Tournament article
Shigeo Nagashima Invitational SEGASAMMY Cup Golf Tournament 2019
Ryo Ishikawa keeps his top position on the leaderboard after Round 2
Japan Golf Tour had 6 weeks off away from the tournaments, seemed like the enthusiasm among the fans were faded away. But Players' Chairman Ryo Ishikawa played so well and filled course with lots of excitements and the heat of the moment was back!
Even under bad weather conditions, many gathered around Ryo's group. In front of the big crowd, Ryo satisfied them with 4 straight birdies. On that first birdie at 6th hole, the putt was 7 meters, and the ball wondered a bit but eventually found the bottom of the hole. At that moment, Ryo kneeled down on the green, somewhat unique gesture by him, but the crowd roared.
On the tough Par 3 16th hole, Ryo made his only bogey of the day, but he bounced back by nailing 11-meter birdie putt on the next 17.
"These days, including Hideki Matsuyama, many players drive it long and keeps the fairways. In order to fight against those players, I need to brush up on my iron shot accuracy. I need to take advantage on getting close to the pin precisely."
Ryo has been putting much weight on his short iron practices, and it is working as he showed by getting dead close to the pin on 7 and 8 holes today.
This week Ryo is showing his new look, by wearing the Callaway's new brand, "Travis Mathew" which will come out in September. So even though the rain fall was getting harder, he didn't put on his rain wear, since it makes it uncomfortable to swing too. So, even in cold wet condition, he stayed wearing the new brand's half sleeve shirt.
After he finished with 6 under 66, he changed his wet clothes and rushed to the fan meeting plaza. He spoke for full 30 minutes at the interview stand and thanked the crowds warm cheering.
He made many fans smile even in the drenched weather, now he will focus on making the 2 victories in a row since his win at Japan PGA in June.
"I have done well so far, but it's just halfway point. I would like to get as many birdies as I can tomorrow and get the momentum."