Young Japanese star, 17, makes PGA Tour debut
Is there any doubt about the ambition of Japanese golf prodigy Ryo Ishikawa?
Last month when he opened a practice facility five minutes from his home in the suburbs of Tokyo, it was not only seeded with the same bentgrass used at Augusta National, the bunkers were filled with the same type of sand.
Without Tiger, it’s hard to call any field great. But this week’s is close with 9 of the tour’s top 10 money winners, plus three-time major winners Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Els.
It’s the Masters Ishikawa wants. After earning $1.1 million on the Japan Tour last year, Ishikawa, 17, received a coveted invitation to the 2009 event, earlier than even he expected.
Thus the extraordinary preparations.
A big part of the process takes place this week in Los Angeles as Ishikawa makes his PGA Tour debut at the Northern Trust Open. Many eyes will be on the 5-foot-7, 150-pound slugger. The tournament has issued over 100 more credentials than last year — all to the rabid Japanese media.
“Hello, America,” said Ishikawa, opening a press conference Tuesday, with a not-so-subtle line.
When Tiger Woods announced he was turning pro, he famously announced, “Hello, World.” The comparison is inevitable. After all, Woods made his PGA Tour debut at this tournament 17 years ago at age 16, missing the cut.
Dubbed, predictably enough, “The Tiger Woods of Japan,” Ishikawa is accorded rock-star attention at home, where he already earns more than $10 million per year in endorsements. Ishikawa emerged two years ago, winning his Japan Tour debut as a 15-year-old amateur. He was the youngest player to do so by five years, breaking the mark of Seve Ballesteros. Ishikawa doesn’t expect success to come as quickly here.
“I hope I can make the cut,” said Ishikawa. “But it is more important for me to play my golf throughout the week.”
Ishikawa packs a lot of punch in his small frame. He averaged 290 yards per drive, seventh-best on the Japan Tour. He also draws fans with his cherubic features and his playful, polite confidence. His other nickname is “Hanikami Ohji,” or “Bashful Prince.”
“How you pronounce my name? It is Ryo,” said Ishikawa Tuesday. “Everyone, repeat after me, Ryo! That’s it, OK, thank you.”
The pronunciation will be more familiar in the coming weeks. Ishikawa has received sponsors exemptions to two more PGA Tour events leading to the Masters and could get a late invitation to next week’s World Golf Championships.
“As far as his game goes, I don’t see any flaws,” said tour veteran Chris DiMarco, who played a practice round with Ishikawa. “He can’t miss. As soon as he gets more and more experience, he’ll be unbelievable. The only thing I worry about is whether he gets burned out early.”
