History-making Japan golf twins push each other to greater heights
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Akie (left) and Chisato Iwai are the first twins to secure silverware on the LPGA Tour.
PHOTO: AFP
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KUALA LUMPUR – Akie and Chisato Iwai were born just a minute apart and now the identical twins from Japan are making history together on the LPGA Tour.
Competing in their debut seasons on the top professional women’s golf circuit, Chisato won the Riviera Maya Open in Mexico in May for her first LPGA title.
Not to be outdone, Akie – nominally the older of the twins – triumphed in Portland just three months later.
The 23-year-olds are the first twins to secure silverware on the LPGA Tour.
“I didn’t think I would win on the tour this year,” Akie told AFP at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
“But my sister won first and her victory inspired me. I did my best and felt the power in me to win.
“This is a special year for the both of us.”
Chisato echoed Akie’s sentiments as the siblings push each other on to even greater heights in their rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
“We inspire each other a lot, so it’s a special feeling for both of us to win,” she said.
The LPGA Tour has witnessed its fair share of title-winning siblings.
They include Sweden’s Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam, Thailand’s Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, and American sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda.
The US pair have 21 LPGA Tour titles between them, and counting.
As the first twins to win on the tour, the Iwai sisters are a source of particular intrigue, even if they are actually quite different in some respects.
Akie is described as quieter and is more inclined to wear baseball caps. Chisato is more outgoing and prefers wearing a visor.
They also differ out on the course. Chisato is said to be a stronger putter, while Akie is known to hit the baller farther.
They like to leave the golf talk out on the course, with Chisato saying: “We do not talk about golf, just about life in general.”
After the final round in Malaysia on Nov 2, Akie was joint-fourth while her sister finished in tied-16th place.
Akie, who shot her best round of 66 on Nov 1, enjoyed the course atmosphere.
“The results do not matter. I just want to smile and have fun,” she said.
The twins’ compatriot Miyu Yamashita won the Maybank Championship in a three-way play-off for her second career title in only her first full year on the tour.
The 24-year-old sealed victory with a birdie on the first play-off hole, while three-round leader Choi Hye-jin of South Korea and Australia’s Hannah Green could manage only pars. Yamashita had a Major triumph at the Women’s British Open in August. AFP
