Golf Nippon Series


The Golf Nippon Series is an annual event on the Japan Golf Tour. The event is currently called the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, named after the sponsor Japan Tobacco. It was sponsored by Hitachi from 1988 to 1997. The event was first played in 1963. Since 1985 it has been played at the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club. It has recently been one of the last events of the season. It has a field of 30 consisting of the top players from the money list and all current year tournament winners.
Since 2009 the prize money has been ¥130,000,000, with ¥40,000,000 going to the winner, except in 2011 when the event was reduced to 54 holes and prize money was reduced by 25%. In 1988 prize money was ¥50,000,000, with ¥14,000,000 for the winner, increasing to ¥60,000,000, with ¥15,000,000 winner from 1989 to 1992. From 1993 to 2008 prize money was ¥100,000,000, with ¥30,000,000 for the winner.

Field

From its inception in 1963 to 1972 the field was limited to the winners of six important tournaments in Japan: Japan Open, Japan PGA Championship, Kansai Open, Kansai Pro Championship, Kanto Open and Kanto Pro Championship. In some years a player won two of these event and the field was reduced further, to five.

Tournament hosts

From 1963 to 1990 the event was played at two venues, one near Ozaki and another near Tokyo. The first two rounds were played at one venue and, after a travel day, the remaining two rounds were played at the second venue.

Winners

* Indicates weather-shortened to 54 holes
^ Indicates weather-shortened to 36 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.