Macau Golf Association Lauds New Pathway for Amateurs

Macao, Special Administrative Region, China: The Asian Tour’s SJM Macao Open is offering a new pathway for Macanese players to showcase their talent on the international stage. 

Starting this year, the US$1 million tournament at Macau Golf & Country Club from October 15-18, will extend a dedicated invitation spot to the top-performing Macao golfer from the previous year's tournament.

This year’s recipient is Ma Kaijun, the top local finisher at SJM Macao Open 2025. The Old Dominion University graduate has also represented the city at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC).

Ma, aged 22, said: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to compete at the SJM Macao Open again. It always feels amazing to play in front of a home crowd, and I will do my best to represent Macao once more this year.

“The tournament allows young players like myself to test our game against some of the best in the world, and I will always be thankful to the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, SJM, and the Macau Golf Association for the opportunities they provide as I continue my journey to become a professional golfer.”

Johnny Senna Fernandes, President of the Macau Golf Association, said: “The SJM Macao Open is vital for the development of golf in Macao. Together with our partners, we will continue to grow Macao’s sport and golf culture, develop local talent, and give our rising stars every chance to succeed.

“The SJM Macao Open will continue to offer the best opportunity for our top local talents to compete against the best in the world, and empower the next generation to dream big and swing for the greens.”

Jointly organised by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (MSB), title sponsor SJM Resorts, SA (SJM) and IMG, and co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Macau Golf Association, this year’s 23rd edition of the tournament will be headlined by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, a former Open Championship winner, and Korean Im Sung-jae, a two-time PGA Tour winner.

Stenson said: “I am delighted to be coming to the vibrant city of Macao for the first time to compete at the SJM Macao Open. Many of the world’s best have played at the Macau Golf & Country Club and I cannot wait to experience the course for myself, and hopefully see my name amongst the greats on its roll of honour.”

Im added: “I am looking forward to returning to Macao to compete at the SJM Macao Open. I had a top-10 finish last year and hope to do even better this time around. I really enjoyed my time off the course in Macao last year with the warm welcome and great hospitality provided by SJM, and I am excited to revisit some of the places I visited and explore new ones.”

Lei Si Leng, Acting President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, said: “SJM Macao Open not only demonstrates Macao’s professional capability to host world-class large-scale sports events, but also successfully combines international sports with Macao’s unique cultural heritage, showcasing Macao’s distinct charm to the world.

“This year, community promotion efforts will be further deepened to introduce golf to people of different age groups. There are also plans to add cultural elements to the event and set up cultural and creative product booths at the venue. This will make the international event more diversified, while driving the development of Macao’s tourism and society through the synergy between sports and culture.”

Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, said: “The Macao Open is not only a stage for the world’s leading golfers to compete, but also an important platform through which SJM advances the integration of sports and tourism. Through this iconic event on the Asian Tour, we hope to showcase Macau’s diverse tourism appeal to the world and further strengthen its position as a vibrant City of Sports.”

David Rollo, the Asian Tour’s Chief Operating Officer, added: “The SJM Macao Open is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Asian Tour calendar. It is a true flagship tournament with a rich history that our players love, and the stunning views at Macau Golf and Country Club provide a spectacular backdrop. We look forward to continuing to grow this event with the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, SJM, Macau Golf Association, IMG, and other key partners.”