American cult hero Michael Block and local favourite Tom Lewis are the latest names confirmed to join a star-studded field for International Series England at Foxhills Club & Resort from 8-11 August 2024.
Block made the headlines worldwide last year when he hit a hole in one and finished in the top 15 of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, the second major of the season, as a club professional. Lewis, a member at Foxhills, grabbed international headlines by taking a share of the first-round lead in the 2011 Open Championship as a 20-year-old amateur.
He ultimately finished T30 at Royal St George’s, before turning professional and going on to win his maiden European Tour title in only his third professional start at the Portugal Masters later that year. The pair join a range of world-class stars from the LIV Golf League including the English trio of Ian Poulter (Majesticks GC), Richard Bland (Cleeks GC) and Sam Horsfield (Majesticks GC) who are sure to have a vocal home support.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (Smash GC), the 2010 US Open champion, is also confirmed along with Harold Varner III (4Aces GC) and Hudson Swafford (wildcard) from the US, while India’s Anirban Lahiri (Crushers GC), Branden Grace from South Africa (Stinger GC) and Belgian star Thomas Pieters (RangeGoats GC), make it a truly international affair. Block said: “I’m really looking forward to teeing it up with the guys and there is no doubt that the strength of the field will be strong, however this is what I live for, to play against some of the best players in the world and compare my game.
“I believe The International Series is now one of the best possible avenues for any golf pro throughout the world and I have no doubt that you are going to see more and more budding American golfers doing their best to qualify and play in The International Series.” Block has history at Foxhills Club & Resort. In the 2022 PGA Cup tournament, playing for the US club professional team against Great Britain & Ireland, Block recorded five birdies in the final six holes of his singles match to complete a remarkable turnaround from four down to help the visitors earn a 15.5-10.5 victory.
Block (pic) said: “That was one of the best memories of my life, hands down. I will definitely be able to look back at that week and take a ton of positive thoughts from it which is so important in the game of golf.”
Of the revered Longcross course, he added: “The course definitely fits my game and the turf conditions remind me of where I grew up.
“I am just hoping for some decent weather which I know could be up in the air, but everyone will be playing in the same conditions, one way or the other, which is why I love the game of golf.” Lewis, a four-time winner in his professional career with two wins on the DP World Tour and one apiece on the Korn Ferry Tour and Challenge Tour, is relishing the prospect of home advantage in more ways than one.
He said: “It is always great playing in the UK, I love being home. As a member here, it is a course I know more than most. I feel it could be a course that will set up well for me. So to play in front of home support at a club I know well is exciting for me and I am sure for the members.”
Referring to the stellar field, he added: “I feel it is particularly important that bigger names play in these events. It gives the event good exposure and can attract attention. I hope we all play well and can be towards the top when it comes to Sunday afternoon.”
The tournament is the fourth of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour that form a pathway onto the LIV Golf League.
The cream of the Asian Tour will also be competing, as part of the season-long race for The International Series Rankings title, with the champion securing a place on the LIV Golf League and over 30 places available for the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event.
American John Catlin, who won back-to-back events at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF, is currently second on The International Series Rankings, and he will be looking to close the gap on current leader Carlos Ortiz.
Catlin’s confidence will be high. Those performances on The International Series and Asian Tour earned him invites to play on the LIV Golf League in two recent events in Houston and Nashville, and he showed his undoubted quality with T24 and T7 finishes. Two-time Hong Kong Open winner Wade Ormsby is also one of the men to watch alongside multiple Asian Tour champions Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and Scott Hend of Australia.
