TOKYO // Ryo Ishikawa, one of golf's rising stars, says he is giving all of his tournament earnings this year to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in his native Japan.
Kyodo News reported last night that the 19-year-old Ishikawa also is pledging money for every birdie he makes. If he plays similar to last year, Ishikawa could wind up giving more than US$2 million (Dh7.34m) towards relief efforts.
He was No 3 on the Japan Golf Tour money list in 2010, making just over $1.8m, which includes his earnings from the PGA majors and the World Golf Championship. He led the tour by making 341 birdies last year, which could amount to another $400,000. His pledge was for ¥100,000 for each birdie.
Ishikawa won his first professional tournament as a 15-year-old amateur.
