Mynavi ABC Championship is celebrating 50th anniversary this year. This tournament started back in 1971 as Japan vs US Competition Games. Mynavi became the tournament special sponsor in 2008, and 2 distinguished players, 23rd year professional Makoto Inoue and 22nd year professional Azuma Yano has had sponsorship contract with Mynavi since 2012.

Azuma Yano suffered serious surgery of spinal disc herniation and elbow, which made him spend really hard times during this downfall, but Mynavi's President Nakagawa supported him through the rehabilitation periods.

When Azuma succeeded to become No.1 on the special QT held during the pandemic period and made the comeback, and also in this summer when Azuma made constant good results and obtained next season's Tour Card, President Nakagawa congratulated him by phone calls and e-mails.

"I was able to meet with President Nakagawa this week at the site. He praised my results as soon as we met. I know that many young guns are making great performances, but I want to be in the part of that excitement and try to win."

As for Makoto Inoue, who has 2 Tour victories, he was offered the sponsorship by Mynavi during his dark ages. Back then, he didn't have any exemption status. In 2004, he became the 3rd player to win the tournament from coming through Monday qualify, but after that he lost his seed and couldn't join the tournament other than "past champion" invitation.

"I was no body, but Mynavi offered me a helping hand. I was given really warm compliment by President Nakagawa today too. I am 46 years old now and I have lost about 20 yards on my distance. I was already having tough time at Pro-Am round. I also lost accuracy so, its tough game, but I want to show the young players that I haven't given up. I will try my best until the very end."