SHIGA, JAPAN | The LPGA Tour made a triumphant return to Japan when players teed-off for the TOTO Japan Classic on Thursday. For the past two years the LPGA Tour has skipped its annual trip to the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was only played as part of the JLPGA regular season. Kana Nagai, a JLPGA winner, is happy to see LPGA players and their fans return to Japan this year.
“I played last year but there were no U.S. players,” Nagai said after her round. “The atmosphere has completely changed this year and I’m enjoying it. I play in Japan, but the atmosphere is not as international, so I enjoy this.”
Nagai, who is tied for sixth at four-under par after round one, is certainly not alone in her excitement. Many LPGA players are relishing the opportunity to play in Japan again. Ayaka Furue, winner of the 2021 event as a JLPGA member, is particularly thrilled to see the LPGA back in her home country because it means she can play in Japan as an LPGA Tour winner. She has already started to make a statement, carding a 6-under first round with seven birdies and a bogey to tie for third.
“It is a very fresh and happy moment for me,” Furue said when asked about returning to Japan. “I hope to play well for the next three days as a Japanese player.”
Fellow rookie Hinako Shibuno – winner of 2019 AIG Women’s British Open as a JLPGA member – is also excited to show off her LPGA membership and is elated to be back home.
“One of my goals for this year is to play in the TOTO Ladies Classic as an LPGA member,” Shibuno said on Tuesday. “So, I am very glad to make it happen in my first year on the LPGA Tour.”
Non-Japanese players have plenty of reasons to celebrate the tour’s return to the island nation, especially when they’re off the course. Though Linn Grant arrived late due to travel delays, the rookie already had a chance to meet up with friends and go to dinner. Fellow Arizona State alum, Koichiro “Ko” Ishika, treated Grant to dinner before her 3-under par first round.
“We went to a Japanese BBQ – Korean style – I was there with a friend who is Japanese, so we just let him order,” Grant said. “It was a nice dinner. I haven’t seen him in three years, so that was really nice.”
Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul is also living it up at the Seta Golf Course, located less than 30 minutes west of Kyoto. The 19-year-old says she loves coming to Japan and has been eating sushi every day this week. Like Nagai, Thitikul also enjoys the large crowds the tournament has attracted.
“I think all the fans mean a lot to us, not just me but all the players out here,” she said. “Since COVID, we haven’t had many fans like this, so I feel good seeing them come out and supporting us here.”
With no cuts ahead of them, Thitikul and Grant have the whole weekend to eat sushi and enjoy all Japan has to offer – and of course the fans would love it if they played some good golf in between.
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