Dignitaries joined officials and players at the SJM Macao Open 2026 press conference
(front row, left to right:) Debby Fu, Acting VP, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Eddie Li, General Manager, Macau Golf & Country Club; Chan Chak Mo, Member of the Executive Council, President of the Sports and Olympic Committee of Macau, China; David Rollo, Asian Tour COO; Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM Resorts; Lei Si Leng, Acting President, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Jasmine Lim, VP, Global Partnerships, IMG Golf; Macau Golf Association President Johnny Senna Fernandes; Siu Yu Hong, Macao Sports Committee Member, and Philip Cheang, VP, Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government.
(Back row, left to right) Sampson Zheng Yunhe; two-time Macao Open winner Zhang Lianwei and top Macao amateur Ma Kaijun.
MACAO - The Asian Tour’s SJM Macao Open has announced a brand-new initiative designed to give local golfers a direct pathway to the international stage.
Starting this year, the US$1 million tournament—scheduled to take place at the 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 event.
The inaugural recipient of this dedicated spot is 22-year-old Ma Kaijun, who finished as the top local player at the SJM Macao Open 2025. The Old Dominion University graduate, who has previously represented the city at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), expressed his excitement over the opportunity to play on home soil again.
"I am thrilled to be allowed to compete at the SJM Macao Open again," Ma said. "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."
Ma noted the importance of the tournament for up-and-coming players aiming for the professional ranks. "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, emphasized the tournament's critical role in building a sustainable golf ecosystem in the region.
"The SJM Macao Open is vital for the development of golf in Macao," Fernandes said. "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."
The 23rd edition of the tournament features a star-studded international field headlined by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, a former Open Championship winner, and South Korea’s Im Sung-jae, a two-time PGA Tour winner.
Stenson will be making his debut appearance in the region. "I am delighted to be coming to the vibrant city of Macao for the first time to compete at the SJM Macao Open," Stenson said. "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."
Meanwhile, Im returns to Macao looking to build on his strong performance from the previous year.
"I am looking forward to returning to Macao to compete at the SJM Macao Open," Im said. "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."
Organizers are leveraging the tournament to drive deeper community engagement and boost Macao's broader tourism appeal. The event is jointly organized 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.
Lei Si Leng, Acting President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, highlighted plans to expand the event’s footprint beyond the golf course.
"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," Lei said.
Lei added that community promotion efforts will be deepened this year to introduce golf to different age groups, alongside plans to 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, echoed these thoughts, noting the tournament's alignment with the city's strategic goals. "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, concluded by celebrating the event's enduring legacy. "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."
Source: Asia Pacific Golf Confederation
