Brendan is near Osaka for this week's Tsuruya Open, an event he has won the three previous occasions he has played. 

Brendan first won the event in 2004 by two shots over a group of five players, in 2006 he won by two over Mamo Osanai and then in 2007 he made it three from three when he again won by two shots over a trio of Japanese players. Brendan had also finished 6th in 2003 adding to a great record at the Yamanohara Golf Club.

"The course is in good shape and the greens were certainly fast today in the practice round," said Brendan on Tuesday evening. "I'm playing with young Ryo Ishikawa in the opening rounds and even at the age of 16 he has already shown his capacity to pull the crowds in, almost to the extent Norman did in his heyday in Australia." Hideto Tanihara will be the other player in his group when they tee off at 12.42 on Thursday

"I was happy enough with my first event last week when 16th at the Token event although here is a little room for improvement that's for sure," added Brendan.  

If Brendan is able to win this week he will join an elite group of male golfers who have won the same event on four consecutive occasions. In the modern era only Tiger Woods has been able to do so on the PGA Tour, New Zealander John Lister did it in what was effectively an Australasian tour event in New Zealand in the mid 1970's, Annika Sorenstam (5) and Laura Davies have done done so in LPGA Tour events and Karrie Webb has achieved same at the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia. 

photo Brendan hold aloft the 2007 Tsuruya Open trophy 

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