Fuji.  The 18^th hole didn't disappoint, with Brendan Jones holing a 40 foot putt for eagle to win and join the likes of Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros as winners of the Taiheiyo Masters.  It provided another dramatic finish when the course hosted the 2001 World Cup where South Africa defeated New Zealand, Denmark and United States in a playoff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The course condition was fantastic and the greens undulating and fast, running at 13 on the stimpmeter. The international players always comment on how the greens are as good as any in the world.

 

This week we are in Miyazaki for the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament which is the richest tournament on the Japan Tour.  Although Tiger Woods is not playing for the first time in 3 years it is still a strong international field with defending champion Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter amongst the starters so it should be an exciting week.  

 

 

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who is not a big motor sport fan it is pretty amazing, there is no cost spared by the car manufacturers in their displays. I think the biggest attraction for the local Japanese men is the models that display the cars rather than the cars themselves.

Next weeks tournament is the Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters. It is one of the premiere events on the Japan tour. With a great location nearby Mt Fuji and one of the best courses in Japan and always a couple of big name invite players, this year Adam Scott and Geoff Ovilvy are playing. It is a Tournament that the players look forward to. It is a crucial time for a lot of players trying to keep their playing rights for next year with just three regular tournaments to play, the fields are smaller and the prize money is higher so it is a chance to make a big move up on the money list. For Wayne it is a chance to play his way into the top 25 on the money list to gain a start in the Japan Series Tour Championship.

Congratulations to Wayne 's brother in law Ryan Haller who won the Queensland Open last week and good luck to him as he tries to qualify for the Japan Tour at the 3^rd stage of Japan Qualifying School next week.

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