SPORTS: GOLF - Teen golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa announces he is going professional

Record ID: 463631

  • Title: SPORTS: GOLF - Teen golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa announces he is going professional
  • Date: 11th January 2008
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 10, 2008) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) PRESS CONFERENCE CROWDS AS RYO ISHIKAWA ENTERS PHOTOGRAPHERS CROWDING TOGETHER TO TAKE PICTURE OF ISHIKAWA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RYO ISHIKAWA, 16-YEAR OLD PROFESSIONAL GOLFER SAYING: "From now on I am Ryo Ishikawa, the pro-golfer. Nice to meet you all." MEMBER OF THE PRESS TAKING PICTURE ISHIKAWA SIGNING PROFESSIONAL GOLFER CONTRACT AND SHOWING IT OFF PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RYO ISHIKAWA, 16-YEAR OLD PROFESSIONAL GOLFER SAYING: "Competing on tour and studying at the same time may be at times difficult. But I have decided not to give up and have decided that I am ready to challenge myself and do both." PRESS IN THE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RYO ISHIKAWA, 16-YEAR OLD PROFESSIONAL GOLFER SAYING: "I want to play with Tiger (Woods) in future" PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ISHIKAWA HOLDING UP HIS CONTRACT PRESS AND ISHIKAWA RYO ISHIKAWA AND HIS FATHER KATSUMI ISHIKAWA
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4UH3K38A609YFJYABTTS8XZTH
  • Story Text: Japan's 16-year-old high school student and star amateur golfer Ryo Ishikawa announced he has turned professional on Thursday (January 10), becoming Japan's youngest pro-golfer.

    "From now on I am Ryo Ishikawa, the pro-golfer. Nice to meet you all," he said as he introduced himself to the hundreds of local and international press gathered to witness him signing his professional golf contract in Tokyo.
    Born on September 17, 1991, he is still in his first year of Japan's three year high school system. Ishikawa admitted that juggling both homework and golf had been a major stumbling block to his turning professional earlier and will remain his biggest concern in the near future.

    "Competing on tour and studying at the same time may be at times difficult. But I have decided not to give up and have decided that I am ready to challenge myself and do both," he said.
    Apart from competing in the Masters, Ishikawa said that his biggest dream is to play against Tiger Woods, and he did so in faltering English.

    "I want to play with Tiger (Woods) in future," he said practically turning crimson with embarassment at having to speak in English.
    Ishikawa has been nicknamed "shy smile prince" with his coy smirk which has also won him, and the game of golf in Japan, the hearts of many new fans.
    But he is not all just looks, he jumped into the spotlight earlier last year when he stunned the golf world by becoming the youngest winner on the men's top-tier professional tour in the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup last May at the age of 15.
    Ishikawa plans to play in a British Open qualifying tournament in Australia on February 5.
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