Tournament article

Bridgestone Open 2018

Money Rank No.1 finally catches his first Victory of the season

After the 2-shot swing on the 17th hole, Shugo Imahira jumped up as a leader heading to the final hole. He managed to bunker out nearest to the pin and made an easy birdie with an emotional fist pump to conclude his most wanted victory.

Finally, No.1 on the Money Rankings clinched his victory this season. His lovely fiance was right by his side at the winning ceremony.
Since Shugo is not much of a talkative type, his caddy gave a warm congratulations to Shugo's fiance. With teary-eye, the caddy said, "Sorry to have kept you waiting", on behalf of Shugo. Overwhelmed fiance burst in tears with full of gratitude smiled so happily and lovely.

Shugo started the Final Round from 1 behind the leader. But after the front nine, he was 4 behind the leader Masahiro Kawamura. Shugo recalls the moment when he decided to charge.
"If I didn't make the move, there was no chance for my win. Somehow the swing tempo was not quite right today, I felt that I should focus differently."
Shugo up speeded his swing and pushed his game to top gear. Which resulted in birding the 13th, saving the 3-meters on the 14th, and merged only 1 behind the leader. Shugo faced a trouble shot on 15th when he drove into the woods, but he nailed the 3-meter par putt to stay alive in contention.

"I really concentrated shot by shot. It felt like now or never each time I made the shots."
Shugo's stats on average stroke is currently No.1 (69.87%). His stats are top amongst the young guns, but he could not finish it off.
"I couldn't give a strong stretch on the back nine. I thought if I don't make the change, I will never win."

He overcame his weakness by birding the last 3 holes. Shugo jumped up on the top of the leaderboard at Par 3 17th, where he darted the tee shot to 2.5-meters to the pin and drained his birdie putt by reading the slice line perfectly. When the leader Masahiro bogeyed the hole, it became a 2-shot swing and the leader was replaced. Shugo only 10 putted on the Sunday back nine to seize the victory from Masahiro
Shugo has been No.1 on the Money Rankings since his runner-up finish at Fuji Sankei in September, but he finally got his monkey off his back.