The International Series took centre stage at this week’s Asian Tour awards, with multiple honours awarded to events on its schedule. The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers was recognised as Tournament of the Year, while the Link Hong Kong Open earned The International Series Tournament of the Year distinction.
Further recognition followed for Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), host venue of the International Series Morocco, which was voted Players’ Choice Course of the Year – something that Zimbabwe’s LIV golf-bound Scott Vincent would agree with as he won the event.
Alongside the event honours, Kazuki Higa was named recipient of the Kyi Hla Han Award for Asian Tour Player of the Year, following a landmark season in which he became the first Japanese player to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
The Japanese star also claimed two tournament victories during the season and was voted Player of the Year by his peers, with the award determined by the Asian Tour membership.
Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “The 2025 season was another year of growth and development and with it came some exceptional performances by our players – helped in such a big way by world class tournaments and venues.
“We congratulate Kazuki Higa on his success. Kyi Hla Han, our former Executive Chairman and Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, would have been delighted to see a Japanese player finish the year ranked No 1 – it is such a significant achievement for the region.
“And we applaud the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the Link Hong Kong Open and Royal Golf Dar Es Salam for their important contributions and worthy acknowledgment by our players.”
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “To see The International Series events recognised so strongly by the players themselves is incredibly meaningful.
“From the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers to the Link Hong Kong Open and International Series Morocco, these awards reflect the quality of competition, venues and experiences we are building across the Series. Player endorsement is the ultimate validation of our vision to create a truly global pathway with world-class tournaments at its core.”
Last year Higa became the first player to win both the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit list and the Japan Tour Money List, which he also claimed in 2022.
He recorded back-to-back wins in September at the Shinhan Donghae Open, in Korea, and the Yeangder TPC, in Chinese-Taipei, before adding a joint second place at the International Series Philippines in late October. That result in the Philippines saw him regain top spot on the Order of Merit list from Vincent, and from there on in he could not be caught.
For the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers it marks the third time in four years it has been named Tournament of the Year, following success in 2022 and 2023.
Rising Spanish star Josele Ballester was victorious there last year, when it was played at Riyadh Golf Club for the second successive year. The two preceding years before that it was staged at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, in Jeddah.
This year’s voting also means more accolades of late for the Link Hong Kong Open and its venerable venue, the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC).
In 2023 it was named The International Series Tournament of the Year, while HKGC was the Players’ Choice Course of the Year, along with Al Mouj Golf in Oman. The following season the event was again hailed as The International Series Tournament of the Year.
In 2018, it was also voted Tournament of the Year, with the club named Players’ Course of the Year.
The Asian Tour’s 2026 season will commence in just over two weeks at the Philippines President’s Trophy at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.
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.
