Like a car with no speed limiter. This year, I want to keep running at full power. Hideto Tanihara of Team PRGR posted two wins on the tour last year and achieved No. 4 on the money list. In our interview with Tanihara, who will be using a new weapon on tour this year – the GN502 TOUR driver, we discussed what goals he set for the upcoming year and how he felt about achieving them.

-- You look like you definitely got tan this off-season and you look like you bulked up. You had a really full off-season, didn’t you?

Tanihara
I would say so. I played in the Sony Open on the US tour in January and then after that I had more than two months before the start of the Japan tour, so I had plenty of time to train. In a typical year I only train in Guam once, but this year I was able to go there for training at two different times.

-- I assume the goal of training was to get stronger.

Tanihara
At any rate, I gave it my all to push my body past its limit. I feel like I’ve put on a lot of muscle. According to my body measurements, previously I had an average build for a golfer, but this year I’ve developed a strong, very athletic build like a pro baseball player or a martial arts athlete. I trained a little too hard, though, and two weeks before the opening tournament I had some pain in my back (laughs). It didn’t cause me any problems, though, so I should be fine.

-- In that opening tournament, you didn’t do as well as you hoped. (Tanihara missed the cut.)

Tanihara
My driver and iron shots were mostly perfect. On the first day, though, my putting was extremely bad. My touch was really off. That was why I didn’t do well. Making a sudden change in putter was not a good idea. Going back to the Silver Blade centre shaft putter took care of my worries. The second stop on the tour (Tsuruya Open) will be my true opener. I’m hoping for a good start to the year (laughs).

-- I heard you’re hitting really well with the driver.

Tanihara
It’s all because of the high performance of the head of the GN502 Silver TOUR driver. Even with the shaft being a half inch shorter (44.25 inches) than a normal shaft, I still get distance on the ball. With just a small change in shaft length, it’s easier to swing and I hit shots cleanly a higher percentage of the time. I’m also able to keep a higher percentage of shots on the fairway. I get distance on the ball without having to specifically try, so there is no bad effect on my swing. It has a lot of great features. This year, too, I feel like I have all the right clubs.

-- Last year, you were looking to take the top spot on the money list, can you tell us what your goals are for this year?

Tanihara
I don’t have any particular goals set for this year. If I imagined myself as a car, I would say I want to be like a car with no speed limiter. I want to always be playing at full power. If I’m just focused on where the exemption line is, I won’t make it over that line. If I concentrate on it, I’ll finish just short. The only way to play is to keep pushing through.

-- Instead of concentrating on tournament wins or aiming for the top of the money list, if you always play at full power, then results will naturally come.

Tanihara
I don’t want this to be taken the wrong way, but I’m not interested in insignificant goals. The only way to play is to keep pushing through.

-- If you’re going to keep pushing through, you don’t need anything like a speed limiter. So in the off-season, you developed strength to where you can always be playing at full power.

Tanihara
I’m going to do my best. Seeing as how this week’s tournament is the opener for me, I hope everyone wishes me a good start to the year (laughs).

-- We expect you to do great. Thanks very much. (End)