The International Series extends global reach with new markets and increased prize funds announced as part of 2024 schedule

                             

Seven world-class destinations have been confirmed by The International Series as part of its 10-tournament schedule for the 2024 season.   Boasting an increased prize pool of US$23 million, the pathway series to the LIV Golf League, sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will once again commence the year in Oman before making further return journeys to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Morocco, and Qatar.   Following the announcement in November of the inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn, the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers has also been confirmed as a further addition to The International Series 2024 schedule.

The following tournaments are all confirmed for the 2024 Asian Tour calendar:   International Series Oman | 22-25 February | US$2 million International Series Macau presented by Wynn | 14-17 March | US$2 million International Series Morocco | 04-07 July | US$2 million Indonesian Masters | 31 October-03 November | US$2 million International Series Qatar | 28 November-01 December | US$2.5 million Hong Kong Open | Dates TBC | US$2 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers | Dates TBC | US$5 million   Three further venues will be announced to complete the 10-event series that comprises the International Series, integrated into the Asian Tour schedule, with all tournaments carrying a minimum US$2 million prize fund.    Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series said: “Competition to host International Series events has been high, with interest coming from around the globe as venues, destinations and stakeholders embrace the new competition and excitement that The International Series has brought since launching in 2022.   “We remain committed to our mission of enhancing opportunities for players around the world and an open player pathway into the LIV Golf League and are excited to add some marquee events to the schedule for 2024.   “This will be a landmark season for The International Series, and we continue to go from strength to strength. We remain committed to providing a transparent player pathway that enables global golfers to compete in our tournaments and take an opportunity to play over the season for a place on the LIV Golf League.   “With our first confirmed dates for the season spanning the Arabian Gulf, China's southern coast, southeast Asia and North Africa, the schedule underscores our commitment to being a truly International Series.”   Singh concluded: “Oman once again provides a fitting curtain raiser to the season, while Macau breaks new ground for us in a region that has a rich heritage of golf. By returning to Morocco for the first time since our inaugural season, we have compelling proof that our events are an attractive proposition to destinations with world-class golfing pedigree.”

LIV Golf Mayakoba 02-04 February 2024 LIV Golf Las Vegas 08-10 February 2024 International Series Oman 22-25 February 2024 LIV Golf Saudi Arabia 01-03 March 2024 LIV Golf Hong Kong 08-10 March 2024 International Series Macau 14-17 March 2024 LIV Golf USA 05-07 April 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide 26-28 April 2024 LIV Golf Singapore 03-05 May 2024 LIV Golf Houston 07-09 June 2024 LIV Golf Nashville 21-23 June 2024 International Series Morocco 04-07 July 2024 LIV Golf Andalucia 12-14 July 2024 LIV Golf UK 26-28 July 2024 LIV Golf Greenbrier 16-18 August 2024 Indonesian Masters 31 October – 03 November 2024 International Series Qatar 28 November – 01 December 2024

Blockbuster field set to take on the ‘Toon’ at International Series England

                       

 

Global golf stars are lining up to take on the ‘Toon’ at the acclaimed Close House in Newcastle for the US$2 million International Series England from August 17-20.   Lee Westwood, the former world number one with 44 career victories – including eight on the Asian Tour – spearheads a cohort of 10 LIV golfers set to wow the crowds over the Colt Course, situated just a few miles from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Despite being born and raised in Worksop, and an ardent Nottingham Forest FC fan, ‘Westy’ moved to the region a number of years ago and struck up a long-standing partnership with Close House as its attached tour professional.   Westwood said: “I’ve had the privilege of playing at home in tournament situations before, and there is truly nothing quite like it. Local excitement is building nicely with some of the players confirmed.”   “I’ve been embraced by the people of Northumbria since I set up home there; their passion for sport is unrivaled and the full field will feel that during the tournament week – the atmosphere will be tremendous.”   Tickets to The International Series England are available now from SeeTickets with prices starting from £10 and free admission for under-16s when entering with a paying adult.   Joining the Majesticks Team co-captain are 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell and this year’s PIF Saudi International victor Abraham Ancer. Like Ancer, whose most recent win netted a share of the US$5 million purse in Saudi Arabia, McDowell will be looking to improve on a single Asian Tour career victory, which came back in 2008 in South Korea.

Seven-time Asian Tour winner and LIV Golf player, Anirban Lahiri, will also make his second International Series appearance of the year, following an impressive runner-up finish at the Vietnam event back in April. On that occasion it was Kieran Vincent who emerged victorious, somewhat following in the footsteps of older brother Scott, who earned a place in the 2023 LIV Golf League by topping The International Series 2022 Order of Merit (OOM).   Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and American Jason Kokrak also make International Series returns after teeing it up in the first event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 schedule in Oman. Meanwhile, England’s Richard Bland, Brendan Steele of the United States and South Africa’s Dean Burmester will make their debuts.

Signalling the halfway point of The International Series 2023 season, the event at Close House will be pivotal for players looking to climb The International Series OOM, currently led by the only two-time International Series winner, Andy Ogletree.   As expected, there is already fierce competition to finish within the top 32 places come the end of the season. At that juncture, the player in the no.1 position will punch his ticket directly to the ultra-lucrative 2024 LIV Golf League, while the remaining 31 players will secure entry into the LIV Golf Promotions Event to vie for three further places up for grabs.   Among those leading the charge to dethrone the current number one are several of the Asian Tour’s brightest stars, including a quartet of Thai golfers: Gunn Charoenkul, Chonalatit Chuenboonngam, Sadom Kaewkanjan and Phachara Khongwatmai. All currently sit within the top 10 of The International Series OOM and are looking to secure their first International Series wins.

Head of The International Series, Rahul Singh, said: “Having the likes of Lee Westwood, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer and other LIV stars confirmed for International Series England is demonstrative of the growing strength of The International Series and the allure of the fabulous Lee Westwood Colt Course at Close House.   “We are returning to England’s North East after being made to feel so welcome last year, despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic. We are ready to renew the fervour this year and welcome spectators to what stands to be the biggest International Series event yet.”   More information about the International Series England, can be found by visiting: Asian Tour | Professional Golf Tour in Asia

The International Series congratulates 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka on fifth Major victory

               

  

After entering the history books with a record-breaking victory in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, NY, The International Series has offered its congratulations to the now five-time Major champion, Brooks Koepka. Amid a well-documented road to recovery from injury, the 33-year-old helped kickstart the 2023 Asian Tour schedule by teeing-up in the first International Series event of the year, held at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, in Oman.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “It’s wonderful to see Brooks back where he belongs, competing at the highest level for the biggest prizes in the sport. From everyone at The International Series, I offer our most heartfelt congratulations on his history-making performance.   “Brooks is an inspiration to tour players around the world and while his supreme talent has always stood him out, there’s no doubt his early career spent teeing up in numerous different locations around Europe and the Middle East helped make him a more rounded golfer.”   The International Series 2023 schedule includes 10 events staged throughout the year across Asia, Europe and the Middle East in a mix of established and emerging golf markets, contributing US$19m to the Asian Tour’s total prize fund.   The next International Series event will take place at Close House, Newcastle, England on 17-20 August.   For more information, please click here.

Image Caption:   MUSCAT, Oman: Brooks Koepka of the USA during Round Two on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the International Series Oman. The US$2 million golf tournament was held from February 9-12, 2023 at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

Kieran Vincent leapfrogs International Series Order of Merit with first professional win

  

 

A 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole by Kieran Vincent to win the International Series Vietnam on Sunday at KN Golf Links has rocketed the Zimbabwean into third place in the International Series Order of Merit (OOM) and fourth place in the Asian Tour (OOM).   The 25-year-old was in 42nd position in the International Series OOM and 64th on the Asian Tour merit list before his success last week, which was his first victory in the professional game. He only made the transition to the play for pay game last June.   “Surreal I think that’s the only answer I can come up with right now!” said Vincent, whose brother Scott won the International Series England last year, as well as the International Series OOM, which earned him a place on this year’s LIV Golf League.   “It’s just a cool experience, Vietnam’s been great, I’ve just enjoyed this week and enjoyed my time out here, so it’s just been surreal, and it hasn’t sunk in yet.   “As I was saying to a bunch of guys at the beginning of this week, I am just happy enough to keep my card so to be lifting a trophy at the end of the week I think is beyond my expectations, so I am just loving this moment right now.”

Vincent said his older brother Scott has truly inspired him to record his first professional win by telling him that he must impose trust in his own abilities.   He said: “It’s just been awesome, you know just being able to have him as a friend to call me or a buddy to be able to reach out to whenever it is – last night on the last putt over there (in round three) it snuck past me and he was the first person I got a text from saying ‘hey the stroke and everything was good, whatever you have you’ve just got to trust yourself and go after it tomorrow’, so that’s all I did, was just be able to kind of put that behind me and just go out there and just enjoy the day.”   Entry criteria to the LIV Golf Promotions tournament, a qualifying event for the 2024 LIV Golf League, includes those placed 2-32 in the International Series OOM, with three qualifying exemptions into all the following season’s LIV Golf League events.   The Zimbabwean was joined in the field by 21-time tournament winner Paul Casey and seven-time Asian Tour winner Anirban Lahiri who finished in 27th and 2nd place respectively.   Added Vincent: “It’s a huge bridge, it’s given us the opportunity to play against some awesome guys (on The International Series), Paul Casey is out this week, a guy that I have looked to play against when I was growing up, so just being able to be in the same field as him amongst other guys I think it gives us the opportunity to learn from them and just grow as players I would say.”   Up next for The International Series, the premier events on a rapidly growing Asian Tour, is the International Series England, to be played at Close House in Newcastle, from August 17-20.

Image Caption:   CAM RANH, VIETNAM: Kieran Vincent of Zimbabwe pictured with the winner's trophy on Sunday April 16, 2023 during Round Four of the International Series Vietnam at the KN Golf Links, Cam Ranh. The US$ 2 million Asian Tour event is staged from April 17, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.   T

The International Series continues in Qatar at Doha Golf Club

                  

 

Doha Golf Club welcomed the next event of The International Series as part of The Asian Tour, with stalwarts Scott Hend and Shiv Kapur joined by American Andy Ogletree and South Korean Sangmoon Bae.   The elevated series descends on Qatar for the first time as the second event of the 2023 season begins at one of Qatar’s oldest golf courses. The players came together in front of the Qatar skyline on the conjoined 9th and 18th greens as they welcomed in this week’s event.

The full list of tournament entries for The International Series Qatar can be viewed here.   More information about the International Series Qatar, can be found by visiting: Asian Tour | Professional Golf Tour in Asia

Image Caption   Doha, Qatar: Scott Hend of Australia, Andy Ogletree of the USA, Shiv Kapur of India and Sangmoon Bae of Korea pictured on the 18th green during an official practice round on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at the International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club. The US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.