By Rahul Banerji
Japan will get a fresh taste of top quality golf with the PGA Tour announcing the launch of the newly named Mastercard Japan Championship in Tokyo from June 3 to 9, 2019.
“Mastercard is proud to become a title sponsor on PGA Tour Champions to bring the excitement of world-class golf into Japan,” said Nandan Mer, division president for Japan, Mastercard.
“As title sponsor, we look forward to providing added value with iconic experiences linked to this tournament for golf fans, Mastercard cardholders and partner companies,” the tour quoted him as saying in a statement.
The 2019 Mastercard Japan Championship will mark the Tour’s return to Japan following the inaugural Japan Airlines Championship in September 2017 and will again be contested at Narita Golf Club in Chiba Prefecture.
Limited field
A field of 68 players, inclusive of eight local sponsor exemptions, will compete for a prize purse of $2.5 million.
“We are excited to bring PGA Tour Champions and the legends of the game back to Narita Golf Club and the passionate golf fans in Japan,” said PGA Tour Champions president Greg McLaughlin.
Tom Watson will return to Japan to compete in the Mastercard Japan Championship. The World Golf Hall of Fame member, who had 39 victories during his PGA Tour career, won the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan in 1980 and 1997, the second at age 48.
“I’ve always enjoyed visiting and competing in Japan; therefore, I’m especially pleased that my partner of 25 years, Mastercard, will be bringing the Tour Champions back to Japan in 2019,” said Watson.
The Narita Golf Club is located approximately 45 minutes east of downtown Tokyo. The tournament will be conducted by PGA Tour Champions with special support from the Professional Golfers’ Association of Japan.
The inaugural Tour Champions event at Narita GC was won by World Golf Hall of Fame member Colin Montgomerie.
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We do need bring big time sponsorship to make things happen and promote golf.
Good news that PGA Tour is back in Japan. Tom Watson was once really a good player but lately not seen him in the field. Hope he is still maintaining his old touch.