The International Series England kicked off with thrilling performances at the Longcross course of the Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey on August 8, 2024. The ninth event of the Asian Tour and the fourth stop on The International Series, this tournament boasts a significant prize pool of US$2 million. On the first day, Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Canada’s Richard T. Lee emerged as joint leaders, each carding an impressive seven-under-par 64.
Thomas Pieters, who plays for RangeGoats GC in the LIV Golf League, demonstrated his prowess with a round comprising one eagle and five birdies. Pieters, a six-time winner on the DP World Tour, built early momentum by shooting four under through his first five holes, including a birdie on holes 1 and 2, and an eagle on the par-five 5th. He then sealed his sensational performance with three birdies over the last five holes, including one on the 18th.
Pieters’s familiarity with the course appeared to be a significant advantage. Regularly practicing at the nearby Queenwood course, he admitted, “The course kind of suits me; it’s similar to the Belgium Open course where I practice. It’s tight and narrow but if you do hit a lot of drivers you can get close to loads of par fours. You make this course easy when you hit it straight.” He also expressed satisfaction with his form, stating, “Drove it well and putted really nicely. I feel good over the golf ball. I am putting nicely, but I had no expectations this week. I know the area, I am a member across the road at Queenwood, I play a lot of golf around here. So, yes I feel comfortable here.”
Richard T. Lee, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, matched Pieters’s score despite recovering from a shoulder injury sustained three weeks ago in Korea. Lee, who missed last month’s International Series Morocco due to the injury, described his physical condition, saying, “It’s the right shoulder that hurts.” Despite this, his performance was undeterred as he recorded an eagle on the par-five 14th and made an exceptional par save on the 7th. Reflecting on his round, Lee remarked, “I made a great up and down for par, holing from eight feet. That really summed up my bogey-free round today.”
Lee attributed his success to strategic plays, using low cut controlled drives to navigate the course’s challenges. “It’s a very tough course. You must place your shot in the perfect position with your tee shots and if you do that you can make a score. If you don’t, it is going to penalise you. It’s a tight course but I hit a lot of drivers to be honest. I like to hit those low cut controlled drives and it’s working pretty well. Hopefully it works out tomorrow as well,” he shared.
Close on their heels, four players—including England’s Richard Bland and Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai—posted scores of 66, putting significant pressure on the leaders. Bland, who recently won two Senior Majors on the Champions Tour, noted the challenges posed by changing conditions, stating, “When the wind gets up it can be difficult, which is what happened.” Despite bogeys on holes 15 and 17 preventing him from taking the lead, Bland maintained positivity, saying, “I am happy with the way I played, it’s a good start.”
Other notable performances came from Andy Sullivan, who scored 67 after returning from a two-week break with his family. Sullivan candidly remarked, “Scored well, wouldn’t say I played great. It definitely shows I have not done a lot in two weeks. I took the kids on holiday, just been pre-occupied with the kids. Been out with my mates a bit having a good time. Haven’t played much golf so today was about seeing where we are. It has definitely highlighted I am still struggling off the tee.”
As the tournament progresses, these athletes’ tenacity and skill will undoubtedly captivate spectators and underscore the event’s prestigious status on the Asian Tour.
