Q-School graduate Broberg finally ready for the big time at International Series Oman

                                    

Kristoffer Broberg makes his eagerly awaited debut on both The International Series and the Asian Tour this week after securing his card at the start of the season, and the Q-School graduate is relieved to be finally making things happen at the stunning Al Mouj Golf course in Oman after a minor delay to proceedings. The Swede secured his card in January thanks to a sensational display at Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, where three eagles on two, 12 and 18 helped him to a stunning victory and one of 35 cards on the Asian Tour for the season.

Family illness prevented the 35-year-old from making his debut last weekend at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open. But he’s back and eager to take on a world-class field that features LIV Golf rising star David Puig, last week’s champion in Kuala Lumpur, and Joaquin Niemann, the Torque GC captain who fired an incredible 59 on his way to victory at the LIV Golf Mayakoba at the start of the season. Other golfing heavyweights in the field this week include Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, as well as Puig’s Spanish compatriot and Fireballs GC team-mate Eugenio Chacarra, a winner on The International Series at the St Andrews Bay Championship in Scotland last season. Broberg is eager to get going after trading the long Swedish winter for some welcome Omani sun, despite having less than ideal preparation for his big debut. A Swede, a winner on the BMW Masters in 2015 and the Dutch Open in 2021, explained: “I was supposed to play in Malaysia last weekend but my daughter got sick at Kindergarten, and I didn’t want to travel in case I was carrying the bug, so I waited at home. “I have taken three days in Dubai trying to practice, but otherwise I have been indoors (in Sweden). I flew back the same night I won it (Q-School) and I haven’t been outdoors since! But my game felt pretty good. “I don’t have any expectations. I will take it one shot at a time – golf is golf and you never know. You can hit bad shots and make a long putt, and hit some great shots and miss the easy putt.”

While Broberg is philosophical about his own game, he’s under no illusions about the strength of the field assembling for the first event on The International Series, the Asian Tour-sanctioned pathway onto the LIV Golf League. The winner of this season’s rankings on The International Series will earn a direct spot on the LIV Golf League roster, following in the footsteps of 2022 and 2023 champions Scott Vincent and Andy Ogletree, who earned lucrative, life-changing spots on Iron Heads GC and HyFlyers GC respectively. That carrot has attracted the cream of the Asian Tour, with Gaganjeet Bhullar, Ben Campbell and Sarit Suwannarut, all champions on The International Series last season, in the field vying for top spot on the 2024 rankings alongside reigning International Series Oman champion Takumi Kanaya. Other Asian Tour favourites include Taichi Kho, Broberg’s fellow Q-School graduate John Catlin and Denwit Boriboonsub, a three-time winner at the end of last season. All three showed real promise last week in Malaysia. Broberg said: “It’s great to see such a strong field - good for the Asian Tour to have all the best players compete. When you can play against top talent, you get to see where you stand on your level and it will be great to compete against those guys. I think it is amazing these guys have come to play.” For more information on International Series Oman, click here.

Kanaya on threshold of first overseas victory at International Series Oman

 

  

Takumi Kanaya continued to put together one of his most impressive performances outside of Japan today when he took the third-round lead in the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf.   The Japanese star led at the start of the day by one shot from compatriot Ryo Hisatsune and that is how it finished today after they both returned five-under-par 67s. Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, such an ever-present name on the leaderboard for the past year on the Asian Tour, also shot 67 to sit in third place, three back from the leader.   Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann from Chile moved ominously into fourth, four off top spot, after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.   Kanaya showed why so much is expected of him today with an exceptional round that showed he is comfortable leading from the front. Enjoying calmer conditions compared with the strong winds of Friday, the 24 year old moved to nine under for the tournament, helped by a brilliant run of four birdies in five holes from the eighth. He made six birdies in total and just one bogey.   Surprisingly he missed a four-foot putt for birdie on 17 and another makeable birdie putt on the last. “I feel good, it is because this course really suits me,” said Kanaya. “I am able to play my shots, find the fairways, and find the greens. Will just take it shot by shot tomorrow.”

The Japanese star, with the distinctive golf swing and quick follow through, has won three times on the Japan Tour – the 2019 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters, as an amateur, the 2020 Dunlop Phoenix and the Token Homemate Cup in 2020 – but is looking for his maiden professional title overseas.   He was one of his country’s most successful amateurs having claimed the 2015 Japan Amateur, the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2018, and the team gold medal at the Asian Games that year. He was also ranked first on the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 55 weeks.   Hisatsune, who is looking for his first big Tour win, is four years younger than Kanaya and looking forward to playing with his decorated compatriot tomorrow. He said: “Yeah, I respect my older friend, we’re both Japanese and I'm so happy to play with him.  Yeah, so happy to get both of us playing together and making a lot of birdies. Today was great, I feel like I was smart in my game management.”   Sadom was fourth in last week’s season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and will no doubt be a threat tomorrow. “Today was pretty good for me, I hit more fairways than the last two rounds,” said the Thai star, whose last win on the Asian Tour was the Singapore Open at the beginning of last year.   “I missed only one fairway today and I had many chances to make birdie. I played solid and my putting was also good today. Today I think it was easier, because yesterday the wind was strong and it was hard to hit the greens and today I think my putting was much better than yesterday and that was the key.”   Garcia bounced back well today after yesterday’s 76 – which considering the windy conditions was more like par for the course. “Obviously, today it was windy, but it wasn’t as windy as yesterday,” said Garcia.   “Yesterday a couple of holes kind of killed my round really. Other than that, I felt good. I played nicely today, gave myself a lot of chances. Made some really good putts, some went in, and some lipped out but really happy. It was important to put a good score out there today to have a chance tomorrow.”   A six-time winner on the Asian Tour, he is trying to win for the first time on the circuit since the 2018 Singapore Open. He added: “I don’t know, we will see. It is going to depend a bit on the weather and whether the wind picks up. We will see what the leaders finish tonight, it is looking like I could be two or three shots behind, so it is definitely going to take another good round. Hopefully I can shoot another good one and we will see what happens.”   Two-time Australian Open champion Matt Jones fired a 67 to finish on three under to give himself an outside chance on Sunday.  The Australian is an expert playing in the wind and will hope for it to blow tomorrow.

**Image Caption:  MUSCAT, OMAN; Takumi Kanaya of Japan pictured during Round Three on Saturday February 11, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Japan’s Kanaya beats the breeze to hold halfway lead in Oman

                   

  

Takumi Kanaya, one of Japan’s most exciting young prospects, made the most of slightly easier conditions in the morning to take the halfway lead in the US$2 million International Series Oman today.   The world’s former number one ranked amateur shot a one-under-par 71 to reach four under par for the tournament, an unassailable lead with the wind getting progressively stronger and blowing the field off course at Al Mouj Golf.   Another up and coming Japanese player Ryo Hisatsune, who also competed in the morning, is one shot back after carding a 70. They were two of only nine players to break par on a truly testing day.   Scores soared in the afternoon with wind speeds close to 30 km per hour at times – in what is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and the first of 10 International Series tournaments.   Canada’s Yonggu Shin, who led after the opening round with a 66, came in with a 76 to share third with Chilean Joaquin Niemann, Australia’s Zach Murray and Berry Henson from the United States.   Niemann showed his class by firing a 70 in the afternoon while Murray and Henson, who also played later, returned rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.   Kanaya is known for being a precision iron player and had to rely on that and more in order to overcome today’s turbulent conditions. “Today was a tough day, the breeze was very strong. But yeah, I’m feeling great, I shot 71 and that’s good score,” said Kanaya.   “I like ball control, it’s my favorite, so yeah I have a chance. Two more days so I will do my best.”   The 24-year-old turned professional two years ago after a sensational amateur career, which saw him ranked the number one amateur in the world for 55 weeks, during which time he won the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Tour. He has since triumphed twice on that Tour as a professional, most noticeably at the prestigious Dunlop Phoenix in 2020.   He traded four birdies against three bogeys, while Hisatsune made six birdies and four bogeys.

Hisatsune is also another of his country’s great hopes trying to make an impression internationally. He also joined the professional game three years ago and won three titles on Japan’s secondary circuit in 2021.   He said: “It was so tough even though I had an early start, but for me it’s so windy. I made a lot of clutch putts today and I made birdies on every par three, so I’m very happy with the game.   “My strong point is the driver, like I hit almost every fairway so that makes it easier to hit the second shots. But it was so difficult in this wind.”   Yonggu Shin failed to make a birdie today but is still very much in contention. “It is a totally different course compared to yesterday,” said the Canadian. “I knew the wind was gonna pick up, definitely going to be tough, but the pins are also tough today. I mean, greens are firmer than yesterday, obviously I was playing in the morning yesterday, this afternoon the pins were very difficult out there especially with this wind.”   Niemann has put himself in a strong position heading into the weekend and will be one of the favourites with a style of play capable of handling the wind. He said: “It was a really good round. I played really well. I probably could have actually scored even better but there were a couple of short putts I missed. Very happy though, conditions were tough so can’t complain with two under. The wind was blowing, the greens were firm so I’m happy.”   He was paired with Spaniard Sergio Garcia today, a close friend. “You want to see him [Sergio] playing well, as well as yourself so it is always fun playing with Sergio,” said Niemann. “We have played a lot of practice rounds together but it is nice to have tournament rounds as it is different to practice rounds. He didn’t play his best golf today but Sergio is Sergio, so I need to keep an eye on him over the weekend!”   Garcia made triple on the fourth hole and worked hard to stay in the hunt but shot a 76 and is three off the lead along with Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat (71), Australian Todd Sinnott (73), American Andy Ogletree (75), and Sadom Kaewkanjana (76) from Thailand.

Image Caption:    MUSCAT, Oman: Takumi Kanaya of Japan pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 ahead of The International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf Club. The US$2 million golf tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023 at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Pereira and Ogletree believe International Series offers life-changing opportunity

  

 

American Andy Ogletree and Chilean Mito Pereira believe the International Series offers a ‘life-changing’ opportunity to golfers throughout Asia and beyond, having been impressed by the opening event of 2023 at Al Mouj Golf in Oman.   The elevated series forms part of the Asian Tour schedule, with the 10 International Series events spread across Asia, Europe and the Middle East throughout the year, with every tournament offering a prize purse of US$2million and providing a pathway to the biggest stages in golf.   Beyond the incredible prize funds, the ground-breaking series also provides the winner of The International Series Order of Merit with exemption into the following season’s LIV Golf League and the opportunity to compete against some of the biggest names in the sport.   Pereira, 27, believes that is an opportunity not to be missed and commented: “It is an amazing opportunity for players to have that pathway to LIV. That is genuinely life changing and I am really happy that these events are happening and golfers from all over the world have these opportunities to progress further. That is the way it should be.”   Ogletree, who claimed last year's International Series Egypt event, echoed the sentiments of the Chilean, stating his aim is to return to LIV and utilise that pathway to play more than the one tournament he has featured in so far.   He added: “For me, the ultimate goal is to get back on LIV. I have only played one tournament, but I really want to get back there and experience it again. To have this pathway is great and a great opportunity for Asian Tour players.   “LIV is a great place to be, I know my game is coming into form at the right time so hopefully I get some more opportunities and have that chance again in the future.”   Pereira has been impressed by the first International Series event of the season on the 2023 Asian Tour schedule and concluded: “This place is great, super impressed by the facilities and the golf course. The set-up of the International Series, everything has been impressive. The people are great, so friendly.   “I didn’t expect the course and the players on show to be this good. If someone wants to win this week they are going to have to play well. I’m really happy to be here.”   Ogletree and Pereira were out in the morning wave of day two at Al Mouj Golf, poised to make a charge up the leaderbaord before the weekend.

Flawless Shin leads Garcia and Sadom on day one in Oman

 

  

Yonggu Shin took advantage of benign early morning conditions to shoot a six-under-par 66 to take the first round in the inaugural International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf today.   The Canadian, who first shot to prominence last year when he finished joint second in the Shinhan Donghae Open, carded six birdies and impressively was bogey free – in the second event of the season on the Asian Tour, and first International Series tournament.   Spanish star Sergio Garcia looked set to join him in first place but made bogey on his last hole to finish with a 67, along with Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand. American Andy Ogletree returned a 68, despite battling illness.    Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, Korean Kyongjun Moon, and Americans Berry Henson and Trevor Simsby shot 69s, while Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, last year’s International Series Order of Merit winner, was one of 12 players who returned 70.   Shin breezed through the opening nine holes with birdies on four, five, six and eight, before further gains on 10 and 17. “I really can’t complain, especially with the conditions out here,” said Shin, better known as Justin Shin.   “I got lucky being out first as the conditions were pretty good on the front nine and I managed to come away four under for those nine holes but then the wind picked up in the afternoon and made it tricky, so really happy to come away without any dropped shots.   “I walked off at 18 and that was the first time I realised I was leading so I definitely can’t be unhappy with that. I think as the wind continues to pick up that score will be difficult to get near so yeah very happy with the start, now I just want to relax into the rest of the week.”   Shin, whose family emigrated to Canada when he was three years old, also won on the Korean PGA Tour last year at The 4th Woosung Construction Open. He added: “It is my first time in Oman, and also my first time in the Middle East so I am really excited. It is pretty cool, I’ve spent most of my time in the US, Korea and Canada so I’m so excited to be here. The course is in really great shape, it is tough out there, but I am really enjoying it and luckily I am playing pretty well.”      Garcia began his round on the 10th and was mid-leaderbaord before a stunning run of five birdies in six holes starting on the second. Said the Spaniard: “Obviously delighted. Mainly because my swing didn’t feel great, especially on the front nine, but then I got it going a bit on the back nine. Yeah, very happy with the score, especially with the wind picking up and how firm the greens are so very happy.”   The 43 year old, who recently returned to playing following a three-month break because of a torn meniscus, is attempting to win for the seventh time on the Asian Tour. “I hit some really good iron shots out there” added the 2017 Masters champion.   “Like I said I didn’t feel like I was striking the ball too well, but I was managing to make a few saves on the front nine and then on the back nine I got going a bit and made five birdies in six holes or something like that which was a great feeling.”   Sadom’s presence on the leaderbaord is no surprise, especially after a strong performance in last week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Advisers, where he finished fourth, five behind the winner, Abraham Ancer from Mexico.   The in-form golfer, who remarkably has enjoyed eight top-10 finishes in his last 14 Asian Tour starts, switched putters recently and said he can do no wrong on the short grass. “Over the break I started using an old putter of mine, it’s eight years old, and I’m holing so many putts” said the 24 year old, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, including last year’s Singapore Open.   “I feel confident, playing on LIV last year with so many great players has helped my game so much.” He made an eagle, four birdies and a bogey.   Ogletree’s performance was a brave one considering his physical condition. Said the American: “Yeah, pretty good. Being honest, I didn’t even know if I was going to play this week. I have been pretty ill over the last couple of days and haven’t been able to eat anything, only just now drunk water for the first time so pretty happy with four under to start the week.”   Since his win in last year’s International Series Egypt the 24 year old has been something of a golfer reborn and has big goals moving forward. “For me, the ultimate goal is to get back on LIV” he said.   “I have only played one tournament, but I really want to get back there and experience it again. It is a great place to be, I know my game is coming into form at the right time so hopefully I get some more opportunities. These International Series events are great, the course is set up great and it’s a great place to be but yeah, my aim is definitely to take advantage of that pathway and get an opportunity there again.”

The International Series Oman Press Conference

 

 

Ahead of tomorrow’s first round at the International Series Oman, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Sihwan Kim and Azzan Al Rumhy attended today’s press conference at Al Mouj Golf.   The quartet were asked questions on the upcoming event which is the first of 10 on the Asian Tour. Omani Al Rumhy offered his thoughts on the arrival of Tthe International Series to the Middle East, while Koepka and Garcia gave their first impressions on the stunning golf course here in Muscat as well as sharing their inspirations for taking up the game of golf as kids.   Taking the game of golf to new places is something the International Series and Asian Tour prides itself on as they aim to grow the game of golf and inspire the next generation both throughout Asia and beyond.

Ahead of his first round tomorrow, four-time Major Champion Koepka gave his thoughts on The International Series, saying: “I think bringing these guys here, bringing the likes of Sergio and Louis, guys like that, the fact that they're here shows that we're looking to make this as good as possible. Hopefully these young kids can come out and enjoy it and watch these guys play, and who knows maybe that’s the next guy that's up here.”   Last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion Kim spoke on his return to the course, saying “I've been here a couple of times and it's always been in good shape. It’s firming up, and with the wind supposed to pick up a little bit tomorrow and Friday, I think it's going to continue to firm up, and just those shots towards the green with a lot of false fronts and stuff like that, it's going to be a little tricky.”   With the second season of the series continuing to provide a pathway for golfers on the Asian Tour, Garcia discussed where his love for the game came from: “I grew up idolizing Olazábal and Ballesteros, and remember when I think I was seven years old and they played the Spanish Open at El Saler and I was able to meet them and take a picture with them, for me it was a dream come true.   “Any kid that can come out and watch us play and enjoy us and take a picture with us or get a signature or something like that, it's always going to help the game, and hopefully light a little flame in their desire to play the game. That's always very welcome.”   Getting ready to tee it up in his first International Series event, amateur Azzan Al Rumhy summarized the week ahead saying: “Yeah, I'm so fortunate to get this opportunity. I have got to play some of the other events in the past. We've been so lucky and blessed to have such a great golf course in our country, and a big event like this means a lot to us as golfers.   “The golfing community are all excited about this tournament. There's a big buzz out there with the presence of Brooks, Sergio and Louis Oosthuizen and the other big names. We've got such a great field, an international and world-class field, and I'm really excited to be representing my country, Oman, in this tournament.”   The first round draw has now taken place and the tee times for this can be viewed here.   More information about the International Series Oman, can be found by visiting: Asian Tour | Professional Golf Tour in Asia