Yusaku Miyazato has always had to seek reflected glory in the shadow of his younger sister Ai, but since the former world No. 1 announced her retirement, he appears to have raised his level of play a notch while awaiting his turn to shine.
Having already won two titles this season, the 36-year-old, the second of the three siblings in the golfing family from Okinawa, is looking forward to putting on a much-improved performance at the U.S. Open this week after finishing 23rd in his debut last year.
He won The Crowns on April 30 and Japan PGA Championship two weeks later, and wants to play convincingly enough in the $12 million event so he can make his name known after being referred to as "Ai-chan's brother" all his life.