DP World Tour

Honma Golf – Good game played by Japanese Ambassador Hideto Tanihara at the Open de España in Madrid

April 17, 2018 – With the visit of the European Tour to Spain, we’ve been able to find out about the presence of Honma Golf among the elite continental players. The European Ambassador of the Japanese luxury brand, Hideto Tanihara, looked great and gave a superb performance, and has deservedly been affiliated to the Tour, ranking in the Top-10 of the Open de España 2018 held at the Centro Nacional de Golf.

Born in Hiroshima (Japan) and professional since 2000, he has won 14 tournaments in the Japan Golf Tour. In 2005 he went to try his luck on the PGA Tour, and it was not until last year that he did his first full season on the European Tour. His best results include 3rd place in the BMW PGA Championship 2017, 4th in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play 2017 and, looking further back, he was 5th in the 2006 Open Championship. But it’s clear that he’s proposed to move up another level this 2018 season, taking advantage of his experience and taking more advantage of the Honma clubs in his golf bag.

We spoke with Hideto Tanihara close to the driving range of the Centro Nacional de Golf of Madrid. “To come here and play with this cold is a little crazy,” he said referring to the winter conditions of the first two days of the tournament. “This year I am going to play the Tour regularly again. My main goal is to win a European Tour event, and to play the Open Championship again.”

Indeed, Tanihara has done pretty well at the Open de España. He finished 9th tied with a very regular series of rounds of 70, 70, 67 and 67, for a total of 274 shots, as result of 20 birdies, 46 pairs and 6 bogeys. He was the No. 1 player of the event in the Putts per Round statistics (27.3 putts), along with a good output Driving Accuracy with his Honma TW737 driver of 10.5º loft (68.5%), and 68.1% of Greens in Regulation with his Honma TW737 irons.

Of course, we asked Hideto Tanihara about the quality of the clubs in his bag. “I have played with Honma since four years ago, and I am very happy with my clubs. I went to test them at the Honma factory in Japan and I loved them. The feeling they convey is fantastic, and thanks to their craftsmanship, they provide me with the extra I need to hit my best shots on the course.” Which are the clubs you like the most? “These Honma forged irons are sensational,” he said, pointing to his favourite tools in his bag. And why do you trust Honma so much? “It’s a brand of premium equipment and I feel very privileged to be playing with such luxury clubs”.

Hideto Tanihara is remembered by the hole in one that causes so much admiration in the WGC-Dell Match Play 2017, playing the consolation match, from 184 metres on the 7th hole, par 3, of the Austin Country Club, Texas. Spectacular!

The Open de España was Hideto’s second best tournament of at the European Tour 2018, after his 5th place in the Maybank Championship last February. In fact, with this result in Madrid he equals the two Top-10s that he got on the European Tour 2017. Surely he will delight us with some surprises this season. Thanks for the interview Hideto, we will follow you closely.

WHAT’S IN HIDETO TANIHARA’S GOLF BAG?

  • Driver: Honma Tour World TW737 455 (10,5º, Vizard EX-Z65X S)
  • Hybrid: Honma Tour World TW717 (21º, Vizard EX Z85X S)
  • Irons: Honma Tour World TW737 (4-PW, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue AMT S200)
  • Wedges: Honma TW-W (52º/09º, 56º/08º, 58º/11º, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S200)
  • Golf bag: Honma staff bag
  • Cap: Honma Golf

INTERNATIONAL VICTORIES (14)

  • 2003: Mandom Lucido Yomiuri Open (Japan)
  • 2004: Asia Japan Okinawa Open (Japan)
  • 2006: JCB Classic Sendai (Japan)
  • 2006: Sun Chlorella Classic (Japan)
  • 2007: Fujisankei Classic (Japan)
  • 2007: Suntory Open (Japan)
  • 2008: Munsingwear Open KSB Cup (Japan)
  • 2008: Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open (Japan)
  • 2010: Vana H Cup KBC Augusta (Japan)
  • 2013: Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters (Japan)
  • 2015: Heiwa PGM Championship (Japan)
  • 2016: Shigeo Nagashima Invitational (Japan)
  • 2016: Japan PGA Championship Nissin Cupnoodle Cup (Japan)
  • 2016: Heiwa PGM Championship (Japan)

NATIONAL TEAMS

  • World Cup (2006, 2007, 2013)
  • Eurasia Cup (2014)
  • Royal Trophy (2009)

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Por MIGUEL ANGEL BUIL