Insider: New breed continues to strengthen Asian golf presence

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Yuta Ikeda already has a 29th place finish at the Masters and tied for 22nd last year at Doral.

The history of successful Asian golfers in America can be traced back to Jumbo Ozaki and Tommy Nakajima, who both emerged into the national conscience by their appearances at the Masters. Later it was Isao Aoki, who nearly beat Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Open at Baltusrol in 1980, who pushed the envelope a little further. By 2000, it was K.J. Choi who proved he could be a factor on the TOUR, winning seven times and contending on some tough golf courses.

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But the biggest breakthrough occurred in 2009, when Y.E. Yang withstood a head-to-head challenge from Tiger Woods to win the PGA Championship. He became the first Asian-born player to win a major championship and did it by turning aside the most dominant player in the world. His victory opened doors of possibility for other Asia players, who may have previously been hesitant to come all the way to America and compete here.

"When you get validated by a winning a major, it takes golf to a different stratosphere," said PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka.

No one is suggesting that the PGA TOUR will become dominated by Asian players, as has happened with the LPGA Tour. But there's little doubt that it's just a matter of time before Asian players become more prevalent and more competitive on the PGA TOUR and the European Tour.

"Over the next 5-10 years I think we'll see a big wave from Asia," Steranka said. "And I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them come from China."

He mentioned China's W.C. Liang, who set the course record at Whistling Straits during the 2010 PGA Championship. Steranka said, "That shows you that caliber of play is possible."

The field at this week's World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral includes Choi and Yang, as well as teenager Ryo Ishikawa, the Japanese version of Rickie Fowler. Most golf fans are aware of them and their accomplishments. But there are four other Asian players who have played their way into the field based on their World Golf Ranking who may not be as well known -- yet.

• Kyung-tae Kim (World Ranking -- 33): Kim, 24, qualified for the British Open and PGA Championship in 2010 and made the cut at both events. He won three times on the Japan Golf Tour last year and has six international victories. Kim will be making his first Masters appearance this spring.

• Yuta Ikeda (World Ranking - 46): He played 11 PGA TOUR events last year and made the cut seven times, including at Augusta, where he finished 29th in his first appearance there. Ikeda tied for 22nd at Doral a year ago. Ikeda, 25, won four times on the Japan Golf Tour in 2010 and has eight international victories. He's already earned his way back into the Masters.

• Hiroyuki Fujita (World Ranking -- 49): He won the Japan Golf Tour's order of merit after winning twice and posting of stretch of top-ten finishes. Fujita, 31, played in three majors last year and made the cut at the U.S. Open. He'll make his Masters debut this spring. Fujita has 11 international victories.

• Seung-yul Noh (World Ranking -- 65): He became the second-youngest player to win a European Tour event when he claimed the 2010 Malaysian Open as an 18-year-old. The long-hitter finished as the leading money winner on the Asian Tour and finished 34th on the European Tour Order of Merit. He played in three majors, making the cut at the U.S. Open and tying for 28th at the PGA Championship.

There are others waiting in the wings, too. Jin Jeong, a Korean-born player who lives in Australia, won the 2010 British Amateur. Hideki Matsuyama, 18, won the Asian Amateur. Both will be competing in the Masters next month.

They may currently dwell in relative anonymity, but it only takes one great week for them to break through. Perhaps it will even happen this week at Doral. After all, how many people knew the names Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen three or four years ago?