Golf fans across Asia were treated to an exhilarating doubleheader on October 23, 2025, as two major tournaments—the Genesis Championship in South Korea and the International Series Philippines in Manila—teed off with star-studded fields and dramatic opening rounds. Both events showcased not just established champions but also emerging contenders eager to make their mark in the closing stages of the 2025 season.
At Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in South Korea, the Genesis Championship began with a tightly packed leaderboard and plenty of storylines to track. China’s Haotong Li, a four-time DP World Tour winner, and South Korea’s home favorite Min-Kyu Kim set the early pace, each carding an impressive six-under-par to share the overnight lead. Li, who has been enjoying a remarkable career resurgence in 2025, continued his strong form with a round that combined precision off the tee and clutch putting down the stretch.
“Very pleased to finish like this, especially with a couple of up and downs on the last four holes,” Li told Sky Sports Golf after his round. “Those were very important to keep momentum going. The greens are very tricky and fast. You have to put yourself in the right positions, also off the tee as well. Off the tee, I did well until the last couple of holes. That's the key for the week.”
Li’s journey this season has been nothing short of inspirational. After stepping into the winner’s circle at the Qatar Masters in February, he went on to secure top-five finishes at his home open, the Turkish Airlines Open, and the Soudal Open. His bid for the Claret Jug at the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in July fell short in the final round, but he’s kept his foot on the gas ever since. Now, with a PGA Tour card for the 2026 campaign within reach, Li’s focus is sharper than ever. “I definitely just need to focus on my game,” he added. “I know the points list (for PGA Tour cards) is getting tighter and tighter. I just need to play my game and hopefully there are some good results coming up.”
Hot on the leaders’ heels are England’s Laurie Canter and Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson, both just two strokes back after posting four-under-par 67s. The pair, no strangers to the upper echelons of the DP World Tour, demonstrated their class with consistent play throughout the day. They are joined at four-under by a cluster of contenders, including Joseph Dean, Daniel Hillier, Elvis Smylie, David Micheluzzi, Tom Vaillant, and, notably, Ewen Ferguson representing Scotland. As the field heads into the second round, the margin for error remains razor-thin.
The Genesis Championship field is also notable for its high-stakes implications regarding PGA Tour status. England’s Marco Penge, currently second to Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, has already secured his dual membership and is in the process of relocating to the United States. Other hopefuls, such as Kristoffer Reitan, Adrien Saddier, John Pary, Alex Noren, Daniel Brown, and Jordan Smith, are all jockeying for position as the season winds down. The pressure is palpable, with every stroke potentially shaping careers for years to come.
Not every headline was positive, however. Defending champion Ben Han struggled to a disappointing opening 76, leaving him with a mountain to climb to make the weekend. Meanwhile, former Masters champion Adam Scott found himself in an unfamiliar position after carding a 74, putting his own cut hopes in jeopardy. The early exits of such prominent names are a stark reminder of golf’s unforgiving nature.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the International Series event at Sta. Elena Golf Club delivered its own share of fireworks. Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut seized the initiative with a blistering eight-under 64, notching nine birdies against a single bogey to take a slender one-shot lead. Sarit, who started on the back nine, was in sparkling form, stringing together birdies seemingly at will. “It was perfect. I’ve been playing pretty good. I mean, before a round, I know I can share the ball number with my caddie and hit the shots. I tell myself, you can hit it, you can do it,” Sarit explained after his round.
Sarit’s recent run has been buoyed by some key changes to his game. “I’d say a couple of things have happened for me. I put in a new putter in Korea and it has started working well for me. ... I also changed my coach. I have been working on my swing, and the changes are becoming pretty good,” he said. With a pair of International Series titles already under his belt, Sarit is no stranger to the big stage and appears poised for another deep run.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa, riding a wave of confidence after back-to-back Asian Tour victories at the Shinhan Donghae Open and the Yeangder TPC earlier in 2025, sits just one shot back after a flawless seven-under 65. Higa was one of seven players to complete a bogey-free round, capitalizing on the preferred lies and receptive greens. “A round of seven-under was a little better than what we planned to achieve when I set out in the morning. If I look back at the round, I think we could have made two or three more putts,” Higa reflected. He played alongside Kevin Na and Sam Horsfield, and acknowledged the challenge of keeping pace with stars like Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed.
England’s Richard Bland, Americans Charles Porter and George Kneiser, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat all finished the day tied for third after carding six-under 66s. But it was 4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson who drew much of the gallery’s attention. Making his first professional appearance in the Philippines, the former World No. 1 delivered a roller-coaster 67 that included a double bogey on the 15th but plenty of fireworks elsewhere. “It was a good atmosphere and Miguel (Tabuena) is a really nice player and it was a lot of fun to play with him and Louis (Oosthuizen) today. We all played pretty well, it was a good atmosphere, and we made a lot of birdies,” Johnson said. “I played well. If any day, any time you make nine birdies, you know you hit a lot of really good shots. I had a lot of good looks at birdie and hit just one bad drive on the 15th and ended up making a double. Obviously, still in a good position going into tomorrow and the rest of the week.”
The International Series Philippines marks the sixth leg of the elevated International Series on the Asian Tour, and with conditions ripe for scoring, fans can expect more low numbers and leaderboard movement as the tournament unfolds.
With both the Genesis Championship and International Series Philippines wide open after day one, golf fans have plenty to look forward to. The next rounds promise more drama, as established stars and rising talents alike chase trophies, tour cards, and a place in golf’s fast-moving spotlight.
