Indonesian Masters: Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker headline field

The Indonesian Masters closes the 2017 Asian Tour schedule, with Justin Rose and Brandt Snedeker leading a field of strong players from around the world.

In the middle of December, hardcore golf fans are grasping for anything they can find for live golf. Tiger’s return a couple weeks ago at the Hero World Challenge provided some ample silly season filler, but the drudge has resumed until January for the PGA Tour‘s Hawaiian swing and the Euro Tour’s return to South Africa. The Asian Tour gets its time in the spotlight this week, hosting the sixth edition of the Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club in the country’s capitol.

It’s the final tournament of the 2017 Asian Tour schedule, and the top 60 finishers in the standings will retain their cards.

This event has basically been the Lee Westwood Invitational as the Englishman’s won three times here, most recently in 2015. He isn’t in the field this year, but there’s another Englishman who will be the favorite to claim the big check (though he likely already has an appearance fee locked up before hitting the first tee shot).

Who’s in the field?

Making his way to Jakarta for the first time is world No. 6 Justin Rose. After taking a month off early in the fall, the Englishman has been busy, but  successful, since.

He went back-to-back at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Turkish Airlines Open, followed by top-10s at the DP World Tour Championship, UBS Hong Kong Open and the Hero World Challenge.

Rose is celebrating his wedding anniversary with wife, Kate, so he’ll be a lot more relaxed than those battling to keep their cards.

“There’s going to be a lot of guys grinding to have a good week and it’s an important week for a lot of guys,” Rose said in a report by AFP News Agency. “For me, it’s a nice week to continue to play right before Christmas, but more of a fun trip for us than anything else.”

Eight-time PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker will join Rose as a headliner as the American works his way back from a sternum injury. Snedeker admirably tied for 29th last month at the RSM Classic in his first event since June.

Snedeker’s ranking has fallen from 28 to 51 since the summer, meaning he needs a good week to climb back into the world top 50 to earn a spot into the Masters in April.

Recent European Tour winner No. 54 Dylan Fritelli, No. 56 Kiradech Aphibarnrat and No. 58 Yusaku Miyazato are also in the field and in the same boat as Snedeker as far as trying to reach Augusta. No. 50 Satoshi Kodaira is hoping to maintain or improve his position.

Next: European Tour: Shubhankar Sharma wins Joburg Open

Other notable names in the field: Scott Hend, Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Gavin Green, Thongchai Jaidee, defending champion Poom Saksanin and Indonesia’s top-ranked golfer No. 811 Rory Hie.