Asian Tour Book 2024

CATLIN FIRES 59 IN MACANESE MASTERCLASS PUIG EDGED OUT IN EXTRA-TIME John Catlin [right] has come a long way since winning on the Asian Development Tour in 2016. J ohn Catlin’s career has been sprinkled with notable successes. But he’d never experienced anything quite like the week of the inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn. Indeed, only a handful of elite players can say they ever have. At the Macau Golf and Country Club not only did the 33-year-old American record his fifth victory on the Asian Tour, and his first since the 2019 Thailand Open. It was also his maiden triumph on The International Series. But it wasn’t just those statistics that made his dramatic sudden-death play-off defeat of Spaniard David Puig somemorable. Some 24 hours before his victory was confirmed, Catlin ensured his name was etched into Asian Tour folklore after posting an 11-under-par 59 in round three. It was the first sub-60 return in the history of the Asian Tour. “I’m pretty much speechless,” said Catlin, who holed an eight-footer for birdie at the 239-yard, par-three 17th and snared a left-to-right breaking 20-footer for eagle at the par-five 18th to seal the deal. Prior to that, he made six birdies on the front side and three on the back nine. On a day of calm weather conditions and preferred lies, one of the key moments came at the 12th, where he saved par with a putt from 10 feet. “Wow! It’s crazy. The emotions are hitting me. After everything I’ve been through over the last two years, to be here is pretty special,” said the Californian, who won on the Asian Development Tour in 2016 and 2017 before graduating to the main Tour where he won three times in 2018 and once in 2019. Three victories followed in Europe before a loss of form resulted in him forfeiting his card there. He opted to return to the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January, finishing 19th and regaining his playing privileges in the region. In the wake of the euphoria that followed his 59 and gave him a two-stroke advantage at the top of the leaderboard, Catlin needed to re-focus ahead of the final round. He did just that, covering the opening nine in four-under 30 and extending his 47 I N T ER NAT IONA L SER I E S MACAU PR E SEN T ED BY WY NN MA C AU GO L F A N D CO U N T RY C L U B MA R C H 1 4 - 1 7 2 0 2 4 | P R I Z E MON E Y: U S $ 2 M I L L I ON