Travis Smyth’s dream run continued today when he made an eagle putt on the par-five 18th to sensationally win the International Series Japan by one.

In a riveting finish, he drained a 20 footer to narrowly avoid a play-off with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Ryosuke Kinoshita from Japan – at Caledonian Golf Club, near Tokyo.

The Australian’s brilliant final putt saw him shoot a seven-under-par 64 to move to 15-under, with Pavit and Kinoshita both in the clubhouse on 14-under.

Pavit and Kinoshita had earlier turned the tournament on its head by shooting scintillating rounds of 62 and 63 respectively to come through from much further back. The former was in the 10^th from last group and Kinoshita the sixth.

Korea’s Hongtaek Kim and Shugo Imahira from Japan had started the day sharing the lead but were unable to keep up with the fast pace being set. Kim shot a 69 to tie for fifth while Imahira returned a 70 for equal seventh.

Travis Smyth.

This week’s US$2million event is the opening event of the season on The International Series, and it is Smyth’s first success on the Series – the upper-tier level of events on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League, via The International Series Rankings.

It’s also his second victory on the Asian Tour, having won the Yeangder TPC in 2022, and comes during a remarkable run of form.

He claimed the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship last month which put him on course to win the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit for the 2025/26 season.

The 31-year-old also finished third and fifth in the first two events of the season on the Asian Tour and now leads the Order of Merit, as well as The International Series Rankings.

“That’s what dreams are made of right there,” said the Australian about his closing putt.

“As a young kid, you know, you’re on the putting green having putting comps with your mates, you’re trying to chip in to win, you’re trying to hole 25 footers to win. And that was unbelievable.

“You know, I won a tournament two weeks ago, probably a pretty similar putt downhill, left to right – just drew upon that. But yeah, for it to go in like that, it’s the best feeling ever.”

Having started the day two behind the leaders, he gradually worked his way through the field on the front nine with birdies on one, two and six.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

With the course playing nearly three shots easier today and players making a deluge of birdies on the back nine he still had a lot of work to do. Birdies on 13 and 16 saw him move one behind Pavit and Kinoshita before he gained two shots on the last to finish the job in regulation play.

He explained: “I’ve had a hard time trying to win tournaments. People don’t understand how hard it is to win, you know. Like it’s such a mind game with yourself out there. In the past, like you’re always trying to come up with excuses as to why you might not be leading, or why you might not be hitting the shots under pressure that you want to, but I don’t know, I’ve been able to turn a corner.”

Pavit’s 62 was the lowest of the week and consisted of 10 birdies, and just the one dropped shot. His bogey came on the third, after which he burst into life making seven birdies in the next eight.

He said: “Today I played pretty much like perfect golf. I drove the ball very well; I hit my irons very good and I was putting well. So, everything was like on momentum. I sunk putts and had like a streak on the first nine, so I gained confidence with my putting.”

Austen Truslow finished in fourth on his own, two behind the champion. He closed with a 65, helped by an unlikely and adventurous eagle on the par-four 16^th. Remarkably, his first tee shot hit some overhanging cables which allowed him to replay the shot. He promptly found the putting green in one and made his eagle putt from about 30 feet. The American faced a similar length for eagle on 18 but was unable to convert that attempt to catch Pavit and Kinoshita.

Ryosuke Kinoshita.

“On 16, I mean, that was a crazy situation,” he said. “It hit the telephone pole line, got to re tee, and then I drove it to 36 feet and made the putt. And the first ball was going probably 20 yards right of the green. So that was insane. That’s the craziest eagle in my life. So that happened.”

The Asian Tour heads to the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times next. The US$2million event will be played on The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club from 23-26 April and is also part of The International Series.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Korea’s Hongtaek Kim kept the lead for the third straight day after a see-saw contest over the closing stages here at the International Series Japan, that saw Shugo Imahira from Japan join him in front.

Kim, who started the round with a one-shot lead, fired a one-over-par 72 to sit on 10-under, with playing partner Imahira, in with a 71.

Korea’ s Yubin Jang is one back following a 71 at Caledonian Golf Club, outside Tokyo, with Australian Travis Smyth and Karandeep Kochhar from India, another stroke behind.

Smyth shot 68 while Kochhar a 73, in the first event of the season on The International Series – the upper-tier level of events on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League through The International Series Rankings.

Kim did well to hang on to the lead on a windy day after a back nine saw him make bogeys on 10, 12 and 14, while Imahira, Jang and Smyth all birdied 18.

Shugo Imahira.

Said Kim: “I played really well on the front nine, especially managing the wind, but the conditions changed on the back nine and I wasn’t able to adjust as well. That made things a bit more difficult.”

The 32-year-old is chasing his second win on the Asian Tour, having claimed the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on home soil two years ago, while success tomorrow would be his maiden title on The International Series.

“My game hasn’t really changed much since round one, I’ve been playing solidly throughout,” he added.

“I just want to keep doing the same things, hitting fairways and staying consistent. There’s no need to change anything going into tomorrow.”

He admitted to not having the greatest preparation coming into the week as his wife recently gave birth to their second child but added: “I was a bit unsure about how I would play this week. I’m just really pleased with how things have gone so far.”

Imahira had struggles of his own on the inward half, dropping shots on 14 and 15 before his closing birdie.

Yubin Jang.

He is attempting to become the first player from Japan to win this title, with Australian Lucas Herbert having won the inaugural edition last year.

Having won 10 times on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), including the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup in 2022 – an event joint sanctioned with the Asian Tour – as well as back-to-back JGTO Money List titles from 2018, he’ll start as one of the favourites tomorrow.

“The wind made it really tough today, it was swirling and we had some sudden gusts out there,” he said.

“I really wanted to finish at even, so it was nice to make that birdie at the end. I’m looking forward to going into tomorrow with the lead.

“My family is coming out to support me, which I’m really excited about. Once the tournament starts, I don’t get much time for parenting, so I try to be a dad as much as I can during the off weeks.”

Many will be watching closely to see how Jang performs tomorrow. He will also be one of the favourites as one of Korea’s brightest prospects.

Having turned professional in 2023, after helping Korea win the gold medal in the team competition at the Asian Games, he went on to win twice on the Korean PGA Tour in 2024 before being selected to play on the LIV Golf League last year.

While he was unable to retain his playing rights on the League for this year he looks like a player who has bounced back from the experience even stronger.

Travis Smyth.

Said the 23-year-old: “I missed a few putts early on, and the wind started to pick up, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy for anyone to go really low. I just tried to stay patient and keep myself in the round. My shots weren’t at their best, but I was able to adjust towards the end, which helped me finish on a positive note.”

He will be paired with Kim tomorrow, a player he is familiar with, as well as Imahira.

“I’ve played with him [Kim] a few times, and he is a very strong player,” said Jang.

“Hongtaek hits it long and is very consistent. But tomorrow is already the final day of the competition, so I’ll just focus on my own game and try to win.”

The name of Smyth on the leaderboard once again this season will also have the leaders on alert.

Currently in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit following third and fifth placed finishes in the first two events he also wrapped up the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit last month.

Said the Australian: “I just have a lot of belief in what I’m doing at the moment. You know, coming into this tournament, I was pretty unprepared. Like I didn’t practice much at all in those two weeks off, and felt very rusty at the start of the week, and even the first two rounds.

“I don’t know, just taking it one shot at a time. I’m not really thinking too much about the result, and just, as cliche as it sounds, it’s literally just one shot at a time. And trying to sort of get my feel back, honestly, because it doesn’t feel like the same me as it did, like, sort of last month.”

Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Korean Hongtaek Kim stayed on course to claim his second title on the Asian Tour, and first on The International Series, after establishing the halfway lead in the International Series Japan today.

Having led after the first round with a seven-under-par 64, he added a 67 today here at Caledonian Golf Club for a strong tournament total of 11-under.

He has a one-shot lead over Japan’s Shugo Imahira and Karandeep Kochhar from India, both in with 65s – in the opening event of the year on The International Series, and the third stop on the Asian Tour.

Koreans Yubin Jang (63) and Younghan Song (68), Japan’s Tatsunori Shogenji (67) and Poom Saksansin (68) from Thailand, are another shot back.

Kim, winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on the Asian Tour two years ago, managed to do what every great player is capable of at this level which was to work out what was wrong with his game after hitting a difficult patch.

Shugo Imahira.

He said: “I wasn’t hitting my shots very well early in the round, but I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong and make adjustments. After that, I was able to settle in and play much better.”

He made a bogey on the third to fall back into the chasing pack but his experience quickly kicked in as that was his only dropped shot. He made five birdies later to move into pole heading into the weekend, when rain has been forecast.

“With the rain, I probably won’t be able to get as much distance, so keeping the ball in the fairway will be very important,” he said. “From there, I’ll focus on staying patient, saving par when needed, and playing well around the greens.”

Imahira is one of the most decorated Japanese players in the field and showed that today when he eagled two of the par fives, the sixth, where he chipped, and the 18^th.

“This course gives us a lot of birdie chances, so I tried to take advantage when I could,” said Imahira – a 10-time champion on the Japan Golf Tour, and two-time winner of their Money List, in 2018 and 2019.

Karandeep Kochhar.

“I think I am in a good position. The event is taking place in Japan, playing in Japan gives me some advantage, so I expect to be in contention after the third round. One of my goals is to win international events, so I will do my best to make it happen.”

Kochhar has the distinction of being bogey free for two days, which is reflective of his strong start to the season. He is currently in sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“I mean to stay bogey free I think everything has to be pretty much good, I would say,” said the Indian.

“I think though it’s my iron play majorly. And the putter, I feel like that’s the streaky one. I think that kind of dictates how I play, so I think the putter has cooperated so far quite well.”

The outstanding bogey-free 63 by Jang, who competed on the LIV Golf League last year, featured eight birdies and is the lowest round of the week so far.

He was unable to keep his playing privileges on the LIV Golf League but judging by today’s performance the experience has served him well.

“Last year didn’t go quite as I hoped, but I’m working hard to get back to that level and improve my performance this season,” he said.

Yubin Jang. 

“It’s still early in the season, so I’m not focusing too much on specific outcomes yet. I just want to keep improving and see where my game takes me.”

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, a two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, showed his class today by making his first cut on the Asian Tour since 2024.

The 54-year-old, who now plays mainly on the Senior Tours, returned a 69 to finish on the one under par cutline.

Surprisingly, Richard T. Lee’s remarkable run of 25 consecutive cuts made on the Asian Tour since 2023 finally came to an end. He came in with a 73 to finish even. The Canadian hit global headlines last month when he was defeated by American Bryson DeChambeau in a play-off at LIV Golf Singapore. A hectic travel schedule this season playing the LIV Golf League no doubt catching up with him this week.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Hongtaek Kim [main picture] led the way on the opening day of the International Series Japan today – shooting a fine seven-under-par 64.

The Korean leads from compatriot Younghan Song and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who both recorded 65s here at Caledonian Golf Club, in what is the opening event of the season on The International Series.

The stakes are high with players trying to get points on the board early on The International Series Rankings – which sees the leading player at the end of the season earn a place on the LIV Golf League.

Kim, who started on 10, made the most of the easier conditions in the afternoon registering an eagle, six birdies and one bogey.

“The conditions were a bit better in the afternoon, which helped,” he said.

“Overall, I played pretty solid and took advantage of all the opportunities out there.”

Younghan Song.

He made his eagle on the par-five sixth before closing his round with more brilliance by making birdies on eight and nine.

Added the 32-year-old: “I think it was my driving that was great today. I was able to hit a lot of fairways, which set up good chances to hit greens in regulation. That really helped me keep things consistent.

“It could be tougher with the weather in the morning tomorrow, so the key will be to stay patient and keep hitting fairways. Positioning off the tee will be really important again.”

He has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in 2024 – when he beat Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam in a sudden-death play-off.

He is also a four-time champion on the Korean PGA Tour, his most recent being last year’s Busan Open.

However, he is arguably best known for being a star on the golf simulator circuit on Korea’s GTour, which has earned him nickname is King of the Screen. He claimed multiple titles on the hugely popular franchise.

Poom Saksansin. 

Song already has the privilege of playing on the LIV Golf League having joined the Korean Golf Club team this year.

“I’m really enjoying it,” he said about the League.

“It’s a new environment and everything feels different. The level of competition is very high, with many top-ranked players, so it’s been a great learning experience.”

He finished second here last year, just missing out on his second Asian Tour title. It was back in 2016 that he claimed the Singapore Open, defeating then world number one Jordan Spieth from the United States.

“I wasn’t playing particularly well coming in, but we had good weather today, which helped. I also have good memories on this course, so I just tried to focus on each shot and that allowed me to play well,” he added.

He was bogey free today with three birdies on each half.

Poom’s presence on the leaderboard always represents a threat.

He is a four-time winner on the Asian Tour and despite his lack of length off the tee he is a ferocious competitor.

Said the Thai: “I was a bit lucky to play in the afternoon with better conditions. My driving was good, and my putting was solid as well. There was a little bit of rain early on, but overall the conditions were manageable.

John Catlin.

“I’ll spend a bit more time on the putting later to make sure everything stays sharp. Just keep working and stay consistent.

American John Catlin, the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, is next best placed following a 66, along with China’s Lin Yuxin, winner of this season’s Asian Tour Qualifying School, Japan’s Tatsunori Shogenji, Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese-Taipei and Korean Yongjun Bae.

Wooyoung Cho from Korea, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, came in with a disappointing 76.

The International Series Japan is the third stop on this year’s Asian Tour.

Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Tournament Information

• Tournament name: International Series Japan
• Date: 2-5 April 2026
• Venue: Caledonian Golf Club, Chiba, Japan
• Par/Yards: 71 / 7,126 yards
• Purse: US$2million
• Asian Tour leg: Third
• International Series leg: First
• Edition of tournament: Second
• Previous winner: Lucas Herbert (AUS), score 264 (-20) won by five shots at Caledonian
• Total number of players: 156
• Format: 72-hole stroke play format with a cut after 36 holes for the top 65 professionals and ties.

Richard T. Lee.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: Kazuki Higa (2025), John Catlin (2024), Andy Ogletree (2023), Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2013), Jeev Milkha Singh (2006, 2008), Jyoti Randhawa (2002)
• Nationalities: 29
• Top contenders: Richard T. Lee (CAN), Kazuki Higa (JPN), Wooyoung Cho (KOR), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Travis Smyth (AUS), Kota Kaneko (JPN)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kazuki Higa #133
• Number of amateurs in the field: 1
• Number of Japanese players in the field: 32

Miguel Tabuena.

Tournament Notes

• Canada’s Richard T. Lee, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, is off to a very strong start to his season on the LIV Golf League after winning the LIV Promotions event earlier in January. After recording two top-20’s in his first three events, he narrowly missed out in posting his first win on LIV after losing to Bryson de Chambeau in a playoff at LIV Golf Singapore and now sits in seventh place in the rankings. Lee’s impressive cut-streak on the Asian Tour now stands at 25, the last time he missed out on weekend play being the International Series Singapore in October of 2023.
• The 2025 Order of Merit champion Kazuki Higa from Japan is the highest ranked player on the OWGR in the field this week at number 133. Last season he won the Shinhan Donghae Open and Yeangder TPC in back-to-back weeks in september, and also posted five other top-10s during the season including T2’s at last year’s New Zealand Open early in the year and at the International Series Philippines in late October. Higa also captured the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit crown in 2022 after winning four events on his home circuit that season.
• Current Order of Merit leader Wooyoung Cho from Korea has been playing great golf since the end of 2025, winning the Philippine Golf Championship in February and recording a runner-up and a T6 in late 2025. Cho was part of the Korean team that won the gold medal at the Asian Games in 2023 and is a two-time winner on the Korean PGA Tour.
• Travis Smyth from Australia has gotten off to a fast start of his 2026 season posting a third-place finish at the Philippine Golf Championship and a solo-fifth at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort to rank second on the Order of Merit. On the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia he recently claimed a win at the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship to wrap up the 2025/26 Order of Merit win on that tour after a victory and two other recent top-fives. The Order of Merit title secures Smyth a place in The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July, as well as a card on the DP World Tour in 2027.
• Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand, currently in third place on the Order of Merit, started his 2026 campaign with a very strong statement at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship with a runner-up finish, pushing the eventual winner Wooyoung Cho from Korea all the way to the end. Pavit, historically a slow starter to his seasons, then followed it up with another T2 in a playoff loss to compatriot Danthai Boonma on the All Thailand Tour a week later. His last tournament saw a T44 at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort.
• Japan’s Kota Kaneko won the Japan Golf Tour Money list in 2025 after two victories and nine other top-10’s.
• Caledonian Golf Club opened in 1990. Its course was designed by J. Michael Poellot and since hosting the Japan Professional Championship in 2000, it has also welcomed other notable tournaments – including the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf.
• The International Series Japan is owned by LIV Golf and managed by 54 with the help of DSE.

Caledonian Golf Club.

All pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Sampson Zheng [main picture] and Taichi Kho compete in the International Series Japan this week playing with extra incentive.

The event starts tomorrow at Caledonian Golf Club and is the season-opener on The International Series. Both players arrive not only in form but with family history and heritage on their side.

Zheng was born in Japan to Chinese parents before moving to the United States at age 10. A year before departure he first discovered golf in Nagoya.

“I started at a driving range with my uncle, that’s where I fell in love with the game,” said the Chinese star. “It was the sport I struggled with the most, which is probably what drew me to it.”

Zheng turned professional less than two years ago and made an immediate impact with a tied fourth finish at the International Series England, followed by a runner-up result at the Mandiri Indonesia Open – where he lost in a sudden-death play-off.

His upward trajectory continued through 2025, including a tie for fourth at the International Series Philippines, a top-10 finish in the International Series Morocco, and at last year’s inaugural International Series Japan, also played at Caledonian, he placed tied 17^th.

Taichi Kho. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“My game is starting to come together,” said Zheng. “I’ve been driving it well and the putting is improving. If I can putt well this week, I think I can give myself a good chance, and if that can translate into a strong start on The International Series Rankings, that would be a big bonus.”

Hong Kong number one Kho, meanwhile, arrives with his own strong ties to Japan. With a Japanese mother and a base just outside Tokyo, he considers this week a home event in every sense.

“It’s great to get The International Series underway here in Japan. The course is in fantastic condition, and this time of year, with the cherry blossoms, makes it a really special setting.

“Since turning professional, I’ve spent more time competing in Japan, and this year as a JGTO member, I’ll be here regularly. Sharing the stage with fellow JGTO players across the Asian Tour and The International Series makes it even more meaningful.”

Kho has won once on the Asian Tour, at the World City Championship in 2023, at his home club – the Hong Kong Golf Club. In 2024 he came close to earning a place on the LIV Golf League for the 2025 season when he tied for second at LIV Golf Promotions, two shots behind the winner and qualifier Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei.

The International Series is the upper-tier level of events on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League through The International Series Rankings.

Kieran Vincent and Andy Ogletree are set to tee it up at the International Series Japan this week aiming to bank early points on The International Series Rankings, as they look to play their way back to the LIV Golf League.

The tournament tees-off on Thursday at Caledonian Golf Club and is the season-opening event on The International Series. Both have been regulars on The International Series since its launch in 2022.

Vincent, winner of International Series Vietnam in 2023, arrives in Japan determined to build on a strong 2025 campaign that saw him finish inside the top 20 of the Rankings. A tied-third finish at the Jakarta International Championship brought him within touching distance of the top while earning him a place at LIV Golf Promotions at the start of this year. He failed to progress at the Promotions event, unlike in 2023 when a top three finish secured him a place on the League.

The Zimbabwean said: “Missing out at LIV Promotions earlier this year was tough, but playing on the Asian Tour and The International Series gives you another opportunity to earn your way back. That’s where I want to be, and I know this is the platform to get there.”

The route he is targeting is one his brother, Scott Vincent, knows well. Scott topped The International Series Rankings for a second time last season to secure another return to the LIV Golf League. He also won the Rankings in 2022.

Andy Ogletree. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.

Returning to Japan, where he finished T12 last season, the 29-year-old is embracing both the challenge and the journey ahead. He explained: “Japan is such a vibrant golfing destination, and playing in front of those fans is something I really look forward to. Everyone wants to perform, but for me this year is about staying present, embracing the tough moments, and enjoying the race over the season.”

Ogletree, a three-time International Series winner, knows exactly what it takes to convert performance into opportunity. The American won the 2023 International Series Rankings to secure his LIV Golf League card, going on to compete for Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC across the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Now back on the Series, the 28-year-old is focused on regaining momentum and returning to the League.

“Building momentum early in the year is very important to me,” said Ogletree. “My goal is to get back to LIV as quickly as possible. A strong start can open doors, whether that’s getting back into the field or putting yourself in position for the rest of the season.”

His time on LIV Golf included standout performances such as a tied-third finish in Adelaide and a tied-sixth result in England in 2024, experiences that have only sharpened his resolve.

“My goals heading to Japan are simple,” he added. “Stick to my process, build a strong game plan, and commit fully to every shot. I’m getting back to playing how I know I can, and I’m excited to compete again.”

The Philippine Open will tee off at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club [pictured] from 12–15 November this year, and for the first time Asia’s oldest National Open will be part of the blossoming International Series.

The move follows the success of last year’s International Series Philippines, won by Filipino Miguel Tabuena, and the Asian Tour’s continuing presence in one of its most popular destinations.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Last year, The International Series demonstrated what a world-class event in the Philippines looks and feels like. The passion for golf in this country is unmistakable, as we saw from the crowds that came. Elevating the Philippine Open onto our 2026 schedule is a natural next step, strengthening a historic national tournament while creating greater opportunity for players through our global pathway.”

The Philippine Open was last played as the season-opening event on the Asian Tour last year, when Frenchman Julien Sale triumphed – at Manila Southwoods.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, said: “The Asian Tour is delighted to see the Philippine Open elevated to The International Series. We have enjoyed a decades-long relationship with the Philippine Open and the National Golf Association of the Philippines and we are extremely glad to see that their National Open will now take its rightful place as the biggest golf event in the country.

Julien Sale pictured winning the Philippine Open last year. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.

“We visited the Philippines twice last year, and, following today’s announcement, it will be the case again this year. It all points to a key period of growth in one of our favourite destinations, evidenced by Miguel Tabuena becoming the first-ever player from the Philippines to take his place on the lucrative LIV Golf League, largely thanks to his performance at last year’s International Series Philippines. We thank the NGAP, LIV Golf, and Manila Southwoods for all their efforts.”

Martin Lorenzo, President of the National Golf Association of the Philippines, said: “We are proud to see our historic Philippine Open elevated onto The International Series schedule and to welcome a world-class field to Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club. This presents a valuable platform for our local professionals to compete alongside leading international talent, while showcasing the strength and growth of Philippine golf.”

This year will mark the sixth time that Manila Southwoods has hosted the event. It also staged it in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2025.

Robert John Sobrepeña, Chairman of Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, said: “We are honoured to host the 2026 Philippine Open at the Masters course of Manila Southwoods this November. I would like to thank the National Golf Association of the Philippines, the Asian Tour, and the LIV Golf-backed International Series for selecting Manila Southwoods as the venue for this prestigious event.

“Rest assured, the Club’s management will do everything possible to ensure a successful event and present the course in the best possible condition for world-class golf.

“Finally, we invite all golfers and the public to join us and witness this top-level competition as well as enjoy the golf course and the club’s facilities.”

The International Series Japan has attracted a formidable line-up of leading players from the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) – all looking to make an early impact on The International Series Rankings.

Japan’s Yosuke Asaji, currently playing on the LIV Golf League by virtue of finishing second on last year’s Rankings, and his countryman Kazuki Higa, the 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, headline the field.

The US$2million event will be played at Caledonian Golf Club for a second straight year, and is the opening event of the season on The International Series – the upper-tier level of events on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League.

Japan’s Tatsunori Shogenji, Kota Kaneko, Ren Yonezawa, and Taiga Semikawa, the top four ranked players on their current money list, have also entered. They are all proven winners with Kaneko having won last year’s money list.

Veteran Japanese star Yuta Ikeda [main picture] is another to have confirmed, adding proven firepower with 21 wins on the JGTO, alongside Japan’s Aguri Iwasaki and Mikiya Akutsu, the current Japan Golf Tour Players Association Chairman. Japan’s Riki Kawamoto, Satoshi Kodaira and Hiroshi Iwata have also entered and will join Jinichiro Kozuma, Shugo Imahira, Ryosuke Kinoshita and Ryo Katsumata, all of whom confirmed for the event earlier.

Rounding out the field, reigning Japan Amateur champion, Kaito Sato will also tee it up.

Five Japanese players finished in the top-10 last year. Yuta Sugiura was the highest placed local player after he tied for second.

The Singapore Open is set to tee off with The Business Times (BT), part of SPH Media, as a new presenting partner for its 2026 edition. This is an exciting development for the celebrated event, as it marks the first time that a flagship news publication has sealed such a partnership with the National Open.

The tournament returns to the highly acclaimed Sentosa Golf Club – to be played over The Serapong [main picture] from 23 to 26 April 2026.

As one of the tournaments on The International Series, the Singapore Open celebrates golf, and profiles Singapore and the local sports scene to a global audience. This spirit is shared by BT, especially in its efforts to expand overseas and bring Singapore perspectives to a global audience, making it particularly apt for BT to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year by kicking off its celebrations with the Singapore business and golf communities. The latest partnership with the Asian Tour is another feather in the cap to bring new formats and outreach to BT’s audiences.

“As The Business Times marks its 50th anniversary this year, our strategic partnership with the Asian Tour in the Singapore Open represents a perfect synergy between two disciplines defined by strategy and foresight,” said Chen Huifen, Editor of BT.

“For half a century, we have served as Singapore’s leading financial daily, not just reporting on the markets, but championing excellence through our various business awards that mirror our nation’s economic priorities. By anchoring ourselves in this premier regional circuit, we reinforce our commitment to transcending borders—aligned with our own evolution as we bring our trusted financial insights to a wider base of audiences.”

Yosuke Asaji – the 2025 champion.

The US$2 million tournament, won last year by Japan’s Yosuke Asaji, after he overcame Jeunghun Wang from Korea in a play-off, will be the fourth leg on this year’s Asian Tour schedule.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, “This new relationship between the Singapore Open and The Business Times, two of the country’s strongest brands, is an exciting one that promises to be a win-win.”

“The new partnership is perfectly timed as we prepare for the tournament’s return to Sentosa Golf Club. We thank SPH Media and The Business Times for taking this decision. This is phenomenal for the Singapore Open and the Asian Tour, as it means we can reach more audiences through SPH Media’s vast network of media outlets and partners, both in Singapore and throughout the SEA region.”

April’s tournament will be the 54th staging of what is one of the region’s most treasured Opens, which was played last year for the first time since 2022.

Joshua Ho, CEO of the Singapore Golf Association, said: “We are pleased to welcome The Business Times as the presenting partner of the Singapore Open. As Singapore’s National Open, it is important for us to work with strong local partners, and there is positive synergy in this partnership. The Business Times has a strong reach and brings a credible platform to tell more meaningful stories – from the players and competition to the broader impact of golf’s ecosystem in Singapore. This partnership will help strengthen the tournament’s connection with the business community while broadening engagement with golf fans across the region.”

The Singapore Open became part of The International Series for the first time last year. The Series, upper echelon events on the Asian Tour, provides a pathway to the LIV Golf League, something which Asaji benefited greatly from last year. His victory helped him finish second on The International Series Rankings, which saw the top two earn playing privileges on the LIV Golf League this year.

As well as providing access to the LIV Golf League, this year’s Singapore Open will also pave the way for qualification to The Open in July 2026, as it will be part of the Open Qualifying Series.

The leading two players, not otherwise exempt, will be rewarded with places in the game’s oldest Major, which will be played at Royal Birkdale from 16 to 19 July 2026.