Imada Enters 2009 Season with High Hopes
Jan. 18, 2009
By Kyle Pease, Career Sports & Entertainment

After a career-best performance during the 2008 PGA Tour season, Ryuji Imada has big ideas for the 2009 season. The 2008 season brought accomplishments that he has never seen in his career; doubling his earnings and earning a spot to represent his native Japan in the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup. After a record year, it is fitting that Imada has high expectations for '09.

He entered the Mercedes Championship, the first event of '09, with the same momentum that he went out with in '08. He finished tied for 18th, carding 9-under par 283 (69-70-74-70).

Imada then moved on to the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Imada crept up the leaderbard throughout the event, finishing at 6-under par 274 (71-70-66-67), good for a tie for 23rd.

Imada looks to push his game to new heights when he tees off at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at 8:39 a.m. PST (11:39 a.m. EST) Thursday in La Quinta, Calif.