Teenager Ishikawa to launch PGA Tour season at Riviera

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan reacts on the second hole during the final day's singles competition at the Europe vs Asia Royal Trophy golf tournament at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi province, January 10, 2010.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Japanese teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa will make his first appearance on the 2010 PGA Tour at next month's Northern Trust Open, the same event where he made his debut on the U.S. circuit last year.

Ishikawa, already one of Japan's biggest sporting celebrities, has been awarded a Commissioner's foreign exemption to compete in the Feb. 4-7 event at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

The multi-millionaire schoolboy was a major drawcard at Riviera last year, despite missing the cut. He helped attract huge galleries for the tournament and his presence led the number of journalists attending the event to double.

"I look forward to returning to the United States and competing against the world's best on the PGA Tour next month," Ishikawa, 18, said in a statement released by the Tour on Wednesday.

"I enjoyed my experience at the Northern Trust Open in 2009 and am excited about playing the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the first time, as well as experiencing the matchplay format in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship."

Ishikawa, who became the Japanese Tour's youngest order of merit winner in 2009, has been given a Commissioner's foreign exemption for the Feb. 11-14 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Ishikawa will automatically qualify for the elite WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, which takes place in Marana, Arizona from Feb. 17-21, as long as he maintains his place in the world's top 50.

He was ranked 30th at the start of this week.

Nicknamed the 'Bashful Prince' because of his unassuming demeanour, he shot to fame in May 2007 when he became the youngest winner on the Japanese circuit at 15 years eight months.

The local media were quick to label Ishikawa the 'Japanese Tiger' and his marketability gave the Japanese Tour a timely boost at a time when sponsorship and interest were on the wane.

Ishikawa's pearly white grin has already made him one of the most photographed celebrities in Japan and last month he was named his country's top professional athlete for the second year running.

(Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)