Kazuki Yasumori

Makes his debut in the Championship after a joint-third-place finish in May’s Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open, where four places were on offer as part of the Qualifying Series.

Yasumori entered the event a lowly 1,590th on the Official World Golf Ranking and 81st on the Japan Tour money list, but ended it disappointed that he had not claimed his first victory on the circuit.

He kicked off with a nine-under-par, career-low 63, followed it up with rounds of 67 and 70 to lead by two and needed to birdie the par-five closing hole to lift the trophy, but instead bogeyed it.

Yasumori turned professional late in 2019, but then, of course, came the coronavirus and opportunities to shine were limited for the Osaka-born golfer. As things began to return to normal he split his time last year between the main circuit and the second tier Abema TV Tour, where his best finish was a tie for fifth.

There was still no real hint of what was to come when his first three Japan Tour starts this year produced nothing better than a tie for 29th at the Golf Partner Pro-am in the week before the Mizuno Open.