Major champions Graeme McDowell, Charl Schwartzel headline International Series S’pore in Oct
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Graeme McDowell (left) finished joint-20th at the International Series England in August, while Charl Schwartzel claimed the inaugural LIV Golf London event in June 2022.
PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS
SINGAPORE – Major champions Graeme McDowell and Charl Schwartzel will headline the Oct 5-8 International Series Singapore at Tanah Merah Country Club.
The US$2 million (S$2.74 million) event is the seventh leg of the 10-stop International Series organised by the Asian Tour in partnership with LIV Golf. The winner of the International Series Order of Merit will earn a place on the LIV Golf League in 2024.
McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, finished joint-20th at the International Series England in August. He said: “My time at Close House was a great experience, and I’m looking forward to putting on another solid performance to give myself the chance to win my first International Series event.
“I have always enjoyed playing in Asia, so I am excited to get back to Singapore this year and to experience Tanah Merah for the first time.”
He will be joined by two of his LIV Cleeks GC teammates in Bernd Wiesberger and Richard Bland.
Schwartzel, who won the 2011 Masters, had claimed the inaugural LIV Golf London event in June 2022.
The South African veteran ended tied-13th at the International Series Qatar in February.
Andy Ogletree, who boasts three International Series titles, including triumphs in Qatar and England in 2023, leads both the International Series and Asian Tour Order of Merits.
The 25-year-old American said: “I’ve had the pleasure of participating in the LIV Golf League already, which is an experience I relished. As we enter the final leg of the International Series 2023 schedule, each event now holds immense significance in securing my spot for the upcoming year.”
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong was victorious last August at the Tampines Course and returns in great form after winning the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August.
He said: “After my victory on the Tampines Course last year, I believe I’ve unlocked the secret to performing exceptionally well on this course and I just can’t wait to return to Singapore and defend my title.”
The field also features Hideto Tanihara, who last weekend captured the ANA Open Golf Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour and Sadom Kaewkanjana, a two-time Asian Tour champion.
Post-pandemic, the Republic has seen a glut of top-level golf tournaments.
In February, the DP World Tour held the Singapore Classic at Laguna National. A month later, the LPGA’s HSBC Women’s World Championship was staged at Sentosa Golf Club.
March also saw the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series at Laguna, while LIV Golf Singapore was played at Sentosa’s Serapong Course in April.
