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Peter Uihlein celebrates his England win, embracing new travel opportunities and challenges on The International Series as he eyes further success in elite competition.

Peter Uihlein, the newly crowned champion of the International Series England, celebrated a dominant performance at the Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey, where he triumphed by an impressive seven strokes in a competitive international lineup. Uihlein, who plays for RangeGoats GC in the LIV Golf League, secured his first Asian Tour win and his inaugural victory since his switch to the tour, a move that has seen him finish as runner-up four times previously.

Uihlein praised the Asian Tour’s high-caliber event setups, which not only test a player’s skill under intense pressure but also provide a valuable stepping stone to the LIV Golf League. Having already competed in similar events in Oman and Morocco earlier this season, he is targeting three more significant tournaments: the Black Mountain Championship in Thailand from October 17-20, the Hong Kong Open from November 21-24, and the PIF Saudi International, which is sponsored by SoftBank Investment Advisers and runs from December 4-7.

He said: “I love them because for the most part, we have played them all before LIV events, which I love.

“I like playing before so these events have been perfect. They are just a great way to get four rounds in, in good competition. It is also great to see what you are working on under pressure.”

At 34, Peter Uihlein captured attention with a spectacular 10-under 61 in the second round, setting a new course record and mounting a significant comeback from an initial level-par performance that had left him trailing by seven shots. The leaders at that point were his RangeGoats GC teammate, Thomas Pieters of Belgium, and Canada’s Richard T Lee.

On the decisive final day, Uihlein delivered another remarkable round, scoring an eight-under 63 following a solid two-under 69 that had positioned him ahead entering Sunday. American Caleb Surratt and England’s Andy Sullivan were his closest competitors, both trailing by seven strokes, with China’s promising talent Sampson Zheng, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Harold Varner III of the U.S. not far behind.

Uihlein reflected on the competitive intensity of the tournament, emphasizing the ten elevated events as crucial opportunities for LIV Golf League players to gain significant game experience and collect ranking points in high-pressure situations.

He said: “So it felt like under the gun, the stuff I was doing felt really, really good. Which is what is most important, right? It is not something I would know, being at home practicing. Having competition, getting some pressure under you and trying to execute under the pressure is what this is all about. It has been great. If they keep scheduling events and it works for my schedule. I am going to come play.”

Caleb Surratt, just 20 and new to the professional scene, marked another impressive performance with his second consecutive top-three finish in The International Series, following a strong showing in Morocco last month. Turning pro at the beginning of the season to join the LIV Golf League, Surratt scored a three-under 68 but had to share second place with Andy Sullivan after a crucial putt missed on the final hole.

The youngster still did enough to impress Uihlein over the weekend. He said: “I love Caleb. I love that he is playing. I know he played Morocco. I do not think he was playing much early in the year – he was trying to settle in turning pro and getting used to pro life but I think now he is going to start playing a bit more.”

Uihlein also highlighted the significance of The International Series as a vital arena for LIV Golf League players to gain extra exposure and match experience, supplementing their regular season. The series is known for attracting LIV Golf icons and major winners like Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.

Emerging talents like David Puig of Fireballs GC, 2023 International Series Singapore champion, and his teammate Eugenio Chacarra, winner at St Andrews Bay the same year, along with promising Australian Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC, frequently compete in the series. Veterans like Andy Ogletree, Adam Scott, and Kieran Vincent have all leveraged their success in these tournaments to secure spots in the LIV Golf League, underscoring the series’ role as a crucial stepping-stone within the Asian Tour.

Uihlein said: “I love what David (Puig) has done. I love what Andy (Ogletree) did, and Eugenio (Chacarra). Those guys keep playing and I love that path. I think playing is imperative. You can’t just play 14 events a year. You have to keep getting some reps in.

“So some of those guys are continuing to play, which is great for the game and great for the market globally. So I am happy to see it.”

Caleb Surratt expressed his satisfaction with his performance over the week, appreciating the blend of elite competition and valuable playing time that the event offered. This experience came just in time to sharpen his skills ahead of the LIV Golf Greenbrier event.

Reflecting on his journey, the former University of Tennessee student shared his enthusiasm for The International Series. “I love The International Series. It’s rare for a player to have the chance to compete on a tour that operates at such a high level. Plus, it’s great to have the opportunity to travel more as a young player,” he noted. Surratt’s participation underscores the significant opportunities provided by the series for up-and-coming talents to hone their skills in a challenging and diverse environment.

Caleb Surratt expressed his satisfaction with his performance over the week, appreciating the blend of elite competition and valuable playing time that the event offered. This experience came just in time to sharpen his skills ahead of the LIV Golf Greenbrier event.

The former University of Tennessee student said: “I love The International Series. It is not often that a player has the opportunity to come out here and play a Tour that is on such a high level. It is also nice to get some extra travelling in as a younger guy.

“Until this past year I had only been out of the country one time and now I have gone from that to travelling outside the country every week, so I am a little bit like, quotation marks, seasoned I guess. I am starting to learn how to travel. Heading to LIV Golf Greenbrier next week and then a few weeks off.” 

Peter Uihlein’s victory over the weekend catapulted him from 15th to third in the International Series Rankings, positioning him just behind Macau champion John Catlin and Morocco victor Ben Campbell. Caleb Surratt also climbed the rankings, moving from 11th to fifth. Additionally, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana made a significant jump from 28th to 11th.

Looking ahead, the competitors are set to continue their quest in The International Series at the Black Mountain Championship, scheduled for October 17-20. This event marks the start of two consecutive tournaments in Thailand and kicks off a series of six events over eight weeks. This intense period will be crucial in determining the ultimate rankings leader and the recipient of the coveted LIV Golf slot. It also provides players the opportunity to vie for a spot at the prestigious LIV Golf Promotions event.