The International Series Philippines 2025 is underway, and Richard Bland has made a strong start! Bland, representing Cleeks Golf Club, shot a 6-under 66 in the first round, placing him in a tie for third.
Other notable performances include Dean Burmester and Dustin Johnson, who both finished with a 5-under 67, and Peter Uihlein and Marc Leishman, who carded 4-under 68s.
This tournament is a significant event on the Asian Tour, offering a pathway to LIV Golf for the International Series Rankings champion. The Sta. Elena Golf Club, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design, provides a challenging yet scenic backdrop for the competition.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses!
Get ready for some thrilling golf action as we dive into the Aliv Golf Watch. A fast-paced start in the Philippines has everyone talking. On October 23rd, 2025, the first round of the international series Philippines kicked off, and it was an exciting day for golf enthusiasts. Richard Bland representing Clicks Golf Club stole the show with a remarkable six under 66, putting him in a tie for third place. But here’s where it gets controversial. Bland is just two shots behind the leader, Serret, setting the stage for an intense competition. Other notable players in the top 10 include Dean Burmeister from Stinger GC and Dustin Johnson, the captain of four aces GC, both shooting five under 67. And this is the part most people miss. Peter Uline and Mark Leechman representing Range Goats GC and Ripper GC respectively are tied for 14th with impressive four under 68s. Dustin Johnson shared his thoughts on the round, praising the atmosphere and his fellow players. We all played well and the birdies were flowing. I had a great day making nine birdies, but that one bad drive on the 15th cost me. Still, I’m in a good position going forward. Several other players also finished underpar including Kevin Na, Patrick Reed, Charles Schwarzel, Lewis Uzasen, Caleb Serat, and Chief Ali. You can catch the full leaderboard here. Now, let’s rewind a bit and talk about the event itself. This week, 15 LIIV Golf stars are competing in the International Series Philippines, presented by Bingo Plus on the Asian Tour. It’s the sixth of nine elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar, offering a chance for the End of Season International Series Rankings Champion to secure a spot on LIIV Golf. The International Series Philippines is being played at the STA Elena Golf Club nestled in the beautiful STA Rosa Lagona. This Robert Trent Jones Jr. design course with its all-weather greens has been featured on Golf Digest’s 100 best golf courses outside the United States list multiple times. Richard Bland, making his first start since the 2025 LIIB golf season, had a solid year, finishing 27th in the season long standings. He achieved four top 10 finishes, the most of any clicks golf club player. Dean Burmeister, who struggled at the BMW PGA Championship, is looking to bounce back. He’s had success in Asia and will aim to replicate that form here. Sam Horsefield, with only one top 10 finish in the LIIB Golf Season, hopes to make a splash on the International Series. His strong performance at the International Series Japan earlier this year gives him confidence. Dustin Johnson, the four aces GC captain, is making his first international series appearance outside of the Saudi International. His performance at the Alfred Dunhill Lynx Championship was reminiscent of his 2025 LIIV golf season, where he showed glimpses of brilliance, but couldn’t sustain it. Anthony Kim, relegated after the 2025 season, plans to play every remaining international series event to earn his LIV golf spot back. Genie Chiro Kazuma after an impressive mid-season run has struggled lately and will aim to regain his form. Danny Lee, a stalwart of Iron Heads GC, had a disappointing season with only one top 10 finish. She on the other hand has been active on the Asian Tour since the Aliv Golf season ended, finishing an impressive T11 at the Jakarta International Championship. Mark Leechman after some time off returned to Perth for the Western Australia Open and had a successful week finishing T3. He’s gearing up for the Australian Open in December, seeking his first victory at the event. Kevin Naw, the Iron Heads GC captain, had a poor 2025 season, failing to record a top 10 finish. He’ll be making his first international series start since the 2024 Saudi International. Lewis Ustasen, the Stinger GC captain, is fresh off a stellar performance at the Alfred Dunhill links. He finished T11 and will look to continue his strong form. Patrick Reed has been active since the LIIV golf season ended and has made the cut in all four of his starts, including a T3 finish at Wentworth. He’s a force to be reckoned with. Charles Schwarzel, after playing a crucial role in Stinger GC’s finals run, is making his first start of the fall. He posted a T10 finish in the international series Morocco earlier this year. Caleb Serat, the youngest Legion 13 player, showed tremendous growth in 2025. He’ll aim to build on his recent success, having finished T32 at the Alfred Dunhill Links. Peter Uline, a regular on the International Series, has won both the International Series Qatar and International Series England in 2024. He’s a consistent performer and will look to continue his winning ways. Unfortunately, Range Goats GC Captain Bubba Watson will be missing the International Series Philippines due to a minor procedure on his left ring finger. He’s expected to be out for approximately 8 weeks. Mark Leechman returning to Perth after two decades had a successful comeback finishing T3 at the Western Australia Open. We Neman the Torque GC captain has committed to the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne and will also be joining the field for the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland. Playing two weeks in Australia will be a great way to end the year. Neman said, “The support from Aussie fans has been incredible and I can’t wait to compete again. The Australian PGA Championship is a prestigious event and having my name on that trophy would be an honor.” Neman will be joined by his Torque GC teammates Carlos Ortiz and Sebastian Munoz. So, who do you think will take home the title at the International Series Philippines? Will Bland’s fast start carry him to victory or will someone else steal the show? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments.
