Japanese LPGA star makes most of trip to Los Angeles, watches Shohei Ohtani hit a home run

TARZANA, Calif. — Japanese rookie Akie Iwai is making her first LPGA start in the Los Angeles area. Luckily for the 22-year-old, the Dodgers were in town and Iwai had the chance to go to a game to see fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani.

Asked if she was a fan, Iwai said: “Of course. Actually, we went to a Dodgers game on Monday. It was fun. I watched a home run. Yeah, Shohei Ohtani.”

Then she clapped.

The LPGA plays just once in Los Angeles this season, so the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Iwai.

Ohtani hit a solo home run 408-feet to center field at Dodger Stadium in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He had three hits and scored three runs, to the delight of Iwai.

Iwai is feeling the good vibes in Los Angeles. She shot a six-under 66 in Thursday’s first round of the JM Eagle LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club to be high on the leaderboard. It was a cold and gloomy day, but she was all smiles after seven birdies and just one bogey.

“It was fun, so I [gave myself] many birdie chances today, so I made a lot of birdies,” she said.

Iwai—ranked 26th in the world—is off to a good start in her maiden season. She finished second at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February.

Iwai has a twin sister, Chisato, who is also a rookie on the LPGA this season. They’re both in the field for the Chevron Championship next week, the first major of the season. Last year, Akie Iwai won three times on the Japan LPGA, and she’s put herself in contention early in Los Angeles, too.