Peter Uihlein, Eugenio Chacarra, Rayhan Thomas, Leo Oyo and Jonas Baumgartner are the five Cowboys: former members of the Oklahoma State University golf team.
Uihlein and Chacarra chose to join the LIV Golf League, and the RangeGoats GC and Fireballs GC stars are playing Morocco to gain invaluable game time ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia next week.
Dubai-born Indian Thomas, German youngster Baumgartner and Japanese player Oyo – all recent graduates and part of the same Cowboys team – received invites for the tournament at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam thanks to the broad entry criteria used for tournaments on The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events each season on the Asian Tour.
The strong field in Morocco, and earlier events in Oman and Macau this season, underlines the growing draw of the brand. Marquee names add to the lure for golfers from all around the world who want to play elite-level golf at world-class destinations for big money and the prospect of a place on next season’s LIV Golf League roster.
Uihlein, 34, can see the appeal – especially for recent graduates and younger professionals coming through such as Thomas, Baumgartner and Oyo. The American said: “I think with the way the world has gone, with LIV, and the Asian Tour and The International Series (as a viable pathway) getting on to LIV, it is definitely a big incentive for the young guys.
“If you come out here to play, you can try to get on to LIV, and you can try to get onto the ‘Q School’ (LIV Golf Promotions, through The International Series Rankings). You have some good chances and it (The International Series) offers a pretty great pathway right now.”
For the latter three, all starting their fledgling professional careers, the lure of The International Series is strong.
The proven pathway onto the LIV Golf League has reaped rich rewards for Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent of IronHeads GC and American Andy Ogletree, two Asian Tour regulars who booked their places on the roster after finishing winners on the year-long Rankings race in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Scott’s younger brother Kieran Vincent of Legion XIII and Jinichiro Kozuma of IronHeads GC, both also in the field in Rabat, secured golden tickets of their own by finishing in the top three at the LIV Golf Promotions event in December alongside Cleeks GC star Kalle Samooja.
Over 30 spots are available on the LIV Golf Promotions event to Asian Tour players at the top of The International Series Rankings at the end of the season.
Thomas, 24, who learned the game growing up in the UAE, believes the Asian Tour is a big draw for players from all over the world. He said: “I think there is a lot more opportunities in Asia right now. The purses have gone up, so it is enticing a lot of guys. People are realising that the golf is good and the levels are really high.
“This week, the course is amazing and I’ve had a really fun week, so I would tell everybody to come play on the Asian Tour and The International Series.”
For German youngster Baumgartner, International Series Morocco is a first taste of life on the Asian Tour, and the experience has given him real cause to consider it as a viable option going forward.
Although the 21-year-old was the only Cowboy to miss the cut, he enjoyed the experience and said: “Overall it was an enjoyable learning experience. Obviously I did not have my game this week.
“But I really enjoyed it. I think the organisation, the hotel and golf course, was in great shape. Obviously having some of the other guys (from the university) and playing practice rounds was a real help – it was good to have them around.”
Considering a future on the Asian Tour, and playing on The International Series, Baumgartner sees it as more than a pathway to LIV Golf. He added: “Over the last couple of years, you have seen a lot of top players coming from the Asian Tour, either playing there or going to LIV Golf, and competing in some of the biggest tournaments, so I think this is a good path.
“The fields are great and there are strong players competing. It is a good path to improve and get world ranking points, and to qualify for major championships. It offers a lot for someone just starting their professional career like me.”
