The DP World Tour stars are in India for the second tournament of the Asian Swing. They are playing in the 2025 Hero Indian Open at the DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi. After the first 36 holes, there is one man who has caught a lot of attention from the fans. He is the defending champion of the Hero Indian Open, Keita Nakajima. After a miserable round that saw him score four bogeys, Nakajima has made a tremendous comeback to end day two at the top of the leaderboard. His 6-under par 66 has helped him reach the top alongside the Spanish pro Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra.

So who is this European Tour player who is heading in for back-to-back Hero Indian Open victories? Let’s take a look at the life of Keita Nakajima.

Who is Keita Nakajima?

Born in Saitama, Japan, on June 24, 2000, Keita Nakajima was always a sports enthusiast. He was only six years old when his family introduced him to golf. As all of his loved ones were keen on the sport as well, it became easier for Nakajima to pick it up. Yet, it was not until he reached high school that the Japanese player started dreaming of going professional. Inspired by Tiger Woods, who was the first player he saw on TV, Nakajima said “I don’t really remember any particular shots, I just remember his huge fist pumps every time he wins, which I always thought was really cool.” Perhaps that is where his motivation to win in golf comes from.

Nakajima achieved a lot as an amateur golfer. He was the world no. 1 amateur for 87 straight weeks, a record that has still not been broken. The only person who got close to the Japanese pro was Jon Rahm, who held the position for 60 weeks. Nakajima won the 2018 Australian Amateur and the 2021 Japan Amateur Championship during this period. After a victory in the 2021 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, the 24-year-old booked a place in the Masters Tournament and the Open Championship for the following year.

In fall 2022, a 22-year-old Nakajima finally turned pro, starting his journey in the European Tour. The same year, he also made his debut in the PGA Tour debut as a pro in the ZOZO Championship. Interestingly, another one of his idols, Hideki Matsuyama won the tournament that year. After 14 appearances, Nakajima has made 5 cuts in over two years on the PGA Tour. His DP World Tour record shows 1 win, at the 2024 Hero Indian Open, and a few other top performances. Nakajima finished as the runner-up in the first tournament of the Asian Swing, the Porsche Singapore Classic this year.

This has been Keita Nakajima’s professional journey thus far. However, he does live quite an amazing life outside of golf. Let’s take a look at what the Japanese pro does away from the sport.

Baseball, sprinting, travel, & more

Golf is not the only sport Keita Nakajima is in love with. Other than his exploits on the course, the Japanese national also flaunts his experiences in baseball. He is a big-time Dodgers fan and probably also follows Japanese hero, Shohei Ohtani. In fact, Nakajima also attended the 2024 Tokyo Dome all geared up in a Giants jersey, catcher’s gloves, and a baseball helmet. In fact, another post also shows him a baseball to one of the players before the event. He also seems to follow soccer, as he was seen wearing a Real Madrid jersey in what looks like an Adidas shop.

Other than that, Nakajima also seems like a sprinting enthusiast. He is seen running on a track with one of his mates as they race to the finish line. Other than that, there are quite a few posts where Nakajima is seen lifting weights. He definitely seems like a fitness enthusiast, considering the active lifestyle he leads. The 24-year-old also seems to enjoy traveling, going out to eat, and being a brand ambassador for various brands. However, one of his proudest moments as a golfer was definitely when he represented Japan in the 2024 Olympic Games. The pictures of the same are pinned at the top of his Instagram.

After getting to know him better, will you be following Keita Nakajima’s career as he takes on the golf world? Let us know in the comments section.