Ishikawa joins US PGA Tour for season

Updated March 20, 2012 07:21:19

Japan's 20-year-old golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa has accepted a special temporary membership on the US PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2012 season.

Ishikawa's runner-up showing at the Puerto Rico Open on March 11 gave him $550,000 in only six PGA starts, boosting him beyond the $A389,000 he needed to qualify for an exemption to join the series for the rest of the year.

The move gives Ishikawa unlimited sponsor exemptions for 2012. Previously, as a non-Tour member, he was limited to a maximum of seven sponsor exemptions and 12 PGA events.

While Ishikawa will not earn points toward the season-ending US PGA playoffs as a special member, he will have the chance to earn full membership for 2013 if his prize money total is among the top 125 players for the full 2012 season.

Ishikawa, who missed the cut at last weekend's PGA Tour event at Innisbrook in Florida, will play in this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill after earning eligibility by being among the top 50 in world rankings as of last week.

Ishikawa, who is ranked 50th this week, has accepted a special invitation to compete in next month's Masters tournament, the year's first major championship at famed Augusta National Golf Club.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 20, 2012 07:18:05

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Open champ Clarke joins Coolum field

Updated July 28, 2011 08:51:16

Newly-crowned British Open champion Darren Clarke has joined the star-studded field teeing off at this year's Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

Clarke, who stamped himself as one of the world's best links players with his two-shot victory at Sandwich two weeks ago, will now look to bring his form down under from November 24-27.

The Northern Irishman joins drawcards like of Greg Norman, Jason Day and American Bubba Watson in the PGA field.

"I have heard great things about Queensland and the course at Coolum so I am looking forward to playing golf in more warm conditions than I am used to and also testing my game on a different style course to that of a links," Clarke said.

"My family also can't wait to get to the Sunshine Coast."

The Irish are dominating world golf with Clarke winning The Open and his younger compatriot Rory McIlroy winning last month's US Open.

But no Irishman has ever won the Australian PGA Championship.

"Knowing that I could be the first Irishman to win the Australian PGA will be in the back of my mind when I come to play and I hope that I have plenty of fellow Irishman there to cheer me on," Clarke added.

The PGA Championship will again be co-sanctioned by OneAsia, with the tournament to be the second-last event in the race to 2011 Order of Merit honours.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted July 28, 2011 08:51:16

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