Seven-time professional tour champion Sungjae Im and Wang Wei-hsuan of Chinese Taipei will head to the final round of the SJM Macao Open 2026 as joint leaders after carding a total 14-under-par after three rounds of competition.
Korean star Im had a mixed day by his standards. He started the day three shots ahead of the field but was only able to improve his score by one after a five birdie, two bogey, and one double bogey round.
The highest-ranked player in the SJM Macao Open 2026 draw said: “Today was not as good as the first two days, but I am glad it was still an under-par round. The conditions were definitely different today with more back-to-back wind, and much stronger than before. The pins were also harder, and the fact that the wind direction kept changing, which made today difficult.”
Last year’s runner-up Wang continued his impressive run through the tournament with a steady three-under-par, total-67, third round effort. The 27-year-old, who lost a tightly contested sudden-death play-off against Dominic Foos last year, remains on track for back-to-back successful SJM Macao Open campaigns.
Wang commented: “The wind felt stronger today, and I was fortunate to be able to salvage pars on a few holes. I feel quite confident here at this tournament, it is a course I enjoy playing on. I will try and stay as relaxed as possible tomorrow during the final round. When facing world-class competitors, it is important to remain composed and stay in a relaxed state of mind to compete well.”
Justin Quiban of the Philippines and Chinese sensation Andi Xu find themselves at tied third place, four shots adrift of the leaders after solid third rounds of five-under-par and three-under-par, respectively.
The 24-year-old sensation from China, who became the first player from his country to win on the Asian Development Tour, said: “I think I did a good job focusing on my golf game. Playing with great players like Kevin Na and Charles Courter makes you appreciate the incredible opportunity of being out there competing. I focused on that, and less about the pressure, and being all tied up. The greens are pretty fast here so you cannot approach it too aggressively. I controlled my pace pretty well today. I am just trying to hit good putts and do my best out there.”
Many famous names are hot on the heels of the four at the top as Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, and Travis Smyth all carded impressive third rounds to lie only a further shot behind Quiban and Xu, at nine-under-par.
Title-sponsored by SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) for the fourth consecutive year, the prestigious event is one of the major sporting highlights on Macao’s annual international events calendar, and a cornerstone event on the Asian Tour, with a history of bringing amazing experiences for players and fans alike. The tournament will take place from 15-18 October at the spectacularly scenic Macau Golf & Country Club, located along the South China Sea, with international stars and elite regional talents competing for the coveted title.
In its 23-year history, the Macao Open has grown into a highlight on the Asian Tour calendar, attracting major champions such as Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Fred Couples, Padraig Harrington, and Vijay Singh. Zhang Lianwei, a pioneer of golf in China, has won the prestigious event twice and remains the only golfer to have successfully defended his title in the tournament’s history.
Admission to the SJM Macao Open 2026 is once again free to the public. Fans can register for complimentary tickets from today, with each person able to request up to four tickets. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit www.sjmmacaoopen.com.
