John Catlin wins the 2026 Hong Kong Open as Moutai stages brand activation

American golfer John Catlin won the 2026 Link Hong Kong Open at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling with a 20-under-par total. The tournament also served as a cultural showcase for Moutai, which hosted a brand experience zone and cocktail program for players and guests.

Why it matters: - The Link Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s longest-running professional sporting event and one of the few golf tournaments played at the same course for more than six decades. - The event is the eighth stop on The International Series schedule for 2026, with season-long ranking spots tied to places in the following season’s LIV Golf League. - Moutai used the tournament to reach an international golf audience and present Jiang-aroma baijiu as part of a broader cultural experience.

What happened: - John Catlin won the 2026 Link Hong Kong Open at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling after four rounds and 72 holes. - Catlin finished at 260, 20 under par, and won by five strokes. - Catlin closed with a 64, 6 under par, in the final round. - Matthew Cheung of Hong Kong and Kalle Samooja of Finland stayed in contention until the final hole.

The details: - The Link Hong Kong Open first began in 1959. - The tournament has been played at Fanling for more than six decades. - Moutai served as a Premier Partner of the Link Hong Kong Open. - Moutai set up a brand experience zone at the venue. - Guest mixologists created cocktails using Moutai as the base spirit and blended it with other flavors. - International players and guests sampled the drinks and experienced Jiang-aroma baijiu. - Jiang Senlin, chairman of Zhongcai International Financial Services Co., Ltd., said a Moutai cocktail during a break helped ease tension and offered a relaxed way to appreciate Chinese culture. - The event positioned golf competition and baijiu culture as parallel expressions of craftsmanship and tradition.

Between the lines: - The tournament gave Moutai a platform to connect with elite international audiences in Hong Kong. - The brand activation framed baijiu as a cultural product, not just a beverage, by tying it to hospitality and sport. - The language around heritage and craftsmanship suggests Moutai is using marquee sports sponsorships to support premium brand positioning overseas.

What's next: - The International Series season continues, with ranking results still determining LIV Golf League opportunities for the following season. - Moutai is likely to keep using major sports events to expand consumer exposure and reinforce its cultural identity. - The Hong Kong Open will return to Fanling next year as part of its long-running place in the region’s golf calendar. - More information is available on Moutai’s website.