GLOBAL GOLF STARS READY TO TEE OFF AT THE SJM MACAO OPEN 2026 MAJOR CHAMPION HENRIK STENSON SET FOR STRONG DEBUT
[Macao SAR, 13 October, 2026]: Several of the leading contenders for the SJM Macao Open 2026 met with the regional media today to share their expectations ahead of the USD 1 million Asian Tour event, taking place from 15-18 October at the scenic Macau Golf & Country Club.
Jointly organized 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 the Macau Golf Association, the tournament brings together a strong field of international stars and leading players from across the region.
With SJM as title sponsor for a fourth consecutive year, SJM Macao Open remains one of the major highlights on Macao’s international sporting calendar and a flagship event on the Asian Tour. Over the years, it has built a strong reputation for delivering memorable experiences for players and fans alike.
That reputation promises to continue with 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson making his Macao Open debut this week. The 50-year-old joined the PGA Tour Champions earlier this year following a stellar career that has yielded 22 tour titles, including The Open Championship in 2016 and The Players Championship in 2009.
Stenson said: “I’m here playing with the young guys this week; it makes me feel young. Also I’m very excited to be here. It’s the first time in Macau for me, and it’s a beautiful trophy. It’s one of the biggest trophies I’ve seen in a long time. Anyone would want to get their hands on this one. I’ve done this a long time, touring the world, playing golf tournaments, and Macao is a new stop for me, and I’m really excited to see some new places here.
“In Asia, over the years, from starting to play here in my early days as a pro, the level of the Asian players was not near the level it is today. It’s evolved quite a lot. This is a strong competition, so I need to try and figure out how to play this golf course in pretty much twenty-four hours and see if we can carry on some good momentum.”
Currently second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit rankings, Travis Smyth will also make his first appearance in the SJM Macao Open. The Australian, a four-time professional tour champion, added: “Very happy to be in Macau, very excited. The golf course is looking great and the weather is meant to be amazing, so all positive signs going into the week.
“The food’s incredible and I’ve made some good friends here, so I feel quite comfortable. I enjoy the golf course. It’s in amazing condition. I’ve just had two weeks off so I feel refreshed. It’s such an iconic venue,” added Smyth.
Sungjae Im, a seven-time professional tour winner and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year 2019, finished tied-seventh on his debut last year after a seven-under-par 269. The Korean star commented: “I’m very pleased to be back again after last year. I had a very good performance last year and now I know the course better. I’m hoping for a good result this week.”
21-year-old Ding Wenyi is one of the fastest-rising players on the Asian Tour. He turned professional just two years ago after a strong amateur career that included wins at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and the 2024 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship. The Beijing-born golfer finished third at the SJM Macao Open last year and has recorded no fewer than nine top-25 finishes on tour this season.
Speaking about his goals for the week, Ding said: “My form has had some ups and downs this year, but I performed very well during the Asian Games week. I hope to carry that momentum forward and strive for an even better result in Macao than last year.”
Regarding the direction of his professional career, he added: “The biggest goal of my life is to win a PGA Tour champion title, and return to Augusta National Golf Club as a professional player. Several of the players present here today are icons I have looked up to since I was a child, and I hope to become one of them in the future.”
Thai fan favorite Jazz Janewattananond first played the Macao Open in 2014 and returned a decade later. The 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner will join a strong group of Thai players that includes former champions Rattanon Wannasrichan (2024) and Pavit Tangkamolprasert (2016).
The 11-time professional tour champion and mainstay on the Asian Tour commented: “I’m excited to be back. Macao is one of the most iconic stops every year on tour. We always come back. Great city, great golf course and the course this year is looking very very good. So I’m really excited to play in this tournament.”
Ahead of the Press Conference, Wu Ashun, one of China’s most successful male golfers, shared his expectations for the week and his future goals with mainland Chinese and Hong Kong media.
Wu, whose seven tour titles include five on the DP World Tour, returning to the SJM Macao Open and Macau Golf & Country Club, saying: “This golf course has a lot of character. It’s a hillside course with beautiful views overlooking the sea. There are birdie opportunities out there, but there are also holes where a small mistake can cost you. Course management and strategy will be very important this week. If you play smart and your game is in good shape, there’s definitely the potential for a strong result.”
Now in its 23rd edition, the Macao Open has become a highlight on the Asian Tour calendar, attracting major champions such as Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Fred Couples, Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh. Zhang Lianwei, a pioneer of golf in China, is a two-time winner and remains the only golfer to have successfully defended the title.
Seven of the top 10 players in the Asian Tour Order of Merit 2026 rankings are in the field. With valuable points at stake, the leading players will be aiming to bring their best to Macao.
The SJM Macao Open also plays an important role in the development of Macao’s talented golfers. Ma Kaijun, the top local finisher last year, will return to compete. Four other rising local talents – Jim Huang, Kelvin Si Ngai, Hung Chi Che, Bryan Luo – have also secured their places as the top four local finishers at the Qualifier Tournament on 24 September.
“My goal this week is to make the cut. I hope to become the first Macau amateur golfer to achieve that at the SJM Macao Open,” said local hope Oscar Hung Chi Che.
Beyond the tournament, the SJM Macao Open 2026 aims to bring golf into the community through outreach programs designed to introduce more people to the sport and encourage wider participation.
Admission to the SJM Macao Open 2026 will once again be free to the public. Fans can register for complimentary tickets, with each person able to request up to four tickets. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit www.sjmmacaoopen.com.
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For high resolution photos, please download here.
Photo captions:
Photo 1 – Star Players set to shine at SJM Macao Open 2026. L to R: Jazz Janewattananond; Ding Wenyi, Henrik Stenson, Sungjae Im, Travis Smyth.
Photo 2 – Dignitaries welcome the start of SJM Macao Open 2026. L to R: Mr. David Rollo, Chief Operating Officer of Asian Tour; Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM Resorts, S. A.; Ms. Leong Wai Man, President, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Ms. Jasmine Lim, Vice President of Global Partnerships, IMG Golf; Mr. Manuel Senna Fernandes, President of the Macau Golf Association.
Photo 3 – SJM Macao Open 2026 set for tee off. International stars and Asia’s finest ready for SJM Macao Open 2026. L to R: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond; Australian ace Travis Smyth; Ms. Lei Si Leng, Vice President, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; China’s Ding Wenyi; Mr. David Rollo, Chief Operating Officer of Asian Tour; Henrik Stenson of Sweden; Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM Resorts, S. A.; Ms. Leong Wai Man, President, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Ms. Jasmine Lim, Vice President of Global Partnerships, IMG Golf; South Korean star Sungjae Im; Mr. Manuel Senna Fernandes, President of the Macau Golf Association; Macao China’s golfer Ma Kaijun; Mr. Cheang Kai Meng, Vice President, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Hong Kong China’s Matthew Cheung at today’s photo shoot.
Photo 4 – International stars and Asia’s finest welcome the arrival of SJM Macao Open 2026. L to R: Macao golfer Ma Kaijun, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, China’s Ding Wenyi joins Henrik Stenson of Sweden, South Korean star Sungjae Im, Australian ace Travis Smyth and Hong Kong China’s Matthew Cheung at today’s photo shoot.
Released on behalf of SJM Macao Open 2026 by Elite Sport Asia.
Media enquiries:
| Elite Step Asia Eric Chiu (English language) M: +852 9225 0105 E: eric.chiu@elitestep.com | Kitty Wu (Chinese language) M: +852 9132 4588 E: kitty.wu@elitestep.com |
About Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government (MSB)
Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, under the capacity of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, is a public organization of administration autonomy. The organization is responsible for the implementation of sport strategy and policy formulated by the Macao SAR Government. Its objective is to stimulate, encourage, and promote all kind of sports in Macao, also to create an essential condition for sport development.
For the development of competitive sports and ‘Sport for all’, Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government organizes various high level international sport competitions as well as recreational classes and thematic ‘Sport for all’ activities each year, in an endeavor to promote the international status of Macao, reinforce communication and co-operation with other countries and cites, enhance citizens’ quality of life and arouse their interest in sport, so as to accelerate and facilitate the enhancement of the level of sport in Macau.
For more information, please visit http://www.sport.gov.mo/
About SJM Resorts, S.A.
SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) is a signature enterprise in Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure industry and a principal subsidiary of SJM Holdings Limited, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx 880). Its iconic “Lisboa” hotels, including Grand Lisboa Macau and Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau, are enduring symbols of the city’s tourism legacy. Located in Cotai, Grand Lisboa Palace features 1,892 rooms and suites across three distinctive hotel towers: Grand Lisboa Palace Macau, THE KARL LAGERFELD MACAU, and Asia’s first Palazzo Versace Macau, making it the only resort in the world to house two designer-branded hotels.
SJM is a steadfast advocate for Macau’s development as an international sports and wellness destination. By bringing elite, world-class branded sporting experiences to the city, SJM seeks to attract new visitor segments, broaden Macau’s global appeal, and reinforce its positioning as a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” through the synergy of “Sports + Tourism.” At the same time, SJM is committed to nurturing home-grown talent while also contributing to China’s broader sports development and the elevation of athletic standards through cross-border collaboration across the Greater Bay Area.
Its multi-year title sponsorships of marquee events include the CTA Tour SJM Professional Finals (Macau) and National Tennis Championships, the SJM Macao Open, the SJM Theodore Racing Team at the Macau Grand Prix, the SJM Macau International Dragon Boat Races, and the Asian Wushu Championships, among others. By leading at the intersection of sports, tourism and social responsibility, SJM continues to build a legacy of excellence in sport — inspiring local pride, expanding Macau’s international visibility, and advancing the city’s long-term development as a “City of Sports.”
For more information, please visit https://www.sjmresorts.com/en.
About Asian Tour
The Asian Tour represents the pinnacle of professional golf in the region.
Celebrated as the most vibrant, youthful and diverse golf tour in the world, it has built a reputation for intense competition on the course and warm camaraderie off it.
The Tour, which was launched in 2004, is responsible for looking after the best interests of over 350 members, representing 35 countries managing a year-long schedule of events across five continents.
With Asia being the next powerhouse region for golf, the Tour is the steward of its legacy.
Central to its structure is the Asian Tour Order of Merit – a points-based player ranking system.
Since 2022, The International Series has featured prominently. Consisting of 10 upper-tier events integrated into the schedule, the landmark initiative provides a pathway to the LIV Golf League via The International Series Rankings.
The Tour is the official sanctioning body for professional golf in the region and a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. Also, it is an affiliate of The R&A and all sanctioned events qualify for Official World Golf Ranking points.
It controls its television production and distribution through Asian Tour Media (a joint venture with IMG) which broadcasts to over 100 countries worldwide.
The Tour also operates the Asian Development Tour – the popular feeder circuit that nurtures the next generation of stars.
Its eco-system also includes the Qualifying School which attracts over 650 entrants vying for 35 cards for the following season.
In 2018, it set up Asian Tour Destinations – an affiliate network with exclusive, world-class golfing venues across the region.
Rolex, Kweichow Moutai and Bluewater are the Tour’s three main partners.
The Tour is headquartered on Sentosa Island in Singapore, home to the award winning Sentosa Golf Club – a member of Asian Tour Destinations.
About IMG
IMG is a leading global sports marketing agency, specializing in media rights management and sales, multi-channel content production and distribution, brand partnerships, strategic consulting, digital services, and events management. It powers growth of revenues, fanbases and IP for more than 200 federations, associations, events, and teams, including the National Football League, English Premier League, International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ATP and WTA Tours, the AELTC (Wimbledon), Euroleague Basketball, CONMEBOL, DP World Tour, and The R&A, as well as UFC, WWE, and PBR. IMG is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company.
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