Hiromi Kobayashi, JLPGA chairman. [Photo/Agencies]
A decade ago, Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan chairman Hiromi Kobayashi and T K Pen, the CLPG Tour chairman, crossed paths at the Rio Olympics, where they discovered that their respective visions for a collaboration between the two tours were aligned.
Last week, those visions became a reality. The Mitsubishi Electric Automation Women's Open, held in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, marked the first co-sanctioned event between the JLPGA and the CLPG Tour.
"This is the first time since JLPGA's founding in 1967 that we are partnering with the CLPG Tour. I am truly honored and delighted," Kobayashi said.
"Through this tournament, Chinese and Japanese players can engage in deeper exchanges and more competitive matchups. This not only elevates both tours, but also contributes to the broader growth of golf in Asia," added the 62-year-old former pro.
Kobayashi built an impressive career, joining the professional circuit in 1985 and winning 15 international titles, including four on the LPGA Tour in the United States.
In the past decade, she has focused on reforming the JLPGA, bringing in new initiatives to strengthen the tour. With five years on the JLPGA and 13 on the LPGA, she brings firsthand experience, both as a player and now as a tournament organizer.
"I've competed on the LPGA Tour, and I know that staying in one country isn't enough. Playing abroad means facing different courses, players and cultures," she said.
"International experience is essential for growth, which is why I believe in competing globally," she added.
"Japan's tour has a long history, while the CLPG Tour is only about 20 years old, but China has developed rapidly, with excellent courses and facilities."
Kobayashi sees this tournament as just the beginning. "I look forward to even deeper collaboration between Japan and China," she said.
Since 2013, Kobayashi has led key reforms in the JLPGA, aligning it more closely with global standards. One of her first major changes was extending many tournaments from three to four days, a format used by top international events, including the LPGA Tour.
"By the time of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, more than half of our tournaments had adopted the four-day format," she said.
Another major shift was replacing the traditional money list with a points-based ranking system to better assess players' overall performance throughout the season.
"Golf is a competitive sport, and we wanted to push players to improve in all areas. Prize money varies from event to event, making it an imperfect measure of consistency. A points system provides a fairer evaluation, and encourages players to develop their game holistically," she explained.
The impact has been clear. Since 2017, three Japanese players have won four LPGA titles, including a major championship. More players are also competing internationally — last year, 13 Japanese golfers earned full LPGA Tour cards.
"This is a new era of rapid progress," Kobayashi said. "With today's technology, players can easily study the swings and training methods of those they admire. That kind of access makes improvement easier. As long as they set clear goals and stay committed, they can reach the highest levels.
"But, this success isn't just about the JLPGA's efforts. It's also thanks to the support of sponsors and many others who have helped elevate both the tour and its players," she added.
Chinese golfers have made a strong impact on the JLPGA Tour. Over the past decade, former world No 1 Feng Shanshan, Ye Liying and other top Chinese golfers have secured full JLPGA Tour cards. Players like Feng, Ye, Lu Wanyao and Shi Yuting have not only competed at the highest level, but also claimed multiple titles, highlighting the rising strength of Chinese women's golf.
Kobayashi has followed their progress closely, with Feng leaving the strongest impression.
"I played in many pro-am events with Feng on the JLPGA Tour, and we always had a great time," Kobayashi said.
"She has won majors, LPGA titles and JLPGA championships. She's incredibly popular in Japan — not just for her achievements, but also for her fun and charismatic personality. She's a true role model for professional golfers.
"China has so much emerging talent, and we've already seen them win on the global stage," she said. "With such a deep talent pool, I'm excited to see what the future holds."
