Inside the Ropes - Vol 1.5

Timmy is a former touring professional who now works as a commentator for the Asian Tour, Korean LPGA Tour, and Japan’s LPGA Tour. Be sure to follow Timmy on X (@theblondedragon) and Instagram (@theblondedragon) for more!

Earlier in the year, Timmy took the time to highlight some players he thought would be worth keeping an eye on during the Asian Tour’s 2024 season.

The players were:

• Phachara Khongwatmai

• Taichi Kho

• Miguel Tabuena

Check out the original article for in-depth analysis of each of these three players HERE!

The Asian Tour is just reaching the midway point of their season and it’s time to check in on their season thus far, see how they’re doing, and look at what’s ahead for the Asian Tour this season.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit position: 24th

The season didn’t get off to the best start for Taichi Kho. His first 8 events consisted of 5 events on the Asian Tour and 3 on the DP World Tour. He made the cut two of the Asian Tour events with a best finish of T14 at the 103rd New Zealand Open, and made the cut at one of the DP World Tour events, finishing T65 at the Singapore Classic.

That brings us to mid-June, where Taichi began to really find his game and play some fantastic golf.

He’s played four events since then:

• Singha all Thailand Championship on the All Thailand Golf Tour

• Kolon The 66th Korea Open on The Asian Tour

• International Series Morocco on The Asian Tour

• International Series England on The Asian Tour

His WORST finish in those four events was T13, which was his result at both The 66th Korea Open and the International Series Morocco. He was inside the top 10 at The All Thailand Championship, and T10 at the International Series England.

While I’m sure this year hasn’t gone as planned so far for Taichi Kho, if he continues this form into the second half of the Asian Tour schedule, he’s going to climb his way into the top 10 on the order of merit with no issue.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit position: 50th

A first half of the season for Phachara Khongwatmai, who you might remember for his play on LIV Golf in the 2022 season. His great form resulted in him climbing high enough in the OWGR that he was able to represent Thailand in Paris at the Olympics.

Prior to his appearance at the Olympics, he’d played 6 events this season:

• IRS Prima Malaysian Open - T57

• International Series Macau - T10

• Saudi Open - T43

• 43rd GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship - T51

• Singha Laguna Phuket Open - T2

• International Series Morocco - T28

Unfortunately for Phachara he was forced to withdraw from the Olympics with a back injury after the third round of play. The following week he was slated to play in the International Series England, the back flared up again and he again withdrew, this time after the first round. An untimely setback for Khongwatmai as he’s been in tremendous form this season.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit position: 21st

An emotionally draining 24 months leading into the 2024 Asian Tour season (I would encourage you to read Timmy’s fantastic description of it here) resulted in a not terrible but nothing to write home about start to the season. He’s played 8 events so far this season.

In the opening four events of his season, he missed the cut 3 times but finished T13 at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open.

However in the second four events he’s really started to find some form:

• The 43rd GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship - T16

• Kolon The 66th Korea Open - 5th

• Intrernational Series Morocco - T8

• International Series England - MC

Tabuena’s strong form in his most recent events have put him in the highest position of the three players we’re keeping an eye on. He currently sits just outside of the top 20 and will look to continue improving in the second half of the season.

The Asian Tour has 12 events left on their 2024 season, meaning there’s plenty of time for each of these players to secure their first win of the season and climb the Order of Merit. They’ll all be looking to round into form for the LIV Golf Promotions event which should take place in early December again this year!

Here’s what the rest of the schedule looks like:

• The 40th Shinhan Donghae Open: 9/5-9/8

• Yeangder TPC: 9/26-9/29

• Mercuries Taiwan Masters: 10/3-10/6

• SJM Macao Open: 10/10-10/13

• Black Mountain Championship (International Series Event): 10/17-10/20

• International Series Thailand: 10/24-10/27

• BNI Indonesian Masters: 10/31-11/3

• Taiwan Glass Taifong Open: 11/14-11/17

• LINK Hong Kong Open: 11/21-11/24

• International Series Qatar: 11/27-11/30

• PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors: 12/4-12/7