The DP World Tour heads to Japan this week for the ISPS Handa Championship, which will take place at the Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba, starting on Thursday.
South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Farmers Insurance Open champion Matthieu Pavon lead the field, where a host of home players will be confident that they can make a big impression on a course that is generally familiar to them but a step into the unknown for many DPWT regulars.
- Keita Nakajima to win
- Takumi Kanaya to win
- Yannik Paul to win
Nakajima Equipped To Make Charge
The challenge that awaits the field this week is new to this tournament after the move to one of Japan’s most prestigious tournaments from Ishioku Golf Club in Omitama where the inaugural edition was held 12 months ago.
Its new home in Gotemba, however, is no stranger to tournament golf having hosted the Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Tour since 1977.
That could give Japanese players a boost this week and there are a number who could take advantage, and their challenge could be led by Keita Nakajima, who sits at the top of the Japan Tour money list.
The 23-year-old has plenty of experience after being the world’s top amateur for a record 87 weeks once upon a time and he should be brimming with confidence after claiming a four-shot victory in his last outing at the Indian Open.
His last Taiheiyo result of 20th in November may not look spectacular, but he showed when finishing third there in 2020 that he can perform well at the venue, so expect him to be right up there come Sunday afternoon.
Kanaya’s Course Record Should Be Respected
Another home player who is difficult to ignore is Takumi Kanaya, who warmed up for this week’s challenge with a victory in his last event, the Token Homemate Cup, three weeks ago.
His credentials for a triumph this week are enhanced by his record on the course as he claimed the Taiheiyo Masters in 2019 and has been a factor in almost every outing since, finishing fifth the following year, second in 2021 and third last year.
The Gotemba test, which is played out under some stunning views of Mount Fuji, is clearly to his liking and that tournament victory has come at just the right time to boost his chances of making another bold bid.
Paul Can Make His Mark
The Japanese challenge is interesting this week, but they may not have everything their own way and the consistent German Yannik Paul could make his presence felt.
The tight course could prove to his liking as it was at Ishioka in this tournament last year when he was placed a creditable sixth.
Paul is ranked sixth in the DPWT strokes gained: approach standings, which looks a good indicator for potential success and it is worth chancing that the former Mallorca Open champion can be a factor after he was 10th in his last outing in India.
