Five Rising Global Stars Chasing Their LIV Golf Dream

Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the sport and The International Series is proving to be a great way for up-and-coming stars to take their careers to the next level.

The International Series is a set of elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar backed by LIV Golf in a landmark US$300m strategic partnership, with the Rankings leader at the end of the season earning a golden ticket to the LIV Golf League.

The tournaments have stronger fields and higher prize pools than regular events on the circuit so the competition is fierce, featuring the best of the Asian Tour along with top LIV Golf talents in world-class line-ups.

As well as being a pathway to LIV Golf, The International Series offers up Official World Golf Ranking points and is also a route to Major Championships with the Link Hong Kong Open winner qualifying for both The Masters and The Open.

Past Rankings winners Scott Vincent, in 2022, and Andy Ogletree, in 2023, have made their way up to the LIV Golf League via the series, so who could follow in their lead this year?

International Series Morocco champion Vincent is again showing his class this season, with the former Iron Heads GC man leading the Rankings after a strong start to the campaign. Ripper GC player Lucas Herbert sits in second-place after winning the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, with former LIV Golfer and five-time Asian Tour winner Wade Ormsby in third after his superb Jakarta International Championship victory last time out.

With a number of high-class players chasing down the leading trio, we take a look at five rising stars who are well placed to push on in the International Series Rankings race ahead of the final four events in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and Saudi Arabia…

Ollie Schniederjans

Former World No.1 amateur Ollie Schniederjans looked destined for greatness straight out of college but his career was halted with injuries, which led to him having both hips replaced in 2022 before a full year on the sidelines.

The American, who is exempt on The International Series this season due to a top-10 finish at last year’s LIV Golf Promotions, completed a remarkable return to triumph at the inaugural International Series India presented by DLF in February. Schniederjans finished at 10-under-par to edge out Bryson DeChambeau and secure his first professional title since 2016.

Schniederjans took the early International Series Rankings lead and also earned an alternate spot on the LIV Golf League the following week in Riyadh, where he stepped in for the injured Phil Mickelson on HyFlyers GC.

Currently sat in fourth-place in The International Series Rankings, he is well placed to push on over the next four events to earn his golden ticket and full LIV Golf League card for 2026.

Danthai Boonma

Thai superstars Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat both came through the Asian Tour and on to international success, and Boonma could be set to follow the lead of his fellow countrymen.

Boonma is in good position on The International Series Rankings after a runner-up finish to Vincent at International Series Morocco in the summer, where he closed with a seven-under-par 66 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

The two-time Asian Tour winner, who also has four All Thailand Golf Tour victories, won a Bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games. He also took Bronze at the 2013 Asian Youth Games and 2014 Youth Olympics.

Boonma made his Major debut at the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie after qualifying via the SMBC Singapore Open.

Kazuki Higa

The former Japan Golf Tour money list winner is in scintillating form this season with three global victories.

Higa’s first win of 2025 was his eighth on the Japan Golf Tour before back-to-back triumphs on the Asian Tour, coming at the Shinhan Donghae Open in South Korea, which put him top of the Order of Merit, and the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Taiwan.

The man from Okinawa has twice qualified for The Open and also appeared at The Masters and PGA Championship. The 30-year-old has played in all five International Series tournaments this season, making the cut each time with a best finish of tied-fifth at the International Series India presented by DLF.

Taichi Kho

History maker Taichi Kho became the first player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour in 2023 when he captured the inaugural World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club - the course he is an ambassador for.

That was just his third Asian Tour start since turning professional and it earned him his Major debut at The Open Championship. He went on to earn the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year title in 2023 and also won a Gold medal in the Asian Games - another first for a Hong Kong golfer - after starting with rounds of 62-60. He pipped Korean star Sungjae Im by a single stroke.

Kho, who lost out on the Asian Pacific Amateur Championship title in a play-off to Keita Nakajima of Japan in 2021, attended the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA, and looks set for a glittering career. It could get even better this year, with the 24-year-old in position to strike up The International Series Rankings after top-10s in both Macau and Morocco. He finished T2 in last year’s LIV Golf Promotions event behind Lee Chieh-Po, so could he go one better and secure that golden ticket this year?

Maverick Antcliff

Brisbane’s Maverick Antcliff is carving out an esteemed career after attending Augusta State University.

The Australian won the China Tour Order of Merit in his rookie season after a dominant campaign that included three tournament victories. He now primarily competes on the Asian Tour and has played in all five International Series tournaments so far this year.

Antcliff has also had success on the DP World Tour and is enjoying a solid season in Asia this year with a best result of T3 at the International Series Morocco and a T11 at the recent Jakarta International Championship.

So which of these five players will make the biggest impact over the final four events of the season? Tune in to find out, with The International Series resuming with the inaugural International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus up next from 23-26 October.