Move over gold, the "platinum generation" is rising and ready to shake up the Japanese women's golf scene.
A clutch of talented rookies born between April 2000 and March 2001 is poised to make their professional debut once this year's season gets underway following a major delay caused by the new coronavirus outbreak. Since their high school days, this so-called platinum generation has been attracting a level of attention on par with that showered on the "golden generation" of gifted golfers born between April 1998 and March 1999 -- including 2019 Women's British Open champion Hinako Shibuno.
In fiscal 2019, the age of eligibility for participating in the Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan's pro test was lowered from 18 to 17 and older as of April 1, and the final pro test was shifted from July to November. This resulted in a congested field last year as golfers in their first year out of high school and third-year students attempted to qualify for the pro ranks at the same time. Yuna Nishimura, in her first year out of high school, was the leading Japanese golfer as she finished second overall -- and spearheaded the arrival of the platinum generation.
All signs were pointing to a prolific season for Nishimura in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic has temporarily put those plans on ice. In an April 20 online video interview conducted with The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nishimura was staying upbeat despite the delay. "A positive way to look at this is that I've been given plenty of time to prepare," Nishimura said.
As the coronavirus outbreak spread, Nishimura left her golf academy dormitory and returned to her family's home in Osaka. Nishimura has practiced her putting and other skills while staying at home, and each day she sets training targets that she sticks at until she achieves them. "Although I have limited chances to practice, I need to be ready to play at any moment so I can perform well whenever a tournament starts," Nishimura said.
The platinum generation's other big names include Yuka Yasuda, who finished 37th overall and was tied for the highest-placed amateur at the 2019 Evian Championship, one of golf's majors; and Yuri Yoshida, who starred with Nishimura in the Japan Golf Association's national team and competed in the U.S. Women's Open after winning the Japanese sectional qualifier in which pro players also took part.
A common thread running through these players, apart from their impressive amateur resumes, is they have experience playing in overseas tournaments from a young age and are highly motivated to compete against the world's best golfers. Suzuka Yamaguchi declared she was turning pro before he graduated from high school and has quickly made the U.S. tour her main competition arena.
Nishimura and Yoshida have aspirations of joining Yamaguchi in the United States. "I want to perform well in Japan and then take a shot at the U.S. tour by the time I'm about 25," Nishimura explained. Yoshida said, "I'm working backwards to figure out what I need to compete on the U.S. tour in the future."
Yasuda also is itching to take on the world's top golfers. "I want to become a golfer capable of footing it on the global stage, and I am focusing on producing good results as soon as I can," she said.
While these first-year pros have to bide their time for now, the platinum generation has its sights set high.
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