World No.2 golfer Lydia Ko of New Zealand takes a picture with Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Charity Pro-Am event at the KLGCC on Wednesday. - BERNAMA
PETALING JAYA: Like a pair of high-prized fighters, Park In-bee (EPA pic, below)and Lydia Ko will duke it out for the no. 1 golf world ranking when the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia tees off on Thursday.
South Korean In-bee, the current world No. 1, and New Zealand’s Lydia, the world No. 2, go head-to-head at the US$2mil (RM8.4mil) tournament this week knowing it’s a case of winner takes all.
There’s no margin for error from either golfer, with In-bee having 12.87 points and Lydia 12.38 points. So, In-bee must finish second or higher if she’s to keep the No. 1 spot. Similarly, a win for Lydia assures she retakes top spot.
In-bee had been world No. 1 for 14 weeks from Oct 27, 2014 to Feb 1. Then Lydia took over. In-bee regained it by ending the Kiwi’s 19-week reign on June 15.
The pair’s joust for the world No. 1 spot will surely make the LPGA Malaysia, held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC), an intriguing and exciting affair.
The 27-year-old In-bee, fresh from a three-week break back home, has won four times this season, including two Majors – the PGA Championship in June and British Open in August – for her 16th career title.
It was the victory at the PGA Championship that saw In-bee regain the world No. 1 spot from Lydia.
But Lydia is back on the prowl for the world No. 1 spot following back-to-back wins at the Canadian Open in August and the Evian Championship – her first Major title - last month.
In-bee, however, is no stranger to such battles. Before Lydia came into the equation, it was In-bee versus American Stacy Lewis for the past few seasons.
But such battles hardly faze In-bee, who enjoys being pushed and challenged.
“I’m honoured to be reaching for the No. 1 spot every year, playing for it every year. I think it’s a very good motivation,” said seven-time Major winner.
“If you have good competitors, you can only improve your game. You can’t stay where you are. You just have to get better and better and keep pushing.”
In-bee, who won here in 2012, is bidding to be the first player to regain the LPGA Malaysia crown. She did not compete last year as she tied the knot with her swing coach Nam Gi-hyeob.
“It feels great to be back ... since I missed the tournament because of my wedding last year. It was the week before the wedding, so I couldn’t come,” she said.
Asked how’s married life, she quipped: “I really don’t feel that much of a difference. We had a Korean Thanksgiving last week and I visited my husband’s house down south ... met all the family. We had a really great time. I feel like I have a lot more family now and I feel a lot more comfortable.”
The LPGA Malaysia also marks the start of a five-week stretch of the LPGA Tour’s Asian Swing.
The other tournaments are the KEB-HanaBank Championship in South Korea, Taiwan Championship, Blue Bay LPGA in China and the Japan Classic.
Bottom pic by S.S.KANESAN/ The STAR
-thestar online.
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