The 44th edition of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship is in full swing at the picturesque Namseoul Country Club in Seongnam-si, Korea, from May 1 to 4. A staple on both the Korean Tour and Asian Tour, this prestigious tournament boasts a prize purse of 1.3 billion KRW ($172,949 USD). With a 144-player field competing on one of South Korea’s most storied layouts, the tension and excitement are only mounting as the tournament progresses. This year’s roster includes top contenders like Jazz Janewattananond, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Scott Vincent, and local favorite Hyungjoon Lee. But all eyes are also on the defending champion, Hongtaek Kim, who stunned the field in 2024 with a clutch playoff victory and now looks to defend his title on home soil.

As the cut has narrowed the field down to the top 65 and ties, attention turns toward the lucrative payout. All players who make it through the full 72 holes are guaranteed a piece of the purse, but the difference between a top-10 and a 40th-place finish can mean tens of thousands of dollars. The winner this year will walk away with $172,949, while the runner-up will earn $105,691. The top three finishers all take home six-figure checks. Players finishing in the top 11 will all earn more than $16,000, while those at the bottom of the payout still leave with just over $2,500.

Now, with some of Asia’s finest vying for top honors and a generous payday, the final two rounds at Namseoul Country Club promise an intense finish. The stage is set for a champion to rise—and the prize is worth every stroke. But beyond the prize and prestige, another compelling storyline is unfolding—one that could challenge more than two decades of national dominance.

The GS Caltex Maekyung Open: A historic “high wall” for foreign contenders?

For over two decades, the GS Caltex Maekyung Open has stood as a symbolic “high wall” for international players. Since American Mark Calcavecchia’s victory in 2004, no foreign golfer has managed to lift the championship trophy—a 21-year drought that underscores the dominance of Korean players on home turf. However, the 44th edition of the tournament is beginning to shift that narrative.

This year, familiar foreign faces who know Korean courses well are mounting a serious challenge. Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar surged in the second round, sitting in the 10p-10 currently. Both players are seasoned veterans of the Asian Tour and former champions in Korean tournaments, giving them valuable course familiarity and fan recognition.

“I’ve definitely gained confidence,” said Janewattananond, while Bhullar noted his growing consistency and past near-miss at the Maekyung Open in 2018. The two are determined to rewrite history and break the long-standing Korean stronghold. Alongside them, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent is also eyeing the summit, reinforcing the belief that 2025 might finally be the year a foreign champion returns. The wall still stands. but it’s beginning to crack.