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.
Every pro who tees it up in the International Series will try to put themselves in position to win a card on the team golf circuit at the end of the year, with tournaments across Asia - and one in north Africa - on the schedule alongside regular tour events.
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.
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.
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 BREAKDOWN
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 |
