The 35-year-old from Amritsar eagled the par-five 18^th here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club for a closing four-under-par 67 to finish on 24-under, which was five shots ahead of second-placed Karandeep Kochhar, also from India.

Ben Campbell from New Zealand, winner of the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, and Spaniard David Puig shot rounds of 65 and 66 respectively to claim third place, six back of Bhullar – in the final event of the season on The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour.

It marks the first time Bhullar has raised this trophy, and it will proudly sit alongside three Indonesian Open wins and one Indonesia President Invitational title.

Gaganjeet Bhullar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

Plus it is the 11^th win of his career on the Asian Tour – the most by an Indian, with Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa next best with eight titles.

And it’s also his first victory since winning the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August of last year.

He started the day with a comfortable seven-shot lead and was in complete control before a couple of mistakes over the closing stages kept the large gallery guessing.

On the par-three 15^th he shocked everyone when he found water with his tee shot, but after taking a drop he played a superb third to six feet and holed the putt for bogey.

His lead was cut to three from Kochhar and Puig at that point and when he left his second shot short in a tricky lie on the grassy slope of a greenside bunker on the par-four 16^th it looked as if the gap would be closed further.

However, he made arguably the shot of the tournament when he holed out for an unlikely birdie to restore his lead to four.

His closing eagle on 18 was set up by a beautifully struck fairway wood to 20 feet.

“It wasn’t that easy. This is my fourth Asian Tour wire-to-wire,” said Bhullar, who showed incredible mental fortitude to win having led the event since his opening round 63.

“And this was a victory with a seven-shot lead and I just kept telling myself I have done that in the past and I am ready to do that this week.

“Today I played pretty well actually. I struggled a bit in the middle of the round, there was a stretch when I was trying my level best but I was not making the birdies. But the chip in on number 16 turned around everything. And of course the eagle on the last was the icing on the cake.”

His other wire-to-wire wins came in the Macao Open in 2012 and 2017 and at the 2013 Indonesia Open.

“Overall, I think it is a great sense of achievement for myself and I am really proud of myself,” added Bhullar, who revealed today that his grandma was born in Indonesia.

“I have been doing meditation since I was 14 years old, and I think this is my 17^th year on Tour. I learned over the years how to deal with the pressure and especially the conditions and the situation I was in the last three rounds. So, I think the past experience has really helped me.”

An added bonus is that victory catapulted him from 46^th place on The International Series Order of Merit to eighth, and it’s only those from second to eight who are fast tracked into the second round of the LIV Golf Promotions event in three weeks time in Abu Dhabi. The top three finishers there will earn places on next year’s LIV Golf League.

Kochhar will also be competing in Abu Dhabi and today celebrated his best finish on the Asian Tour.

He said: “Obviously a very good day from start to finish. I told myself that the way I was hitting the ball the last few days I’m going to have a lot of opportunities, so it was all about being patient.

“And I think I did that very well today. I was patient throughout, gave myself opportunities and made some good putts down the stretch as well. A couple of good two putts in the end, which I think kind of kept the momentum going. So yeah, overall really pleased and been looking forward to a week off.”

Korean Kyongjun Moon fired a 65 and finished in outright fifth, seven behind the champion.

The Asian Tour heads to Chinese-Taipei next for the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open. The US$400,000 tournament, which is making its debut on the Asian Tour having previously been played on the Asian Development Tour, will be staged at Taifong Golf Club from November 30 to December 3.

Images: Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour

The post Bhullar’s Indonesian romance continues with victory at BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Richard T Lee will be looking to script another Korean success story next week as he seeks another Shinhan Donghae Open title.

The Canadian held off the challenge of Malaysian Gavin Green in 2017 to claim a one-stroke victory at Bear’s Best Cheongna at the co-sanctioned the Asian Tour and Korean Tour event, before going on to clinch two more titles in the nation.

He almost repeated his feat in 2020 on the Korean Tour, at Bear’s Best, finishing in second place behind Kim Han-byeol. 

Next week, from September 7-10, Lee will be hunting the trophy once more as the Shinhan Donghae Open returns to Korean shores, having been held in Japan for the first-time last year.

Although there’s a new venue for 2023 in the shape of Incheon’s Club 72, the Shinhan Donghae Open will, for the third time, be co-sanctioned between the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean Tour.

“We believe this co-operation is a sign of strength for Asian golf and we anticipate further collaborations with both parties as we move forward,” said Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO.

Joining Lee among the Asian Tour contingent for the $1 million competition are past Order of Merit champions Sihwan Kim of America and Australian Scott Hend, along with Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, triumphant in the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2016, the first year it was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Both Lee and Bhullar will be buoyed by their strong showings at last week’s St Andrews Bay Championship. While Lee was T-18, Bhullar enjoyed his best outing of the season to date, a share of fifth place that saw him rise to 36th in the latest Order of Merit standings — one place below Lee.

From the top-11 in the current Order of Merit standings, following last week’s historic stop in Scotland, also in the field for Korea are Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, Australians Brendan Jones and Travis Smyth and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho.

Vincent will be aiming to go one better than his brother, LIV Golf’s Scott, who was runner-up at The Shinhan Donghae Open in both 2016 and 2018.

Among the favourites will be Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who birdied the final two holes at Koma Country Club last year to triumph. 

The post Asian Tour: Canadian Lee looks for more success in Korea appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Gaganjeet Bhullar’s record in the Mandiri Indonesia Open is second to none — he clinched the title for a record third-time last year — and ahead of this week’s tournament, which starts on Thursday at the renowned Pondok Indah Golf Course, he says he will look for inspiration from those remarkable performances.

“You know that success will inspire me a lot,” said the 35-year-old from Amritsar. “They basically will remind me of all the good shots, all the good moments I’ve had in Indonesia and I’m just hoping that I will play as good as I played last year.”

Having triumphed in 2013 and 2016, the latter also at Pondok Indah, a reinvigorated Bhullar, fully recovered from a bad bout of COVID at the start of the year, made it a third title last season by storming to a two-shot victory over compatriot Rashid Khan and England’s Steve Lewton.

Bhullar was at his imperious best on the last day on the Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed layout, carding a bogey-free seven-under 65 for a tournament total of 20-under.

“I remember clearly pretty much every hole. I got off to a really good start. I was paired with Rashid Khan and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai and I remember those two guys they also played well actually but I got off to a good start,” said the Indian, who was marking his return to his home continent after four years focusing on Europe and who dedicated his triumph to his 11-month-old daughter.

“I was driving the ball well, I didn’t miss any fairways on Sunday, hit my iron shots on the green and I think I just putted well. Once you’re on the positive mojo it just multiplies over and over. I’m glad I just closed it well and that was another victory under the belt.”

He has started this year slowly by his own high standards and is currently 50th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, having played eight of the 10 events so far, with his best result coming on home ground at The DGC Open, where he tied for sixth.

Words from the defending champion @gagsbhullar ?️#MandiriInOpen2023 #whereitsAt pic.twitter.com/lVXlTQGKNE

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) August 1, 2023

However, he is hoping that his recent break from the game will help get him back on track.

“I basically took two months off, just over two months, I think close to nine weeks off, and this was the first time I actually got such a long break ever since I’ve turned pro in the last 17 years,” he said.

“I was actually looking forward to this break and there were so many things which I’ve worked on during my off season from my fitness right to my driving speed to my playing ability.

“I played so many rounds on the golf course with a mindset of scoring well, I was mentally fatigued, so I personally feel that this break was much needed, and I have utilised it in a great way, in a structured manner. Now, I’m actually mentally and physically prepared and ready for the second half.”

He plans to play pretty much all the events from here on in, which will be at least 14 more, with this week’s event signifying the commencement of the second-half of the season.

His first victory on the Asian Tour also came in Indonesia at the President Invitational in 2009. That win set in a motion an outstanding career in Asia, which has also seen him claim the Macau Open twice.

“The majority of the golf courses in Indonesia and Thailand and Malaysia all really suit my style of play and over the years I’ve just felt very comfortable, and maybe it’s something to do with the weather, I feel very comfortable playing in hot and humid weather,” said the Indian, his country’s number one amateur in 2004 and 2005.

“Golf, it’s a game of clicks, one thing leads to the next. One good shot will keep on making a new thread of good shots, so I think that has happened over the past few years and that was one of the reasons why I’ve won their multiple times.”

Bhullar will have his work cut out this week though with a strong field in attendance, led by Filipino Miguel Tabuena, second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Gunn Charoenkul as well as Taichi Kho from Hong Kong — all ranked in the top 10.

The post Rested Bhullar ready to make more history at Indonesia Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 2023 edition of the Indonesia Open will return this year once again with Mandiri on board as the title sponsor and Jakarta’s Pondok Indah Golf Course as the host venue.

The time-honoured event – so memorably won last season by Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar, for a record-setting third time – will be played from 3-6 August, and boasts prize money of US$500,000. It will be the 11th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of Asian Tour, said: “We were privileged to witness a great moment in Asian golf history last year when Gaganjeet Bhullar claimed Indonesia’s national Open for a third time – something no player has achieved.

“His victory added another thrilling chapter to the tournament’s rich history. Indeed, the event has given us so many great moments and, as ever, we look forward to returning there in a few months, at the mid-point of our season. We thank Mandiri, the Indonesian Golf Association and Pondok Indah Golf Course for their much-valued support and commitment.”

The prestigious tournament is also the next event on the Asian Tour following last month’s Kolon Korea Open – where victory went to American Seungsu Han. And it precedes the Asian Tour’s trip to the UK later in the month for the International Series England and the St Andrews Bay Championship – an inaugural event, also part of this year’s 10-leg International Series.

Watershed moment for Gaganjeet Bhullar. Graham Uden/Asian Tour

Local fans will have a firm eye on their rising star Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra who, as an amateur, led after the third round in 2019, before finishing fourth behind the champion Miguel Carballo from Argentina.

The Indonesian has since turned professional and won three times on the Asian Development Tour – including this year’s season-opening Singha Phuket Open in May

Last year at Pondok Indah, Bhullar produced one of the finest rounds of his career, a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 for a formidable tournament total of 20 under and a two-shot victory over England’s Steve Lewton and Indian Rashid Khan.

The Indian put on a putting masterclass, holing brilliant birdie putts and crucial par saves, to record his 10th win on the Asian Tour and first since 2018. He has won more titles on the Asian Tour than any other player from his country. Bhullar claimed the event in 2013 and 2016 – with the latter win also at Pondok Indah.

Pondok Indah has been rated as one of Indonesia’s leading golfing courses for more than 40 years. They have hosted many international tournaments, including the World Cup of Golf in 1983, and boasts a Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed course, opened in 1976.

The Indonesia Open was able to return to the calendar last year following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dating back to 1974, its roll of honour includes late, great American Payne Stewart (1981) and fellow Major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2014).

Other international golfers who have savoured success in the championship include New Zealander Frank Nobilo, Australian Craig Parry and South African Justin Harding.

Among the famous Asian players to have had their names inscribed on the trophy are Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thais Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsi-chuen and Lu Chien-soon.

Kasiadi is the only Indonesian golfer to have lifted the trophy, his triumph coming in 1989.

The post Mandiri Indonesia Open to return to Pondok Indah Golf Course at mid-way point of 2023 season appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Khan had started the day in front with Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai but Bhullar was unstoppable, making three birdies on the front, and four on the back – which included three on the trot from the 13th.

Bhullar showed no sign of Sunday nerves and put on a putting masterclass, holing brilliant birdie shots and crucial par saves, to record his 10th win on the Asian Tour and first since 2018. He has also won more titles on Tour than any other player from his country.

“I played like a champion tee to green and gave myself so many birdie opportunities,” said the 34-year-old, who won this event in 2013 and 2016.

“I was riding high on confidence, hit the ball really good. It is a great week, I had a lot of positive memories having won this tournament two times previous, that was definitely on my subconscious mind. The goal was just to go out there and give my 100 per cent.

“This is my first win after becoming a father and I would like to dedicate this win to my 11- month-old daughter. Also, after over two difficult years because of COVID it’s just amazing the Asian Tour is back in this wonderful country.”

You may also like:
Decision time looms for LIV Golfers in FedEx Cup fight
R&A increases Women’s Open purse to $7.3 million
LIV Golf numbers grow on Asian Tour
Get the August 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in English and Arabic
Legend John Daly ‘begged’ for LIV Golf spot
Mickelson was suspended by PGA Tour in March; banned for two years
Mickelson and Dechambeau lead group of 11 LIV golfers suing PGA Tour
Adam Hadwin in trouble with wife Jessica — again
LIV Golf gives to local charities in New Jersey
Bryson DeChambeau on LIV/PGA feud and his $125m signing-on fee
What it is like to be the first woman from your country to win a title
Five players to watch at the AIG Women’s Open
Australian army target more glory in Scotland
Laura Davies’ unique return to Muirfield
Phil Mickelson becomes highest-paid athlete of 2022
WATCH: LIV Golf highlights from Bedminster
Stenson takes debut LIV Golf title at Bedminster
LIV Golf takeaways after third event in New Jersey
The Gulf Club: Latest news from the UAE and beyond up to August 2022
Crocker takes the glory at Hero Open

The post Asian Tour: Gaganjeet Bhullar claims Indonesia Open for record third time appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the Asian Tour players,” said Gaganjeet Bhullar – the most successful Indian on the Asian Tour with nine victories.

“In the past we have of course played in Switzerland, but I think playing in the UK is going to be a great experience. I’ve played a lot of golf on the DP World Tour in the UK but playing on the Asian Tour and representing our Asian Tour flag on the UK soil, I think that’ll be great. And it’ll be a great boost for all the youngsters, all the people who are getting ready to move on to the next level.”

A full field is expected for the historic Asian Tour event, and Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren is raring to go.

“I have played quite a few tournaments in this part of the world, but I have not played this golf course,” he told the Asian Tour website. “But seeing pictures of the course, looking at the conditions, I think it’s going to be a fair set-up. We would definitely expect a lot of low numbers. Of course, in the UK, it depends a lot on the weather actually.

“So, depending if you’re on the good side of the draw, if we get to see some sun, then definitely the boys are ready to take on the best players in the world. So definitely, I’m really, really excited.”

Also playing this week is Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who claimed The DGC Open in March.

“For me, it’s amazing, the Asian Tour is going to have an event in England!” said 25-year-old Asian Tour rookie.

“I’ve never been to England before. It’s going to be awesome and it’s a $2 million purse, it’s a lot. So, I’m just going to have fun. I mean, I never expected that the Asian Tour was going to be in Europe, because it is the Asian Tour. I don’t know how to say it, but for me I am so excited to play.

“I think it is great that we are playing in UK. The DP World Tour are playing on different continents including Asia, so it is great that Asian Tour are able to host in UK.  When I heard the rumours about the International Series going to UK I got real excited.”

Asian Tour prize money has been boosted significantly in recent years thanks to with investment from Saudi Arabia.

You might also like:
Meet Malak, the first Arab to play at US Women’s Open
Stellar line-up set for Newcastle
Impossible pin position causes havoc at high school event
WATCH: Dubai golfer’s insane par save
Shiv Kapur hails Asian Tour opportunities thanks to LIV Golf and Saudi Golf
Bland to play LIV Golf, even if it means ban
Rickie Fowler considers LIV Golf options
Hillier joins hole-in-one party on France
Carmen sings on Ladies European Tour
Top names sign up for Aramco Team Series – London 
Watch: One of the best pars in history

The post Asian Tour stars can’t wait to get started in historic International Series England event appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Darren Fichardt suspects he’ll need every ounce of the experience garnered from a five-win European Tour career to join an illustrious list of two-time winners of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on Sunday.

The 45-year-old South African will take a one-stroke buffer into the final round of the $1.5 million event at Education City Golf Club after ascending to the summit of the leaderboard with a topsy-turvy, windswept 70 on Saturday.

On the cusp of his first European Tour win since the 2017 Joburg Open and second Mother of Pearl trophy in 2003, Fichardt (-7) will be joined in the final three-ball by Englishman Jack Senior (-6) and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (-5).

The 11.03am trio will be especially mindful of the three-ball directly ahead of them: three-time European Tour winner and 2014 Ryder Cup clincher Jamie Donaldson, inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship winner Antonie Rozner and Dane Joachim. B Hansen who won the Joburg Open in November.

Mind you, If Doha dishes up more of the wild and windy conditions that have marked the first three days of the resumption of the European Tour season, Fichardt won’t be so focused on other names, rather his own game. He knows how one controls the uncontrollable, especially in the wind, will determine whether he joins Adam Scott, Paul Lawrie and Branden Grace as a two-time Qatar champion.

“It’s tough [out there] because you can hit a great putt or shot and still end in disaster,” Fichardt said of the enduring challenge of the Jose Maria Olazabal-designed Education City G.C.

“You have to commit to whatever you are going to do, stick through with it and where the ball went, it went. Not put too much thought into it or get down on myself.

“I’m doing my best and if I’m making a big number then I’m making a big number, that’s just how it is.  I think the guys who are trying to win their first event, they are trying to win. If you’ve won a few times you know it’s about doing the best you can do.

“The sun shines on everyone, if it’s your week, it’s your week. It’s about doing the best you can do. Tomorrow will be quite a fight. We’ll take whatever comes our way and see what happens.

Fichardt’s ability to park the bad shots was critical in the third round peppered with five birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-5 13th.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Fichardt and his wife/caddie Natasha during Saturday’s third round.

“When I started today I couldn’t get the pace right, the greens sped up significantly with the wind. I was three-whacking like it was going out of fashion, on every green. Luckily I figured my swing out on the range before I teed off. I said to my wife [and caddie Natasha] to give ourselves opportunities and to try and get our first putt past the hole. When they started dropping I started to get a nice rhythm and a nice flow.

“Then I got to the par-five 13 – that’s a hell of a par five, plus wind. I walked off there making a double and felt a bit out of sorts. I three-whacked the next green. I tried to gather my thoughts and realise it’s tough out there, everyone was struggling and to try and finish with a couple of pars coming home – luckily I got two birdies.”

Bhullar is chasing a second European Tour title after capturing the 2018 Fiji International while Senior, also 32, is seeking a maiden main tour title to go with two Challenge Tour wins.

The post Darren Fichardt ready for final round fight, as much with Doha’s winds as with his nearest rivals appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 17-year-old Dubai born Indian amateur savoured 18-holes Tuesday with Australian Brett Rumford who is fresh from capturing the new World Super 6 Perth title in mid February.

After teeing it up with defending champion Rickie Fowler in Abu Dhabi and Indian No.1 Anirban Lahiri and reigning U.S. Masters champion Danny Willett in Dubai earlier this year, the chance to witness Rumford’s wedge wizardry at close quarters was invaluable as he continues his big time golf education.

“Brett Rumford has one of the best short games in the world and to be watching him hit some chips and some irons shots, it was just fantastic, so enjoyed that,” Thomas told Golf Digest Middle East ahead of the $1.75m event which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Thomas will tee it up alongside Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima and Frenchman Damien Perrier in the first round at 11.30am (India time/10am UAE time) on Thursday and will need his short game in good order if his initial impressions of DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi are any indication.

“The course is in fantastic shape, I mean this is one of the best courses I’ve played in India. It’s a very tricky, slopey course,” said Thomas who also enjoyed six tune-up holes alongside India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar on Tuesday.

“You need to be very focused on every shot cause you can’t let one shot go because you’ll end up making a very high score. It’s a very challenging course but its a fantastic lay-out, the greens are running superb, very slopey, a lot of tricky pin positions but there are still some birdies to be made out there.”

After making his first European Tour cut in Dubai, there is great interest in Thomas’ progress in New Delhi but the world amateur No. 98 and Indian amateur No.1 is just determined to make the most of his sponsors’ invite.

“I’m not putting any expectations on myself. If I make the cut, if I miss the cut, if I finish top 10, don’t finish top 10, I’m not going to let it weigh down on me.

“For this week it’s pretty much just play good golf. As long as I learn something from the week I’ll be happy.”   

The post Rayhan Thomas laps up Indian Open practice round with six-time European Tour winner Brett Rumford appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.