Buchanan and Coletta earn important playing rights
Brett Coletta – an important week for the Victorian in Saudi Arabia – image Australian Golf Media
Australians Brett Coletta and Jack Buchanan have added another strong to their bows following the completion of LIV Golf Promotions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia overnight.
The event was staged to determine who would graduate to the LIV Golf League in 2025 and while that honour would go to only the top qualifier there were another ten places available for the lucrative International Series events which form part of the Asian Tour schedule.
Coletta and Buchanan finished in a share of 4th position and so will add eight of the International Series events to their schedule in 2025, each expected to carry prizemoney of at least US$2 million.
Coletta played the Korn Ferry Tour for several seasons but in recent years he has focused his attention on the PGA Tour of Australasia and wherever else he has been able to gain a start.
By finishing third on last year’s PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit Coletta has his DP World Tour card for this new season there but this additional playing option offers him the possibility of a full schedule.
The winner of both the Queensland and Vic Opens, Coletta is considered by many to be a significantly better player than his results to date have suggested and despite some ordinary recent form this might be just the boost he needs to elevate his career.
South Australian Buchanan is currently in 4th position on the current PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, following wins in Kalgoorlie and Adelaide and despite missing the cut in last week’s Vic PGA Championship his trip to Saudi Arabia has proven very worthwhile.
Buchanan is arguably, perhaps along with Elvis Smylie, the most improved player on the PGA Tour of Australasia and his progress over the next few months will be watched with interest.
The winner of the event, and the man who will be playing LIV Golf next season, is Lee Chieh-po of Taiwan.
