Maezawa Cup Tips

Shugo Imahira from Japan, world ranked 317, was second in this event last year with sixteen under par, producing 264 shots for that position. If he is in shape, with fitness and tee driving at their best to hit the fairways and stay out of the rough, he can be a serious threat on the final day.

While he hasn't hoisted a trophy yet in 2026, his 2025 consistency was elite. He finished 7th on the season points ranking with three runner-up finishes (BMW Japan Tour Championship, Panasonic Open, and Dunlop Phoenix). He rarely misses a cut and consistently stays in the red during weekend rounds.

The young left-hander is on a hot streak dating back to the end of last season. He took solo 2nd at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup and has carried that into 2026 with steady top-15 finishes. He is currently 12th on the money ranking and shows a high 'Birdie or Better' conversion rate.

New Zealand man Michael Hendry finished third in this event last year and can make his presence felt once more in the Maezawa Cup. He can go a couple of places better to win if he manages an eagle and six birdies on the first day, leading to 21 for the four days. Scoring like this, with pars being met on many other holes, can see him figure strongly for the title on the final day.

Known as the most accurate driver in Japan, Inamori is currently 3rd on the 2026 money rankings. His consistency comes from his ability to stay out of trouble. In a field this large, his “Fairways Hit” stat usually keeps him in the top 10 by Sunday afternoon.

Justin De Los Santos isn't miles behind some of those at the top of the betting, could be doing well. He does usually have a good tournament when competing against opponents similar to the opponents in this.

Kohei Okada has shown enough to at least be worth a look in this, his best form isn't far behind the current favourite. He often does well when playing courses such as this.

Looking through some of the form and results for Rintaro suggests he could be doing well in this because a lot of his best form has been shown at courses similar to this.

A small each-way tip for Koshiro Maeda. Needs improvement on some recent form but overall, his game is looking good and this particular course may suit.