Niemann, Catlin aim for fast start at International Series India

Gurugram, India - Two of the top players from the 2024 season are hoping to get their latest campaigns off to a flying start at International Series India presented by DLF.

The first of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar takes place at the iconic DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, just outside Delhi, and the historic tournament marks a first-ever venture onto the subcontinent for the LIV Golf-backed series.

Joaquin Niemann, captain of Torque GC on the LIV Golf League, cannot wait to get back to action at The International Series.

The Chilean capped a fantastic 2024 campaign with The International Series Rankings title thanks to a thrilling playoff victory at the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Niemann, 26, finished runner-up to Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm in the season-long LIV Golf individual standings after wins in Mayakoba and Riyadh plus four other top-5 finishes. Niemann believes his third-place finish at International Series Oman last year was the spark to a brilliant year.

He is hoping a big week in India will provide a similar springboard this season, with the LIV Golf campaign getting underway next week at LIV Golf Riyadh.

“For me, The International Series was huge last year," Niemann said. "It really helped me to get prepared for my season at the beginning of the year, as we played Oman which was a really amazing course with a great field.

“To have that competition before our (LIV Golf) season is really important. And it is going to be the same thing here in India this season. I think most of the players are going, and it is going to be a tough and tricky golf course. So it is going to be good to get in the zone.”

John Catlin is another coming into the series opener on the back of a superb season. Catlin, who served as a reserve player on LIV Golf in 2024 and who will do the same in 2025, secured the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to a campaign that included back-to-back tournament wins. He also shot a historic 59, added three runner-up finished and three top-10 finishes.

Catlin, 34, won the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and also played The Open at Royal Troon, where he finished an impressive 16th.

Catlin feels he has a good chance of replicating that form in 2025, after a lot of hard work in the close season with his coach.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing," Catlin said. "Obviously you have to get back playing and be comfortable under tournament nerves, but as far as my game is concerned, I feel it is in great shape and I’m looking forward to getting back out there and winning more tournaments.”

Catlin didn't shut it down during the offseason and said he will look to sharpen some areas.

“It’s about fine tuning, about getting back to the fundamentals and staying on the path of what got us to where we’re at and making the small adjustments wherever necessary," Catlin said.

For more information on The International Series, visit: www.internationalseries.com

(Phot courtesy of Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)