Callaway is excited to announce that we’ve signed global golf superstar Ryo Ishikawa to a multi-year deal as he prepares to play the PGA Tour this season!
Still just 21-year-olds, Ishikawa already owns one of the strongest resumes on any Tour. He’s been one of golf’s biggest stars since May of 2007, when he became the youngest Japanese Tour winner ever at just 15 years and 8 months old.
Ishikawa turned professional in 2008, dominated the Japanese Tour with four wins in 2009 and that same year became the youngest golfer to ever reach the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings. Long story short, the kid has game and a winning track record to boot.
A 10-time winner on the JGTO, Ishikawa will play the new RAZR Fit Xtreme Driver and the Odyssey Putters he has used throughout his career, including nine of his professional victories. He’ll also wear Callaway-branded apparel, caps, gloves and footwear inside the ropes.
“I am very happy to join (the) Callaway team,” Ishikawa said. “I believe the wonderful innovation and support Callaway gives to its many great staff players will help me grow as I compete on the PGA Tour this year.” The Company is ecstatic to bring him on board, just ask our President and CEO, Chip Brewer.
“Ryo is an exciting, young international talent who has proven he can compete and win at the highest level,” Brewer said. “And not only is he an accomplished golfer, Ryo is an extraordinary and generous young man. We are proud that he has chosen our products for their exceptional performance, and we are excited to welcome Ryo to Team Callaway.”
Ishikawa has made a splash in the U.S. with strong showings in The Masters, U.S. Open and WGC events. He also endeared himself to golfers around the world in March 2011, when he announced that he would donate his 2011 Tour earnings, plus an additional 100,000 yen for every one of his birdies, to the Japan earthquake relief efforts. You can see why he’s easy to root for.
Ryo’s first event as a Callaway Staff Pro will be the Humana Challenge next week, followed by the Farmer’s Insurance Open. To learn more about Ishikawa, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Tags: Callaway, Ishikawa, Odyssey, RAZR Fit Xtreme, Ryo
