Kiyoshi Murota Emerges as Humble Competitor at Senior Major

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: May 30, 2011

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The ageless wonder Tom Watson sank a birdie putt on the 73rd hole of the Senior PGA Championship to defeat David Eger in a playoff and claim his sixth senior major championship.

At age 61, the legendary Watson remains as competitive and humble as ever in his 40-year career. However, Watson's return to form isn't the only inspiring story that surrounded the second Champions Tour major of the year.

Going into the fourth round on Sunday, an unlikely name had been at the top of the leaderboard since the completion of a very wet and weather-delayed first round. Kiyoshi Murota, a 55-year-old Japanese golf teacher, fired a 66 on the first day of competition to take control of the tournament.

The veteran Murota has had considerable success in his career, claiming six tournament victories on the Japan Golf Tour and four wins on that country's senior tour. However, in 30 years of professional golf, he has little experience playing in the United States. He played in only seven career PGA events, earning only one top-25 and has performed well on select Champions Tour events, including a tie for second at the 2007 Turtle Bay Championship.

Despite his respectable career accolades, though, not even the most knowledgeable golf analyst would have projected Kiyoshi Murota to be a contender for a major championship.

Featuring eight one-putts and a streak of four consecutive birdies in dreadful conditions, Murota's round placed him a stroke ahead of tournament alternate Trevor Dodds. While many were impressed by the Japanese golfer's play, Murota himself wasn't as enthusiastic.

As could be expected, reporters in the press room had an overwhelming variety of questions to ask the relative unknown. When asked if he had a legitimate shot at winning the whole tournament, Murota responded, through an interpreter, "Nothing. No chance."

His self-depreciation did not end with that question. For every query, the 55-year...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Golf

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