As the Royal Trophy approaches
and the Captains and Players go through
their final preparations for the showdown
between Europe and Asia, there is
great attention on how the seventeen
year old Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa
will perform when facing the Jose
Maria Olazabal selection of great
golfers. Will the young age turn out
to be a positive or negative factor?
Will his youth, courage and confidence
be more significant than his perceived
lack of experience? All of these questions
will be answered at the tee boxes,
fairways and greens of the 7,470-yard
immaculate Amata Spring Country Club.
The fantastically popular champion
has taken the time to give us an early
view into what we can expect of him
during the three days of continental
golf battle.
Question:
How important for you is it to have
been nominated to play for Asia at
such a young age?
Ryo Ishikawa:
I am very pleased to have been nominated
as a member of the Asian Team for
the Royal Trophy. I am very excited
about the prospect of playing for
Asia.
Question:
You are the youngest player to ever
win a Tour title anywhere in the world.
Tell us about that historic final
round which took place when you were
only fifteen years old.
Ryo Ishikawa:
It was a dream round. I kept on trying
to make birdies all day. I never once
looked at the scoreboard. I only knew
I was leading after I’d holed out.
Question:
What are your basic plans and targets
for the future?
Ryo Ishikawa:
I want to play against the world’s
best players. I want to win Majors.
The Masters is my biggest goal.
Question:
Do you think that you turned pro at
the right time? You were still only
seventeen when you became the youngest
professional in the history of the
Japan Golf Tour.
Ryo Ishikawa:
As I have said, I want to play with
the top players in the world. Turning
pro was an important step to achieve
my dreams.
Question:
You will be playing with a very strong
selection of the Asian Continent’s
best Players. But you are also a great
champion in your own right having
already won two titles in the Japan
Golf Tour and finishing second twice
in 2008 - in the prestigious Japan
Open and Dunlop Phoenix tournaments.
How do you feel about it?
Ryo Ishikawa:
I am very excited about representing
our Continent. I am really looking
forward to working together with my
team mates to deliver the best result
for Asia. I am also looking forward
to learning from the experience of
playing side by side with such experienced
players.
Question:
Tell us your feeling about playing
under the legendary Japanese golfer
Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki and against a
strong selection of the best European
golfers including the two-time Masters
winner and holder of thirty career
titles Jose Maria Olazabal.
Ryo Ishikawa:
I am very excited about being led
by Captain Ozaki and it will be great
to play against such a great group
of European players. It will be a
great challenge and also a great opportunity
for me and for our entire Asian Team.
The Royal Trophy will take place
on January 9-11 at Amata Spring Country
Club. Four foursomes matches will
be played on Friday January 9, followed
by four four-ball matches on Saturday.
Sunday will bring the conclusion of
the Championship with Europe and Asia
clashing on eight singles matches,
to be immediately followed by the
presentation of the sixteen-kilogram
solid–silver Trophy which was graciously
donated by His Majesty the King of
Thailand.
On Tuesday January 6 at 4:30pm the
Royal Trophy Ceremonial Opening Shot
will take place at the purpose-built
‘Par 3 Hole’ at CentralWorld Square,
officially opening the week of golf
festivities. In attendance will be
European Team Captain Olazabal, Asian
Team Captain Ozaki, Thai golfing hero
Thongchai Jaidee and three additional
Royal Trophy Players. The stars will
face a pressure-packed narrow wedge
tee shot to a four hundred square
meter green with one of Bangkok’s
busiest roads surrounding the right
side and South East Asia’s largest
shopping complex threatening from
the right. Admission is free of charge. |
