Tokyo, Japan: The Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf 2022 will make a nostalgic trip back to the Oarai Golf Club.

Hosted by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), Kansai TV, Mitsubishi Corporation and the Japan Golf Association (JGA), the event will be staged from May 12-15.

The winner will be richly rewarded with the guarantee of a coveted start in the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July.

While it will be the 11th occasion that the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf has been held at the highly-regarded Oarai Golf Club, it will be the first time since 2013 when Hideki Matsuyama claimed the title, a matter of months after turning professional.

A seaside links course on the shore of the Kashima Sea, Oarai Golf Club was designed by Seiichi Inoue in 1953. It is a challenging and strategic course, taking advantage of the natural landscape.

A top-class field for the 2022 event will include defending champion Rikuya Hoshino, who hails from Mito-City in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Victorious at Sagamihara Golf Club’s East Course this year, Hoshino said: “I am glad to hear that the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf will be held at such a prestigious course in my home province next year.

“I look forward to playing in front of many local spectators, hopefully with a better situation of Covid-19. As defending champion, I am aiming to win this championship two years in a row, in front of many golf fans.”

The Diamond Cup dates back to 1969 and is steeped in history. One of the JGA’s four National Championships, alongside the Japan Open, Japan Women’s Open and Japan Senior Open, the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf was recognised by The R&A in 2019 with the enticement of an invitation to the champion to compete in The Open.

Among its other unique facets, the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf gives a start to the winner of the previous year’s APGC Junior Championship Mitsubishi Corporation Cup while a number of exemptions which are traditionally allocated to the APGC for them to invite leading amateurs from the region to participate.

Due to travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s event proceeded without overseas amateurs.

Tournament officials hope it may be different in 2022 which would raise the enticing prospect of World Amateur Golf Ranking number one Keita Nakajima lining up at Oarai Golf Club against some of his rivals at last week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

In Dubai, Nakajima prevailed after a play-off with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho. In so doing, Nakajima secured a spot in April’s Masters Tournament where Matsuyama will be defending the title he won at Augusta National last year. Nakajima was also winner of the award for low amateur at this year's Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf and is exempt for 2022 having won the Panasonic Open on this year's Japan Golf Tour.

Taimur Hassan Amin, the APGC’ Chairman, said: “We’re fortunate to have such a special bond with the Japan Golf Association and appreciate all the efforts they make for the betterment of golf, not only in Japan, but across the region.

“The APGC is especially grateful to them for the generous Diamond Cup gesture. I know our leading players strive to receive an invite and for those that are lucky enough to get it, playing the tournament is one of the highlights of the year.”