Ryo Ishikawa of Japan waits on second green during the second round of the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 18, 2010 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Scottish Open organizers are expecting an explosion of interest from the Far East after Japanese Ryo Ishikawa's decision to play in next month's British Open warmup event at Loch Lomond.
"The Scottish Open has a history of featuring the best and most exciting players in the world and Ryo's appearance further underlines that fact," championship director Peter Adams said in a news release.
"We are looking forward to welcoming the Japanese press and photographic entourage who regularly follow Ryo in all his tournament appearances."
Ishikawa, 18, shot an astonishing 12-under-par 58, the lowest round on any major international tour, to win the Crowns tournament in Nagoya last month.
It was his eighth victory in his homeland but he rarely plays overseas.
The Scottish Open, which also features world number two Phil Mickelson and 16th-ranked Camilo Villegas of Colombia, starts on July 8, a week before the 150th anniversary British Open at St Andrews.