Scotland’s Paul Lawrie was 22 years of age and had been a professional for three yearS when Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa was born.
In contrast, Ishikawa was only nine years old when Lawrie captured the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie.
There is a 23-year age gap between Lawrie and Ishikawa but that will count for nothing when the duo face each other in the second round of the $US 8.5m WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.
Scotland's Paul Lawrie takes out Justin Rose but now faces Japan sensation, Ryo Ishikawa. (Photo - Fran Caffrey?www.golffile.ie)
Lawrie made ammends for an eight-year absence by humbling Justin Rose 1up in the opening round on the Dove Mountain course in Arizona.
After both players pared the opening two holes, Rose seized the initiative with a birdie at he third hole but when Lawrie fought back to win the fourth and then go 1up at the seventh Rose never got a look in.
Lawrie, drawing on his recent double Qatar Masters success, then pared the par five eight hole to go 2up and despite a double bogey at the par four 10th, the Aberdonian birdied the next.
And while Lawrie lost the 15th to a birdie it was good enough to hang out with three closing pars and go through to a second day showdown against Ishikawa.
“It’s great to win and you want to play in these events, obviously,” said Lawrie.
“And I said earlier in the week there is no point in playing in these events if you are just going to come here and get beat. You have got to come here and play well and try to have a good week to climb up the link as far as you can.
“Yeah, I played lovely. I had a lot of good shots. Didn’t give an awful lot a way and then I got ahead and was never really behind again. I only had a poor shot at the third, hit it poor around the bunker and I hit the wrong club at 10. Apart from that, I was there every hole.
“I’ve now got Ryo. He’s a nice lad and a good young talent, so it should be a good game.
“My ambitions are to play well tomorrow. I don’t look ‑‑ I’m one of these lads, I don’t set goals. I don’t look too far ahead. If I can play nicely tomorrow and get through tomorrow, then you look at the next day. It’s one day at a time.
It’s the fourth occasion in seven appearances in the event Rose has been snuffed out on day one.
In contrast, Ishikawa came from 3 down after 13 holes to pull the victory rug from under American Bill Haas to birdie four of his closing five holes and defeat Sunday’s Northern Trust Open champ 1up.
The Rising Sun superstar golfer was bumped out on day one last year by South African Charl Schwartzel but two years earlier Ishikawa made it into the final 16.
