Ishikawa eyes repeat test at Japan Players Championship by Satosyokuhin

Ryo Ishikawa returns to familiar winning ground this week as he looks to successfully defend his title at the Japan Players Championship by Satosyokuhin, which tees off at Nishinasuno Country Club on Thursday.
 
The Japanese star ended a 20-month title drought at this event last year, edging out Kota Kaneko by a single shot with a winning total of 21-under-par 267. That breakthrough victory sparked a strong run of form for the 33-year-old, who went on to capture his milestone 20th JGTO title at the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters in November.
 
"Last year, I was in contention right up to the end, but to be honest, I left a lot of opportunities out there. Winning has obviously made me happy. But looking back, even if I hadn't won, I would still be frustrated about some of those mistakes.
 
Those moments have been a challenge for me, and I’ve been battling that mindset for the past year. I feel like I’ve finally made some real progress. Compared to a year ago, I definitely feel I've changed for the better. Right now, I just want to be patient, focus on doing what I need to do, and let the results come naturally," said Ishikawa.
 
This year’s edition is set to feature a strong international field, with the likes of the Philippines’ Justin De Los Santos, Juvic Pagunsan, Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam, and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent all expected to add extra flair and excitement to the tournament.
 
The Japan Players Championship by Satosyokuhin will celebrate its fifth edition in 2025 and offers a total prize purse of JPY50,000,000, with the winner’s purse worth JPY10,000,000.

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