Ryo Returns: Japan’s Golfing Prince Headlines Caledonian Challenge
Ishikawa’s International Series debut promises fireworks as LIV stars and local legends collide in Chiba
Seoul, Korea - Ryo Ishikawa, Japan’s beloved golfing icon, is set to dazzle home fans once more as he makes his much-anticipated debut on The International Series at Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba from May 8–11. Now 33, Ishikawa carries the hopes of a nation with him, spearheading a 156-man field featuring a blend of Asian Tour powerhouses and LIV Golf headliners.
His story began in spectacular fashion—just a teenager when he made history at 15 years and 8 months by winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup. Since then, 21 Japan Tour titles have followed. Yet this marks a new chapter as he steps onto the elevated Asian Tour stage, where a golden ticket to the LIV Golf League awaits the season’s standout.
Joining him are two of Japan’s most exciting prospects. Former amateur world No.1 Taiga Semikawa, who stunned the golfing world in 2022 by winning the Japan Open as an amateur, now boasts professional victories at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup and Kansai Open. Alongside him, Yuta Sugiura brings form and flair, having stormed to victory at the 2024 Japan PGA Championship after an amateur triumph at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament.
The depth of Japanese talent doesn’t stop there. Takashi Ogiso, the Hana Bank Invitational champion, and Ren Yonezawa—winner of The Crowns and Yokohama Minato Championship—promise to stir the crowds. With LIV Golf’s Jinichiro Kozuma, ten-time winner Shugo Imahira, and international stars Harold Varner III and Lucas Herbert also in the mix, the competition is electric.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, summed it up: “The calibre of players, both domestic and international, makes this an unmissable spectacle. With a LIV Golf League berth on the line, expect nothing less than firepower and flair.”
For Japanese golf fans, the return of their prince and the arrival of a world-class field promises something truly special in Chiba.