Ishikawa thinking of home

WGC-CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP:RORY McILROY was in a European posse chasing down American pacesetter Hunter Mahan in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral's TPC Blue Monster last night.

But the big hero of the day was Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who battled to block out the devastation caused to his homeland by an earthquake and a tsunami.

The 19-year-old “Bashful Prince” had six holes of his first round to complete in the morning and played them in two under for 65 that left him just a shot behind first round leader Mahan.

But he followed that with a 76 to fall six shots behind the Californian, who added a 71 to his opening 64 to lead by a shot in the clubhouse on nine under par from world number one Martin Kaymer (70). Scotland’s Martin Laird (70) was a shot further back alongside American Matt Kuchar (69).

“It is not possible to block something of this magnitude out completely,” Ishikawa said. “But I understand that in the position that I am, together with the other star athletes from Japan and other sporting areas, we can provide encouragement and hope for the people of Japan myself by doing the job.”

Ishikawa was relieved to receive an email from his parents, who live some 250 miles south of the worst affected areas, telling him that they were well.

“If you can imagine, it’s beyond being a distraction for me,” he said. “I’m worried for the whole country of Japan. The fact that I was finally able to communicate with my parents did help me feel so much better. I just tried to focus, but it is a battle out there for me.”

McIlroy opened with a bogey-free 68 to begin the second round just four shots behind Mahan, who opened with a brilliant 64. But despite missing a two-and-a-half- footer for par at the 229-yard 13th, he was just three behind with three to play after picking up four birdies against two bogeys.

Events in Japan put golf in perspective for a few hours, though there is still huge interest in the continuing struggles of Tiger Woods.

The American completed a battling first round 70 alongside Graeme McDowell (70) and Phil Mickelson (73) in the morning.

But he showed that he’s still got work to do to get back to playing even close to his best when he hit a snipe hook just 120 yards on the second, racking up a bogey there after failing to get past the ladies tee.

McDowell still believes Woods is slowly getting to his grips with his swing under coach Sean Foley.

Having played six times with the former number one in recent months, McDowell said: “I thought his game looked pretty good. He controlled the ball off the tee, which has been his weakness of late. He only hit a couple of wild ones.”

Pádraig Harrington was happy to open with a 68 but he was two over for his second round with five to play.

McDowell was tied with Woods, eight off the pace on one under with two holes to play after mixing birdies at the first and 16th with bogeys at the third, sixth and 14th.