As he sat back on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Tokyo from Osaka, Brendan had time to reflect back on what had been a great day at the Tsuruya Open.

For the third time in his last three attempts, Brendan had won the event at the Yamanohara Golf Club and taken his career talley of titles in Japan to six.

"I was certainly nervous today but I have been playing really well since coming to Japan this yearand felt in control. I hardly missed a shot all week."

"I didn't really know how I stood until I got to the 13th hole today as all the action was in front of me but when I did find out I kept it going and picked up an all important birdie at the par five 15th after I had hit my second into the greenside bunker. I nearly holed the bunker shot and made the short putt for birdie then at the 17th, which I eagled yesterday, I hit a five iron to 30 feet and almost made that putt but two putted for another birde to give me a two shot cushion."

"At the last I hit a pitching wedge to three feet and knowing I had three putts to win I perhaps didn't concentrate as much as I should and missed it."

Brendan won by two over Hirofume Miyase, veteran Massy Kuramoto and Takuya Taniguchi.

For Brendan it continues a love affair with the golf course at the Yamanohara golf Club. "It just seems to fit my eye and knowing I was playing well coming into the week I felt quite confident of a good week. I actually played pretty well last week also but had a stretch of holes on Saturday that cost me but the way I played on the Sunday last week I felt this would be a good week."

Brendan also finished 6th in the event in 2003 after being in second place heading into the final round that year.

Brendan's back problems which have plagued him over the last eighteen months or so appear to be over at least in the short term. "I have not had an issue with them since being back in Japan."

Brendan has a Corporate golf day to attend to in Tokyo tomorrow before heading back south to Nagoya for this coming week's Crowns tournament. 

photo Brendan with the 2007 Tsuruya Trophy courtesy of Japan Golf Tour

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