Hot on the heels of the completion of its 2023 season last weekend, the Tour has unveiled an initial schedule of 20 strong events across 12 countries– with a significant number of important tournaments to be added.

Once finalised it is expected that the schedule will surpass this year– which saw 23 events staged with total prize money of US$35 million.

The Malaysian Open will celebrate its return to the schedule after a four-year hiatus by becoming the season-opening event and will be played from February 15-18.

It will be followed the week after by the International Series Oman – the first of 10 International Series events in 2024, which provide a pathway to the multi-million-dollar LIV Golf League.

International Series events will be played in Macau (International Series Macau presented by Wynn, March 14-17), Morocco (July 4-7), Indonesia (October 31–November 3), and Qatar (November 28 – December 1). 

The Hong Kong Open will once again be part of The International Series while making its debut on the series will be the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, which was the Tour’s opening event in 2022 and 2023. Both events will be in Q4. The dates will be announced later along with the details of three more International Series tournaments.

The Tour will also once again return to two of its traditional tournament strongholds, Korea and Chinese-Taipei. 

Three events will be played in each market, with the GS Caltex Maekyung Open (May 2-5), Kolon Korea Open (June 20-23) and Shinhan Donghae Open (September 5-8) staged in Korea; while the Yeangder TPC (September 26-29), Mercuries Taiwan Masters (October 3-6) and Taiwan Glass Taifong Open (November 14-17) will be hosted in Chinese-Taipei.

The New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport (February 29–March 3), the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund (April 17-20) and the SJM Macao Open (October 10-13) are also back on the schedule.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “The strength and depth of the Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule is reflective of the phenomenal growth we have been enjoying and we are already excited about what the new year will bring.

“Importantly, we are delighted to confirm the schedule so soon after the completion of our 2023 season, which will allow our members to plan accordingly and act as enormous incentive to those heading to Qualifying School.

“The International Series events combined with our central column of established tournaments form the backbone of the Tour while we look forward to being able to announce other premier events in due course.”

The Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School (January 16-20) commences proceedings next year, providing a gateway into what will be another season of great advancement for the Asian Tour.

The Asian Development Tour schedule will be released early in 2024 and will feature an expanded line-up of tournaments, for what is the Asian Tour’s constantly evolving feeder circuit.

Image: Asian Tour

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Boasting an increased prize pool of US$23 million, the pathway series to the LIV Golf League, sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will once again commence the year in Oman before making further return journeys to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Morocco, and Qatar.

Following the announcement in November of the inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn, the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers has also been confirmed as a further addition to The International Series 2024 schedule.

Abraham Ancer pictured during round four at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club – Asian Tour / International Series

The following tournaments are all confirmed for the 2024 Asian Tour calendar:

International Series Oman | 22-25 February | US$2 million
International Series Macau presented by Wynn | 14-17 March | US$2 million
International Series Morocco | 04-07 July | US$2 million
Indonesian Masters | 31 October-03 November | US$2 million
International Series Qatar | 28 November-01 December | US$2.5 million
Hong Kong Open | Dates TBC | US$2 million
PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers | Dates TBC | US$5 million

Three further venues will be announced to complete the 10-event series that comprises the International Series, integrated into the Asian Tour schedule, with all tournaments carrying a minimum US$2 million prize fund.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series said: “Competition to host International Series events has been high, with interest coming from around the globe as venues, destinations and stakeholders embrace the new competition and excitement that The International Series has brought since launching in 2022.

“We remain committed to our mission of enhancing opportunities for players around the world and an open player pathway into the LIV Golf League and are excited to add some marquee events to the schedule for 2024.

“This will be a landmark season for The International Series, and we continue to go from strength to strength. We remain committed to providing a transparent player pathway that enables global golfers to compete in our tournaments and take an opportunity to play over the season for a place on the LIV Golf League.

“With our first confirmed dates for the season spanning the Arabian Gulf, China’s southern coast, southeast Asia and North Africa, the schedule underscores our commitment to being a truly International Series.”

Singh concluded: “Oman once again provides a fitting curtain raiser to the season, while Macau breaks new ground for us in a region that has a rich heritage of golf. By returning to Morocco for the first time since our inaugural season, we have compelling proof that our events are an attractive proposition to destinations with world-class golfing pedigree.”

Images: Asian Tour / International Series

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Springfield Royal’s C&B nines and Lake View’s C&D layouts will be used for the five-round event, which will be played from January 16-20.

Springfield Royal and Lake View will be used for the first four days while Springfield Royal will stage the all-important final round.

Both clubs have regularly hosted the Qualifying School over the past two decades and are fitting venues for such an important tournament that decides the future of so many talented golfers.

A total of 35 Tour cards will be awarded with another pressure-packed week filled with drama expected.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO Asian Tour said: “We are pleased to confirm final details for the 2024 Asian Tour Qualifying School – which helps set the scene for the new season.

“In Springfield Royal Country Club and Lake View Resort and Golf Club we have two tried and trusted venues who will ensure a smooth-running event that will allow us to get the year off to a perfect start.”

Qualification for places in the Final Stage are already well underway with First Round Qualifiers having taken place in Australia, the United States and last week in Thailand.

A total of 43 players have secured their places in the Final Stage, with three more First Stage Qualifiers remaining, all to be played in Thailand.

At the Final Stage the top 140 players (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to round three and four. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the final round, which will be held on January 20. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will be ranked accordingly for the 2024 season.

For the 2023 Qualifying School, 563 players entered the pre-qualifiers with 110 making it through to the finals, joining 124 exempt players, with 35 countries represented.

Australian Jack Thompson graduated top of the class and went on to enjoy a fine rookie season finishing in 48th place on the Order of Merit, with four top-15 finishes in 17 starts.

The Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule will be announced shortly.

Today’s venue announcement is an update as Lake View was previously planned to host the entirety of the Final Stage at its 36-hole facility.

Image: Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour

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The 19-year-old Thai, who won the Thailand Open on the All Thailand Golf Tour last week and the Aramco Invitational on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) the week before, shot a final round seven-under-par 64 for a four-round-aggregate of 18-under 266.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson raced through with a 65 to secure second place while Travis Smyth from Australia was third after a 67 – in an event that brought to a conclusion the Asian Tour’s 23-event, US$35 million season.

Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand, the overnight leader, signed off with a 70 and tied for fourth, five behind the champion, with his nation’s brilliant young amateur Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwant, in with a 66, and Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma, who closed with a 67.

Denwit also has the distinction of becoming the first player to win the final events of the year on both the Asian Tour and ADT, as the Aramco Invitational was also the season-ender.

“It is an unbelievable feeling because it is incredible winning three weeks in a row. It is like magic!” said the Thai youngster who won US$180,000 and leapt into 21st place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit from 133rd.

“I was really confident before coming to this week because I just know my game. I hit my drives good, my irons and putting were also good, so my goal this week was to win. Fortunately, I made it.”

This is only Denwit’s 15th start on the Asian Tour, and he mirrors the performance of American Henson back in 2011 by winning on the Asian Tour a fortnight after claiming an ADT event.  

Three weeks ago, on the eve of the Aramco Invitational, he was 30th on the ADT Merit list and facing an uncertain future before a life-changing month of golf.

He said: “[At Aramco] I told my caddie that there is nothing to lose now. If we didn’t make this tournament we had to go to Q School but I just tried to play my best and hopefully just make top three but luckily I won it.”

2016 Open champion Stenson, playing in the third from last group out, made a valiant late run making four consecutive birdies from the 12th and another on 17 but he ran out of holes.

He said: “It’s been a good week here in Riyadh. It’s been my first trip to the capital, it’s been nice to see something else than Jeddah as well in that sense, where we played a lot of golf both the Saudi International and the LIV tournaments. So nice visit, a lot of friendly people. I came in with two months off, so it was a good opportunity for me to kind of see where we’re at and what needs to be worked more on when we start preparing for next year in the middle of January.”

Joshua Grenville-Wood from the UAE finished in a tie for 12th at 10-under 274.

Golf Saudi CEO Noah Alireza said: “Congratulations to Denwit Boriboonsub for his display on the golf course, he is a deserving winner of the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund following an exciting four days at Riyadh Golf Club. 

“It was particularly pleasing to see a young golfer win this event. We are committed to growing the game of golf both in the Kingdom and in the Gulf region, and Denwit’s victory in an Asian Tour event at 19-years-old will prove an inspiration to many youngsters. 

“I am also delighted to see three of the golfers invited by the Arab Golf Federation, who we partnered with for this tournament, compete over the weekend. Congratulations to Othman Raouzi, Soufiane Dahmane and Saleh Alkaabi for their performances. 

“This is the first time that the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund has been an Asian Tour event and the quality of the golf was exceptional. I look forward to welcoming the players, officials and fans back to the next edition in 2024.” 

The battle on the bubble to finish in the top-65 and secure Asian Tour cards for 2024 as expected saw a close finish with those playing this week.

Kozuma made the biggest move from 76th to 53rd after his fine finish, Björn Hellgren from Sweden also made it through to next year after tying for 18th to go from 60th to 57th.

Koreans Yongjun Bae and Yeongsu Kim also managed to stay on the right side of the top-65 cut-off mark, moving from 63rd to 59th and 62nd to 61st respectively.

South African Jbe Kruger who was in the 65th and final spot coming into the week moved up to 63rd after a tense weekend that saw him end in a tie for 18th.

Image: Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour

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He leads on 12-under from compatriot Denwit Boriboonsub here at Riyadh Golf Club – in the Asian Tour’s season-ender.

Australian Travis Smyth carded a 64 and is a further shot back with Indian Veer Ahlawat, who returned a 66, and Todd Sinnott, also from Australia, who came in with a 69.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson gave himself a shot at the title tomorrow after shooting a 67 and is tied for sixth with three other players on nine-under.

All eyes will be on Phachara as he attempts to win his second title on the Asian Tour. It was two years ago that he claimed his maiden title, the 2021 Laguna Phuket Championship, before a stream of near misses followed.

He began the day in a share of the lead with Denwit and Sinnott and later took control with three birdies from the 10th for a three-shot advantage. Wayward approach shots on 16, where he made a bogey, and 17, where he saved a par, stopped his momentum.

“Today started very good, until like the end,” he said.

“All driver, all putting, all chipping, perfect until like the end. I struggled with my iron on last couple of holes.

“I missed the par-five 15th, hit it big right, and maybe after that feel like I am not trust myself, but I just tried to keep score, not lose my mind.  If my game is like today I still have a chance tomorrow because today I hit perfect, make a lot of birdie.

“Today I played safe instead of try and reach the green with one shot. I can make birdie with two shots to green. Maybe tomorrow will be same plan.”

In-form Denwit missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the last to draw level with Phachara. He is bidding to complete the hat-trick tomorrow having won the Aramco Invitational, also in Saudi Arabia, two weeks ago on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), followed by the Thailand Open last week.

He said: “Today the first nine was quite nervous for me, because it was my first time playing in the final group on the Asian Tour. And then I made double on the 10th, so that double just changed my mentality. Just play it, whatever happens it happens, and after that double it got better and better.

“I’m very happy because before I’ve never played this well. So, to be here, just in like seven eight weeks, it’s a big improvement for me.”

After his 64, the second-best round of the day, Smyth said: “Yeah, it was amazing. You know, for the last three months I feel like the putter has been letting me down, and today yeah, I hit some okay shots, but I was getting lucky, I’ll be honest. I was holing like 20-footers, 40-footers, I think I even holed a 50-footer as well. So it was a little bit of luck, but it felt amazing, especially with the last few months that I’ve had it just felt unreal.”

Thailand’s amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat came in with a 67 and is eight under in a tie for 10th.

Image: Paul Lakatos/ Asian Tour

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His young amateur compatriot Ratchanon ‘TK” Chantananuwat, brimming with confidence having recently been accepted to Stanford University next year, is in second following a 66, along with Mexico’s Luis Carrera, while American Kevin Na, Korean Jung Chanmin and Australia’s Todd Sinnott shot 67s – on an unexpectedly windy here at Riyadh Golf Club.

Forty-year-old Chapchai, who claimed the last of his four Asian Tour titles in 2014, threatened to win the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open two weeks ago, leading at the halfway mark before a final day 75 saw him slip back into a tie for 11th.

“Today so happy,” said the Thai golfer, who started on 10 and made an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.

“The wind is so strong. I had to keep the tee shot in the fairway. I was lucky. I started on the back nine. I was three under for the nine, that was good.”

Having been in the golfing wilderness for several seasons, he has bounced back this year and is 31st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. A third-place finish in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March being his best performance in five years.

He added: “I am not thinking about my game too much, I am in a good place.”

TK, aged 16 and the region’s most exciting young golfer, birdied 17 and 18 to complete his best round on the Asian Tour for a considerable period, as following his sensational victory in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour last year, his focus has been on his studies.

“I haven’t shot anything better than a four under in an Asian Tour event for quite some time so it’s really refreshing to see myself play good golf,” he said.

“I had lots of fun out there. I think the wind made it super interesting.  It’s been dead for the past three days so for it to have wind I am super happy.”

He didn’t drop a single shot today, making a birdie on the second, before further gains on 10 and 15.

His relief at finally mounting a challenge was palpable.  

He added: “It has been very busy for the past two years, actually. Ever since I decided I wanted to go to Stanford it has just been super hectic. Just school and golf. I barely had time to breathe. 

“Now that I have been accepted obviously the workload is still there and I have to graduate high school with pretty much three top grades, but the fact that I can let the world know, I can confirm it … I know I am going, I have got that acceptance letter, it relieves a lot of the pressure, mentally mostly.”

Five-time PGA Tour winner Na came into this week feeling his game is in a good place and backed that up today with a strong start.  A missed six-footer for birdie on the last costing him outright second place. 

“I played really good. The front nine I played winds were low,” said the 40-year-old, now enjoying life on the LIV Golf League, where he is captain of Iron Heads GC. 

“I took advantage of that and shot four under. At the turn the wind started pumping. There were some balls moving 20 plus yards in the cross winds. Made it difficult. 

“Overall, I played good. Made a couple of mistakes. I was a little disappointed about that six-footer lipping out on the last hole, but we have three more days to go.

“My game felt good coming into this week. Took some time off and thought about my golf game. I made a couple of minor little changes that I felt could be good for next year and I wanted to test it out. First round it felt pretty good out there.”

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Gunn Charoenkul, Panuphol Pittayat and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit plus Korean Seungtaek Lee fired 68s.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, one of the event’s marquee players, came in with a 70. UAE national’s Joshua Grenville-Wood and Sam Mullane are in a tie for 49th, while Saudi amateur Khalid Walid Attieh is currently the highest placed Saudi national.

Image: Asian Tour

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The Asian Tour rookie, who had a two-stroke lead at the start of the day, shot a fine four-under-par 68 to finish on 19-under here at Taifong Golf Club – in the second from last event of the season on the Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai fired a 66 to finish second with Malaysian Shahriffuddin Ariffin who came in with a 69. It is the best performance by both players on the Asian Tour.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand and Korean Seungtaek Lee tied for fourth, after they both returned 68s.

Five birdies in a row from the third set up Suteepat for the win and allowed him to stroll to victory exactly one year after he came second in this event to wrap up the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit (OOM).

Thirty-year-old Suteepat, a professional since 2017, burst onto the scene last year with three ADT wins, all in Indonesia, which helped earn him his place on the Asian Tour as the top-10 finishers from the OOM secured their cards.

He had enjoyed as strong debut season on the main Tour with five top-20 finishes before putting the icing on the cake today.  

“Really happy, I love this place,” said Suteepat, who won US$72,000 and leapt into 24th place on the Asian Tour OOM, from 53rd.

“I won the ADT title here, I got my Asian Tour card from here, yeah, I love it. I just stuck to my game plan and my putter got really hot with those five birdies in row. None of the putts were short really, the shortest was 10 feet.”

With a substantial lead heading into the back nine he could afford to make three successive bogeys from the 14th before he restored order with a birdie on 17.

He added: “I didn’t chip well on those holes. I missed all those greens and could not get up and down.”

Atiruj and Ariffin have both taken giant steps forward to securing their Tour cards for 2024, with the former moving into 55th place on the OOM, from 80th, and the latter into 60th position, from 91st.

The top-65 earn their playing rights for the new season, with just one more event remaining, the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund at Riyadh Golf Club from December 14-17.

“I was thinking about the Order of Merit all day to be honest, but I have been in this situation before, so I have experience,” said Atiruj.  

“I just kept my head down and concentrated. I felt a bit nervous on the last few holes. It was a long week and a tough year. I just changed my swing with my coach and the results have now come.” 

Said Ariffin: “It’s a big relief. The top five was my target so I am really happy to have done better than that. When he [Suteepat] made those five birdies in a row I knew we were playing for second. Just need to play well in Saudi.”

American Andy Ogletree’s confirmation as the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion will have to wait, as Filipino Miguel Tabuena, who is second on the Merit list, is considering playing in the season-ending event in Riyadh. The Filipino can catch the runaway leader but only if the wins and Ogletree misses the cut.  

Nearly 30 members of the Asian Tour will head to the LIV Golf Promotions event this week at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from December 8-10. The top-three finishers there will secure passage onto the LIV Golf League next season.

Image: Asian Tour / chung500

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Boasting a prize purse of US$1 million, the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund will be staged at Riyadh Golf Club (main picture) from December 14-17.

As the 23rd and last event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 calendar, the tournament will not only determine the Order of Merit champion but also will be the final chance for players to secure a top-65 finish and keep their playing rights for 2024.

Those that succeed will then be able to look forward to a speedy return to the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund with the tournament also primed to play host to the opening leg of the 2024 season from January 25-28.

The elevation of the event from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2022 to the Asian Tour is a further sign of the close ties between Golf Saudi and the Asian Tour.

Naraajie Ramadhanputra won the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund last year when it was part of the Asian Development Tour – Ian Walton

“We’re delighted to see the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund become part of the Asian Tour,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour.

“Last year’s Saudi Open on the ADT was one of the most popular tournaments we have staged in the Kingdom. Following that success, it will now provide a fitting climax to the Asian Tour’s 2023 season – and we will then see a quick turnaround during the new year break and return to tee-off our 2024 campaign.

“Our thanks go to our counterparts at Golf Saudi and the Riyadh Golf Club for their continued support and partnership.”

The 120-strong field for this year’s event will include the top-80 available players from the Asian Tour’s 2023 Order of Merit as well as invited players from other international Tours, such as Australia, South Africa, Japan and Korea.

The tournament will also feature up and coming players from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab countries as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia’s national team.

Noah Alireza, CEO at Golf Saudi, said: “Joining the Asian Tour this year as the final event on its schedule is an exciting new development for the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund.

“Every year we’ve hosted the tournament, it has got bigger and better. We’re especially proud of how each edition provides Saudi and Arab golfers the opportunity to participate in a top tier competition.

“It not only allows them to develop their skill levels but also to test themselves and go head-to-head against players from different countries in the Middle East, North Africa and now the Asian Tour in a competitive environment.”

In view of the significance of the tournament, the Merit points that will be awarded have been elevated to Tier 3, the same as The International Series events.

This will be the eighth edition of the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund. Last year’s 54-hole event on the ADT was won by Indonesian Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra with a score of 19-under-par 197. Egyptian Issa Abouelelah finished as the low amateur on nine-under 207.

Managed by Golf Saudi and playing to a par of 72, Riyadh Golf Club is located 20 minutes from the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Opened in 2005, the course is laid out on undulating terrain with wide fairways and manicured greens.

Main Image: Asian Tour

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A welcome addition to the Asian Tour calendar, the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open will be staged at the Taifong Golf Club from November 30 to December 3.

Formerly a showpiece event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open represents a fabulous opportunity for a Chinese Taipei player to finally enter the Asian Tour’s winners’ enclosure in 2023.

Since Chan’s triumph in last year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, Chinese Taipei players have endured an uncharacteristically barren spell on the Asian Tour.

Chan Shih-chang Image: Asian Tour

However, of a strong home contingent next week, Chan and Lee will have particular cause for optimism that they can bring an end to their country’s victory drought on the Asian Tour that now stretches to almost 14 months.

After a slow start to 2023, both players have enjoyed a recent upswing in performances.

A five-time winner on the Asian Tour, Chan has struggled for consistency this year although top-10 finishes at the Yeangder TPC and International Series Singapore have seen him climb to 50th in the Order of Merit.

That places him second among Chinese Taipei players, behind only Lee who is currently 15th in the standings, having missed just two cuts in 18 starts this year.

A tie for second in August’s Mandiri Indonesia Open was his joint best Asian Tour finish while four successive late-season top-10s – International Series Singapore (tied ninth), SJM Macao Open (tied fourth), Volvo China Open (tied seventh) and Hong Kong Open (tied eighth) – have fuelled his belief that a maiden Asian Tour triumph is within his sights.

Chan and Lee will also be boosted by the fact that they both have outstanding records at the Taifong venue.

Chan won the Taifong Open in 2014 and 2018 and finished equal fourth, alongside Lee, last year.

Over the course of the past decade, meanwhile, Lee has posted five top finishes at the Taifong Golf Club.

Another Chinese Taipei player expected to be vying for glory is Hung Chien-yao, victorious in last year’s Taiwan Glass Taifong Open when it was the concluding event on the ADT’s 2022 schedule.

Currently 64th in the Asian Tour Merit standings, Hung knows that a strong performance on home soil will go a long way to helping him confirm his playing rights for 2024.

Of the overseas players in the starting line-up, attention is sure to be focused on Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who has already savoured success in Chinese Taipei this year.

Celebrating his 10th year as a professional, Poom has enjoyed the best season of his career to date, highlighted by his win at the Yeangder TPC.

It was his fourth Asian Tour title and has lifted him into fifth spot in the Order of Merit standings. Another victory in Chinese Taipei next week would put an exclamation mark on a memorable year for the Thai.

Images: Asian Tour

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His brilliant wire-to-wire victory also secured the all-important eighth place on The International Series Order of Merit (OOM), a result that secured an automatic bye into round two of the LIV Golf Promotions event and took the Indian a step closer to one of three golden tickets to the LIV Golf League roster next season.

Going into the weekend, Bhullar was sitting 46th on the OOM, outside the top-40 which would generate seven second-round exemptions from those placed two to eight, and 25 first-round places for Asian Tour players.

The 11-time Asian Tour winner booked the final berth in the second round and edged out Phachara Khongwatmai into a first-round spot, the Thai star just falling short of that bye despite a rollercoaster third place at the Hong Kong Open the week before.

Bhullar said: “This feels very special because before this week, since it is the cut off, coming here this week the standings was definitely on the back of my mind, and motivating me to play well and get the chance of a place in the LIV Golf qualifier. I played well last week too but struggled on Sunday, but this week the goal was to stay in the zone, and I managed to do that.”

In-form runner-up Karandeep Kochhar was also celebrating his big result as the brilliant final-round 63 took him from 37th and up to 15, for one of 25 places on the first round of the LIV Golf Promotions event at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club from 8-10 December.

Kochhar has been a big mover in the past three weeks, coming out of nowhere with an impressive joint fifth in the Volvo China Open and an equal 25th at the Hong Kong Open before his runner-up spot at Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

He said: “Before these three weeks, it wasn’t on my mind. But yesterday I did have a look in the evening. I went on the Order of Merit and just trying to kind of see where I stood and everything. Anyway, if I played my game, I would be in.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for players like me in Asia, trying to get on the LIV Series which is arguably the best tour in the world. I’m really looking forward to that opportunity and have a good week in Abu Dhabi hopefully.”

Andy Ogletree had already wrapped up The International Series Order of Merit and LIV Golf League golden ticket at the Hong Kong Open, the penultimate tournament on The International Series – the schedule of 10 elevated marquee events on the Asian Tour.

Spaniard David Puig finished runner up in the standings after an impressive tied third-placed finish in Indonesia alongside Hong Kong Open champion Ben Campbell, who moved up to third in the standings.

The International Series Vietnam winner Kieran Vincent, Wade Ormsby, Gunn Charoenkul and Bhullar complete the Asian Tour’s second round contingent in Abu Dhabi, where they will try to qualify for a fascinating 36-hole final day.

Vincent was delighted to claim an exemption. He said: “Every week is an important week in golf but the fact that this one could have playing rights next year on LIV is amazing. I can’t wait to get there, never been to Abu Dhabi and it is going to be a great event.”

At the other end of the standings, Korea’s Kyongyung Moon secured a place in the first round in Abu Dhabi, his impressive fifth-placed finish at Royale Jakarta enough to leapfrog from 53 up to 36.

Below him, compatriot Taehee Lee (37), Australian Zach Murray (38) and South African Jaco Ahlers (40) did enough to keep their places on the top 25. Miguel Carballo must have had a nervous afternoon however; the Argentine held on to the second from final spot at 24, and 39 in the International Series Order of Merit despite a missed cut in Jakarta.

Images: Asian Tour

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