Obligatory pics showcasing his style, because this guy is mad baller imo:






I haven't been this intrigued by an athlete - more specifically a golfer - in a long time. I'm sure most of you are much more familiar now with his story after the President's Cup, but for those of you who still don't know about Japan's Bashful Prince:

- He's currently 41st in the Official World Golf Rankings - the youngest player ever to crack the World's Top 50
- He was 2nd only to Tiger in worldwide wins during 2009, with 4 victories on the Japanese Tour
- He earns approximately $10 million US in endorsements per year; marquee sponsors include Toyota, Panasonic and Yonex (who've invested billions of Yen relaunching their golf product line, using Ryo as their marketing centerpiece)
- He's been given the responsibility of single-handedly rekindling interest in the Japan Tour and igniting a Japanese golf revolution in the process - no small feat considering it's a target market of almost 130 million people
- And oh yea...he's only 18 freakin' years old

This kid has a ton of game. Perhaps more importantly, he apparently already possesses the maturity and work ethic required to properly complement his immense talent; something that perhaps eluded past boy wonders such as Sergio and Justin Rose.

The game is blessed right now with a plethora of emerging young talent: McIlroy, Kaymer, A-Kim, Villegas, O'Hair, Fisher, etc...the competitive parity on tour won't be decreasing any time soon. Ishikawa is just as talented as any of the aforementioned golfers, whilst arguably possessing a marketability, both in his homeland and abroad, that easily sets him apart from any comparable peer - and he's still just a teenager.

I know he's going to be really good, but my question is how good? Can he break away from this emerging next-gen pack and become the next Tiger? Is there any ceiling on his potential, golf or otherwise? Should a negative reaction to so much external pressure be expected and accounted for in his growth curve? And just how important is he to the overall growth of the game - both grassroots and professional - in Asia?

I love the headcovers, the fact that it looks like he is being sodomized in them is unfortunate.

glad to see yonex is back in the game

i hope it works!

I think McIlroy is a better player and will have a better career. I don't think anyone out there is a "next Tiger"

So is he going to continue playing on the Japan tour or is he moving here. I really cannot see myself watching a Japan tour event just to watch this guy.

He was paired with Tiger at the British Open (where they both failed to make the cut) and played against him at the President's Cup. He should be able to play in most of the majors but I doubt that he will go on the US Tour in the near future.

He reminds me a lot of Tiger, very mature and well spoken for someone of his age. He is improving quickly now as his body strength increases so he doesn't have to swing at 110% on every shot. Like Tiger he was taught by his father, but he will need better coaching to reach the top.

He's going to be really really good, but the next Tiger? I don't think so. Guys like that tend to space themselves apart. Jones, Hogan, Nicklaus, Woods, they had very little overlap.

Instead of being the next Tiger he can be the first Ryo.

I think the sooner he starts competing with more of the top players the better. It's a long way from home for an 18 y.o., and he might not be ready/feel compelled to. I figure we'll see him at the majors and the WGC events at least, so that should be fun.

He is obviously good, but he has to actually go out there and do it. Tons of guys have all of the talent to challenge Tiger, they just fall short. Just look at Sergio.

I don't get all the "next Tiger" comparisons...it's off-topic and not at all applicable (much like any "next Jordan" talk in the NBA).

That being said, this guy is really someone to keep an eye on. I can hardly believe he's only 18 by watching him play on TV. Obv he's already huge in Japan, but we should be seeing a lot more of him soon.

When I was in Japan in May last year I was cringing for this then 16 year old who they were heaping pressure on. He had talent but his game lacked maturity and they were following him into the port-o-loos.

Thankfully he had to finish HS and the couple months he took off the tour then seemed to lessen the intensity on him and he came back and won a tournament and finished second in their Dunlop Phoenix (biggest event akin to Masters on US Tour).

He IS the next Tiger in terms of his ability to handle intense scrutiny and pressure. He has proven he knows how to win AND that he is not afraid to work on his game to improve. Some guys are too scared to mess with what got them on tour when deep down they know it's not good enough to take them to the top.

Having said that....there will be no next Tiger woods until his light has been long put out. But Ryo is going to give it his best shot.

How many times do we hear the Next Tiger or the next big thing in Golf

Adam Scott
Anthony Kim

Just a few who so far have not played out.

It seems awfully premature to suggest that Kim "has not played out".

and I think everybody realizes that "the next Tiger" means "the next elite young golfer" and not "the next best golfer ever" (or at least they should)

Yeah Anthony Kim is a huge bust being 24 and having already played very well in a president's cup and winning 2 tournaments in 2008...

edit: Oh and 7 million in career earnings, 30th on this year's money list, 6th on last years world golf rankings, a solid ryder cup performance and being one of Nike's key commercial golf assets seems not too bad either...

AK isn't a huge bust but he doesn't have the work ethic Tiger does. There's only 2 players I can see being on Tiger's level but will possibly only make maybe Phil's level and they are Rickie Fowler and Ryo.

Phils level is insane if you take Tiger away so getting to that point, is unreal. It's just Tiger isn't human, he's a robot

I guess I just thought it was absurd to be "writing off" anthony kim at this point. Especially after the President's Cup he had.

Fair enough I had a tough time coming up with some of the other names as they dissapeared from the PGA.

My apologies Anthony Kim still young.

nice post.

I don't know that there has ever been a 17 year old in the top 40 world rankings, so I'm kind of curious what more Ishikawa has to do to qualify as an elite young golfer. Win a couple of green jackets by the time he turns 20?

I would say he already qualifies as an elite young golfer fwiw.

I am not even sure if he is expected to compete on the PGA next year? If so win a tournament.

With golf miss a putt or two a round and it may mean the difference between the PGA or Nationwide tour or neither.

Though I also was very impressed with him at the Presidents cup. One of Normans good picks

This is what I'd like people to say.

Some thing like. Needs to win. Needs to win on the PGA. Needs to win a major. Needs to be in the 20. Needs to be top 5. whatever.

Personally, I think these sorts of things are way over the top. Ridiculous even. Casey, Westwood, Harrington, Stenson are 4-7 in the world rankings, didn't win last year on the PGA to my knowledge. Are they elite?

Anyway. I expect Ishikawa to play the WGCs, the majors, and maybe toss in Bay Hill and Memorial if Arnie and Jack apply some pressure. To me the kid is already an elite figure, the next step is making some cuts, learning the courses, figuring out how to balance his international commitments, etc.

[QUOTE=shemp;13914668]Casey, Westwood, Harrington, Stenson are 4-7 in the world rankings, didn't win last year on the PGA to my knowledge. Are they elite?QUOTE]


Not sure what you mean by 'last year'. If 2008, Harrington won two majors. If 2009, Casey won in Houston. Stenson won at Sawgrass.


Also haven't seen it mentioned, Ishikawa lost a playoff in Japan last week. I think he had won back-to-back weeks before the President's Cup.

Point being, nothing left to prove in Japan so I'd be shocked if he didn't play the tournaments shemp mentioned plus more...

I forgot about Stenson, and somehow missed Casey's win. Thanks.

if he played full time on pga tour last yr he wouldnt even be close to 40 in the worlds. but playing with scrubs week in week out will move him up the list quickly. look at some of the guys who play in europe who are quite high in the rankings...barely heard of some of them.