The Morning According To Us: Meet the next Tiger Woods

Is Ryo Ishikawa for real?

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We're big on the concept of 'NEXT' here. Could he be NEXT?

Pity the boy they call Yo-Yo. Ryo Ishikawa (pronounced "Yo-Yo") is 17, still in high school, and already a top five earner on Japan's pro golf tour. Today he makes his American debut, at Riveria in L.A. Women love him, men (well, maybe just a few men) want to dress like him, media follow him everywhere. And Yo-Yo basks in this attention. Just loves all of it. He is, of course, billed as the next Tiger Woods. One problem with that, and also the reason you should pity Yo-Yo: The current Tiger Woods has not retired.

Let's just come out and say it: no athlete is crueler to be billed as "the next" one of than Tiger Woods. No other athlete is as good at his calling, and no other athlete will remain so for years to come. No other athlete will inspire as many young players, and no other athlete will systematically ruin as many careers when those players come of age, Ishikawa included. He certainly has the makings of a phenomenal career; the kid won his first pro tournament as a freshman in high shool. He says Tiger was his inspiration.

Things won't go perfectly for Ishikawa, of course. Not even Tiger was ready for the Masters at 17. And yet this is how we will judge Yo-Yo: what have you done for us lately? Yo-Yo will develop into a formidable player in coming years, formidable enough to maybe warrant the hype attending him now. But he won't win anything big. Or rather, he'll win once but won't gain a reputation as a winner, just like Lefty. Just like Mike Weir. Just like David Duval. Just like every player on the Tour but one.

And it stay this way for 20 more years.

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