Top Japanese Golfers Take on U.S. Tour, Sparking Global Recognition and Talent Drain Concerns at Home

Japanese golfers are making remarkable progress on the U.S. Tour. Many have announced their intention to challenge the U.S. Tour next season, and there is a growing possibility that Japanese golfers will be competing against each other on the world’s most prestigious stage in the near future. Sportswriter Kim Myeong-soo looks at the latest developments based on his interviews with top professionals.

A number of Japanese players have announced their participation in December’s final qualifying tournament for spots on next season’s U.S. golf tour. These include Miyu Yamashita (23), the two-time reigning season queen; Reo Takeda (21), who currently leads both the points and prize money rankings with seven wins this season; and the twin sisters Akie and Chisato Iwai (both 22). These top four players from the domestic tour have all decided to pursue a move to the U.S. tour.

Additionally, Saki Baba (19), who was unable to secure a U.S. tour card through this season’s lower-tier U.S. tour rankings, and Yuri Yoshida (24), who fought hard in her first year on the U.S. tour but is in a tough position to retain her status, will also compete in the final qualifiers. Erika Hara (25) and Sora Kamiya (21) are also set to participate in the second stage of U.S. tour qualifiers from November 22 to 25.

Should these players earn their tour cards, it would not be an exaggeration to say the U.S. tour next season could be flooded with Japanese players. Currently, Japanese members of the U.S. tour include Nasa Hataoka, Hinako Shibuno, Yuka Saso, Ayaka Furue, Mao Saigo, Yuna Nishimura, Minami Katsu, and Mone Inami. If the players entering through the qualifiers succeed, around 15 Japanese players could be competing in the U.S.

 

Former World No. 1 analyzes, “There will be a Japanese winner on the U.S. Tour.”

Japanese women’s golf seems to be gaining momentum similar to that of South Korean women’s golf, which has dominated the world rankings for a long time. In the U.S. Women’s Open, considered the pinnacle of women’s golf, 10 South Korean players have won the title, beginning with South Korean legend Se Ri Pak (47), who claimed victory in 1998. Many have also reached world No. 1. Although Japan has not yet reached that level of success, there is a high possibility that a similar situation will develop in the future.

When asked about the recent successes of Japanese players on the U.S. tour and their announcements to participate in qualifying tournaments, Shin Ji-yai (36), a former world No. 1 and the 2009 U.S. tour money leader, commented:

“This year, Japanese players won two major overseas titles (Yuka Saso at the U.S. Women’s Open and Ayaka Furue at the Amundi Evian Championship), and Mao Saigo, in her first year on the U.S. tour, is leading the Rookie of the Year race. The results prove the skill of Japanese players. More players are now stepping up with a strong desire to challenge themselves, even when faced with obstacles, which is inspiring. I believe we’ll see many Japanese players winning on the U.S. tour in the future and winning more frequently.”

Yuna Nishimura, now in her second year on the U.S. tour, shared insights into why more Japanese players are challenging themselves on the U.S. tour.

“Seeing Japanese players succeed in major overseas tournaments inspires that feeling of ‘I want to go too.’ I personally think that the level of the entire Japanese tour has risen. Japanese players are now reaching a level where they can compete even in the U.S. While there are still areas where we can’t quite match the top players—like driving distance, approach techniques, and putting—I feel that Japanese players have a higher level of accuracy, especially in their shots.”

Nishimura also noted, “More players now have specific ‘points of strength’ that make them want to test their skills in the U.S.” However, she emphasized the advantages of the Japanese tour environment, pointing out that “In Japan, we have large crowds and access to club repairs. I think players will feel the gap, and the U.S. isn’t exactly a glittering place.”

 

 

Concerns About the Growing “Talent Drain”

Despite the increasing interest among young players in the U.S. tour, there are growing concerns about the talent drain in the Japanese women’s golf scene. The departure of popular and skilled players could lead to a loss of golf fans.

If the aforementioned players—Miyu Yamashita, Reo Takeda, and the Iwai sisters—move on to the U.S. tour, it is expected that Sakura Koiwai (26), born in 1998 and part of the “golden generation,” will continue to lead the domestic tour without aspirations for overseas challenges. However, rising young talents like Yuka Yasuda (23), Haruka Kawasaki (21), and Ayami Ozeki (21) possess both popularity and skill, suggesting that the domestic tour’s appeal is unlikely to diminish quickly. Still, it’s debatable whether a vibrant cycle of renewal is genuinely taking place.

The Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) implemented a system in 2019 where only those who pass the professional test can enter qualifying tournaments (QT) leading to tour participation. Previously, even players who hadn’t passed the professional test could enter qualifying tournaments, which had historically allowed many Japanese and South Korean players to compete on the Japanese tour.

The removal of this provision has been interpreted by some as a means to protect current members, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of South Korean players entering the Japanese tour. However, it is also true that many talented young players, who remain largely unknown to golf fans, are unable to participate in qualifying tournaments and continue to stagnate. To address the lack of competitive opportunities, the “Mynavi Next Heroine Tour” was launched in 2019 for aspiring tour players who lack serious competition.

Players who achieve success on the domestic women’s tour are likely to open doors to the U.S. tour. Many fans eagerly await the sight of Japanese players competing for victories on the U.S. tour, and especially the junior generation is expected to be inspired by these world-class competitors as they embark on their own professional journeys.

In this sense, the Japanese women’s golf scene appears to be on a positive trajectory. However, it remains uncertain whether the popularity of the domestic women’s tour will remain stable in the coming years or decades. Given the current elevation of the golf scene in Japan, a long-term perspective is essential to ensure continued growth and success.