Tournament article
HEIWA PGM CHAMPIONSHIP 2019
47 years old clings on to finish as solo 2nd after the windy Round 2 at HEIWA PGM
"To be back in this position is lucky break for me. I think I used 4 days' worth of luck."
He started out at 5 under, as a leader for the tournament, but with scattering strong wind all over the course made him too conscious he says.
"I took the wind factor too much in consideration when choosing my strokes. I listened to the wind and saw the flag too much. All my calculations went wrong."
He took bigger clubs just in case, which went too long. That ended as a bogey on 11th. Then he went on to double bogey the 15th by dipping in the water over the green.
"So, at the birdie that I made at 17th, even though it was just 1-meter putt, I couldn't hide my emotions and made a fist pump. That birdie gave me back my confidence that I could bounce back literary by changing the bad mood into good by that birdie."
As he said, he went on to make 4 straight birdies from 17th. Then went on making 10-meters on 4th and 6th, followed by another birdie on 7th.
Katsumasa says he has been actively picking up trash on the course since 2016 season. He saw younger player, Yujiro Ohori picking up the trash while playing and that shocked Katsumasa.
"Yujiro said, that it's a shame to see a trash on a pretty course like this, so I pick them up. What a handsome mind, I though. So, since then I am doing the same. I think the goddess of golf is giving me good luck too. So, I will keep on picking up trash as I play."
Making a bounce back from 3 over play with 7 birdies. It is quite obvious that goddess loves his deeds.