The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organizing “Super Host ” NEW CHAPTERS training workshops on 1 – 2 November 2022 in 5 regions nationwide. The opening ceremonies will be held on 1 November 2022 at Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok. The event will be honored by Mr. Phiphat Ratchakijprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, who will preside over the opening ceremony for the training workshops, along with Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Apichai Chatchalermkit, Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business of Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Miss Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing of Tourism Authority of Thailand, who will welcome participants and broadcast live streams to event venues in 4 other regions in order to prepare the tourism industry and local communities for NEXT NORMAL tourism.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, disclosed that the event’s main objective is to prepare the tourism industry, including public and private sector agencies, and local communities, as well as those involved in the tourism industry, and to increase knowledge, understanding and the ability to be “Super Hosts”, ready to support tourists during the forthcoming high season and adapt to the changing global and tourism situation. To create meaningful travel experiences for tourists while simultaneously enhancing the Thai tourism industry and propelling it towards high value and sustainability, TAT is organizing the “Super Host ” NEW CHAPTERS workshops in 5 regions nationwide for 2 days and 1 night between 1-2 November 2022.

October 19, 2022 – Rabat: World class international golf returns to Morocco next month with the Asian Tour’s ground-breaking International Series ready to make its debut in North Africa.

The International Series Morocco will be hosted at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, in Rabat, from November 3-6, with free admission.

With prize money of US$1.5 million up for grabs, the event plays a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the International Series money list winner.

The International Series was launched earlier this year thanks to a new landmark partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to invigorate the game in Asia and the Middle East.

“This has been an unprecedented season and we were delighted to be able to announce exciting news about the Asian Tour’s first visit to North Africa in Morocco – with its illustrious golfing heritage,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.

The inaugural International Series has had four events to date in 2022 with local star Taehoon Ok (International Series Korea) and Nitithorn Thippong (International Series Thailand) the winners back in August.

The International Series Thailand kicked off the series in March and was won by emerging American star Sihwan Kim at Black Mountain Golf Club. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent claimed the International Series England in June.

Alongside Asia’s stars, the field will include eight of the best homegrown Moroccan players who will be announced imminently.

“After 3 years of shutdown due to COVID-19, we are delighted to once again host a top-notch international professional competition,” said Abderrahim Bouftas, President of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

“It’s hugely exciting for Morocco to play host to the new International Series and a chance for us to see the very best and emerging talents from the Asian Tour and Moroccan golf. We are proud of our tradition and its prestigious history of Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. It’s a huge opportunity for the passionate Moroccan fan base here to see world class golf on the jewel in our crown here – The Red Course.”

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course was commissioned by King Hassan II in the late 1960s, early 1970s and is situated in the capital Rabat.

The venue has hosted many events of the European Tour, Ladies European Tour with Morocco also hosting PGA Champions events in recent times.

Hicham Berdaii, Director of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, said: “This is another important historic milestone for Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam as we host the inaugural International Series Morocco tournament. We are hugely looking forward to opening our doors for all with admission free for spectators. We want to inspire even more people locally to get into golf and for the world to see what incredible courses Morocco has on offer. With a new purpose-built spectator village at the venue, we look to hosting families, friends, golf fans and our members to enjoy an exciting new event on the golfing calendar.”

After Morocco, the International Series Egypt takes place the following week at Madinaty Golf Club, in Cairo, from November 10-13.

Bangkok, Thailand (October 9, 2022): LIV Golf’s debut event in Thailand’s capital is helping empower local communities and inspiring the next generation of golfers.

As part of LIV Golf’s ongoing ‘LIV to Give’ initiative, the tournament is supporting Connext ED, a Thai leadership program for sustainable education, and the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), a longstanding, independent non-profit organization dedicated to reducing poverty in Thailand.

“LIV Golf is committed to supporting communities around the globe. We are proud to give back through organizations that provide critical resources to Thailand’s education systems and underprivileged citizens,” said Atul Khosla, President and COO of LIV Golf. “Our LIV to Give platform will continue to uplift those in need of support and make a difference in the lives of children and families throughout the world.”

Initiated by 12 leading Thai organizations, Connext ED’s Education Administration Programs provide leadership training for schoolteachers across STEM, English and project-based learning curriculums. LIV Golf is funding annual training programs and remote learning initiatives through Connext ED’s Learning Center, which promotes career enhancement through higher education and delivers learning materials to schools throughout the region.

Bangkok, Thailand (October 10, 2022): On Sunday, two-time major winner Dustin Johnson made further history by securing the inaugural LIV Golf Individual Championship in a season which has been defined by consistency and victory, following five top-10 finishes in the opening six events, including a dramatic win at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston.

Johnson shot a five-under-par 67 on Sunday to finish at nine under in this weekend’s LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok, securing a 16th place finish and creating an insurmountable lead in the individual standings with one regular season event remaining. Johnson earned three points at Stonehill to add to his 8th place finish in London, 4th in Portland, 3rd in Bedminster, victory in Boston and 3rd in Chicago. He now has 121 points in the season-long competition, 42 more than current second place competitor Branden Grace.

With points being awarded to the top 24 finishers in each tournament, and 40 points available for victory at the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah this weekend, Johnson’s consistency through the first six events has put him in the record books as LIV Golf’s first season-long champion, securing the first place $18 million prize.

 

“Locking up the individual competition is big. It’s an honor to be LIV’s first individual season champion,” said Johnson. “I’d like to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their confidence in me, my brother and caddie Austin, my wife Paulina, my Four Aces teammates Pat, Patrick, and Talor, as well as LIV’s growing legion of fans around the world. Our team is in a really good position with two events to go and I’m looking forward to further contributing to LIV Golf’s exciting story and continued growth.”

“The first chapter of LIV Golf’s history could not be written without Dustin Johnson’s name. By any measure, DJ is among the elite players in the world,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman. “From the start, he’s been a LIV Golf cornerstone. He has more than lived up to his billing and he deserves immense credit for clinching LIV’s first individual season title. We look forward to a celebration befitting such a champion in Miami at the end of October.”

The battle for second and third-place podium spots remains hotly contested as players head to the Middle East this week for LIV Golf’s final regular season event, the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah, October 14-16 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Runner-up in the final individual standings earns $8 million with $4 million awarded to third place.

 

2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed (76) currently sits in third place ahead of 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith (56) whose standout performances include a fourth-place finish in his LIV Golf debut in Boston and a three-stroke win in Chicago. With 40 points awarded for a tournament win and 30 for runner-up, the door is still open for more than a dozen players to secure an individual podium finish, including notable players Charl Schwartzel (55), Matthew Wolff (50), Louis Oosthuizen (49), Sergio Garcia (44), Joaquin Niemann (42), Eugenio Chacarra (41), Henrik Stenson (40) and Paul Casey (40).

The final event of 2022 is the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, October 28-30. The iconic Blue Monster course will stage the seeded three-day, knockout tournament featuring both match play and stroke play, delivering the excitement of head-to-head competition as LIV Golf’s 12 teams compete for a historic $50 million purse.

Grounds passes for the Team Championship are just $49 and are all-inclusive of the fan activities on site, including daily live music. Three-day grounds passes are also available for $115. Visit LIVGolf.com for tickets and more information, including details on single-day and three-day hospitality packages for Club 54 and Gallery Club experiences.

BANGKOK, Thailand – Eugenio Chacarra admits he didn’t have much fun in his first four LIV Golf events since turning pro. He was nervous. Everything was new. Facing the world-class level of competition for the first time, he adjusted his approach to the game, straying from what made him one of the world’s top amateurs at Oklahoma State.

It wasn’t working. So coming into this week’s LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok, the 22-year-old from Spain returned to his college mindset of simply having fun and avoiding bogeys.

Through two rounds at Stonehill, he’s been extremely successful on both counts. Tying a LIV Golf record with a 9-under 63, Chacarra opened up a five-stroke lead at 16 under and has yet to make a bogey through 36 holes. The field’s youngest golfer, Chacarra is just 18 holes away from a spectacular breakthrough victory.

“Just try to have fun and then play to not make bogeys,” said Chacarra, who tied Dustin Johnson for the lowest LIV Golf round in relation to par. “Kind of play smart on the course – and that’s what I’ve started doing this week.”

The closest pursuers to Chacarra are a group of four players at 11 under: Richard Bland, Sihwan Kim, Harold Varner III and Patrick Reed. The 5-stroke lead is the largest after any round in LIV Golf’s inaugural season.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final round, Bland said, “Going to need a low one and a little bit of help. But the way he played today, it doesn’t look like he’s gonna give us any, so we’ve got to go get him.”

In addition to the healthy individual lead, Chacarra’s Fireballs GC have a substantial lead in the team competition. Adding Carlos Ortiz’s 65 and Abraham Ancer’s 68 to Chacarra’s 63, the Fireballs shot 20 under in the second round and are at 34 under, putting them 7 shots ahead of Niblicks GC. Cleeks GC is in third place, another shot back, with five other teams within six shots of a podium spot.

Fireballs GC captain Sergio Garcia has seen his team finish in the money twice this season, both times in third place. But he’d like to enjoy the champagne celebration exclusive to the winners on Sunday, even as he manages an injured left knee that has limited his effectiveness this week.

“There's not much that we need to change,” Garcia said of his team’s approach. “Obviously I think everyone is playing well. I'll give my everything tomorrow to put a good round and kind of grind my teeth a little bit through the process of getting through this left knee. But other than that, I think they're all doing amazing, and we just have to keep doing more of that.”

Garcia has 36 professional wins, including the 2017 Masters. Chacarra, of course, is looking for his first pro victory. A win on Sunday will be worth $4 million in the individual purse, more than Garcia made for any of his victories.

Asked if he had any advice for his young countryman on how to handle the overnight lead, Garcia just shook his head.

“Nothing. Just keep doing what he's doing,” Garcia said. “He's doing great. Keep believing in himself, keep being positive like he's been all week. He knows what to do. He's good to go.”

As for Chacarra, he is not only having fun but enjoying the on-site support of his mother, his aunt, a cousin, one of his good friends, and his long-time coach, who just began traveling with him. He’ll also enter the final round with a perspective appropriate for a young golfer just starting a promising career.

“Winning is always fun, but I’m not focused on winning,” Chacarra said. “Just focused on getting better.”

Due to the potential of inclement weather, the shotgun start for Sunday’s final round has been moved up to 9:01 a.m. local time (10:01 p.m. Saturday ET).

 

GRACE FORCED TO WD DUE TO INJURY

 

Branden Grace entered Saturday with a share of the lead and a chance to catch Dustin Johnson atop the season-long individual points race.

Three holes into his round, he was forced to withdraw with an acute muscle strain on his left side, leaving his status in doubt for next week’s event in Jeddah, where the Individual Champion will be decided and its $30 million purse distributed to the top three players.

It was a cruel blow for the 34-year-old South African, the winner in Portland and one of the most consistent performers this inaugural season. It’s also a tough blow for his all-South African Stinger GC team, which loses its top performer and will finish the Bangkok event by counting the scores of each of its remaining three players. The Stingers are last on the team leaderboard after two rounds.

“He’s been playing such great golf,” said teammate Shaun Norris. “Hitting the ball well. Been playing practice rounds with him and really impressed with the way he’s playing. Hopefully he gets back to it and healthy as soon as possible.”

Grace managed to birdie the first hole but felt something wrong with his tee shot on the second hole. He parred the hole but was in obvious pain. He played the par-3 third but was attended to by his physiotherapist Cornel Driessen and a local medical crew after putting out. He was then taken off property to a medical facility for an MRI.

“It’s very likely a strained intercostal muscle or oblique muscle,” Driessen said. “If he keeps on swinging, it makes it worse. We don’t want to risk long-time injury or damage.”

TEAM LEADERBOARD

In addition to the individual stroke-play competition, players are also competing as four-man teams during LIV Golf events. Starting with LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok, the best three scores in Round 1, the best three scores in Round 2, and the best three scores in Round 3 will combine to produce the team score. The previous counting-score format was 2-2-3.

The total team prize money for each event is $5 million, with the winning team dividing $3 million, second place dividing $1.5 million and third place dividing $500,000 among its four team members.

In addition, teams are vying for seeds going into the Team Championship in Miami, the final event of the inaugural season with a $50 million purse. Teams have received points for their finishes in each event, and the top four teams in the points standings after next week’s event in Jeddah receive day one byes in Miami.

Here is the leaderboard and Saturday’s counting scores in the second round at Stonehill:

1. Fireballs GC, 34 under (Eugenio Chacarra 63, Carlos Ortiz 65, Abraham Ancer 68)

2. Niblicks GC, 27 under (James Piot 65, Harold Varner III 66, Turk Pettit 68)

3. Cleeks GC, 26 under (Laurie Canter 66, Richard Bland 68, Martin Kaymer 69)

4. Iron Heads GC, 24 under (Sihwan Kim 66, Kevin Na 68, Sadom Kaewkanjana 69)

5. Crushers GC, 23 under (Paul Casey 65, Charles Howell III 67. Bryson DeChambeau 68)

T-6. 4 Aces GC, 22 under (Patrick Reed 65, Talor Gooch 67, Dustin Johnson 70)

T-6. Smash GC, 22 under (Brooks Koepka 67, Peter Uihlein 68, Chase Koepka 69)

8. Majesticks GC, 20 under (Lee Westwood 66, Ian Poulter 70, Sam Horsfield 70)

9. Punch GC, 18 under (Wade Ormsby 68, Marc Leishman 69, Matt Jones 70)

10. Hy Flyers GC, 17 under (Matthew Wolff 66, Cameron Tringale 68, Bernd Wiesberger 69)

11. Torque GC, 13 under (Jediah Morgan 69. Joaquin Niemann 71, Hideto Tanihara 72)

12. Stinger GC, 12 under (Shaun Norris 69, Louis Oosthuizen 72, Charl Schwartzel 73)

PLAYER QUOTEBOARD

Eugenio Chacarra (on being teammates with his hero Sergio Garcia): “I'm still dreaming. I feel like it was yesterday when I went to Madrid to watch the Spanish Open and watch him play golf and just seeing him as an idol. He's [been] a Spanish idol a long time. He's been on tour 21 years, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can from him, and I think I'm in a good spot, and I love him, and I love all of our team. We're in a good spot.”

Richard Bland (on playing alongside Chacarra): “He played great today. Hardly missed a shot. Very impressive. Considering he’s only 22, he just turned pro, he’s playing like he’s been a pro for 20 years. The course is kind of set up for him. He’s wide off the tee so he can use his length, but you still got to get it done after that. Got to hole the putts, got to hit the shots. It was fun to watch him today. He dragged me along. Hopefully I can drag him along tomorrow.”

Sergio Garcia (on being blocked for OWGR points): “If they keep blocking us, it’s because they see us as a threat. So that’s a good thing to have. But if it keeps happening, I’m sure that there will be a way for everybody to come along, I guess.”

PERFORMANCE STATS

Driving accuracy – Laurie Canter, Kevin Na, James Piot, Abraham Ancer, Cameron Tringale, Matt Jones, Henrik Stenson, Hideto Tanihara, 100% (14 of 14 fairways)

Driving distance – Bryson DeChambeau, 360.0-yard average

Greens in regulation – James Piot, Paul Casey, Talor Gooch, Cameron Tringale, 94% (17 of 18 greens)

Fewest putts – Sam Horsfield, 24 putts

Most birdies – Carlos Ortiz, 8

Bogey-free through 36 holes – Eugenio Chacarra, James Piot, Sihwan Kim

HOLE STATS

Easiest hole – 584-yard par-5 6th, which played to a stroke average of 4.340.

Hardest hole – 495-yard par-4 4th, which played to a stroke average of 4.255.

Course stroke average: Rd. 1 (69.625). Rd. 2 (68.638). Par is 72.

BANGKOK, Thailand – Branden Grace, the closest pursuer to Dustin Johnson in LIV Golf’s season-long Individual Champion race, realizes he has plenty of ground to make up in the final two weeks of the regular season.

He took the first big step Friday at LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.

The South African, the winner in Portland earlier this season, shot a 7-under 65 at Stonehill to grab a share of the first-round lead with England’s Richard Bland and Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra. Meanwhile, Johnson is in a tie for 21st after shooting a 70, prompting him to head to the range post-round.

 

The 4 Aces GC captain, who has a 39-point lead over Grace in the individual standings, can wrap up the title and the $18 million prize by winning in Bangkok. But Grace would rather take care of business this week and make things interesting in the final regular-season event in Jeddah. With 40 points to the winner, Grace could theoretically move ahead of Johnson with a victory this week, provided Johnson does not finish in the top 24.

“I’m just trying to win a golf tournament,” said Grace, a member of the all-South African Stinger GC. “If I can do that, if I can keep my mind toward that, then the rest will happen. I’m just fortunate to be in a good position coming into this week, lying second and playing well and feeling good about the game. I just need to come out here and hit the shots and make the most of it.”

As for Bland and Chacarra, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum in regards to their professional experience, but they now share the same goal – build on their first-round 65s and give the top of the leaderboard some new names this weekend. That goes for both the individual and team competition, as Chacarra’s Fireballs GC leads the team standings at 14 under, followed by Bland’s Cleeks GC at 13 under.

Iron Heads GC, which includes Thai golfers Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai, are in solo third at 11 under. Four teams are another stroke back, while 4 Aces GC – winners of four consecutive events – are in unfamiliar territory at 10th.

Bangkok, Thailand (October 5, 2022): Majesticks GC teammates Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are aiming to take full control of their fourball’s march to LIV Golf’s season-ending Miami semi-finals by making experience pay off at this week’s penultimate regular season Invitational at Stonehill, Bangkok.

The veteran pair – who between them have racked up more than 50 years playing elite level Tour golf – are in the Thai capital for this weekend’s $25million LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok, the sixth of eight debut events on LIV’s 2022 calendar.

As a team, the Ryder Cup stars – whose Majesticks teammates are fellow Englishman Sam Horsfield, and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson – arrive at the event third in the season-long standings, only one point ahead of fourth-placed Crushers GC and 20 ahead of the Sergio Garcia-led Fireballs.

With two events to play before LIV Golf’s season-ending $50million Team Championship in Miami, the Majesticks GC pair today conceded that despite being in a strong position to secure a top four berth that would give them a bye into the deciding event’s semi-final, their work is far from done – and that they will be looking to take full control in ensuring they hold onto that spot with a strong showing this week in Bangkok.

Poulter said: “There's a lot of emphasis in making sure we finish in that top four. There’s many reasons to make sure you are in that bye situation. Obviously, you’re either playing on the Friday or you have an extra day to prepare for Saturday in Miami. We’re fully well aware, just as much as every other team is aware of how valuable that is to make sure you're in that bye position to obviously get through that quarter-finals stage.

“We know we're only a point ahead, and we need to maintain that and if not increase that, and we're very conscious, so thanks for reminding us!”

Westwood added: “We are 20 points ahead of fifth – I'm not bothered who’s in fourth. We're the important team to focus on, but, if anything, you've got to look at who’s in fifth. They’re the ones that could kick us out or somebody behind there. If we can control what we're doing, then we know we’re good enough to play well these next couple of weeks and hang on to third or even higher.

“I'd rather be in third than fifth position!”

Both men have touched down in a continent where they hold good memories.

“Right from the beginning of my career, 1994, I think my second or third event ever was the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, Blue Canyon, and fell in love with Asia then, and have always enjoyed coming back here,” said Westwood, who has bagged more than ten titles in the region.

“Obviously [coming back to Asia] wasn’t possible through COVID over the past couple of years, three years, and I’ve missed it. I’ve been a regular coming back for the Thailand Golf Championship and Indonesia Masters and a lot of other tournaments all over Asia. I think I've got 11 or 12 wins in Asia. It’s somewhere I've always tried to play. It’s nice to be back. It’s a part of the world I look to come and play in and I’ve been successful, which makes it even better. It’s nice to be here with LIV and taking golf around the globe again.”

Said Poulter: “I’m really similar. Right from the year 2000, once I got my European Tour card, traveling around Asia, playing, and having a level of success, as you said: Singapore, I won in Hong Kong, I won in Japan, runner-up in Korea, won down in Australia, so enjoyed the aspect of playing internationally and obviously just not in one place.

“I’ve loved my success in all the years that I've been traveling for the last 24 years, and as Lee said, we really didn’t have that option through COVID, but obviously now the new schedule and how it’s going to lay itself out with LIV, it's a fantastic opportunity because we've got so many fans that we've picked up through all the years of winning great tournaments in this part of the world, and it will be great to see them all again.”

Also speaking ahead of Friday’s opening round at Stonehill was Team Ironheads GC captain, Kevin Na, whose team – consisting of hometown stars Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai, and Sihwan Kim of the USA – can expect a warm welcome from the Thai fans.

Asked if he is expecting his team to receive the bulk of the local backing, Na said: “You know it, and a that’s a lot of pressure on you guys! I feel like we have a home court advantage. The two Thai guys are amazing golfers. They're very talented. Sadom had a great finish at the Open Championship; Phachara bombs it, and the course is going to set up perfect for him. We're going to have the Thai fans supporting us, so I'm excited.”

The LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok takes place at Stonehill from October 7-9, and tickets are available now. General admission price for a single-day grounds pass is 800THB, with three-day passes on sale for 1600THB at LIVGolf.com or at thaiticketmajor.com. Single day and three-day hospitality packages for the popular Club 54 and Gallery Club experiences are also available. Those under 15 are able to enter for free.