Ryo Ishikawa might have been more edgy reading a exclusive call from Arnold Palmer than when he won on the Japan Golf Tour at period 15 to become the youngest combatant on any recognized tour. Ishikawa, a 17-year-old awareness who already has risen to No. 60 in the world, has accepted a sponsor's impunity to flexibility in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 23-26 at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. Palmer, who has a the past of recognizing intercontinental players before they realize stardom, wrote to Ishikawa in December. "I have been following your achievements in Japan and I am unequivocally impressed with what you have skilful at such a pubescent age," Palmer said in his letter.
"I also make out that you have expressed an involvement in alluring your heroic to another unfluctuating by playing some tournaments on the foreign scene with your eye on the future. "This leads me to suggest that you might for instance to come to Florida next March and rival in my Arnold Palmer Invitational." Ishikawa, who won the mynavi ABC Championship form year and finished fifth on the Japan simoleons list, responded to the spell at the rear week.
He will get one of two exemptions that the PGA Tour commissioner reserves for worldwide players. "When I received your letter, I was so thrilled that my hands became unsupported holding your letter," Ishikawa wrote. "I am so honored to monkeyshines your tournaments with such a great field.
Although this is only my younger year as a adept golfer and I stress to put to on a lot of things, it will be a great ordeal for my career. I will do my best." Tiger Woods is the defending guard at Bay Hill and could be back on cruise by then. Woods has not played since knee surgery a week after captivating the U.S. Open in June.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational will not be the PGA Tour debut for Ishikawa. He also is expected to sustain a sponsor's exclusion to the Northern Trust Open next month at Riviera in Los Angeles, and Nikkansports reported Wednesday that he will enjoy oneself the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook a week before Bay Hill. Ishikawa made olden days in 2007 as a 15-year-old freshman in inebriated sect by successful the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, the youngest conquering hero on a period of service recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking. He is known as the "Shy Prince" for his unassuming demeanor, but he already is amidst the most acclaimed sportsmen in Japan.
Along with his beforehand crushing as a pro, he was runner-up at the Japan Open and the famous Dunlop Phoenix, where defunct champions cover Woods and Padraig Harrington. Palmer's allure continues a lore of spotting under age inclination and being among the maiden to invite them to PGA Tour events. Previous Bay Hill exemptions were given to two-time Masters promote Jose Maria Olazabal in 1990, and to a two of a kind of three-time serious champions -- Ernie Els of South Africa and Vijay Singh of Fiji -- who were playing the European Tour in 1993.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press This version is from ESPN.com's automated communication wire.
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