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Asia Tour remains an option for LIV golfers looking for ranking points

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‘An Asian Tour vs DP World Tour match would be quite fiery’

Published: 11 March 2024

Cho Minn Thant is the head of the Asian Tour.

Cho Minn Thant used the Saudi millions to rebuild the Asian Tour. Now he wants to rival the global schedule on the DP World Tour with the help of LIV and an International Series that is setting up roots in the UK.

Back when LIV Golf was still just a fantasy and the Asian Tour was trying to remain solvent during the pandemic, its Commissioner Cho Minn Thant was quietly working from home in Thailand, hurriedly putting together a plan to change the established world order in golf.

Thant had only been in the job for a little over six months when the Saudis recruited him in early 2020 to help engineer the launch of a new breakaway league.

It was during those conversations that the topic of the Asian Tour came up, which is what led to the Saudi Invitational being presented as its flagship event from the start of 2022.

It was there that Greg Norman, in his role as LIV Golf Investments CEO, stood alongside Thant and announced a $300 million commitment over the next 10 years to increase playing opportunities and prize money on the Asian Tour through a new premier series – what we now know to be the International Series.

“We are setting the Asian Tour up as a powerful new force on the world golf stage,” boomed Norman at the time, though he could just as easily have been talking about LIV Golf or Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). 

Together, they spent the better part of two years taking a sledgehammer to the doors of golf’s greatest powerhouses, waging a war that spilled over into the courts.

Thant – who ranks as  one of the most influential people in golf – was there to pick up the pieces, offering World Ranking points to Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and the other LIV members caught up in a storm of fines and suspensions.

The $5 million Saudi International, in Jeddah, was the obvious draw, but the International Series grew from seven to 10 tournaments last year and contributed $19 million to a record prize pot on the Asian Tour that fell just short of $34 million.

“I guess the misconception that the name Asian Tour has is that it identifies our tournaments as only being in Asia and only for Asian players,” Thant tells TG . “We’re far from that right now.”

They have certainly rebounded from the brink after what Thant describes as “the worst time the Asian Tour has ever seen”.

The pandemic hurt every golf tour, but it almost killed the Asian Tour. Staff had to take substantial pay cuts just so players had a place to come back to. It took 20 months until a golf ball was struck again, which meant the 2020 season wasn’t complete until January 2022. 

“It was tragic for our players,” admits Thant. “A lot of them had to get teaching roles or find other ways to survive. We were by far the hardest hit out of all the tours worldwide, just because of the territories that we visit and the amount of border crossings that requires.”

That they were even able to get going again owes a lot to Thant’s connections and his desire to break free from the shadow of the DP World Tour.

They were offered the security of an extended strategic alliance with the DP and PGA Tour, but Thant wanted more for the Asian Tour than just feeder tour status, which is why his eyes lit up at another proposal on the table.

“We decided prior to me joining as Commissioner that we wanted to go at it independently, without relying on partnerships,” he says. “There was this proposal from the PGA and European Tours, and then one from the Saudi camp. You really couldn’t compare the two.

“We came out of Covid with a 10-year plan with LIV Golf and Golf Saudi. Immediately, we picked up 11 new tournaments. We picked up money to develop our tour and quite a few of our members played LIV Golf in year one, which was last year. This year they’ve had the chance to qualify for LIV and that’s a great pathway for our members.”

The global nature of the Asian Tour membership is now reflected in its schedule, which last year included events in England, Scotland, the Middle East and New Zealand.

Today, Thant is speaking to us from his home in Thailand, overlooking Black Mountain Golf Club, but his office is over 800 miles away in Singapore. He is married, with a child, but he struggles to spend much time with his family outside of the tour’s summer break.

“I’ve just been on the road for three and half weeks. I’m home for two days and then I leave again tomorrow! That’s pretty much my life during the season.”

Thant was raised and educated in Australia but he’s been with the Asian Tour since 2007, working his way up through the ranks before being promoted to the role of CEO and Commissioner in July 2019.

At the time his remit was to rebuild a sleeping giant, but now he’s working towards a five-year expansion plan to grow the schedule from 23 to 30 events, with an average purse of $2.5 million.

Whether he manages it or not is likely to hinge on TV exposure, which Thant has struggled to offer fans and sponsors over the last two years since the breakdown in his relationship with the DP World Tour.

The 2023 International Series was noticeably absent from TV screens in the UK, despite the star-studded fields they attracted. And Thant is unable to offer any guarantees for when it might appear again.

“In the past couple of years, we’ve found it quite difficult to do television deals because there was a bit of blockage from the DP World and PGA Tours.

“In the UK, we were always part of a package deal with Sky but now they only take the European Tour and they are not inclined to take the Asian Tour because of the DP World Tour’s influence. Hopefully, that type of market restriction will be history once this framework agreement is signed.”

Thant was preparing for a board meeting in Singapore when he first found out about the truce struck between his biggest financial backer and two of his biggest competitors.

Like everyone else, he has been kept in the dark ever since, raising fears among the players we’ve spoken to that the Asian Tour is at risk of being forgotten about if the Saudis can get their hands on another new toy.

“We’ve received assurances in terms of the International Series and our link to LIV remaining for the term that was signed,” admits Thant, “but there hasn’t been much discussion about how we move forward with this framework agreement.

“I’m kind of unsure of where the Asian Tour and LIV Golf will fit in because we don’t want to be a feeder to the DP World Tour again. We feel we are very strong on our own. The best-case scenario for us is that players have the right to choose where to play.”

It used to be the case that players could compete freely on the DP World and Asian Tours, until Keith Pelley put a stop to it in late 2021 and severed all ties, including every co-sanctioned event and exemption pathway. Now if a DP World Tour member wishes to play on the Asian Tour, they must seek a release in writing with 30 days’ notice.

“In a lot of cases, the releases aren’t granted,” explains Thant, “so they’re subject to fines and disciplinary action if they come and play the Asian Tour.

“We were open last season to co-sanctioning with them for our event in England, but then they went ahead with an event in Asia without co-sanctioning with us. I don’t think there’s much interest from the European Tour (in working together) and we’re perfectly happy with having our International Series as sole, sanctioned events.” While prize money and revenue are on the up, much of that wealth is concentrated on the Saudi International and the International Series, which is underwritten by LIV Golf Investments.

Thant doesn’t want to be entirely dependent on Saudi money and is currently talking with venues in the United Arab Emirates, as well as prospective partners and sponsors to help cement the Asian Tour’s status as a thriving global circuit.

“The funding from Saudi is a major blessing, but it’s also a little bit of a deterrent for sponsors to get involved because they think the Asian Tour has the ability to fund every tournament,” concedes Thant.

“We do have the International Series going for another eight years, but we don’t want to be reliant on that as our sole source of revenue. Our plan is to use that as a backup and to populate those tournaments with their own title sponsors so they would still survive if we didn’t have the funds from LIV Golf. We see it as an opportunity, rather than having a reliance on the money.”

Beyond these lingering concerns, Thant still needs to piece together the structure of the International Series and the full calendar for this season. Conversations, he says, are ongoing with several interested parties, with Foxhills already confirmed as host of the International Series England in August.

He talks up the idea of adding a mixed event, potentially in association with the Ladies European Tour, and likes the idea of rebranding the Order of Merit as the Race to Saudi. The mischievous smile on his face suggests he has a lot of big and bold ideas in mind – including, perhaps, a blockbuster match against a rival tour.

“Well, once upon a time we had the EurAsia Cup which is Asians versus Europeans,” he says, excitedly. “That was almost like a lead up to the Ryder Cup, so something like that, given the politics and everything, might be quite fiery.”

About the author

Michael Catling – Features Editor

Michael Catling is an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.

Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with the game’s biggest names, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Martin Slumbers and Justin Thomas.

Get in touch with Michael via email and follow him on X .

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Asian Tour begins its International Series with a strong LIV contingent

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joaquin Niemann, Matthew Wolff and Louis Oosthuizen will give the Asian Tour field in Oman a familiar look. Missing will be the uniforms and team scores.

They are among 21 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf who are playing the first International Series events on the Asian Tour. The series is funded by LIV Golf and features a $2 million purse, and this one comes a week before LIV goes to Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

Some LIV players are under contract to play in occasional International Series events. For others, it's a rare chance to earn world ranking points. The Official World Golf Ranking doesn't award points to the league that has the same 53 players for the entire season (13 four-man teams and Hudson Swafford as a singles player).

It's still not enough to get any of them — particularly Lucas Herbert (No. 80) or Niemann (No. 81) — into the top 50 for the Masters. But the PGA Championship has a history of trying to get as many from the top 100 in the world ranking.

As for the other majors, David Puig earned a spot in the British Open last week when he won the Malaysian Open, part of the International Final Qualifying series. He is the third player to qualify for Royal Troon this summer through the series, following Niemann (Australian Open) and Dean Burmester (Joburg Open).

Puig and Sam Horsfield were the only players in Malaysia. Puig also is in Oman this week, meaning four straight weeks of playing. That's not unusual for players on any circuit, so it raises questions about why more LIV golfers did not seize on the opportunity. That was their best option for those who are not European tour members. Otherwise, it's final qualifying in the United Kingdom on July 2.

The U.S. Open typically takes the top 60 in the world toward the end of May, and that will make the Masters and PGA Championship critical for Adrian Meronk (No. 49 and falling), along with Niemann and Burmester, along with however they fare in Oman.

RETURN OF CABRERA

The 78-man field at PGA Tour Champions event doesn't change much from tournament to tournament, though one name stood out for the Trophy Hassan II this week in Morocco. Angel Cabrera plays for the first time since getting released from prison.

Cabrera was imprisoned for two years for threats and harassment of his partner, a case that was joined by another former partner. He was released on parole in August and has been playing in Argentina.

The PGA Tour notified Cabrera his suspension has been lifted, though he is required to comply with terms of his prison release. The 54-year-old Argentine also is welcome at the Masters as a past champion, provided he can get a visa to travel. That's been a problem.

Morocco is one of only two PGA Tour Champions events held outside North America. The other is the Senior British Open.

BROADCAST NEWS

It's safe to say two developments in golf's TV world span generations.

CBS announced that Verne Lindquist will be at the Masters for the final time in April. Lundquist, 83, has had a long and distinguished career that includes being the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys and the lead announcer for SEC football.

He is best known for two calls at the Masters. “Yes, sir!” he proclaimed when Jack Nicklaus pulled ahead with a birdie on the 17th hole on his way to winning in 1986. And when Tiger Woods hit that pitch on the 16th green that rolled down the hill and hung on the cup before falling, Lundquist said, “In your life have you seen anything like that?”

Meanwhile, NBC is bringing in a new voice for the Mexico Open at Vidanta. Golfweek reports longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay will be the lead analyst for the final three rounds. He will be the first caddie to serve in that role.

Mackay and John Woods have both worked as on-course reporters. Mackay still likes his day job — he caddies for Justin Thomas — and this is not a step toward a new career. NBC has been trying out analysts since parting ways with Paul Azinger. In the last three months, NBC has used Paul McGinley, Kevin Kisner (twice), Curt Byrum and Brandel Chamblee.

NBC has the next seven PGA Tour events until CBS does the Masters. Back to you, Verne.

AUGUSTA CHANGES

Augusta National has lengthened the course again — this time by a whopping 10 yards.

The club released its media guide for the 2024 Masters on Monday, and the only change to the course was a tee box on the par-5 second hole that is 10 yards back and to the left.

The hole now plays 585 yards. It ranked as the easiest hole last year, and cumulatively has been ranked the second-easiest hole behind the par-5 13th.

WALK AND TALK

The networks have gone to a “walk and talk” with players on the weekend dating to last year, and Jim Nantz at CBS knew which button to push when he got Mackenzie Hughes of Canada signed up for the chat on Saturday at Riviera.

Hughes delivered one of the most reasoned interviews of the year at Kapalua when he talked about how much golf has emphasized money. He also spoke during Pebble Beach at a private function, which prompted Nantz to ask Hughes to share his views:

“I just think that it’s kind of unfortunate where we are in the game right now, where it seems that it’s just all about the money, it’s all about, ‘How much money can I make?’ Kind of lost the spirit of the game in the process,” Hughes said. "The reason I play the PGA Tour wasn’t because I wanted to make a million dollars. I wanted to compete against the best players in the world, make an impact on the communities that we play. That’s been the dream since I was a kid. It seems that some guys have lost a little sight of that.

“Now we’re in a place where I think fans are just generally a little bit kind of fed up with it, to be honest. Those are the people that drive our sport. So I’d love to appeal to the masses a lot more and certainly the way we’re going right now to me isn’t quite it.”

MONEY MATTERS

The lucrative new PGA Tour already has had three $20 million tournaments and the other four tournaments have had an average purse of $8.6 million.

That translates into 12 players already at $2 million or more before the PGA Tour even gets to the Florida swing, and seven of them haven’t won yet. Through seven tournaments, 30 players already have cleared the $1 million mark.

Twenty-five years ago, only nine players surpassed $2 million for the entire season.

Past champions Anna Davis and Tsubasa Kajitani are the among the top 43 amateurs in the world who are confirmed for the 72-player field at the Augusta National Women's Amateur this year. The field represents 18 countries and all six continents on which golf is played. ... Ford has become a title sponsor of the Arizona tournament on the LPGA Tour. The Ford Championship is March 28-31 at Seville Golf and Country Club southeast of Phoenix. Ford previously was the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event at Doral in 2006. ... With one tournament left before the Florida swing, the Masters has added three winners to the field through seven tournaments, and only one player in the top 50 of the world ranking (Byeong Hun An at No. 43) is not already eligible. The field currently is at 80 players.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Seven of the last 11 winners at Riviera are Masters champions.

“You watch sports for an escape from other nonsense, but I think golf has brought a lot of nonsense onto its plate. And now you don't get just golf, you get a lot of other stuff going on. It's a bit of a circus.” — Mackenzie Hughes.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Asian Tour announces major investment with addition of 10 new marquee events

The new events will be played annually across Asia, the Middle East and Europe and will join established Asian Tour tournaments to comprise a 25-event season from 2022; Greg Norman appointed CEO of LIV Golf Investments as announcement is made

Friday 29 October 2021 16:47, UK

The Asian Tour schedule is set for a major revamp next year with the addition of a series of 10 new marquee events.

The new tournaments will be staged annually over the next 10 years with a commitment of over $200m (£145.4m) to support playing opportunities and prize funds from a newly-formed company, LIV Golf Investments, backed by the Private Investment Fund which operates on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia.

The events will be played across Asia, the Middle East and Europe and will join established Asian Tour tournaments to comprise a 25-event season from 2022.

There are plans to attract an international field of headline talent to the new events through an open eligibility category regardless of Tour affiliation so opportunities are available to the broadest cross section of players.

Former world No 1 Greg Norman has been appointed as CEO of LIV Golf Investments and he said: "This is only the beginning.

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"LIV Golf Investments has secured a major capital commitment that will be used to create additive new opportunities across worldwide professional golf. We will be a cooperative and respectful supporter of the game at every level, and today's announcement alongside the Asian Tour is the first example of that.

"I have been a staunch supporter and believer in playing and developing golf in Asia for more than four decades. The Asian Tour is a sleeping giant and we share ambition to grow the series and unlock what we believe is significant untapped potential.

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Here's that good news you've all been waiting for! 🤩 A ground-breaking series of 10 new marquee events will be staged annually on the Asian Tour over the next 10 years, representing a total commitment of over US$200million to support playing opportunities and prize funds. 🏌️‍♂️⛳ — Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) October 29, 2021

"We see our promotion of these new events as a vital first step in supporting emerging markets, creating a new platform, rich with playing opportunities that create valuable player pathways."

Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive officer of the Asian Tour, added: "This is the single biggest development in the history of the Asian Tour and a major milestone for professional golf.

"The opportunity will secure unprecedented new playing opportunities, establish new player pathways, allow us to compete commercially with other sports, and enhance our social agenda."

The announcement follows a recent 10-year partnership between the Asian Tour and Golf Saudi, which runs the Saudi International, an event formerly part of the European Tour.

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LIV pros are dominating Asian Tour event in pursuit of world ranking points

Louis Oosthuizen is tied for the lead with fellow LIV pro Carlos Ortiz at the International Series Event in Omna.

Jason Butler/Getty Images

LIV Golf is off this week, with the next scheduled event beginning March 1 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. But LIV’s players aren’t. Many of them are playing the Asian Tour’s International Series event in Oman , and you don’t have to look hard on the leaderboard to find them.

Through three rounds at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat, LIV players are dominating the tournament. Tied for first place at 12 under is major champion and early LIV convert Louis Oosthuizen , along with fellow LIVer Carlos Ortiz .

Host of LIV pros hunt for backdoor into majors this week on Asian Tour

But it doesn’t stop there. Tied for third you’ll find American LIV pro Peter Uihlein, just in front of LIV’s Lucas Herbert and Kieran Vincent, who are at 10 under through the first 54 holes.

The two players tied for 10th also cash LIV paychecks: Joaquin Niemann, who earlier this week received a surprise invite to the 2024 Masters , and Matthew Wolff, Brooks Koepka’s much-maligned former LIV teammate .

Of the 21 LIV players in the field, seven of them are within the top 10 with one round to play.

Why are all of these players, who are making considerable money on LIV, plying their trades in Oman this week, and clearly grinding hard to win? It’s all about world ranking points.

Augusta announces surprise Masters invites to LIV golfer, two others

The Official World Golf Ranking is the primary way players earn spots in the four major championships in men’s golf: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

But LIV tournaments have never awarded world ranking points, and after the OWGR’s decision in October , they won’t any time soon. So LIV players, whose rankings have dropped significantly after joining the upstart tour, are forced to play elsewhere to earn points.

One of the few places they can is on the Asian Tour, and especially in the PIF-funded International Series events, of which this week’s Oman tournament is a part.

It’s hard to say how many world ranking points are up for grabs in Oman. But given that the strength of the field is weak in terms of OWGR, even the winner is unlikely to be rewarded with significant points.

But Oosthuizen is a good example of the ground players can make up in a short amount of time. Last year, Oosthuizen fell all the way to No. 441 in the OWGR. But after two wins in South African events sanctioned by the DP World Tour late last year, he’s climbed all the way to No. 137. A third win this week should see him climb even higher.

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19-year-old denwit boriboonsub wins first asian tour title by three shots over liv golf's henrik stenson, share this article.

Denwit Boriboonsub of Thailand made his first Asian Tour title Sunday his third win in three weeks.

The 19-year-old shot 7-under 64 to win the Saudi Open on Sunday to finish at 18 under and win by three shots over LIV Golf’s Henrik Stenson. The season-ending tournament was held at the at the Riyadh Golf Club.

Boriboonsub won the Aramco Invitational two weeks ago on the Asian Development Tour and then claimed the Thailand Open.

“It is an unbelievable feeling because it is incredible winning three weeks in a row. It is like magic,” Boriboonsub said.

Stenson is a former champion of the tournament.

“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,” he said.

Travis Smyth of Australia finished third.

Check out the latest from Augusta with our live Masters leaderboard and coverage .

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John Catlin shoots 59, lowest score in Asian Tour history

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MACAU, China (AP) — John Catlin holed a 20-foot eagle putt on Saturday for an 11-under 59 in the International Series Macau, becoming the first player in Asian Tour history with a sub-60 round.

Catlin, a 33-year-old Californian with seven worldwide victories, became the fourth player this year to break 60 following Joaquin Niemann at LIV Golf Mayakoba, and Cristobal Del Solar and Aldrich Potgieter on consecutive days in the Astara Golf Championship in Colombia on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Del Solar shot 57, matching the lowest score on tours recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking.

Catlin played bogey-free at Macau Golf and Country Club, where soft conditions allowed players to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairway. He finished birdie-eagle to take a two-shot lead over Jason Kokrak going into the final round.

Catlin said all his passwords end with 59, though he never imagined himself posting what long has been considered golf’s magic number.

“It’s pretty crazy. It hasn’t totally sunk in yet,” he said.

Catlin is a three-time winner on the European tour whose dip in form sent him to Asian Tour qualifying school, where his career began. Catlin, who played college golf at New Mexico, has four Asian Tour titles.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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EXO Suho: Dates & Locations of 2024 Asia Tour Concerts Revealed

By Arpita Adhya

EXO Suho will spend the summer of 2024 touring Asia and meeting fans in several countries. The leader of the K-pop group has announced six locations for his concert tour, SU:HOME.

Kim Jun-Myeon, aka Suho, debuted solo with the extended play Self-Portrait on March 30, 2020. The mini-album gave a glimpse of Suho’s personal music color. Within the first week of its release in South Korea, the EP sold over 290,338 copies , peaking at number 1 on the Circle Album Chart. Since then, Suho has released another EP, Grey Suit, and several hit singles.

EXO Suho’s Asia Tour Concert Confirms Dates

EXO Suho will embark on his Asia concert tour on May 25 with a special show at Seoul’s Olympic Hall. After two shows in Seoul, the artist will travel to Manila on June 22 for his second concert.

All dates and locations of Suho ‘s 2024 Asia concert tour are as follows:

• May 25: Seoul, Olympic Hall
• May 26: Seoul, Olympic Hall
• June 22: Manila, Araneta Coliseum
• July 6: Hong Kong, ASIAWORLD-EXPO, Hall 10
• July 13: Taipei, Taipei Music Center
• July 20: Bangkok, Royal Paragon Hall
• July 28: Kuala Lumpur, Mega Star Arena

2024 SUHO CONCERT <SU:HOME> ASIA TOUR in MANILA ?? this June 22 here at the Smart Araneta Coliseum More Details Coming Soon! ? #수호 #SUHO #SUHOME #2024SUHOASIATOUR #SUHOatTheBigDome #WilbrosLive pic.twitter.com/bcQvVTKe7y — SmartAranetaColiseum (@TheBigDome) April 5, 2024

Suho’s concert will allow fans to witness the live performance of some of his most famous tracks from Grey Suit and Self-Portrait. In addition to his solo releases, Suho has recently sung several K-drama OSTs, including Netflix’s Gyeongseong Creature OST, “Forever,” and Bad Prosecutor OST, “Call Me a Freak.”

Meanwhile, Suho is also preparing to make his K-drama comeback with MBN’s Missing Crown Prince. The 32-year-old will portray the lead role of King Haejong’s eldest son, Yi Geon.

The story of Missing Crown Prince revolves around Yi Geon, who gets kidnapped by Choi Myeong-Yoon (Hong Ye-Ji). Myeong-Yoon aims to marry the crowned prince. While the two are on the run, Yi Geon catches himself falling for the strange woman amidst the unfolding chaos.

Suho’s Missing Crown Prince will premiere on April 13. The MBN K-drama will have two new episodes released every Saturday and Sunday.

Arpita covers K-pop, K-drama and Asian Entertainment scoops for ComingSoon.Net. From in-depth coverage of Asian Entertainment gems to the latest fan obsession, she is dedicated to bring out the best of Asian pop culture to the world one story at a time.

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The Masters 2024: Guide to the DP World Tour members in action

A host of current DP World Tour members are teeing it up at the 2024 Masters Tournament , including four debutants while others are chasing further Major Championship honours.

Here’s our guide, including a synopsis of their form so far this year, to the 21 players with status on golf’s Global Tour who are in action at August National Golf Club. We've listed them in alphabetical order.

Ludvig Åberg

• Birthplace: Eslov, Sweden
• Turned Pro: 2023
• Official World Golf Ranking: 9
• Best Masters finish: N/A

After becoming the first player in history to compete in a Ryder Cup before ever playing a Major last September, Ludvig Åberg is making his Major Championship debut at the 88th Masters. Prior to turning professional in June 2023, the Swede was the top ranked amateur on the World Golf Amateur Rankings and made history as the first player to earn direct access to the PGA TOUR via collegiate merit, finishing first on the 2023 PGA TOUR University Ranking while at Texas Tech. He secured his first win as a professional at the Omega European Masters in September on the DP World Tour. He was also part of the winning European Ryder Cup team in Italy in October and earned his first PGA TOUR win at the RSM Classic in November. Finished runner-up in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and eighth in his debut at The Players Championship in March, rising inside the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

Matt Fitzpatrick

• Birthplace: Sheffield, England
• Turned Pro: 2014
• Official World Golf Ranking: 10
• Best Masters finish: T7 (2016)

The Englishman, who is making his 10th Masters appearance, has finished inside the top 15 in each of the past two years at Augusta National. Like Åberg, he won two global titles in 2023, the first in Hilton Head Island on the PGA TOUR, before winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship at St Andrews in October. He too was part of the winning European Ryder Cup team in Italy. Won the U.S. Open in 2022 to claim his first Major Championship at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, the same course where he won the 2013 U.S. Amateur. Has top-10 finishes in his last two starts worldwide, The Players Championship and most recently at the Valero Texas Open.

Tommy Fleetwood

• Birthplace: Southport, England
• Turned Pro: 2010
• Official World Golf Ranking: 13
• Best Masters finish: T7 (2022)

Fleetwood has finished inside the top 20 in three of the past six years at Augusta National, with this being his eighth Masters appearance. In 2023, he finished runner-up in both the Canadian Open and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. He recorded top 10s in both the U.S. Open and The Open, along with the clinching point for Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup. The Englishman made a terrific start to 2024, winning the Dubai Invitational in January for his seventh win on the DP World Tour. Two top 10s have since followed on the PGA TOUR, including last week in San Antonio.

• Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
• Turned Pro: 2011
• Official World Golf Ranking: 54
• Best Masters finish: T26 (2023)

The New Zealander made his Masters debut last year and ensured a return by maintaining his top-50 ranking at the close of last year. Enjoyed a strong finish to 2023 on the DP World Tour, winning his first Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship and finishing tied second at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on his title defence in Scotland. Those performances helped him earn dual membership status with the PGA TOUR as one of the top 10 finishers not already exempt on the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex. His best result so far this year is a tie for 14th at the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational.

Tyrrell Hatton

• Birthplace: High Wycombe, England
• Official World Golf Ranking: 19
• Best Masters finish: T18 (2021)

The Englishman has made the cut on five of his seven visits to date at Augusta National, since his debut in 2017. Last year, he finished runner-up at both the BMW PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship, prestige events on the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR respectively. He additionally made the cut in all four Majors and represented Europe in his third Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Finished in the top 20 in his first two starts of the year on the PGA TOUR, before making the cut in Dubai on the DP World Tour. His most recent victory worldwide came at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2021.

Ryo Hisatsune

• Birthplace: Okayama, Japan
• Turned Pro: 2020
• Official World Golf Ranking: 87

The Japanese is making his first Masters appearance and his Major Championship debut after receiving a special invite. Enjoyed a remarkable rookie season on the DP World Tour in 2023, after securing his card at the Qualifying School. Won his first DP World Tour title at the Cazoo Open de France in September, before becoming the first Japanese player to be named the DP World Tour's Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. He was one of ten players to earn 2024 PGA Tour membership through his performances on the DP World Tour last year. Has two top 20s so far this season on the PGA TOUR, with his best result a tie for 11th at The American Express in January.

Nicolai Højgaard

• Birthplace: Billund, Denmark
• Turned Pro: 2019
• Official World Golf Ranking: 38

The Dane is another first-timer teeing it up this week. Secured his invite to feature in the first men’s Major by breaking into the top 50 of the world with his maiden Rolex Series victory at the DP World Tour Championship at the end of last season, a week after finishing runner-up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Finished second at the AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM in February, days after finishing in the top 10 at the DP World Tour's Hero Dubai Desert Classic, during an impressive start to his first full season on the PGA TOUR. The three-time DP World Tour winner was a member of the winning European Ryder Cup team last year.

Viktor Hovland

• Birthplace: Oslo, Norway
• Official World Golf Ranking: 6
• Best Masters finish: T7 (2023)

Hovland earned low amateur honours in 2019 as Norway's first Masters participant and has yet to miss a cut at Augusta National in his first four appearances. Last year, he won three times on the PGA TOUR, while he recorded top-20 finishes in each of the four Majors. He also finished in a tie for second at the DP World Tour’s season-ending event in Dubai. Delivered 3.5 points from his five matches at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. His best performance so far in 2024 came at the Genesis Invitational when he finished in a tie for 19th.

Min Woo Lee

• Birthplace: Perth, Australia
• Official World Golf Ranking: 32
• Best Masters finish: T14 (2022)

The Australian is making his third consecutive Masters appearing, having finished in the top 15 on his debut in 2022 after a record-tying 30 on the front nine of his final round. Registered six top 10s, including at The PLAYERS and U.S. Open, along with a victory on the Asian Tour, before getting his 2024 DP World Tour campaign off to a fast start with a title on home soil at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship. Finished in a tie for second at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches on the PGA TOUR in March.

Shane Lowry

• Birthplace: Clara, Ireland
• Turned Pro: 2009
• Official World Golf Ranking: 36
• Best Masters finish: T3 (2022)

Boasts an encouraging record at Augusta National, with top 25s in each of the past four years, ahead of his ninth Masters start. His best result of 2023 saw him finish in a tie for third on home ground at the Horizon Irish Open, shortly before he helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup after receiving a Captain’s Pick from Luke Donald. Finished third and then a tie for fourth in back-to-back events on the PGA TOUR in March to climb back into the world’s top 50.

Rory McIlroy

• Birthplace: Holywood, Northern Ireland
• Turned Pro: 2007
• Official World Golf Ranking: 2
• Best Masters finish: 2 (2022)

McIlroy, who is making his 16th Masters appearance, is one win away from joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as winners of the career Grand Slam. Has top 10s in seven of the past 10 years at Augusta National, including a second place finished behind Scottie Scheffler in 2022. Successfully defended his title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January as he claimed his third Rolex Series title. In 2023, he won in Dubai and Scotland on the DP World Tour as he earned his fifth Harry Vardon Trophy, finished inside the top seven in three majors, and produced a career-best performance to help the European team win the Ryder Cup. Picked up his first top-10 finish of the season on the PGA TOUR at the Valero Texas Open, the week before the Masters.

Adrian Meronk

• Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
• Turned Pro: 2016
• Official World Golf Ranking: 57
• Best Masters finish: MC (2023)

Missed the cut on his Masters debut 12 months ago as he made history as Poland’s first participant in the tournament. Won twice on the DP World Tour in 2023 to become a four-time winner, and registered three further top-five finishes as he went on to be voted Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his peers. He finished runner-up at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.

Joaquín Niemann

• Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
• Turned Pro: 2018
• Official World Golf Ranking: 93
• Best Masters finish: T16 (2023)

Registered his best Major performance at Augusta National 12 months ago, one of three occasions has made the cut in his first four appearances. He has top-five finishes in each of his three DP World Tour starts this season, including winning the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in a play-off last December.

Thorbjørn Olesen

• Birthplace: Hareskovby, Denmark
• Turned Pro: 2008
• Official World Golf Ranking: 72
• Best Masters finish: T16 (2013)

Five years on from his last Masters appearance, Olesen returns to Augusta National for a fourth time after receiving a special invite. The Dane is aiming to maintain his record of making the cut on each occasion, with his best finish coming on debut in 2013 when he finished in a tie for sixth. Victory at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in February made it three DP World Tour titles in as many seasons, after victories in England in 2022 and Thailand in 2023. The 2018 Ryder Cup winner recorded seven additional top-10 finishes last season to earn 2024 PGA Tour membership.

Matthieu Pavon

• Birthplace: Toulouse, France
• Turned Pro: 2013
• Official World Golf Ranking: 25

One of the debutants at Augusta National this week. The Frenchman has enjoyed a life-changing period in world golf, since winning his maiden DP World Tour title in October during a stellar finish to the Race to Dubai Campaign which saw him record three further top-15 finishes, including at the DP World Tour Championship where he made four consecutive birdies, to earn PGA TOUR membership for 2024. Made history as the first French winner on the PGA TOUR since 1907 with victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in January. Two further global top 10s have since followed, most recently in Singapore on the DP World Tour.

• Birthplace: Barrika, Spain
• Official World Golf Ranking: 3
• Best Masters finish: 1 (2023)

The defending champion is making his eighth Masters appearance, having won his second Major with a four-stroke victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson 12 months ago. Prior to his triumph at Augusta National, he had won three PGA TOUR titles earlier in the year and he went on to finish in a tie for second at The Open and register top-5 finishes in both the BMW PGA Championship and DP World Tour Championship. He is a ten-time winner on the DP World Tour, including a record five on the Rolex Series.

Justin Rose

• Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Turned Pro: 1998
• Official World Golf Ranking: 58
• Best Masters finish: 2 (2015, 2017)

Boasts an enviable record at the Masters, with top-25 finishes in 14 of his 18 starts. Remarkably, 11 of those come in the past 13 years. Most notably, lost out in a play-off to Sergio Garcia in 2017. In 2023, he won for the 11th time on the PGA TOUR after a four-year wait with victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His best finish on the DP World Tour last year was a tie for fourth at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, while he made his sixth Ryder Cup appearance in Italy. He has missed the cut in his last two starts, with his best result so far this coming at Pebble Beach with a tie for 11th in his title defence.

• Birthplace: Adelaide, Australia
• Turned Pro: 2000
• Official World Golf Ranking: 52
• Best Masters finish: 1 (2013)

One of the past champions in the field, following his play-off triumph against Angel Cabrera in 2013. Now, Australia’s first Green Jacket winner is set for his 23rd Masters appearance. He has only missed the cut on two occasions, and not since 2009. Recorded top-10 finishes in his first three starts of the 2024 DP World Tour season and has since added another at the WM Phoenix Open on the PGA TOUR.

Sepp Straka

• Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
• Official World Golf Ranking: 29
• Best Masters finish: T30 (2022)

The Austrian is making his third consecutive appearance at the Masters. He hit his stride in 2023 after finishing in a tie for seventh at the US PGA Championship, and then won his second PGA TOUR title at the John Deere Classic in early July. Later that month he produced his career-best Major performance with a tie for second at The Open, before ending the PGA TOUR campaign at the Tour Championship in a share of sixth place. Part of the European team that regained the Ryder Cup in Italy. Has two top-20 finishes so far this year on the PGA TOUR, including at The PLAYERS Championship.

Erik van Rooyen

• Birthplace: Bellville, South Africa
• Official World Golf Ranking: 63

The South African is making his third Masters appearance, having missed the cut in both 2020 and 2022. Claimed his second PGA TOUR title at the World Wide Technology Championship in November, dedicating his triumph to a close friend, who died shortly afterwards due to terminal cancer. Finished in a tie for second in Palm Beach Gardens in March and also has a top 10 this season in Mexico. His one win on the DP World Tour so far came in Sweden in 2019.

Danny Willett

• Official World Golf Ranking: 245
• Best Masters finish: 1 (2016)

This marks the Englishman’s 10th Masters appearance. His career highlight so far came in 2016 when he shot a final-round 67 to overturn a three-stroke deficit and become England’s first Masters champion since Sir Nick Faldo won his third Green Jacket in 1996. Among his other prestigious victories are evens both the DP World Tour Championship, BMW PGA Championship and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Struggled for form last year, and he has not played since undergoing shoulder surgery following the BMW PGA Championship in September.

Svensson caps off stunning 12 months with inaugural DP World Tour victory 

Jesper Svensson became a winner on the DP World Tour for the first time at the Porsche Singapore Classic last month, continuing his remarkable rise up the golfing ranks which began on the Challenge Tour in 2023.

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A HISTORY OF EVERY HOLE AT AUGUSTA

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Got to play hurt

Masters 2024: Min Woo Lee has a broken finger, but there ain't no way he's withdrawing from Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. — For just about every golfer, amateur or professional, an invitation to play in even one Masters Tournament is a dream come true. So when it actually happens, it is safe to assume any normal human is going to make every effort to make it to the first tee. Few, though, have ever taken that compulsion and that desire further than Min Woo Lee will do this week.

Working out in the gym last week, the 25-year-old Australian suffered an injury to the ring finger on his right hand.

“I dropped a dumbbell on my hand,” he said. “I was just doing like a side bridge glute thing, and it was literally my last rep, last set thing, and I threw the dumbbell down and somehow clipped my right ring finger. So I went to the doctor and I thought it was OK because I could move it. It was just red. I thought it would be fine. Then they came in and said, 'you've broken it.’”

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Still, bad as that sounds, Lee, a former Scottish Open champion who qualified for his third Masters as one of the world’s top-50 ranked players at the end of 2023, was able to play nine holes Tuesday alongside compatriots Jason Day, Adam Scott and Cam Smith. All of which did at least lessen the “anxiety” Lee was feeling about his ability to play and compete over the coming days.

“This is the first time telling the public,” he said to Australian AP. “We didn't know as a team to tell or to not, and I felt like I should tell people because there was a lot of pressure on me playing well. But you can hear it from my voice: I'm not 100 percent yet. Other than that, I actually feel very all right. Could have been a lot worse. I'm pretty happy to be standing here, especially after playing nine holes and giving it 100 percent.”

Further incentivizing Lee, of course, is the fact that his older sister, Minjee, is already a major champion. Nothing motivates like a sibling rivalry. So Min Woo will definitely be teeing-up Thursday at 10:06 a.m. ( weather permitting ) alongside Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler.

“Honestly, it's actually amazing how fast the recovery was,” he further explained. “It was bruised, still swollen, but not actually that painful which is really strange. Somehow I'm recovering very good, so icing and elevating as much as I can. And yes, I still went to the gym last week as much as I could. Obviously didn't do that exercise. Every time I looked at that 20-pound dumbbell, yeah, gave it a death stare.”

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Asian Tour remains an option for LIV stars in search of ranking points

While an infusion of cash from Saudi Arabia and an established international series has raised the profile of the Asian Tour, it is not yet enough to convince the biggest stars from LIV Golf to use the circuit as a way to collect world ranking points.

A few lesser known LIV members have taken advantage of the opportunity, but Asian Tour CEO Cho Minn Thant said the infusion of big names has not yet happened.

"Admittedly you don't see the Dustin Johnsons of the world, not the Phil Mickelsons, not the Bryson Dechambeaus because they have qualified for the major events already," Cho said on Wednesday outside the Augusta National clubhouse.

"Playing 14 events on the LIV league and four majors doesn't leave much more room for them to travel and play golf.

"Mid-range LIV players are playing a lot on the Asian Tour and it has really elevated the strength of (the) field from our side and the interest in terms of media."

Players like Johnson, Mickelson and Bubba Watson, who have green jackets from the Masters in their closets and have lifetime exemptions to the event, are feeling no urgency to chase ranking points.

LIV Golf applied for recognition from the Official World Golf Ranking, which plays a key role in determining entry into the four majors, in July 2022 but was rejected last October and withdrew its application in March.

The recent decision could prompt renewed interest in the Asian Tour from the more prominent LIV members who earned exemptions into the blue-ribbon events due to past results but could one day be left out with no ranking points.

Fred Ridley, the Augusta National chairman, however, has said the Masters won't be afraid to use special invitations to ensure that top LIV golfers remain part of the tournament. In a further sign of the thaw between golf's wrangling powerbrokers, Ridley, who struck a conciliatory tone, even refused to completely rule out having direct access in the future for LIV players to qualify.

The Asian Tour has entered into a growth cycle over the last three years, expanding to 24 tournaments — including 10 international series elevated events — and moving into the Middle East and Africa.

The Asian Tour is also becoming less reliant on Saudi cash as sponsors get onboard, according to Cho.

"It is great to see the corporate world starting to support the tournaments rather than LIV or Saudi having to underwrite all of them," Cho said.

"Post-COVID we still have not seen Southeast Asia recover as fast as we would have liked and the Middle East is thriving right now, we have an event in Oman, one in Qatar, two events in Saudi.

"There is a lot of interest from entities in the Middle East wanting to do business in Asia who see golf as a good platform.

"There's a lot of golf out there and a lot of countries."

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

• Category: Games

How ID@Xbox is Enabling 8 Global Game Developers to Realize Their Vision

One core mission here at Xbox is ensuring that games can be experienced by players all around the world, and supporting developers on their journey to create incredible experiences is a key part of this goal. This year, ID@Xbox is helping independent studios bring some amazing new titles to Xbox, PC and Game Pass. To celebrate here’s a look at eight exciting upcoming games from the EMEA and APAC regions, and how Xbox is supporting bringing them to life.

Fallen Tear: The Ascension by Winter Crew (Philippines)

Get stuck into a fresh take on Metroidvania in Fallen Tear: The Ascension , a 2D JRPG set in a magical, unique world. As Hira, you’ll uncover secrets from your past, battle dangerous beasts, and even defy a god or two along the way! More details on the title are expected soon.

“As a team debuting our first game, we needed more experience to promote and spread the word about it effectively. ID@Xbox helped us realize that reaching a wider audience is now possible,” says Stephen Manalastas, Founder of CMD Studio. “Our game was created as a love letter to the gaming community, offering a fresh and enjoyable take on the Metroidvania genre. We’re truly grateful for ID@Xbox’s support, as it allows us indie developers to share our passion with the world.” 

InKonbini by Nagai Industries (Japan)

Nagai Industries is crafting a wonderful slice-of-life narrative title that places you in the shoes of a small-town convenience worker in 1990s Japan. Stock goods, manage deliveries, and enjoy the tranquil, heart-warming stories you’ll uncover each day. InKonbini is set to release in early 2025.  

“When you’re an independent developer, your marketing resources are extremely limited, and finding a platform that enables efficient communication with the world of gaming media can be crucial,” says Dima Shen, Founder of Nagai Industries. “We at Nagai Industries have been extremely fortunate to join the selected group of developers allowed to present their projects at ID@Xbox and to have a chance of reaching a wider audience than we have ever aspired to. Not only that, but the way this initiative is designed and handled makes you feel at home right away, and this friendly attitude of everyone involved is what makes it a unique, memorable and an overall positive experience.” 

Brocula by Destroyer Doggo (India)

In Brocula , you’ll take on the role of a vampire awoken from a 500 year snooze with a mild problem – the world has changed entirely. You’ll navigate the daunting maze of capitalism to earn your way, and reap the fund to restore your ancestral caste, which is now owned by the town’s major. You can also start a cult! More details on Brocula are coming soon. 

“As a solo dev it is hard to manage different parts of the game dev cycle. The number of resources shared via ID@Xbox online sessions and webinars is just amazing,” says Prateek Jadhwani, Founder of Destroyer Doggo. “It gives you a new perspective on how much people are working (from the ID@Xbox team) in the background to make your game a success, whether it be in terms of helping you with marketing, development related queries or even helping new developers like me talk to studios who have launched successful titles. I am glad to be a partner at ID@Xbox. Thank you ID@Xbox team for all the help and support!”

Go-Go Town by Prideful Sloth (Australia)

Go-Go Town is a quirky, co-op city builder where you’ll take on the role as mayor of a rundown town. Team up with friends to build new shops and businesses, hire staff, but be prepared to take on a number of unpredictable catastrophes along the way. 

“We’re grateful for the opportunities and support ID@Xbox provides to developers around the world,” says Joel Styles, Co-Founder and Director of Prideful Sloth.  “Their recent digital showcase and GDC showcase events both allowed us to demonstrate Go-Go Town! to the press and public, letting us share our game alongside other amazing indie titles from around the world. These experiences not only help in getting our game noticed but also allow us to connect more deeply with the Xbox community and media. Big thanks to ID@Xbox for their support and love of indies!”

Still Wakes The Deep by The Chinese Room (UK)

Horror meets the harsh tides of Scotland in Still Wakes the Deep , a first-person narrative adventure that sees you navigating a collapsing oil rig. Here, you’ll battle with reality and unforeseen carnage as you attempt to save your crew from the depths of the freezing, dark North Sea. The title is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC and Game Pass on June 18.

“As creators, we want as many people as possible to play and complete our game,” says Rob McLachlan, Lead Designer at The Chinese Room. “ID@Xbox has already given us the platform and support to bring Still Wakes the Deep to new audiences, which has meant we could take our time and focus on delivering the exact game we set out to make without compromises.”

Nightscape by Mezan Studios (Qatar)

What happens when the sky loses its light? This is a query that Nightscape protagonist Layla asks, as she embarks on an enchanting journey to restore the stars. Layla will encounter puzzles and mysterious creatures as she explores a damaged, but atmospheric setting as she explores an ancient Arabian world.

“Our vision is to establish ourselves as a leading force in the game development landscape of the MENA region,” says Hamad K, Creative Director at Mezan Studios. “This ambition wouldn’t have been attainable without the invaluable trust and support extended by the remarkable team at ID@Xbox.

“Their genuine understanding of our objectives and empathetic engagement has been pivotal. Working with the Global Expansion Team not only facilitated our selection at Tribeca but also unlocked funding, mentorship opportunities, enhanced our credibility, and significantly boosted visibility for our debut project, Nightscape, which is currently under development. We are immensely excited and thankful to be on this transformative journey. Special shoutout to Chloé Giusti and Temi Afolabi who have been instrumental in getting us this far!”

Jump Ship by Keepsake Games (Sweden)

Take to the cosmos in Jump Ship , a mission-based PvE FPS where you’re in charge of your own spaceship. Spend time on the ship and get stuck into space battles or find a planet to land on and explore for those much-needed upgrades. 

“ ID@Xbox gave us the opportunity to fully reveal our debut game,” says Filip Coulianos, Game Director at Keepsake Games. “We’re grateful that Xbox allowed us to showcase Jump Ship alongside other great indie titles, and cannot wait to reveal more as we approach the release.”

Botany Manor by Balloon Studios (UK)

Botany Manor is a serene puzzle game that already bloomed into Xbox Series X|S earlier this week. Spend your days on the estate of retired botanist Arabella Greene and her vast collection of rare and interesting plants. To restore the grounds to their former glory, you’ll need to uncover notes and items scattered around the grounds for tips and clues that’ll help you bring these long-forgotten plants to life again. A perfect game for green thumbs. 

“For me personally, ID@Xbox gave me a huge confidence boost as creative director on Botany Manor ,” says Laure De Mey, Founder of Balloon Studios. “Being part of Game Pass, being included in showcases and having Xbox’s continuous support felt incredibly validating, and allowed me to really believe in the core vision of the game.”