The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the opening tournament of the 2025 season of the LPGA Women's Golf Tour, will begin on January 31 (Japan time) at Lake Nano G&CC in Florida, USA, and will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW. The tournament will be held in a pro-am format with the winners of the past two years of the LPGA and celebrities from the sports and show business worlds. Professionals will compete for the championship over 72 holes over four days with no qualifying cuts.
The Japanese players who will be participating are Ayaka Furue, who won the major "Evian Championship" last year, Yuka Sasao, who won her second major "US Women's Open" last year, and Reo Takeda, who won the "TOTO Japan Classic" last fall and will be competing in the LPGA from this season. The three players spoke about their enthusiasm ahead of the tournament.
◇Ayaka Furue
--A new season is about to begin. How do you feel about this?
The off-season has gone by really quickly and it feels like it starts in the blink of an eye.
--It must have been a short off-season, how did you spend it?
I was really thankful that I had a lot of work to do, and I was able to practice and relax during that time.
--You've become a major champion, won the Bear Trophy title, and attracted more attention, but have you felt any changes in your feelings?
I think I've gained confidence and can now play with more confidence.
--Last year was a great year, but is there anything you would like to improve on?
I think there is still room to improve on my approach, and I also think I have a lot to improve in terms of my sense of distance and the technique to get close, so I would like to work on those areas.
--This will be your third consecutive year participating in this tournament. How does it feel to be back?
I'm happy because it's not an easy tournament to enter.
--Being a pro/amateur, the atmosphere will be different than usual, but what do you enjoy and what do you want to focus on?
First of all, I want to have fun, so I'd like to enjoy playing rounds with various people while also concentrating on my own play.
--How is the condition of the golf course?
The green speed is softer than last year, so I think it's a little easier to stop. Also, last year the weather was really cold, but this year it's warm, so I think it's easier to move my body.
-- Is there anything new that you would like to try this year?
I'm happy to be able to go to many different places, so I hope to find a place where I can relax and go there. First of all, I'm aiming for my first win, but I'd like to aim for an early win, and I've never won on American soil, so I'd like to aim for that.
--The number of Japanese participants is expected to increase this year, which will make things more exciting. How do you feel about this, Furue?
I think it's a really good thing, and I want to work hard so that I can become someone who can lead the others so that they don't lose out.
-Finally, please tell us your goals and enthusiasm for this season.
I hope to continue being myself this year as well and work hard to win.
◇ Yuka Sasao
--It was a really short break, but how did you spend it?
I spent the off-season quietly without going to the golf course.
-Did you feel refreshed mentally?
I think the biggest thing was being able to rest well, so I'm really looking forward to the season starting.
--Last year was a great year for you, winning the U.S. Women's Open for the second time. Is there any area in which you would like to improve for this year?
It's still early days and I haven't had any practice, so rather than improving my level, maybe my level has gone down (laughs).
--It looked like you were hitting some good balls at the practice range, but how did you feel?
I think I'm doing well considering it's been a month since my last practice, but I still have a lot to practice, and although this week's game is a very important one, I would like to make adjustments little by little without pushing myself too hard.
--This tournament will be a pro-amateur format. What are your impressions?
There are many people in the golf world that you rarely get to meet, so I'll be able to hear their stories and have conversations that aren't really related to golf, so in that sense it will be a learning experience for me and I'm really looking forward to it.
--I'm sure you've played Lake Nano a few times, but what was the condition like?
It seems that the weather was quite cold last week and not so good, so the greens are a little soft, but I think it's a beautiful course no matter when you come.
--Once the wind starts to blow, your approach may change, but what do you think will be the key points?
I think the most important thing is to get my tee shot on the fairway. Also, depending on the wind it can be very difficult, so I'll have to be careful about my decision making.
-Finally, please tell us about your enthusiasm and goals for this season.
First of all, I want to finish the season without getting injured, so I hope to take care of my body. I also want to make lots of memories and have the best year ever.
◇Reo Takeda
--Your new path finally begins this week, how do you feel right now?
I'm feeling a mixture of excitement and a little anxiety about what it will be like.
-What impression did you have when you came to America and took this course?
It's much warmer here than in Japan, so it's easy to play golf, and it's been a while since I've played on a course overseas, so it feels like a long time since I've seen this kind of course shape.
--You've had a short break since winning the Toto Japan Classic and qualifying to participate, so what kind of preparations have you been making?
It all went by so quickly, but I was able to have a training camp in Hawaii before coming here, where I was able to practice mainly on my short game, so I hope I can show that in the tournament.
-Did you ask or listen to anyone for advice before coming to America?
During my off-season, I had the chance to meet some players who play overseas, and they gave me some advice, so it was really encouraging. I think it's really encouraging that those players can teach me all sorts of things.
Q: What are your thoughts as a team going into this year's competition?
Basically, it's just my mother and I, and sometimes someone from the management company comes to the venue.
--What is your overall impression of the course?
The course is very flat and the fairways aren't too hard, so the ball stops easily, so I'm not sure what my score will be, but I'm hoping I can get some birdies.
--The grass conditions may be a little different compared to Japan, how do you feel about that?
The rough around the greens is a little different from Japan, so I hope I can quickly get used to that way of hitting and play.
-- Your approach will probably change depending on the wind direction, but what do you think will be the key points this week?
The caddy said that the wind is gradually getting stronger, so I expect it to blow quite strongly in the afternoon, but I hope I can adapt well to the situation.
--This week's tournament is pro-am, so the atmosphere will be different from a normal tournament. What are you looking forward to?
I think this is the only opportunity I have to travel with famous people from overseas, so I hope I can enjoy that aspect of it.
-Finally, please tell us about your enthusiasm and goals for the LPGA.
I think I'll be able to play in different positions in each match, so I'd like to do my best and play my best golf.
*The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW. Day 1 (January 31) will start at 1:20 AM, Day 2 (February 1) will start at 1:30 AM, Day 3 (February 2) will start at 4 AM, and the final day (February 3) will start at 3 AM. All of the events will be broadcast live and streamed on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand.
