The “Four Teachings” that made up the Iwai Sisters, who are always in contention for victory in women’s professional golf this season and “can still be recited today.
The Iwai Twins, Akie and Chisato, are the hottest sisters in women’s golf in Japan right now. The result was a great success for Meiai and the Iwai Twins, as well as for last season’s team. Although Chirei won her third victory on the tour by defeating Meiai and last season’s queen, Miyu Yamashita, the two sisters once again proved their high level of ability. Ai Mei also won for the first time at the “KKT Cup Banteling Ladies Open” in April.
In other tournaments as well, both of them have been flying super steady. Meia finished in second place at the RKB x Mitsui Matsushima Ladies in mid-May, which was overturned in a playoff, and at the Bridgestone Ladies Open the following week, two matches in a row. Even after her first win of the season, Chirei was the sole leader on the second day at the “Resort Trust Ladies” in Shizuoka, May 25-28, and eventually tied for 4th place. Last week at the “Richard Mille Yonex Ladies” (Shizuoka), which was shortened to 27 holes due to bad weather, Rei was not only in contention for the win, but also won the “Best Score Award” given to the 16th hole for the second consecutive year and received 5 million yen in prize money, making every tournament something of a story with the sisters.
The elder sister has finished in the top 10 six times this season, while the younger sister has finished in the top 10 five times (both have played in 14 tournaments, as of the 6th), and they are always keeping a win in their sights. He is the one who took his two daughters to the driving range when they were in the first grade of elementary school and guided them to the path of golf. Immediately after the sisters’ playoff, he said, “I was thrilled. It was like watching an athletic meet in the old days,” she was reported to have said excitedly.
Both sisters have grown up to be top players. The Iwai family has “four teachings” that are more important to them than education to become professional golfers, and that they must follow as human beings. Yushi, who has worked as a public servant for many years, has taught his sisters since childhood: “Don’t do anything you don’t want others to do to you,” “If you see someone alone, join them,” “If you see someone in trouble, help them,” and “Be kind to little children, girls, and weak people,” and has had them recite these lessons.
Yushi is proud to say, “I think I can still say those four words today,” referring to the four words that have been more thoroughly taught than the methods necessary to improve golf scores and techniques. I think I can still say them today,” he says proudly. The other thing is to “make sure they can do basic things like greet each other. This has been the basis of child-rearing in the Iwai family.
As their father says, the sisters have never forgotten these teachings. As Chirei says, “I still cherish these words,” and they seem to have been firmly engraved in their hearts. This has also influenced their behavior as tour professionals. In particular, they both value the lesson of “being kind to young children, girls, and weak people.
I think you have to be good to small children,” said Meiai.
There are many little girls at the venue, so when I see them, I want to be nice to them” (Chirei).
It can be said that they have developed an attitude that should be cherished by many people as professionals, rather than just their play itself.
However, this “kindness” may seem to be an element that may get in the way of winning. What attracts attention is the two’s ability to switch from one situation to another. A professional coach said, “The two are usually cheerful and friendly, but once they swing their clubs, you can sense that they have a great spirit, as if they are concentrating to the utmost limit. Their ability to switch from one situation to the next is amazing.
In mid-May at the “RKB x Mitsui Matsushima Ladies” golf tournament, the two sisters played together in the final group on the second day, as they did in the playoff. However, there was hardly any conversation between the two sisters during the 18 holes, and Mami Fukuda, the other senior player who was playing with them, recalled with a laugh, “They didn’t talk much, so I wondered what I should do in between. The course was filled with a sense of urgency. However, this balance may be what makes it possible to have both “gentleness” and “strength” at the same time.
In the match in Fukuoka, the two sisters set several milestones: the first-ever playoff between sisters, the first-ever championship in the same year between sisters, and the first-ever one-two finish between sisters. In 2021, their debut year, Meia won the Sanyo Shimbun Ladies Cup, the next round after Chirei won the Castrol Ladies, her first professional victory on the lower tours, making it the first time in history that two sisters won two consecutive tournaments.
After the sisters’ playoff, the elder sister said, “I am 80% disappointed, but 20% happy because Chirei won. Next time, I will win! she said honestly. On the other hand, Chirei, the winner, said, “It was a lot of fun. （I want to win (next time, too)! I want to win (again)! The sisters are always together, both on and off the course. The friendly rivalry between the sisters will continue in the future. In the world of sports, it may be cruel to see who wins and who loses. Even so, the sisters must feel a great sense of satisfaction in having made their dream come true: “We had talked about wanting to play in the playoffs someday,” said Chirei.
Their professional life has just begun. Their professional careers have just begun, and their father’s life of going here and there on the course is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
