Volvo China Open: Andy Ogletree leads race for LIV Golf spot as rivals look to challenge in Shenzhen then Hong Kong
- Ogletree sits US$500,00 ahead of second-placed David Puig of Spain but November’s stops in Hong Kong and Indonesia offer US$360,000 for winner of each
- Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho is 33rd on order of merit, while compatriot Matthew Cheung trails at 76th
The final three weeks of this year’s International Series begins in Shenzhen on Thursday, with Andy Ogletree leading the race to claim a place with LIV Golf in 2024.
Ogletree takes a healthy lead at the top of the series’ order of merit into the Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club, with Spain’s David Puig and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent more than US$500,000 behind, in second and third respectively.
Victories in Qatar and England, plus top-10s in Singapore, Oman and Scotland, have propelled the American to the top of the rankings, making the 25-year-old the runaway favourite to join the likes of Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and others in the team league next year.
But with stops in Hong Kong and Indonesia to also come this month, and some US$360,000 for the winner of each tournament, even the fifth-place Wade Orsmby will fancy his chances of challenging for the order of merit title.
The rest of the field has plenty to play for as well, with up to 32 players from the money list earning places in next month’s LIV Golf promotions tournament at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The top 25 eligible players from the order of merit ranked nine to 40 qualify for round one and those ranked two to eight are granted a bye into round two.
