Yuto Katsuragawa is heading to the DP World Tour Play-Offs after turning his season upside down with victory at Genesis Championship.
The Japanese entered the week at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club 106th in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and battling to break the top 100 and keep full playing privileges for next season.
He produced when it mattered most, however, with a blistering 63 on day three catapulting him into a two-shot lead that he would not relinquish despite a closing 71.
The 835.00 points for victory jumped him 78 places in the Rankings to 28th and he will now be heading to both the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who made just three DP World Tour cuts in 2024 after winning the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP and finished 91st on the Rankings last term in large part thanks to a top ten at the regular-season ending event in Korea.
The 2026 season had brought just one top ten before he returned to the peninsula but he is now back in Category 3 as a winner.
"After the first win, I had such a hard time, struggling with that time, but having the second win, this is definitely the greatest moment of my life," he said.
"Yes I was nervous, not just for the victory but also about the seed for the DP World Tour so it was double nervous for me but I think I got through.
"I had a good image from the first victory, I just kept that good feeling about it and I came for the second win.
"I'm very happy because to play on the DP World Tour is something I need in my life and I am very happy to play in Dubai."
The top 70 available players after the week in Korea were guaranteed a spot in the Play-Offs and Frederic Lacroix and Antoine Rozner both cracked the top 70 after finishing in ties for second and fourth respectively.
Sean Crocker was the other big winner in the Rankings last week as he birdied his last four holes in a back nine of 29 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 34th and move up three spots into 100th.
Read about his incredible final round of the season here.
