Professional golfer Mikiya Akutsu

2026.09.21

The most enjoyable moment is when you hit the shot exactly as you envisioned it.

■ Profile
He has been familiar with golf since childhood, winning the Kanto Junior Championship in his first year at Sakushin Gakuin High School and the Japan Student Championship in his fourth year at Nihon University. He turned professional in 2016 and won the Japan Professional Golf Rookie Championship in 2017. He earned his first seed in 2021 and rose to 21st in the prize money rankings in 2024, including a personal best second place finish at the Yokohama Minato Championship. He won his first title at the Mizuno Open in 2025 and also participated in the Open Championship. He is serving as the players' association chairman this season.

Mikiya Akutsu, who started playing golf at the age of three, won the "Japan Student Championship" during his university years and turned professional. In 2025, he achieved his first tour victory at the "Mizuno Open" and also serves as the chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Players Association. This time, we asked Mr. Akutsu about the rewards of being a professional, how he manages his emotions, and his future goals as a player and chairman of the players' association.

■ The "Japan Student Championships" sparked a greater desire to become a professional.

I started playing golf when I was three years old. Golf was always a part of my life, and I even won a tournament when I was in elementary school. In my elementary school graduation album, I wrote "professional golfer" as my dream for the future, so I think I've had the idea of becoming a professional golfer somewhere in the back of my mind since then. I went through a rebellious phase in junior high school, and there was a period when I took a break from golf. Even so, I think going on to high school and then to Nihon University was the first major turning point in my career.
When choosing a high school, my coach, who was with me throughout my studies, told me, "You should study hard until high school," and that made sense to me, so I took the entrance exam and entered a university preparatory course. Back then, I spent just as much time studying as I did playing golf.
When I was applying to university, I received a scholarship offer from Nihon University. I had dreamed of becoming a professional golfer since high school, and Nihon University's golf club has a long history. I thought that aiming to become a professional there would be beneficial for me, so I enrolled without hesitation. I lived in a dormitory for four years at university. I spent all my time from morning till night with my seniors and juniors in the golf club, and I think those four years were a valuable experience, not only in terms of golf but also in terms of communal living.
Winning the Japan Intercollegiate Championship in my senior year of university was a major turning point in my life. It was the moment I felt, "Maybe I can become the best at golf." Winning first place was great, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment when my juniors, coaches, and manager congratulated me. I think winning the Japanese title in my final year of university was a decisive event in my decision to turn professional.

■The fulfillment of being a professional that lies beyond difficult times

When I first turned pro, I could hardly play in any tournaments. That's why, when I won my first tournament at the 2025 Mizuno Open, I received as many as 500 messages of support. Not only was I happy that I had achieved my own goal, but I also realized how much joy it brought to the people around me. Receiving messages from those who support me and knowing that junior players think I'm cool are the most rewarding things about being a professional.
There are many enjoyable moments in golf. In particular, the most enjoyable is when you hit a shot exactly as you envisioned it. When playing a private round with other pros or practicing during the off-season, it's very rewarding when you discover something that feels like a completely new sensation. On the other hand, golf is a long sport that is contested over four days. Even within a single day, things only go as planned a few times, and I feel that there are more times when you have to be patient. Moreover, you are in silence during play. Good shots are met with applause, but when you make a mistake, there is no outlet for your emotions, so it is difficult to control your feelings. In my case, I sometimes let out a loud yell somewhere where I won't disturb my opponents to change my mood. Lately, I've been thinking, "Maybe it's okay to just smile." In golf, the location of the tournament changes every week, so in a good way, you can switch gears every week. There was a period when I kept missing the cut, but eventually, I won. I still find it mysterious that you never know when an opportunity will come.

■The unique appeal of golf that can be enjoyed by three generations

Golf is a sport without a finish line. You can make new discoveries by talking with other professionals or asking senior players for advice. One of those discoveries might apply to you, and you'll be able to do it. It's a continuous cycle. Golf has 7 to 8 million players and a significant market value. I don't think there's any other sport on such a large scale. It's also a sport that three generations can enjoy together, and it has a long competitive lifespan. Furthermore, there are very few sports where professionals and amateurs can play together, and the distance between players and the people who come to watch the matches is overwhelmingly close.
On the other hand, for people who don't know much about golf, there might be some daunting ideas, such as "What kind of clothes and shoes should I wear?" or "Do I have to wear golf attire?" However, it would be a real shame if these reasons raised the barrier to going to a golf course, so I really hope you'll give it a try.

■Future goals as a player and as the players' association president

My goal as a player is to achieve my second win as soon as possible. Winning the Japanese title in college made me acutely aware of its significance. That's why I want to win a Japanese major title as a professional. It would be amazing if my second win was a major.
As the players' association president, I make it a point to promote golf to people I meet for the first time. I want to clearly represent the feelings of the men in various settings such as speeches and meetings.

■Message to university students

I was fortunate enough to continue playing golf in college and eventually make it my profession. I think it's quite difficult to decide on a career path during your first year of college, out of the four years you spend there. There's no need to rush. At some point during your four years of college, you'll meet people and come up with a goal. When that time comes, I hope you'll set your own theme and work towards it. However, you don't need to feel pressured to go down the path you've chosen. Choosing a different path after trying it once and moving on to the second step is nothing to be ashamed of. I believe that the experience of working hard towards a goal will be useful somewhere down the line. All the students say that the four years went by in a flash, but I hope you'll work hard at various things so that you can feel that the four years went by in a flash.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on November 5, 2026, Haruna Shoji, a second-year student at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

Emari Oike, 1st year student at Japan Women's University / Haruna Shoji, 4th year student at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences / Yurie Watanabe, 3rd year student at Josai International University / Koyaku Haruki, 1st year graduate student at Keio University