Ayaka Furue is one of the leading Japanese players on the LPGA Tour. Ranked 21 on the Rolex list, she secured her first and only maiden victory in 2022 at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open with a three-shot victory, defeating 1x major winner, Celine Boutier at Dundonald Links. Furue has also landed herself in the top 10 of the women’s majors four times but has failed to come out victorious.

However, it seems as if she is very close to living her dreams in the fourth major this year. She has managed to climb to the top of the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship flawlessly after the first two rounds with a (12-under), two strokes away from Stephanie Kyriaccou and Patty Tavatanakit. Now whether she will be able to grab it or let it slip away, is yet to find out. But through all her good times and bad, her two rock-solid pillars have always had her back – her parents!

The 24-year-old was born on May 27 in  Kobe, Japan. Ayaka Furue got into golfing practices at the very early age of three. All thanks to her dad, Yoshihiro Furue. Although there has been practically no information about her mother, her father has certainly been mentioned every time her career is mentioned.

She was given all the knowledge she had about golf in theory, long before she even got to swing the club. Her father started teaching her about the sport at the age of three. Her father is a passionate golfer who has attended several championships. Adding to Furue’s decision to pursue golf as her profession was the lesser fact that even her mother played as an amateur.

Following the family gut: Taking up golf over swimming

Being an athlete, golf surely would not be the only thing she was made to play. The Japanese player was also taught to swim at the age of four, apart from getting to hold the golf clubs and hit the balls. For quite a few years, she was known to be an avid swimmer and loved being in the pool. However, seeing her parents’ passion, golf won over the water sport, and here she is today, following the dreams that once they had for themselves, and happily!

Although very little is known about the Furue seniors, one thing is certain: They surely have paved the way for Ayaka Furue to achieve her dreams and have been her greatest inspiration! Do you think, backed by their support and her strong gameplay, Furue will be able to grab the trophy at the fourth women’s major? Let us know in the comments section below!