Miyazato on a mission

Ai Miyazato had more than victory at stake when she teed off on Friday in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
Japan’s Ai Miyazato was looking hard at a 6th LPGA victory this year when she teed off on Friday in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
This because she was only too aware of her slender lead atop the Rolex Women’s World Ranking list and that a sixth victory here in Malaysia this week would go a long way towards consolidating her Rankings lead and keeping her out front until the end of the year.
The last Japanese to claim the top honours here at Kuala Lumpur was Ayako Okamoto in 1987 and Miyazato knows that it will not be easy to win against the star-studded field she faces.
The World’s top nine players and all 10 on the LPGA Tour’s money list are in this high-quality field.
In fact, the top five ranked players in the world – Miyazato, American Cristie Kerr, South Korean Shin Jiyai, Taiwanese Tseng Yani and Norwegian Suzann Pettersen – will, for the first time this week, be competing again in more than a month when they last were ranged against each other at the P & G Arkansas Championship.
The race to dominate the Rolex Rankings was first ignited in May following the retirement of Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa and has see-sawed quite dramatically ever since with Miyazato, Kerr, Miyazato and Jiyai – taking turns to be at the top.
Yani and Pettersen also remained in the mix to hold the top spot at the end of the season.
There is a lot to play for in the LPGA Malaysia and 25-year-old Miyazato feels it will be a sweet career win against such a quality field.
“I am now the world No. 1 but I still don’t feel like I am.. I hope to start winning something big but I am not ready to pressure myself,” she said.
“I have no special game plan here other than try not to miss the holes and make more birdies,” said added.
Although she has won five titles on the Tour thus far this season, Miyazato is in second place on the money list with a total of US$1.3mil behind Jiyai, who has amassed US$1.46mil so far.
Miyazato, who took over the world No. 1 spot after bagging her fifth title at the LPGA Safeway Classic in August, is expecting the fight to be intense with five more events remaining on the calendar.
“It might be a little bit more difficult. Situations are constantly changing. The top five players are very close and in contention all the time,” she said.
Latest
-
News
Rory McIlroy on latest near-miss in Abu Dhabi: ‘I don’t feel like I played great’
McIlroy avoids mentioning final-round blues but admits he needs to get more consistent.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton eyes Ryder Cup spot after winning Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Hatton carded a closing 66 to finish 18 under par.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as Rory McIlroy misses out
Australia’s Jason Scrivener recorded an eagle and five birdies in a back nine of 29 to claim second place.
-
News
Rory McIlroy leads the way in Abu Dhabi as he eyes overdue victory
McIlroy will have to keep his Ryder Cup team-mates at bay if he is to claim the trophy.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton dominant as Rory McIlroy falters in Abu Dhabi
Hatton led by five shots at the end of a second weather-affected day.
-
News
Phil Mickelson on Tiger’s latest surgery: ‘I feel bad because golf should be a game of a lifetime’
Mickelson admitted he was saddened by the news of Woods’ latest back surgery.
-
News
Rory McIlroy makes brilliant start to fog-affected Abu Dhabi Championship
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes.
-
News
Rory McIlroy shines in Abu Dhabi to take first-round lead following flawless 64
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes, three thirds and a fifth in his last nine starts, but has never won.
-
News
Justin Thomas on end of Ralph Lauren deal: ‘They moved on so that’s what I’m doing as well’
Justin Thomas said he was upset by...
-
News
My last win feels a long time ago – Rory McIlroy aiming to start year on a high
McIlroy has not tasted victory since November 2019.