Satoshi Kodaira snatched the lead at the halfway stage of the ISPS HANDA Summer Golf Battle Tournament – “Who’s the Strongest” on Friday after a composed second-round performance where he returned with a blemish-free eight-under-par 64, highlighted by steady ball-striking and a hot putter.
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The 34-year-old marked his card with six birdies and one eagle to move atop the leaderboard, holding a one-shot lead over Aguri Iwasaki (66), Taichiro Ideriha (66) and Taiga Semikawa (66) at the Hokkaido Brooks Country Club.
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Attributing his improved play to recent training in the United States alongside 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, Kodaira said: “Nothing has really changed in my game, but today more putts dropped compared to yesterday.
“I’ve been working on going back to the fundamentals of my swing and even returned to the shaft I used since my student days. Once I made that switch, I started to feel more comfortable again.”
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Kodaira, a seven-time JGTO winner, has not won since 2018 when he captured the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup. He shared how personal challenges in recent years affected his form.
“After my father passed away and my coach was no longer around, my motivation dipped. I was playing golf without much energy. But during training in the U.S., younger players like Ryo Hisatsune and Noriyuki Kensei invited me to join them. I really feel fortunate to have such people around me. It’s been uplifting.”
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With a packed schedule of events on the JGTO ahead, Kodaira is eyeing consistency and renewed purpose. “Big tournaments are coming up, and I want to show Hideki just how much I’ve changed. My motivation is gradually building, and heading into the weekend, I want to keep confirming the things I’ve been working on, turning confidence into conviction.”
