Kanaya eyes redemption in defence of International Series Oman title

Takumi Kanaya will be aiming to breathe life into his season after a subdued start as he returns to defend his International Series Oman title starting Thursday.

The beginning of 2024 hasn't been smooth sailing for the 25-year-old, as he missed both cuts in the two events he participated in – the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii and last week's Asian Tour's Malaysia Open.

Kanaya will be eager to turn things around, and a return to Al Mouj Golf, the site where he captured his first international title as a professional, couldn't have come at a better time.

Kanaya has never defended a title in his professional career thus far, and he will be keen to accomplish it for the first time.

He declared he's ready to fend off a strong challenge from the likes of South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, Chileans Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira, to keep his crown intact.

“In 2023, I lined up against some of the best players in the world and proved that I could win," said Kanaya.

"This year I want to do exactly the same. Defending my title will not be easy against this strong field, but I know I have what it takes on a truly challenging course.”

Kanaya achieved victory last year in only his third professional start in an Asian Tour event.

This pivotal moment ignited a series of triumphs, including two wins on the JGTO later in the season - at the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup and the Fujisankei Classic.

These successes propelled him to a commendable third-place finish in the Japan rankings by the end of the season.

The other Japanese competitors who are also in Oman this week are Hideto Tanihara, Jinichiro Kozuma, Naoki Sekito, and Tatsunori Shogenji.

Elsewhere, Rikuya Hoshino, fresh off a one-week break, will seek to make it back-to-back victories on the DP World Tour with a Magical Kenya Open title assault.

Hoshino is in a buoyant mood after securing his maiden DP World Tour victory at the Qatar Masters last week, making him only the fourth Japanese golfer to do so after Isao Aoki, Hideki Matsuyama, and Ryo Hisatsune.

The win has whetted Hoshino's appetite to try to emulate his compatriot Hisatsune in securing a PGA Tour card through a top 10 finish on the season-long Race to Dubai point rankings.

"Winning early in the season was truly delightful and satisfying, but it's just a stepping stone. The ultimate goal remains to secure a spot in the top 10 of the season-ending point rankings for next season's PGA Tour," Hoshino reiterated his high aspirations.

"There's no time to bask in the afterglow. Since my goal for this season has been to achieve two or more victories,

"This week, I'll be aiming for it again!"

Joining Hoshino in Kenya are 2022 JGTO Prize Money King Kazuki Higa and Masahiro Kawamura.

Hisatsune is also on a determined quest, aiming to continue the recent success of Japanese golfers on the PGA Tour by vying for victory at the Mexico Open at Vidanta.

Fresh off Hideki Matsuyama's win at The Genesis Invitational just last week, Hisatsune is sure to be inspired by the achievement.