Paula Creamer (in pink) watches as a boy makes a shot during the coaching clinic at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.WORLD No 1 Yani Tseng will look to extend her dominance of women’s golf when she chases her seventh tournament win of the year against a star-studded field at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
The Taiwanese player, 22, is full of confidence after already winning six tournaments this year, including last week’s LPGA Hana Bank Championship in South Korea.
She is the top draw at the US$1.9 million (RM6 million) event, which tees off in Kuala Lumpur today, but will need to contend with a top-flight field that includes nine of the world’s top 10 golfers.
“Obviously, I’m feeling confident, especially after winning in South Korea last week,” she said.
Yani, who is the youngest golfer — man or woman — to win five majors, is the undisputed No 1 on the Rolex Rankings. She attributed her form to her enjoyment of the game.
“People say I have had a good year, but I just enjoy the game and I think that’s why I’ve been doing well,” said Yani, who won this year’s LPGA Championship and the Women’s British Open.
“Every day, every hole, I just focus and try my best.
“For me, I can easily get over not playing well one week and focus on the next tournament.”
The Malaysian event, now in its second year, will also feature top 10 players Suzann Petterson, Cristie Kerr, Na Yeon Choi, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Ai Miyazato, and Paula Creamer.
Michelle Wie, ranked No 14 in the world, and defending champion Jimin Kang also have entered the four-day stroke play event, which has no cut and is being played at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).
Cristie, the American World No 3,who finished 35th in South Korea, admitted she has yet to fully recover from a tendonitis injury to her right wrist that is causing her severe pain.
"It is still not 100 per cent right but I’m managing the pain,” said the former World No 1.
“I’ve played through a broken rib, I’ve played through knee issues, neck issues, but this is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced but I’m managing it.”
Meanwhile, Yani, the Sultanah of Kedah Haminah Hamidun and her teammates, Datuk Aishah Ahmad and Puan Sri Lee Hong Jegathesan took second place in the Pro-Am competition yesterday.
The foursome shot a best net score of 49 but lost out on the top spot on countback to the team of Park Hee Young, Joe Carlos, Ho Kay Tat and Tan Thiam Hock.
In third place was Laura Davies and Tunku Puteri Intan Syafinaz, Ida Farhany and Ezani Bakar.
Former TV3 sports editor Abu Bakar Atan scored a hole-in-one on the Par 3 17th. — AFP
