Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren secured his first Asian Tour title after edging Australia’s Jack Thompson by one shot at the Saudi Open presented by PIF, following a tense final-round duel at Dirab Golf & Country Club. Playing together in the same group throughout the week, Hellgren closed with a five-under-par 67 to finish at 23-under, while Thompson carded a 68 in the season-ending event.
Hellgren held a one-shot lead heading to the par-five 18th, where Thompson narrowly missed an eagle putt from 30 feet. After Thompson made birdie, the pressure was firmly on the Swede, who calmly holed a six-foot birdie putt to seal victory and avoid a playoff. The win marked a breakthrough moment for Hellgren, who had previously led tournaments but had not converted until now.
Malaysia’s Ervin Chang and American Charles Porter tied for third at 20 under. Chang capped an impressive week with a 68, climbing from 75th to 41st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit to retain his playing rights for next season. Porter, a graduate from this year’s Qualifying School, finished with a 69 to continue his steady rise on Tour.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa also enjoyed a significant day, securing the Asian Tour Order of Merit title. A closing 68 saw him finish seventh and comfortably ahead of Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who needed either a win or second place to overtake Higa. Higa becomes the first Japanese golfer to claim the prestigious Merit crown.
Hellgren’s victory was particularly meaningful after several challenging seasons on Tour. Arriving in Asia in 2020 with strong credentials, his progress was disrupted by the pandemic and inconsistent results, with a tie for third at the 2022 Yeangder TPC previously standing as his best finish. He credited recent time spent with his family for helping him reset mentally and emotionally.
Thompson, meanwhile, also achieved his primary objective for the week. Starting the tournament 62nd on the Merit list, his runner-up finish lifted him to 21st, ensuring he comfortably retained his card for next season despite missing out on the title.
Hellgren’s win makes him the eighth Swedish golfer to triumph on the Asian Tour since 2004, and the first since Malcolm Kokocinski’s victory at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open in 2018, closing the season with a memorable and hard-earned success.
About Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is 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.
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. 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.
Rolex, Kweichow Moutai and Bluewater are the Tour’s three main partners.
The Tour also operates the Asian Development Tour, the popular feeder circuit that nurtures the next generation of stars.
In 2018, it set up Asian Tour Destinations, an affiliate network with exclusive, world-class golfing venues across the region.
The Tour is headquartered on Sentosa Island in Singapore, home to the award winning Sentosa Golf Club, a member of Asian Tour Destinations.
