20 Dec 2012 - NZPGA
The international appeal of the NZPGA Championship has been highlighted with Japan’s Toshinori Muto confirmed for the 2013 event in Queenstown.
The 34-year-old is the latest Japan Tour player to sign up for next year’s event at The Hills. Others include regular Japan tour contenders Brendan Jones (Australia) and David Smail (New Zealand) as well as Kevin Huang (China) and Michael Hendry (New Zealand) who have both secured their tour cards for next year.
Muto has had a superb year in 2012, picking up six top 10 finishes on the Japan Tour, including victory at the Kansai Open Golf Championship, his fifth career title on the tour. He also competed well at the 2012 Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and WGC-HSBC Champions events.
Muto’s impressive season has seen him climb to number 103 in the world rankings, ahead of the likes of Retief Goosen, Johnson Wagner and Paul Casey.
Described as one of the best shot-makers on the Japan Tour, Muto has become a bit of a specialist at come-from-behind victories. Three of his five tour titles have been secured after trailing heading into the final day.
Muto has added the NZPGA Championship to his schedule on the recommendation of Brendan Jones.
"Brendan told me what a great tournament this is, how beautiful Queenstown is, and how much he enjoyed his time in New Zealand.
“I am really looking forward to coming to New Zealand and experiencing this for myself."
Jones has quickly become a leading advocate of the NZPGA Championship, after thoroughly enjoying his first experience at The Hills in 2012. He is now ranked at number 73 in the world, marking him as the player to beat in Queenstown next year. However, he has been happily encouraging his fellow pros to join in the fun.
“I have spoken with a few players on the Japan Tour about it & told them what a great event it was this year & that it is only going to get better.
“I personally think Toshi is one of the best players on the Japan Golf Tour & is a consistent winner on Tour. Also he is one of the nicest guys on Tour so I think the tournament will be better with him in the field! “
Brendan Jones is also looking forward to catching up with former All Black Justin Marshall, who was his amateur partner in the 2012 event. Marshall is returning for another crack at the event, courtesy of a sponsor’s invitation from The Hilton Queenstown Hotel, one of the major partners of the NZPGA Championship.
Others players confirmed in the professional field include three times US Open champion Hale Irwin, Australian Peter O’Malley and New Zealanders Mark Brown and Ryan Fox.
