Decidedly, Ai Miyazato is off to a stellar start in 2010. With her ten-under-par 278 victory this week at the HSBC Women's Champions, she became the first LPGA player in over four decades to start the the season with back-to-back wins. Her ultra-impressive, come-from-behind victory last week in Thailand started the sweep.
Meanwhile Cristie Kerr reaffirmed her place as the USA's top golfer, and offered the tournament a thrilling finish, as she battled Ms. Miyazato down the stretch in the final round. Her first fourteen holes featured five birdies and no bogeys before she took the lead with a birdie on the sixteenth. ~ However, an inauspicious encounter with fire ants, and back-to-back bogies followed, resulting in a 280 second place finish for the tournament. One back in a tie for third were Jiyai Shin, Suzann Pettersen, Yani Tseng and Song-Hee Kim.
The next LPGA event, Kia Classic presented by J Golf, will begin on March 22, at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, CA. It'll be a chance for Ai Miyazato to go for three-in-a-row... and a first win on US soil. I'm guessing that might be the next golf goal for this petite, powerful champion.
Photos: Andy Lyons/Getty Images AsiaPac
Hubby has been keeping up with it all but I'm still stricken with Olympic fever, so I've been glued to that, with Mr. Snoots giving me updates...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I was glad to see Peterson's name up there....
I really wanted Juli to win. She struggled unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteCould you imagine at age 49 winning an LPGA event with a field like that?
Being from Hawaii, Michelle is our hommie, but today's field is so talented... anyone has a chance on Sunday.. I was pulling for Mrs Inkster.. (Shhh). aloha!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Miyazato san!!
I read that Ai had really lost confidence before winning the Evian Masters and felt the pressure of wondering if she had the talent to play at the highest level. Good thing she persevered!
ReplyDeleteI think Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis are 5'9" Michelle Wie and Suzanne Pettersen near 6 feet. At 5'2" Ai is one of the more petite ladies of the LPGA and it doesn't seem to be holding her back at all.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I would love to have seen Julie Inkster or Cristie Kerr win, Ai is a great champion and is sure proving it lately.
ReplyDeleteI hope Angela Park hears about Ai-sama's troubles with her driver not too long ago and gets inspiration to continue on her comeback trail. I'd love to see her back playing golf like she's capable of and enjoying herself on the course more.
ReplyDeleteWas there ever doubt that Kerr is the best US golfer? Yes, Creamer and Wie get the ink but Kerr is consistently on the top of leaderboards every week...
ReplyDeleteThis may be a career year for Miyazato...at least is seems that way so far...
Watched it and loved it! The volunteers couldn't keep up with the changing scores. At the 14th hole Jiyai Shin looked at the board with question mark bubbles popping all around her head. When the guy finally finished changing, we understood. Her name wasn't on the board but she already had a -8 and was tied for 3rd.
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