Article
ANA Open 2019
Ryuko Tokimatsu loses twice in a row at the ANA Open playoff
Ryuko Tokimatasu had the chance to scoop the win at the regulation 18th. He had 3-meter birdie try, if he had made it, he would have won.
"I was afraid to make bogey and pushed out even from the playoff, so I didn't want it to be too long. That mentality was wrong. I ended up being short and I lost my chance."
Then the stage moved on to the first ever 5-way playoff.
"There were 5 of us. I knew the only way to win is to make birdie."
His tee shot found the fairway, and he aimed for the pin on his 2nd shot. But unfortunately, there was a mud on his ball which changed the direction and it landed in the right side rough of the green. He got it to 1-meter to the pin and save his par, but it wasn't enough. Yosuke Asaji made the winning birdie putt to close the tournament.
"Yosuke had a great shot and putts. I just have to tip my hat and congratulate him."
Ryuko was leading the tournament from Round 1. He was really eager to revenge the lost against Yuta Ikeda in playoff 2 years ago.
"I really wanted to win. I got some new agenda to tackle now."
He seemed to be quite upset with the fact that he lost in the ANA Open playoff twice in a row.