Na Yeon Choi can trouble rivals at Kuala Lumpur
South Korean Na Yeon Choi will likely have a big advantage off the tee when she kicks off the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2012 next month, at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, Malaysia.
Choi, who currently ranks third in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, won the 2011 edition of the prestigious tournament, and she seeks to repeat her last-year performance once again.
Best known for solid putting and swing, the South Korean star is going to have an advantage from the fairways, as the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club has some challenging holes.
The 2011 Darby LPGA Malaysia pitted some of the best LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) contenders against each other, but the confrontation between Choi and the current world number
one Yani Tseng grabbed most of the attention.
Choi shot an overall 269 to grab a one-stroke victory against Yani Tseng. Tseng fought hard, but a fiery performance from her nearest rival stopped her from advancing on the leaderboard.
“I am very proud of myself because I was able to control my emotions today. I was cool opening the day, but by the 15th I was becoming nervous as Yani (Tseng) was beginning to look intimidating,”
Choi had said at the end of 2011 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
The 2012 season has been good for the South Korean golfer as she has already won the 2012 US Women’s Open — a major championship. It is expected that Choi will keep the momentum going in coming
tournaments.
Observers said that there are good reasons to believe that last year’s winner is going to win in Malaysia again.
Observers pointed out that despite brimming with confidence and having vast experience of the field, there is going to be added pressure this time because American LPGA stars are also performing
well in the current season, making it difficult for Asians to maintain their ascendency.
They said that the past success at Kuala Lumpur will definitely create some much-needed confidence, but the presence of most of the top-ranked LPGA players is likely to create pressure too.
Choi did not take part in the Navistar LPGA Classic 2012, held last week at Prattville, Alabama, United States, so it has become crucial for the star golfer to add some success to her profile.
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