Online Reporter
THE International Series makes its debut in Japan this week, and two of the Asian Tour’s serial champions, who include top Zimbabwean golfer Scott Vincent, are eager to rediscover previous good form in the country as they go in search of glory at Caledonian Golf Club.
International Series Japan presented by Moutai is the third of 10 LIV Golf-backed tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar.
The elevated event in Chiba prefecture has attracted LIV Golf players and a wealth of top Japanese talent, including local hero Riyo Ishikawa. A host of Asian Tour players will also be there, vying for the automatic spot on the 2026 LIV Golf roster that comes with the end-of-season Rankings title.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was named Japan Golf Tour Rookie of the Year in 2019 and the seven-time Asian Tour champion is looking to recreate some of that form here this week.
He’s certainly trending in the right direction. The 29-year-old was tied for the lead going into the final round of the 44th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea at the weekend and in with a great shout of making it tournament victory no.8.
On a challenging final day, Jazz had to settle for a tie for second, after posting a one-over round of 72 while home hope Doyeob Mun roared to a sensational three-shot victory with a flawless eight-under round — including six back-nine birdies — on the testing course at Namseoul Country Club.
The T2 is still a positive for the 2022 International Series Morocco champion, who feels there is still a lot more to come this season.
He said: “The swing is trending, but just not there yet — it’s not automatic yet. I still have some shots where I don’t feel comfortable, but I know what to work on.
“I haven’t been to Japan in so long. I used to play a full schedule there in 2019, and it is something special. Every golf course is perfectly manicured. You know you’re going to get a good level of golf, and a challenging golf course.
“So I’m looking forward to that, and catching up with some old friends I haven’t seen in a while,” added Jazz, who won the SMBC Singapore Open by two shots from Paul Casey and Yoshinori Fujimoto in 2019 when the event was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, the 2022 International Series Rankings champion, has also shown great form in the Land of the Rising Sun, claiming three victories in short order over a 10-month period between 2021 and 2022.
The Zimbabwean finished one shot ahead of Ishikawa to win the Sansan KBC Augusta in August 2021 before securing a three-shot victory over Tomoharu Otsuki at the ANA Open the following month.
Vincent then secured a play-off win at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in May 2022, part of a remarkable run that culminated in victory at the inaugural International Series England a week later.
That result propelled Vincent to the top of the end-of-year rankings, and a coveted place on the LIV Golf League.
The 32-year-old spent two successful years competing against the world’s best, for the Iron Heads GC team, before narrowly losing his status at the end of last season.
He looked to be getting back to his best on Asian Tour duty in Korea last week, sitting fifth behind Jazz and co-leader Baekjun Kim going into the final round.
But a nightmare three bogeys and double on the closing four holes derailed Vincent, and left him T12 overall.
A disappointing finish perhaps, but still something to work on in a country that has brought rich rewards in the past.
Vincent also secured a T9 at the Maezawa Cup in Japan last month, to go with top-10 finishes at International Series India presented by DLF and the season-opening Philippine Open on the Asian Tour.
He said: “Overall I feel like it is moving in the right direction.
I’ve been obviously working on it (my game), and sometimes it works out great, sometimes not.
But I like where it’s heading, and the feels that I’m creating.
“I am obviously just trying to play the best I can and do the things that I think are going to help. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t. Right now it feels good — I will just keep trying to work on the things that I’m working on.”
Meanwhile, the 2025 season calendar for The International Series is now complete after International Series Cambodia presented by Royal Group was unveiled last week. — livgolf.com
