Kinoshita Eyes Return to Royal Portrush with Mizuno Magic
Defending champ hopes another inspired run in Okayama secures him a third Open Championship appearance
Ryosuke Kinoshita is chasing more than just back-to-back titles when he tees off at the Mizuno Open on Thursday—he’s chasing a ticket back to golf’s most historic stage.
The 33-year-old from Japan, who clinched his third JGTO title at this very event last year, returns to JFE Setonaikai Golf Club with form and motivation in full flight. A spot in The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush is up for grabs for the top three finishers not already exempt, adding a layer of intensity to an already lucrative JPY 20 million tournament.
“I’ve been consistently playing well since the start of the season. Four top-10s in five starts is encouraging,” said Kinoshita. “But it won’t mean much unless I win. A victory here means defending my title and qualifying for The Open—that’s a double goal worth fighting for.”
Kinoshita made his Open debut in 2021, finishing tied-59th, before missing the cut last year. He’s determined to make his third appearance count.
“It was incredible competing alongside the world’s best. Even missing the cut, I took a lot away from the experience,” he said. “Now I want to keep shaping a game that can thrive at that level.”
The field in Okayama includes homegrown stars like Ryo Ishikawa and Kazuki Higa, alongside international challengers such as Shaun Norris, Juvic Pagunsan, and Scott Vincent. Kinoshita begins his title defence at 8:00am local time, paired with Ishikawa and Kaito Onishi.
With history, pride, and a golden invite to Royal Portrush on the line, Kinoshita’s Mizuno march promises plenty of drama—and perhaps, another chapter in his Open journey.