Tournament article

Japan PGA Championship 2019

Rikuya Hoshino's "2 weeks in a row victory" slips through his fingers

Rikuya Hoshino who won last week had the chance for the "2 week in a row victory" really close to him when he made the birdie at 12th. He got to 1 shot behind the leader and few more birdie holes left to make it happen.

But regretful big mistake happened on the 14th.
"I think I lost my concentrations", Rikuya recalled.

Due to the weather reasons, the Sunday was 36-holes Round 3 and 4 combined schedules. For the 3rd Round, Rikuya finished at total 11 under and 2 shots behind the leader. After the first 18 holes, Rikuya took a short break to reset himself.
"I took a shower and changed my clothes, took lunch and was well prepared. Didn't feel tired and I was able to reset, ready to go."

But even for a 23 years old, tough day gave him some fatigue.
"During later in the round, my tee shots were not stable, so I thought my legs and back were getting tired."

That fatigue must have made that regretful mistake on 14th. He tee shot went way right into the thick rough in back of the tree.
"I should have been more careful on that 2nd shot, that made everything fall apart."
As he recalled, his 2nd shot got into the thicker roughs on left side of the green.
"On that 3rd shot, I didn't miss the greens until then, so wasn't hitting short games for a while. I have lost the touch and I planned to play it safe, but it went way over."
Then he went on to making a 3 putt to double bogey.
"I got tense on my putts too."
He kicked himself out of the contention.

Rikuya really wants to be in the PGA Tour tournament held in Japan at October, the ZOZO Championship, and after winning already this season he is eager to make few more wins and grab the Order of Merit title too.
"I really wanted to win at the Major too, so I really feel disappointed today."

Rikuya was 2 shots shy from the playoff, and the victory went to his brotherly figure that he respects. Rikuya watched the dramatic victory of Ryo and said, "Next time I want to be in the same final group and fight off with Ryo."