Tournament article

Fujisankei Classic 2020

World's No.1 Amateur Takumi Kanaya will make his season's first appearance at Fujizakura CC

Professional golf is back in Japan! After 5 months of shutdown since April, the Japan Tour returned to action from this week with Fujisankei Classic. Same goes to the World's No.1 ranking Amateur Takumi Kanaya, who is now in his Senior grade at Tohoku Fukushi University. This will be Takumi's first tournament since Emirates Australian Open in December 2019. He has been practicing well, but he has never been away from playing the tournaments for this long.
"I do feel nervous, but the fact that I am finally going to play in the tournament makes me excited."

2 weeks from now, he has the challenge waiting for him at US Open. For Takumi, gaining the chance to put his play on act at tough settings on the Fujizakura CC, aka "Monster" is going to be a great opportunity.

"Until I had the chance to play the practice round on Monday, I'd only had the chance to see Fujizakura only through TV broadcast. The course is very long, greens have so much undulations, the landing area for the tee shot is so narrow, it is very demanding course. Especially on the large wavy greens, I must scramble to manage by making within 2 putts. I must play carefully and smart, do the basics properly. I will try to build up the course management strategy during the practice rounds and be ready by the First Round."

Takumi has won as an Amateur on Professional tournament last year at Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters, he is the 4th Amateur to do so, and following his senior Hideki Matsuyama, all the golfing fans waits for his debut as a Pro.

Takumi will be in "TV show glare groupings" with Ryo Ishikawa and Shugo Imahira.
"I am honored to play in the same group with 2 of the top stars in Japan Tour. This chance is very rewarding. I know that both Ryo and Shugo will do great, but I will try to concentrate on my game and play with my best game."