What's In My Bag? Ryuji Imada

By Ryuji Imada

Interviewed by Mark Soltau

Photo By Charles Laberge

December 2008

AGE: 32 / LIVES: Tampa / STORY: Earned first win at AT&T Classic in May, one of four top fives he had in the first five months this year.

I WANTED TO WIN

I love the golf course at the AT&T Classic, and I always thought I'd have a chance to win there. Losing in a playoff in 2007 got me thinking I could play with these guys. Now that I've won there, my goal is to win the Masters. That’s what I dreamed about as a kid when I came over here from Japan.

By Ryuji Imada

Interviewed By Mark Soltau

Photo By Charles Laberge

December 2008

MY HOME

We moved to Florida from Japan when I was 14. When I heard you could play and practice all day, I just couldn't wait to get here. My dad and I played a lot of golf back then—he was a 90s-shooter—and he made it a lot of fun.

STAY THE COURSE

I've had the same swing coach for 17 years: Richard Abele. We worked hard on getting my swing a little shorter, maintaining my spine angle and improving my tempo. We worked really hard at the beginning of this year to get off to a quick start. It paid off.