**Rahul Singh on the International Series: “We’re Growing the Game and Staying Inclusive”**
The International Series head, Rahul Singh, recently spoke to Sportskeeda at the Moutai Singapore Open 2025, held at the Singapore Island Country Club. He emphasized that the circuit is constantly working to “grow the game,” reaching new countries and audiences each season. The Asian Tour and LIV Golf-sanctioned event, founded in 2022, has made a point of mixing local talent with experienced, world-class players to bridge the gap between different levels of experience.
Interestingly, Singh alluded to the current divide in world golf and reaffirmed The International Series’ commitment to being an “open house” with “no restrictions” for players from any tour. This year’s Singapore event saw the series visit the SICC for the first time, following earlier expansions into India, the Philippines, and Japan. While Singh acknowledged the Asian Tour’s growth post-LIV Golf’s inception, he chose not to comment on the recent format changes in the Saudi-backed series.
Below is the full interview, touching on the inclusive nature of The International Series, LIV Golf’s partnership with the Asian Tour, the Singapore Open, and more.
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### The International Series Debuts at Singapore Island Country Club
**Q: How’s the tournament looking at SICC this year?**
*Rahul Singh:*
It looks great. The golf course is in fantastic shape. The weather should give us some nice, low scores—always great for spectators. While Thursdays and Fridays in Singapore tend to be a bit quieter, I expect the weekend will draw bigger crowds. The setup is impressive, the field is strong, and perhaps most importantly, we’re seeing the return of both the Singapore Open and The International Series. That’s a big highlight for us, and we’re determined to keep the Singapore Open as part of our calendar going forward. We’re now focused on how best to enhance and grow the event—after all, this used to be considered the “Major of Asia”. Hopefully, in time, we’ll see exemptions and increased prestige return to the event.
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### Taking the Game to New Venues
**Q: How important is it for The International Series to visit new venues like India, Japan, and the Philippines instead of repeating the same events each year?**
*Singh:*
It’s huge. One of our mandates, through the partnership between LIV Golf and the Asian Tour, is to grow the game—not just by adding prize money or bringing players, but by going into new territories, creating new pathways, expanding our audience, and bringing families and children out to the courses. We’re working to change the perception of golf, especially in Asia, where it’s often seen as an elite sport. In the Philippines for example, we attracted 31,000 spectators, breaking away from the typical small crowds golf used to draw in such markets.
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### Attracting World-Class Players
**Q: Is the Series always looking to draw more world-class players to new destinations?**
*Singh:*
Absolutely. When we go into markets like India or the Philippines, we know local golf fans want to see the biggest stars up close. Bringing Bryson DeChambeau to India and Dustin Johnson to the Philippines gave fans opportunities they would not normally have. This is massive for audiences and, importantly, for young local players. Imagine a 15-year-old amateur competing in a field with global stars—it’s a motivator, an inspiration, and a career pathway. The presence of international names and meaningful prize money can totally shift how young athletes view golf as a potential future.
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### Total Inclusivity: Open House Policy
**Q: You have emphasized the Series’ inclusive philosophy. With world golf divided and the PGA Tour banning LIV players, is The International Series open to players from all tours?**
*Singh:*
Absolutely. The International Series is a sanctioned Asian Tour event—we don’t restrict anyone. Our categories are open to the top 300 players worldwide, top local amateurs, major winners, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players. We are 100% inclusive. We’ve had Justin Rose play at the Hong Kong Open, and players from across different tours can participate. We are an open house and welcome the best, with no restrictions.
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### Partnership with LIV Golf and Growth Goals
**Q: The International Series works in conjunction with LIV Golf. Is it now where you envisioned, or is there more growth ahead?**
*Singh:*
It’s definitely still growing. We’re part of a larger LIV Golf ecosystem, which includes 14 league events, 10 International Series events, and the promotions event. Coordination is vital—if International Series events clashed with LIV Golf events, players would have to choose. We work hard to schedule series events before or after LIV Golf events, maximizing both attendance and player participation.
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### Pathways to LIV Golf
**Q: The International Series Rankings now offer two qualification spots into LIV Golf. Could there be more in future?**
*Singh:*
There are actually two spots from the rankings and two from the promotions event. Around 30 International Series players will have the chance to compete in the promotion event. Our focus is on providing pathways for all players—through Q-School, the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour, the International Series, the LIV Golf League, and the Majors. It’s the responsibility of any tour to provide a real, tangible ladder for talent.
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### LIV Golf’s Recent Format Change
**Q: Any thoughts on LIV Golf’s recent format announcements?**
*Singh:*
That’s best answered by the league. We are a tour-sanctioned series and play 72 holes, so in that sense, we say: welcome to the party.
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### Standout Asian Golf Nations and New Destinations
**Q: Which Asian golf nation has surprised you the most?**
*Singh:*
The response in the Philippines was overwhelming—over 31,000 turned out, surpassing expectations. India has also been an important and successful stop. Japan has been a significant addition for us. We’re continually looking at both established and emerging golf markets, including destinations like Vietnam and, hopefully one day, Cambodia. In fact, a sponsor wanted to bring the series to Cambodia—an eye-opener for a golf event, given it’s such a new market.
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### Season Finale in Saudi Arabia
**Q: What are your expectations for the season-ender in Saudi Arabia?**
*Singh:*
It’s going to be highly competitive. The Saudi event carries more ranking points due to its elevated prize money. This week will set things up perfectly for the finale, where a great performance could dramatically shake up the rankings. All the top 10 players have their eyes on the top two spots, so we’re set for an exciting finish.
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**Conclusion**
The International Series continues to expand golf’s reach across Asia, focusing on inclusivity, opportunity, and excitement in every event. With its commitment to growing the sport and providing new career pathways, the series is set to play a defining role in shaping the future of golf across the region and beyond.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-exclusive-international-series-head-rahul-singh-opens-liv-golf-pathway-asian-tour-partnership
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