Japanese Ai Miyazato lands the coveted Henderson Money Title on ladies European Tour
Japan’s rising star golfer Ai Miyazato has now been declared the Henderson Money Leader on the Ladies European Tour in a star studded ceremony in Japan on December 19. Interestingly, Miyazato has earned the coveted money title in just two appearances on
the tour this year and her earnings soared to a colossal €363,079.68.
“To be honest I have mixed feelings because I’m receiving the award from just winning one event on the LET. However, it has been great being a member on the tour since 2009 and I can see the quality of the European players from this year’s Solheim Cup.”
Miyazato said.
Miyazato won the Evian Masters presented by Societe Generale in France, on the LET this year, having the biggest prize money on the tour, which has been the major reason behind the imbalance in total earnings of the players. Tour Rookie Caroline Hedwall
won four titles on the tour this year, apart from the several events where she posted strong finishes to qualify for substantial amount of money, still not able to overtake Miyazato on the money list.
The 26-year-old conceded that although she does not specifically play for the money involved but since money list has been a taken up as a standard to calibrate rankings, she was more than happy to land the title.
Following in the footsteps of her various countrymen and women, Miyazato went over to create a no-profit organisation in order to help the earthquake and Tsunami victims of Japan. She utilised the major chunk of her prize money from the Evian Masters to
form “Makeruna Nippon – Never Give Up Japan” a fundraising website along with her friends Momoko Ueda and Mika Miyazato.
“The fundraising that myself and two Japanese players on the LPGA tour, (Momoko Ueda and Mika Miyazato, organised), has received tremendous support from many people and I really appreciate their kindness. In Japan alone, we’ve raised over $100,000.” Miyazato
added.
Akashi Muramatsu, Chief Executive Officer of Henderson Gartmore Global Investors, Japan, presented Miayazato with the trophy and appreciated her on and off course achievements. Speaking on the occasion,
Richard Wilson, Marketing Director at Henderson Global Investors, said that the Henderson has been sponsoring the money list on the LET since 2006 and vowed that the successful combination will continue unabated in the future. He also lauded the previous
Henderson Money title winners, Lee-Anne Pace, Gwladys Nocera, Sophie Gustafson and Laura Davies, and said that they were glad to add Miayazato in the list.
Miyazato joined the LET in 2009 when she won the Evian Masters that year. This is the first money title Miyazato has won on any of the tours she has played on. The young Japanese golfers hails from the Okinawa district and turned professional in the year
2003.
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