15 Japanese players including Mao Saigo will compete in the third major tournament, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (Part 1)

The third major tournament of the LPGA Women's Golf Tour, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, kicks off on June 19th (local time) at Fields Ranch East in Texas, and will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW. The tournament, which brings together the world's best female professional golfers, is a major tournament that was first won by a Japanese player, Hisako Higuchi, in 1977. Attention is focused on whether the Japanese players, who have been performing well this season, will be able to grab their first victory in 48 years.

The Japanese participants include Mao Saigo, who won the first major tournament of the season, the Chevron Championship; Reo Takeda, who won the Asian Series Blue Bay LPGA; Chirei Iwai, who won her first US tour title at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open; Miyu Yamashita, who came in second in the last tournament; and 13 other US tour members, including Yu Kawamoto and Shiho Kuwaki, who are competing from the domestic tour. WOWOW has released an interview with them just before the start of the tournament. We will deliver it in two parts.

◇Mao Saigo

--This is your third major this year. How do you feel?

The course is long and difficult, and I think the atmosphere is different from previous years' KPMG.

--You became a major champion after winning with Chevron. Has your mindset changed in any way?

Having won a major tournament, my pairing may become one of the more popular groups, but I don't think what I do will change, so I'd like to just play my own game without worrying too much about it.

--It's been a week since your last tournament (ShopRite LPGA Classic). How have you been preparing?

I've been able to practice all the time, but I've also been able to get some proper rest, so even though I've been a bit hectic this week testing my driver and adjusting my clubs, I think it's been a positive thing.

What are your impressions of this week's course?

The fairways are not very firm, so there are a few par 4s where the distance may be a bit long if the wind is against you. The greens are not that firm either, but the speed is fast in some places, so I think there are some holes where you need to be careful.

--It seems quite difficult when the wind blows. What do you think?

I think it will be difficult, but I think everyone is in the same situation. I think it's important to control yourself well in the majors, so I'll do my best.

◇Reo Takeda

--You have a series of consecutive matches coming up. Can you tell us if you have made any adjustments since last week (the Meyer LPGA Classic)?

Nothing in particular, I just hope to play as usual this week.

What are your impressions of this week's course?

It's not that long, but there are some very deep bunkers along the way.

--I think the heat and wind will also have an effect. What do you think?

The wind was blowing quite hard yesterday, and since there aren't many trees around, I think the area is easily affected, so I hope we can deal with that in an effective way.

--There are three par 5s on the front nine, and some of the tee shots in the second half are difficult in terms of angles. Can you tell us if there are any holes that you think are key?

As expected, the last hole, the 18th, can be quite long depending on the wind, and the short hole before that is also easily affected by the wind, so I hope I can stay focused until the end.

--How are your shots and putting going so far this week?

I feel like I'm in really good shape, so I'll do my best to show that in the match.

◇Ayaka Furue

--You've had a string of tournaments in a row, so are there any adjustments you've made since last week's Meyer LPGA Classic?

There are some areas I've been adjusting, but I think it's important to hit the shots well, so I'd like to work on that.

--What are your impressions after playing the course this week?

The grass is rough Tifton grass, the greens are slightly undulating, and the green sides look a bit elevated in some places.

--It's a tough major setup, but what do you think are the key points to coming out on top?

I think there will be a lot of difficult situations in the rough and around the green, so I'd like to focus on staying on the fairway and on the green so that I can easily get par and then aim for a birdie from there.

--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week's Major.

I hope to stay focused and confident again this week and enjoy the round.

◇Nasa Hataoka

--This is finally the third major of the season. How do you feel?

This course is still new, so it's my first time here, but it's a very windy course, so I'd like to get as much distance as possible and put myself in a good position to take advantage of the opportunity.

--Please tell us if you made any adjustments between the Meyer LPGA Classic and this week.

My shots on the final day felt really good after I adjusted my address, so I'm continuing to practice in that way.

--Last week you said that you had a good grasp of your shots, but how are they going so far this week?

I can do it on the range, but depending on the location of the course it can be difficult, so I need to make some adjustments. The tee grounds also have undulations, so I need to be careful there too.

--What do you think is the most key to competing for the top spot?

I think it's important to place your tee shot firmly on the fairway, and although the green doesn't feel that hard, there are some places where it slopes down from the front, so I'll need to figure out when to take advantage of that and when to play defensively.

--Please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.

Although I haven't been able to achieve the results I would like to achieve so far, I believe my condition is gradually improving, so I will do my best to achieve good results.

◇Miyu Yamashita

--This is your third major of the season. How do you feel first?

It feels like the time has come in the blink of an eye to join KPMG, so I can welcome this year with a fresh feeling. I feel like I'm in pretty good shape, so I'm looking forward to it.

--The course is different from last year's KPMG, but you had a great fight last year. How are you feeling and confident?

This year I haven't been in good form and haven't been able to hit the shots I wanted to, but I think I've made a lot of corrections and am getting better, so I'd like to work hard starting tomorrow.

--What are your impressions of this year's course?

The course is a little different from last year's KPMG. The fairways are wide, but the greens have a steep slope and the bunkers have high lipped and steep slopes, so I feel like it will be a round with a different atmosphere.

--After playing all 18 holes, please tell us if there are any holes that you are particularly interested in.

The course is generally difficult and there are some very small greens and some very large greens, so there is no one green that is the most difficult, but I think the important thing is to keep the ball on the fairway and increase your chances of hitting par on the second shot.

--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.

Starting tomorrow, I want to have fun and do my best with each shot so that I can play in my own style.

*The KPMG Women's PGA Championship will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW. Day 1: The first half starts at midnight on June 20th, and the second half at 7am on the same day; Day 2: The first half starts at midnight on the 21st, and the second half at 7am on the same day; Day 3: The first half starts at midnight on the 22nd, and the second half at 4am on the same day; Final day: The first half starts at midnight on the 23rd, and the second half at 4am on the same day. All will be broadcast live and streamed live on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand.

In addition, WOWOW On Demand will have a "Japanese-only camera" that focuses on the play of Japanese players. On the first day, the first half will be live-streamed from 9:45 pm on the 19th, and the second half will be live-streamed from 4:20 am on the 20th.