⛳️ Golf Diary in Kikugawa! Off to the Philippines ✈️ (November 19, 2025) 🌞 Perfect Day for Departure!

 

Good morning! This is K, your blog writer😊

The sky in my hometown, Kikugawa, is brilliantly clear today! With a rain probability of just 10%, it's turned out to be the perfect day—not just for golf, but for travel!

The high is 15°C. With the daytime sunshine, even thick laundry should dry completely 👕✨.

🛫 Heading to Manila! Flight and Luggage 📦

It's currently 5:30 AM Japan time. Today is the day I finally fly to the southern nation of the Philippines!

In preparation for the long journey, I finished packing my trusty golf clubs yesterday! This time, I’m carrying one set of irons, along with a selection of multiple drivers and fairway woods 💪.

I'll leave home around 7:30 AM and head straight for Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport!

My travel route involves taking the LCC Jeju Air to Incheon. I’ll then transfer to a Manila flight in Incheon, with an expected arrival in the Philippine capital tonight. I plan to stay in Makati on the first night to rest and recharge!

🚚 Clubs Get a Head Start by Land!

On the afternoon of the following day (November 20), I'll be flying Cebu Pacific to my next destination, Legazpi, but I have a mission first.

I'll be taking my precious golf clubs and suitcase to Daily Overland in Malate to arrange for land transportation! It's a bit unconventional, but this will make the trip smoother. I expect to be reunited with them at the Legazpi branch on the afternoon of the day after tomorrow (November 21)! It’s a temporary farewell to my gear 👋.

🏌️‍♀️ Nice Shot, Somewhere in the World!

A perfect day for golf must be unfolding somewhere in the world today!

To all of you reading this blog, please enjoy your day of golf to the fullest!

And speaking of clubs, our shop hand-carries and sells high-quality, carefully selected used clubs from Japan on these trips!

👇 Please take a peek at our website here. Your "Likes" and Shares would be a huge encouragement!

To all golfers, let's do our best today! I'm off!

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Global Golf News Roundup: November 18, 2025

🇵🇭 Philippine Golf News: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

The main event in the Philippine golf scene on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, was the opening of a major professional tournament.

🏌️‍♂️ Pro Tour Heats Up!

The Philippine Men's Professional Golf Tour (PGT) "ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge" teed off on November 18 at the Valley Golf & Country Club.

• ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge

• Dates: November 18 – November 21, 2025

• Venue: Valley Golf and Country Club (Antipolo, near Manila)

Day 1 Highlights: On the first day of the tournament, veterans Clyde Mondilla and Angelo Que both carded a 67 (7-under par) to share the lead in an exciting start. This tournament is crucial as it is the end of the PGT season, and Angelo Que has a chance to secure his first Tour Order of Merit title.

🌟 Other Noteworthy News

• Miguel Tabuena's Push for LIV Golf: Reports indicate that top Filipino pro Miguel Tabuena is fighting hard in the final events of the Asian Tour season to secure his eligibility for LIV Golf. His performance is a major point of interest in the local golf community.

• 4th PSA Cup Golf Invitational Tournament: The golf tournament organized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) was held at Manila Southwoods, where former national champion Bong Lopez was reported to have won the Overall Champion title.

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🇺🇸 U.S. Men's Golf (PGA Tour) News: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

U.S. Men's Golf on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, focused heavily on the fallout from the previous week's tournament and the race for next season's tour cards, just ahead of the final FedExCup Fall series event.

1. Tour Card Race Update (Following Previous Week’s Results)

The 6th event of the FedExCup Fall Series, the "Butterfield Bermuda Championship," concluded last weekend, causing significant movement in the race for next season's tour cards and eligibility.

• Maiden Win and Card Secured:

• Adam Schenk claimed his first Tour victory, securing his tour card and making a significant jump in the FedExCup standings.

• Japanese Players Climb into Full-Card Territory:

• Takumi Kanaya played well, finishing T3 and moving up the FedExCup ranking from 120th to 99th, placing him within the full-card guaranteed zone (top 100).

• Rikuya Hoshino also finished strong at T8, boosting his ranking.

• Ryo Hisatsune saw a slight dip in his ranking, but the card race will continue into the final event.

2. Upcoming Tournament and Key Players

• Final Fall Series Event Imminent:

• The final event of the FedExCup Fall Series, "The RSM Classic," will commence on Thursday (November 20) at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia, USA.

• The rankings after this tournament will finalize eligibility for next season (Top 100 receive a full card, Top 125 a conditional card), making it an extremely important event for players on the bubble.

3. Other News

• Justin Thomas Surgery Report (Related Information):

• Two-time major winner Justin Thomas reported undergoing a Microdiscectomy (lower back surgery) and will take time off for recovery (initially reported on November 16).

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🌸 U.S. Women's Golf (LPGA Tour) News: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

The U.S. Women's Golf (LPGA Tour) world on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, was abuzz with news about the Rolex LPGA Awards, held just before the season finale. There was major news concerning a Japanese player.

1. Miyu Yamashita Wins "Rookie of the Year"!

At the Rolex LPGA Awards ceremony held the previous day, November 17, in Naples, Florida, Japan's Miyu Yamashita was presented with the "Rookie of the Year" award.

• Significance of the Award:

• This is a remarkable achievement, making her only the third Japanese player to win the award since its establishment in 1962, following Hiromi Kobayashi and Mao Saigo.

• Yamashita won the final qualifying round last December and went on to win two events, including a major, during the year.

• Speech:

• Yamashita delivered her acceptance speech in English, expressing her joy and ambition: "I am truly honored to receive this award. I am also grateful to be included among the list of amazing players who have received this award before. I will continue to work hard and strive to win more tournaments."

2. "CME Group Tour Championship" Season Finale Imminent

The LPGA Tour's season-ending event to crown the Annual Champion, the "CME Group Tour Championship" (Tiburon GC, Florida), will begin this week on Thursday (November 20).

• Japanese Player Participation:

• A record-high 8 Japanese players are reported to be competing in this major event, which is limited to the top players in the CME Globe Point Ranking.

• Yamashita’s Player of the Year Bid:

• In addition to her Rookie of the Year title, Miyu Yamashita is vying for the Annual Champion (CME Globe Points Ranking #1) title in a head-to-head battle with the World No. 1 player. With a colossal winner's prize, intense interest surrounds who will claim the title.

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🇯🇵 Japan Golf News: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Japan's golf world on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, was focused on the imminent start of a major men's tour event.

1. Dunlop Phoenix Tournament Pre-Tournament Information (JGTO)

The big event on the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO), the "Dunlop Phoenix Tournament" (Phoenix Country Club, Miyazaki Prefecture), drew attention as its opening on Thursday (November 20) approached.

• Hideki Matsuyama's First Appearance on the Japan Tour This Season:

• Host professional Hideki Matsuyama will make his first Japan Tour appearance of the season at this tournament.

• On the 18th, he conducted a practice round, meticulously checking the slopes of the greens. He expressed his determination to win the tournament for the second time in 11 years.

• The pairing for the first round was announced, placing Matsuyama in a star-studded group with Hideki Tanihara and Satoshi Kodaira.

• Commentary on Course Redesign:

• Matsuyama commented on the recent course modifications, evaluating them as "world-class" but also showing some perplexity, raising interest in the course setup.

2. Other Domestic Tour News

• Money Ranking Battle:

• Ryuken Sugihara, currently 2nd in the Money Ranking, will also compete in this event, drawing attention to the race for the Money King title.

• Amateur Golf:

• It was reported that the Japan Mid-Amateur Golf Championship will commence on Wednesday (November 19) at Takinomiya Country Club.

3. Japanese Players' Overseas Activity (Continuing from Previous Day's News)

• Miyu Yamashita Wins LPGA Rookie of the Year!

• News of Miyu Yamashita winning the "Rookie of the Year" award at the US Women's Tour (LPGA) ceremony the day before was widely reported again.

• With Yamashita also aiming for the Annual Champion title at the final "CME Group Tour Championship," expectations for her performance are high.

• Yosuke Asaji and others Competing on the Asian Tour:

• The activities of Yosuke Asaji and Kazuki Higa, among others competing in a major Asian Tour event, were reported, drawing attention to their fight for potential LIV Golf eligibility next season.

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🇯🇵 Japan Golf Equipment Industry News: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

As of November 18, 2025, the Japanese golf equipment industry was marked by new product announcements coinciding with the final professional tournaments of the season, as well as cross-industry collaborations in the golf apparel sector. The market maintained a positive growth outlook while also showing moves towards environmental sustainability.

1. Latest Golf Shoe Announcements and Functional Evolution

• FootJoy Releases Spikeless Model:

• FootJoy launched the new spikeless model "DRYJOYS PRO" (November 14).

• It continues the legacy of the highly-rated D.N.A. series while featuring the new "VersaTrax XT" outsole design, which provides both powerful grip (despite being spikeless) and comfort.

2. Major Manufacturer Develops Eco-Friendly Ball

• Sumitomo Rubber Industries (Srixon) Sustainable Initiative:

• Sumitomo Rubber Industries announced the development of the environmentally friendly golf ball "Srixon Z-STAR+e80," which achieves an 82% sustainable raw material ratio.

• This product is scheduled to be unveiled at the SDGs booth of the "Dunlop Phoenix Tournament" starting November 20, drawing attention as a move demonstrating the evolution of environmental responsibility in the golf industry.

3. Apparel and Gear Collaboration and Fall/Winter Models

• High-End and Apparel Brands Enter Golf Market:

• [EA7 Emporio Armani] announced its new Golf Wear Collection for the 2025 Fall/Winter season, proposing styles that combine functionality and fashion, suitable for the clubhouse.

• [Champion] also introduced new outerwear for its sports & golf wear line, featuring excellent insulation and sophisticated design.

• It was reported that [Pearly Gates] will release a special collaboration design with Feiler on November 27.

4. Market Trends and Outlook

• Market Size Forecasted for Positive Growth:

• Based on a survey by Yano Research Institute published in August 2025, the golf equipment market size for 2024 is reported to have achieved positive growth year-over-year, expected to exceed 304.9 billion yen. This suggests that the continued golf boom and demand for high-function, high-value-added products are supporting the market.

Thank you very much for reading to the end.

(This text was checked and researched using Google Gemini.)

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