At this week’s season finale for the Saudi Open presented by PIF, the spotlight will be on the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Japan's Kazuki Higa is working to maintain his lead over Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, who is second and still hopes to claim the Merit title alongside his recent success in The International Rankings.
Meanwhile, the fight at the lower end of the leaderboard is just as intense, as many players strive to secure their Tour cards for the next season. The crucial cutoff is at position 65, which guarantees playing privileges for the following year.
Filipino golfer Sean Ramos currently holds that 65th spot, but that standing could shift when the $1 million event kicks off on Wednesday at Dirab Golf & Country Club. He is among several players precariously close to losing their status—the so-called “bubble boys.”
Several well-known players also need a strong performance this week to retain full Tour rights next year. One of these is Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who had an incredible run a few years ago with two wins in 2022 and another victory the next year. Yet this season has been tough for him; he sits in 95th place after missing nine cuts in 18 events and only managing a best finish tied for 23rd.
Thippong’s career saw a sharp turn from notable success—winning The DGC Open and International Series Singapore in 2022, earning a three-year exemption—to struggling this year as those exemptions expire. He currently has 116.69 points and needs at least a top-five finish this week to keep his Tour card.
Despite the challenges, the 29-year-old remains positive and focused on rebuilding his confidence. He admits to having struggled mentally and losing confidence in his swing, but he’s increasingly adopting a mindset that emphasizes enjoying the game rather than overthinking it.
He’s also been trying to make that positive mental shift carry over from practice to tournament rounds, where he’s noticed he tends to overthink more. The recent break since the International Series Morocco event provided him with valuable time to work on both his swing and mindset.
Nicknamed “Fever,” Thippong is determined to heat things up again and re-establish himself as one of the Asian Tour’s most promising young talents.