A three-and-a-half-year wait finally shattered in Japan. A long victory drought, stacked with doubt, pressure, and frustrating close calls, came full circle under bright crowds. And it was during the playoffs that she buried a clutch, lengthy putt against Yuna Arika to seal the moment. The scene felt poetic, especially since fixing the flatstick had been a season-long project. And delivering under such fire? Yeah, it changed everything, and of course, it brought forth appreciation.

Lydia Ko captured the vibe perfectly, saying she “loved waking up to see that Nasa Hataoka had won,” stamping a victory that meant more than just silverware.

When asked, “It has been 1,295 days since your last victory. Can you describe the emotions coursing through you right now?” Nasa Hataoka replied: “So it’s been three and a half years, as you said, so it was kind of a long drought for me. I had some struggles, but my team, my sponsors, and my fans supported me a lot. That’s why I could win this tournament this week.”

That answer cuts straight to the heart of her hiatus. The last time she won on the LPGA Tour was in 2022. According to her stats, her Strokes Gained Putting measure was just +0.05 this season, placing her 75th on tour, indicating she had been leaking strokes on the green. And even though she had multiple top 10 finishes, she did not cross the line until now.

Not being able to win because of every missed cut and all the near misses that kept piling up took a toll on her. She struggled through tournament after tournament, often hitting fairways and greens well (her SG Tee-to-Green stands at +1.26 this year, seventh best) but failing to convert when it counted.

Her tournament results reflected her inconsistency; in 2025, she posted a T11 at the Founders Cup and a T14 at the HSBC Women’s World. But she also missed the cut at major events like the U.S. Women’s Open. Even though she kept showing glimpses of her talent (such as a sixth-place finish at the JM Eagle LA Championship in April), the final step ducked her.

Meanwhile, she kept her ball-striking edgy and sharp. In the recent TOTO Japan Classic, she hit 81 % of greens in regulation and won the playoff hole, proving she’s rounding into form. So when she rolled that lengthy final putt under pressure, it was more than a trophy; it signaled relief, redemption, and the clearing of a mental hurdle built up over three and a half years.

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LPGA Pro thrives under pressure at the no-cut TOTO Japan Classic

The TOTO Japan Classic ran as a 72-hole, no-cut event, keeping every player in the mix all week. No one packed early, so the pressure stayed loud. Seta Golf Course demanded tight lines, sharp distance control, and real emotional stamina.

Swirling winds rolled through the layout, shifting ball flights and forcing players to get creative. Hataoka leaned into that chaos. She shaped shots, picked safer targets, and stayed stubbornly patient. Last year, the tournament shifted to 54 holes because the weather disrupted play, so the return to 72 holes added a traditional grind.

Hataoka handled that marathon with calm. Her tee-to-green control kept her in position, then she survived the final charge from Yuna Arika. The clutch putt sealed more than a playoff; it proved she could switch gears when conditions tried to bully the field.

The win wasn’t just about pure ball-striking. It showed how the LPGA pro could read the wind, trust the long game, and still deliver when the greens turned mean. Adaptability became her secret weapon, and the drought shattered under real-world stress. The course tried to break her rhythm; she answered with intent.