Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho believes time with the big guns on The International Series is having a real impact on his game, and he singled out Masters champion and 4Aces GC star Patrick Reed for special praise after progressing to Round 2 of the LIV Golf Promotions event in Riyadh.

A composed Taichi managed an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for a 6-under 65 to take a five-way share of second at Riyadh Golf Course alongside Ian Snyman of South Africa, one behind leader Jeunghun Wang of Korea who carded a 7-under 64 playing in the final group.

That was a great result for the 24-year-old with the top 20 and ties – 21 players in total – progressing to the second round where they will be joined by tournament winners from The International Series, Asian Tour and other tours as well as players relegated from the LIV Golf League this season.

Taichi played the first two rounds of the Link Hong Kong Open last month, the eighth event on The International Series season, with eventual champion Reed. Reed shot a sensational 59 around the Composite Course on his way to victory at Hong Kong Golf Club.

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Taichi credited time with Reed and other big names on The International Series, the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour, for his calm temperament with so much at stake.

“I think playing in those marquee groups with LIV players and major champions, gives me a good sense of belonging out there,” Taichi said. “I think a lot of the times you go out there and practice and play, but it is hard to gauge or envision yourself at the biggest stage before you are there. … But playing with these guys gives me a lot of self-belief and gives me a lot of confidence that this is my journey and that’s very attainable for me.

“For example, at the Link Hong Kong Open, playing with Patrick the first two rounds, he was nice enough to have dinner with myself and my family on Friday night. … Just to talk to him, not really about golf too much but just to understand how he approaches his game and how he approaches being a professional gives me a lot of insight into how he got to that level and how he’s sustaining that level.”

The fact that Reed carded a 59 the day after dinner was not lost on Taichi as he joked: “I might take one per cent credit, dinner must have been good. I gave him tips on how to eat Peking duck and things like that, but I think the golf was all him.”

Italian Stefano Mazzoli (-5), Gunn Chareonkul of Thailand (-5) and Gaganjeet Bhullar from India (-4) also made it into the second round.

Bhullar had to draw on all his resources to make the second round. The Olympian, an 11-time Asian Tour champion, was 1 under and way off the pace with time running out after a bogey on 14. But three birdies in his last four holes put him just inside the cut on 4 under, ready to fight another day.

He said: “I thought I played better than my scorecard. I was one under and made three birdies on the last four holes and that was much needed. The numbers were always juggling in my mind.

“It’s just like any other event in a way, but you don’t have to keep leading from day one. It is important to finish inside the top 20. Hopefully I can make the top 20 again and save energy, and then prepare for the last 36 holes.”

There was heartache for Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Chang Wei-Lun of Chinese Taipei, Australian Travis Smyth, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines and Swede Bjorn Hellgren after they finished just over the cut line on 3 under.

Australian veteran Wade Ormsby, Thailand’s David Boriboonsub and Sampson Zheng of China finished a shot further back, ahead of Jazz Janewattananond and Sadom Kaewkanjana with the Thai duo on one under.

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The International Series 2024 tournament winners Ben Campbell, John Catlin, Richard T Lee, Lee Chieh-po and MJ Maguire will join the field for round two alongside Asian Tour winners Steve Lewton, Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Jbe Kruger and Rattanon Wannasrichan, as well as other tour champions from 2024.

Relegated LIV Golf League stars Scott and Kieran Vincent, Branden Grace, Kalle Samooja and Hudson Swafford will also join the field, looking to win outright and reclaim a place on the roster.

The innovative LIV Golf Promotions tournament runs from Dec. 12-14 at Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia.

Main image: Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour