big-time at the end of year by winning LIV Golf Promotions – to earn a place on this year’s LIV Golf League.

It was unquestionably the finest season of his career, and for further insight on just how he achieved it take a look at the latest #TimeToRise documentary: Lee Chieh-po.

In the video there is one quote that standouts more than the others and accurately encapsulates his narrative.

Says the Chinese-Taipei star, who is seen being interviewed at Sunrise Golf & Country Club, his home club: “The Chinese say it takes 10 years of hard work to sharpen a sword, I think they are referring to me. It took me 10 years to win my first Asian Tour title.”

Max, as he is popularly known, turned professional in 2015. He finished sixth in the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School that year and nearly won later in the season at the Resorts World Manila Masters, where he tied for third. He surprisingly lost his card the following year and focused on playing on his domestic tour, where has enjoyed no shortage of success. In 2021, when COVID-19 stopped play on the Asian Tour, he won four times there and claimed the money list title.

Post pandemic, Lee has been one of the Asian Tour’s rising star, capturing attention with a textbook golf swing, and a knack for shooting low rounds.

He explains in the video, learning to be patient has been the key to his prolific rise.

“Sometimes, in golf tournaments, you will inevitably make some mistakes in the process. In the past, when I faced these mistakes, I will zoom into it and I will feel a lot of emotions,” he explains.

“For me, I think my biggest improvement is I know how to digest these emotions better. And I can deal with my mistakes calmly, which is good, as it will not affect my shots after that, and I am confident that I even get it back.”

It was most definitely Lee’s Time to Rise last year, and as he competes on LIV Golf, the Asian Tour and The International Series this year, the question is just how long it will be before he stops rising. Based on his current trajectory, the sky is the limit.