Yuina Kawamoto (Ricoh) clinched her first major title on the final day of the World Ladies Salonpas Cup, the season’s opening major, held at Ibaraki Golf Club’s West Course (6,718 yards, par 72). Starting the day in second place, she carded a 70 with one eagle, four birdies, and four bogeys, finishing at one-over par for a comeback victory. It was her fifth career win, her first since October last year, and she became the fifth player from the “Golden Generation” (born in 1998) to win a major, joining Nasa Hataoka, Erika Hara, Minami Katsu, and Hinako Shibuno. This victory provides significant momentum toward her goal of becoming the season’s top player.
Behind her first major win in her ninth professional year was the support of her 27-year-old partner, caddy Masato Koyabu.
“What decided the match,” Kawamoto reflected, was the second shot on the par-5 17th hole, where she was tied for the lead with Ai Suzuki, who played five groups ahead. Kawamoto was determined to take a birdie. Her tee shot landed in the left rough, 240 yards from the pin. The ball was buried in long grass, but the lie wasn’t terrible. While waiting for the group ahead to clear, the pair spent several minutes discussing club selection.
Kawamoto initially considered using a utility to get near the green but hesitated whether to lay up with an iron. The pin was positioned toward the back, sloping upward from the front then downward, and a tailwind was blowing. “A shot from the rough is absolutely tricky and won’t get close,” shared Koyabu. After his input, she chose a 7-iron, advancing the ball to the fairway 86 yards out. From there, her third shot nestled to 30 centimeters, securing the birdie. “Kawamoto judged calmly herself. It was exactly the management we aimed for,” Koyabu said, pulling victory within reach.
Koyabu caddies mainly for Taiichi Nabetani on the men’s tour. He met Kawamoto through connections when he caddied for her younger brother, Riki Kawamoto, at the 2024 Japan Series JT Cup. They began their partnership at the AXA Ladies Miyazaki last year. In less than a year and a half, the duo has won three tournaments, including two last season.
Last August’s Hokkaido Meiji Cup saw them clinch a hole-in-one eagle on the 15th hole of the final day, and October’s Stanley Ladies Honda was shortened to nine irregular holes due to fog. “Besides skill, we had some luck,” admitted Koyabu.
This tournament featured a major-level difficult course. On the third day, strong winds gusting up to 14.9 meters per second battered the field, with everyone finishing over par. “This time the ball was often plugged in the rough, bringing a lot of bad luck, but Kawamoto overwhelmed it with her technique, mental strength, and skill. This week’s victory is different from before,” Koyabu emphasized.
Kawamoto’s strength lies in her “stoic” nature. Her motto is “Practice isn’t just about showing up at the golf course.” For a four-day event, many players arrive Monday or Tuesday for practice rounds, but she only came Tuesday afternoon for chipping and putting practice. She focuses on off-course strength and mental training, diet improvements, and relentless pursuit of winning golf. “If alignment breaks down, the swing also breaks down, so even off the course I pay attention to my walking posture and swing widths of arms and legs,” she shared.
With his good looks and calm judgment, Koyabu reflected on their first year together: “I was cautious then, prioritizing her opinions and rarely offering contrary views.” But this year, “I’ve been able to respect her while also presenting opposing ideas. Now we manage with both our brains,” he revealed.
The hard, fast greens, deep rough, and fierce winds tested them, but Koyabu remained composed. “When course setup is tough and judgments are difficult, going solely by a player’s instincts can lead to fatal mistakes. The trust built from last year’s two wins allowed Kawamoto to rely on my advice,” he said. Building a stronger bond, the pair continues their journey toward the goal of becoming the season’s top player. (Hiroshi Hoshino)
