Tournament article
Updated
Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters 2018
Shota Akiyoshi still aims for the Order of Merit title
Hideki Matsuyama supervised the renewal of this tournament's venue, Gotemba Course. The stage setting got much more difficult than before.
"I am glad that I didn't know how it was before", said the Round 1 leader, Shota. Last year Shota was top on the waiting list for the entry, but his chance didn't come.
"I had a practice round last year, but don't remember much."
6th and 11th Holes were changed from par 5 to par 4. So, in total the course was rearranged to Par 70 instead of Par 72 and it got really tougher than ever. But this fact didn't bother Shota at all and he marked 6 under 64 on Day 1.
Better not knowing the difficulties was the key to Shota's game today. His back nine 3rd Hole, he went for the green in 2, got to the 13 meters to the pin, then drained the long eagle putt.
On the 8th, he was in trouble by dropping his second shot into the bank on the left side of the green, but he rolled it with the 5 iron and made a birdie. This was the short game technique he gained from Masahiro Kawamura at The British Open this year.
This season, Shota won his first victory, which was soon followed by 2 more and he grab the chance to go to the Majors. He jumped up at 2nd on the Money Ranking for a while, but now he is sitting at 12th.
He was asked by Chairman Isao Aoki last Sunday, how his game was and had to say, "not good".
This was during a short walk at the airport getting back from Okinawa. Isao walked along with Shota and gave him a golden advice.
"I think you are swinging too much, you should make your swing more compact."
Shota has done what Isao told him and became Round 1 leader. Shota thanked Isao on Wednesday, Isao gave back a big smile.
With the confidence back in his hands, Shota spoke out his goal loudly at the Hero's Interview with Mt.Fuji as a beautiful back ground.
"I know Shugo is way high up on the Money Ranking. If I want to catch him, I have to achieve not only 1, nor 2, but 3 more wins! I haven't given up on my dream to achieve the Order of Merit title."
Big purse games are still on the way, there are many chances left for all of the top players.
"I am glad that I didn't know how it was before", said the Round 1 leader, Shota. Last year Shota was top on the waiting list for the entry, but his chance didn't come.
"I had a practice round last year, but don't remember much."
6th and 11th Holes were changed from par 5 to par 4. So, in total the course was rearranged to Par 70 instead of Par 72 and it got really tougher than ever. But this fact didn't bother Shota at all and he marked 6 under 64 on Day 1.
Better not knowing the difficulties was the key to Shota's game today. His back nine 3rd Hole, he went for the green in 2, got to the 13 meters to the pin, then drained the long eagle putt.
On the 8th, he was in trouble by dropping his second shot into the bank on the left side of the green, but he rolled it with the 5 iron and made a birdie. This was the short game technique he gained from Masahiro Kawamura at The British Open this year.
This season, Shota won his first victory, which was soon followed by 2 more and he grab the chance to go to the Majors. He jumped up at 2nd on the Money Ranking for a while, but now he is sitting at 12th.
He was asked by Chairman Isao Aoki last Sunday, how his game was and had to say, "not good".
This was during a short walk at the airport getting back from Okinawa. Isao walked along with Shota and gave him a golden advice.
"I think you are swinging too much, you should make your swing more compact."
Shota has done what Isao told him and became Round 1 leader. Shota thanked Isao on Wednesday, Isao gave back a big smile.
With the confidence back in his hands, Shota spoke out his goal loudly at the Hero's Interview with Mt.Fuji as a beautiful back ground.
"I know Shugo is way high up on the Money Ranking. If I want to catch him, I have to achieve not only 1, nor 2, but 3 more wins! I haven't given up on my dream to achieve the Order of Merit title."
Big purse games are still on the way, there are many chances left for all of the top players.
