Atomu Shigenaga dried out his tears and found his concentration to fight in the tournament at one of the toughest courses, Wago. Atomu has lost his beloved grandmother on Monday with cancer. She was 81.

Tough wind conditions got in his way but was able to be patient thanks to his grandma. He really wants to dedicate a win for her. His fight had come through and he is 3 shot behind the leader heading into Sunday.

Last year when Atomu won for the first at the season opening event, Token Homemate Cup, he gave a treat to his grandma, a trip to Hokkaido. And granny said, "I am so proud of my grandson."

Atomu has been "Granny's favorite" since he was little. Last week he visited his hometown Kumamoto to see grandma and told her that "I'll come and see you again next week." And grandma replied, "Don't bother." That was their last conversation.

Tuesday, he was at the funeral and made a speech representing the grandchildren.
"I couldn't cry at that time."
He came to Nagoya on Wednesday night.
"When I was alone in the hotel, I got really lonely. And many thoughts that I could have done more for grandma kept on coming up in my mind."

After Round 2, where he was 1 shot behind the leaders, he started to cry at the after-round interview.
"As the days gone by, it started to hit me, that she is really gone. I started to cry on the 5th hole on Round 1. I am just playing, I'm not happy even I get birdies. I just can't get my head straight."

But on Friday, he gradually started to concentrate on golf. Then his feelings clicked.
"I want to dedicate a victory for grandma. I know she will be happy if I can do so. I wish that I could achieve my V2 and cry in happy tears with grandma on Sunday afternoon."