A fascinating mix of proven winners, rising stars and promising young talents will take on Saujana Golf & Country Club’s Palm Course in the third edition of the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A.

The fourth leg of the 2026 Asian Development Tour (ADT), its second stop in Malaysia this season, starts on Wednesday with a 144-player field competing over 72 holes for a total purse of US$110,000.

Reflecting The R&A’s and the ADT’s shared mission to provide pathways for aspiring young golfers to reach their full potentials, 14 amateurs from seven Asia-Pacific countries are competing on invitational starts – including highly-rated Malaysians, Anson Yeo, Hariz Hezri and Aiden Kei, as well as players from less established golfing nations such as Pakistan and Nepal. The top two amateurs who make the cut will receive exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School for 2027.

Central Asia is not left out with two professionals from Uzbekistan, Kanatbek Kurbanaliev and Chen Sergey, set to test their skills against some of the best golfers in the region.

Defending champion Waris Manthorn of Thailand, who won a playoff last October at Luisita Golf & Country Club in the Philippines, will need to have his ‘A Game’ if he hopes to make a successful defence. Standing in his way are the likes of in-form compatriot Amarin Kraivixien, winner of last month’s Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship, who will bring ability and confidence into the mix.

Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam, winner of the ADT’s season-opening PKNS Selangor Masters in February, will be hoping that Malaysian vibes chime a winning note for him again. Working in Chiam’s favour is the fact that he has won at the Palm Course before, way back in 2013 at the Saujana Amateur Championship when he was just 17.

“Managing your game around the Palm Course is important, and you need a good gameplan. Stick to that plan, just stay patient and wait for the putts to drop,” noted Chiam, who turned professional in 2021.

“My game is looking good and I’ve been playing steadily. My target is to win, for sure, and to have fun. I have a good chance, so I’ll do my best to make the most of it,” added the amiable 30-year-old.

Another player who has fond memories of ‘The Cobra’ – as the Palm Course is respectfully monikered – is Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng. The 31-year-old won his second ADT title at the 2019 PGM Maybank Championship here, edging Malaysian number one Gavin Green in a playoff.

Japanese stalwart Shinichi Mizuno has also won an ADT event at Saujana, at the 2018 PGM Maybank Championship which was contested on the club’s other course, the Bunga Raya.

The highest-ranked Malaysian in the field, Shahriffuddin Ariffin, will have added incentive to do well at Saujana as he is the club’s touring professional. The 26-year-old will have fresh memories of a victory at the Palm Course, achieved at the 2022 PGM Maybank Championship when it was played as a domestic tour event.

“I’m really happy to be back at my home course, Saujana. This is a good opportunity for me to play well on my home ground, in front of family and friends,” said Shahriffuddin, who has won twice on the ADT on home soil, most recently at the 2022 PKNS Selangor Masters.

“You have to keep the ball in play on the Palm Course, and focus on getting the right putting lines as the greens are very challenging. And you need a good short game to get up and down from off the greens,” he added.

Another local player who will be in the spotlight is Edven Ying, who made history last December when he became the first Malaysian to win the Thailand Open. The powerful 24-year-old won the All Thailand Golf Tour showpiece by two shots over 2024 ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A winner Nopparat Panichphol, and another Thai, Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour.