Asian Tour Book 2024

lead to five shots after gaining another stroke at the 10th. However, he dropped a shot on 11 before Puig, playing four groups ahead, emerged from the chasing pack with a birdie at 12 and an eagle at 13 to reduce the deficit to two. Further birdies at 15 and 16 saw Puig draw level, before Catlin holed from eight feet for birdie on 14 to regain top spot. But Puig squared things up again when he got John Catlin and David Puig [far left] ensured a thrilling finish to the maiden Macau event. Lucas Herbert [left] finished two short of the play-off in third. up-and-down for a birdie on 18, signing for a closing 60. Back on the course, Catlin courageously made a nine-footer for par on the 17th, meaning he needed to birdie the last to win. But when his five-footer for the win on 18 slid past the cup, extra-time was required. For Catlin, a considerable measure of good fortune was then needed at the first play-off hole when his fairway wood approach to the par-five 18th looked to be heading out of bounds. To Catlin’s relief, his ball came to rest on the road behind the main hospitality marquee from there he was able to take a free drop. While he was sizing up his options, Puig hit the pin with a sensational 20-yard bunker shot that left him with a tap-in birdie. With little green to work with, Catlin did well to chip to within six feet of the cup from where he holed to extend the play-off. The next time round, Puig again appeared to hold the ascendancy when he reached the putting surface in two, while Catlin’s second shot again missed the green on the right, leaving another awkward chip. After seeing Puig’s long range eagle attempt come up short, Catlin sensed an opportunity, taking out the pin and almost holing his third. When Puig missed his birdie putt, the stage was clear for Catlin to tap-in for an epic victory. Reflecting on his latest win, Catlin said: “That was one heck of a battle. If you’d told me I’d finish at minus 23 and still have to be in a play-off, I’d be like: ‘You’re kidding’. I fought really hard. I was battling all week long. To come out on top is really special.” Catlin reserved special praise for Noah Montgomery, his coach for the past 10 years. “Being a professional golfer, you sacrifice a lot. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have Noah in my corner,” he said. A fortnight after his success in the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open, Puig was not too disheartened. He said: “I played well. I had a good back nine and I’m happy that I got into the play-off and had a chance. I’m pretty tired, this being the seventh week in a row. I’m glad I finished on a good note and am ready for what’s next.” 49 I N T ER NAT IONA L SER I E S MACAU PR E SEN T ED BY WY NN MA C AU GO L F A N D CO U N T RY C L U B MA R C H 1 4 - 1 7 2 0 2 4 | P R I Z E MON E Y: U S $ 2 M I L L I ON