Ryo Ishikawa breaks into Top 50 to reserve a berth at the US Open
Japanese Golf sensation, Ryo Ishikawa has finally broken into the Top 50 players in the world rankings to ensure his place at the coveted US Open at the Congressional next month.
Ishikawa finished runner-up in the Totoumi Hamamatsu Open at the Japan Tour to surge to 49th position when he suffered a defeat by the Masanori Kobayashi, who won his first title on the Japan Tour. Kobayashi beat Ishikawa on second extra hole,
after both players were locked in at even par after the final 18 holes.
The 35-year-old Kobayashi has not won on the tour before and managed to keep a check on trailblazing Ishikawa and pushed the round all the way to the playoff. While Kobayashi went over to birdie the second extra hole, Ishikawa’s ball just lipped out of the
hole, giving Kobayashi his maiden victory.
Earlier in the day, Ishikawa had fired a final round score of eight-under, 64 to put himself in contention for the top slot as both the players finished tied for 20-under. Two shots behind the leaders was Yuta Ikeda, who finished 18-under.
Ishikawa, is among many of the big guns of the sport which are leaning on their better performances in the coming weeks, hoping to break into the Top 50 in the world rankings. Being in the Top 50 would thereby give them the chance to be part of the field
at the US Open without going through the qualifiers.
Ishikawa moved four spots up the rankings and will have to do well to sustain the position for the next three weeks before the Top 50 are finally selected for the championship a week before the tournament tees off.
PGA Tour allocates the least points to the Japan Tour, and Ishikawa who was lurking at the 53rd spot for some time, needed a strong finish, if not the top, to confirm a place at the US Open. He finished tied for 20th in the Masters
last month and played brilliantly well in the season.
American Ryan Moore, has now surged to 41 in Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and will also have to maintain his position in the coming weeks. Matteo Manassero, the rising Italian golfer, and Peter Hansen, also broke into the coveted 50’s club, ensuring
a place for the upcoming US Open. Manassero is currently ranked 36th in the world rankings.
The 44-year-old David Toms, this week’s winner of the Crown Plaza Invitational, has also managed to reserve a birth for the second major event of golf for the year. Toms defeated Charlie Wi at the historic Colonial Country Club to end up 28th
on the OWGR.
Aaron Baddeley, the young Australian Golfer who played splendidly well in the Volvo Match Play Championship, has also secured a place for the event. He, along with Rory Sabbatini made it into the US open with their position on the PGA Tour Money List.
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