The signing of Ogletree, the 2019 U.S. Amateur champion, fills the HyFlyers’ roster vacancy created by the relegation of James Piot, winner of the 2021 U.S. Amateur. Ogletree joins Mickelson, Cameron Tringale and Brendan Steele on the all-American roster, which is now set for 2024.

“Andy is one of the most impressive young players in the game who has earned his spot on LIV,” Mickelson said. “The work he has continued to put in and the resiliency he showed this past year in creating his own success was awesome to see. He makes the HyFlyers a contender next year and just as importantly, Andy fits in perfectly with everyone on the team.”

Ogletree earned his LIV Golf spot for 2024 by finishing first in the season-long International Series standings. Ogletree was the dominant player on the International Series, a set of 10 elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour supported by LIV Golf. The 25-year-old from Mississippi produced two wins – in Qatar in February and England in August – and earned 1,101,828.33 in prize money, nearly $525,000 more than his closest pursuer. He also was the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit winner in 2023.

“Andy has played some outstanding golf this year and has been head and shoulders above his peers on The International Series,” said Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant.

Ogletree, who competed in LIV Golf’s inaugural Invitational Series event in London in 2022, played in three LIV Golf tournaments in 2023 as a reserve. He finished sixth on the points leaderboard in DC, shooting 7 under as a starter for injured Crushers DC player Paul Casey. He replaced injured Majesticks co-captain Lee Westwood for the final round in Tulsa, shooting 62. And he started in Orlando as a replacement for Crusher GC’s Anirban Lahiri, finishing 43rd on the points leaderboard.

Despite the limited starts, he finished in the Open Zone of the point standings (Nos. 25-44), enabling him to sign with any team that had a vacant spot instead of waiting for the draft.

“I started getting some phone calls and it was kind of like college recruiting all over again,” Ogletree said. “A few teams wanted to meet and I had conversations with some of the captains and it followed from there. Since LIV Golf owns the teams, the final contract had to be approved and all of this was navigated over the last few weeks.

“I was in a fortunate situation being able to travel with LIV during the year. I was at every tournament as a reserve. I was seeing how every tournament works and the team dynamic and the support structure they put in place. I was able to ask a lot of questions and get opinions from different players. And I liked the way Phil went about things and to get that knowledge from one of the greatest of all time is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

In addition to winning the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst in 2019, Ogletree also played for the winning U.S. team at the 2019 Walker Cup, and was the low amateur at the 2020 Masters, turning pro shortly thereafter.

Image: LIV Golf

The post Andy Ogletree joins Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The impressive American golfer held a significant lead over nearest challengers David Puig of Spain and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent going into the Hong Kong Open, and the 25-year-old knew the title would be secured barring any disasters, with one of his rivals realistically having to win outright at the Hong Kong Golf Club to stand any chance.

In the end, Ogletree carded a final-round 69 for a -12 total, level with International Series Singapore champion Puig who shot a final round 68, while Vincent ultimately finished five strokes further back on seven under after a five-under round of 65.

Ogletree, a winner of The International Series events in Qatar and England this season, has now secured a spot on the lucrative LIV Golf League next season as Order of Merit champion, following in the footsteps of Scott Vincent, last year’s overall champion.

He said: “It’s awesome! I am so excited to win the Order of Merit. It’s been a lot of hard work this year and a lot of great golf has gone into this. I just want to thank everyone that’s gotten me to this point: the Asian Tour for all that they’ve done, and my team back home for allowing me to play the way I’ve played this year. I couldn’t be more excited, and I can’t wait to play LIV next year.

“I’ll definitely play a few events on The International Series along with all the LIV events that I’m going to play, so next year should be a great year and I just can’t wait to get started.”

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour said: “Andy has played some outstanding golf this year and has been head and shoulders above his peers on The International Series. The way he has worked his way back to the top after some injuries has been very admirable and it’s a testament to his hard work and determination. It can’t have been easy for him to travel halfway across the world to play the Asian Tour and we are glad to have him as our International Series Order of Merit Champion.”

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Andy is a worthy champion and an outstanding ambassador for The International Series. As an emerging young international player, competing in this series of marquee Asian Tour events and wonderful venues around the world, he has exemplified what The International Series is all about.

“His example shows the pathway that is open and available to top golfing talent from all over the world, an opportunity we are committed to delivering on The International Series, and we look forward to seeing him play in the LIV Golf League as well as future events on The International Series.”

This year’s Hong Kong Open was won in thrilling style by Ben Campbell. The International Series, a set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour, now heads to Jakarta for the final event on the schedule, the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by Tunas Niaga Energi from 16-19 November.

The post Ogletree confirmed as The International Series Order of Merit champion appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It’s a statement of intent from one of the game’s most exciting young golfers here at the magnificent Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC), Fanling, where he leads from four players who shot 65, after the morning session:  American Andy Ogletree, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Taehee Lee from Korea and Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po.

“Hard not to be happy with the round and seven under,” added the strapping 23-year-old, who was the halfway leader at last week’s Volvo China Open before surprisingly slipping back at the weekend, finishing fourth.

Andy Ogletree. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I think I have been playing well the last couple months and a half. The game has been there, especially since last week in China. I didn’t feel well after my round on Saturday, after dinner there, and didn’t have a great final day.”

He was bogey-free on the HKGC’s Composite Course in his debut appearance here – in an event that is the penultimate leg of The International Series, with just the BNI Indonesian Masters remaining next week.

He began on 10 and did not hold back making five birdies in his first six, before adding two more on the back.

He added: “This is a course I like a lot. It fits my eye pretty well and reminds me of the course I grew up on. I am excited for the week. It’s just getting better every day.

“It’s a great golf course, it’s tricky and you need to hit the fairways. It came into my eyes the first round I played it. I love it. Hopefully I can come back a lot of years, I am excited for what’s next.  Like my coach said you can lose a tournament in the first round, but you can’t win it. We have a long three days left. It’s a matter of keep getting better.”

Ogletree will wrap up The International Series Order of Merit (OOM) by making the cut this week and take a step closer to claiming the Asian Tour OOM, with four events remaining.

“I’m not too worried about making cuts,” said the winner of this year’s International Series events in Qatar and England.

“I’m trying to win a golf tournament and I’ve always said that good golf takes care of everything and that’s what I’m trying to do this week so just trying to focus on the short term and not what’s going on outside of this week but it’s obviously a great position to be in and I’m super thankful to have the lead on The International Series Order of Merit.”

He made nine birdies but also one double and two bogeys.

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He added: “The golf course is in great shape, I think there’s a couple spots on the fairways that are a little messed up due to the typhoons that they’ve had but they’ve done a really good job of getting it ready for play this week and I think the greens are some of the purest greens that we’ve played in a long time so you can definitely make a lot of birdies out there and I think the golf course is really good.”

In with 66s are China’s Chen Guxin, who impressively tied for second in the Volvo China Open, Filipino Angelo Que, Kiwi Ben Campbell, Spain’s David Puig, Australian Andrew Dodt, Korean Yeongsu Kim, Indian Ajeetesh Sandhu and Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit.

Main image: Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

The post Confident Chacarra on the charge at Hong Kong Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In-form Ogletree is the runaway leader going into the last three back-to-back International Series events of the season. With the Hong Kong Open and the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE to follow straight after the last putt drops in China, the American has one hand on that OOM title for the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar.

The 25-year-old tops the standings by over half a million dollars, and also leads the Asian Tour OOM, thanks to tournament wins at International Series Qatar in February and International Series England in August.

A tied third in Singapore, Ogletree’s latest impressive performance, adds to top-10 finishes in Oman and Scotland in the Series, and his undoubted talent was made clear after he technically finished in the LIV Golf League Open Zone this season, above the dreaded Drop Zone, despite only appearing as a reserve.

Andy Ogletree will be attempting to claim his third title of the year at the Volvo China Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

As he closes in on the OOM title and a LIV Golf League spot for next season, Ogletree admits he has already been fielding calls from players around the world eager to follow in his footsteps, with the Asian Tour’s high-profile events offering a viable pathway onto the LIV Golf League.

He said: “Guys have reached out to me regards Asian Tour Q School, and the process of getting out here. I think it (The International Series) has shown what it can do in my situation – I think it will be appealing to a lot of college players turning pro as it adds another route to make a great living playing golf.”

The International Series has taken on added significance with the confirmation that eligible players inside the top 40 of the OOM standings will be able to participate in the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi from 8-10 December, a four-round qualifying tournament that will give three additional players entry to the LIV Golf League roster for next season.

It’s no secret that Ogletree is a big fan of the Asian Tour’s marquee tournaments. A winner in the inaugural season in 2022 at the International Series Egypt, the 2019 US Amateur champion admitted preparing for International Series events as if they were his “Major tournaments” earlier this season.

Ogletree, one of the original 48 players in the field for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London event last season, said: “The International Series is really cool. It gave me somewhere to play and build my game back up. I was struggling at my first event in London, but part of my decision to come to LIV Golf was the guaranteed International Series starts.

“I knew I was going to build up a schedule and travel the world and see some cool places. It has been awesome and the competitions have been amazing; I really enjoyed playing these tournaments with championship style golf courses. It has been great earning my way back (to the LIV Golf League).”

The Volvo China Open tees-off at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen tomorrow.

Main image: Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

The post Ogletree’s dominance in The International Series fuels global enthusiasm for LIV Golf golden ticket appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Two of LIV Golf’s major champions — Graeme McDowell and Charl Schwartzel — are set to join the cream of the Asian Tour for the latest International Series showdown in Singapore.

The pair are among the headline acts set to tee it up at Tanah Merah Country Club from October 5-8.

One man looking to upstage the veterans is Andy Ogletree, looking to build on a tremendous season as Order of Merit leader and eyeing his own place on the 2024 LIV Golf roster.

The $2 million event will be the seventh stop on the International Series 2023 schedule and will be played on the prestigious Tampines Course at Tanah Merah.

McDowell, the 2010 US Open Champion, looks like he is returning to form after a top-20 finish at International Series England in August.

The European Ryder Cup legend said: “My time at Close House was a great experience, and I’m looking forward to putting on another solid performance to give myself the chance to win my first International Series event.

“I have always enjoyed playing in Asia, so I am excited to get back to Singapore this year and to experience Tanah Merah Country Club for the first time.”

Schwartzel, who famously won the 2011 Masters, again etched his name into the history books at the inaugural LIV Golf London event in June 2022, winning the individual title by one shot over compatriot, Hennie du Plessis.

The South African clinched a shared 13th place in his most recent appearance at the International Series Qatar in February 2023 and arrives at this event following a commendable top 20 finish at LIV Golf Bedminster just last month.

Andy Ogletree won his first pro title in Egypt. Asian Tour

The International Series No. 1 Andy Ogletree, who boasts three International Series titles, including triumphs in Egypt in 2022 followed by Qatar and England in 2023, will be looking to build his lead on both the International Series and Asian Tour Orders of Merit, reaffirming his star potential after winning the 2019 US Amateur Championship.

The 25-year-old said: “I’ve had the pleasure of participating in the LIV Golf League already, which is an experience I relished. As we enter the final leg of The International Series 2023 schedule, each event now holds immense significance in securing my spot for the upcoming year.”

Nitithorn Thippong, the defending champion in Singapore and one of the brightest emerging talents in Asian golf, is determined to retain his title at TMCC and returns in great form after winning the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August.

The Thai golfer said: “After my victory on the Tampines Course last year, I believe I’ve unlocked the secret to performing exceptionally well on this course and I just can’t wait to return to Singapore and defend my title.”

McDowell will be joined at TMCC by two of his LIV teammates at Cleek in Bernd Wiesberger and Richard Bland. The field will also feature Hideto Tanihara, who at the weekend secured victory at the ANA Open Golf Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour and Sadom Kaewkanjana, a dual Asian Tour champion.

High-flying Zimbabwean brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent will also return to the Tampines Course having teed up in the 2022 edition. Older brother Scott, who topped tThe International Series 2022 Order of Merit to earn his place in the LIV Golf League, showed exceptional form when last in the country in April 2023, setting an unofficial course record (due to preferred lies) around Sentosa Golf Club with a blemish-free 62 during LIV Golf Singapore.

An International Series winner in his own right, having clinched his debut professional victory in April 2023 at KN Golf Links in Vietnam, Kieran Vincent will be looking to emulate his elder brother’s stunning Singapore performance.

Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, said: “The International Series Singapore marks the first visit of the season to Singapore, and as the Lion City is the home of the Asian Tour, we are thrilled our membership will have the opportunity to compete here that week — especially on the tremendous Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club.” 

The post McDowell, Schwartzel and Ogletree ready for International Series Singapore tilt appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Andy Ogletree looks to be firmly in the driver’s seat for a return to the LIV Golf League with a dominant seven-stroke victory in the Asian Tour’s $2 million International Series England — and a runaway 16-under tournament total.

The American was unstoppable at Close House, near Newcastle, shooting a final-round seven-under-par 64 — the joint lowest round of the week — to finish ahead of LIV Golf’s Ian Poulter, who closed with the same score.

Ogletree now looks to be a lock to rub shoulders with the likes of Poulter and the other LIV Golf superstars in 2024 as it is his third convincing International Series victory — he triumphed in Qatar by three this year, and by four in Egypt last season — and it consolidated his lead on both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits.

The International Series OOM winner at the end of the season earns a spot on the LIV Golf roster for 2024 — Ogletree competed on the tour last year and has been travelling as a reserve this season.

Indian Anirban Lahiri — another LIV-er — also excelled, carding a 68, to take sole possession of third, one back from Poulter.

“I don’t think I could hit it much better than I did this week,” said the 25-year-old Ogletree, who banked $360,000.

“The greens were super bumpy so it’s hard to tell exactly how my putting was, but I was pleased with how I played and my speed control coming down the stretch today was awesome. And it was nice to see a few putts go in, so we’re just gonna keep trying to get better every week. My game is in a really good spot against a world-class field, super honoured to play the way I did.”

Unstoppable ?@andy_ogletree stamped his authority once again on the Asian Tour by claiming the International Series England after a stunning seven-stroke victory ??#InternationalSeriesEngland #whereitsAT

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) August 21, 2023

He had a one-stroke advantage at the start of the day, and after brushing off a bogey on the opening hole he boarded the birdie train with birdies on the following hole, four, five and eight.

He uncharacteristically missed a five-foot putt for par on the ninth that saw him make the turn with a three-shot lead, before he stormed home unchallenged with two birdies and an eagle on the back nine.

His success is all the more remarkable considering his last event on the Asian Tour was the International Series Vietnam in April, having focused on the LIV Golf League thereafter.

Poulter, playing in the fifth from last group, closed Ogletree’s lead to five after he eagled the par-five 16th, only to see the American frontrunner do the same soon after.

Poulter, attempting to win for the first time in five years, said: “I just kind of found the key to hitting a few putts on these greens, which I didn’t have the first three days. And you know, when you do that and you play good golf like I played the first three days, then you’re going to be able to make some birdies. And that’s what I did today. I made quite a few ‘birds’, and it was 16 feet on 16 there, and rolled that one in.”

Lahiri finished second in the International Series Vietnam and backed that up this week.

“Very, very pleased,” said the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

“I think that was probably the top-three ball-striking round of the year for me, I think I would rate this round better than my Saturday at Bedminster and better than Adelaide. I think I was very, very happy with how I swung it. My control of the ball in the air, my distance control everything was spot on. I drove it phenomenally. I think three-under is probably the absolute worst score I could have shot today. Honestly, if my dad putted for me today, we would have shot a 65!”

Amateur golfer Luke Poulter, who plays college golf at the University of Florida and is the 19-year-old son of Ian, completed an impressive tournament by closing with a 71, to finish in a tie for 22nd, on level-par.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “I beat him [Ian Poulter] one of the days, it was really cool but my main goal was to try and beat him this week, but, he got me by nine!”

The Asian Tour journeys north of the border this week for the inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship at Fairmont St Andrews. The $1.5 million event tees off on Thursday and features a host of marquee names, including former Masters champion Sergio Garcia from Spain, and American Harold Varner III.

The post Ogletree set for LIV Golf return after hat-trick of International Series titles in England appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Andy Ogletree, currently riding high on top of both the Asian Tour and The International Series Order of Merits, is keen to “knock the rust off’ after playing limited golf over the past few months.

The American tees-off in the International Series England today at Close House, near Newcastle, having last played on the Asian Tour in April.

“Obviously, it’s been a long time since we played an International Series event,” he said. “I am ready to knock the rust off and see where my game is at. I haven’t played in a while. I am looking forward to playing.”

The former US Amateur champion is in pursuit of his third International Series title, having triumphed in Egypt last year, and Qatar this season.

“I played LIV Golf DC, and US Open and Open Championship sectionals, missed US Open by two, Open by one, I was close to playing in some big tournaments in that stretch, unfortunately came up a little short,” said the 25-year-old, who has also been travelling with LIV Golf as a reserve.

“I feel like my game is in a good spot. I have progressively been getting better the last year, we’ll find out this week.”

He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International, tied for seventh in the International Series Oman the following week, before tasting victory in Qatar.

The American has a laser-like focus on topping this year’s International Series merit list which will earn him a place on next year’s LIV Golf League.

He said: “Getting a taste of LIV Golf and seeing what that is like, being around those guys and travelling, playing in high level events, is what we are all chasing. I am just trying to do everything I can to get that spot. I am sure everyone else is. I am here for that reason, to try and play LIV Golf next season, that’s what we are going to continue to do.”

This week is the 12th event of the season on the Asian Tour and the fifth leg of The International Series.

The elite of the Asian Tour have entered with 18 of the top-20 on its Order of Merit competing, along with England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, who leading a group of 22 LIV Golf stars.

The post Asian Tour leader Andy Ogletree resumes bid to complete dream season at International Series England appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Ogletree, the 2019 US Amateur champion, will make his third appearance of the 2023 LIV Golf League season and second for the Crushers. He filled in for Anirban Lahiri in Orlando and shot even-par for the three rounds, with two of his scores counting for the team. He finished 43rd on the points leaderboard that week.

In the most recent LIV tournament in Tulsa, Ogletree replaced Majesticks co-captain Lee Westwood for the final round and shot an eight-under 62 for the team. The 62 is one stroke off the LIV-record low score for a single round.

Ogletree currently tops the International Series Order of Merit standings through four events on the Asian Tour. The leader at the end of the 10-event series in 2023 earns full-season playing privileges as a regular member for the 2024 LIV Golf League season.

“He played well last event in Tulsa, he shot eight-under. It’s kind of hard not to pick him,” Crushers captain Bryson DeChambeau said. “I’m looking forward to some more good scores out of him. He’s a great kid, great player. I love having him on the team, and he’ll be a tremendous asset.”

Reserve player Andy Ogletree to replace Paul Casey (injury) in @Crushers_gc lineup for #LIVGolf DC pic.twitter.com/PydyhsZp5r

— LIVGolfComms (@LIVGolfComms) May 24, 2023

Casey withdrew due to lingering foot issues that also forced him to miss last week’s PGA Championship. He’s currently 27th in the Individual Champion standings and has not posted a top-24 points finish since his fourth-place result in the season opener at Mayakoba when the Crushers won their first team title.

“His feet have been hurting him a little bit, and then ultimately just got to his body,” DeChambeau said of Casey. “He’s in a place where he’s recovering, and he’ll be good in a couple weeks he told me, so no issues with that.

“That’s what we’re here to do, we’re here to support him whatever his decision is to make sure his health is 100 per cent. We need him 100 per cent. He’s a great golfer, great player, and for this team and LIV Golf, we need him playing at his best and healthy.”

Since Ogletree will be playing all three rounds at Trump National Washington, DC, his score will count on both the team and individual leaderboards.

The post Andy Ogletree steps in for a shot at LIV Golf DC glory as Paul Casey withdraws appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Last summer, the 24-year-old former US Amateur champion was invited to play in the first LIV Golf event in London. Although he had a nightmarish score of 24-over par for 54 holes — finishing last at 31 shots back of eventual winner Charl Schwartzel — he parlayed the LIV invitation into a successful year on the Asian Tour. That circuit was a beneficiary of a $300 million investment from LIV Golf, and after playing the inaugural LIV event, Ogletree was given status on the Asian Tour’s International Series. He’s won twice there in the past six months, in Egypt and Qatar, and leads its money list — and staying in that top spot would guarantee him LIV status next year.

Leading the International Series also prompted LIV officials to invite him to Mexico to be one of three reserve players (joining Turk Petit and Wade Ormsby) for the league’s season opener. Coincidentally, the Camaleon course is where Ogletree played his first event as a pro when the PGA Tour held the Mayakoba Classic there. Although Ogletree didn’t end up playing for LIV this week, the Georgia Tech alum is making the most of the trip to the Mayakoba resort area near Cancun.

“My girlfriend and I are here, and we’re pretty much vacationing and I’m practising. We’re getting out of Atlanta weather,” Ogletree told Golf Digest at El Camaleon.

“There are some great players here, and, obviously, the money on this tour is incredible,” Ogletree said. “So there’s a lot of there’s a lot of bonuses to playing LIV; there’s a lot of bonuses to play on the PGA Tour. I think we’re just going to try to look at it from all areas right now. This is the best option for me this week and then we’ll just see what the best option each week is. My goal is just to play [even] better and have some opportunities.”

Ogletree will wait in the wings for another start on LIV if one of the 12 four-man teams has an injured player and needs to call him up. If he were to get into a LIV event, he would be banned from playing any PGA Tour event this year, including qualifiers and Q-School, as he was in 2022 after he made only that one LIV start.

Should Ogletree hang on to his lead in the Asian Tour’s International Series money list, he automatically will reach LIV’s 48-player roster for the 2024 season. He currently holds a lead of almost $140,000 over second place, having won the series’ event in Qatar earlier this month and finishing seventh in Oman. The next tournament is March 9-12 in Thailand, followed by the Vietnam on April 13-16.

“Hopefully, I can just win the Order of Merit and get full status on LIV next year, and then we’ll see,” Ogletree said. “We’ll see what the PGA Tour stance is and see how high I can get my world ranking. A lot could be decided by how I play and plan to stay motivated.”

Ogletree didn’t secure full status at the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school and then tore cartilage in his hip in 2021, needing surgery and six months on the sidelines. But now, he feels he is living up to his potential — on whatever tour that might be.

“I think my body just finally feels healthy,” he said. “I’m able to show people what I can do now I’m fit. That’s been super exciting. I’ve been telling everyone for a while I just needed somewhere to play, and now that I have somewhere I think people are starting to see how good I am. So I’m just happy to be playing pain-free, honestly. Everything is up in the air, but I just want to play against great players, and I want to make as much money as possible.”

The post Former US Amateur winner Andy Ogletree finds his groove on Asian Tour and hopes for bigger opportunities with LIV Golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The impressive 24-year-old from Mississippi closed with a one-over 73 to finish on seven-under and win by three from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who fired a 68, helped by an eagle on the par-five 18th.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72, while his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai returned a 67 to claim fourth, another stroke behind.

Ogletree, who won the International Series Egypt in November and has two wins in just nine starts on the Asian Tour, started the day with a five-shot lead and was never really challenged, when for the fourth day in a row strong wind were unrelenting.

At the turn his lead was six and while a double-bogey on hole 10, where he was unable to get up and down after an errant second shot went long and left, briefly offered some hope to his pursuers, he proceeded to steady the ship with seven pars and a birdie on the last.

“I think it just comes from all the work that I’ve put in,” said former LIV Golfer Ogletree, who won $450,000.

“I’ve worked really hard this off-season post Egypt, and just have a lot of confidence because I work so hard. I don’t think anyone wants it more than me. I want to keep giving myself more opportunities and this is the route that I can do that. So, I’m really focused, and trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my No. 1 goal this year, and that’s all I’m really focused on. And you got to win to do that, so this feels great.”

Ogletree moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and International Series OOM thanks to an outstanding start to the season. He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International and tied for seventh in last week’s International Series Oman.

“I mean, confidence wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher. My last six starts internationally, four top-10s and two wins, so I think I’m playing really good golf,” he said.

“I’m executing my game plan really well and kind of eliminating some of the silly mistakes. I had a couple today, but throughout the week this week it was really good tee to green.

“Eliminating three putts, eliminating short-sided iron shots, eliminating bogeys with wedges and eliminating bogeys on par fives is just kind of the goal. So that’s how I define how I’m playing, if I’m doing those things, and I’ve done that really well the last few weeks.”

It’s all a far cry for a player who, hindered by a hip injury, struggled to make an impact when he turned professional in 2020 following a stellar amateur career.

The former Georgia Tech college golf star reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2019 when he won the US Amateur, and that same year was part of the victorious United States team at the Walker Cup.

He said: “Yeah, I mean, obviously, just being able to play pain free is awesome. I’ve had a really good run the past few months, my body has felt great. I’ve never lost my confidence mentally. But now that I’m getting some reassurance from my body, it’s gaining even more confidence. So super pleased to be champion here. It’s unbelievable.

“What a great test we had this week. It was really hard. The course got really firm and fast, there was so much wind. I grew up playing in no wind, so super proud to win a golf tournament in wind like this.”

A storming finish allowed Gunn to snatch second at the very end. He birdied 13 and 14, dropped a shot on the next before making birdie on 16 and an eagle on 18.

It’s his best finish on the Asian Tour since he came third in the Hong Kong Open at the beginning of 2020. He has also been struggling with injuries over the past few seasons.

“I don’t know what to say, it’s been a while since I started playing well again and could say that all the credit goes to my coach Sam Cyr is here,” said Gunn, who has been playing on a medical exemption.

“We’ve been working really hard for the past six months and this has been the first time that he’s come out here and working with me. We really did grind it out during the practice days, and he put me in the present moment throughout the weekend, encouraged me throughout the whole day and you know, don’t put my head down.

“This is my biggest cheque I’ve received so far, and I mentioned that to Sam as well. And, you know, we’re looking up, and it’s not just here, and he wants me to look forward to like, up there. Top 10, maybe number one in the world. It’s a little crazy right now, but hopefully we get there.”

The post Andy Ogletree secures second Asian Tour International Series title with brilliant victory in Qatar appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.