Professional golfer Maruyama Shigeki, who is affectionately known by his cheerful nickname "Maru-chan," will appear on Kuroyanagi Tetsuko's long-running talk show "Tetsuko no Heya" (TV Asahi), broadcasting at 1pm on October 23rd. He served as the manager of the Japanese men's golf team at the Paris Olympics. He will talk about the secret story of Matsuyama Hideki, who won the team's first bronze medal.
Maruyama started swinging a plastic golf club given to him by his father at the age of three, and began practicing seriously at the age of nine. His father would watch him practice until late at night, but he recalls that he was not strict and that he was never scolded or forced to do anything.
Maruyama began competing in the US tour in earnest in 2000. He says that it was difficult for him to live in America, unable to speak English and unfamiliar with the situation. He will reveal that he even went to watch Tiger Woods practice and tried to steal his good points.
