September 7, 2010  Print Email | Ishikawa sets his sights on the Masters
Latest teen sensation
Posted by Agencies at 08:16 AM GMT on Feb 18, 2009 | LOS ANGELES (AFP): Aiming to out-do Tiger Woods' famous performance 17 years ago, Japanese whiz-kid Ryo Ishikawa says his goal this week is to make the cut.
 "The golf course is fantastic and very challenging," Ishikawa said. "I hope I can make the cut. I am looking forward to Thursday."
The 17-year old golfing sensation from Saitama is making his professional debut in the United States at this week's Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club.
Woods also played his first PGA Tour tournament at Riviera, but as a 16-year-old amateur back in 1992. In those days it was called the Nissan Open and the winner was Fred Couples.
Ishikawa, who is ranked 60th in the world, will play in three USPGA tournaments, starting with the Northern Trust Open before April's US Masters tournament.
He has also accepted a sponsor's invitation to the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Transitions Championship.
Ishikawa has generated a huge buzz for his appearance at the Northern Trust Open. A throng of about 75 Japanese media representatives was there to greet him at his pre-tournament news conference on Tuesday.
Nicknamed the "Bashful Prince", Ishikawa seemed anything but shy on Tuesday, giving lengthy answers in Japanese as flashbulbs popped all around.
He also showed his lighter side, joking with English journalists to make sure they spoke his name correctly.
"How you pronounce my name, it is Ryo. Everyone, repeat to me Ryo! That's it, okay, thank you," he said as the room echoed with laughter.
Asked whether he feels added pressure because this is his PGA Tour debut, Ishikawa said, "I haven't thought about pressure itself. At times I get nervous but I always try to be positive rather than have negative thoughts."
Already a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Ishikawa became the youngest winner on the Japan circuit when he captured the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at 15 years, eight months.
Still a high school student, Ishikawa has established himself on the Japan tour after one year as a professional by winning another event and finishing runner-up at the Japan Open and the Dunlop Phoenix event. He received a special invite last month to the Masters.
When he tees off at Augusta National Golf Club on 9 April, he will be the second youngest player ever to compete in the major.
"My ultimate goal is to win the Masters. But to achieve that goal I have set up small goals in each practice and hopefully I can get to the final goal," said Ishikawa, the youngest player to break into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Ishikawa played a nine-hole practice round Tuesday morning in wet conditions with PGA Tour veterans JJ Henry and Chris DiMarco. He said the pair were full of good advice and the reality of being an international golf pro is slowly starting to sink in.
"Both players were so kind," Ishikawa said. "They gave me advice on pin positions on every single hole.
"Playing on the US Tour has always been what I wanted to do and to be able to do so with players I admire was almost like a dream. But it didn't pass like a dream. It was very satisfying."
Ishikawa hopes his success will inspire more Japanese youngsters to pick up a set of clubs.
"I was inspired by (Shigeki) Maruyama when I was young so I want to be like Maruyama. I want to inspire as many juniors in Japan as possible."
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