Both Yuta Ikeda and Ryuji Masaoka are from same Sendai area and also went to same Tohoku Fukushi University. The good old buddies finished with same score on Day 1. Yuta and Ryuji stayed at same hot springs hotel yesterday and had dinner together. They talked about the exciting plan they had in their minds, "We must do that head to head battle again."

They were referring to the final round of the Casio World Open 2 years ago, when these 2 battled on in the final group. Both said, "if we keep on playing this well, we might be able to do that again on this Sunday."

Then Yuta joked and said to Ryuji, "If it went down to battle between us, could you let me win?"
Yuta is only 4 more wins short from making the lifetime exemption which is given to a player who makes 25 victories.
"I'll give you all the prize money, so would you let me win?" joked Yuta.
Then Ryuji replied "I want my first win too! I need that win to get 2 years exemption."

Ryuji made 3 consecutive birdies from his starting hole and made the half turn at 5 under. But he was surprised to see Yuta with 7 under score written on the leader board, when Ryuji got to the 18th green.

"I was really surprised to see Yuta's score, at the half turn, he was no way close to 7 under, but at the end he was there! But that is Yuta's strength."

On the other hand, Yuta made the half turn with only 1 under, and when he saw how Ryuji was doing great on his front nine, he told himself to push more.
"I made a really tough putt 6th and that got me on the roll. After I got another birdie on Par 5 7th, I told myself that I am on my top gear now, and I was."
He made birdies in all last 4 holes and caught up to Ryuji.

In May at Mizuno Open, Yuta won the event by using the putter he borrowed from Ryuji and marked his 21st victory. This time, Yuta gave Ryuji his good luck putter which Yuta won at the Future Tour event hosted by Ryo Ishikawa in April.
"Yuta told me that this putter suits me, and it did. All of my putts went in and gave me 7 under score today. Yuta also told me to go back to the cross-hand grip that I was doing in my junior days. Yuta is always keeping his eyes on me and helping me out."

So, if they were co-leaders on the final day at the final score and had a 1-meter birdie putt?
Both replied, "Off course I will make it!"
The names for these 2 are many, good buddies, old friends and great rivals.