Ernie Els and Thomas Bjørn are excited to be part of a groundbreaking week as the DP World Tour hosts its first event in Japan at the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.
The duo - who have 43 DP World Tour victories between them - have both tasted victory on Japanese soil in their global careers but this is the first time they will tee it up in the country for a DP World Tour event.
Els won the 1993 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament and the 2001 World Cup of Golf alongside fellow South African Major winner Retief Goosen in Japan, and he is delighted to be continuing his golfing relationship with the nation at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.
"It’s a special time, the first official DP World Tour event in Japan, that’s something," he said.
"I’ve always been a global player. I’m from South Africa so wherever I played I had to be away from home.
"The then European Tour was good to me and I had early success. I bought a house in England and the kids were born there. For a while we were really based there, and the US I always played, so it worked out that way for me.
"I won in Japan early in my career, so I always went back to where I played well. In my case those places have been around the world."
Bjørn is a two-time winner of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in 1999 and 2003 and the victorious 2018 European Ryder Cup captain is pleased to see the DP World Tour further cement itself as golf's global circuit.
"It was always something I thought needed to happen (DP World Tour coming to Japan)," said the Dane. "It hasn’t evolved until now but now that it’s here we should really treasure it. I think it’s great for golf, it’s great for golf in Japan, for golf in Europe.
"Let’s build on that relationship, let’s make it something that everyone can enjoy. Our guys are excited, they come out here and see the golf course and everything that is here.
"Golf is a worldwide game. There have been Japanese golfers at the top that have done extremely well all over the world, but there are a lot of good players out here. For them to be successful in the biggest events in the world they need to get out and play golf outside of Japan, like any European player needs to play outside of Europe.
"To grow the relationship and give them the opportunity is great, It’s a worldwide game and should be celebrated world wide."
This week's event deepens the DP World Tour’s long-standing relationship with ISPS HANDA, the organisation founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa in the belief that sport has the power to inspire, transform, and unite people and communities across social, racial and socio-economic barriers.
ISPS HANDA has already backed this year's Australian Open and will also support the World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics in August, continuing a relationship with the Tour that has lasted nearly a decade.
"I’m happy to be here," said Els. "I’ve been associated with ISPS HANDA for a couple of years. We play in some pro-ams out here in Japan and spend some quality time with them. They do a great job, give a lot back, they help disability golf. Now they are sponsoring an event in Japan with the DP World Tour - it’s a milestone.
"Dr Handa is a character, he likes to be happy, he likes to make people laugh. You could hear that on the 18th green earlier. He’s a wonderful man, he gives back, and he’s serious about where he puts his money. Great to see the Japan Tour also benefiting here, it’s a positive all round."
