The International Series set for Japan, new sponsors and events on full display in 2025

The 2025 season calendar for The International Series is now complete after International Series Cambodia presented by Royal Group was unveiled last week. And this week, The International Series Japan presented by Moutai will get underway at Caledonian Golf Club.

All 10 events have now been finalized, with five presenting partners - four of which are new - five groundbreaking inaugural tournaments and a new title sponsor highlighting the growing attraction of the brand.

Launched in March 2022 as a LIV Golf-backed set of elevated events on the Asian Tour, the series got underway at International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand.

Since its inaugural tournament, the series has visited 14 countries including destinations in the Middle East, North Africa and the United Kingdom, firmly establishing The International Series as a global brand, while providing the best playing opportunities to elite golfers as well as the best local and regional talent.

Fast forward to May 2025. The series continues to expand, with four new markets this season, in India, Japan, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The addition of a legacy event in the Asian golfing heartland of Singapore further strengthens a robust calendar which also features welcome returns to Macau, Morocco, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

The growing appeal of the brand is evident by the addition of strong commercial partnerships supporting each of the new events.

Giant real estate company DLF was presenting partner of International Series India; Chinese beverage maker Moutai is confirmed for this week’s International Series Japan; Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group will present International Series Cambodia, and e-gaming giant Bingo Plus will drive International Series Philippines.

Earlier this year saw the second edition of International Series Macau presented by Wynn, further evidence of the brand’s appeal.

Moutai has also been named as title sponsor of the storied Singapore Open, a legacy event in the region which returns to the Asian Tour calendar after a hiatus of three years.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “The International Series is making a real impact on the industry and contributing to an unheralded new era for the sport, transforming the golf landscape for everyone, from global superstars to regional talent and prodigious amateurs.

“Driven by our unique offering, we have made significant commercial strides particularly in 2025, welcoming numerous new partners, cementing the allure of The International Series as one of the most attractive opportunities in men’s professional golf.”

The impact of The International Series is not just commercial. A number of players from the Asian Tour have taken the pathway to the LIV Golf League in the past four years, while the appearance of superstars such as Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann and Patrick Reed on the series has further elevated the offering.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said: “LIV Golf is committed to creating more player pathways throughout professional golf, and The International Series continues to play a huge role in the sport’s global growth.

“The Series is bringing many of golf’s biggest names to new markets while opening opportunities for the stars of tomorrow to compete with the very best, and we couldn’t be more excited for its future.”

This season, the series also offered players a golden opportunity to compete in the Majors, with the top three from International Series Macau presented by Wynn securing places at The Open in Royal Portrush in July, after the tournament was named as an Open Qualifying Series event for the first time.

Macau champion Carlos Ortiz (Torque GC) from Mexico booked a place along with former Masters champion Patrick Reed (4Aces GC) from the United Sates and countryman and fellow LIV Golf player Jason Kokrak (RipperGC).

Singh emphasised the growing importance of The International Series, saying: “The International Series has always been about opportunity – offering players that pathway onto the LIV Golf League and providing emerging talent from around the world with a chance to compete against the very best, at elevated events on world-class golfing destinations.

“The addition of Open Qualifying this season has taken things to another level for The International Series, emphasising our growing commercial appeal and strong positioning on the international golf scene.”

The 2025 schedule continues this week at International Series Japan presented by Moutai in Chiba with a strong mix of LIV Golf stars, Asian Tour players and local talent from Japan. Click here for the full 2025 schedule.

STRONG JAPAN CONTINGENT FOR INTERNATIONAL SERIES JAPAN

The International Series makes its debut in Japan this week, and two of the Asian Tour’s serial champions are eager to rediscover previous good form in the country as they go in search of glory at Caledonian Golf Club.

International Series Japan presented by Moutai is the third of 10 LIV Golf-backed tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar.

The elevated event in Chiba prefecture has attracted LIV Golf players and a wealth of top Japanese talent, including local hero Riyo Ishikawa. A host of Asian Tour players will also be there, vying for the automatic spot on the 2026 LIV Golf roster that comes with the end-of-season Rankings title.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was named Japan Golf Tour Rookie of the Year in 2019 and the seven-time Asian Tour champion is looking to recreate some of that form here this week.

He’s certainly trending in the right direction. The 29-year-old was tied for the lead going into the final round of the 44th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea at the weekend and in with a great shout of making it tournament victory no.8.

On a challenging final day, Jazz had to settle for a tie for second, after posting a one-over round of 72 while home hope Doyeob Mun roared to a sensational three-shot victory with a flawless eight-under round – including six back-nine birdies – on the testing course at Namseoul Country Club.

The T2 is still a positive for the 2022 International Series Morocco champion, who feels there is still a lot more to come this season. He said: “The swing is trending, but just not there yet - it's not automatic yet. I still have some shots where I don't feel comfortable, but I know what to work on.

“I haven't been to Japan in so long. I used to play a full schedule there in 2019, and it is something special. Every golf course is perfectly manicured. You know you're going to get a good level of golf, and a challenging golf course.

“So I’m looking forward to that, and catching up with some old friends I haven't seen in a while,” added Jazz, who won the SMBC Singapore Open by two shots from Paul Casey and Yoshinori Fujimoto in 2019 when the event was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour.

Scott Vincent, the 2022 International Series Rankings champion, has also shown great form in the Land of the Rising Sun, claiming three victories in short order over a 10-month period between 2021 and 2022.

The Zimbabwean finished one shot ahead of Ishikawa to win the Sansan KBC Augusta in August 2021 before securing a three-shot victory over Tomoharu Otsuki at the ANA Open the following month.

Vincent then secured a play-off win at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in May 2022, part of a remarkable run that culminated in victory at the inaugural International Series England a week later. That result propelled Vincent to the top of the end-of-year rankings, and a coveted place on the LIV Golf League.

The 32-year-old spent two successful years competing against the world's best, for the Iron Heads GC team, before narrowly losing his status at the end of last season.

He looked to be getting back to his best on Asian Tour duty in Korea last week, sitting fifth behind Jazz and co-leader Baekjun Kim going into the final round. But a nightmare three bogeys and double on the closing four holes derailed Vincent, and left him T12 overall.

A disappointing finish perhaps, but still something to work on in a country that has brought rich rewards in the past.

Vincent also secured a T9 at the Maezawa Cup in Japan last month, to go with top-10 finishes at International Series India presented by DLF and the season-opening Philippine Open on the Asian Tour.

He said: “Overall I feel like it is moving in the right direction. I've been obviously working on it (my game), and sometimes it works out great, sometimes not. But I like where it's heading, and the feels that I'm creating.

“I am obviously just trying to play the best I can and do the things that I think are going to help. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Right now it feels good - I will just keep trying to work on the things that I'm working on.”

International Series Japan presented by Moutai takes place from 8-11 May. Click here for tickets.