Stars make beeline for Sime Darby LPGA

So Yeon Ryu
So Yeon Ryu

Kuala Lumpur: The fifth instalment of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will not be short of star power as the top order of  women’s golf once again confirmed their appearance for the October showdown at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

World number one Stacy Lewis, Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, in-form South Korean So Yeon RyuAnna Nordqvist as well as American duo Cristie Kerr and Jessica Korda will join defending champion Lexi Thompson and teenage sensation Lydia Ko in the tussle for supremacy at the US$2 million event.

The eight players now confirmed for the tournament boast no less than 11 LPGA wins on tour so far this year, once again ensuring that Malaysian golf fans get to see the very best in action on the East Course.

Speaking about her participation in the tournament, Lewis, who emphatically ended Inbee Park’s 59 week reign at the top of the Rolex Rankings with three wins and an impressive 14 top-ten finishes to her name so far this year said, “Everything is going fairly well at the moment.  I am pleased with my year so far and would like to finish strong.  I always look forward to the Sime Darby LPGA tournament and it would be fun to play well in Malaysia.”

Pettersen, who boasts career earnings of more than US$12 million, already has nine top-ten finishes on tour so far this year, has fond memories of KLGCC’s East Course, where she finished tied third last year.

“It is such a good course and a great event which all the players enjoy. I had my best finish last year so I will be looking to build on that result. The conditions are always a factor so you’ve really got to stay focused with the hot weather and occasional breaks, but it is a beautiful place to play golf.  As always, I am looking forward to returning to Malaysia.”

It is a sentiment also shared by one of the veterans of the LPGA Tour, Cristie Kerr, who continues to show consistently good form with two runner-up finishes.

A firm favourite among fans in Malaysia and widely recognised for her charitable work off the course, Kerr noted: “I always look forward to the Sime Darby LPGA. It’s a fantastic tournament both inside the ropes as well as everything that the tournament does away from the golf course for breast cancer in Malaysia. It’s a great golf course and I am looking forward to playing well there this year!”

One player who will certainly have the title in her sights is South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu. Fresh from victory at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, the two-time tour winner has 11 top-ten finishes to her name this year.

“I was so happy to get that win over the weekend. I’ve come close on a few occasions recently and not got the win so this was pretty special. I hope it sets me up for a good run as the tour moves on to Asia. Obviously I feel more at home in Asia and the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia is always a favourite tournament. I got 5th place in my rookie year in 2012 so will look to go better than that this year,” said Ryu.