Golf's next wave to be on full display Sunday in Akron

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Jason Day, at age 23, and 19-year-old Ryo Ishikawa are one shot behind leader Adam Scott after 54 holes of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

AKRON, Ohio -- Ryo Ishikawa was 5 years old when Tiger Woods won his first Masters Tournament in 1997. Jason Day wasn't much older at 9.

Hard to believe, isn't it? And it's even more eye-opening to realize that the two, who were drawn to the game by Woods' charisma and phenomenal success, are beating him so soundly this week at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

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Not only are the two 12 strokes ahead of Woods, the Japanese teen and the 23-year-old from Australia have a chance to pick up the biggest win of their careers on Sunday at Firestone Country Club. They will start the final round in pursuit of the Gary Player Cup one stroke off the lead of 12 under held by Adam Scott, a veritable geezer of an Aussie at the age of 31.

"I'm just happy to be on the leaderboard," the senior citizen Scott said with a smile. "I don't care how old I am. It is amazing, Jason playing well again and Ryo, these guys, teenagers. It's unbelievable. I think golf is looking in good shape for the future really with players like this up here now."

In good shape, indeed. Rounding out the top five on the leaderboard are a 25-year-old American in Keegan Bradley and a 28-year-old newlywed from Scotland named Martin Laird. Bradley picked up his first victory, and Laird his second, earlier this year -- two of 12 players in their 20s to have won on the PGA TOUR in 2011.

A more diverse -- or younger -- leaderboard would be hard to fathom. And don't forget to factor in a pair of 22-year-olds in Rickie Fowler, who will be resplendent in orange head-to-toe as he starts the final round at 9 under, and Rory McIlroy, the reigning U.S. Open champ who's five strokes off the lead.

"The game of golf is in really good shape right now," Day said. "It really is fun. Give us a good few years, and it's going to be a lot of young players out here that are going to be in contention."

But that time just might be now. On Sunday, to be exact.

Scott, who says he still feels like a teenager sometimes and will play with one on Sunday, may -- or may not -- be glad to hear that Day, whom he's known for eight years now, considers that 31 once was "young out here." Of course, that was maybe five or 10 years ago, Day quickly added in all seriousness.

"I think with the technology that we have today, with the competition that we have over here and obviously around the world, the game of golf is only improving, and with improvement, that obviously involves the younger kids," Day explained.

The Grecian Formula set can take heart, though. Steve Stricker, who, gosh, is all of 42, lurks five strokes off the lead. And the man who ranks second in the FedExCup is joined by Luke Donald, the 33-year-old reigning world No. 1, and Zach Johnson, who owns a Green Jacket at 35.

Sunday, though, figures to be all about the youngsters, just as the third round was. And if anyone is to challenge Scott, who has won seven other PGA TOUR events, it just might be his countryman who has seven top-10s already this season, including runner-up finishes at the Masters and U.S. Open.

"I really like Jason's attitude," said Scott, who played with, and tied, Day at Augusta National that Sunday. "He's out here, he means business. He's not out here to make friends is what I kind of feel like. He comes to the course, he means business, he wants it badly, and it's good to see, because he's not waiting for experience to just come along, he's out here getting it.'

To be sure, Day would like nothing better than to develop a rivalry, or maybe two or three. He thinks it's good for the game, whichever game you follow, and there are a host of good young players on the radar screen from which to pick and choose.

"It's like the Phil and Tiger rivalry back in the day," Day said, once again making many of us reach for the Geritol bottle. "Everyone would talk about that, oh, I can't wait to see them play in the final group together. So I think there's no hatred, it's just a good, friendly rivalry.

"... It's getting really, really tough to win golf tournaments out here. With the way golf is going right now, with how young the guys are coming out and winning, it's only going to get tougher over the next few years."

Ishikawa could be one of those rivals. But he speaks of a "sense of loneliness" when he plays in the United States and the learning curve has been steep. His forays onto the PGA TOUR have generally been at elite events like the Bridgestone Invitational where the competition is fierce, and the expectations high. He carries the flag for an entire adoring nation and has responded in kind, committing his entire earnings this year to tsunami relief.

Still, Scott says Ishikawa was more mature as a golfer than the Aussie was when he opted to take his game first to the European Tour at the age of 20. He has played with him at the Presidents Cup -- and by the way, International Captain Greg Norman has to be feeling good when he looks at the leaderboard -- and is impressed with the way the teen, who has earned the nickname of the "Bashful Prince," handles such intense scrutiny.

"Most people would have gone nuts," said Scott, adding that Ishikawa's maturity level is "remarkable."

Sometimes a player has to be patient, though. Not everyone can take the world by storm like that old man named Woods. And as Day is quick to point out, Ishikawa -- or any other young pro, for that matter -- has to feel "comfortable in his own skin" and confident in himself."

Sunday will be that confidence-builder. Whether it's for Ishikawa, who could become the youngest player to win on the PGA TOUR since 1911, or Day or Scott or someone else remains to be seen.

"I'm just going to look at it as a great opportunity," Scott said, speaking as the elder statesman but channeling the excitement of youth.