Kazuma Kobori finds form on Turkish Coast
Kazuma Kobori – file photo courtesy of PGA of Australia
New Zealander Kazuma Kobori’s form in recent weeks in DP World Tour events has been well below what he produced in his 2025 season. Still, overnight in Turkey, he found himself in a share of second place and just one off the lead in the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
Kobori’s second round of 4 under par 68 has him one behind Italy’s Gregorio De Leo in the US$2.75 million event and, currently in 99th place in the Race to Dubai rankings, the return to form has been a welcome one for the 24-year-old, who is in his second season on the DP World Tour.
Last year, Kobori made it all the way to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai after 2nd and 3rd place finishes in events and eventually finished an impressive 44th in the Race to Dubai rankings, but although he has made the cut in four of five DPWT starts this season, there has been only one top ten and only midfield finishes since.
“We’ve got pretty nice conditions, the wind is picking up now, but for the most part we played in pretty calm conditions, so pretty happy with the way things are going,” said Kobori after his round.
“I’m just trying to keep doing what I am doing. It’s a bit of belief, evidence that I can compete out here from last year, so to be honest, I’m just trying not to force the issue as much and just keep playing my game over the course of 72 holes and see where that takes me.”
Kobori appears to have found a golf course that suits his percentage-based game, hitting many fairways and greens in regulation and although ranking down in driving distance this week, he has found a way to negotiate the National Golf Club in Belek on the Mediterranean Coast.
The only other Australasians to make the cut in the event were Elvis Smylie in 23rd position and David Micheluzzi 57th.
For Smylie, who joined LIV Golf earlier this year and won on debut, the news of the potential demise of LIV Golf at year’s end may well see him playing on a more regular basis on the DP World Tour, where he continues to have status as a result of his good season in 2025 and his win at the 2024 Australian PGA Championship.
