Lee Westwood began his star-studded career back in 1993 and the former world No. 1 has 44 tour wins and an incredible 11 Ryder Cups under his belt. Following his move to LIV Golf to captain the Majesticks team alongside fellow Team Europe legends Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, the Englishman is now preparing for an event and venue close to his heart. 

The Englishman is returning to Close House — the club where he is the Attached Tour Professional — to compete in the Asian Tour International Series England event, where he will be lining up against a stellar field that includes 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and this year’s PIF Saudi International victor Abraham Ancer, plus some of Asia’s most promising talent like Gunn Charoenkul, Chonalatit Chuenboonngam, Sadom Kaewkanjan and Phachara Khongwatmai.

Following a globe-trotting career spanning four decades, Westwood is relishing teeing it up close to his home just outside Newcastle in the north-east of England. 

“I think it’s an area of the country that doesn’t get much world-class golf,” he exclusively told Golf Digest Middle East “Obviously, we had the British Masters, and they played the International Series at Slaley last year but it’s nice to see a tournament coming to Close House. 

“They’ll get a great field, a lot of world-class players that everybody will know and recognise. I expect it to be a good turnout and the fans will love it. It’s in August, mid-summer, the course will be in great condition and nice weather hopefully.”

Despite having played the Colt Course at Close House several times, Westwood knows he and the rest of the field are in for a challenge. 

“The elevation changes are tricky at Close House, there are a lot of shots uphill and downhill with big elevation changes so clubbing becomes more difficult,” he said. “The greens have got some severe slopes on them as well in certain places, that’s another defence of the golf course. It can get breezy up here as well.”

The International Series was launched last year through a historic investment by LIV Golf that created a premier level of events to develop the next generation of stars and offer pathways to top competition in the LIV Golf League. 

At the end of the 2023 10-event season, the player in the No. 1 position will book a spot in the lucrative 2024 LIV Golf League, while the next 31 will secure entry into the LIV Golf Promotions Event to vie for three further places up for grabs.

“I like it [the International Series],” Westwood said. “I think it gives people an opportunity to play their way onto LIV. It’s 10 events, there’s an Order of Merit from them and if you play well, you get a chance to play on LIV which is very lucrative. We’ve seen Asian Tour players like Andy Ogletree play well in The International Series events and then come out and play well on LIV when he’s had an opportunity. He stood in for me in Tulsa and shot 62, eight-under, and then again he stood in for Paul Casey and I think he ended up finishing top 10. It shows the strength of the players playing the International Series and on the Asian Tour.”

With a career that goes back all the way to the early 1990s, Westwood knows he is not getting any younger at 50, and these days he is just enjoying his time on the course and reflecting on highlights like his 2009 victory in Dubai that propelled him to the No. 1 spot in the world, and his most recent title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2020.

“My goals are just to keep enjoying playing and enjoying playing on LIV,” he said. “I’m having a great time out there it has given me a second lease of life. After 30 years of playing tournament golf all being kind of the same tournaments, LIV is very different and I’m enjoying the change.”

He can also enjoy some home comforts when the International Series comes to town.

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Auchterarder Golf Club’s Rory Franssen proved his readiness to take on some of the world’s best after a five-under par 66 at Close House saw him secure qualification in the number one position for the International Series England.

Franssen will now compete alongside the likes of Ryder Cup heroes Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter when the main event returns to the northeast between 17-20 August and will be hoping for a repeat performance with a US$2m prize purse to play for.

“I’m buzzing, I’m absolutely buzzing,” said the University of Missouri alumni after sealing victory. “It’s your dream to play against these guys [Poulter and Westwood] and to be able to do that now is going to be really cool. I’m looking forward to it.

“Without support from The International Series, I would have no opportunity to play in as big an event as this, which is huge for guys like me. I am sure that everyone here today really appreciates the opportunity this event has created.”

The field consisted of 144 professionals and amateurs looking to book return passage to Close House later this summer. Among them taking on difficult conditions in Newcastle Upon Tyne was former Sunderland A.F.C and Middlesbrough captain Lee Cattermole, who put his sporting prowess to the test in less familiar circumstances over the 6,813-yard layout.

The 35-year-old was, however, unable to break into the top-six qualifying spots, unlike England’s Rhys Thompson, who finished two shots off the pace in second.

Boldon Golf Club professional Thompson, who competes alongside Franssen on the Tartan Pro Tour, recently captured the Dundonald Links Classic title, and will relish the chance to add to his personal silverware collection.

He said: “It was a good round. I was bogey free and so am really happy with the performance, especially with how I’ve performed in the last two weeks.”

English counterparts Luke Joy, Adam Batty, James Wilson and Will Marshall complete the sextant making the grade over the Colt Course, each finishing in a tie for third on 69.

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Former world No. 5, Ian Poulter, will join his long-time friend and Majesticks GC co-captain Lee Westwood, in an ever-strengthening field for the upcoming International Series England at Close House from August 17th-20th.

The fifth tournament of The International Series 2023, and 11th on the Asian Tour, can expect the flamboyant fashionista to bring some colour to the famously monochromatic city of Newcastle, and not for the first time.

Poulter has dazzled golf fans at Close House previously – the Englishman put rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 70 together to finish tied-11th on his last competitive visit in 2017.

Now looking ahead to the hotly anticipated North-eastern showdown, Poulter said: “I always enjoy the opportunity to tee up on home turf and Close House is a fantastic venue where the crowds are packed with knowledgeable golf fans.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some of the top talents of the Asian Tour first-hand in the [LIV Golf] League, especially Andy Ogletree who stepped in for Lee in DC and turned in a 62! So, I’m looking forward to my International Series debut.”

Nicknamed ‘The Postman’ for consistently delivering vital points for Team Europe in The Ryder Cup, the 47-year-old has 17 professional victories under his (often brightly coloured) belt.

Two of Poulter’s wins have come on the Asian Tour, including the 2009 Singapore Open and 2010 Hong Kong Open, the latter of which is now also among the ten International Series events contributing to the Asian Tour schedule in 2023.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are the definition of global golfers – having played, and won throughout the world. They are beloved by English golf fans, and anyone attending International Series England is in for a very special week.

“The International Series now regularly welcomes titans of the game, with Patrick [Reed], Eugenio [Chacarra] and Abraham [Ancer] all competing alongside Ian [Poulter] and Lee [Westwood] this August, demonstrating the strength of the Asian Tour right now.”

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Ten LIV Golf players are set to join up with their Asian Tour counterparts to take on Close House just outside Newcastle for the $2 million International Series England from August 17-20.

Lee Westwood, the former world No. 1 with 44 career victories — including eight on the Asian Tour — spearheads the LIV contingent for the test on the banks of the River Tyne.

Despite being born and raised in Worksop, and an ardent Nottingham Forest fan, ‘Westy’ moved north to the region a number of years ago and struck up a long-standing partnership with Close House as its Attached Tour Professional.

“I’ve had the privilege of playing at home in tournament situations before, and there is truly nothing quite like it,” Westwood said. “Local excitement is building nicely with some of the players confirmed.

“I’ve been embraced by the people of Northumbria since I set up home there. Their passion for sport is unrivalled and the full field will feel that during the tournament week — the atmosphere will be tremendous.”

Abraham Ancer. Saudi International 2023/Neville Hopwood

Joining the Majesticks team co-captain are 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and this year’s PIF Saudi International victor Abraham Ancer. Like Ancer, whose most recent win netted a share of the $5 million purse in Saudi Arabia, McDowell will be looking to improve on a single Asian Tour career victory, which came back in 2008 in South Korea.

Seven-time Asian Tour winner and LIV Golf player Anirban Lahiri will also make his second International Series appearance of the year, following an impressive runner-up finish at the Vietnam event back in April. On that occasion it was Kieran Vincent who emerged victorious, somewhat following in the footsteps of older brother Scott, who earned a place in the 2023 LIV Golf League by topping The International Series 2022 Order of Merit.

Eugenio Chacarra. LIV Golf

Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and American Jason Kokrak also make International Series returns after teeing it up in the first event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 schedule in Oman. Meanwhile, England’s Richard Bland, Brendan Steele of the United States and South Africa’s Dean Burmester will make their debuts.

Signalling the halfway point of The International Series 2023 season, the event at Close House will be pivotal for players looking to climb The International Series OOM, currently led by the only two-time International Series winner, Andy Ogletree.

As expected, there is already fierce competition to finish within the top 32 places come the end of the season. At that juncture, the player in the No.1 position will punch his ticket directly to the ultra-lucrative 2024 LIV Golf League, while the remaining 31 players will secure entry into the LIV Golf Promotions Event to vie for three further places up for grabs.

Phachara Khongwatmai. Asian Tour

Among those leading the charge to dethrone the current number one are several of the Asian Tour’s brightest stars, including a quartet of Thai golfers: Gunn Charoenkul, Chonalatit Chuenboonngam, Sadom Kaewkanjan and Phachara Khongwatmai. All currently sit within the top 10 of The International Series OOM and are looking to secure their first International Series wins.

Head of The International Series, Rahul Singh, said: “Having the likes of Lee Westwood, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer and other LIV stars confirmed for International Series England is demonstrative of the growing strength of The International Series and the allure of the fabulous Lee Westwood Colt Course at Close House.

“We are returning to England’s north-east after being made to feel so welcome last year, despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic. We are ready to renew the fervour this year and welcome spectators to what stands to be the biggest International Series event yet.”

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Lee Westwood, the former world No. 1 with 44 career victories — including eight on the Asian Tour — spearheads a cohort of 10 LIV Golfers set to wow the crowds over the Colt Course, situated just a few miles from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Despite being born and raised in Worksop, and an ardent Nottingham Forest fan, ‘Westy’ moved to the region a number of years ago and struck up a long-standing partnership with Close House as its attached tour professional.

Westwood said: “I’ve had the privilege of playing at home in tournament situations before, and there is truly nothing quite like it. Local excitement is building nicely with some of the players confirmed.

“I’ve been embraced by the people of Northumbria since I set up home there; their passion for sport is unrivalled and the full field will feel that during the tournament week — the atmosphere will be tremendous.”

Joining the Majesticks Team co-captain are 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and this year’s Saudi International victor Abraham Ancer. Like Ancer, whose most recent win netted a share of the US$5 million purse in Saudi Arabia, McDowell will be looking to improve on a single Asian Tour career victory, which came back in 2008 in South Korea.

Seven-time Asian Tour winner and LIV Golf player Anirban Lahiri will also make his second International Series appearance of the year, following an impressive runner-up finish at the Vietnam event back in April. On that occasion it was Kieran Vincent who emerged victorious, somewhat following in the footsteps of older brother Scott, who earned a place in the 2023 LIV Golf League by topping The International Series 2022 Order of Merit (OOM).

Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and American Jason Kokrak also make International Series returns after teeing it up in the first event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 schedule in Oman. Meanwhile, England’s Richard Bland, Brendan Steele of the United States and South Africa’s Dean Burmester will make their debuts.

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The $2 million tournament will be played from August 17-20 and represents the fifth stop on The International Series in 2023.

The England event made its debut last summer, in the same region, and was a landmark event for the International Series and Asian Tour as it marked the first time the Tour had staged an event in the United Kingdom.

Close House Managing Director, Jonathan Lupton, said: “Welcoming the International Series back to Northumberland for a second consecutive year is an exciting development.

“Having had the pleasure to visit the International Series Oman in February, it was fantastic to see the growth of the Series over the last year and we’re looking forward to working closely with the Asian Tour to create a memorable event in England.”

The Scott Macpherson-designed Lee Westwood Colt Course (Westy is the club’s ‘Attached Tour Professional’) will be used for the tournament. The par-71 layout measures just under 7,000 yards, and incorporates historical features throughout and ancient woodland. It is one of two courses at Close House, with the other being the Lee Westwood Filly course.

“I am sure that the players will relish the challenge of the Colt along with enjoying a very warm welcome from the members and guests,” said Close House owner, Graham Wylie.

“The people of the North-East are extremely passionate about sport and to host another world class event in the region is a huge honour.”

The International Series was launched last year through a historic investment by LIV Golf that created a premier level of events to develop the next generation of stars and offer unprecedented pathways to top competition in the LIV Golf League. The ground-breaking initiative sits with the Asian Tour schedule and saw seven International Series events staged last season across seven countries in three continents.

“The Asian Tour is excited to be returning to Newcastle for the International Series England. We enjoyed a very successful event there last June, which marked the Tour’s first trip to the United Kingdom,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“To be able to stage the tournament this year at Close House, a fantastic venue that has such strong ties with Lee Westwood — a nine-time winner on the Asian Tour — adds an exciting new dimension to the tournament and provides another great opportunity for our membership.”

A strong field will once again make the trip to Newcastle hoping to emulate Scott Vincent’s win at Slaley Hall which was the start of a brilliant season for the Zimbabwean that culminated in him winning the International Series Order of Merit and a place in the LIV Golf League in 2023.

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Harding shot a tremendous 66 in difficult conditions just outside Newcastle in a historic event — marking the Asian Tour’s first ever tournament in the UK.

As the golfers push for glory and a slice of the $2 million purse, there is also the added incentive of the top five golfers booking a place at next week’s money-spinning LIV Golf Individual Series opener at Centurion Club, just outside London.

Before the afternoon starters headed out, Kapur was tied-third alongside Zimbabwean Scott Vincent — who arrived in Newcastle after a 24-hour journey from Japan, without his clubs — and Japan’s Kosuke Hamamoto. While Kapur and co looked on from the clubhouse, no one could catch Harding and Joohyung, with South African Neil Schietekat, Thai pair Kosuke Hamamoto and Kasidit Lepkurte, and Chang Wei-lun from Chinese Taipei joining Kapur on one-under ahead of the third round.

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The post UPDATED: Dubai-based Indian Shiv Kapur stays in touch at historic Asian Golf International Series England with LIV Golf places up for grabs appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
History was made on Thursday as the International Series England teed off at Slaley Hall outside Newcastle — the first Asian Tour event in the UK.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun upstaged a stellar field to take the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.

Hot on his heels is Dubai-based Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, who posted a 67 alongside some big names including Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and fellow Indian SSP Chawrasia.

Kapur shot a blemish-free four-under days after he urged his fellow Asian Tour players to revel in the opportunities they now have, thanks to Saudi investment in the game

Little-known Chang, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017, birdied his last three holes — after a handy tip. “My family gave me some advice before I flew here,” said Chang. “My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently.

“Coming into this week, I wasn’t thinking too much. I have been playing well this season, but I know I can do better. The weather was much cooler than I expected. I was actually more concerned about the weather, so I prepared myself for bad weather conditions, but today’s condition is actually not too bad.”

Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz said he has really benefited from catching up with his coach Pete Cowen this week.

“My game is getting better, training the right way since beginning of the year. Hitting good, just waiting for the scoring to come back,” said Jazz.

“I haven’t seen my coach Pete Cowen much. I saw him in Dubai but that was a while ago, and I saw him at the British Masters, and he is here this week with G-Mac [Graeme McDowell] so it has been really great, as obviously it’s just me and G-Mac so I can have as much time with him as possible.”

American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.

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The post Dubai-based Shiv Kapur revels at historic Asian Tour International Series as Chang Wei-lun leads in Newcastle appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
Asian Tour No. 1 Sihwan Kim is treating this week’s historic International Series England event like any other as he looks to build on his two victories and Order of Merit lead this season in Newcastle.

“Golf is a funny game,” said the American, who turned professional in 2011 but had been winless until this year. “I won twice this year in four weeks, but I still worry about the same things that I did before I won, so it has not really changed me that much in that sense. It is still a tough game, and I don’t take anything for granted but the aim is always to win.”

He competes in this week’s International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, an event that marks the Asian Tour’s first ever trip to the UK.

He added: “It is a very fickle game. I am just trying to enjoy it as much as I can because you don’t know when it is going to go away. I am enjoying it but when golf goes south, I don’t think anyone enjoys it. When part of my game is bad, I try to work on it, and I know it is going to get better and you just keep on grinding.

“As I have said many times before, you have got to get lucky to win. It always comes down to the last one or two shots and when you get that lucky break that’s all that you need. In the years before I didn’t have that, I kind of got unlucky bounces here and there.”

The 33-year-old has competed many times in the UK on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour over the past 10 years, although it is his first time at Slaley Hall.

“It is good, some holes are a little funky,” said Kim, who took time out to try his hand at clay pigeon shooting on Wednesday.

“You can’t hit driver, you’ve got to hit two iron from the tee and have a four or three iron into the green. But other than that, the course looks good. The cold conditions mess with my yardage a little bit. When it’s cold and damp the ball doesn’t travel as far.”

Kim has been paired with Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat and Scott Hend from Australia, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, for the first two rounds and start on Thursday at 7.02am.

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The Australian has been struggling with injury and illness this season, including a bout of COVID-19 last week.

But now he is looking to get back to the form that has seen him claim 10 Asian Tour tournaments and the 2016 Order of Merit title.

Hend was certainly showing those signs of old at the Dutch Open, where he was one off the lead after the third round before finishing in a tie for 14th. This was after missing the cut in all six events he has competed in on the Asian Tour this year.

My caddie Dave asked me on the 36th hole today…

"When was the last time U played 72 holes?"

I replied…. "What U mean in a fortnight"???‍????‍#golflife #ItHappens #JustSayn #YesSir #AboutTime

— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) May 27, 2022

Hend has been fighting prostrate cancer for over a year, caught the flu a few weeks ago before picking up COVID-19 early last week.

“I have had a lot of injuries this year,” said Hend.

“It’s nice to turn the corner last week, and hopefully start to put some results together. Catching COVID last week wasn’t the perfect formula, but we battled through it. I was lucky I could play because the only symptom I was showing was testing positive. The last six holes every day I was struggling because of a lack of energy. Hopefully we can play good again this week and have a good result.”

The Australian continues to battle prostate problems but has been making good progress.

“It’s a work in progress, it’s a man problem.  As you get older … prostate issues … something that I can control but I can’t control,” he said.

“For a year and a half, urinating blood and struggling to urinate on the golf course is obviously not ideal for playing good golf. I should have been operated on earlier. I had bad information from a specialist, but I saw another specialist and he said do it straight away as you are struggling. Having those sorts of things on your mind doesn’t help.

“It’s been really tough times and I have worked really hard to get back. Certain things became a little bit more important than others. From an outsider looking in you just think it is just someone playing bad golf but there is a lot more to it. Golf is a massive part of my life but so is living.”

Hend last won on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Maybank Championship and is now determined to get back on track.

“I want to start playing well again, I want to start winning again, I want to improve my world ranking, I want to compete against all these guys again and show them I can still play,” he said.

“I want to finish my career with as many wins as I can. That’s why I am out here, to play and win trophies. I like to think I can be competitive this week and be up there on Sunday.”

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