Players choose their own ways to get ready for the tournament on the practice day. The rules for the practice round are very simple, there is 4 slots in each practice round starting time, you come to the course and just write your name on the time you prefer.

Ryo Ishikawa says, "I rather have the tournament like atmosphere in my practice rounds. So, I chose very tough group for the practice round today. I think the tournament grouping might be much easier. I chose the tough group for myself."

The group he chose was with the legend, 48 times winner on the Japan Tour, Tommy Nakajima.
Tommy is scheduled to enter only 3 tournaments this year, so Ryo was very motivated to take the chance to play a round with him.
"I wanted to learn every little detail from the legend. The slight gap and touch he created during the round gave me many hints."
Ryo also gained enough confidence in this situation with the legend and also got his feelings back on his driver as well.

"If I estimate on the PGA Tour quality, I think I could end up in 100th amongst 200 players in the field. Which is getting much better than before. I gained additional 2 to 3 yards for my distance and my accuracy is getting better. It goes further and straight now."

Ryo feels that his roadway back to PGA Tour is at half point now.
"I think I managed to step up to 2nd level now. Almost to the halfway point."

His season opening was not as he wanted to be due to the injury, but his 3 times a week training effort are paying off.
"I am getting used to muscle aches."
For the past 2 weeks, during the Japan Tour's off weeks, he joined the Futures Tour and another one outside of the Tour. He is in good condition and ready to beat the course.

Last year when he made his first appearance at this venue, he was in the final group on the final day but couldn't close it with a win. He finished 3 shot behind the winner Akiyoshi. Ryo is eager to grab his victory in this tournament, in Fukushima Prefecture.

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