John Catlin Wins Hong Kong Open, Books Masters, Open Spots

By Staff Writer

October 26, 2026

2 min read

LoopGolf

Key takeaways

John Catlin won the Hong Kong Open by five shots, earning debut spots in the 2026 Masters and a return to The Open Championship.
Anirban Lahiri lost his share of the 54-hole lead after a one-stroke penalty for inadvertently moving his ball on the 18th hole in round three.
Lahiri shot 62-68-67 through three rounds before finishing T17th at 9 under.
Catlin's win is his sixth national open title, adding to victories in Austria, England, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Runner-up Matthew Cheung of Hong Kong pushed Catlin until a final birdie at the 17th hole sealed the five-shot margin.

John Catlin won the Hong Kong Open by five shots on Sunday at Hong Kong Golf Club, a victory that secures him debut invitations to the 2026 Masters and a return trip to The Open Championship. Co-leader Anirban Lahiri fell away after a one-stroke penalty wiped out his overnight share of the lead.

What happened to Anirban Lahiri?

Lahiri had shared the lead through 54 holes on rounds of 62-68-67, but a penalty was assessed after he was deemed to have inadvertently moved his ball before a chip on the 18th hole in round three, according to golf writer Joy Chakravarty. The penalty pushed him a stroke behind the leaders before his final round even began. A double bogey on the first hole continued the slide, and three bogeys in a four-hole stretch around the turn ended any hope of a title charge. Lahiri, who plays for LIV Golf's Crushers GC, closed at 9 under and finished T17th.

How did John Catlin win the Hong Kong Open?

Catlin, a reserve on LIV Golf, started alongside Caleb Surratt and Thomas Pieters and opened with three straight pars before a bogey sandwiched between two birdies ahead of the turn. He pulled away on the back nine with four gains between the 10th and 14th holes, then added one more birdie at the 17th to hold off Hong Kong's Matthew Cheung. The win is Catlin's sixth national open title, following victories in Austria, England, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

What's next for Catlin?

The result gives Catlin his first trip to Augusta National and a chance to better his previous high finish, a tie for 16th at The Open Championship. "It's truly special," Catlin said of reaching six national open titles.