In-form Japanese star Yosuke Asaji has given himself a strong chance of securing one of the two life-changing LIV Golf League spots up for grabs next season via The International Series Rankings race with his stunning play-off victory at the Moutai Singapore Open.
Last month, Asaji had finished T2 alongside compatriot Kazuki Higa at International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus, behind local hero Miguel Tabuena.
He went one better on Sunday by seeing off Korea’s Jeunghun Wang on the first play-off hole at Singapore Island Country Club for 180 priceless Rankings points and US$360,000 in the eighth of nine elevated events on the Asian Tour that form a pathway onto LIV Golf.
The 32-year-old had put together a run of five straight early birdies from the second in his superb five-under final round of 67. He had to withstand a late charge after Rattanon Wannasrichan picked up six shots on the spin from the sixth to get in the frame. Although the Thai challenge ultimately fell short, Korean Wang forced a play-off with two last-ditch birdies, with Asaji coming up trumps in the first play-off hole.
With the win and the points from his runner-up finish at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in the Philippines, Asaji jumped from 13th up to second on 285.30 points.
That is just 40.29 points behind International Series Morocco winner and 2022 Rankings champion Scott Vincent with one tournament left - the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers from November 19-22 which offers elevated Rankings points and a bumper prize fund of US$5 million.
The Japanese star was shocked to learn he had jumped up to second in the race and insisted he would give everything in his quest for a place on the roster for the 2026 season. He said: “It is an incredible feeling to be up here near the top of the rankings and since I am here, I am going to aim for that LIV Golf spot.”
Tabuena slipped down to third in the table, just outside the two LIV Golf League spots, after his 18th-placed finish, and he sits 53.02 points behind Asaji while Ollie Schniederjans, the International Series India presented by DLF champion, moved up a spot from sixth to fifth after finishing 11th in Singapore.
Wade Ormsby, the Jakarta International Champion, moved down to sixth after missing the cut at the weekend, with LIV Golf stars Lucas Herbert, Peter Uihlein, Carlos Ortiz and Tom McKibbin, the recent Link Hong Kong Open champion, all holding places inside the top 10.
Asaji’s compatriot Higa is 10th while Danthai Boonma of Thailand is in 11th place with Wang moving up from 53 to 12 after losing out on the play-off. Another Korean, Soomin Lee, leapt from 49 to 16 after his T3 finish.
Rattanon climbed from 55 to 19 after finishing alongisde Lee. His Thai compatriot Jazz Janewattananond, the 2022 International Series Morocco champion, moved from 29 to 17 after a T6 finish alongside Australia’s Kevin Yuan and Jaco Ahlers of South Africa. Yuan moved from 34 to 21 while Ahlers climbed from 78 to 43.
Next week’s season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is the last chance to claim points in the race for those two top spots or a place in the forthcoming LIV Golf Promotions event.
Confirmed for 8-11 January at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida, the third edition of LIV Golf Promotions will provide another two golden tickets onto the big league for the 2026 season.
After the top two players from the Rankings are decided, the leading 10 exempt players from the top 20 will be awarded direct entry into round two of the innovative tournament. The next 25 available players from within the top 40 earn a place in the first round.
The tournament format will see a top 20 and ties from the first round progressing to the second round, where scores will be reset and different player categories will join the field.
The top 20 and ties from the second round will then progress to day three, where a 36-hole, two-day shootout will commence for those two life-changing golden tickets up for grabs. The top 10 finishers will also gain exemptions for all events on The International Series calendar in 2026.
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of a set of elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings Winner & Runner-Up promotion to the LIV Golf League.
