Banned golf star returns to £1.9m event after being caught cheating | Golf | Sport

Ryan Ang, the man infamous for allegedly taking a ball out of his pocket and dropping it onto the fairway at the Webex Players Series Mixed event in 2025, which led to his ban, is now competing on the DP World Tour. Ang secured a tied-sixth position on the China Tour’s Order of Merit leaderboard, earning him a spot in a DP World Tour event. Given Ang’s high profile on the Tour, he was automatically qualified for the DP World Tour’s tournament in China.

However, Ang’s past is marred with controversy. He received a suspension from the Australian Tour for cheating. Unsurprisingly, fans were not thrilled about Ang’s comeback. One social media user commented: “Sorry, guy should not be playing on any tour anywhere. Blatant cheating like this should be a permanent lifetime ban from competitive golf.”

More fans voiced their opinions on social media, as golf is renowned for its integrity and adherence to rules, even when no one is watching.

Another added: “Any suspensions for rules infractions should be handled through RandA and USGA. That will allow for uniform handling of cases, decent appeals procedures and justice will the be seen to be done.”

Ang qualified for the national team in 2020 and it was one of his most significant achievements. At the time, he said: “I am now able to represent the country and fly the flag high whilst playing a sport I love!”

Ang missed the cut at the £1.9million Hainan Classic with +6.

Ang was a part-time teaching assistant and is a second-year undergraduate in the SMU School of Accountancy. At the beginning of his career, Ang said he’d learnt a great deal from the sport ahead of his cheating scandal.

“I feel like playing the sport at such a high level has taught me many skills,” Ang told SMU.

“Managing my time well is one, as I’ve learned at a very young age, to balance my study schedule with that of golf training and set aside time for family and friends.

“Furthermore, it’s also taught me how to control my emotions and conduct myself properly, as how I behave on the golf course reflects my character and upbringing. Lastly, one of the many things competitive golf taught me is perseverance. I’ve come to realise that it takes a little extra to control my nerves and stay focused during the last few holes of a competition to emerge victorious.”