Japanese teen golf star Ryo Ishikawa will make his US Tour debut next month at the Northern Trust Open after receiving a sponsor's exemption into the $6.3 million event.

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The 17-year-old prodigy is ranked 60th in the world and nicknamed the "Bashful Prince" because of his shyness. But he has also become one of Japan's more popular sportsmen.

Ishikawa, runner-up at last year's Japan Open, will make his US Tour debut on February 16-22 at Riviera Country Club in quest of a $1.1m top prize.

"Ryo Ishikawa attracts 'Tiger-like' attention in Asia and it will be fun for a US audience to see him for the first time while fans throughout the world watch him compete against the (US) PGA's best players," said tournament director Tom Pulchinski.

Ishikawa is second among Japanese golfers in the world rankings, trailing only 34th-rated Shingo Katayama.

Ishikawa, who turned professional last year, became the youngest player to win a Japan Golf Tour event in May of 2007 when he captured the KSB Cup at age 15. He added two more Japan tour titles last year.