Local heroes ready to embrace opportunity at International Series Macau presented by Wynn

(Wynn Resorts Macau, China, 19 March 2025) A local quartet of Macau players will be taking the next steps in their fledgling careers at the star-studded International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where a heavyweight field will battle it out for one of three spots at The Open Championship this year.

The International Series, a set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour, already offers a proven pathway onto the LIV Golf League. But as an Open Qualifying event, the Macau date now gives the 156-man field a chance of qualifying for the final major of the 2025 season, at Royal Portrush in July.

Three major champions and 17 LIV Golf League stars are in the field at Macau Golf and Country Club from 20-23 March. 

Among the big names, some local talent will be looking to make a mark and gain some invaluable experience.

Amateur Lei Kun Wang is in the first group out on day one at 06:45am while Ronnie Pui (local name Pui In Hun) goes out from the 10th tee at 11:35am. 

Scotland’s Ollie Roberts, a Macau Golf and Country Club ambassador, will go out in the final group from one at 1:30pm, with Kelvin Si (local name Ngai Si) on the opposite side of the draw from hole 10 at the same time.

It will be a second appearance at International Series Macau presented by Wynn for Kelvin and Ronnie. Last year both finished two over par, missing the cut by six, but both believe the experience will help their development in the long run.

Kelvin went on to make the cut at the SJM Macao Open, before securing his 2025 Asian Tour card at Q School in December.

Kelvin, who is studying a masters in finance at the University of San Diego after four years of college golf, believes he has learned a lot thanks to his experience on The International Series. 

The 22-year-old said: “You can watch all these incredible players and you can improve in lots of different areas. For me, I took the experience (the missed cut), and I made the cut for the weekend at the Macao Open later in October. It was fantastic, I now have some experience of making the cut I can carry with me into this week, along with my experience of the course. 

“I think it will be really scorable if the wind calms down. But it is a really good field, especially with the opportunity for The Open qualifying, so I guess everyone is just looking at the opportunity they have this year. Because of that, I think this particular edition of The International Series has taken things to another level.“

Ronnie, 24, said: “Hopefully because I have the course knowledge, I can put less pressure on myself. It is my home course. I grew up here. I have played golf here for 18 years. I know the course, and so I am feeling confident. 

“The conditions are actually a little different than I used to play on the rough is a little thicker and greens are way faster. But besides that, I am still playing four rounds on my home course.”

Ronnie points to last season’s experience, when he ended up practicing with a Ryder Cup legend, as an example of what The International Series offers young up and coming talent. 

“Actually, last year, I saw Ian Poulter putting on the putting green. I was putting on the hole at the time, and he came over and putted on the same hole with me. So that was kind of cool. It is great to be able to play a tournament with such great players, and having such great players in our field to play in Macau.”

Scotland-born Roberts, at six foot six inches tall, is looking to make a big impression in a heavyweight field that includes three major champions in Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Patrick Reed, as well as former winners on the course that include defending champion John Catlin, LIV Golf’s Anirban Lahiri, and two-time winners Gaganjeet Bhullar and Scott Hend. 

Roberts, 32, has course knowledge of his own that he would hope to draw on. The son of Macau Golf and Country Club pro Iain Roberts, he said: “It is quite an old school Asian golf course. If the wind gets up, you have got to be accurate and hit the fairways. 

“The wedge game is really important, and big bombers do not really have much of an advantage out here. You have to hit it straight, and on the Greens if you leave yourself any downhill sliders, you just cannot make that many. It is more about strategy and picking your spots. 

“I think the biggest thing is just to have no expectations. It is nice to have local support, it is great when the members come out and cheer us on so I just have to make sure I play my own game and see what happens. We know how to tear it up. We also know where the danger lies, so local knowledge is an advantage and a disadvantage.”