Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship: golf’s upheaval offers young players new path, but some fear influence of big money

Growth of LIV Golf and Asia Tour offers big opportunities and big money to players across the region and beyond

But some, like governing body head Taimur Hassan, hope young players can make sensible decisions away from the lure of million dollar signings

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The options and potential earnings for amateur stars like Taichi Kho are growing. Photo: AAC

Published: 7:00pm, 29 Oct 2022

The final round of this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand on Sunday will be the last time several of those involved play in the tournament, with the move from it to the professional game almost a rite of passage.

But that well-trodden path has become a little muddier this year, and while in the past the journey mostly led to the PGA Tour or its European counterpart, the Asian Tour – with the financial support of LIV Golf – has positioned itself as a legitimate third option.

Certainly for Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and Leon D’Souza, who go into the last day at Amata Spring Country Club three-under and one-over respectively, it forms part of their immediate plans, and they are not alone.

Several contenders this week have the tour’s Q-School in their sights, and it helps that the first stage is happening in the US.

More opportunity and money await the likes of Hong Kong’s Leon D’Souza. Photo: AAC

“Q-school is going to be more competitive than ever for the Asian Tour, because players right now see it as an opportunity going forward, and I feel up and coming golfers will see it the same way,” said Kho, who has already played in several tour events as an amateur.

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