A feeder tour to (and funded by) LIV Golf, The International Series plays its sixth event of a planned eight in 2022 at the Madinaty Golf Club outside Cairo starting Thursday.

The tournament offers the international golf audience a rare peek into the game outside its traditional venues and that should make for interesting viewing.

The International series has a separate Order of Merit and fields at both this week’s event and last week’s tournament in Morocco are limited to 120 rather than the usual 144.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSE: The Madinaty Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones Jr design on the outskirts of Cairo which won ‘Egypt’s Best Golf Course’ award at last year’s World Golf awards.

Sadly, little else is known about the layout with its website light on detail of architectural merit and heavy on clubhouse and hospitality features.

Images on the website suggest a course that would not look out of place in Florida with houses lining many of the fairways on both sides and an opulent clubhouse with large water feature in front.

RIGHT: Scott Vincent leads the International Series Order of Merit heading to the last event of 2022. PHOTO: Patrick Smith/LIV Golf via Getty Images.

Egypt is far from a golf stronghold, and it will be interesting to see how a field of touring professionals handle the layout.

The Tour’s website has the course yardage at a healthy 7,000 odd metres (7,600 yards) so it has plenty of length meaning course set up will largely dictate scoring.

Despite being listed as opening in 2012 on Robert Trent Jones Jr’s website, the course only officially opened in 2020 though owners hope it will become a fixture of international tournament play.

PRIZEMONEY: US$1,500,000

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PLAYERS TO WATCH: With last week’s winner Jazz Janewattananond electing not to make the trip to Egypt there will be much interest in standings on the Order of Merit.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent looks safe at the top after a fourth place finish in Morocco but there is plenty of competition for the minor placings.

Janewattananond leapfrogged both Sihwan Kim and Phachara Khongwatmai in the standings with his victory, but both are in the field this week and looking to return the favour.

Australia’s Scott Hend won’t be on many peoples’ list of players to watch this week but the veteran looks to be edging closer to better form.

A final round 78 last week was crippling and dropped the 10-time Asian Tour winner from a share of third through 54 holes to a disappointing T14.

However, the 49-year-old showed plenty in the first three rounds last week to suggest an 11th Asian Tour title is not beyond him.

Another Australian who has shown glimpses of form this year is Todd Sinnott as he continues to make a comeback from a serious back injury.

The Victorian started the year with an emotional home win at the TPS event at Rosebud and has played some good golf throughout the season.

Like Hend it was a disappointing Sunday last week but an under par finish at a tough course in Morocco was impressive in a field where only 23 players returned red figures for the tournament.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Travis Smyth, Wade Ormsby, Brett Rumford, Scott Hend, Todd Sinnott, Jake Higginbottom, Cory Crawford, Daniel Fox, Sam Brazel and Kevin Yuan.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 577 9.30pm – 1am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 577 9pm – 1am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 577 9pm – 1am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 577 8pm – 12am)
*AEDT, check local guides