Naoyuki Kataoka entered the week at number 500 on Official World Golf Ranking. He had not won a tournament since the 2021 Japan Players Championship. He had just two top-10 finishes this season on the Japan Tour.
On Sunday night, Kataoka stood alone at Nikko Country Club with a ticket to the 2026 Masters and the 2026 Royal Birkdale Open in hand after winning Japan Open 2025.
or The latest decision from Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A changed the eligibility criteria for winners of certain national country awards opening entry into their fields. This meant that the 2025 Japan Open came with added incentive for those in the field.
Kataoka shot a final-round 68 and then made a par on the first playoff hole to defeat Satoshi Hara and make the first two major starts of his career. Scores were high at Nikko Country Club. Kataoka shot 70-70-69-68 to finish 72 holes in three under par.
“It’s really a dream come true for me,” said the 27-year-old Kataoka after the victory. The Japan Times. “I am very happy to be able to play in the Masters and The Open.
“I will work as hard as I can, prepare until April and do my best to be able to compete. I felt a really strong sense of achievement after finally winning again after enduring so many close losses during those four barren years (since the 2021 Japan Women’s Championship).
With the win, Kataoka jumps to number 355 on the OWGR, which puts him just behind Dylan Wu and in front of Nicholas Colsearts. Kataoka is the second player to earn a trip to the Masters and Open Championships since the qualification criteria changed. Marco Penge won the 2025 Spanish Openwhich was his third DP World Tour win of the year.
The decision by Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A shows that the governing bodies, at least these two, are shifting their priorities to embrace international golf and its history while adapting to the more scaled structure of the PGA Tour. our Dylan Dethier admitted it here.
“The Masters Tournament has long recognized the importance of having international representation among its guests,” Augusta National Golf Club and Masters chairman Fred Ridley said in a statement. “We, along with the R&A, have a shared commitment to the global game and are proud to work together.
“Today’s announcement strengthens our organizations’ collective vision to reward the best talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships.”
“We share the same goal as Augusta National to offer places in both The Open and The Masters to players competing in the National Open and in doing so to help showcase and strengthen our sport in those regions,” added R&A CEO Mark Darbon.
Tournaments that now have tickets for Masters and Open Championships include the Japan Open, Spanish Open, Australian Open, Hong Kong Open and South Africa Open.
