Japan's Ishikawa misses PGA cut but gains respect at Riviera

Ryo Ishikawa's PGA Tour debut ended with an early Northern Trust Open exit, but the Japanese teenage sensation said he would build on this experience to get better in the future.

"I am disappointed I wasn't able to play all four days but I did learn a lot," Ishikawa said. "Even though I only played two days and missed the cut, I don't look at it as a failure.

"It gives me more incentive to work harder on my game to be able to play at this level."

Ishikawa carded an respectable even-par 71 Friday for a two round total of two-over 144. He didn't make the cut but neither did USPGA Tour player of the year Padraig Harrington or Fijian-Indian Vijay Singh.

"I have always dreamed to be able to perform on this stage at the PGA Tour," Ishikawa said. "Being able to play here the last two days has been a dream come true for me."

Ishikawa parred his first six holes Friday before running into problems with his putter.

"I really need to work on my putting," he said. "Yesterday I was really nervous and not so much today.

"I hit the driver well, I just wasn't able to follow up with some good iron shots and good putts. Pressure and nerves had something to do with it."

Ishikawa, of Saitama, was making his professional debut in the United States at this week's event at the Riviera Country Club.

Ishikawa generated a huge buzz for his appearance as a throng of Japanese media followed his every shot.

Ishikawa, who is ranked 67th in the world, will play in two more USPGA tournaments over the coming months.

He has also accepted a sponsor's invitation to the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Transitions Championship.

Already a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Ishikawa became the youngest winner on the Japan circuit when he captured the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at 15 years, eight months.

Still a high school student, Ishikawa has established himself on the Japan tour after one year as a professional by winning another event and finishing runner-up at the Japan Open and the Dunlop Phoenix event. He received a special invite last month to The Masters.

When he tees off at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, he will be the second youngest player ever to compete in the major.

Golf Channel show honors Stills' impact

Adrian Stills has a special place in golf history, former Woodham coach Michael Smith is helping youth athletes with special instruction, and the Civic Center can still create a hockey game, if a team should come.

Golf Channel salutes Stills1.

All these years, his place in history escaped Adrian Stills.

Fortunately, being part of a documentary reminded him.

Stills, 51, a Pensacola native and Catholic High graduate who now is head golf pro at Osceola Municipal Golf Course, is part of a program entitled "Uneven Fairways'' airing on The Golf Channel. The documentary delves into the former Negro Golf Leagues and the struggles of black golfers to gain access to courses and professional tournaments.

The next replay is at 8 p.m. Saturday, then again at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.

Stills is profiled for his status as the last black golfer to qualify for the PGA Tour through the grueling Tour qualifying tournament. He did it 1985.

Others have come close. But no one else has made it. Tiger Woods, of course, never qualified. He earned PGA Tour status in 1996 by winning the Las Vegas Invitational, which jump-started his amazing career.

Stills went the hardest route.

"Until it was brought to my attention when they asked me to be part of the show, I had no idea I am still the last African-American to do it,'' said Stills, who played a full season in 1986 on the PGA Tour. "It's really special. I cherish all the players from that era and beyond like Lee Elder and Charlie Sifford, who overcame so much before me."