The 52nd ANA Open Golf Tournament, Sapporo, Japan 2026

• September 17, 2026
  Event date:
• September 20, 2026
  Event end:

Tournament History & Significance

The ANA Open Golf Tournament stands as one of the most prestigious and enduring fixtures on the Japan Golf Tour, having built a rich tradition since its inception in 1972. Over more than five decades, the championship has called the magnificent island of Hokkaido its home, establishing a reputation for testing the mental and technical fortitude of Asia’s finest professional golfers. Legends of the sport have etched their names onto the coveted trophy, making it a career-defining milestone for any player fortunate enough to master its demanding layout.

Beyond its competitive prestige, the tournament plays a vital role in the cultural and economic landscape of professional golf within Japan, drawing massive galleries of passionate sports enthusiasts annually. The event is celebrated for its impeccable organization, world-class hospitality, and commitment to showcasing top-tier athletic excellence against the stunning natural backdrop of northern Japan. It regularly attracts elite fields featuring international contenders and domestic stars fighting fiercely for a share of the substantial multi-million yen prize purse.

As the tournament reaches its milestone editions, it continues to evolve while honoring the classic traditions that have defined Japanese professional golf for generations. The legacy of past champions, dramatic final-day comebacks, and unforgettable clutch putts on the closing holes ensure that each new iteration adds an exciting chapter to its storied history. Fans and players alike look forward to September as the ultimate showcase of golfing mastery in an unmatched autumn setting.

When to Attend

• Event Date: September 17, 2026 – September 20, 2026
• Event Duration: Four-day professional golf tournament featuring daily championship rounds from Thursday through Sunday

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Sapporo Golf Club Wattsu Course & Course Highlights

Sapporo Golf Club Wattsu Course is widely recognized as a masterpiece of golf course architecture, seamlessly blending into the rolling natural topography of Hokkaido. Spanning over 7,000 yards with a par of 72, the course layout demands absolute precision, strategic club selection, and intelligent management of subtle elevation changes. Tree-lined fairways and pristine bentgrass greens create a visually stunning yet fiercely challenging environment that penalizes any stray shot.

The course layout makes exceptional use of the native landscape, incorporating natural water hazards, strategic bunkering, and undulating terrain to challenge the world’s best players. Cool autumn breezes sweeping across the northern region frequently change club selection on approach shots, adding an extra layer of complexity to tournament strategy. Every hole offers a unique test, requiring players to balance aggressive attacking play with cautious defense to survive the demanding track.

Maintaining pristine conditioning year after year, the grounds crew ensures that the fairways roll smoothly and the greens run true, allowing for elite-level shot-making. Spectators walking the course are treated to gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding natural landscape, perfectly complementing the high-level athletic drama unfolding on every tee box. The harmonious balance between natural beauty and architectural rigor secures its status as an elite championship venue.

• Championship Yardage: Spanning over 7,000 yards of championship-caliber layout designed to test elite distance and accuracy.
• Historic Trees: Dense, mature tree lines bordering fairways that punish errant tee shots with blocked recovery angles.
• Undulating Greens: Fast, multi-tiered putting surfaces requiring exceptional touch and precise approach distance control.
• Strategic Bunkering: Deep greenside and fairway sand traps strategically placed to catch offline gambles.
• Natural Topography: Incorporating native Hokkaido hills, ridges, and slopes into the core routing design.
• Variable Winds: Challenging northern drafts that alter club selection and ball flight trajectories dynamically.
• Course Maintenance: Tournament-ready turf conditioning providing optimal roll and reliable putting surfaces.

Admission Details

• How Tickets Are Sold: Tickets are sold via advance online ticketing portals, authorized convenience store terminals across Japan, and at the gate during tournament days.
• Admission Type: Daily grounds admission passes and multi-day tournament badge options available for general spectators.
• Ticket Pricing: Minimum price range starts at $35 for single-day weekday grounds passes up to a maximum price range of $140 for weekend season badge packages.
• Special Seating Options: Grandstand seating areas established near key finishing holes and high-view vantage points around the course.
• VIP Options: Corporate hospitality packages offering exclusive clubhouse access, gourmet dining, and preferred viewing platforms near the 18th green.

Tournament Format, Qualifying & Final Rounds

The tournament follows a standard 72-hole stroke play format distributed across four consecutive days of intense competition without a sudden-death playoff starting structure. Following the conclusion of the second round on Friday afternoon, a crucial cut is instituted to narrow the starting roster down to the leading professional and amateur scores. Only those players who successfully beat the cut line advance to weekend play, ensuring that the final thirty-six holes feature the most in-form competitors.

Qualifying for the event involves a rigorous pipeline, including exemption categories based on previous tour victories, money list rankings, and local open qualifiers held ahead of tournament week. This multi-tiered qualification system guarantees that the starting field represents an exceptional concentration of golfing talent from across the region and beyond. Every competitor must earn their spot through consistent excellence over preceding months of grueling tournament play.

• Stroke Play Format: Four rounds of classic 72-hole individual stroke play determining the ultimate champion.
• The Friday Cut: Field reduction after thirty-six holes separating weekend contenders from early eliminations.
• Exemption Pathways: Strict entry criteria prioritizing past champions, tour winners, and elite money list performers.
• Open Qualifiers: Highly competitive local pre-qualifying tournaments offering late-entry dreams to hopeful professionals.
• Weekend Pressure: Intensified pressure cooker environment testing mental resilience during Saturday and Sunday rounds.
• Championship Sunday: Dramatic back-nine showdowns where leaderboard shifts happen on every single green.
• Trophy Presentation: Formal closing ceremony honoring the lowest total scorer on the 18th green.

Contact & Information

• Email: support@anaopen.jp
• Phone Number: +81 11-375-3111
• Website: https://www.ana.co.jp/anaopen/

Professional Golfers & Tournament Field

• Defending Champions: Elite past winners returning to defend their legacies against a hungry new wave of challengers.
• Japan Golf Tour Stars: Top-ranked domestic money-list leaders bringing seasoned local expertise and course knowledge.
• International Contenders: Skilled global competitors traveling from international circuits to test their mettle in Japan.
• Rising Rookies: Fresh professional talents making their mark through stellar qualifying performances and breakthrough seasons.
• Venerable Veterans: Experienced tour veterans utilizing strategic course management and veteran savvy to outsmart younger hitters.
• Amateur Standouts: Elite amateur invitees testing their skills against seasoned professionals on a grand stage.
• Heavy Hitters: Long-driving specialists capable of dismantling par-fives with towering tee shots and aggressive scoring.

Key Holes, Course Strategy & Spectator Highlights

• Strategic Par Fours: Demanding driving holes requiring precision placement over distance to avoid deep fairway rough.
• Risk-Reward Par Fives: Reachable in two shots for big hitters, tempting players to flirt with water and sand hazards.
• Testing Par Threes: Beautiful short holes requiring exact iron yardages over environmental hazards and guarding bunkers.
• The Crucial Ninth: A challenging closing hole on the outward nine that dictates momentum heading into the turn.
• The Iconic Eighteenth: A dramatic finishing hole framed by massive grandstands and a receptive amphitheater green.
• Spectator Vantage Points: Elevated natural mounds offering sweeping viewing corridors across multiple adjacent holes.
• Gallery Walkways: Dedicated ropes and crossing points allowing fans close proximity to walking players and caddies.
• Practice Range Hubs: High-activity zones where fans can study pre-round swing mechanics and warm-up routines.

Where to Go

• City and Country: Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan
• Venue Name: Sapporo Golf Club Wattsu Course
• Google Maps Address: 77 Wattsu, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido 061-1264, Japan

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