Asian Tour Order of Merit high flyer Kazuki Higa produced a strong opening performance to take solo second place after the first round of the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus, keeping his sights firmly set on the top of the leaderboard despite the presence of some of the game’s biggest names.
The Japanese star has been in superb form this season, with back-to-back victories at the Yeangder TPC and the 41st Shinhan Donghae Open moving him up to second in the Order of Merit behind Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe.
With momentum on his side and confidence building, the 30-year-old is now determined to make a breakthrough on The International Series by chasing his first title in the Philippines.
Higa fired a flawless seven-under-par in the first round in the bogey free performance to finish just one shot behind leader Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand.
His accuracy off the tee and sharp putting set the tone for a strong start at the Sta Elena Golf Club, leaving him in touch with the solo lead and one ahead of a four-man chasing pack including Cleeks GC veteran Richard Bland of England. Dustin Johnson, the former world No.1 and two-time Major champion, is a shot further behind on five under.
Reflecting on his round, Higa shared: “I hit it well off the tee shot today, so I was able to take advantage of the preferred lies off the fairway. Finishing seven under was a little more than I expected at the start, but looking back, there were still two or three more putts that could have gone in,” he said.
Higa was playing with two LIV Golf stars, and was the pick of the group with Iron Heads GC captain Kevin Na on –3 and Sam Horsfield of Majesticks GC on +3. Higa felt the experience stood him in good stead as he explained: “That was a great group and a fantastic experience for me. I know that to step up and compete with players like Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, I need to keep producing good scores and hopefully meet them in the final round. So, I’ll just keep going.”
After missing the chance to become the first player to win three consecutive tournaments on the Asian Tour following a tied-33rd finish at the Jakarta International Championship, the most recent International Series event, Higa remains focused on regaining his winning form.
His consistency, composure, and determination make him one of the key players to watch this week, as he tees it up alongside Major champions, LIV Golf stars, and the region’s best Asian Tour talents.
The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus continues to showcase world-class competition, blending established champions with rising stars from across the region — a perfect stage for Higa to chase another milestone in his flourishing career.
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.
