Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

WOR LD C I T Y CHAMP IONSH I P PR E SEN T ED BY HONG KONG GOL F CLUB H ON G KON G GO L F C L U B | MA R C H 2 3 - 2 6 , 2 0 2 3 | P R I Z E MON E Y U S $ 1 M I L L I ON a lot of momentum. Thank you to Hong Kong,” added 22-year-old Kho, who began the week by being appointed as an Ambassador at the HKGC. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Kho first came to international prominence in late 2021 when he duelled with Japanese standout Keita Nakajima at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai. The disappointment of being edged out in a sudden-death play-off there andmissing out on invitations to The Masters and The Open in 2022 only served to fuel his ambition. It was in January 2023 that Kho turned professional andmade it through the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School. With his Fanling fling, he became the third fastest graduate due to his higher Official World Golf Ranking. On and off the course, the tournament was a resounding success, enabling Hong Kong to showcase itself as ‘Asia’s World City’ and a hub for major sporting events. Hong Kong Golf Club Captain Andy Kwok said: “Through the inaugural World City Taichi Kho celebrates with his father (FAR LEFT) and Miguel Tabuena (LEFT), and earlier in the week attended the pre-event press conference with Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter (FAR RIGHT). Championship, the Club has put Hong Kong firmly back on the international golfingmap, whilst also providing a platform for talented young Hong Kong players to showcase their skills in front of a global audience.” Although European Ryder Cup stalwarts Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson did not contend, they were happy to be present – and see for themselves the depth of talent in Asia. “When I’m thinking about golf in Asia, there’s a couple of courses that come to mind…and Fanling is one of them,” said Swede Stenson, the 2016 Open champion. “I enjoyed seeing some of the local talent.” England’s Poulter, winner of the Hong Kong Open in 2010, added: “In Hong Kong the local level of support has always been fantastic. The opportunity to come back here was exciting. Every time we play in Asia, we see new, incredible golf talent coming through.” Taichi Khomade sure of that. THROUGH THE INAUGURAL WORLD CITY CHAMPIONSHIP, THE HONG KONG GOLF CLUB HAS PUT HONG KONG FIRMLY BACK ON THE INTERNATIONAL GOLFING MAP. - ANDY KWOK, CAPTAIN, HONG KONG GOLF CLUB from the Q-School to win on Tour. That’s not all. With the World City Championship selected as one of the three Asian tournaments that made up The R&A’s 2023 Open Qualifying Series, Kho secured himself a starting spot in the 152nd Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July. “The only thing a professional golfer could ever ask for is more opportunity and for us to be given this incredible opportunity to qualify for themost historic event in golf is truly special,” said Kho whose father is from Hong Kong and whosemother is Japanese. The three other players who punched their tickets to The Open were Hendry, runner-up to Kho, third-placed Smyth, and Korean Bio Kim, who finished joint fourth with Tabuena but was awarded the last place 64