In-form Stefano Mazzoli is happy to fly the flag for Italy on The International Series, and is hoping that he can inspire more of his fellow countrymen to join him on the Asian Tour-sanctioned events in future.
The 27-year-old has swapped the easy living and stunning scenery associated with his home region of Lake Como, in the foothills of the Alps, for a more itinerant lifestyle in Asia, and the high pressure of competing for a revered spot on the LIV Golf League.
Mazzoli, who recorded a season-high T4 at the Black Mountain Championship last month to go with three top 10 finishes on the DP World Tour and a T5 in Morocco this season, admits he's loving the lifestyle and the challenge that comes with the intense competition, as well as the steep learning curve of playing completely new conditions.
Following an impressive five-under 67 which left him five off first-round leader Richard T. Lee at the BNI Indonesian Masters, Mazzoli said: "I believe I am the first Italian to play on The International Series, so that's quite cool. It's not a common path for Italian golfers to do so but it's definitely a path that more players should think about, it's great.
“It is definitely different, I get to see very different countries compared to Europe, and I'm enjoying it. It's a lot of travel, a lot of fun, and the people out here are very friendly, and I think that helps me as I'm playing some good golf.
“Obviously the climate and the weather are completely different. You get to play in really hot conditions here, and the grass is different. Chipping is quite different here for example. But to be honest, maybe here, the courses for the most part, are a little bit more of an American setup compared to Europe. In Europe you hit way more high shots, and you have to place it a little more here.
"The events on The International Series are a great platform for increasing and improving our game and as we move to the next stage hopefully, it is a great pathway to the LIV Golf League now. Also, I like playing week in and week out in great conditions. The courses are great, and the practice facilities are really good which helps to work on our game."
Some impressive displays so far this season have lifted Mazzoli to an impressive 12th in the rankings. That puts him into the first round of the LIV Golf Promotions event at the end of the season as it stands.
Another good performance in the last four tournaments of the season could push him up into the top eight which would guarantee a bye into the second of four rounds, further improving his chances of claiming that golden ticket onto the LIV Golf that goes to the promotions champion.
He said: "The goal is try to win one of the events, but I'm just pleased with how I'm playing, and how I'm feeling. The goal now is to focus on this – we had a lot of tournaments in a row, and I want to try and get to that final event in Riyadh, and then I can think about the LIV Golf Promotions event, because that is the goal of the season.
“I withdrew from the DP World Q School this year just to focus on this. But I am trying to get into the field for Riyadh, and playing for the promotions event would obviously be the goal of the season.”
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of 10 elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings leader promotion to the LIV Golf League
