Kazuki Higa may be playing on home soil this week but he is eager to fly the flag for Japanese golf on the world stage as the DP World Tour hosts its first event in Japan with the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.
The tournament is co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation and sees DP World Tour members - including seven Japanese players - compete alongside JGTO stars at PGM Ishioka GC.
Higa has already made an impact on the DP World Tour this season, finishing fourth at the Hero Indian Open and 11th at the Thailand Classic, and he arrives in his homeland fresh off a debut at the Masters Tournament.
The 27-year-old earned his playing privileges by finishing top of the JGTO Money List last year - with Rikuya Hoshino and Aguri Iwasaki, who finished second and third, also earning cards - and he is delighted that Japanese players are getting the opportunity to star on the DP World Tour.
"We don’t have many opportunities to play the European players, that’s why this is a good opportunity for all of the Japanese players," he said. "If they play well in this tournament they get the opportunity to play on the DP World Tour, so it is good for Japanese players.
"Until last year the qualifying tournament for the DP World Tour was held during the JGTO season, so the players had to think about their schedules.
"Now the players can focus on their performance on the JGTO and if they finish in the top three they get a DP World Tour card. When those players get to play on the DP World Tour it means they get to represent the JGTO so they want to show good performances and prove the level in Japan.
"I’ve mainly played DP World Tour tournaments in Asia this season so I’ve not met all of the players on the DP World Tour yet. Some good DP World Tour players are here in Japan, so I would like to show a good performance among those players."
The DP World Tour has had two Japanese winners, with Isao Aoki becoming the first nearly 40 years ago and Hideki Matsuyama claiming a Major Championship at the Masters Tournament and two World Golf Championships in recent years.
Higa's impressive start to life on Tour has seen him secure two top tens and five made cuts from seven career appearances and he is eager to become his country's third DP World Tour victor.
"When I saw the schedule for this year, I was very happy to see this tournament," he said. "When I play on the DP World Tour I feel some disadvantage because I’m playing all of the golf courses for the first time.
"I know this golf course, so it will be an advantage for me, and I’m focused on trying to win this tournament.
"I am just looking for a win, so I want to focus on my game."
Iwasaki made his DP World Tour debut at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship and has since played in Singapore, India and Kenya on a globe-trotting start to his Tour career.
He revealed things feel a little different around PGM Ishioka this week to and he is looking forward to the challenge.
"As the atmosphere of an event is different from one of the JGTO tour, I am very much looking forward to playing this week," he said. "I am doing my best to win here.
"My ball striking has not been good these days, and with the help of my coach this week, it has been improving.
"I think it will be challenging but I just need to focus on bringing the A-game. We have few chances to play in co-sanctioned tournaments, so I am grateful to the sponsors and the tour."
