Name: Keita Nakajima makes PGA TOUR professional debut at ZOZO
Uploaded: 2022-10-19T15:29:51.750Z
Duration: 149 s
Description: Former World Amateur No. 1 Keita Nakajima played his first PGA TOUR event as a professional at the 2022 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Nakajima finished T12 after rounds of 70-63-69-69.

In the third round of the 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, Keita Nakajima makes birdie on the par-3 12th hole.

Keita Nakajima sticks it close to yield birdie at PGA TOUR Q-School

Take a look inside Keita Nakajima's golf bag as he shares why he uses TaylorMade clubs and balls as he prepares to tee it up in his native Japan for the 2023 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.

What's in Keita Nakajima's bag?

In the opening round of the 2023 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Keita Nakajima makes birdie on the par-5 14th hole.

Keita Nakajima gets birdie putt to drop after nice approach at ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP

In the opening round of the 2023 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Keita Nakajima makes birdie on the par-4 8th hole.

Keita Nakajima sticks approach in close at ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP

Before every round Keita Nakajima plays on the PGA TOUR, he goes through an extensive warm-up routine, and we have an all-access look at how he prepares for competition.

Keita Nakajima’s pre-round warm-up routine

In the opening round of the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii, Keita Nakajima makes a 17-foot eagle putt on the par-5 9th hole.

Keita Nakajima makes eagle on No. 9 at Sony Open

In preparation for 2023, PGA TOUR players set their goals for the year with Daruma dolls, traditionally used in Japanese culture as a symbol of perseverance and good luck. Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Taiga Semikawa, Yuto Katsuragawa, Kaito Onishi, Adam Scott and Keita Nakajima all took part in the tradition.

PGA TOUR players set goals for 2023 with Japanese Daruma dolls

Japan's Keita Nakajima makes his PGA TOUR professional debut in his home country at the 2022 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. We're embedded with Keita for an all-access look inside the former World Number One Amateur's performance.

Keita Nakajima | Keita Rising

Former World Amateur No. 1 Keita Nakajima played his first PGA TOUR event as a professional at the 2022 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Nakajima finished T12 after rounds of 70-63-69-69.

Keita Nakajima makes PGA TOUR professional debut at ZOZO

Check out the top five shots of the week from the 2022 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, featuring Cameron Davis, Keita Nakajima, Cameron Young, Viktor Hovland and Brendan Steele.

Brendan Steele’s incredible dunk leads Shots of the Week

In the third round of the 2022 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Keita Nakajima makes eagle on the par-5 18th hole.

Keita Nakajima closes with long eagle putt at ZOZO 

In the second round of the 2022 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Keita Nakajima makes birdie on the par-5 14th hole.

Keita Nakajima holes birdie pitch-shot from rough at ZOZO 

In the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii, Keita Nakajima stayed around at the golf course after finishing his final round to watch Hideki Matsuyama compete against Russell Henley in a sudden death playoff for the title. After hitting his ball in the fairway, Matsuyama hit an incredible 276 yard 3-wood to three feet en route to securing the improbable comeback win. Nakajima reacts to the shot in real time and met with Matsuyama afterwards to congratulate him on his victory.

Keita Nakajima watches Hideki Matsuyama win Sony Open

By 2021, the state of Japanese golf had reached new heights, crowning its first men’s major champion (Hideki Matsuyama, Masters Tournament), Takumi Kanaya cracked the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings and Keita Nakajima joined his predecessors in winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur and followed in their footsteps as a world number one-ranked amateur.

Rising Sons | How current Japanese golfers are inspiring a new generation

Prior to the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii, number one World Golf Amateur Keita Nakajima played a practice round at Waialae Country Club in preparation for the event. During his round, Nakajima talked about his admiration of Hideki Matsuyama while talking about his goals moving forward.

Keita Nakajima walk-and-talk at the Sony Open

Prior to the Sony Open in Hawaii, Keita Nakajima talks about being inspired by Hideki Matsuyama's win at 2021 Masters Tournament.

Keita Nakajima on being inspired by Hideki’s win at The Masters

"Some guy named Tiger." "Former front man of the golf boys." Just some of the great intros American actor Will Ferrell gave ahead of Match 4 of Season 2 of TGL.

Will Ferrell's hilarious TGL intros

In Match No. 4 of Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi, New York Golf Club’s Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler and Matt Fitzpatrick defeat Jupiter Links Golf Club’s Max Homa, Kevin Kisner and stand-in member Akshay Bhatia at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Tiger Woods joined the broadcast to share updates on his recovery from back surgery and his thoughts on Brooks Koepka returning to the TOUR. 


TGL highlights: NYGC dominates Jupiter; Tiger Woods catches Hammer fever

During Match 4 of Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi, New York Golf Club's Cameron Young almost holes his tee shot at the par-3 third hole.

Cameron Young throws a dart for New York at TGL 

During Match 4 of Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi, Jupiter Links Golf Club's Kevin Kisner hits a nifty chip shot to set up a hole victory at the par-5 fourth. 

Kevin Kisner finally finds his short game at TGL

Prior to Match 4 of Season 2 of TGL, Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links joins Scott Van Pelt, ESPN sportscaster, to talk about the excitement around Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA TOUR.

Tiger Woods discusses Brooks Koepka’s return to PGA TOUR

Every picture tells a story. PGA TOUR Senior Photographer Ben Jared walks through his favorite pictures from 2025 and shares the backstory behind each photo.

PGA TOUR photographer tells stories behind favorite pictures from 2025

Golfbet contributor Rick Gehman breaks down the key stats to target this week and shares his early outright winner along with other prop markets to consider at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Running with Rick: Gehman breaks down winning picks for Sony Open in Hawaii

Watch as four-time DP World Tour winner and new PGA TOUR member Haotong Li attempts to make a hole-in-one on a golf simulator on TPC Sawgrass' iconic par-3 17th island green in 15 minutes. Can he do it?
 

Can Haotong Li make an ace in 15 minutes?

Matt Every and Chris Breece debate how many wins Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will have in 2026 and give their boldest predictions for first-time major winners.
 

'The Early Card' on 'The Drop' looks at season predictions for Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy

Enjoy this exclusive clip from "Mindful," a new series exploring the power of the mental game and premiering Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. ET on the PGA TOUR YouTube channel, PGATOUR.COM and PGA TOUR social channels. The series opens with "Mindful: Bud Cauley," detailing the resilience and perseverance that helped Cauley work his way back following a tragic 2018 car crash.

PGA TOUR Studios announces 'Mindful' series, premiering Jan. 15

Ludvig Åberg joins "The Drop" to discuss his goals for 2026 and the offseason prep he's done to take his game to the next level. 

Ludvig Åberg previews his 2026 season on 'The Drop'

Check out the most clutch shots of Nick Taylor’s PGA TOUR career, including his chip-in birdie to force a playoff at the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii, the dramatic birdie to win the 2024 WM Phoenix Open in a playoff and his unbelievable 72-foot eagle to secure a victory at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open playoff.

Nick Taylor’s most clutch shots of his career

Two-time TOUR winner Ludvig Åberg shared his enthusiasm for Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA TOUR, noting: "We all want to play against the best players. Brooks Koepka is certainly one of them."

Ludvig Åberg talks Brooks Koepka's return to PGA TOUR on 'The Drop'	

Check out Justin Thomas’ best shots from a stellar 2025 PGA TOUR season, crowned by his drought-ending victory at the RBC Heritage.

Justin Thomas’ best shots from 2025

Enjoy this throwback look at Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth's very first interviews on the PGA TOUR.

Stars give their first-ever PGA TOUR interviews

Take a closer look at Russell Henley's journey to becoming a five-time TOUR winner including his victory at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, making his first Presidents Cup and automatically qualifying for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Russell Henley’s journey to the winner's circle

In Match No. 3 of Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi, Atlanta Drive Golf Club's Billy Horschel, Patrick Cantlay and Chris Gotterup defeat The Bay Golf Club's Shane Lowry, Ludvig Åberg and Wyndham Clark at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

TGL highlights: Atlanta Drive defeats The Bay in Match No. 3

 In Match No. 3 of Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi, Chris Gotterup nearly aces the par-3 14th and taps in for birdie to win the hole for Atlanta Drive.