Ten-year-old Golfer Already Famous in Japan

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Ten-year-old Golfer Already Famous in Japan

A 10-year-old Japanese golfer, Miroku Suto, would like to become the next Michelle Wie or Tiger Woods.

Both of those golfers became famous as young children. Woods went on to be one of the best golfers of all time. And Wie gained attention for her early success and later won the U.S. Women's Open in 2014.

Suto already has over 10 sponsors¹, or companies that pay her money to promote their names. She wears the sponsors' colors and logos on her clothes when she plays or talks to television reporters.

She became well known in Japan for taking part in international golf events for very young children. But even with her victories, she is still not very well known in other parts of the world.

Not always a winner...

Suto recently went to a golf course near San Diego, California to play in the Junior World Golf Championships. She competed against other 9- and 10-year-olds and finished in 17th place. She was 18 shots behind the winner.

While Suto has played well on smaller golf courses in other years, she has not done quite as well as she's gotten older. The course near San Diego covered about 3,800 meters and was a par²-74 for her age group. Par is the term in golf used to describe the number of shots most good players will need to finish 18 holes.

Suto won the championship on a shorter course when she was six. This year was the third in a row that she left the Junior World Golf Championships without winning.

...But making money

The difference between Suto and other famous child golfers is that she is already making money. In recent years, international golf organizations decided³ to permit non-professional players to make money from their name or image.

Suto's parents say she will earn over $100,000 this year. The girl's goal, she said, is to be "a legend." The money she earns now will help with her travel and training.

One day, perhaps, she could be talked about like Japanese players Hinako Shibuno – who won the women's British Open in 2019 – or Hideki Matsuyama, who won the Masters in 2021.

Difficult future

It is hard for players who become famous as children to have the same level of success as adults. But there are examples for Suto to follow.

In 2014, American Lucy Li became the youngest player to qualify⁴ for the U.S. Women's Open. She missed the cut that year, which means she did not play well enough to stay in the tournament after the first two days. However, Li recently won her second professional tournament. She is now 19 years old and will likely play next year on the top women's tour – the LPGA.

When she was 16, Li appeared in an advertisement for the computer and mobile⁵ phone company Apple. At that time, non-professional players were not permitted to be in ads. Li was given a warning from the U.S. Golf Association⁶ for taking money from Apple. But with the new rules in place, Suto does not have those concerns.

Pressure?

Suto was asked how she feels about reaching the same level as players such as Woods or Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, who won many Junior World titles. "No pressure," Suto told The Associated Press.

While she did not perform well recently in San Diego, Suto has won youth tournaments in the United States, Malaysia and Europe.

She says she finds it "very difficult" to win competitions. Sometimes, as was the case in San Diego, she does not putt very well. Putting is the act of hitting the ball softly⁷ with a flat club into the hole. Other times, she has problems with her clubs. She broke her driver and one had to be rushed to her from Japan. The driver is the large club often used to hit the ball a long way at the start of the hole.

Suto said she aims to win six Junior World titles, the same number as Tiger Woods. She still has time to reach that goal, as she can keep playing in the competition until she turns 18.

Words in This Story

promote – v. to make people aware of something by talking about it or by advertising⁸

logo – n. a symbol used to identify a company and that appears on its products

legend – n. a famous or important person known for doing something well

qualify – v. to earn the right to do something

rush – v. to move quickly or try to get something done without much time

1 sponsors   

n.保人( sponsor的名词复数 )；（广播电视节目、音乐会或运动会的）赞助者；（培训或教育的）资助者；（法案等的）倡议者v.赞助( sponsor的第三人称单数 )；资助（某人的培训或教育）；为慈善活动捐资；倡议

参考例句：

• The race organizers are trying to attract sponsors. 比赛的组织者在想方设法吸引赞助者。
• They become official sponsors and put their logos on stadium walls. 他们成为正式赞助者，从而能在赛场周围的墙上挂上他们公司的广告牌。 来自辞典例句

2 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 qualify   

vt.取得资格，有资格，限定，描述；vi.取得资格，有资格

参考例句：

• I won't qualify until next year.我明年才具备资格。
• You must qualify yourself for the post.你必须使自己具备担任这一工作的资格。

5 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

6 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

7 softly   

adv.柔和地，静静地，温柔地

参考例句：

• He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻，她听不见。
• She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。