Fueled by 9 birdies within the morning and a clutch tee shot within the late afternoon, Lee Chieh-po gained the grueling 36-hole LIV Golf Promotions end Saturday to assert the coveted spot within the league’s 2025 season.
The 30-year-old Lee turns into the primary participant from Chinese language Taipei to earn full-time standing in LIV Golf. He hopes his victory and presence within the league will encourage different golfers from his nation.
“It means loads for our gamers,” stated the Asian Tour common, who gained for the primary time at this 12 months’s Worldwide Collection Thailand. “LIV Golf, I believe it’s many gamers’ dream. I am going there and they’ll come.”
Lee – additionally recognized by his English title, Max – shot a two-round complete of 10 below at Riyadh Golf Membership to win by two strokes over Asian Tour participant Taichi Kho and relegated LIV Golf participant Branden Grace within the 20-player final-day area. A complete of 92 gamers started the week hoping for an opportunity to affix LIV Golf.
All gamers ending inside the highest 10 will obtain exemptions to all 10 tournaments on The Worldwide Collection in 2025. Six gamers on the ultimate leaderboard beforehand didn’t have that standing: American Ollie Schniederjans and Australians Brett Coletta and Jack Buchanan, who shared fourth at 5 below; Germany’s Max Rottluff, solo seventh at 4 below; and Korea’s Soomin Lee and England’s David Horsey, a part of the four-way tie for eighth at 3 below.
They have been all chasing Lee after he shot a 7-under 64 in his morning spherical that included 9 birdies, together with 4 in his ultimate 5 holes. That gave him a two-shot lead over Schniederjans, who posted a bogey-free 66.
Lee remained in management all through the afternoon, making the flip with a one-shot lead over Grace, who had simply made his fourth birdie of the day on the eleventh gap.
Lee gave the impression to be pulling away with a three-stroke lead late within the spherical. However a foul method on the par-4 sixteenth resulted in a bogey. “I hit it approach poor to the left, and I used to be laughing, like, what am I doing?” Lee recalled.
When Grace and Kho completed with birdie on the 18th, his lead was lowered to a single shot going into the par-3 seventeenth, essentially the most tough gap on the again 9 this week.
That’s when he stepped up and delivered the largest shot of the day, his tee ball practically rolling into the cup. After making birdie, he stayed away from hassle on the 18th to shut it out.
“Simply tried to reset my thoughts,” Lee stated. “Gap No. 17, that shot is essential. I hit an excellent tee shot.
Grace was watching within the clubhouse as Lee completed his spherical. He hoped to regain his spot with Stinger GC with a win this week, however the workforce may nonetheless make a enterprise case for protecting him within the lineup.
“Performed good, gave it all the pieces,” Grace stated. “It was a great go. Now I’ll go house and have a vacation.
Schniederjans, the previous top-ranked beginner who’s taking part in his approach again from accidents that slowed his profession, was inspired by being within the combine this week.
“I am very assured about the place all the pieces is heading,” he stated. “I needed to hit loads of cool putts and photographs below strain, so it was very nice to see that. It did give me much more confidence. However I’ve loads of confidence in my future.”
As for Lee, his confidence is sky-high. A hip harm final 12 months pressured him into swing modifications, however a constant stretch of play this season that culminated within the victory in Thailand – he rallied to overhaul LIV Golf participant Peter Uihlein – is a sign of his expertise.
Now he’s able to compete in LIV Golf and able to embrace all the pieces the worldwide league has to supply.
“On the LIV Tour, each participant may be very sturdy,” he stated. “I believe I can study one thing. I’ll study one thing.
GET TO KNOW LIV GOLF’S NEWEST PLAYERLEE CHIEH-POBorn: Nov. 1, 1994 (30 years previous)Birthplace: Taoyun, Chinese language Taipei
His English title of Max was given to him when he was 6 years previous
Turned professional in March 2015
Gained his first Asian Tour occasion in 2024 on the Worldwide Collection Thailand, with birdies on the final two holes to beat present LIV Golf participant Peter Uihlein by one stroke
That first match win got here in his 138th profession begin in world-ranking occasions
Suffered a hip harm final 12 months that pressured him to regulate his swing and alter his motion. “Now it is getting higher, and the swing is simpler,” he stated.
Made 19 begins on the Asian Tour in 2024, with one win, two different prime 5s and 4 different prime 10s
Completed 4th on the Asian Tour Order of Advantage in 2024 and seventh on the Worldwide Collection factors standings
Has 23 profession prime 10 finishes on the Asian Tour, together with runner-up leads to 2022 and 2023
His house course is Taoyuan Golf & Nation Membership
Grew up taking part in golf with Kevin (Chun-an) Yu, who posted his first skilled win on the PGA Tour this 12 months
