Webb, Miyazato prepare for ANZ Masters duel
IN: News | ALPG | ANZ Ladies Masters (2006) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 01 Feb 2006
The 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters gets underway on Thursday at Royal Pines on Queensland's Gold Coast with the focus of attention clearly on the defending and five time champion, Karrie Webb, and the golfer she beat to win in 2005, Japan's Ai Miyazato.
Last year Miyazato started the final round with a four shot lead over Webb but by the time they had reached the 8th hole, the Australian had drawn level and then went ahead for the first time when she birdied the tough 13th hole. That was the end of the Miyazato challenge as the Japanese star bogeyed the par three 14th to fall two back and eventually finished three behind Webb but alone in second place, three clear of third placed Maria Hjorth and Veronica Zorzi.
Perhaps surprisingly Webb went on to record her poorest season on the USLPGA Tour since gaining her Tour card in 1996 but for the runner up, Miyazato, things would only get better in 2005. She had won the World Cup of Women's Golf just prior to arriving in Australia last year but on her return to Japan she would take up from where she left off in 2004 with a further six wins on the Japan Ladies Golf Tour.
This year Miyazato has joined Webb as an USLPGA Tour player having gained her card to play in the US following an emphatic twelve shot victory at the Tour School last December. Their rivalry this week will likely be the first of many match ups in coming years as USLPGA Tour players.
Webb starts season 2006 with a new set of golf clubs, her previous set having gone missing in transit on her return to the US after Xmas. Her problem was that most of the equipment companies were closed over the Xmas period and getting her clubs replaced took longer than expected.
"A couple of the short irons only just arrived before I left Florida late last week but I tried them today and they feel good," she said.
In an extended press conference Webb discussed her satisfaction at the results she is beginning to see.
"I have worked as hard of late as ever and things are feeling good but the true test will be when I take it onto the course and trusting it when I do."
Miyazato has spent the last few weeks relaxing in order to get herself refreshed for what promises to be a demanding year.
"I want to focus on the US this year as now that I have my card I want to establish myself on the USLPGA Tour," she said." I would like to also support some events in Japan but much will depend on how things go in the United States. I feel now that I have been fortunate enough to have my US card then I am going to give it my full attention."
The pocket dynamo is an engaging personality and it is not hard to imagine why she has taken Japanese golf by storm. Japan Ladies golf's loss in 2006 will be the USLPGA Tour's gain but her effect on the game in her home country has already been felt. If she has the success that many predict in 2006 then it can only impact positively back home in Japan.
Before both Webb and Miyazato get to the US however they have business to attend to here at Royal Pines but so do 146 other players, several of whom are capable of challenging the two favourties.
The event brings together the best of the Ladies European Tour and the Australian Ladies Tour (ALPG) with many emerging stars amongst them.
Joining Webb is Australia's second most accomplished player in recent seasons, Rachel Hetherington, who looks to recover from a disappointing season in 2005 with a good start to 2006. In terms of money list position it was the Queenslander's worst finish since 1998 but there was some hope in one or two good finishes late in the season. Hetherington was runner up here in 2001 and has regularly featured in the top ten in recent years.
Queenslander Katherine Hull and Victorian Lindsey Wright are both now established USLPGA Tour players who have shown that they could both become winners on that tour before long. Both contended at last week's ALPG Players Championship before succumbing to the eventual winner Rebecca Stevenson and are therefore perhaps a little more tournament hardened than some of the more favoured players here. Nadina Taylor is yet another Australian doing well in the US who could feature here. She has kept her card in each of her two seasons on the LPGA Tour.
Stevenson finished runner up in 2003 when she holed a monster putt at the last to join Karrie Webb in a share of second place behind Laura Davies and showed last week in Caloundra that she is now starting to fulfill the potential she has always suggested she has.
Of the other Australians, Nikki Campbell, who was fifth here last year and went on to have a good season in Japan, and Tamie Durdin, who also had a good season in Japan and who also played well here in 2005, are both in the field. The newcomers Sarah Kemp and Nikki Garrett may well do more especially Kemp who has started her professional career in great fashion with several wins in the series of pro am events prior to last week's Player's Championship.
From the US comes Brittany Lang who as a 19 year old Amateur finished runner up to Birdie Kim at the US Open last year and has recently gained her USLPGA Tour card. She was a standout amateur in the US when attending Duke University and many expect her to succeed on the USLPGA Tour. She is a long hitter and is pleased to be here to 'get her feet wet' prior to her debut as a card holder on the USLPGA Tour.
Another from Japan who could make her mark on the event is Shinobu Morimazato who is a contemporary of Miyazato. Like her countrywoman she now has her USLPGA Tour card and has played well in her first year as a professional on the JLPGA Tour. Her presence this week will ensure even greater Japan golf media interest if indeed such was possible.
The Ladies European Tour has several of their leading players here looking to make a fast start to their season. Maria Hjorth finished in second place on their money list in 2005 and, after a reasonable start to 2006 at the ALPG Players Championship last week and a third place here in 2005, she is likely to do well. She is a two time winner on the USLPGA Tour, has four other victories world wide and as such commands respect.
Laura Davies is a three time winner of this event and has one of the greatest records in the game. She is not quite at the peak she was a few years ago although she still recorded a runner up placing and three top tens in Europe in 2005 and three top tens in the US. Her prodigious length, provided she can take advantage of it, will be of great assistance on the par fives here and if she was able to win then even the patriotic local crowd would appreciate such a victory. She has been a great supporter of Australian Ladies golf over a long period and is still one of the most interesting players to watch.
The Italian golfer Veronica Zorzi finished third here last year and third on the LET Order of Merit in 2005 those credentials alone enough to give her a chance.
France's Gwladys Nocera and Ludivine Kreutz and Sweden's Cecelia Ekelundh are other Europeans who have come off great seasons in 2005 including Solheim Cup representation who have chances but possibilities don't stop there. Louis Stahle from Sweden is a bright young star who has recently secured her LPGA Tour card and who challenged at last year's British Open before finishing 8th.
New Zealander Lynnette Brooky heads the contingent from across the Tasman. Brooky finished 18th on the LET Order of Merit in 2005 and has played well here on occasions including 2001 when she led after 36 holes.
The tournament carries prizemoney of A$800,000 with a first prize of A$120,000.
