Australian Travis Smyth delivered one of the most thrilling finishes in recent International Series history, draining a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th hole to claim victory at the International Series Japan by a single stroke.
The dramatic conclusion at Caledonian Golf Club near Tokyo saw Smyth fire a final-round 64 to reach 15-under par, edging Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Japan's Ryosuke Kinoshita, who both finished at 14-under.
"That's what dreams are made of right there," said Smyth about his tournament-winning putt. "As a young kid, you know, you're on the putting green having putting comps with your mates, you're trying to chip in to win, you're trying to hole 25 footers to win. And that was unbelievable."
The victory marks a breakthrough moment for the 31-year-old, who secured his first triumph on The International Series—the upper-tier level of Asian Tour events that provides a pathway to the LIV Golf League through The International Series Rankings.
Smyth's remarkable form continues an impressive streak that includes winning the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship last month, putting him on track to claim the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit for the 2025-26 season.
Starting the final day two shots behind the overnight leaders, Smyth methodically climbed the leaderboard with early birdies on holes one, two, and six. The turning point came on the back nine as scoring conditions improved dramatically across the field.
"You know, I won a tournament two weeks ago, probably a pretty similar putt downhill, left to right – just drew upon that," Smyth explained. "But yeah, for it to go in like that, it's the best feeling ever."
The Australian's mental breakthrough has been crucial to his recent success. "I've had a hard time trying to win tournaments. People don't understand how hard it is to win, you know. Like it's such a mind game with yourself out there," he reflected.
"In the past, like you're always trying to come up with excuses as to why you might not be leading, or why you might not be hitting the shots under pressure that you want to, but I don't know, I've been able to turn a corner."
Pavit Tangkamolprasert's charge from the 10th-from-last group proved nearly enough for victory, posting the week's lowest round of 62. His spectacular effort included 10 birdies against just one bogey on the third hole.
"Today I played pretty much like perfect golf. I drove the ball very well; I hit my irons very good and I was putting well," said Pavit. "So, everything was like on momentum. I sunk putts and had like a streak on the first nine, so I gained confidence with my putting."
Kinoshita matched Pavit's clubhouse total with an equally impressive 63, coming from the sixth-from-last group to contend for the title.
Overnight co-leaders Hongtaek Kim of Korea and Japan's Shugo Imahira struggled to maintain their position as the field surged around them. Kim managed a 69 to tie for fifth, while Imahira's 70 left him in a tie for seventh.
"On 16, I mean, that was a crazy situation," Truslow explained. "It hit the telephone pole line, got to re tee, and then I drove it to 36 feet and made the putt. And the first ball was going probably 20 yards right of the green. So that was insane. That's the craziest eagle in my life."
Smyth's victory at the $2 million season-opening International Series event establishes him as the early leader in both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings. His second Asian Tour triumph follows his 2022 Yeangder TPC victory.
The International Series continues next week at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times, where players will compete for another $2 million purse at The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club from April 23-26.