Published on December 11, 2024
The best performers from The International Series and Asian Tour are lining up alongside emerging talent from around the world for ‘one shot at one spot’ onto the LIV Golf League, in the LIV Golf Promotions event at Riyadh Golf Club that starts tomorrow.
American John Catlin, the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and International Series Macau presented by Wynn winner, will receive a bye into round two of the four-round, three-day event alongside compatriot MJ Maguire, New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, Canada’s Richard T Lee and Lee Chieh-po of Chinese Taipei.
All five were 2024 champions on The International Series, and all finished in the top eight of the rankings in a thrilling season that was won on the final day by LIV Golf League star Joaquin Niemann from Chile.
Steve Lewton of England, South Africa’s Jbe Kruger and Thai players Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Rattanon Wannasrichan, will also enter in the second round as champions on the Asian Tour this season.
A further 15 players from the top 40 of The International Series Rankings will get their chance to claim that coveted LIV Golf spot next season, entering the tournament in the first round.
Thai quartet Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai, Gunn Charoenkul and Jazz Janewattananond will be joined by the Australian trio of Travis Smyth, Maverick Antcliff and Wade Ormsby in the mix.
Newly crowned Asian Tour Rookie of the Year Stefano Mazzoli will also be in the field, with the Italian joined by Chang Wei-Lun of Chinese Taipei and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines.
South Africa’s Ian Snyman, Kazuki Higa of Japan, Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, an 11-time winner on the Asian Tour, also earned their places through the rankings.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, last year’s Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, will also feature alongside David Boriboonsub of Thailand, Jeunghun Wang of Korea and Nick Voke of New Zealand, thanks to event invitations.
The 93-strong field also includes Ryder Cup and Walker Cup standouts, former top-ranked amateurs and NCAA champions, and winners on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and Sunshine Tour.
LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman said: “Building on our first and highly successful LIV Golf Promotions in 2023, the interest has only increased this year as one deserving player will earn the chance to compete in the LIV Golf League.
“The strong interest underscores the significance of creating more opportunities in our global sport to ensure current and rising stars of the game can build their careers and compete at the highest level.”
Former Ryder Cup player Chris Wood of England is one of the best-known names in the field, which also includes seven participants from the 2023 Walker Cup and two from the 2024 Palmer Cup, the iconic team tournaments contested by the best amateurs and college golfers.
Santiago De La Fuente, the 2024 Latin America Amateur Champion, 2024 European Amateur runner-up Max Kennedy and newly turned Spanish pro Luis Masaveu are also ones to watch along with young Brazilian Fred Biondi, the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Individual Champion and runner-up in the PGATU rankings behind Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg.
Branden Grace, Kalle Samooja, Scott Vincent and Kieran Vincent, all regular starters on The International Series will also be hoping to secure their LIV Golf status for 2025 after ending up in the drop zone in the 2024 season.
The overall winner will secure a highly coveted spot in the 2025 LIV Golf League and an opportunity to be signed by a team, along with US$200,000.
In addition, the top 10 finishers, including ties, will earn full exemption into all 2025 events on The International Series schedule, sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
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