Upbeat Baek back on happy hunting ground

American Todd Baek will be hoping that the pleasant memories from his last two visits to the picturesque Taiheiyo Club can fuel his challenge at the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheyo Masters.

The ¥200,000,000 tournament, which celebrates its 50th anniversary, gets underway today on the Taiheiyo Club's flagship Gotemba Course, famed for its majestic views of Mount Fuji.

But the 31-year-old Baek will certainly head to the Gotemba Course this week not just to enjoy the views, knowing that there's still plenty to play for in the closing stretch of the JGTO season.

Baek has every reason to be upbeat about his chances this week as Gotemba Course was where he impressed with back-to-back top-five finishes in 2020 (tied-fourth) and 2021 (tied-fifth).

Baek needs a strong result to cement his place in the top 30 and qualify for the season-ending Golf Nippon Series JT Cup next month. He currently sits on the borderline at No. 30.

Baek will also relish the opportunity to clinch a long-awaited maiden JGTO victory before the season ends.

In his three seasons to date, Baek's best outing was a tied-second at the Japan Players Championship by Sato Shokuhin last year.

Australia's Brad Kennedy, the highest-ranked international member in the money list at No. 13 and American Chan Kim, the reigning money list winner, will also continue to push to win their first title of the season.

All eyes will also be on Australian Brendan Jones, who won in 2007 and was a runner-up in 2010, as well as South Korea's Younghan Song and Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha who both came close by coming in solo second in 2016 and 2015 respectively.

Founded in 1972 as one of the richest tournaments on JGTO, it has attracted the participation of some of the world's biggest names.

Among the big guns who had won here before were Australian legend Greg Norman in 1993, former world Number one Lee Westwood of England who accomplished a three-peat from 1996-1998, Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (2004 and 2005) and Spaniards Seve Bellesteros (1988) and Jose Maria Olazabal (1989 and 1990).