Scott, Ogilvy to play Visa Taiheiyo
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2007 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters | Preview | 06 Nov 2007
The three international events on the Japan Golf Tour will be played over the next three weeks and they start with the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters this week at the Taiheiyo Golf Club’s layout in Shizuoka Prefecture and on the lower slopes of Mt Fuji.
The Taiheiyo Golf Club features some of the best presented greens in world golf and by all reports the greens this week are up to their normal standard. The beautiful backdrop of Mt Fuji provides one of the most picturesque venues in tournament golf.
The tournament typically attracts several classy internationals and this year is no exception with both Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy adding spice to a strong Japan Golf Tour field.
Scott comes off a third place finish in Singapore last week while Ogilvy has not played since the USPGA Tour Championship nearly two months ago.
While the two high class Australians will be considered favourites, all of the leading Japan Golf Tour players are in the field this week and will offer plenty of competition for the world number 6 and 13. Toru Taniguchi and Shingo Katayama have dominated the Japan Golf Tour in 2007 and, as the runner up and third placed finishers in this event in 2006, both are expected to do well again.
Of interest also in this field is the appearance of the wonder kid Ryo Ishikawa. Ishikawa won an event on the Japan Golf Tour earlier this year as a 15-year-old.
He has played in four further events making the cut in two but after an opening round of 69 at the recent Bridgestone Open he recorded a second round of 86. Clearly he is a youngster of immense talent and his performance this week will be watched with much interest.
Other Australasians in the field are the leading Aussie in Japan this year, Brendan Jones, Steve Conran, Craig Parry, Wayne Perske, Craig Jones, Chris Campbell and New Zealander David Smail.
