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SCMP Sport

The continuing civil war in golf may not be good for all concerned, but for players at the start of their careers such as Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, it is creating an almost unprecedented number of opportunities to get a foot in the door.
Agreements between organisations in Japan, Korea and India, and the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, have opened up direct pathways to the top not previously available to golfers in Asia.
And Kho, who on Friday won the one-round qualifier for the World Tour’s Singapore Classic 2023, is among those who stand to benefit.
The influx of money from LIV Golf has also made the Asian Tour – which held its first Q-school event in the US last month – a legitimate destination for players from across the world.

It is for that reason that the likes of Kho are not limiting themselves to one route to the top.
He will be playing in final qualifying for the Asian Tour in Thailand in January, but before that, he was at Singapore’s Laguna National Golf Resort Club this week to claim his place in the World Tour event on the same course in February.
A four-under-par 68 earned him one of the two automatic spots for the US$2 million event, which will mark the tour’s return to Singapore after a nine-year absence.
Kho also has his eyes on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour in the US, qualifying for the Japan Golf Tour Organisation – which now has three DP World Tour cards available for the three top players on its money list – and the PGA Tour of Canada.
“Even tours like India, they signed their DP World Tour contract, so there’s a lot of pathways right now, so I’m definitely not limiting myself to one,” Kho said. “From a player’s point of view it’s obviously really good timing.”
The main focus over the next several weeks is the Asian Tour, where Kho will be joined by fellow Hongkongers Leon D’Souza, Matthew Cheung and Terrence Ng.
Unlike the others, Kho, who played in several Asian Tour events this year, benefited from one of two Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation spots at final qualifying, which will be held over five rounds at the Lakeview Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, from January 18 to 22.
“Whether I get an Asian Tour card or not in January, I’m still going to be playing Korn Ferry in August. Depending on how the Asian Tour goes, I might play PGA Tour Canada Q-school, Japan Tour Q-school later in the year,” Kho said.
“I’m trying to maximise my opportunities here and really not take anything for granted.”
Between Singapore and Thailand, Kho will travel to Melbourne with D’Souza, Chloe Chan and Charlene Cheung to represent Hong Kong at the Australian Master of the Amateur Championships early next month.
For Kho, the event is the last one in which he will represent the city “unless things significantly change”, with his spring season of college golf at Notre Dame the only amateur golf he sees himself playing in the future.
“It could obviously change how my career starts, but there are so many opportunities out there right now, that if I just keep putting in the work and getting better every day then eventually it’s going to pay off, be that in January, or August, or whenever it might be,” he said.
“I have full belief it’s going to work in my favour, and the better I play the more doors will open.”


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Taichi Kho of Hong Kong has a growing number of opportunities to smile about in golf’s changing landscape. Photo: AAC

Taichi Kho (right) won the qualifier for the Singapore Classic 2023. Photo: Hong Kong Golf Association

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Golf


Kho’s four-under-par 68 earns spot at US$2 million event at Singapore’s Laguna National Golf Resort Club in February
Agreements with PGA Tour and DP World Tour have opened up routes to the top not previously available to golfers in Asia



Agreements with PGA Tour and DP World Tour have opened up routes to the top not previously available to golfers in Asia.


Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA)

Asian Tour