Tag: International Series Macau

This American carded the lowest score in Asian Tour history on Saturday, shooting 59

“It’s pretty crazy. It hasn’t totally sunk in yet.”

John Catlin has three wins on the DP World Tour and four Asian Tour wins. But his latest feat is why his name will be known by more golfers now than ever.

Catlin, a 33-year-old American, shot 11-under 59 after holing a 20-foot eagle putt on the final hole Saturday at the Asian Tour’s International Series Macau event in China. He became the first player to break 60 in Asian Tour history, and his bogey-free performance helped him take the lead heading into the final round at Macau Golf & Country Club.

“Yeah, I’m pretty much speechless,” Catlin said, who later said all of his passwords end with 59. “It’s pretty crazy. It hasn’t totally sunk in yet. Wow. Yeah, the emotions are hitting me for sure. Just everything I’ve been through over the last two years. To be here. It’s pretty special.”

Catlin sits at 18 under for the tournament, beating LIV Golf’s Jason Kokrak by two shots. Kokrak and Lucas Herbert each shot 62 on the par-70 layout.

The purse is $2 million at the second International Series event of the year.

Anthony Kim misses first cut in 12 years at Asian Tour event in China

Kim missed the cut by eight shots.

In Anthony Kim’s first event back with a 36-hole cut, he didn’t make the weekend.

After back-to-back weeks playing for the no-cut events at LIV Golf in Jeddah and Hong Kong, Kim teed it up this week on the Asian Tour at the International Series Macau in China, continuing his return to professional golf. However, a 4-over 74 in the opening round followed by an even-par 70 on Friday resulted in Kim sitting T-130 after two rounds and missing the cut by eight shots.

It’s Kim’s first missed cut in more than 12 years (sarcasm font).

His final-round 65 in LIV Golf Hong Kong was an encouraging sign, but his comeback is going to take longer than a handful of rounds. He wasn’t the only LIV golfer to miss the cut at Macau, as did Harold Varner III, Graeme McDowell and Eugenio Chacarra.

On the flip side, LIV’s David Puig leads at 11 under after opening in 65-64. He’s tied on top with Jbe Kruger. Mito Pereira and Bjorn Hellgren are T-3 at 10 under.

Anthony Kim will tee it up in a non-LIV Golf event next week

That’s one way to knock off competitive rust.

Anthony Kim is going to play three straight weeks in his return to professional golf.

On Saturday, the 38-year-old carded his best round with LIV Golf, a 2-over 72 at LIV Golf Hong Kong. He sits 8 over, tied with Phil Mickelson, heading into the final round. Kim’s second round included four birdies, his most in his five rounds yet.

Next week, though LIV Golf doesn’t have an event, he will join roughly 20 other golfers from the circuit at the Asian Tour’s International Series Macau. Also in the field are Patrick Reed, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia, among others.

International Series Macau will be at Macau Golf and Country Club in China. It’s the second International Series event of the year, with Carlos Ortiz winning the first two weeks ago in Oman.

LIV: Best photos from Hong Kong

The Asian Tour has a 10-year, $300 million partnership with LIV Golf. The circuit also awards world ranking points. Last year, Andy Ogletree earned a season-long exemption into LIV for winning the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, returned to professional golf last week after more than a decade away. After not beating anyone last week, he is ahead of only Hudson Swafford heading to the final round in China.