It’s finally happening! The Era of Mone Inami, Golf’s Prize-Winning Queen
Proves she's the best of her generation amidst the rivalry! Ayaka Furue falls short in the final round of the Ricoh Cup, but will not take a break and will be practicing during the year-end and New Year holidays, aiming to become a "perfect player.
Tears streamed down her cheeks at the moment she was crowned. This season, which lasted two years due to the Covid-19 disaster, came to an end on November 28. Mone Inami (22) was crowned the Queen of Prizes.
She won 9 tournaments this season (8 in 2009) and earned 255.19 million yen in prize money. She led the women’s golf world this year, winning a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Ikuyo Shiotani, a professional golfer and commentator who was the prize winner in 1992 and 1995, also praised Inami without hesitation.
I’m in charge of course setting for the JLPGA, and even on courses where all the players struggled, Inami was the only one who could make birdies and win with ease. This season, she had such strength. The more difficult the setting, the more the difference between her and the other players. This is the result of her daily practice and her extraordinary concentration. She used to practice eight hours a day even before she became a professional.
She was 8.44 million yen behind Ayaka Furue (21), who was in second place in the money list, and 54.76 million yen behind Sakura Koshoku (23), who was in third place, but more than that, she overwhelmed them with the “quality” of her golf. Inami ranked first in stroke average, first in par on percentage, first in par save percentage, and first in average birdies among Japanese female professionals.
Inami’s defensive golf is outstanding, as she keeps par even when she’s not doing well. Inami’s defensive golf is outstanding, holding par when he is not in good form, and his stamina to fight for two years was also excellent. In the second half of the season, he suffered from back pain, but his steady golf kept him at the top of the leaderboard.
Inami’s only weakness is that his flying distance is a bit lacking. The average distance of his driver this season is 238 yards. Inami’s only weakness is that his average driving distance this season is 238 yards, so it may be difficult for him to get seeded on the overseas tours, but he knows that better than anyone.
My main goal is to get a permanent seed.
Inami is aiming for 30 wins in Japan. Inami plans to practice 24/7 during the off-season to “improve my distance.
Inami’s rival, Furue, has expressed his desire to challenge the overseas tour. At this point, there is no other player who is a rival to Inami. If not for Furue, Inami would probably be the money winner in Japan next season for the second year in a row.” (Golf journalist Koichi Miyazaki)
This summer, Inami said in an interview, “I want to become a warrior. At least, that seems to be the case in Japan next season.
From “FRIDAY” December 17, 2021 issue
PHOTO： AFLO Getty Images
