Mizuno Open
Encyclopedia
The is a golf tournament played in Japan
since 1971. It has been a Japan Golf Tour
event since 1979. Beginning in 1998, the top four finishers in the Mizuno Open that were not already exempt into The Open Championship
received exemptions. There is also a mini-money list of events up to and including the Mizuno Open that earns two exemptions to The Open. This is why the event has been called since then. It was played at the Setonaikai Golf Club in Okayama from 1998 to 2006 and also in 2011 and at the Tokinodai Country Club in Ishikawa
from at least 1985 to 1997. The purse for the 2011 event was ¥
110,000,000, with ¥22,000,000 going to the winner.
From 2007 to 2010 The Mizuno Open merged with the Yomiuri Open
to form the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
. It was played at the Yomiuri Country Club in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo
.
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open
Mizuno Open
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
since 1971. It has been a Japan Golf Tour
Japan Golf Tour
The Japan Golf Tour is a prominent golf tour. It was founded in 1973 and as of 2006 it offers the third highest annual prize fund out of the regular men's professional tours after the PGA Tour and the European Tour. However since the early 1990s, the growth in prize money has not kept pace with...
event since 1979. Beginning in 1998, the top four finishers in the Mizuno Open that were not already exempt into The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
received exemptions. There is also a mini-money list of events up to and including the Mizuno Open that earns two exemptions to The Open. This is why the event has been called since then. It was played at the Setonaikai Golf Club in Okayama from 1998 to 2006 and also in 2011 and at the Tokinodai Country Club in Ishikawa
Ishikawa
-Places:*Ishikawa Prefecture*Ishikawa-gun, district, Ishikawa Prefecture*Ishikawa-gun, district, Fukushima Prefecture*Ishikawa-machi, town, Fukushima Prefecture*Ishikawa-shi, city, Okinawa Prefecture-Real people:*Alexandre Ishikawa, Brazilian director...
from at least 1985 to 1997. The purse for the 2011 event was ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
110,000,000, with ¥22,000,000 going to the winner.
From 2007 to 2010 The Mizuno Open merged with the Yomiuri Open
Yomiuri Open
The Yomiuri Open was a golf tournament on the Japan Golf Tour from at least 1979 to 2006. In 2007 it merged with the Mizuno Open to form the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic...
to form the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
The Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic was a golf tournament on the Japan Golf Tour. It was formed in 2007 from the merger of two long-standing JGT events, the Mizuno Open and the Yomiuri Open. It is played at the Yomiuri Country Club in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo. The purse for the 2010 event...
. It was played at the Yomiuri Country Club in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo
Nishinomiya, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball...
.
Winners
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open- 2011 Hwang Jung-gonHwang Jung-gonHwang Jung-gon is a South Korean professional golfer.Hwang plays on the Japan Golf Tour and won his first event at the 2011 Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open. This win earned him entry into the 2011 Open Championship where he finished 71st....
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
- 2010 Shunsuke SonodaShunsuke Sonodais a Japanese professional golfer.Sonoda was born in Tokyo. He was first trained by his father. After that he has been taught by golf teaching pro, Todd Baker, since he was 10 years old. When Sonoda visited Gold Coast, Australia with his family at age 13, he decided to study in Gold Coast because...
- 2009 Ryo IshikawaRyo Ishikawa, also known by the nickname "Hanikami Ōji" , is a Japanese professional golfer.On 20 May 2007, Ishikawa became the youngest winner ever of a men's regular tournament on the Japan Golf Tour by winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at the age 15 years and 8 months. He competed as an amateur and it...
- 2008 Prayad MarksaengPrayad MarksaengPrayad Marksaeng is a Thai professional golfer.Prayad was a member of Thailand's winning golf team at the 1987 South East Asian Games and turned professional in 1991. He has been a member of the Asian Tour since it began in its modern form in 1995. He was won six events on the tour, becoming one...
- 2007 Lee Dong-hwanLee Dong-hwanLee Dong-hwan is a South Korean professional golfer.Lee plays on the Japan Golf Tour where he has won twice.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*2007 Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic*2011 Toshin Golf Tournament in LakeWood...
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open
- 2006 SK HoSK HoHur Suk-ho , who is usually known as SK Ho in English, is a South Korean professional golfer who plays mainly on the Japan Golf Tour....
- 2005 Chris CampbellChris Campbell (golfer)Chris Campbell is an Australian professional golfer.Campbell plays on the Japan Golf Tour, where he was won once.Campbell's sister, Nikki, plays on the LPGA of Japan Tour and the ALPG Tour.-External links:...
- 2004 Brendan Jones
- 2003 Todd HamiltonTodd HamiltonWilliam Todd Hamilton is an American professional golfer.Hamilton was born in the small west-central Illinois city of Galesburg. He grew up in an even smaller Henderson County town on the Mississippi called Oquawka. He attended Union High School in Biggsville, Illinois and played golf regularly on...
- 2002 Dean WilsonDean WilsonDean Hiroshi Wilson is an American professional golfer.Wilson was born in Kaneohe, Hawaii. He turned professional in 1992 after graduating from Brigham Young University and has won six times on the Japan Golf Tour and once on the PGA Tour. After a poor 2009 season Wilson lost his PGA Tour playing...
- 2001 Hidemichi TanakaHidemichi Tanakais a Japanese professional golfer.Tanaka was born in Hiroshima. He turned professional in 1991, joined the Japan Golf Tour in 1995 and played mainly on that tour until 2001...
- 2000 Yasuharu ImanoYasuharu ImanoYasuharu Imano is a Japanese professional golfer.Imano was born in Gifu Prefecture. He currently plays on the Japan Golf Tour where he has won seven times between 1999 and 2009.-Japan Golf Tour wins :*1999 The Crowns...
- 1999 Eduardo HerreraEduardo HerreraEduardo Herrera is a Colombian professional golfer. Herrera was the first Colombian golfer to feature in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings.-Amateur career:...
- 1998 Brandt JobeBrandt JobeBrandt William Jobe is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour but has previously competed on the Nationwide Tour and the Japan Golf Tour....
Mizuno Open
- 1997 Brian WattsBrian WattsBrian Peter Watts is an American professional golfer.Watts was born in Montreal, Canada to European parents, but is now a U.S. citizen who lives in Oklahoma. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State and won the NCAA Division I Championship in 1987.Watts turned professional in 1988. He played...
- 1996 Yoshinori KanekoYoshinori KanekoYoshinori Kaneko is a Japanese professional golfer.Kaneko played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning six times.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1991 Kanto Open*1992 Descente Classic*1996 Token Corporation Cup, Kirin Open, Mizuno Open...
- 1995 Brian WattsBrian WattsBrian Peter Watts is an American professional golfer.Watts was born in Montreal, Canada to European parents, but is now a U.S. citizen who lives in Oklahoma. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State and won the NCAA Division I Championship in 1987.Watts turned professional in 1988. He played...
- 1994 Brian WattsBrian WattsBrian Peter Watts is an American professional golfer.Watts was born in Montreal, Canada to European parents, but is now a U.S. citizen who lives in Oklahoma. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State and won the NCAA Division I Championship in 1987.Watts turned professional in 1988. He played...
- 1993 Seiki OkudaSeiki OkudaSeiki Okuda is a Japanese professional golfer.Okuda played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning six times.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1990 Chushikoku Open*1992 TaylorMade KSB Open, Golf Digest Tournament*1993 Mizuno Open, Japan Open...
- 1992 Toru NakamuraToru Nakamurais a Japanese golfer.Nakamura was born in Osaka. He won 20 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour and ranks eighth on the career victories list.-Japan Golf Tour wins :*1973 Hiroshima Open*1974 KBC Augusta, Sapporo Tokyu Open...
- 1991 Roger MackayRoger MackayRoger J. Mackay was an Australian professional golfer.Mackay turned professional in 1983 and played on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Japan Golf Tour. His biggest successes came in Japan, where he won on eight occasions. In Australia he is best remembered for his 1987 win at the...
- 1990 Brian JonesBrian Jones (golfer)Brian Jones is an Australian professional golfer.Jones was born in Sydney. He turned professional in 1971. He played on the throughout Asia and Australasia including on the Japan Golf Tour. He won the Indian Open three times, five times in Australasia, and twelve times in Japan...
- 1989 Akiyoshi OhmachiAkiyoshi OhmachiAkiyoshi Ohmachi is a Japanese professional golfer.Ohmachi played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning four times.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1986 Shizuoka Open*1989 Mizuno Open, Nippon Series*1991 ANA Open-External links:...
- 1988 Yoshimi NiizekiYoshimi NiizekiYoshimi Niizeki is a Japanese professional golfer.Niizeki played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning twice.-External links:...
- 1987 David IshiiDavid IshiiDavid S. Ishii is an American golfer of Japanese descent.Ishii grew up on the island of Kauai in Hawaii and graduated from Kauai High School. He turned professional in 1979. He led the money list on the Japan Golf Tour in 1987...
- 1986 Tsuneyuki NakajimaTsuneyuki NakajimaTsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima 20 October 1954) is a Japanese professional golfer.Nakajima was born in Gunma. He turned professional in 1975. He has won 48 events on the Japan Golf Tour, ranking third on the most Japan Golf Tour wins list. He also was the leading money winner four times in five years:...
- 1985 Tateo OzakiTateo Ozakiis a Japanese golfer.Ozaki was born in Kaiyō, Tokushima. He turned professional in 1977. He won 15 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour and ranks 13th on the career victories list....
and Katsunari TakahashiKatsunari Takahashiis a Japanese professional golfer of Korean ancestry.Takahashi was born in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō...
(tie) - 1984 Kikuo AraiKikuo Araiis a Japanese professional golfer.Arai played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning six times. He also played on the PGA Tour in the 1980s; 45 events from 1983 to 1989, including 16 events in 1986. His best finish was a tie for second at the 1985 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am...
- 1983 Eitaro DeguchiEitaro DeguchiEitaro Deguchi is a Japanese professional golfer.Deguchi played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning five times.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1982 Shizuoka Open*1983 Mizuno Open, Bridgestone Open*1986 Chubu Open*1987 Chubu Open-External links:...
- 1982 Teruo SugiharaTeruo SugiharaTeruo Sugihara is a Japanese professional golfer.Sugihara was born in Osaka. He won 28 tournaments and over 630 million ¥ on the Japan Golf Tour. He also won the 1969 Hong Kong Open.-Japan Golf Tour wins :...
- 1981 Kikuo AraiKikuo Araiis a Japanese professional golfer.Arai played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning six times. He also played on the PGA Tour in the 1980s; 45 events from 1983 to 1989, including 16 events in 1986. His best finish was a tie for second at the 1985 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am...
- 1980 Norio SuzukiNorio SuzukiNorio Suzuki is a Japanese professional golfer.Suzuki won 16 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour and ranks 10th on the career victories list.-Japan Golf Tour wins :*1974 Kyusyu Open*1975 Dunlop Tournament, Kyusyu Open...
- 1979 Mitsuhiro KittaMitsuhiro KittaMitsuhiro Kitta is a Japanese professional golfer.Kitta played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning once. He also won the Japan Open before the establishment of the Tour.-External links:...
- 1978 Akio KanemotoAkio KanemotoAkio Kanemoto is a Japanese professional golfer.Kanemoto played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning three times.-External links:...
- 1977 Masaji KusakabeMasaji KusakabeMasaji Kusakabe is a Japanese professional golfer.Kusakabe played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning nine times.-Japan Golf Tour wins :*1975 Sony Charity Classic*1977 Suntory Open*1978 Tokai Classic*1979 KBC Augusta, Suntory Open...
- 1976 Masaji KusakabeMasaji KusakabeMasaji Kusakabe is a Japanese professional golfer.Kusakabe played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning nine times.-Japan Golf Tour wins :*1975 Sony Charity Classic*1977 Suntory Open*1978 Tokai Classic*1979 KBC Augusta, Suntory Open...
- 1975 Shigeru UchidaShigeru UchidaShigeru Uchida is a Japanese professional golfer.Uchida played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning five times. He also won several pre-Tour Japanese events.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1977 Sanpo Classic*1980 Japan PGA East vs West Match...
- 1974 Shigeru UchidaShigeru UchidaShigeru Uchida is a Japanese professional golfer.Uchida played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning five times. He also won several pre-Tour Japanese events.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1977 Sanpo Classic*1980 Japan PGA East vs West Match...
- 1973 Shichiro Enomoto
- 1972 Kazuo Yoshikawa
- 1971 Makoto Yamaguchi
External links
- Coverage on the Japan Golf Tour's official site - in English