CHIBA, Japan – Travis Smyth has achieved a long-held goal with his breakthrough victory at the International Series Japan. The win propelled the Australian directly to the top of the International Series Rankings and gives him real momentum on his path back to the LIV Golf League. The 31-year-old delivered a confident and clinical performance at Caledonian Golf Club to secure his first title on the series. He earned 180 points and took an early lead in the season-long ranking race, which offers a direct pathway to LIV Golf. Smyth's connection to the league dates back to its inaugural season in 2022, when he competed in several LIV Golf Invitational events after finishing second at the International Series England.
That experience left a lasting impression and a clear goal. “Ever since I got a taste of the LIV Golf League, I've really wanted to get back there,” he said. “It's always in the back of my mind when I wake up and when I go to sleep. I want to finish the season as strong as possible and give myself the best chance to get back to where I believe I belong.” He added: “I played a couple of events in that first season and absolutely loved it. The thought of being based in Australia, traveling the world, and competing in LIV events alongside the International Series – that's a pretty great life. That's what I'm working towards.”
The victory builds on his recent triumph at the Japan–Australasia Championship, where he clinched the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title in a close contest. With momentum firmly on his side, Smyth remains focused on maintaining consistency rather than getting ahead of himself. “As cliché as it sounds, it's about sticking to what I've been doing,” he said. “After a win, it's not always easy mentally; you're a bit drained, and expectations are high. I'm going to take a few days off and then start preparing for Singapore again. It's about getting back into a routine and simply repeating the process.”
After years of knocking on the door, searching for a second Asian Tour title since his Yeangder TPC win in 2022 and a first on the International Series, Smyth's game has clearly evolved and matured to reach this stage. “I've had many good results, top 5s, top 10s, and I would still consider that a success. But winning is different. It requires something extra mentally, and I feel like I've started to unlock that,” he said. “At the start of this week, I actually wasn't playing well. I had a poor preparation and was even over par early in the first round. But I stayed patient, kept believing, and trusted that the good shots would come. That was the biggest difference.”
