News
Ishikawa accepts 2012 PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership
By Seth Kerr
GolfWRX Staff Writer
Ryo Ishikawa has accepted special temporary membership to the PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2012 season. In just six starts, Ishikawa has earned $582,471.00, largely based on his second place finish at the Puerto Rico Open, to surpass the No. 150 ranking on the 2011 money list, which is necessary to qualify for special temporary membership.
Ishikawa’s second place finish at the Puerto Rico is his best finish on Tour and third career top ten.
As a result, Ishikawa is eligible to receive unlimited sponsorship exemptions; however, Ishikawa is unable to receive any FedEx Cup points. If the Masters is any indicator, Ishikawa should have no problem receiving as many exemptions as he wants.
The 20 year old, who has won nine times on the Japan Tour, received his second exemption to play in the Masters this year.
In 2011, Ishikawa donated all his winnings plus 100,000 Japanese yen for each birdie to the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. At the time he said, “I always believe in myself, but because I am playing for the people of Japan, I feel like I will be playing with a greater purpose this year.”
Ishikawa is already ranked 51st on the all-time money list on the Japan Tour at 539,586,299 yen, which equals approximately $6,458,119.74.
On the course, Ishikawa is most well known for his final round, 12-under par, 58, to win The Crowns tournament for his seventh Japan Tour title on May 2, 2010. The 12-birdie, no bogey round is the lowest ever on a major tour.
However, the course was only 6,545 yards, which is vastly different from the courses he will face on the PGA Tour. In contrast, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill this week in Orlando is played on a course 7,381 yards long.
Ishikawa is already a golf icon in the Far East and it will be interesting to see if he can garner the same acclaim in America. Similar to Rickie Fowler, Ishikawa’s name and hype have attracted a much younger audience to the game.
However, neither player has been able to break through for their first victory and Ishikawa has struggled to find consistency in a limited schedule. Perhaps with a full season of sponsor’s exemptions, Ishikawa will have the break through so many are expecting.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Rory: I’m not joining LIV | Masters ratings | Nelly: We just need a stage
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
- LIKE9
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Aberg: I want to be No. 1 | Rory’s management blasts ‘fake news’ reports
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty