Ryo Ishikawa slipped into the 30th spot at the JT Cup with the score of last week's tournament. But he has made his chance bloom. Now he will be in the final group tomorrow on Day 3.
"I came in last, but when the game begins, everybody is on the same starting line."

As he said, he has gained the chance for most waited victory on the weekends. Ryo started at tied to the 7th on Day 2. The starting was bogey.
"I had birdie on the 2nd but was not steady on my front nine."

He missed the 4-meter eagle chance on the 6th, but after that tap in birdie, he made consecutive birdie on the 7th. And on the 9th, he drained the almost right-angled 7-meter birdie putt. He made the turn under par for the day.

He had a bogey on 11th, but par saved on 12th, made a 7-meter birdie on 13th, then he also saved himself on the 14th with a 2-meter putt.
"From 12th to 14th was all saved by putts. It could have been bogeys, but putts saved me."

Then he has shown the shot of the day at the 16th par 4. He shot his 2nd surrounded by the trees, but his full swing with the SW for 100 yards was perfect.
"I aimed to the back slope, so it will roll back for about 10 yards."
Ryo's calculation was superb. His shot landed back of the pin and used the slope as planned and got so close to the pin.

Ryo got himself into the contention, just 4 strokes behind the leader. Ryo has been assigned to be the youngest Player's Chairman this season. The magnificent finish that his predecessor, Yusaku Miyazato made last year haunts Ryo. Yusaku won the JT Cup and swiped away the Order of Merit title too.
"I was able to only see 6 months of Yusaku as the Chairman. And as for Yuta Ikeda who was the Chairman before Yusaku, I hardly know about it since I was not in the Japan Tour. I heard from both of them that their first year was tough. Everybody had hard times doing this job. But I would like to get it done well."

Ryo wants to conclude his season with a satisfying smile. He will be in the final groupings with Major Champion Y E Yang, and this year's almost Order of Merit winner Shugo Imahira.
"Both play so well because the know how to concentrate. I must have that concentration too."

Ryo has won with the 5 shot lead in year 2015, just before he left for USPGA Tour.
"I used to play so well and made lots of birdies. I may not do great as I did then, but I will try."