Eighteen-time Japan Golf Tour winner Hideto Tanihara sees The International Series as a key opportunity for local players to gain international exposure and level up the competition of the sport in the country.
The experienced 46-year-old, who has also played on the DP World Tour and featured in the first season of LIV Golf, carded a level-par first round of 71 at Caledonian Golf Club, and was impressed by the potential impact of the elevated Asian Tour event on the Japanese game.
Tanihara said: “This Series can really raise the bar for professional golf in Japan. Competing alongside some of the world’s top players, especially here at home, brings more excitement for fans and pushes local players to improve.
“It’s also a great platform for young Asian talent. Events like this inspire the next generation and give them something big to aim for,” added Tanihara, who previously managed a T5 at International Series Qatar in 2023.
Tanihara was one of the first Japanese players to embrace LIV Golf, joining the field for its inaugural Invitational event in London in 2022. That experience, he says, offered valuable perspective “It was really inspiring to be part of that environment. Playing alongside so many top-ranked players shows you what’s possible and what’s needed to compete at that level.”
Today, Tanihara teed off at familiar territory at the demanding Caledonian Golf Club, and the seasoned pro remains optimistic about his hopes while acknowledging room for improvement.
Tanihara said: “I missed a couple of birdie opportunities today. My putting and line reading definitely need some work before tomorrow.”
One of Japan’s most decorated golfers, Tanihara has captured 18 wins over two decades, including three of the most prestigious tournaments on the circuit, with his most recent title coming in 2023 at the Japan Players Championship by Sato Foods.
International Series Japan presented by Moutai runs from 8-11 May at Caledonian Golf Club, Chiba.
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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