The 151st Open Championship – Photo gallery
First appearances for Mizuno ST-G metalwoods and T24 wedges at Royal Liverpool GC
Mizuno’s Emerging Talent takes the baton
Mizuno are represented at the 151st Open Championship by 3 players from its pool of emerging young talent. Kensei Hirata from Japan (22), won the Mizuno Open to qualify in his first full year as a professional. Ben Griffin / US (27), another debutant has excelled in his rookie season on the PGA Tour to make his way to Hoylake. Mizuno’s only player with Open Championship experience, Marco Penge / UK (25), is Mizuno’s most experienced player, having come through final qualifying for the second year running.
The conditions are very different from Japan. I played on Monday and the wind was so difficult. Although the Mizuno Open was played on a links type course, this is much tougher. I played much better in practice on Tuesday and feel more confident. I will have to play a lot of low shots – it’s very different, but i’m enjoying the challenge.
KENSEI HIRATA
The targets are small – so i’m going to play the way i’m most comfortable, hitting the shots that i normally hit. The course is playing softer than you would expect, so it’s possible that i won’t have to adapt my game too much.
BEN GRIFFIN
I feel a lot more settled this year – it was hard not to get excited playing at St Andrews in 2022. I probably overplayed on the practice days and there wasn’t much left in the tank by Thursday. I don’t regret a thing, but I’ll aim to play 9 holes on the practice days this year and leave a little more in the tank.
MARCO PENGE
Fist Look: Mizuno ST-G Ti fairway wood, 440cc driver and T24 wedges
Mizuno’s T24 wedges and ST-G metalwoods made an early appearance at Royal Liverpool. Marco Penge was first to take the new ST-G Titanium fairway wood onto the course – looking for a more penetrating, low spinning flight. The ST-G fairway, 440cc driver and T24 wedges are all expected for public release in October.
More to follow.