Designated as the Tour’s flagship event in 2017, it has been a difficult time for the tournament which hasn’t been played since 2019 courtesy of the pandemic.

But it is back with a vengeance this week with a stellar field and an increased purse courtesy of its newfound status as an International Series event.

Boasting a US$1.5 million purse, tournament organisers are billing the tournament as Indonesia’s most lucrative sporting event. Not bad for an event that only came into existence 11 years ago.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: 2019 was a breakout year for Thai star Jazz Janewattananond including his third of four wins for the year at the Indonesian Masters.

The then 24-year-old parlayed a one stroke overnight lead into a five shot victory with a brilliant Sunday 65 to not only seal that year’s Order of Merit but also book a place in the following year’s Masters.

COURSE: The Royale Jakarta Golf Club is a collection of three nine-hole loops designed by American course architect Bob Moore and built in 2008.

With a population of 10 million people it was quite the feat to find a site for 27 holes of golf in Indonesia’s biggest city and among the common themes in reviews of the course is the omnipresent battle with traffic to get there.

RIGHT: Jazz Janewattananond took the title home in 2019 when this event was last played. PHOTO: GOH CHAI HIN/AFP via Getty Images.

Water features heavily on the course for those who survive the traffic ordeal and aesthetically Royale Jakarta would not look out of place in Florida or Queensland’s Gold Coast.

While intimidating and no doubt penal for the recreational players who frequent the course most of the year the professionals have generally found scoring on the easy side.

Justin Rose set the tournament scoring record in 2017 with an impressive 29-under-par and was eight shots clear of the chasing pack.

Only once – in 2015 – has the winning score not been double digits in the red, Lee Westwood taking the title for the third time in a play-off over Chapchai Nirat after both finished seven-under-par.

PRIZEMONEY: US$1,500,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: A strong field has been assembled for the final event of the year with several LIV Golf regulars making the trip to Indonesia for the tournament.

Among the biggest names – and those likely to be in contention – are Bernd Wiesberger, Graeme McDowell, Andy Ogletree and Lee Westwood.

Westwood has a liking for this course and could be worth watching this week having won three times including back-to-back the first two years the event was staged.

While unlikely to be a factor on Sunday, Ernie Els is also in the field and regardless of his finish will no doubt delight local fans simply with his presence.

At the pointier end of the competition expect some compelling golf with several players mathematically in contention for the International Series order of Merit and a place in the 2023 LIV Golf League.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent holds top spot coming into the week with an almost US$70,00 lead over American Siwhan Kim and it is most likely the OOM winner will come from those two.

However, with such high stakes in play expect those with a mathematical chance to win the Order of Merit to be in the mix come Sunday, not the least of those being defending champion Jazz Janewattanond.

The Thai star has shown a liking for the Royale Jakarta layout over the years with a runner-up finish in 2018, the year before his victory here.

Janewattanond is fourth on the Order of Merit a little more than US$150,000 behind Vincent.

72-HOLE RECORD: 259 (-29, Justin Rose, 2017)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australian has won the event.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Travis Smyth, Scott Hend, Brett Rumford, Kevin Yuan, Sam Brazel and Daniel Fox.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 5pm – 9pm)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 5pm – 9pm)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 7pm – 9pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 5pm – 7pm)
*AEDT, check local guides