<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Glamorous Battle is Full of Highlights for the Second Half!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With less than three months remaining in this season&#8217;s domestic women&#8217;s professional golf tour, the race for the annual queen is heating up, led by Rio Takeda (21), who has already claimed six victories. However, there are still many heroine contenders. Sports writer Myung-Woo Kim provides an analysis.</span></p>
<h3><b>Sakura Koiwai (26)  </b></h3>
<h3><b>Total prize money has surpassed 700 million yen, making her the Iron Woman leading the golf scene.</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391607" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2116px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391607"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="a8fc4a8a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/18d5a9988d53c33650887168d1e6eb92.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391607" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In June, she became the third youngest player in history to win 700 million yen in lifetime prize money. With a record of 228 consecutive appearances in Japan and the U.S., will the &#8220;Ironman&#8221; win her long-cherished title?</span></figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driver: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approach: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Control: 4  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recovery: 4  </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>Rio Takeda (21)  </b></h3>
<h3><b>Having also claimed a major title, she is in a dominant position and has clear visibility towards her first championship.</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391605" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1629px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391605"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="489d7c08"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/976fa570eb76c67916cf0524f38d5539.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391605" class="wp-caption-text">In her third year, she has become accustomed to the professional game and is now in a state of unparalleled performance.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driver: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approach: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Control: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recovery: 4  </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>What kind of drama will unfold in the second half of the tournament?</b></h2>
<p><b>“Sakura Koiwai (26), with two victories and currently ranked 3rd in the Mercedes rankings, is demonstrating outstanding consistency. Her swing has improved significantly, leading to an impressive third-place ranking in greens in regulation and her highest average driver distance ever at over 252 yards.</b></p>
<p><b>Rookie Yumeno Masada (24) is also one to watch. After five attempts, she finally passed the pro test and has showcased her precision iron shots by finishing in the top 10 three times in her last five tournaments. The long lines for autographs have become a post-game highlight, proving she is as popular as the top professionals.”</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, there are several strong contenders this season, such as Haruka Kawasaki (21), who has achieved three wins, and Reika Usui (25), a member of the golden generation who recently claimed her long-awaited first victory. </span></p>
<p><b>“On the flip side, some seasoned players who have faced struggles are starting to show signs of recovery. Erika Hara (25), who has often expressed concerns about her performance, has bounced back since July, finishing in the top 10 four times without missing any cuts. Nana Suganuma (24), who had a slow start due to knee pain and lack of practice, is also showing signs of improvement, creating excitement for the upcoming second half of the season.”</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What drama will unfold in the remaining tournaments?</span></p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="What kind of drama will be created in the remaining games?"></div>
<h2><b>No time to wait for the championship! Notable athletes who continue to make great strides</b></h2>
<h3><b>Yumeno Masada (24)</b></h3>
<h3><b>&#8220;Fifth time&#8217;s the charm&#8221; as she embarks on her professional journey, aiming for a remarkable achievement in her rookie year.</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391608" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391608"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="12f0bf8c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/5b30a9b175e4445b1f7bb239fb412537.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391608" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In her first year, Yumeno Masada&#8217;s outstanding shot accuracy has put her in the top half of the leaderboard, and she shed tears at the NEC Karuizawa 72 in August, where she finished 2nd. He vows to use his frustration as a springboard to victory.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driver: 3</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approach: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Control: 5</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recovery: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><b>Haruka Kawasaki (21)</b></p>
<h3><b>Will she keep the momentum going and win her second major?</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391601" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1777px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391601"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="56f3b5a9"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/155609e708376f6501651f1cd30c3a65.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391601" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Haruka Kawasaki has had a breakthrough year with three wins, including back-to-back wins in July. On the other hand, she failed to qualify for 10 out of 25 rounds. Continuity is an issue.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driver: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approach: 5</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Control: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recovery: 4</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<h3><b>Erika Hara (25)</b></h3>
<h3><b>A resurgent long hitter aims for her first victory of the season!</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391598" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1973px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391598"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="54e69532"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/d807602d5bf09af6eb86c38b888cc5a5.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391598" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">She has been trying to improve her game by changing her shafts. She has been experimenting with new shafts and other things, and now she just needs to get back to her signature distance.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 4<br>
Putting 4<br>
Approaching 5<br>
Control 4<br>
Recovery 3</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="There are more! The powerhouses"></div>
<h2><b>Still more to come! Powerhouses that will be the eye of the storm in the second half of the season.</b></h2>
<h3><b>Yuka Yasuda (23)</b></h3>
<h3><b>The day when we can see her cute smile on the podium is near!</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391603" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391603"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="96badcda"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/4c5a5da72f1feb76b3c42e3bb49d20cf.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391603" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">With sharp approach skills and six top-10 finishes, the day when we see her shining smile on the podium after her first victory is highly anticipated.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driver: 3  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting: 4  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approach: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Control: 4  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recovery: 5  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>Ozeki Amiyu (21)  </b></h3>
<h3><b>Aiming for a comeback with her outstanding putting stability.</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391610" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2108px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391610"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="bfc2ca08"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/54b7742a47ef09ea7dc4c5889d3304eb.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391610" class="wp-caption-text">She has a charming smile similar to actress Fuka Koshiba. Her stats are not bad, so a second win for the first time since 2010 should not be far off.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driver 4</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br>
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Putting 5</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br>
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Approaching 3</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br>
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Control 5</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br>
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Recovery 5</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>Reika Usui (25)</b></h3>
<h3><b>With the momentum of her first victory, the princess aims for her second win.</b></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>Nana Suganuma (24) </b></h3>
<h3><b>Promising a complete comeback with her trademark heart pose!</b></h3>
<figure id="attachment_391604" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391604"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1598a27f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/37968cf57645c0717488f2f06548ad12.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391604" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reika Usui (right) won her first tournament of the season, becoming the 14th champion from the golden generation. While known for her princess persona, Nana Suganuma (left) is a diligent worker. Despite a lackluster season, she remains positive, claiming on social media that she hasn’t neglected her practice. A comeback may be on the horizon.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p><span class="strongInContent">Nana Suganuma</span><br>
Driver 3<br>
Putting 3<br>
Approaching 3<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 5</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent">Reika Usui</span><br>
Driver 4<br>
Putting 5<br>
Approach 3<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 4</p>
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<h3>Gao Tsuruoka (25)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_391599" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2106px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391599"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1f76aa84"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/c713c37d1383f6c57361d7e5db6f0a6e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391599" class="wp-caption-text">She has an outstanding driver distance and the 5th best par on-putt rate among all players. She has a good chance to win for the first time.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 5<br>
Putting 3<br>
Approach 5<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 3</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Still more promising players!"></div>
<h3>Kokona Sakurai (20)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_391597" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2075px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391597"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="feca07fd"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/3640d66f966ad35c7424e14758dcd00b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391597" class="wp-caption-text">She won 4 matches last season, but has no wins so far this season. Can she regain her iron accuracy for the second half of the season?</figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 5<br>
Putting 3<br>
Approaching 3<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 4</p>
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<h3>Hana Wakimoto (26)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_391600" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2100px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391600"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ca1412b3"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/8b98ed2336e9f02fd96e3eabe35f60bd.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391600" class="wp-caption-text">She has been in contention for the top ranking for the first time all year. Will she be able to achieve her dream of winning a top tour title?</figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 3<br>
Putting 4<br>
Approaching 4<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 4</p>
<h3>Yui Kawamoto (26)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_391609" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1897px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391609"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="166601ef"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/9762f193a39845f77aadf257b4783384.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391609" class="wp-caption-text">She is on the upswing this season with her second win. She is also ranked 8th in the Mercedes ranking.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 3<br>
Putting 5<br>
Approaching 3<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 5</p>
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<h2>The rookies are also full of promising players!</h2>
<h3>Minami Kiyomoto (19)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_391602" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2183px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391602"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="10b0ab0c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/f4b4411175c613344981229e847de512.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391602" class="wp-caption-text">She passed the professional test in 2011 at the top of the class, and her ability is real. She has played 8 rounds on the top tour this season.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 3<br>
Putting 3<br>
Approaching 3<br>
Control 4<br>
Recovery 3</p>
<h3>Kanako Ishida (30)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_391606" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2084px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-391606"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="49111c72"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/7d170a413fc81df59c2bde24adf6fbea.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-391606" class="wp-caption-text">Old rookie who was already in contention for the win in her first round on the Top Tour and finished in 14th place</figcaption></figure>
<p>Driver 3<br>
Putting 3<br>
Approach 3<br>
Control 3<br>
Recovery 4</p>
<p>From the September 27 and October 4, 2024 combined issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Getty Images Afro

 Less than three months remain in the Japanese women's professional golf tour this season. Reo Takeda, with six wins, is one step ahead in the battle for queen of the year, but there are still more candidates for the title of "heroine. Here is a look at the smiling shots of some of the hottest players, along with an explanation of their abilities!

Must-See Smile Shots of the Skilled Heroine Contenders in the Women’s Golf Tour Second Half

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