Golf in Japan has weathered the storm of a full century of social change. What started as a pastime activity of foreign expats in the East Asian country, became a part and parcel of the Japanese psyche within a century. After World War II, Japan started producing their own golf stars from only caddying for the Western players a quarter of a century earlier. In the ledger of illustrious Japanese golfers, which includes Torakichi Nakamura, Isao Aoki, and the legendary Hisako Higuchi, Nasa Hataoka is the latest addition.

Hataoka first burst into the scene in 2017, when she became the youngest golfer to win a Major in the JLPGA. Since turning pro, she has netted six titles and is on the right track to win her seventh in the ongoing Toto Japan Classic at the Taiheiyo Club Minori Course surging ahead of Tournament favorite American Pro Rose Zhang. Let’s take a look at the golfer’s career.

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The USA link behind the Japanese golfer’s name

If you thought the similarity between the Japanese golfer’s name and the US Space organization was purely coincidental, let us clear the air. When Hataoka was born on 13 January 1999, in the Japanese small town of Ibaraki, her parents named her after the American Space organization, as they revealed to Golf Digest.

Now whether her parents wanted her to be an astronomer or have astronomical achievements is irrelevant as it is banal to plumb the depths of the Asian parents’ expectations. Regardless, she held it on her own to have a stellar career so far that’s decked with trailblazing amateur years and six LPGA Tour victories since turning pro.

Nasa Hataoka’s amateur years

Hataoka didn’t touch a golf club before turning 11. However, quickly familiarizing with the game, she turned pro only five years after playing her first tee-off. Since then, there has been no turning back.

As an amateur too she had a remarkable career. The young Japanese won the 2015 IMG Junior World Championship. A year later, she successfully defended her title as well. In the very same year, then-17-year-old Hataoka also won the Japan Women’s Open Championship becoming the youngest golfer to win a Major in the Japan LPGA Tour. 

Early signs as an amateur all pointed towards a stellar professional career. So, when she earned her LPGA Tour status by finishing at the 14th position at the 2016 LPGA Qualifying Tournament, at the young age of 17, expectations skyrocketed. 

Japanese pro’s achievements since turning pro in 2017

Her rookie year was not as rosy as her years as an amateur. She made nine cuts in 17 events finishing 140th on the LPGA Tour money list with $37852 in her pocket. However, a 140th finish also meant Hataoka lost her Tour card. She had to earn it through the qualifying tournament again that year.

But, turning the wheel of fortune, she made 2018 her own. In her breakout season, Nasa Hataoka became one of the only four multiple LPGA Tour winners of this season. With two wins to her name and eleven top-10 finishes including a tenth position finish at the U.S Women’s Open, she climbed the money list finishing at the fifth position.

2018 also saw her striding towards her maiden Major win before a disheartening playoff loss to South Korean Park Sung-Hyun at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Additionally, in that year, she also represented her country in the International Crown.

With one win in 2019 at the KIA Classic, and no titles in 2020, the next two years were rather muted display from the 24-year-old golfer. She nevertheless, represented Japan in the Olympics in her native country next year. She finished Tied at the ninth spot. In 2021, the Japanese International replicated her victory at the NW Arkansas Championship of 2018.

With another title at the Dana Open, she finished the season with five top-ten finishes and a runner-up finish at the U.S. Women’s Open. Last year, she won the DIO Implant LA Open, one of her seven top-ten finishes that season from her 25 outings in 2022.

How has Nasa Hataoka performed in 2023?

This year she is yet to net her first title win. In her 22 outings this season, the Japanese golfer has managed to bag five top-ten finishes. However, holding her lead at the Toto Japan Classic means this season’s first career victory is on the cards. 

Capitalizing on the home turf advantage, Nasa Hataoka rattled seven birdies to take the lead. Currently, she sits atop the leaderboard along with Shiho Kuwaki. Mone Inami & Sora Kamiya nipping at her heels with both holding the 3rd and the 4th position respectively.

Read More: 2023 LPGA TOTO Japan Classic: Prize Money Breakdown and Winner’s Payout