Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

T he 2023 season ‘by the numbers’ makes for very good reading, indeed. We staged 23 events on the Asian Tour offering lucrative overall prizemoney of US$35million; while our Asian Development Tour (ADT) featured 12 tournaments boasting a total purse of US$1.38million. In addition, we were able to play 10 International Series events – thanks to our partnership with LIV Golf – for the first time, which saw us visit Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In fact, we staged tournaments in 15 different markets, and watched in awe as 22 players triumphed on the Asian Tour. It is also important for us to note that it was our most lucrative season ever in terms of members’ earnings: with the 60th placed player on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) earning US$153,000, compared to US$76,000 the year before. However, I am sure you will all agree that the year offered so much more, in terms of the achievements of our members, their back stories, and the hope for the future they afford. We had 23 events but 22 winners because Andy Ogletree triumphed on two occasions following an incredible season, that saw him claim both the Asian Tour and International Series OOM titles, and The Kyi Hla Han Award for the Asian Tour Player of the Year. Kudos to Andy, particularly for showing so much fight and determination to overcome a hip injury that plagued the start of his career. I do feel special mention should also go to Taichi Kho, the winner of our Rookie of the Year Award, and Denwit Booribonsub. To say Taichi’s first season on the Asian Tour was spectacular would be a huge under- statement. Winning the World City Championship at Hong Kong Golf Club, to become the first Hong Kong golfer to taste victory on the Asian Tour and claim the individual gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games were two history making achievements that were truly magnificent. And Denwit’s finish to the season – when he was victorious in three successive weeks in December, became the first player to win the season-ending events on both the Asian Tour and ADT, plus lift the latter’s merit title – was simply mesmerising. I am sure you will all share my sentiments on how great the season proved to be, and one when, where I might add, we were delighted to announce the vast majority of our events for 2024 soon after the final putt was holed. All the best for 2024! Cho Minn Thant Commissioner & CEO Asian Tour