Andy Ogletree of USA. Picture By Ian Walton.
Andy Ogletree has established a winning habit in The International Series, having now chalked up a hat trick of victories in the Asian Tour’s run of premier tournaments.
A dominant performance in International Series England at Close House on 17-20 August resulted in a seven-shot victory for the 25-year-old, which follows wins in Egypt (November 2022) and Qatar (February 2023).
Such is the American’s form, he now enjoys a significant lead on both Asian Tour and International Series Orders of Merit (OOM), pocketing almost 10% of the total US$10.5m International Series prize money along the way.
A lead in the latter list come the year end offers automatic qualification to the ultra-lucrative LIV Golf League for 2024, described by 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell as a ‘golden ticket’.
Following his victory, Ogletree said, “I know that my game matches up with those [LIV Golf] guys very well. Twenty-two of them were here this week and I won by seven.”
The closest competitor to the Georgia Tech alumnus was European Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, who stepped up a gear in the final round to match the 2019 US Amateur Champion’s seven-under low to reach a total of nine-under-par. Solo second propels the Englishman into 11th on The International Series OOM.
India’s Anirban Lahiri finished third, a single shot behind Poulter and emphasised the importance of The International Series to his fellow Asian Tour members, “It’s phenomenal,” he said.
Anirban Lahiri of India . Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“As a pathway to LIV, to the qualification event, to winning The International Series points list [Order of Merit] and getting a spot-on LIV. It’s life changing.
At the halfway stage of the 10-tournament International Series 2023 schedule, 266 golfers have competed in the elite events, representing 37 different countries across six continents.
It continues on 24-27 August 2023 in Scotland with the St Andrews Bay Championship taking place at Fairmont St Andrews, where a 156-strong field is set to compete for US$1.5m.
