The inaugural Fortinet Players Cup will make its debut on the JGTO when the ¥150,000,000 event tees off at Narita Hills Country Club on Thursday.
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JGTO Players’ Chairman Hideto Tanihara, who played an instrumental role in bringing the event to the JGTO schedule, is excited about the new tournament even as he sets his sights on chasing his 20th win on Tour.
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“This is the second Players’ Association event of the year, and as a brand-new tournament, it’s also the very first edition,” said Tanihara.
“What makes it special is that we’re trying to incorporate feedback and ideas from fans step by step. We’ve started with what’s realistic and achievable, and while there are still many things we’d like to add in future editions, I think this event already feels quite different from what we’ve done before.”
A strong field featuring multiple JGTO winners such as Ryo Ishikawa and Shugo Imahira will battle with international players including Shaun Norris (South Africa), Brad Kennedy (Australia), Justin De Los Santos (Philippines) and Nicklaus Chiam (Singapore).
Ishikawa, who narrowly missed out on the playoff at the Japan Open earlier this month, is looking to rebound following the setback.
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“Losing by just one shot at the Japan Open was really frustrating,” said Ishikawa. “It wasn’t a perfect week, but there were plenty of positives. Playing with Adam Scott reminded me how high the standard of top-level golf can be. The course this week will offer a different kind of challenge, especially if the wind picks up, so I’m looking forward to seeing how my game holds up.”
With strong local and international participation and growing momentum behind player-led initiatives, the Fortinet Players Cup is set to showcase both the competitive depth and collaborative spirit of the JGTO.
