Ibaraki, Japan: Former World Amateur Golf Ranking number one Taiga Semikawa overcame injury and a bout of depression to make a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure on the Japan Golf Tour.
Semikawa defeated Mikumu Horikawa with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off to claim victory in the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup.
The 24-year-old, who endured a six-week injury lay-off earlier in the year, birdied two of his last three holes to force the contest into extra time after closing with a five-under-par 66 at the Shishido Hills Country Club.
Playing in the final group, Horikawa needed to make a birdie on one of his last three holes to win after Semikawa had already reached the clubhouse with a four-day total of 10-under-par 272. But those birdies proved elusive, and continued to do so at the play-off 18th hole.
Semikawa, meanwhile, withstood the mental pressure as he headed into the final stretch and was thankful for divine help that led him to a grandstand finish.
He said: “The tension was extremely high. I barely remember my winning putt! When I was two shots behind with three holes left, I was praying to the golfing gods.
“I was really depressed during my 1.5-month injury break, as the doctors could not diagnose my rib stress fracture. This win validates all the rehabilitation work, and I feel I’m ready to compete at the highest level again.”
Semikawa made global golfing headlines in 2022 when he became the first amateur to win the Japan Open in its 95-year history, capping a run of winning three consecutive professional events before beginning his pro career at the end of 2022.
Semikawa also became the first amateur golfer to win more than once in the same season on the Japan Golf Tour, having captured the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in addition to his Japan Create Challenge in FukuokaRaizan victory on the Abema Tour.
