The International Series looks set for a bright future in Japan

The successful first edition of International Series Japan presented by Moutai is evidence of the bright future that the LIV Golf-backed set of elevated events could have in the ‘hugely important golfing market’ moving forward.

The four-day tournament was held at the Caledonian Golf Club in the prefecture of Chiba, in the greater Tokyo area where impressive crowds gathered over four days to enjoy a blend of elite-sporting action and entertainment as Lucas Herbert ultimately secured a five-shot victory against Japanese star Yuta Sugiura and Younghan Song of Korea.

The third elevated event of 10 on the Asian Tour calendar marked the entry of the series into the market for the first time. The staging of the event at a 17th destination since 2022 represents a significant milestone in its four-year history. Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, shared a bold vision and strong ambition to continue growing the game across the region, with the success of The International Series Japan presented by Moutai serving as a key milestone.

At a special media gathering on the sidelines of the tournament, Singh said: “Since we embarked on this exciting journey four years ago, it was only a matter of time before we came to Japan – it is one of the largest markets for golf in the world. It was a long time coming and we are extremely excited to be here.

“One of the mandates that was set out for The International Series was to grow the game across the region and into new territories, and to bring the sport into existing markets. The complete 2025 schedule is a good example of this: four new territories in India, Japan, Cambodia and the Philippines, and a return to Singapore, as well as five existing markets.

“Put simply, Japan is too big and important for us not to have a presence or a tournament here. Over the past year we have been working closely with a number of partners and we could not be happier with what has been achieved as a debut tournament. It is a beautiful destination, and the support we have received, from course through to players and administration, has been exceptional.”

A quality field at Caledonian Golf Club, featuring established Asian Tour names and LIV Golf stars as well as a strong local representation, combined with quality sport and entertainment to attract a healthy turnout of spectators across four days.

It follows comparable results at International Series India presented by DLF and International Series Macau presented by Wynn earlier this year, as the brand continues to grow across markets, forging robust partnerships and establishing a strong global footprint.

Singh said: “We are confident we gave Japan a good idea of what the International Series is about, with the strength of the field and our proactive approach to partnerships. We are continuing to grow as a brand, and we believe our efforts will create a pathway for more successful partnerships in the future.

International Series Morocco is next on the calendar, returning to Royal Golf Dar Es Salam for the third time in four years. Ben Campbell will defend his title, after seeing off in-form John Catlin to win the title last season. The New Zealander went on to join Range Goats GC on the LIV Golf League before the start of the 2025 campaign, thanks to his great form across the season on The International Series.