Fans can now buy tickets for the new ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP, as the DP World Tour hosts an event in Japan for the first time, alongside the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.
The tournament at PGM Ishioka Golf Club in Omitama from April 20-23 will feature stars of both the DP World Tour and JGTO, and tickets are on sale from just ¥2,000 at isps-championship.com/jp/
Exciting young DP World Tour players Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard will travel to Japan, along with their fellow Dane and victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn, and four-time DP World Tour winner Rafa Cabrera Bello. The tournament builds on the recently announced partnership between the DP World Tour, PGA TOUR and JGTO, that will see the top three players on the JGTO Order of Merit earn membership onto the DP World Tour each season.
The 21-year old Højgaard twins are rising stars of the DP World Tour, with five wins between them. Nicolai is aiming to build on recent success in Asia following a top five finish at the Thailand Classic in February, while Rasmus is making his DP World Tour debut in the region.
Rasmus Højgaard said: “One of the exciting things about the DP World Tour is getting the opportunity to play all over the world, and I can’t wait to play in Japan for the first time.”
Their compatriot Bjørn is Denmark’s most successful golfer, with 15 DP World Tour victories, and the ISPS HANDA ambassador further enhanced a stellar career by leading Europe to victory over the United States in the Ryder Cup in Paris five years ago.
Bjørn said: It’s great to be back in Asia with the DP World Tour, thanks to the continued commitment of Dr Handa, and I look forward to teeing it up at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.”
Spaniard Cabrera Bello is also a proud ISPS HANDA ambassador and will arrive in Japan seeking to better his own recent top five finish in Thailand, as the Ryder Cup player and Rolex Series winner seeks his fifth DP World Tour title.
Cabrera Bello said: “I always enjoy playing in Asia and had a great week in Thailand on my last start. It’s exciting to be part of the DP World Tour’s first tournament in Japan, with the support of ISPS HANDA, and I can’t wait to experience it.”
The ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP 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.
Dr Handa said: “The world is becoming increasingly globalized and golf is no exception to this, with the wider DP World Tour, PGA TOUR and JGTO collaboration a great example.
“ISPS looks forward to the partnership of Japan’s golfing world with the DP World Tour through this tournament and we are excited for the future of Japanese golf to keep in tandem with the globalization trend. ISPS is here to support this important juncture in golf.”
ISPS HANDA has supported events on the DP World Tour International Schedule for almost a decade, including the ISPS HANDA Wales Open (2012-14 and 2020), ISPS HANDA Perth International (2012-14 and 2016), ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf (2013, 2016, 2018), (ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth (2017-19), ISPA HANDA Vic Open (2019-20), ISPS HANDA UK Championship (2020), ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management (2021) and ISPS HANDA Championship in Spain (2022).
The 2022 ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP has a US$2 million prize fund and is the first event in a three-year agreement. It is the first regular tournament in history to be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the JGTO. The only previous event on Japanese soil to feature on the DP World Tour schedule was the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama in 2021.
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