bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Sport

Veteran Japanese golfer Hiroshi Iwata and his rookie compatriot Kaito Onishi carded five-under-par 65s to take the first-round lead in the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club on Thursday.
American Berry Henson, Todd Sinnott from Australia and Japan’s Shugo Imahira returned 66s – in what is the first Asian Tour event to be played in Japan since September of 2019, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hong Kong’s Alex Zhuo Tianwai carded an 11-over-par 81 to leave himself in a tie for second-last place.
Twelve players fired 67s including Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa, currently first on Japan’s money list, and Keita Nakajima – the Japanese golfer who is the world’s No 1 ranked amateur.

Both Iwata, a three-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), and Onishi, a professional since last year looking for his first victory, traded seven birdies against two bogeys.
This week’s tournament, which is jointly sanctioned with the JGTO, gives the winner an exemption into The Open at St Andrews in July, which is a major attraction for Iwata.
Hong Kong golfer Alex Zhuo just happy to be playing again
“This is the first time I have wanted to play in the UK so much as it’s the 150th staging of The Open,” said Iwata.
“This is a great opportunity. I played well. I felt the course is a bit shorter compared with when we played it a few years ago. Tee shots are key and I put them all in the fairway.”
The 42 year old has been enjoying a return to form of late having won The Crowns tournament a year ago, which was his first JGTO victory in six years, and he finished third in that same event at the start of the month.

Onishi is just 23 years old and played on the Abema Tour last year, which is Japan’s feeder tour, and has already made an impression on the JGTO this season after securing fourth in the ISPS HANDA Championship in Japan last month.
“Putting has been great for the past two weeks and it was [on Thursday]. Just need to straighten out my tee shots,” said Onishi, who is playing Oarai for the first time.
Henson made seven birdies and three bogeys and felt playing aggressive paid dividends.
“Japan has its own style of golf. Every time I come here, I have to adapt, I have to change, and I have to learn how to play this style,” said Henson.
“I’ve played here now for 10 years. This year I came thinking I need to play more aggressively as that’s what I see the top players do. Even if it’s a difficult shot, they play so aggressively. I did that [on Thursday] and it worked out.”

The Open is also something that is on the 42-year-old’s radar.
“My goal is to win this week,” he added. “I came here with an aim to grab The Open spot. My life goal is to play the British open at St Andrews. I was aiming for that since the start of the year. Another life goal is to play the US Open at Pebble Beach. I want to just enjoy myself here in Japan. I love sushi and I enjoy Japanese food. My goal is to win and to enjoy myself this week in Japan.”
Henson is looking to secure his second win on the Asian Tour, as is Sinnott.
“It was a good round. I really enjoyed playing with Ben [Campbell]. Had some good chat out there. I really enjoyed the round and I like the golf course. My putting was pretty solid. I hit it decent the first 14 holes. Didn’t hit it great on the last few. I struggled a bit there but was still able to hole some nice par putts,” said Sinnott, who claimed the TPS Victoria in February for his first success on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“It’s my first time playing this course. It’s hard. We were lucky because there wasn’t much wind this morning. When the wind or rain gets up, it can play very tough out there.”

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, buoyed this week by receiving an invite to next week’s PGA Championship, came in with a 69.
“I am feeling good this week,” he said. “Received good news at the start of the week [about the PGA Championship] and that got me really excited. I’m playing in my first Major next week at the PGA Championship. It’s my first time playing in the United States.
“I was preparing to play my first Major at The Open in July. Getting into the PGA Championship was really a surprise to me. My caddie found out about it on Monday and told me. I heard the courses for PGA Championship are very difficult, but we are still very excited.”
Two players made aces on par threes – Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai holed his nine iron on the fourth while Japan’s Naoyuki Kataoka found the cup with his eight iron on 14. They both won ¥300,000 (US$2,330).


LIV Golf: Cleeks add Florida State alum Fredrik Kjettrup, in second signing of young player

International Series Qatar: race for potential spot on 2025 LIV Golf League still wide open

Hong Kong Open: dominant Reed strolls to title, equals record for lowest score at Fanling

Hong Kong Open: Patrick Reed takes charge at Fanling with remarkable 59, has 3-shot lead

Asian Tour

Asian Tour: Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata, Kaito Onishi take lead at Diamond Cup, as Hong Kong’s Alex Zhuo struggles

Hiroshi Iwata during the first round of the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club. Photos: JGTO Images

Kaito Onishi during the first round of the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club.

Tott Sinnott during the first round of the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club.

Berry Henson during the first round of the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club.

Suradit Yongcharoenchai during the first round of the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club.

Asian Tour: Hong Kong golfer Alex Zhuo just happy to be playing again, as Diamond Cup returns to Japan

Hong Kong’s Alex Zhuo in action during the second round of the Fanling Tropy. Photo: Hong Kong Golf Club

Keita Nakajima will play in the Diamond Cup this week, having already won once on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation circuit this season. Photo: Getty Images

PGA Tour raises stakes in fight with Saudi-backed event, denies players releases for LIV Golf Invitational

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan (left) speaks to Ian Poulter during an event in New Orleans last year. Poulter is believed to have been one of those players to ask for a release. Photo: AFP

Phil Mickelson said through his agent he has asked for a conflicting event release to the London event. Photo: Reuters

Lee Westwood confirmed last week he asked the PGA Tour and European Tour for a release. Photo: Reuters

Greg Norman has called the PGA Tour’s stance ‘anti-golfer, anti-fan, and anticompetitive’. Photo: AFP

PGA Tour: Anirban Lahiri bemoans missed opportunities at Wells Fargo Championship; Yu confident of better days ahead

Anirban Lahiri putts out for bogey on 16 during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Max Homa celebrates with caddie Joe Greiner after winning the Wells Fargo Championship. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Sport

Golf

Hong Kong


Veteran Iwata and rookie Onishi card five-under-par 65s in opening round at Oarai Golf Club
Zhuo sits in a tie for second-last place after shooting an 11-over-par 81 on Thursday



Hiroshi Iwata and Kaito Onishi card five-under-par 65s in first round at Oarai Golf Club on Thursday, as Hong Kong’s Alex Zhuo struggles.


Asian Tour: Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata, Kaito Onishi take lead at Diamond Cup, as Hong Kong’s Alex Zhuo struggles

Veteran Iwata and rookie Onishi card five-under-par 65s in opening round at Oarai Golf Club Zhuo sits in a tie for second-last place after shooting an 11-over-par 81 on Thursday

Veteran Iwata and rookie Onishi card five-under-par 65s in opening round at Oarai Golf Club

Zhuo sits in a tie for second-last place after shooting an 11-over-par 81 on Thursday