Ripper GC’s Jones sees potential for Australian progress through The International Series

HONG KONG - Ripper GC star Matt Jones believes The International Series offers a great pathway for young Australian professionals and says a number of compatriots playing on the Asian Tour could succeed him on the LIV Golf League if they continue to impress.

Jones delivered a strong performance over four rounds at the Link Hong Kong Open, finishing at 11-under (T26) at Fanling.

As the longest-serving member of Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC team alongside Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert, Jones was delighted to see the progress being made by Australians such as Travis Smyth and Maverick Antcliff.

"Someone has to come through and take over a spot eventually, but hopefully not too soon," Jones, 44, said with a laugh. "Hopefully I keep playing well enough to keep a spot on the team for as long as I can. But I'm sure there will be some new young blood coming through shortly.”

Antcliff and Smyth are just two shining examples of young Australian talent turning to The International Series as a valuable career pathway.

Antcliff has competed in every event this year and delivered impressive performances, including a T4 finish in Oman, T10 in Macau, and T7 in Thailand. Smyth delivered a series of standout performances, including a T10 finish in Oman, a T14 in Macau, and a T5 in Morocco.

Both are in the top 20 of The International Series rankings, meaning they are almost guaranteed to appear in the LIV Golf Promotions event, taking place in Riyadh December 12-14. The champion of LIV Golf Promotions will earn a coveted place in the LIV Golf League next season.

Jones is himself competing in the next two events of The International Series, International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. These will conclude the rankings race for The International Series, and the player who emerges in top spot will themselves earn a spot in LIV Golf for 2025.

The Sydneysider was close to success on the International Series in 2023, but was beaten in the longest sudden-death playoff in Asian Tour history, losing on the 10th playoff hole at the St Andrews Bay Championship to young Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra.

Jones is impressed by the progress being made by The International Series.

“It's great," Jones said. "The field this week is good [at the Link Hong Kong Open] and I'm sure next week is going to be even better [International Series Qatar]. I'm looking forward to it, and I think it's a great partnership they've got with the PIF and LIV Golf on the Asian Tour.”

Referring to his chances in the next two weeks, the two-time PGA Tour champion said: “I have never seen either of the golf courses so it's going to be all new. It's going to be a Wednesday start, so we haven't got much time, I'm flying out here at 6 o'clock tonight to get over there.”

Jones, who has also recorded two Australian Open wins in 2015 and 2019, admits he is disappointed with his performance on the LIV Golf League after recording just one top-10 finish.

“It was a disappointing season," Jones said. "I didn't play too well. I mean, great team-wise but individually, I didn't play anywhere near where I wanted to, or I think I should, I kind of played today [his final round in Hong Kong] like I did all year, which was very poor. If I played like I did the first three rounds and made some putts it would have been different.”

For more information on The International Series, please visit: www.internationalseries.com.