As of last week, the record single round golf score at a major golf tour event was 59. That mark was shared by Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, and David Duval on the PGA Tour and Annika Sorenstam on the LPGA.
Until yesterday.
Sunday Ryo Ishikawa shot 58 to win the Japan Tour’s ‘The Crowns’ tournament at the 6,545-yard Nagoya Golf Club. He missed a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole for a 57.
Japan Tour Executive Director Andy Yamanaka noted Ishikawa’s performance was no accident. “That is one of the toughest golf courses in Japan. He went out in 28 (strokes) yesterday. Amazing,” he said.
Ishikawa overcame a six stroke deficit to win the event, passing third-round leader Shigeki Maruyama.
The teenager has already won seven times on the Japan Tour, and as you would expect, has become a huge celebrity in his home country. So huge that Japan Tour Director Yamanaka said Ishikawa has a chance to make more money than any Japanese athlete in history.
“I couldn’t estimate the figures,” said Yamanaka, letting escape a long sigh. Under the current economic circumstances it is very important to have Ryo Ishikawa on the tour.
“Because of his presence there is more income or sponsors and better ticket sales of course.
“But TV ratings for tournaments where he is playing well are above 10 percent — which for golf is unbelievable.”
Ishikawa’s ultra-bright smile and good manners have also helped boost his celebrity, with mothers dragging their children to watch him play.
“You have no idea how many women and kids come to watch,” said Yamanaka. “Not just young ladies but mothers who want their kids to be like Ryo Ishikawa.
“It’s not just his golf game, it’s his charisma and his ability to behave on and off the course. It’s not enough now to be a great athlete. You have to be perfect in every aspect.”
Losing their cash cow to more lucrative overseas tours remains a constant fear for JGTO officials.
“He’s got 19 endorsements and more than 12 or 13 TV commercials,” said Yamanaka. “We worry about the future — him going to the U.S. or Europe and imagine if that happens what would our tour become?”
Asked about Ishikawa’s projected future earnings making him Japan’s first billion dollar athlete, Yamanaka said: “It could even be more than that!”
If Ishikawa continues to perform like he did on Sunday, there’s no doubt we’ll see him dropping in on more PGA Tour events, if not for the prestige alone.
Is Ishikawa the next Tiger Woods? For his sake, I hope not.
10:20 am on May 3rd, 2010
big deal…..i shoot 58 all the time….and it takes me less holes to do it too
10:29 am on May 3rd, 2010
58 has been shot on the Nationwide tour and once on another tour (can’t remember). Nationwide tour is considered a “major” tour and I would argue players are just as good or better than the Japanese PGA.
10:33 am on May 3rd, 2010
What does being the next Tiger or not have to do with his sake?
11:08 am on May 3rd, 2010
name the person who shot 58 on the Nationwide tour? didn’t happen
12:39 pm on May 3rd, 2010
What would be more impressie is if he did it on a course measuring +7000 yrds like when Duval shot 59. I’m not killing the guy but to do it on a course of 6500 yds is like a man playing the LPGA.
1:12 pm on May 3rd, 2010
BFD!!!!! I shot 57 on agolf course in Wildwood NJ last summer on the boardwalk!!
2:48 pm on May 3rd, 2010
My other issue with this record on top of the length is the fact that it was a par 70 golf course. Not 72 which is the standard. It’s still an awesome achievement but not a record by any means.
6:50 pm on May 3rd, 2010
Anyone who has been on those Jap courses, they know that it is not anywhere near the difficulty of a normal PGA tournament course.
Rough is light and flow-through….greens are slower and easier to read.
Shooting what he did was VERY good but what Rory did was 10x harder