Japanese trio Hoshini, Onishi, Kanaya show all roads lead to PGA Tour

A trio of aspiring Japanese stars — Rikuya Hoshino, Kaito Onishi and Takumi Kanaya — will make dream debuts as PGA Tour members at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii, with each golfer proving there are various routes to reach golf’s ultimate destination.

Hoshino, 28, traversed the globe in 2024 where he competed in no fewer than 15 different countries to secure his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour Top-10; while Kanaya, 26, played primarily on the Japan Golf Tour with the occasional forays to the US to attend Qualifying School, where he fought to a solo third finish in the cut-throat final stage for his playing rights.

The 26-year-old Onishi, a standout at University of Southern California, used the Korn Ferry Tour platform in the US, where a top-30 finish in the season points list saw him earn his PGA Tour card for the first time in his burgeoning career.

“As a Japanese player, to have two other new players join the PGA Tour at the same time makes me very happy. Seeing them as my rivals too will become extra motivation to not only me, but to all of us, and will be a good thing,” said Hoshino, who finished ninth on the DP World Tour eligibility ranking last year.

Having spent most of his amateur days in the US, Onishi cut his professional teeth on the Korn Ferry Tour, saying the stiff competition will help him withstand the pressures of excelling on the PGA Tour.

“As an athlete, becoming a member of the PGA Tour is always the No. 1 goal,” said Onishi, who won once on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024. “I think we're all thrilled to be here. It's only the beginning with more work to do, and if we all continue to learn and push each other to do better, I think that would be great.

“The Korn Ferry Tour has so many great players and you really need to make a lot of birdies or you’ll be left in the dust. Getting used to that environment was beneficial and being able to have that experience before making it onto the PGA Tour, I think, will have a big impact on my success.”

Hoshino enjoyed one win on the DP World Tour along with six other top-10s last season, and feels he is battle-hardened to compete against the cream of the crop.

“The DP World Tour provides a variety of