Asian Games glory a world away for Hong Kong golfers Cheung and Hak as they chase tour cards for 2024 season
- Matthew Cheung needs a big week at the Saudi Open to work his way into the top 65 of the Asian Tour’s order of merit
- Jason Hak meanwhile is in Florida battling 165 others for one of five PGA Tour cards up for grabs
The Asian Tour wraps up its 2023 season this week with the second Saudi Open of the year, and for Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung it represents a last chance to secure a spot on tour in 2024 without having to go back to Q-school.
Only the top 65 in the order of merit retain their full cards for the following season, and Cheung, who is presently 86th, needs a big week at Riyadh Golf Club to have any chance.
The Hongkonger has had an up and down 12 months. Despite making the cut on numerous occasions in 15 starts, his only finish inside the top 15 was a tie for 10th at the International Series Vietnam in April.
Some 96 points adrift of South Africa’s Jbe Kruger, who is 65th heading into the final tournament of the year, Cheung earned 75 in his best finish on tour, and likely needs a top five spot to be safe.
That will take some doing against a field that includes the likes of Kevin Na, Henrik Stenson and Kieran Vincent, who claimed one of three places in LIV Golf next season at the promotions event in Abu Dhabi last week.
Taichi Kho, meanwhile, is sitting out the last event of the year. The World City Championship winner is ninth in the rankings list, and that maiden Asian Tour triumph at Hong Kong Golf Club in March secured his status for beyond 2024.
While Cheung is in the Middle East, his Asian Games teammate Jason Hak Shun-yat, alongside whom he won a historic bronze medal in Hangzhou, is in Florida battling it out with a 165 other hopefuls in the final stage of qualifying to secure a PGA Tour card for next season.
Having worked his way through the first two stages, Hak needs to finish among the top five and ties to earn a card. The next 40 finishers earn full status on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour.
Hak’s journey to the final stage of Q-school is the latest stop along a road that began as a 14-year-old, when in 2008 he became the youngest golfer to ever make the cut at a Hong Kong, and led him to turning pro in 2013.
Over the past several years he has appeared on the PGA Tour China, and won bronze alongside Kho, Cheung and Terrance Ng in Hangzhou in October.
