Magical 59 takes Ikeda to the top

Powered by a new putter, Yuta Ikeda etched his name in the history books as the latest golfer to have shot a magical 59 and seized the lead in the opening round of the Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament.

The 36-year-old began the day picking up five shots on his inward nine and never looked back in a bogey-free 11-under-par round at the Toride Kokusai Golf Club.

Ikeda saved his best for the remaining nine on the West Course, firing six more birdies to open up a two-shot lead over Ryoma Iwai and Brad Kennedy of Australia.

Last year's joint-runner-up Tomoharu Otsuki underlined his intention to give the tournament another shot with a sizzling 62 for solo fourth, while Takashi Ogiso completed the top five cast on the opening day after signing for a 63.

Ikeda will surely look to build on the impressive start after struggling to put himself in the contention in the first five starts thus far.

And his decision to switch to a new putter turned out to be spot on.

"I've been playing decent golf for a long time. It's just that I have not been able to make many putts," said Ikeda, who only had a modest joint seventh result at the Kansai Open as his best outing this year.

"I decided to use a new putter this week, thinking that it might be good for a change of mood too. It worked superbly. I putted very well today and was rewarded with the magical '59'."

Ikeda believes his brilliant short game has also made a difference for him.

"For the second shot, I used mostly wedges, so it was easy to get to within one or two meters from the pin," he explained.

"I wonder if I would get such a score if my play didn't connect this well."

Ikeda has already attained legendary status on JGTO, having collected 21 victories in his career thus far.

But at just 36, surely there are still plenty of good years left in him.

Ikeda is definitely eager to return to winning ways, especially after failing to win a single title in the 2020-21 season.

It was the first time he couldn't do first since 2008.

He last tasted success at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in 2019.

"As long as I continue to play good golf, I know the win will come."