07 Feb 2024

IF THE SECOND SEASON OF THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES IN 2023 IS ANY INDICATION, IT WILL ONLY GET BETTER FROM HERE.

2023 marked the second season of The International Series. Building on the inaugural season last year, the 2023 campaign delivered in some style, with an ambitious calendar boasting a set of 10 tournaments across Oman, Qatar, Thailand, Vietnam, England, Scotland, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

The International Series 2023 schedule attracted a roll call of major winners with an all-star cast that included Major winners Brooks Koepka, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia to name just a few. Rising star Andy Ogletree from the US emerged as The International Series Order of Merit winner and his win guaranteed a place on the 2024 LIV Golf League roster. Last year’s International Series Egypt champion showed his talent with two outright tournament victories across the season, in Qatar and England, as well as four top-10 finishes and two more in the top 20, in a consistent campaign where he made the cut in all 10 tournaments on the schedule. Midway through the season an innovative, new LIV Golf Promotions event was unveiled, offering three additional golden tickets to the LIV Golf League. It was confirmed that 32 spots would be open to the highest placed players on The International Series Order of Merit in a field that also offered places for tournament winners from a number of tours including the Asian Tour, Order of Merit leaders, plus different categories for leading pros and amateurs.

Kieran Vincent, who ultimately finished fourth in the OOM and won the International Series Vietnam, emerged from a thrilling play-off after a gruelling 36 holes of regulation play on the Sunday in Abu Dhabi to claim one of three spots on next season’s roster, following in the illustrious footsteps of his elder brother Scott, the first player to take the pathway by winning the 2022 Order of Merit.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “The International Series now provides a genuine opportunity for players from around the world to play at world-class destinations and courses over the season, as well as providing the chance to earn their place on the LIV Golf Promotions event. “This season was indeed ground-breaking, and players on The International Series have real evidence of the opportunities that await, should they have a good season.”

The US$2million International Series Oman teed off the season in real style with a statement of intent, as a world-class field that included Koepka, Garcia, Oosthuizen and more assembled at the stunning Al Mouj Golf destination in Muscat.

It was Japan’s Takumi Kanaya who emerged triumphant and claimed the US$360,000 winner’s cheque, finishing on 10 under, four shots ahead of Berry Henson of the US and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, with only 12 players under par after four days of drama. The Oman date was the first leg of a two-week Middle East swing, with the field moving on to the US$2.5 million international Series Qatar at the Doha Golf Club. American Ogletree underlined his strong credentials and laid down an early marker on his quest for the Order of Merit by securing a comfortable three shot victory.

Thai star Gunn Charoenkul was the nearest challenger, with compatriots Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Phachara Khongwatmai also in the top five. The Series moved on to Thailand the following month, for another US$2 million prize pool, and evergreen Australian Wade Ormsby held his nerve when it mattered with a birdie putt on the play-off hole to see off home hope Chonlatit Chuenboonngam and secure victory.

A month later, Zimbabwean Vincent showed his undoubted talent to hold off the challenge of LIV Golf star Anirban Lahiri and Kevin Yuan, securing his first ever tournament win in the International Series Vietnam. Fast forward to August, and a two-week swing in the United Kingdom where golf fans in both England and Scotland had the chance to see the cream of the Asian Tour in action. First up, and Ogletree was at it again in the International Series England, the 25-year-old carding a final-round 64 to run away with a seven-shot victory at Close House, with LIV Golf League stars Ian Poulter and Lahiri his nearest challengers on the Colt course. A week later and the series moved further north to the ‘home of golf’, for the St Andrews Bay Championship and a real thriller on the Torrance Course at the Fairmont St Andrews.

In the end it was LIV Golf League’s Spanish star Eugenio Chacarra who edged out Matt Jones of Australia on the 10th sudden death play-off hole, a record on the Asian Tour. The pair had both birdied the final hole in normal time to finish tied on 19 under. A month later, Chacarra’s compatriot and fellow LIV Golf League star David Puig ended his long search for a first maiden win at the International Series Singapore. The Torque GC player, who had come close several times on The International Series since turning pro in 2022, secured a dominant five-shot wire-to-wire victory, finishing 19-under on the Tampines course at Tanah Merah, without ever being troubled by nearest challenger Jaewoong Eom of Korea.

The final three International Series events of the season all took place in a three-week swing. Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut claimed victory in the Volvo China Open, with a third-round 65 and final-day 64 for a six-shot win. Hong Kong youngster Taichi Kho and local hope Chen Guxin were his nearest challengers.

The following week, Ben Campbell from New Zealand completed an incredible victory at the Hong Kong Open, taking the lead for the first time in the entire four days on the final hole to see off former Open champion Cameron Smith and Phachara Khongwatmai in a thrilling finish at Fanling. Finally, Gaganjeet Bhulllar put in one of the performances of the season for a wire-to-wire victory at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, winning the series-ending BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE by five shots from Indian compatriot Karandeep Kochhar, with in-form Campbell and Puig a shot further back. With tournament winners coming from Japan, America, Australia, Zimbabwe, Spain, Thailand, New Zealand and India, there can be no doubting the truly international aspect of The International Series over the course of the 2023 season.