Ren Yonezawa is a player who will need little introduction to Japanese golf fans after a rewarding 2024 season that brought two tournament victories in Japan.
Yonezawa hit the headlines with prestigious victories at The Crowns and Yokohama Minato Championship–Fujiki Centennial last season.
His good form has continued into the current campaign with a runner-up finish at the Token Homemate Cup, a T6 at the Maezawa Cup and a T17 as defending champion at The Crowns.
Now the 25-year-old is looking to test himself against some top talent from the LIV Golf League and the Asian Tour, as part of a strong local challenge for International Series Japan presented by Moutai this week at Caledonian Golf Club in the Chiba prefecture.
Yonezawa, currently No.4 on the JGTO rankings this season, joins a number of top Japanese players including local legend Ryo Ishikawa, LIV Golf League star Jinichiro Kozuma plus a number of proven champions including former amateur world No.1 Taiga Semikawa and last year’s Japan PGA Championship winner Yuta Sugiura.
He said: “I feel better about my game compared to last year, and I am able to play with confidence consistently, so I see that as a sign of growth. If I can maintain my current form, I believe there's a good chance to win this season.”
With The International Series making its debut in Japan, Yonezawa welcomes the chance to compete against a multinational field.
He said: “I am excited because it is a chance to realize my level, and since I will be playing with people I do not usually compete with, I hope it turns out to be a valuable experience.
“As it is a high-level competition with participants from around the world, I hope to make it a valuable learning experience by engaging with various players and building connections.
“I think this is a great opportunity for Japanese players to step onto the world level. I'm not sure how Japan will connect with the rest of Asia in the future, but I believe having more opportunities like this is a positive thing.”
International Series Japan presented by Moutai takes place from 8 – 11 May. Tickets for all four days are available here, with Thursday and Friday complimentary: https://webket.jp/pc/ticket/index?fc=80130&ac=9000
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of 10 elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings leader promotion to the LIV Golf League
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