Prince Ishikawa ready to impress King Watson again

By Tom Pilcher

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England (Reuters) - There is no better partner to play alongside this week than five-times British Open champion Tom Watson and Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa has that chance again on Thursday and Friday.

The 20-year-old, already a 10-times professional winner, partnered American great Watson, 62, in the 2010 Open at St Andrews.

"I've got more experience in the last two years so I want to show Tom how I play now. It's going to be a great two days," Ishikawa told Reuters in an interview while braving a cold Lytham wind on the eve of the championship.

"It was a great experience for me two years ago at St Andrews."

"Ishikawa? He's got it," said Watson at the 2010 Open in reference to the youngster known as the 'Bashful Prince' for his unassuming demeanor.

Media hype has followed the Japanese since he became the youngest male winner of a professional tournament when he triumphed on his home tour aged 15 years and eight months.

At the Old Course in 2010 he honored his media duties despite his struggles with the English language.

His linguistic skills are improving and so is his golf - he threatened to become the youngest winner on the U.S. PGA Tour in 100 years at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August before finishing fourth.