A new and exciting talent is emerging on the PGA Tour and it’s someone few might have predicted.
At just 23 years old, Japanese-born Ryo Hisatsune is quickly becoming a fixture at the top of leaderboards in the early stages of the 2026 season.
Turning professional in 2020 at 18, Ryo began his career on the Japan Challenge Tour. He competed there for two seasons before making the leap to the European Tour. His impressive performances ultimately earned him a PGA Tour card for the 2024 season.
Ryo Hisatsune’s junior career
Hisatsune first caught the public’s attention at just 15 years old when he competed in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. He participated in two events: the mixed team event and the individual men’s competition, finishing ninth in the mixed event and fifth in the individual competition. His opponents included future stars such as Akshay Bhatia and Nicolai Hojgaard, with Bhatia earning silver medals in both events.
Back in Japan, Hisatsune’s name was becoming well known. He finished top-three in key junior events including the Japan Junior Golf Championship, the APGC Junior Championship and the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup.
Japan Challenge Tour and European Tour
Hisatsune’s breakout season came during the 2020-21 Japan Challenge Tour where he topped the money list, earning nearly ¥11 million (approximately $72,000 USD). With three victories and several top-10 finishes, his success caught the attention of the European Tour. In 2023, he made an immediate impact, finishing second in his debut event just three shots behind winner Cameron Smith. But Hisatsune didn’t stop there. He won the 2023 Cazoo Open de France, becoming the first Japanese-born player to win a European Tour event in more than 40 years. His exceptional season earned him the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award.
PGA Tour journey
Hisatsune made his long-awaited debut on the PGA Tour in 2024, playing alongside his childhood idol, Hideki Matsuyama. His transition to the PGA Tour, however, was not an immediate success. In his first season, Ryo competed in 27 events, making 17 cuts, with his best result being a top-10 finish at the Wyndham Championship.
The 2025 season saw a slight improvement, with Hisatsune making 20 of 30 cuts and finishing in the top 10 four times. Despite these efforts, however, he ended the year 84th in the FedEx Cup standings for the second consecutive season.
The 2026 Season: A breakthrough year
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a turning point for Hisatsune. After a disappointing missed cut at the Sony Open, he has since found his stride, racking up back-to-back top-10 performances, including a second-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. It’s clear that Ryo Hisatsune is following in the footsteps of his idol, Hideki Matsuyama and, with his current form, he appears poised for even greater success.
Top Photo Caption: Ryo Hisatsune is making moves. (GETTY IMAGES/Alex Goodlett)
Dr Tee
4 months ago
No, the next rising star as evidenced by this years’ play to date is Gotterup