Ryo Ishikawa

Show pony ...

He'd better win something soon, or those will be the last autographs he gives out, other than to guests of his marketing company at exclusive tournaments in Japanese country clubs...

As long as he continue to be popular at Japanese tournaments he will be around for a longtime. The Japanese media really don't expect him to win anything overseas. He is young and cute that is all that matters.

not wearing pink today Ryo?

not wearing pink today Ryo?

there is! look on his right arm, a pink line.

so there is LOL

I'm already tired of seeing his face on posters, and he's won the square root of b*gger all in serious golf tournaments so far.

Every time I see those ANA adverts, I thank myself he's driving golf balls and not flying planes.

He models himself on Ian Poulter but at least the guy has won something...yeah he'll still be popular in Japan like Jumbo Ozaki....I'd mint it if I could as well so good luck to him.

How can a foreigner get started on the Japanese circuit? Hypothetically?

ishikawa is 17 poulter is 33..

Hypothetically, you have to be good. Like shoot what they call + nowadays. That means you are at least 2 better than par, from the back tees, at difficult courses. Then you have to win regional amateur tournaments, and after that you can think about qualifying for the japanese circuit by entering their annual Q-school tournament held in Kyushu in December. On a relavant note, I know a Japanese professional (late 20's) tall and handsome like Ishikawa-san, who tried to play a few tournaments on the Nike tour in USA. After just a few weeks, he realized there was NO WAY he'd ever be able to compete with the depth of players in the USA, and he high-tailed it back to being a teaching pro at one of the ranges here, while he tries now for the 3rd time to place in the top 50 of J'S-Q-school tournament this December. So as much as we might pooh-pooh Ishikawa Ryo for not having what it takes to make it big on the REAL stage of International play, let's give him at least 5-10 more years to develop his talent as an adult player before we write him off into the land of has-beens. Good Luck Ryo, and those that he's inspiring in the new generation. Go to the country side ranges here in Japan and you'll be amazed at how long they practice, and how many good players there seem to be.

Hypothetically? Oh, you mean how would foreigners come over here and qualify like Brendan Jones etc? They can either receive an invitation from the JPGA for performance to date, or they can do the above qualifying circuit, ie. qualifying in Japan by winning at a certain authorized tournaments, the Qualifing School in Kyushu in December being one.

isthistheend,

Thanks!!! That was really informative.

isthistheend,

That was real informative. Now, how does one get good enough at golf to qualify? Is wearing pink the answer? It does wonders for Ryo.

Photo shows him with a lot of muscle in the right arm to also a strong wrist & probaly larger then average Jpn people. So he does good in Jpn & is liked by others which is good for the sport along with him. Good photo of a young golfer that is liked by many in his home country.

His physique is quite average. His arm doesn't look muscular at all. I have seen junior high school kids here in Japan with more definition and muscle.