Due to the cancellation of last year, Kansai Open was back again and Rikuya Hoshino picked up from where he lost to a play-off to make great revenge by winning it this year.

Rikuya started out 3-way tie as co-leader on Sunday. The wind got stronger as the day goes by, but Rikuya says, "Draw, fade, low and high. I like tackling the course with variety of shot makings. I think it is best to enjoy your play."

The turning point 14th hole's shot was one of the creative shot.
"It was 115 yards, and I chose 52 degrees and had it pressed down to low trajectory to get it on the line."
That shot produced 2.5-meter birdie putt to catch up with Chan Kim.

But on 16th, he made a miss shot from apron and it went 8 meters over the pin.
"I used to get wrecked if I make a mistake like that, but I thought back to the play-off that I lost 2 years ago and told myself I won't lose this time. That strong will made me able to come through."

Chan Kim caught up with Rikuya again on 17th, and it was down to only 1 last hole. After Chan's miss judgment of the wind and ending up in the right-side OB zone, Rikuya was calm and decided instantly "I will go hit a low trajectory shot with my 1W". That courageous decision gave him the victory by 2 shots.

"I am honored win at such a legendary tournament. I was able to make 2 years' worth of disappointment go away. I also want to thank everyone who has made this tournament possible in such a circumstances. Last year during the stay home period, I was constantly thinking about golf, and that was very great learning experience. I experimented on swings and researched on the gears, which gave me new swing style that is kinder to my back."

Last week Rikuya failed to make the cutline, and he watched Takumi Kanaya win and jump up his World Rankings. But with this week's victory, Rikuya is now No.2 on Money Rankings and probably get into top 100 of the World Rankings as well.
"PGA Championship might be possible, and I really want to go. I have been wishing to challenge the US PGA Tour, but it hasn't happened yet, and I feel ashamed. But I want to go step by step. Prepare well in Japan first. I will win few more this year and become the Order of Merit Champion, and then be in World's top 50, achieve multiple year seed, and then I will definitely go to US PGA Tour."