Matt Griffin’s recent good form in Japan has been rewarded with an invitation to play one of that Tour’s richest and most prestigious events this week.

Griffin has received a wild card invitation to the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki, one of the five most lucrative tournaments on the schedule.

With an honour roll that boasts some of the greatest ever to play the game including Tiger Woods, Tom Watson and Seve Ballesteros, places in the Dunlop Phoenix field are reserved only for the most deserving.

Griffin will be joined this year by Brad Kennedy, Adam Bland, Kurt Barnes and Brendan Jones with Michael Hendry, the leading Australasian money winner in 2017, electing not to play.

Graham Marsh is the only Australian ever to win the title, his triumph coming in 1976, though there has been some close calls since.

Not surprisingly Brendan Jones has been in the mix on more than on occasion with three top-5 finishes since 2011.

Brad Kennedy, too, has had his chances with T6 results in both 2013 and again last year and after a shoulder injury earlier this season has played some decent golf in recent weeks.

After storming home in 63 last year to finish third, Kurt Barnes will be keen to reacquaint himself with the host course.

Adam Bland rounds out the Australian challenge and after a final round 64 at last week’s Visa Taiheiyo Masters will be looking to improve on a previous best finish of T40 at this event.