Japan's Ryo Ishikawa Accepts Invitation to Return to the Transitions Championship

PALM HARBOR, Fla., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Transitions Optical announced today that Japanese golf phenom, Ryo Ishikawa, has accepted a sponsor's exemption and will compete for the second year in a row at the Transitions Championship, which tees off March 15 -21, 2010 on the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort in Innisbrook, Florida.

"I am truly honored to be asked to compete again in this year's Transitions Championship along with many of the best players in the world," said Ishikawa.  "I look forward to returning to the U.S. to play the challenging Copperhead Course."

In his second season as a professional golfer, Ishikawa has already risen to #30 in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning four times on the Japan Golf Tour last year.  He's become the youngest money title winner in Japan Golf Tour history and was named the 2009 Most Valuable Player by the Japan Golf Tour Organization.  

"Ryo continues to amaze us with all of his accomplishments and will be a strong competitor this year," said Gerald Goodman, tournament director, Transitions Championship.  "We're so pleased that he's decided to join us again for the Transitions Championship, as part of a field that is promising to be one of our best yet.  The fans here love to watch him compete – he's got a remarkable presence out there on the course."

Ishikawa made his first cut in a PGA TOUR® tournament at last year's Transitions Championship and went on to make his Masters debut at Augusta National in April of 2009.  He became the youngest player ever to compete in the President's Cup when International team captain Greg Norman added Ishikawa to his team.

To learn more about the Transitions Championship, including ticket and volunteer information, visit www.transitionschampionship.com or call (727) 942-5566.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International.  The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.

Transitions® lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight.  They are clear indoors and at night.  Outdoors, they automatically darken as light conditions change.  Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see better today.  Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better tomorrow as well.  

Transitions Optical is sponsoring this PGA TOUR® event as part of its ongoing commitment to educate consumers about the importance of healthy sight and the critical role it plays in overall health and wellness.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, the first to earn the American Optometric Association's Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

About The Copperheads

The Copperheads, formerly known as Suncoast Golf Classic, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that has managed professional golf events in the Tampa Bay area for the last 33 years beginning with the 1977 JCPenney Classic.  This mixed-team tournament was a popular fixture in November-December for 23 years.  Since 2000, The Copperheads has sponsored six fall PGA TOUR® events (the 2001 tournament was cancelled following the attacks of 9/11).  Most of the top players on the PGA TOUR® have participated in these events raising a total of more than $22 million for Tampa Bay area charities.

SOURCE Transitions Optical, Inc.