Young golf star Ryo Ishikawa marked the New Year by turning professional last week, thereby becoming Japan’s youngest ever pro.

Still only 16, Ishikawa set off for Australia today to make his professional debut in a tournament that would see him qualify for this summer’s Open Championship (British Open) if he secured a top four finish next week in Sydney.

Ishikawa has barely been out of the headlines since winning the Munsingwear Open (and being presented with that penguin) last year as a 15-year-old amateur. Since then he’s developed quite a following. Middle-aged ladies, it seems, are particularly taken not only with his boyish good looks, but his manner and his style too.

The ‘hanikami oji’ (bashful prince), as he’s known to fans, revealed to reporters that if nothing else, the trip will give him a chance to practise a bit of eikaiwa…

“I’m happy that I’m going to an English-speaking country. It’s something that not many of my classmates can experience and hopefully I’ll get used to English as much as I can,” he said. “As for my pro debut, I’m feeling nothing special, really. I just want it to be a wonderful memory for me.”

Japundit will report on Ryo’s progress.