The race for a LIV Golf card is on via the Asian Tour’s International Series, with the first of eight events having begun on Thursday in Japan.
As is the case with regular Asian Tour events, points are on offer for those who make the cut at International Series tournaments and they go towards a running total with the top two pros – who do not already hold LIV status for 2027 – earning their spot on LIV.
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But in the short term, there are also significant pots of prize money to be handed out. For example, in Japan this week, there is a $2 million payout on the line.
And because 2025 champion Lucas Herbert is not in the field, there is guaranteed to be a new winner. So whoever follows the Ripper GC pro into the winner’s circle is destined to earn $360,000.
Shugo Imahira was one of the co-leaders after the third round
(Image credit: Getty Images)
After three rounds, there were joint leaders, with Shugo Imahira and Hongtaek Kim both on 10 under, one clear of former LIV Golfer Yubin Jang.
The runner-up could pick up $220,000 while third and fourth may secure six-figure payouts, providing they don’t have company on the leaderboard through 72 holes.
Below is the maximum prize money payout for the 2026 International Series Japan based on 75 players making the cut and before ties are taken into account.
INTERNATIONAL SERIES JAPAN PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWNSwipe to scroll horizontally
Position
Prize Money
1st
$360,000
2nd
$220,000
3rd
$126,000
4th
$100,000
5th
$82,000
6th
$66,600
7th
$57,000
8th
$49,000
9th
$42,800
10th
$38,200
11th
$34,900
12th
$32,500
13th
$30,300
14th
$28,900
15th
$27,700
16th
$26,500
17th
$25,300
18th
$24,100
19th
$23,100
20th
$22,300
21st
$21,800
22nd
$21,200
23rd
$20,600
24th
$20,000
25th
$19,400
26th
$18,800
27th
$18,200
28th
$17,600
29th
$17,000
30th
$16,400
31st
$16,200
32nd
$15,600
33rd
$15,200
34th
$14,800
35th
$14,400
36th
$14,000
37th
$13,600
38th
$13,200
39th
$12,800
40th
$12,400
41st
$12,100
42nd
$11,700
43rd
$11,300
44th
$10,900
45th
$10,700
46th
$10,600
47th
$10,200
48th
$9,800
49th
$9,400
50th
$9,000
51st
$8,600
52nd
$8,200
53rd
$7,800
54th
$7,600
55th
$7,400
56th
$7,200
57th
$7,000
58th
$6,800
59th
$6,600
60th
$6,400
61st
$6,200
62nd
$6,000
63rd
$5,800
64th
$5,600
65th
$5,400
66th
$5,200
67th
$5,000
68th
$4,800
69th
$4,600
70th
$4,400
71st
$4,200
72nd
$4,000
73rd
$3,800
74th
$3,600
75th
$3,400
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