Teenager Ryo Ishikawa has received a special invitation to play in the Aug. 13-16 PGA Championship, the final major of the season on the U.S. PGA Tour.
"I received official confirmation of the news today. I was surprised to hear that. I'm so happy," Ishikawa told reporters Tuesday at a golf course in Yuki, Ibaraki Prefecture.
"My impression of the PGA Championship is that it's an extremely tough layout. The tournament is a little less familiar to Japanese people, compared to the other majors.
"I'd like to aim as high as I can over there," he added.
The 17-year-old Ishikawa will become the youngest competitor ever in the PGA Championship, passing Gene Sarazen, who played in 1921 at age 19, according to golf officials.
"I might get extra attention from the local crowd because of this youngest record, but age doesn't matter when you play. I want to make people think I play like an experienced golfer," Ishikawa said.
The already two-time winner on Japan's top-tier tour missed the cut in his Masters Tournament debut in April.
This year's PGA Championship will be held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.