(From left to right:) Local star golfer Kelvin Si Ngai; Johnny Senna Fernandes (President of the Macau Golf Association); Cho Minn Thant (Commissioner & CEO of Asian Tour); David Shum (Director of SJM Resorts, S.A); See Lei (Acting Vice President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government); Jasmine Lim (Vice President of Global Partnerships, IMG Golf); Mok Chi Hang (Acting Vice President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government); Eddie Li (General Manager of Macau Golf and Country Club); and China’s legendary golfer, Liang Wenchong, at the SJM Macao Open 2025 press conference on August 18 at Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macao. -- Photo by: Ike Li / Ike Images
MACAO: English legend Lee Westwood and Korean star Sungjae Im will headline a star-studded line-up at the SJM Macao Open 2025, which tees off from Oct 16-19 at the scenic Macau Golf and Country Club.
Jointly organised by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (MSB), title sponsor SJM Resorts, S.A. (SJM) and IMG, and co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Macau Golf Association, this year’s edition will feature a prize purse of USD1 million.
Former world number one Westwood, who won the Macao Open in 1999, was thrilled to be returning to the scene of one of his earliest victories on Asian soil.
Emglish legend Lee Westwood. -- Photo by Matthew Harris/LIV Golf
“I am thrilled to be playing at the SJM Macao Open this October. I have fond memories from my win here 26 years ago.
"The course always brings out the best in me, and I am looking forward to performing well this year and hopefully bringing home a second Macao Open crown,” said the globe-trotting Westwood, who counts two Malaysian Open victories among his 40-plus professional wins worldwide.
Im, a two-time PGA Tour winner with three Presidents Cup appearances to his name, is looking forward to playing in Macao for the very first time.
“I am excited to be part of a very competitive field at the SJM Macao Open this year. I have heard excellent things about the SJM Macao Open and the city.
"Fellow players have told me about the beautiful but challenging course at Macau Golf & Country Club, and I cannot wait to make my first trip to Macao a successful and enjoyable one,” said Im, whose best Major finish was tied second at the 2020 Masters Tournament.
Joining Westwood and Im in the 144-player field will be defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand, who delivered a wire-to-wire victory in 2024 to claim his second Asian Tour title.
The 30-year-old Wannasrichan will be hoping to emulate the achievement of Chinese golf trailblazer Zhang Lianwei, winner in 2001 and 2002, by successfully defending his title.
“I am delighted to announce my return to the SJM Macao Open. The tournament is one of my favorite weeks on the golfing calendar, and I am even more excited to be returning as the defending champion and to perform in front of the fans in Macao in October,” said Wannasrichan.
Sungjae Im of South Korea. -- Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Another legendary Chinese golfer, Liang Wenchong, will be in the mix as well. Liang was the first Chinese player to reach the top 100 in the world ranking and in 2007 became the first Chinese player to top the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“I have played the Macao Open several times over the last two decades. There’s something about the course and the city that makes me want to return.
"I love that everything is close by and convenient in Macao, and hospitality for the players is always world-class,” said Liang, whose mentor was Zhang as he transitioned onto the professional tours.
Fans can also look forward to cheering on homegrown hopeful and six-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship participant, 22-year-old Kelvin Si Ngai.
“The SJM Macao Open always features a highly competitive field, and competing in my city allows me to test where my game’s at against world class professionals. I hope to bring my best and give the home crowd something to cheer about,” said Si, who earned his 2025 Asian Tour card through Qualifying School.
The SJM Macao Open Qualifier returns on September 8 at the Macau Golf & Country Club. Introduced last year, the qualifier aims to provide more opportunities and pathways for rising stars in the Greater Bay Area, by competing for spots into the main draw.
See Lei, Acting Vice President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, said: “Since its inception in 1998, the Macao Open has grown to become a hallmark championship on the Asian Tour, and an event that has come to epitomize Macao's capability to host major international sporting events.
"The Sports Bureau will continue its mission to advance the development of Macao’s sports culture, and to ensure that visitors from around the world who come to watch some of the world’s top golfers receive the best experiences both on and off the course.
"Leveraging the unique synergy between sports and tourism, we aim to attract athletes and tourists to Macao through this sporting platform, and to bolster Macao's reputation as a global center of tourism and leisure.”
Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM commented: “SJM has long been a dedicated supporter of both national and local sports development, and we remain firmly committed to advancing the integration of ‘Sports + Tourism’ in Macao. In 2023, we proudly assumed the title sponsorship of the Macao Open, supporting its revival through a three-year partnership.
"Over the past two editions, we have worked closely with the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, IMG, the Asian Tour, and the Macau Golf Association to elevate the tournament and bring new vitality.
"Today, we are pleased to announce that, building on this strong foundation, we will be extending our collaboration for two further additions, continuing our shared efforts to support the long-term development of golf in Macao.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour added: “The SJM Macao Open is one of the premier events on the Asian Tour – boasting an outstanding reputation.
"The tournament was launched in the late 1990s and has been ever-present on our schedule since. Our relationship is now set to continue further following today’s wonderful news that SJM has extended the partnership for two more years. We are truly grateful to them, the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Macau Golf Association, IMG, and all the event partners.”
Fans are encouraged to register for free admission tickets, with each person able to request up to four. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit www.sjmmacaoopen.com
