Staff WriterThe International Series in Japan crackled to life in Friday’s sunshine, and before the locals had finished their first bowl of miso, two Americans—Caleb Surratt and Cameron Tringale—had barged their way onto the front page of the leaderboard.
Both carded tidy seven-under totals at Caledonian Golf Club, keeping Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert in sight and reminding the field that the stars and stripes travel as well as any carry-on.
Surratt’s early fireworks
Starting on the 10th tee, Legion XIII rookie Surratt opened with the kind of pyrotechnics usually reserved for summer nights in Nashville: five birdies in his first nine holes erased the sting of a couple of loose bogeys and delivered a sparkling 67.
“I got off to a really nice start,” said Surratt. “Then I made a really poor bogey on 18, which was a bit of a momentum breaker. But overall, I feel good about my game.”
At 21, the youngest member of Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf squad already owns top-three finishes at International Series England and the season-ending PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
His secret sauce? More reps, more stamps in the passport, and more chances to test the mettle.
“One of the best things a young player can learn is how to travel and compete internationally,” he said.
“The series pushes you to adjust to different cultures, courses, and conditions. That experience is invaluable.
LIV has a limited number of events, so getting in these 10 events a year through the International Series helps me stay competitive.”
“You get to test yourself against great players on great courses, it really raises your level.”
Why this series matters
For Surratt—and every other rising talent—the carrot couldn’t be juicier: finish the season atop the International Series standings and punch a golden ticket straight into next year’s LIV Golf League.
Ten elevated Asian Tour events, global fields, championship-ready venues, and the promise of life-changing opportunity—no wonder the youngsters are sprinting down the fairways.
Tringale keeps the pedal down
Thirty-seven-year-old Cameron Tringale may have fewer TikTok followers than his youthful compatriot, but he showed equal class on day two.
The HyFlyers GC man sprinkled three birdies across his outward nine and parlayed a stress-free inward loop into a matching seven-under total.
“For me, The International Series is great preparation and an ideal opportunity,” said Tringale.
“We only play 14 events on LIV Golf, so getting more reps here helps me stay sharp heading into the bigger championships.”
Japan has been kind to Tringale before—he chased home hometown hero Hideki Matsuyama at the 2021 Zozo Championship—and the Caledonian’s tree-lined corridors clearly suit his eye.
“The atmosphere here is fantastic,” he said. “Japanese fans are so respectful and knowledgeable. They appreciate good golf and support all the players. It’s always special to play in front of crowds like that.”
Weekend chess match ahead
Lucas Herbert’s overnight lead remains four, but with Surratt and Tringale lurking—and the likes of Joaquin Niemann and Talor Gooch within striking distance—moving-day fireworks are guaranteed.
Caledonian’s bent-grass greens will only get firmer, its swirling breezes trickier, and those deceptive par-5s greedier.
International Series Japan presented by Moutai concludes on Sunday, 11 May, and by dusk we’ll know who pockets the winner’s share, who vaults up the season standings, and who heads to the next LIV stop with bragging rights stuffed alongside the onsen slippers.
For now, though, two Americans share the same number, the same grin, and the same game plan: keep the throttle open, keep the putter hot, and let the rest of Chiba hear the Stars and Stripes forever.
Because whether you’re 21 and fearless or 37 and battle-tested, the road to LIV glory this week still runs straight through International Series Japan—and there’s no better place to be than right in the hunt.
