Reigning U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell has described Japan superstar Ryo Ishikawa a ‘class act’ after declaring he will donate his entire earnings this year to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal reports Fatiha ‘Tour Miss’ Betscher.

In 2009, Ishikawa won the Japan PGA money title and last year he was third with earnings of 151,461,479 Yen (Euro 1.285m).

Ryo Ishikawa

This year the 19-year old Ishikawa has struggled in his PGA Tour appearances earning $US 104,000 (Euro 73,390) and missing the cut in three of five appearances.

But while he’s struggled inside the ropes this season, the young Japanese golfer is top of the leader board in wanting to help his countrymen devastated by the natural disaster earlier this month.

“I don’t view this as pressure to perform, but it will instead be extra motivation for me,” he said.

“I always believe in myself, but because I am playing for the people of Japan, I feel like I will be playing with greater purpose this year.”

And on top of donating all his earnings this year, Ishikawa has promised 100,000 Yen (Euro 1,570 for every birdie he records.

Last year Ishikawa topped the birdie list with 341 birdies that would equate close to Euro 300,000.

Also former U.S. PGA winner, Y. E. Yang promised a healthy donating from every birdie he sinks throughout 2011.