IT WASN’T quite the “Bashful Prince” of Bel-Air. But Ryo Ishikawa’s charming and chaotic opening press conference at the Northern Trust Open was easily the highlight of the build-up to a €5 million tournament that features 30 of the world’s top-50.

Two of the leading men, defending champion Phil Mickelson and another three-time major winner, Pádraig Harrington, are going through the horrors with their games and are undoubtedly grateful to avoid the glare of the spotlight.

Ishikawa appeared to be meditating as more than 100 media types, mainly Japanese photographers and TV camermen, jostled for position before the 17-year-old sensation addressed the great American public for the first time.

His lips were moving, but not in prayer. He was simply rehearsing his opening remarks, which he delivered in English in what was a careful homage to Tiger Woods, who greeted his public with the words “Hello World” when he turned professional at the Greater Milwaukee Open in August 1996.

“Hello, America. I’m Ryo Ishikawa from Japan,” said the sponsor’s invitee, wearing a pair of bright yellow slacks that might well have been visible from his home town, or from space.

Far from shy and retiring, as his nickname suggests, Ishikawa gave the assembled press a lesson in how to pronounce his name: “Everyone, repeat to me: ‘Ryo’,” he said, provoking loud laughter.

“That’s it! Okay, thank you. And I’m looking forward to Thursday.”

Ishikawa is the youngest player to receive and invitation to play in the US Masters, and when I spoke to him briefly yesterday he revealed he is looking forward to hooking up with Ireland’s teenage prince, Rory McIlroy, at Augusta.

“I met with Rory at The Crowns tournament last year but only on the practice ground,” he said through an interpreter. “We didn’t play together, but his swing was beautiful and very attractive. He is nearly the same age as me, and seeing him win in Dubai motivates me to win too. I will look forward to meeting Rory at the Masters.”

Ishikawa says his ambition this week is simply to make the cut, but his long-term goal is to emulate Woods and become the youngest player to don a Masters jacket.

“My ultimate goal is to win the Masters but, to achieve that goal, I have set up small goals in each practice,” he said. “Hopefully I can get to the final goal.”