The ACN Championship Golf Tournament gets underway this week with some of Japan’s leading players ready to light up the fairways at Miki Golf Club.
Among those headlining the field are Ryo Ishikawa, Naoyuki Kataoka, and Kensei Hirata – all eager to put on a strong showing for the fans and for tournament sponsor ACN.
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For Ishikawa, who has shown steady form in recent weeks, Miki Golf Club presents a unique challenge that will test every part of his game.
“My condition has been getting better, and I’ve managed to maintain a good level, but since every course is different, this week’s course feels quite challenging for me,” said Ishikawa. “The tee shots are pretty tough. I think it’s going to come down to iron play and putting.
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“There are holes where hitting it long off the tee gives you a better look at the next shot, but the rough is very thick, even around the greens. So while aggressive tee shots can be rewarding, they also come with significant risk,” he added.
Kataoka, who won the Japan Open last month, is determined to deliver another inspired performance in front of the home crowd.
“As one of the host professionals, I feel a responsibility to help make this tournament exciting,” said Kataoka. “I put everything into the Japan Open and felt a bit of fatigue last week, but I’ll do my best to get my energy back up and compete hard.
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“My short game and putting were really good at the Japan Open, but they didn’t click last week. I’ll be focusing on tightening those areas again,” he added. “There are many ACN-contracted players in the field, so I want to perform well and make sure I don’t lose to any of them.”
Hirata, meanwhile, returns home this week following a solid run of form and is looking forward to competing in front of local fans.
“Last week I managed to play some good golf, and I’ve been feeling positive about my game,” said Hirata. “As a host professional, the best way to give back is to perform well and fight for a top finish. That’s what I’m aiming for this week.”
Hirata is also relishing the opportunity to play alongside Ishikawa and Kataoka in the opening rounds. “It’s a great pairing. I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “Hopefully, the three of us can make it an exciting first two days for everyone watching.”
