Naomichi Ozaki & the Curious Case of the Mouthpiece DQ

Naomichi Ozaki Photo Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images

Out of Japan yesterday came an interesting story. 

It has nothing to do with Ryo Ishikawa... who's currently T16 at the Token Homemate Cup... but instead involves Naomichi Ozaki, a brilliant player at the other end of the age spectrum, playing in the same tournament.

The 55-year-old, known as Joe, has won 32 times on the Japan Tour, has played on the PGA Tour in the 80s and 90s and has recently been playing on the Champions Tour where he's finished 2nd two times. Yesterday however, Ozaki  ran afoul of Rule 14-3.

For those who don't have their rule books handy that's the one that deals with "Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment".

The "equipment" in question is being described as a "mouthpiece" and here's what I found most interesting: it seems these "mouthpieces" can actually give a player more distance.  From what I understand, the veteran player was discussing the device... and the added distance he got from it... when the realization hit that a mouthpiece, when used for enhancement rather than protection, could be illegal.  Rules officials were asked and ultimately the result was disqualification.

For now I've only found this story in Japanese but I'm guessing there'll be more on it by tomorrow.  In the meantime I'm trying to figure out where I can obtain one of those mouthpieces.

Thank you Minoru Mike Aoki for sharing this unusual story.

Ryo Ishikawa's Engagement Defies Demographic Trends

When he arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport on Sunday, Ryo Ishikawa wasn't dwelling on his disappointment over a missed Master's cut, choosing instead to tell the gathered media of his recent engagement.

"I got engaged last month, to a junior high school classmate," revealed the 20 year old Japanese superstar, without mentioning her name.  Rumors of a Ryo romance first surfaced several months ago and speculation has been rife ever since, but the identity of the fortunate future WAG is still a mystery.

The Japanese press have described her only as "a tall, slender beauty with long black hair".  No photos were released, though it seems she was in fact, in Augusta for the Masters last week, and at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational prior to that, and was introduced a number of her fiance's close friends.

"I'm now 20 years old, so I decided the time was right" Ishikawa told reporters without elaborating.  In Japan, age 20 does hold a special significance as the year one officially comes of age, however the average marrying age in Japan is significantly old than that... 30.5 for Japanese men and 28.8 for Japanese women... and those demographic statistics are a source of concern for many of the country's economists, who worry about the subsequent declining birth rates and aging population.

For Japan it's a continuing conundrum that began quite a while ago.  One look at a chart representing Japan's birth rate over the past several decades makes that clear.  It resembles an ultra-treacherous black diamond ski slope, particularly as it's coupled with substantial increases in Japanese longevity.

The crisis is often attributed, at least in part, to the fact that young people are choosing to get married later... or not at all.   And the government has tried everything from cash incentives to policies that provide more support for working parents. They've even gone so far as to develop a government dating site to help those unable to find Mr./Mrs. Right... and in what is perhaps the cutest/coolest initiative: robot babies.

Getting back to Ryo Ishikawa, he'll be competing at the Token Tado Country Club in Nagoya, Japan this week for the Japan Golf Tour's Token Homemate Cup.  As for his recent announcement though many in the media are writing jokingly about legions of disappointed female admirers, I'm guessing that those saddled with the task of coaxing Japan's birth rate higher were delighted weren't unhappy to hear that one of the country's top role models has decided to marry so young.

Fans can congratulate Ryo on his engagment at his Panasonic site.

Ryo Ishikawa: Of Milestone Birthdays and Growing Pains

お誕生日おめでとうございます 石川 遼

Ryo Ishikawa, the Japanese teen we've been watching for almost five years is turning twenty.

When he first caught our attention almost five years ago. It was the summer of 2007 and "The Bashful Prince" was a newly minted fifteen-year-old pop culture icon,  having recently become the youngest winner ever of a men's tournament on the Japan Tour.

With a whimsical nickname and a disarming smile, he soon made his way to the international stage, turning professional in 2008,  and by the end of that year becoming the youngest player ever to reach the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings.  US golf fans discovered the young phenom in 2009 when he played in PGA Tour tournaments for the first time.

A series of impressive achievements followed as Ryo made his way to the top of the global "Promising Young Guns" shortlist.  It sometimes seemed like nothing could go wrong this precocious trajectory to the top... but... it was sort of inevitable there'd be some growing pains somewhere along the way.

Early this week I heard from friends in Japan that Ryo had been fined nearly $30,000 for missing two recent Japan Tour events.  A shoulder injury... backed up by a note from his physician... was the reason for Ryo's withdrawals, but that didn't sway the powers-that-be at the Japan Tour...  nor did the golf star's commitment to donate all of his 2011 income to the Japan's earthquake relief fund.  Then, just today at the ANA Open in Sapporo,  Ryo missed the cut in his final round as a teenager.  The star was a bit wistful when asked to comment on his upcoming birthday,  "Lonely birthday - I had planned to play this weekend".  And so go the growing pains for a very young player who has risen mercurially in world golf.

It's quite clear that Ryo is eager to compete with the top ranked players in the world, declaring recently that he "hoped to become a player who has the option of playing on the U.S. tour" at the same time he's become such a huge star in Japan that he's often seen as having single-handedly increased Japanese participation in the game... and vital to its continued growth.  One can only imagine the newly-minted-twenty-year-old is feeling the pressure of the weighty decisions that lie ahead,  however he's always shown remarkable thoughtfulness and maturity.  Despite the pressure and a few metaphorical speed bumps on his road to the top, there's little doubt among fans and followers of the game Ryo's rapid rise will continue.   お誕生日おめでとうございます 石川 遼

Thanks go to Noriko, a fellow Ryo fan from Japan who always keeps me informed.

Ryo Ishikawa Works to Resolve Short Game Struggles

 Photo: YURIKO NAKAO Credit: REUTERS

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan earlier today, Ryo Ishikawa responded sagely to questions about his recent on-course struggles.

The Japanese superstar... who is not yet twenty... has missed the cut in his last two tournaments and carded an uncharacteristic 12-over 83 in the first round of the Japan Golf Tour Championship. His fans were clearly concerned. So too, I presume, was anyone connected to golf in Japan... in almost any capacity.

Such is the star power of the one they call the Bashful Prince.  He's the face of the game in Japan, and for years has been credited with reviving the country's interest in men's golf. To that end when Ryo struggles, the golf population's collective malaise will inevitably fall squarely on his young shoulders.  Fortunately, the 19-year-old appears able to support that weight and seems to handle professional golf's inherent disappointments as well as he's handled his own amazing golf triumphs.

"Most of the problems stem from my putting and short game," Ishikawa said today at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club event, "There is no tournament this week so I'll have some good practice and hopefully I can put these past two tournaments behind me." 

The entire world will be able to assess Ryo's "recovery" in a couple of weeks. He has an exemption for the U.S. Open, which starts on June 16.

石川遼 - Ryo Redemption at the Nippon Series JT Cup

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It's going to be an ultra-exciting weekend as third round action begins tomorrow at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup.


The tournament... and the top spot on the Japan Golf Tour money list... will be decided over the next two days, and Ryo Ishikawa, currently second in the money rankings, must win Sunday at Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club, in order to overcome Korea's Kim Kyung-tae and become Japan Golf Tour's leading money winner for the second consecutive year.

A devastating first round 76 made that possibility seem extremely remote until the sprightly superstar came back with superlative, second round eight-under 62, earning him a share of sixth place and putting him back into the money title mix.

Also in mix however,  is Yuta Ikeda, who heads into the third round leading by three strokes thanks to a stellar, bogey-free first round 63... and second round 69.  He too can be crowned Japanese number one with a win this weekend, and he'll tee off tomorrow six strokes ahead of his 19-year-old countryman.

Current money leader Kim... who stands to become the first JGTO money champion from South Korea... is currently in a share of 10th following a disappointing second round 73.

That's what I meant by ultra-exciting.  As you probably know,  I'm a huge fan of Ryo Ishikawa... for more reasons than I can name.  His extraordinary talent, whimsical Yonex wardrobe and sweet, shy demeanor are the obvious ones.

Noriko Yamada, a friend and fellow Ishikawa fan, sent me this link which contains the above photo of Ryo. I believe it was taken during his sensational Friday round.  His pants and hat appear to be leather, he's wearing a couple of necklaces over a turtleneck and he's sporting an awesome asymmetrical hairstyle.

Let's face it... the kid just keeps getting better.