Kelly seeks to end fruitful year on a high

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s top professional golfer Kelly Tan is set to end 2020 on a high.

The 27-year-old Kelly has confirmed a place in the US Women’s Open in Houston, Texas from Dec 10-13.

Kelly, who just celebrated her birthday on Monday, earned an automatic berth for the Open by virtue of her position in the LPGA Tour Official Money list.

Kelly is ranked 42nd with season earnings of US$ 189,272 (RM788,500). Only the top 75 will make the cut for Houston.

The prestigious US Women’s Open offers US$5.5mil (RM22.91mil) in prize money which is one of the biggest purses in women’s golf.

“We did it. Really exciting for me and all of Malaysia,” tweeted Kelly, who is now on a three-week break after finishing tied-60th in the Drive On Champioship at Reynolds Lake Onconee in Georgia on Sunday.

It has turned out to be an amazing year for Kelly as far as her performances on the greens are concerned.

It is the first time Kelly made the cut for all Majors since 2016 and also her third appearance in the US Women’s Open.

Kelly missed the cut in her first appearance in 2014 and then tied for 32nd in her second appearance two years later.

Having made the cut in 11 out of 12 competitions she took part in so far this year, Kelly is surely hoping her consistency will take her to where no Malaysian has reached before when she takes on the big guns of women’s golf in the last Major of the year in Houston.

Kelly’s next tournament is the Pelican C’ship from Nov 19-22.