Japan’s Kaito Onishi rides margins to earn first PGA TOUR card

Sometimes one shot can change a career. Kaito Onishi is living proof.

As a Korn Ferry Tour rookie in 2023, Onishi finished No. 100 on the season-long standings to narrowly retain conditional status by .49 points – essentially one stroke anywhere that year. That meant he was still a Korn Ferry Tour member and could spin one start into several more if he made the cut. He did so at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard in February, finishing eighth to basically earn a full schedule. Then he won the UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH in early June to move into contention for his first PGA TOUR card.

With steady play through the summer and a stellar finishing kick, he cemented that card. Onishi, 25, finished No. 25 on the season-long Korn Ferry Tour Points List, safely among the top 30 to receive their PGA TOUR cards in a ceremony Sunday evening in southern Indiana.

“It’s honestly a dream come true,” Onishi said Sunday. “I’m super excited for next year and super thankful.”

Onishi is originally from Japan, where his grandfather introduced him to the game at age 5. He has always looked up to Shigeki Maruyama, whose TOUR success inspired him to pursue this dream, and the two have developed a friendship through the years. Onishi moved to the United States at age 9 and attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He then played collegiately at the University of Southern California, where he found success in his first two seasons but struggled as a junior. He then began the internship application process but realized that the business world didn’t quite motivate him like golf did; he dove back into the game, turned pro in 2021 and commenced a steady climb to his #TOURBound moment.

Onishi finished T13 at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, moving from No. 28 to No. 25 on the Points List and earning his PGA TOUR card. It was a clutch performance that reminded of last year’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, the final event to determine top-100 status, where he closed in 4-under 67 to finish the week tied for 24th. If he had carded 68 or higher, he would’ve lost status and moved into an uncertain future.

He has a certain future for 2025 – a season on the PGA TOUR.

“Seeing all these players on TV and being able to play in the same field … it’s one of those experiences that not a lot of people have, and it’s very special to me,” Onishi said.

About Kaito Onishi

• Age: 25
• Hometown: Chiba, Japan
• Alma mater: University of Southern California
• PGA TOUR starts: 5
• Cuts made: 3
• Best PGA TOUR finish: T64 (2023 3M Open, 2023 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP)

Notes: Made 13 cuts in 21 starts on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour, with six top-25 finishes highlighted by his win at the UNC Health Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina … Was named 2018 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year at the University of Southern California, where he majored in business administration ... Won the 2016 Sea Pines Junior Heritage … Originally from Japan but attended high school at the IMG Academy in west Florida.

PGA TOUR’s Elise Tallent contributed to this report.