Ryo Ishikawa, Will Donate All 2011 Earnings to Japan Victims

Japan’s ‘Bashful Prince’ Ryo Ishikawa is a professional golfer, in 2008 at the age of 16 he became the youngest ever player to reach the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings. This exceptional golfer has surprised the world when announced that he will be donating all of his 2011 earnings to the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated his home country of Japan.

The 19-year-old, now in Augusta preparing for next week’s Masters, also told Japanese media that he would further donate 100,000 yen (1,200 dollars) for every birdie he makes. Ishikawa explained that he did this because of all the reasons you’d expect, but also said the motivation of playing well for other people will help him focus in events and hopefully play better.

He expects to achieve 200 million yen (2.4 million dollars), Ishikawa has earned more than 100 million yen in each of the past three seasons since he turned professional: He ended up third on the Japanese tour money last year with 151 million yen. He sank 341 birdies last year. Ishikawa, who has sponsor and other commercial deals with big companies including Panasonic and Toyota, said: “I have enough money to spend for my golf. I still have savings.

“I believe this is the most positive way for me to spend money,” said Ishikawa, who has consulted his banker father Katsumi and sponsors on the relief project.

Indeed an exceptional example of altruism from this 19 year old player! By that age most of us were more interested in partying with our friends and the world problems were quite faraway from our minds.

If you wish to participate in the effort to help Japan in this difficult times we leave you a link to the Global Living – Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund