Article

Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup Shishido Hills 2019

Ryo Ishikawa moves on to the 3rd Round just above the cutline

Ryo Ishikawa has done it. On his first tournament after coming back from the injury, he was on the bubble during his 2nd round which was extended to two days due to the bad weather suspension.

He restarted his 2nd Round at 6:40 from his 2nd shot at the 11th hole. The shot from the wet and nasty rough ended as a bogey, and he also bogeyed the next 12th hole which lead him to go way under the cutline. But Ryo managed to grab birdies on 13th and 15th to bounce back. Then on the last 18th, he struggled to make his 2nd shot from the rough to the back edge of the green and saved his par by making it in 2 putts.

Since Ryo was just at the cutline while he was making his par saving putt, when the ball found the bottom of the cup, the fans gathering the 18th green cheered with joy. And Ryo answered by raising both of his arms with joy.

He barely made the cutline, but he says, "I am extremely happy because I am confident with my driver again."

He has challenged this Shishido 6 times and failed to make the cut for 4 times. He chose this first Major of the Reiwa Era as his comeback tournament after WD with the injury at The Crowns early in May. He chose this tournament, but there were many things that worried him, especially the Tee box placement which was difficult for his shots to conquer. Yet Ryo made it happen. He has made himself move on to the weekends on a Major, after over 1 month of sitting out from the tournaments.

When Ryo finished his 2nd Round it was just after 9 am, but huge number of fans gathered around the 18th green to cheer and congratulate him. He stopped by those fans and gave back his best fan services. Then he went into the club house to settle and started to prepare for his 3rd Round which will resume from 1 pm.