[1] Kono had much success on the Japanese and Asian circuits at the beginning of his career, winning several times.

[2] This performance helped him earn his first special foreign invitation to the Masters Tournament that April.

At Augusta, he shot a third round 68 (−4) put him in the top ten and a slight chance for the title.

[4] This would be the beginning of a relatively long relationship with the event, however, as Kono would be invited to play in the tournament several more times.

Kono continued to have success on the Japanese and Asian circuits, winning multiple events.