Japanese teen Ishikawa to make debut on PGA Tour

[January 21, 2009]  TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa will play in his first PGA Tour event at the Transitions Championship in March.

Ishikawa will make his first Tour appearance on a sponsor's exemption at the March 19-22 event at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Ishikawa, who helped Asia beat Europe to win the Royal Trophy match play event for the first time earlier this month, has revived interest in men's golf in Japan.

Ishikawa achieved celebrity status in May of 2007 when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at age 15, making him the youngest winner of a Japanese tour event.

He turned pro in 2008 and became the youngest professional to win on the Japan tour at the Mynavi ABC Championship in November. Ishikawa also became the youngest player on the Japanese tour to reach $1 million in single-year winnings and was named Rookie of the Year.

[Associated Press]

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