The DP World Tour returned to the Far East for the first time since 2019 with a three-event Asian Swing.
Following on from a four-week run in the United Arab Emirates, the DP World Tour made eagerly anticipated returns to Singapore, Thailand and India.
As the schedule pauses for the first time in 2023, we look back on the past three weeks in Asia.
Strydom surges to Singapore win
After a nine-year wait, the DP World Tour returned to Singapore where South African Ockie Strydom claimed his second title in three months.
Strydom, who won the Alfred Dunhill Championship on home soil earlier in the season, fired a closing bogey-free nine under par 63 to win the inaugural Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
Sami Välimäki appeared well set to end his near three-year wait for a second Tour title when the Finn moved into a three-shot lead after ten holes in the final round.
However, Strydom worked his way back into a share of the lead on two occasions before the decisive moment came when he made his ninth birdie of the day with an impressive up and down from beyond the 18th green.
"I was thinking about not being here this week because I was hitting it so badly,” he said. “My coach flew in and my wife said to me, ‘listen, maybe this is your week’. And look what happened, it’s my week.”
Olesen eases to four-shot Thailand triumph
A week later, Amata Spring Country Club played host to the Thailand Classic as it made its return after a seven-year absence from the schedule.
The event saw Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee enjoy the comforts of playing on home soil, but it was Thorbjørn Olesen who lifted the trophy.
In a week tinged with sadness as the Tour lost legendary referee John Paramor, Ryder Cup star Olesen made a successful first appearance in Thailand.
The Dane, who won the Betfred British Masters last year, held a two-shot lead heading into the final round and was never caught by the chasing pack as he went on to win by four shots from German Yannik Paul.
Despite facing pressure from countryman Nicolai Højgaard on the front nine, Olesen seized control with a hat-trick of birdies from the 13th to claim his seventh Tour success and move back inside the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
“I feel like the way I played today under pressure is something that gives me a lot of confidence going forward,” he said. “There is still a lot of work to do, but this is a big step in the right direction.”
Siem ends long wait for fifth DP World Tour title
After four years away due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hero Indian Open made a welcome return to the DP World Tour schedule at the imposing DLF Golf and Country Club.
Marcel Siem celebrated a memorable return to the winner’s circle after he fought off fellow German Yannik Paul to claim his fifth DP World Tour victory, eight years and 116 days on from his last DP World Tour victory at the BMW Masters.
The 42-year-old, who secured his card for the 2023 season at the Qualifying School in November, went into the final round one shot behind overnight leader Paul but made four birdies over the first 11 holes to move two strokes clear.
Despite a bogey at the 13th, Siem recovered to birdie the 15th and regain the solo lead before parring his way home to triumph in his 502nd DP World Tour start.
The 42-year-old has enjoyed a stellar start to the season, registering five top 20s in addition to his victory and is yet to miss a cut.
"Winning a golf tournament, being back in the winner’s circle now, it means everything to me,” he added. “It’s just unbelievable.”
