American LIV Golf League duo Caleb Surratt and Cameron Tringale both highlighted the importance of the top-level competition offered by The International Series as they stayed in the hunt at the halfway stage in Japan.
Starting the second round of International Series Japan presented by Moutai on 10, Legion XIII star Surratt, had a prolific morning and fired five birdies on his front nine, to negate bogeys on 11 and 18, his ninth.
Another birdie on two moved the 21-year-old to seven under - well in contention going into the weekend just four back from leader Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC.
The four-under round contained glimpses of the form that saw him finish inside the top three at both International Series England and the season-ending PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers in 2024.
“I got off to a really nice start,” said Surratt. “Then I made a really poor bogey on 18, which was a bit of a momentum breaker. But overall, I feel good about my game.”
The youngest member of Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf team, Surratt recommends The International Series as an essential stepping stone for young players looking to build a global career. The prize of a place on the LIV Golf League for the end-of-season rankings champion is the ultimate incentive.
“One of the best things a young player can learn is how to travel and compete internationally,” he said. “The series pushes you to adjust to different cultures, courses, and conditions. That experience is invaluable. LIV has a limited number of events, so getting in these 10 events a year through the International Series helps me stay competitive.”
He added, “You get to test yourself against great players on great courses, it really raises your level.”
Tringale, who plays for HyFlyers GC, also enjoyed a productive morning. The American made three birdies on the front nine and remained composed throughout, finishing at seven-under to match Surratt’s score.
The American emphasised the importance of the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour for LIV Golf players looking for elite-level competition and a test in different conditions.
“For me, The International Series is great preparation and practice opportunity,” said Tringale. “We only play 14 events on LIV Golf, so getting more reps here helps me stay sharp heading into the bigger championships.”
This marks Tringale’s second appearance in Japan, and he spoke warmly about the local fans and the unique golfing environment.
“The atmosphere here is fantastic,” he said. “Japanese fans are so respectful and knowledgeable. They appreciate good golf and support all the players. It’s always special to play in front of crowds like that.”
International Series Japan presented by Moutai runs until 11 May at the Caledonian Golf Club, Chiba. Tickets are available at https://webket.jp/pc/ticket/index?fc=80130&ac=9000
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of 10 elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings leader promotion to the LIV Golf League
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