Yosuke Asaji ends 49-year wait for Japan at Moutai Singapore Open

Yosuke Asaji held his nerve in a dramatic finish to become the first Japanese player in nearly 50 years to win the Moutai Singapore Open, beating Korea’s Jeunghun Wang on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off at the US$2 million event.

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu closed with a 2-under 70 to finish tied-37th at 9-under 279 for the week.

The play-off unfolded on the par-five 18th on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club. Asaji wedged his approach to six feet and calmly holed the birdie putt, while Wang found the water with his second shot and could only make bogey.

Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (66) and Korea’s Soomin Lee (69) tied for third, one shot back, in the penultimate event of the season on The International Series — the Asian Tour’s upper-tier schedule that offers a pathway into the LIV Golf League.

Regulation play had already delivered plenty of drama. In the penultimate group, Asaji rolled in a tricky left-to-right birdie putt from about 10 feet on the 18th to post 19-under after a five-under 67. Moments later, Wang, in the final group, faced an almost identical putt and matched him with a birdie of his own for a 68 to force the play-off.

The win caps a big year for the 32-year-old, who lifted The Crowns in Japan in May — one of the country’s biggest events — and finished tied second at the International Series Philippines two weeks ago.

“I am so, so happy,” Asaji said. “Today I was able to read the lines on the greens really well. The par putt on fifteen was the most important one. This is my first win overseas — something I have always dreamed of.”

Asaji becomes the sixth Japanese winner of the Singapore Open, and the first since Kesahiko Uchida in 1976, also at SICC.

Wang, chasing his first win in eight years, took the play-off setback in good spirit. “I finished strong on seventeen and eighteen and made a great putt on the last hole, so I’m really happy with how I played,” he said. “It just came down to a bit of bad luck in the play-off… I’m happy with my game and just need a bit more luck next time.”

Korea’s Bio Kim shot 70 to finish solo fifth, four shots behind the play-off duo. The Asian Tour now heads to the Middle East for the season’s richest event, the US$5 million PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club — the final stop on The International Series and the penultimate tournament of the season.

Photo – Yosuke Asaji / Asian Tour