Japan's Iwata 2nd at AT&T Pebble Beach golf tournament

Japan's Iwata 2nd at AT&T Pebble Beach golf tournament

MONTEREY, California, Feb. 14 Kyodo - Japan's Hiroshi Iwata hits an iron shot on the 10th hole during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, on Feb. 13, 2016. Phil Mickelson of the United States leads the tournament, two strokes ahead of Iwata.

Japanese girl makes history at Junior Open

Japanese girl makes history at Junior Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, Britain - Japan's Asuka Kashiwabara makes V-signs during a press conference at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St. Annes, England, on July 19, 2012, after winning the Royal & Ancient Junior Open by 14 strokes the previous day. She became the first girl to win the tournament open to boys and girls aged 16 and under.

Miyazato surges, 2 shots off pace at Fujitsu Ladies

Miyazato surges, 2 shots off pace at Fujitsu Ladies

CHIBA, Japan - U.S. tour rookie Ai Miyazato made a late charge on the back nine to shoot a 4-under-par 68, placing herself two strokes off co-leaders Jeon Mi Jung and Fuki Kido after the second round of the Fujitsu Ladies at Tokyu Seven Hundred Club in Chiba Prefecture on Oct. 14.

Ai Miyazato foray ends in disaster at Asia-Japan Okinawa Open

Ai Miyazato foray ends in disaster at Asia-Japan Okinawa Open

KOCHINDA, Japan - Ai Miyazato looks disappointed as she shakes hands with Katsumasa Miyamoto at the end of the second round of the Asia-Japan Okinawa Open at Naha Golf Club in her native Okinawa Prefecture on Dec. 16. Miyazato's foray into the men's tour came to a disastrous end as she missed the cut by 14 strokes and found herself at the bottom of the 120-player field.

Lee zeros in on 3rd title of season at Suntory Ladies Open

Lee zeros in on 3rd title of season at Suntory Ladies Open

YOKAWA, Japan - South Korean Lee Ji Hee watches her iron shot during the third round of the Suntory Ladies Open at the Japan Memorial Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on June 14. Lee produced a 3-under-par 69, extending her overnight lead to four strokes heading into the final round on June 15.

Miyase takes Sumitomo VISA golf in 3-way playoff

Miyase takes Sumitomo VISA golf in 3-way playoff

GOTEMBA, Japan - Hirofumi Miyase comes from two strokes down in regulation and then saves par on the second playoff hole Nov. 14 to snare the 28 million yen winner's prize in the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters golf tournament at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Golf: Ito-En Ladies in Japan

Golf: Ito-En Ladies in Japan

Japanese golfer Mone Inami hits off the eighth tee during the final round of the Ito-En Ladies at Great Island Club in the Chiba Prefecture town of Chonan, eastern Japan, on Nov. 14, 2021. The 22-year-old won the tournament by nine strokes for her 10th career victory on the Japan LPGA Tour.

Golf: Ito-En Ladies in Japan

Golf: Ito-En Ladies in Japan

Mone Inami putts on the seventh hole during the final round of the Ito-En Ladies golf tournament at Great Island Club in the Chiba Prefecture town of Chonan, eastern Japan, on Nov. 14, 2021. The 22-year-old won the event by nine strokes for her 10th career victory on the Japan LPGA Tour.

Ai Miyazato foray ends in disaster at Asia-Japan Okinawa Open

Ai Miyazato foray ends in disaster at Asia-Japan Okinawa Open

KOCHINDA, Japan - Ai Miyazato looks disappointed as she shakes hands with Katsumasa Miyamoto at the end of the second round of the Asia-Japan Okinawa Open at Naha Golf Club in her native Okinawa Prefecture on Dec. 16. Miyazato's foray into the men's tour came to a disastrous end as she missed the cut by 14 strokes and found herself at the bottom of the 120-player field. (Kyodo)

Miyazato surges, 2 shots off pace at Fujitsu Ladies

Miyazato surges, 2 shots off pace at Fujitsu Ladies

CHIBA, Japan - U.S. tour rookie Ai Miyazato made a late charge on the back nine to shoot a 4-under-par 68, placing herself two strokes off co-leaders Jeon Mi Jung and Fuki Kido after the second round of the Fujitsu Ladies at Tokyu Seven Hundred Club in Chiba Prefecture on Oct. 14. (Kyodo)

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits his second shot on the opening hole during the third round of the CIMB Classic golf tournament at TPC Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 14, 2017. Matsuyama shot a 9-under 63 to climb into a tie for fourth place at 15 under, six strokes behind leader Pat Perez of the United States. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan makes a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the CIMB Classic golf tournament at TPC Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 14, 2017. Matsuyama shot a 9-under 63 to climb into a tie for fourth place at 15 under, six strokes behind leader Pat Perez of the United States. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan smiles on the 13th hole during the third round of the CIMB Classic golf tournament at TPC Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 14, 2017. Matsuyama shot a 9-under 63 to climb into a tie for fourth place at 15 under, six strokes behind leader Pat Perez of the United States. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Golf: Matsuyama climbs to 4th in Malaysia

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan tees off on the opening hole during the third round of the CIMB Classic golf tournament at TPC Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 14, 2017. Matsuyama shot a bogey-free 9-under 63 to climb into a tie for fourth place at 15 under, six strokes behind leader Pat Perez of the United States. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Golf: Kodaira out of contention, Thomas flying in Hawaii

Golf: Kodaira out of contention, Thomas flying in Hawaii

Japan's Satoshi Kodaira hits his third shot from just off the green on the 16th hole during the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, played at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu on Jan. 14, 2017. Kodaira dropped from a share of sixth place into a tie for 28th, while Justin Thomas of the United States increased his lead to seven strokes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Hideki Matsuyama (R) and Ryo Ishikawa walk down the ninth fairway during the Japan Open at Sayama Golf Club in Iruma, near Tokyo, on Oct. 14, 2016. Matsuyama shot an even-par 70 to rise into a tie for eighth place at 1 over, three strokes behind South Korean co-leaders Lee Kyoung Hoon and Ryu Hyun Woo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Hideki Matsuyama competes during the Japan Open at Sayama Golf Club in Iruma, near Tokyo, on Oct. 14, 2016. Matsuyama shot an even-par 70 to rise into a tie for eighth place at 1 over, three strokes behind South Korean co-leaders Lee Kyoung Hoon and Ryu Hyun Woo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Hideki Matsuyama examines the grain during the Japan Open at Sayama Golf Club in Iruma, near Tokyo, on Oct. 14, 2016. Matsuyama shot an even-par 70 to rise into a tie for eighth place at 1 over, three strokes behind South Korean co-leaders Lee Kyoung Hoon and Ryu Hyun Woo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Golf: Adam Scott misses cut at Japan Open

Golf: Adam Scott misses cut at Japan Open

Adam Scott (L) of Australia walks on the ninth fairway with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (2nd from L) and Ryo Ishikawa (R) during the second round of the Japan Open at Sayama Golf Club in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture, on Oct. 14, 2016. Scott missed the cut by two strokes after a 4-over 74 left him at 10 over for the tournament. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Golf: Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Golf: Matsuyama moves up leaderboard at Japan Open

Hideki Matsuyama hits a shot during the second round of the Japan Open at Sayama Golf Club in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture, on Oct. 14, 2016. Matsuyama shot an even-par 70 to rise into a tie for eighth place at 1 over, three strokes behind South Korean co-leaders Lee Kyoung Hoon and Ryu Hyun Woo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Lee zeros in on 3rd title of season at Suntory Ladies Open

Lee zeros in on 3rd title of season at Suntory Ladies Open

YOKAWA, Japan - South Korean Lee Ji Hee watches her iron shot during the third round of the Suntory Ladies Open at the Japan Memorial Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on June 14. Lee produced a 3-under-par 69, extending her overnight lead to four strokes heading into the final round on June 15. (Kyodo)

Miyase takes Sumitomo VISA golf in 3-way playoff

Miyase takes Sumitomo VISA golf in 3-way playoff

GOTEMBA, Japan - Hirofumi Miyase comes from two strokes down in regulation and then saves par on the second playoff hole Nov. 14 to snare the 28 million yen winner's prize in the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters golf tournament at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Shizuoka Prefecture.