Golf's Week Ahead: World Wide Technology Championship and Toto Japan Classic Take Centre Stage

Golf's attention turns to two events this week, with the PGA Tour in Mexico and the LPGA in Japan. The PGA Tour plays the World Wide Technology Championship, where Ben Griffin returns as defending champion after his victory last year. The LPGA, meanwhile, contests the Toto Japan Classic, where Nasa Hataoka is the defending champion. With the DP World Tour also in action in its own season, it is a full week across the professional game even before the majors return to view. There is, however, a notable absence from the calendar. The PGA Tour Champions is off this week, with its next event the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship from November 12 to 15 at Phoenix Country Club, where Stewart Cink is the defending champion. That pause gives the senior circuit a breather before its finale, while the main tours take the spotlight. For Griffin and Hataoka, the week is a chance to defend titles and bank ranking points late in the year. For the chasing packs, it is another opportunity to force their way into the conversation before the season's final stretch. Either way, golf fans have two leaderboards worth following from Thursday.