asian tour golf indonesia

To have the best experience of the site, please use the most up to date version of this browser

Tournaments

{{tourn.full_name}}, 0">{{tourn.short_name}}, {{tourn.dic_dates}}, {{tourn.course}}, {{tourn.total_prize_fund}}.

{{event_name}}

Order of merit, {{topg.pos}}, {{topg.name}}.

Featured Content

{{post.title.rendered}}

Asian tour destinations, {{eventsponname}}.

Photo Gallery

Asian tour on twitter, asian tour on instagram.

Patience is a key element to success. 🙌 Sarit Suwannarut proved he can win in the right time not once but twice with his victories in Indonesia and China. Watch to find out more about the rising star from Thailand! Link in bio. #whereitsAT #Rolex ...

⛳ 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 🤝 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥💧 The Asian Tour’s ongoing mission to advocate sustainable practices has taken another important step forward today by announcing @bluewaterglobe as the ‘𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿’. Read more 👉 link in bio. #whereitsAT ...

An interview we did with @davidpuigcorrius last November, a month after he broke through for his maiden win in Singapore.🙌 Six months on, the 22-year-old is now a two-time winner on Tour who is set to make his @pgachampionship debut this week.💪🏻 Full video 👉 link in bio. #whereitsAT ...

Hongtaek Kim breaks into the top-10 on the Order of Merit after his victory at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship #whereitsAT ...

Ticket to the @pgachampionship ✔️ Two-time Asian Tour winner David Puig is set to make his #PGAChamp debut and second Major appearance at @valhallagolf next week!💪 ...

After failing to retain his playing rights in 2022 and missing out on regaining his card for two years in-a-row at the Qualifying School, Hongtaek Kim is finally a winner on the Asian Tour.😌 #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT ...

The winning moment for Hongtaek Kim, who rolled it in for par on the first play-off hole for his breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour. 🙌 #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT ...

Your final leaderboard from the 43rd GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship⛳🇰🇷 #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT ...

A memorable back-nine 31 for Hongtaek Kim to close with a commendable 69 amidst challenging conditions at Namseoul Country Club🙌 He went on to prevail on the first play-off hole for his first Asian Tour title at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open. #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT ...

The trophy stays in Korea 🇰🇷 Hongtaek Kim is your 2024 GS Caltex Maekyung Open champion! 🏆 #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT ...

Junghwan Lee, nicknamed ‘Ironman’ because of his strong iron play, birdied three of the last five holes to take the third-round lead in the GS Caltex #MaekyungOpen today to give himself a chance of improving upon his joint second place finish here last year. ⛳🙌 ...

How it stands with 18 holes left to play at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open ⛳ #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT ...

• Milano Cortina 2026
• Brisbane 2032
• Olympic Refuge Foundation
• Olympic Games
• Olympic Channel
• Let's Move

Indonesian Masters 2023 golf: Gaganjeet Bhullar wins 11th Asian Tour title

The Indian pro golfer carded 24-under to beat compatriot Karandeep Kochhar by five strokes and win his first title of the year.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar won his 11th Asian Tour title at the Indonesian Masters 2023 golf tournament, which concluded at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club on Sunday.

Bhullar carded 24-under 260 (63-67-63-67) after four rounds to finish five strokes ahead of compatriot Karandeep Kochhar, who had a bogey-free final day to finish 19-under (69-68-65-63) in the Indonesian capital.

It was Gaganjeet Bhullar’s first title of the year. His previous title came at the Indonesia Open last year. New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, who won the Hong Kong Open last week, was third with 18-under.

Gaganjeet Bhullar, an Asian Games silver medallist, teed off the golf meet with eight birdies on the opening day and led the leaderboard by two strokes. The Indian golfer led Canada’s Richard Lee by three strokes on the second day and increased his lead on top by seven strokes on the third day courtesy of nine birdies.

Though Bhullar hit two bogies on the fourth day, the 35-year-old had enough of the lead to see off the challenge from Karandeep Kochhar and sealed his victory with an eagle on the final hole.

The win also lifted Bhullar to eighth place on the final International Series order of merit and fourth on the Asian Tour. He was 46th before the start of the Indonesian Masters 2023 on the International Series order of merit.

Among the other Indian golfers, Veer Ahlawat was tied for third after three days but dropped to T-7 at the end of the final day with 14-under.

India’s Chikkarangappa S finished 12th, Rashid Khan T-36, Anirban Lahiri 67th, and Honey Baisoya T-68 among the players who made the cut for the final two rounds.

Related content

India's women golfers start to make presence felt

Golf rules: know how to play the sport and what birdies, bogies, eagles mean.

Indonesian Masters, Golf Scores

Lydia Ko headlines field for new $750,000 Indonesia golf event

Jakarta (AFP) – Major winners Lydia Ko and Kim Hyo-joo will be the star attractions when women's professional tour golf returns to Indonesia for the first time in a decade next month.

Issued on: 13/07/2022 - 05:44

World number five Ko of New Zealand and South Korea's eighth-ranked Kim will head a 40-player field for the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup, the first event in the country since the 2012 Indonesia Ladies Open.

They will compete over 54 holes of stroke play from August 18-20 for a total of $500,000 in individual prize money at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, the Ladies Asian Tour announced.

Their scores will also count towards a team event, where an additional $250,000 purse is up for grabs for 20 two-player teams formed from 15 golf associations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Other leading players taking part include six-time winner on the LPGA Tour Ryo So-yeon of South Korea, 21-time Japan LPGA Tour winner Lee Bo-mee and up-and-coming Yealimi Noh of the United States, who placed third at the Evian Championship in France last year.

Hong Kong's sole representative on the LPGA Tour, double Olympian Tiffany Chan, has also signed up.

The Asia Pacific Cup is part of the ambitious new money-spinning Ladies Asian Tour Series of tournaments that began last month and will include events in South Korea in September and Singapore in December.

The circuit aims to expand to seven tournaments in Asia in 2023 and 10 for the 2024 season.

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.

• +84 383 704 989
• Resign – Login

• Golf Travel News

ADT welcomes back Indonesia Pro-Am

Related Posts

Black mountain golf club, legend danang golf resort, denwit’s diary.

• Pavit holds fast in Phuket thriller.
• Golf Service

Enquire Now

Advertisement

Lydia ko talks engagement, future plans ahead of inaugural simone asia pacific cup in indonesia, share this article.

World No. 4 Lydia Ko headlines the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Indonesia this week. With the LPGA off, a number of star players are competing on the LET in Spain as well as the new Ladies Asian Tour in Jakarta. Ko, 25, talked about her upcoming nuptials ahead of the event.

Reports began circulating earlier this summer that Ko was engaged to boyfriend Chung Jun. In Jakarata, the former No. 1 confirmed the engagement and said a wedding wouldn’t slow down her career.

“I don’t think there will be many changes to my schedule,” Ko said in a release. “I’m really thankful for my fiancé and my family who have been super supportive. As much as I want it, they also want me to finish my career well at the time I want to.

“As a golfer and person, I’m thankful and gives me lots of motivation to work hard when I’m competing and enjoying my time off as well. Getting married is not going to change my schedule, and it’s going to remain the same.”

The New Zealand Herald reports that Chung is the son of Ted Chung, vice chairman and CEO, Hyundai Card, Hyundai Commercial.

Joining Ko in the field are fellow major winners Hyo Joo Kim, Hinako Shibuno and So Yeon Ryu. The field of 44 will compete on the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta for a $750,000 purse.

The event is part of the new Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series, which kicked off in June with the DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open. The LAT Series aims to stage seven tournaments across the Asia Pacific region in 2023, with plans to expand to 10 events in 2024. The new tour was established by the Asian Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF).

“We haven’t really had the chance to play in Asia after turning professional,” said Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan. “Everyone is either trying to play in the States, Europe or any other tour,” said Chan during the pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday.

“For myself, I did play a lot on the China Tour, Taiwan LPGA and every single Asian Tour event in all the countries. We are finally seeing women’s golf growing in Asia.”

Most Popular

Golfweek's best 2024: top public-access golf courses in every state, ranked, golfweek's best 2024: top private golf courses in every state, ranked, rickie fowler, jordan spieth, wyndham clark among the notables to miss the cut at 2024 memorial, thursday was for the flushers at the 2024 memorial tournament — here's everything you need to know from the first round, best golf bucket hats for 2024, 2024 u.s. open: photos and stats for every hole at pinehurst no. 2, heading to pinehurst for the 2024 u.s. open here are 11 premium rentals still available.

Welcome to the all new Asia Golf Guide

“Dear Fellow Golfer,

As a long-term resident of Southeast Asia, I have now become a veteran beneficiary of its incredible culture, welcoming people, delicious cuisine, unique landscapes, and near-perfect weather.

I’ve also had the pleasure of observing the region’s evolution into one of the world’s greatest golf destinations. Indeed, I take great pride in the small but – dare I say it – vital role that Golfasian has played in putting Southeast Asia firmly on the map for visiting golfers.

When Golfasian started bringing clients over here back in 1997 there were but a handful of international standard golf clubs in the area. Fast forward to the present and we are blessed with a plethora of playing riches, with some of the greatest courses in the world scattered throughout the region.

Here’s hoping that you take inspiration from our Asia Golf Guide and that you let Golfasian guide you through a true golfing paradise that keeps getting better!

Yours truly”

Destinations

Our recommended southeast asia golf courses:, thailand, vietnam, cambodia, indonesia, malaysia, and philippines..

- Nikanti Golf Club -

- Aquella Golf & Country Club -

- Ba Na Hills Golf Club -

- Angkor Golf Resort -

- Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club -

- New Kuta Golf -

Golfasian Co., Ltd.

Contact info.

• [email protected]
• +66 (0) 2 714 8470

Hours of Operation

• Mon - Fri : 09:00am - 06:00pm
• Sat - Sun : Closed
• We are Online Chat with us 24/7
• Privacy Policy

Download the Asia Golf Guide for Free

🏌️‍♂️ Ready to Tee Off in Asia? 🌏

Unlock the secrets of golf travel in Asia with our exclusive Asia Golf Guide! Filled with insider tips, course reviews, travel recommendations, and much more, this guide is your passport to the ultimate golfing adventure.

Subscribe now and download the Asia Golf Guide for FREE! Explore fascinating destinations, discover hidden gems, and elevate your golf travel experience.

• Name First Last
• Email * Enter Email Confirm Email
• Nationality Select Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati North Korea South Korea Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Martin Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Contact Form

+66 84 704 3344

Home » Golf Holidays » Indonesia

Indonesia Golf Holiday Packages & Tours | Play Golf in Indonesia

Indonesia golf information, select a destination for your indonesia golf holiday.

Indonesia Golf Holiday Tour Samples:

Bali golf break - 4d/3n.

Ria Bintan Stay & Play Package - 2D/1N

Jakarta City Golf Package - 5D/4N

One Week Bali Golf Package - 7D/6N

Bandung Golf Holiday Package - 5D/4N

Click the individual golf course below for detailed information:

• Ahmad Yani Golf Club
• Bali Beach Golf Course
• Bali National Golf Club
• Bandung Indah Golf & Country Club
• Batam Hills Golf Resort
• Batam Island Golf & Country Club
• Bintan Lagoon Golf Club, Seaview Course
• Bintan Lagoon Golf Club, Woodlands Course
• Black Rocks Hotel & Golf Club Belitung
• Borobudur International Golf & Country Club
• Bukit Darmo Golf
• Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club
• Cengkareng Golf Club
• Ciputra Golf Club & Hotel Surabaya
• Dago Endah Golf & Country Club
• Damai Indah Golf, Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) Course
• Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) Course
• Emeralda Golf Club
• Finna Golf & Country Club Resort
• Golf Graha Famili & Country Club
• Gunung Geulis Country Club
• Handara Golf & Resort Bali
• Imperial Klub Golf
• Indah Puri Golf Resort
• Jagorawi Golf & Country Club
• Jatinangor Golf & Resort
• Klub Golf Bogor Raya
• Laguna Golf Bintan
• Merapi Golf Yogyakarta
• Mountain View Golf Club
• New Kuta Golf
• Nirwana Bali Golf Club
• Padang Golf Sukajadi
• Pakuwon Golf & Family Club
• Palm Springs Golf & Country Club
• Parahyangan Golf Bandung
• Pondok Indah Golf Course
• Rainbow Hills Golf Club
• Rancamaya Golf & Country Club
• Ria Bintan Golf Club
• Riverside Golf Club
• Royale Jakarta Golf Club
• Sedayu Indo Golf
• Senayan National Golf Club
• Sentul Highlands Golf Club
• Southlinks Country Club
• Suvarna Jakarta Golf Club
• Taman Dayu Golf Club & Resort

These may interest you:

• Special Offers

Sign up for the latest Asian Golf News

Get the latest green-fee & golf holiday deals.

Golf Hotline (9am - 6pm)

Telephone thailand.

+66 (0) 2 714 8470

1-866-550-2284

Contact us via

Golfasian is a proud member of.

Tourism Authority of Thailand

License No.: 14/00515

Association of Thai Travel Agents

Member No.: 02812

International Association of Golf Tour Operators

Member No.: 2108

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

79-302/2011 / TCDL-GP LHOT

Member No.: 153

AMCHAM Thailand

Member No.: 5008

World Golf Awards

Multi-Award Winner

Asian Golf Award

Asia Pacific Golf Tourism Pioneer Award

Golf in a Kingdom

The Thailand Golf Experience

Golf Coast Vietnam

Golf a Legendary Shore

Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail

Official Tour Operator Partner

Bali Golf Paradise

A Golfer's Paradise

Interact with Golfasian:

Golf Holidays

Golf courses, golf services, golf information.

Privacy Policy

Day 1 : Arrival at Danang airport and transfer to hotel, transfer to hotel

Day 2 : Golf at Legend Da Nang Golf Resort, Norman Course (excellent links golf in SE Asia) including cart (sharing) and caddie

Day 3 : Golf at Ba Na Hills Golf Club (mountainous Luke Donald design) including cart (sharing) and caddie

Day 4 : Excursion: Half Day Hoi An Walking Tour

Day 5 : Golf at Hoiana Shores Golf Club (world-class Robert Trent Jones Jr. II course) including cart (sharing) and caddie

Day 6 : Departure

Package Including:

— 3 rounds of golf in Danang — 5 nights’ accommodation in Danang — Daily breakfast — Excursions as indicated in the itinerary — One caddie per golfer at each golf course — Golf carts, as mentioned in the itinerary — All airport, land, and golf course transfers — Meet & Greet on arrival — All transfers by private VIP high-top touring van or sedan — Daily drinking water — 24/7 golf hotline staffed by knowledgeable service personnel — Local knowledge, expertise, suggestions, and support throughout the trip — All taxes and compulsory service charges

Package Excluding: — Airfare, airport taxes, visa fees — Personal items, meals (other than those mentioned), gratuities

Net Tour Operator Pricing (based on a minimum of 4 golfers traveling together):

Package A: Accommodation in Danang at the 5* Pullman Danang Beach Resort / Superior Room

— Price per golfer, twin sharing = USD 1,155

— Price per golfer, single room = USD 1,645

Package B: Accommodation in Danang at the 4.5* Novotel Danang Premier Han River / Superior Room

— Price per golfer, twin sharing = USD 970

— Price per golfer, single room = USD 1,275

Package C: Accommodation in Danang at the 4.5* Risemount Premier Resort Danang / Deluxe Room

— Price per golfer, twin sharing = USD 840

— Price per golfer, single room = USD 1,020

Package D: Accommodation in Danang at the 4* Chicland Hotel / Superior Room with Balcony

— Price per golfer, twin sharing = USD 865

— Price per golfer, single room = USD 1,070

Notes/Terms:

— Offer subject to hotel and golf course availability — Pricing valid for bookings confirmed by  — Terms: 25% deposit due at time of booking confirmation with balance due one month before arrival — Payment by bank transfer (Credit cards extra 3.5% fees)

Learn How to Plan Your Golf Holiday to Asia...

Want to put together an unforgettable Asian golf holiday? Learn everything needed with this FREE 6-step trip planner.

Celebrating 10 years of Hideki Matsuyama magic

Change Text Size

Brian Harman, the reigning Open champion, tells a funny tale of how he and fellow PGA TOUR winner Matt Every made a poor error in judgement on a young Asian golfer more than a decade ago. In contrast, Jack Nicklaus, holder of a record 18 major victories, knew the golf world was in for a special treat with the emergence of a rising star.

Paired together in the opening two rounds of the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii alongside one of several Japanese sponsor exemptions that week, Harman’s first impression was similar to Every’s thoughts – “Don’t think this kid’s got it.”

“So we're playing with this kid, and he's very nervous and there are photographers all over the place," said Harman. "He dribbled a couple off the tee boxes and Matt and I made the comment, don't think this kid's got it. He's like nervous beyond all belief. Missed the cut. Didn't play good at all. Don't think this guy is gonna make it … Hideki Matsuyama."

Yup, the very same Hideki Matsuyama, who is now Asia’s winningest golfer on the PGA TOUR with nine career victories to date – four more than Harman and Every combined – and the proud owner of a green jacket following a historic triumph at the 2021 Masters Tournament.

“So Matt and I would joke about that," Harman laughed. "Yeah, we missed on that one.”

This week marks Matsuyama’s 10 th anniversary of his maiden PGA TOUR victory at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, an event hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. The octogenarian vividly remembers Matsuyama’s glorious march to victory at Muirfield Village and how he instantly liked what he saw.

“When he won, I said, he's going to win a lot of golf tournaments and he's going win some majors,” said Nicklaus. “He was a good player before he got here, obviously, or he wouldn't have been here. I knew that, we all knew that,” added the 84-year-old on Matsuyama, who was a two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur champion before turning professional.

Hideki Matsuyama breaks through with first TOUR win at the Memorial

During his prime, Nicklaus, winner of 73 PGA TOUR victories, battled against Japanese top golfers including Isao Aoki, Jumbo Ozaki and Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki but he rates Matsuyama as the “best of the bunch.” The Golden Bear marvels especially at how Matsuyama has established himself in the U.S. despite challenges with the language barrier, along with food and cultural differences.

“It's pretty difficult for someone, particularly coming from a country where the language is difficult and basically live and play here all year long," said Nicklaus. "He's done really well, he's won the Masters, won several other tournaments. He's going to win more majors. He's just too good a player.”

From the career breakthrough at Nicklaus’s tournament, Matsuyama has since cemented his stature as Asia’s most decorated golfer. A stunning victory at the Tiger Woods-hosted Genesis Invitational in February, where he closed with a final round 62 at Riviera to overcome a six-shot deficit and win by three, saw him break a tie with Korea’s K.J. Choi at eight titles. As of this week, the 32-year-old Matsuyama has also enjoyed seven runner-up finishes and 60 top-10 outings from 255 official starts. This tallies to over $50 million in career earnings, ranking him 12 th in the all-time earnings list on the PGA TOUR.

Hideki Matsuyama’s Round 4 highlights from Genesis

After being tasked with the responsibility to take Matsuyama under his wing at the 2013 Presidents Cup where they partnered across four matches, Australia’s Adam Scott became a life-long admirer of Matsuyama’s success and influence on the game in Japan. The 43-year-old Scott, a 14-time PGA TOUR winner, had a front row seat when Matsuyama prevailed at Muirfield Village as they were paired together in the final round.

“I was pulling for him as soon as it was like, Adam, you're not going to win today with a few holes to go," Scott recalled. "I really wanted to see Hideki take that step and win a big one. So he played great down the stretch and got it done. It was his time."

Time did not stand still as Matsuyama went on to win twice in each of 2016 and 2017, and rose to a career high No. 2 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Back and neck injuries slowed down his march until Matsuyama saw green at Augusta National when he claimed a momentous triumph at the 2021 Masters Tournament, making him the first Japanese male major champion. Such was the magnitude of the moment that the Japanese government used its national alert system, usually activated for natural disasters and emergency warnings, to send out a notice of congratulations after Matsuyama holed his final putt.

Japanese fans react to Hideki Matsuyama’s Masters victory

Like Tiger Woods, Matsuyama’s rise to sporting fame meant that every shot and stride taken on the golf course is closely followed by Japanese media, which Scott appreciates the weight of expectations that Matsuyama has to carry for a golf-mad nation. “He's dealt with a lot of pressure from this country really well,” said Scott.

“And even though I'm sure he wants to achieve more, I think his achievements are really phenomenal," Scott added. "His consistency, I think, is probably a little overlooked these days. You know how well he's played these first 10 years of his career, year after year, and of course, resulting in a big win, winning the Masters and being the first Japanese to do that is a massive thing. Hideki is one of the biggest sports stars in Japan. He’s a needle mover, and, as they should be so proud of him and what he's been doing.”

There is a stroke of good fortune involved in Matsuyama’s climb from his amateur days to the play-for-pay ranks. When he lifted the first of two Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship titles in 2010, he initially wasn’t part of the Japanese squad but as the event was being staged in Saitama, the host nation was granted four additional spots, one of which Matsuyama got. “I was very fortunate to receive one of the additional invitations," he said. "Winning the 2010 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was life changing."

Matsuyama’s ascension has no doubt been one of golf’s feel-good stories for Asian sports, and his journey tracks back to the early days when his father, Mikio, first put a club in his hands as a child. Many believe his nine PGA TOUR victories feels like he is now making the turn in what is already an illustrious career, which also features eight Japan Golf Tour titles.

The stunning 62 fired at The Genesis Invitational wasn’t his lowest final round score en route to a famous victory. At Firestone in 2017, he lit up the golf course with a birdie-fest 61 to lift a second World Golf Championships title, a moment which made Tokyo Olympic Games gold medalist, Xander Schauffele, sit up and take notice of Matsuyama’s prodigious talents.

Hideki Matsuyama shoots 61 en route to victory at Bridgestone

“I think the first time I was sort of like, ‘holy smokes, this guy is unbelievable’ is when he shot like 61 at Firestone," said Schauffele. "I remember sitting there with Austin (his caddie) and saying, like, we thought like 68 was a good round. But he shot 61. He just works his butt off, has a good team around him, and he keeps his head down and trucks through all the pressure and expectations and all those things that come with being a top player."

While Matsuyama is tipped to add to his silverware collection, the trickle effect in the Japanese golf culture where youngsters look up to him as a “senpai”, or mentor, has been gathering momentum. Isao Aoki, the first golfer from Japan to win on the PGA TOUR in 1983, anticipates his heroics will inspire a new era for the country, which has seen the emergence of rising talents such as Ryo Hisatsune, Keita Nakajima, Taiga Semikawa and Takumi Kanaya. “It's the beginning of a new era and I am sure there will be a lot of golfers who'd like to follow in Matsuyama's steps,” Aoki predicts.

Isao Aoki cards eagle to win 1983 Hawaiian Open

Shigeki Maruyama, a three-time PGA TOUR winner, added: “I was able to make it to the PGA TOUR because I saw Aoki-san win the Hawaiian Open when I was a kid, and I wanted to be like him. Aoki-san hadn't won in mainland U.S., which I was able to accomplish. History gets better little by little. Now that Hideki has won a major title, I'm convinced one of younger golfers who gets motivated by him will become the next major champion from Japan some day. I'm expecting Hideki to stack up more wins going forward, inspiring Japanese golfers to dream even bigger. I think he's capable of winning 10 or even 15 tournaments.”

One of the many Japan’s young talents who has been driven by Matsuyama’s success is Keita Nakajima, who is on track to play his way onto the PGA TOUR via the DP World Tour which rewards the top-10 non-exempt players with dual memberships with the PGA TOUR. “Ten years ago, I was only 14 and I watched him win the (Memorial) tournament and that made me really want to play with him on the PGA TOUR,” said Nakajima, a former World Amateur No. 1 and currently ranked 16 th on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings.

Keita Nakajima watches Hideki Matsuyama win Sony Open

Despite the adoration and fame, Matsuyama has chosen to stay out of the spotlight whenever he is not showcasing his tenacity and talents inside the ropes while fighting for tournament wins to bring glory and honour to his native country. He remains modest of his successes, and prefers to use it as fuel to push forward instead.

“I just want to work hard and play well, rather than think about what I had done,” said Matsuyama. “My life has changed gradually after being on TOUR for 10 years. In that sense, it is fulfilling right now. I want to keep working hard for another 10 or 20 years.

“When I see some younger players playing well on the global stage now, I feel like they believe they can also win, which is very important to me. At the same time, I want to work hard to win more majors and it would be great if we could compete against each other for a championship someday.

“I am just fortunate my hard work has paid off, so there are no secrets.”

The Memorial presented by Workday

Muirfield Village Golf Club

U.S. Women's Open 2024

U.S. Women's Open contender makes jaw-dropping admission about how she handles pressure

Wichanee Meechai reacts to her putt on the 11th green during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open.

Sarah Stier

Wichanee Meechai finds herself navigating uncharted waters at the U.S. Women's Open, where the eight-year LPGA Tour veteran is in a thrilling three-way tie for the lead alongside LPGA winners Minjee Lee and Andrea Lee at five under. On Saturday, the Thai displayed remarkable poise under pressure, shooting an impressive one-under 69 at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club despite battling what sounds like at time near-body-paralyzing nerves.

"It [being in contention] makes me cannot focus anything," Meechai said. "My brain just stop working. It just like go outside and then just flat. I don't know how to stay it in English, but it's like blank. It's like when you have a lot of pressure you cannot think about anything. You cannot feel your body. You cannot feel your brain. You cannot feel your hands. So I just hate it.

"But you're not going to be able to get rid of it. I think the best part for the three rounds for me, it's like I kind of managed to get along with the pressure. I think that's the best part of the three rounds."

MORE: Three very different golfers contending in the U.S. Women's Open

Meechai's track record doesn't fit your typical U.S. Women's Open contender profile. The 158th-ranked player in the Rolex Women's World Rankings qualified for the championship in early May, and qualifiers rarely win the major. Birdie Kim was the last to do so in 2005. The 31-year-old has never won on the LPGA before, nor has a single top-10 at a major in her career. She had not been within two shots of the lead in her career going into the final round of an LPGA tournament until this week.

Meechai has had a journeywoman career on tour, returning to qualifying school twice in 2017 and 2019 to save her card. Meechai's best season came three years ago when she notched her best career finish of T-5 at the Pure Silk Championship. Her best career major result came the same season at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (T-12). She finished 57th on the LPGA's money list ($406,770.) The $75,343 paycheck from the major is the most money she has made at an event over her LPGA career.

More From Golf Digest

Meechai is more used to faltering when in contention than succeeding, as she explained she feared repeating her 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship performance this week. At Baltusrol last year, Meechai sat two off the lead with an opening 68. She carded a second-round 80 to miss the cut by a shot and cried in frustration.

"I never think that I'm going to be on the leaderboard or something like that," Meechai said. "But it's great. It feels really good."

Instead of struggling, Meechai is impressively in the top five in strokes gained/approach (third) and SG/putting (fourth) this week with three under-par rounds of 69-67-69 at the par-70 layout.

While Thai golf has risen on the LPGA over the past decade, with Ariya Jutanugarn and Patty Tavatanakit becoming major champions and Atthaya Thitikul becoming the second No. 1 from the nation, Meechai has generally been an affable background character. She went to San Francisco for the 2023 International Crown simply as a spectator and watched her compatriots win at TPC Harding Park.

"I feel so glad that I'm the oldest, kind of oldest in the group right now, like Thai people, and they have a lot of respect on me," Meechai said. "So I'm trying to act pretty cool, to be big sister for them, so I'm kind of proud."

Even amidst sleeping alongside what she believes is a ghost in the house she's staying at near Lancaster Country Club, what kept Meechai awake was contending at the championship. She shared on Golf Channel after the third round that she woke up Saturday around 3:30 a.m., fearing that she had finished playing and had forgotten to sign her scorecard.

"Every time that I sign the scorecard, I'm just like, ‘Is it two signatures?’" Meechai said with a laugh. " Doing like that all the time. So I think it's in very deep in my brain right now."

A victory and its $2.4 million winner's prize would earn Meechai nearly $1 million more than her total career earnings ($1.4 million). With the tournament and its pressure deeply ingrained in her body through 54 holes and its high stakes for her career, Meechai reminds herself of one thing. The event is nothing to be afraid of.

"The golf course is right there," Meechai said. "Everyone just had the same thing. So it's just another round of the tournament. Just go with it and then have fun on the course."

More from Golf Digest

Trending now.

The Straits Times

• International
• Print Edition
• news with benefits
• SPH Rewards
• STClassifieds
• Berita Harian
• Hardwarezone
• Shin Min Daily News
• Tamil Murasu
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe Zaobao
• Advertise with us

Celebrating 10 years of Hideki Matsuyama magic on golf’s PGA Tour

Chuah Choo Chiang

Brian Harman, the reigning British Open champion, tells a funny tale of how he and fellow PGA Tour winner Matt Every made a poor error in judging a young Asian golfer more than a decade ago. In contrast, Jack Nicklaus, holder of a record 18 Major victories, knew the golf world was in for a special treat with the emergence of a rising star.

Paired together in the opening two rounds of the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii alongside one of several Japanese sponsor exemptions that week, Harman’s first impression was similar to Every’s thoughts – “Don’t think this kid’s got it”.

Harman said: “So we’re playing with this kid, and there are photographers all over the place. He dribbled a couple off the tee boxes and Matt and I made the comment, ‘don’t think this kid’s got it’. He’s like nervous beyond all belief. Missed the cut. Didn’t play good at all… Hideki Matsuyama.”

Yes, the very same Hideki Matsuyama, who is now Asia’s winningest golfer on the PGA Tour with nine career victories – four more than Harman and Every combined – and a proud owner of a Green Jacket following a historic triumph at the 2021 Masters. “So Matt and I would joke about that. Yeah, we missed on that one,” Harman laughed.

This week marks Matsuyama’s 10th anniversary of his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Memorial Tournament in 2014, an event hosted by golf legend Nicklaus. The octogenarian remembers vividly Matsuyama’s glorious march to victory at Muirfield Village.

“When he won, I said, he’s going to win a lot of golf tournaments,” said Nicklaus, 84.

During his prime, Nicklaus, winner of 73 PGA Tour titles, battled against Japanese top golfers including Isao Aoki, Jumbo Ozaki and Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki but rates Matsuyama as the “best of the bunch”. He marvels especially at how Matsuyama has established himself in the United States, despite challenges with language, along with food and cultural differences.

He added: “He’s done really well, he’s won the Masters, won several other tournaments. He’s going to win more Majors. He’s just too good a player.”

From the breakthrough a decade ago, Matsuyama has since cemented his stature as Asia’s most decorated golfer. A stunning victory at the Tiger Woods-hosted Genesis Invitational in February, where he closed with a 62 at Riviera to overcome a six-shot deficit and win by three, saw him break a tie with South Korea’s K.J. Choi at eight wins.

As of this week, the 32-year-old has also enjoyed seven runner-up finishes and a staggering 40 top-5 finishes from 254 official starts. He has over US$50 million (S$67.4 million) in career earnings, ranking him 12th in the all-time earnings list on tour.

Australia’s Adam Scott has since become a life-long admirer of Matsuyama’s success and influence on the game in Japan and across Asia, after being tasked with taking Matsuyama under his wing at the 2013 Presidents Cup, where they partnered in four matches.

Scott, 43 said: “He’s dealt with a lot of pressure really well. I think his achievements are phenomenal. His consistency is probably a little overlooked. He’s a needle mover, and (Japan) should be so proud of him and what he’s been doing.”

Aoki, the first golfer from Japan to win on the tour in 1983, said Matsuyama’s heroics will inspire a new era for the country, which has seen the emergence of Ryo Hisatsune, Keita Nakajima, Taiga Semikawa and Takumi Kanaya.

Despite the adoration and fame, Matsuyama prefers to stay out of the spotlight, saying: “I just want to work hard and play well, rather than think about what I had done...

“I want to work hard to win more Majors and it would be great if we could compete against each other (Japanese golfers) for a championship someday. I am just fortunate my hard work has paid off, so there are no secrets.”

• Chuah Choo Chiang is senior director, marketing and communications – APAC, for the PGA Tour and is based in Malaysia. Fans can watch Matsuyama and golfers on the PGA Tour on Mola and DAZN.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

• Golf tournaments
• Golf players
• Masters Tournament

Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards

Spin the wheel now