Getting into the swing of things

With this year's Macao event spicing things up — offering three qualification spots for The Open Championship in July — a host of A-list stars, such as major tournament winners Sergio Garcia (2017 Masters), Patrick Reed (2018 Masters) and Graeme McDowell (2010 US Open), and the Asian Tour's very best, including 2024 Order of Merit champion John Catlin, descended on Macao.

After a close battle between two LIV league stars, Mexico's Carlos Ortiz held off United States golfer Reed to win the Macao event, presented by the Wynn hotel and casino resort, by closing with a six-under 64 on Sunday to finish three strokes ahead of Reed on a total of 22-under.

Reed, looking to add this week's title to his win at the Link Hong Kong Open in November, fired a 67 in the final round to register a total 19-under, as his fellow American Jason Kokrak rounded off the podium by finishing three back to claim third place.

All three were thrilled to book their berths for the final major of the year at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland this summer.

Spanish star Garcia, another fan favorite in Macao, agonizingly fell short of a ticket to The 153rd Open after he missed a three-foot birdie putt on the last hole on Sunday, which could've seen him tie with Kokrak and secure the third qualification place for The Open via countback, based on his higher world ranking.

Garcia, fresh off a $4 million victory at LIV Golf Hong Kong two weeks ago, had played in 22 straight Open Championships, including 10 top-10 finishes, until missing the past two editions.

He confessed earlier in Macao how "important" the past week was as a pathway to The Open, his "favorite major".

"It was a good week," said Ortiz, who racked up his 10th career win in Macao. The 33-year-old now has moved to top of the 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit by winning the season's second International Series event.

Ortiz has played in The Open only once before, in 2021, while it will be the 10th time Reed has played in game's oldest major, and the fifth for Kokrak.

Off the radar, and away from the central spotlight, Chinese mainland veteran Wu Ashun served up proof of his revival at the Macao event.