Miyazato relaxed in final shot at Arkansas title

ROGERS, Ark. — Ai Miyazato has known for 10 months that this season would be her last on the LPGA Tour.

The former world No. 1 is more relaxed entering the NW Arkansas Championship today after announcing her retirement last month.

“I feel so much better than, you know, like the last four years,” Miyazato said. “I am actually ready to play because I know that I’m going to enjoy my game more than I used to.”

It’s the first tournament in the U.S. for the 32-year-old Miyazato since making her retirement official. It’s also the site of her last LPGA Tour win — a final-round comeback victory at Pinnacle Country Club in 2012.

World No. 2 Lydia Ko is the defending champion at the event, which also features former No. 1 and local favorite Stacy Lewis. She won the event in 2014 and played in college at the University of Arkansas.

“In some ways, it was a little bit sad to hear that (Miyazato) was going to retire, but you’re also very happy for her,” Ko said. “What she’s done for the women’s game, not only in Japan but worldwide, I think she has made a huge impact. So we have got a lot to thank her for.”

Miyazato said a lack of success in recent years has hampered her motivation, and it factored into her decision to retire. After winning 25 professional titles during her career, including nine wins on the LPGA Tour in the U.S., she had only one top-10 finish last year. She has none this year and fallen outside the top 100.

In 2010 Miyazato was the first Japanese player to earn the No. 1 ranking — a position she held for 11 weeks that season.

“I wasn’t really expecting that I (could) be a No. 1 in the world, but I was doing my best every single tournament,” Miyazato said. “I just wanted to be the best of myself and of my career, so I was just working hard. And at the same time, it was my joy.”

She doesn’t have a major title — her best results were ties for third at the Women’s PGA Championship (2006, 2010) and the Women’s British Open (2009). But Miyazato is one of only nine players to make it to No. 1 since the women’s world golf rankings were introduced in 2006.

Her nine LPGA Tour victories all came from 2009 to 2012, including five in 2010.

Garcia two back

MUNICH — Sergio Garcia opened his first event in Europe since his Masters win by shooting a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 to lie two strokes off the lead at the BMW International Open on Thursday.

Wade Ormsby (64) took the overnight lead from Thomas Detry (65), and Joost Luiten and Thorbjorn Olesen (66) were tied for third with Garcia.

“I felt like I played quite well — not spectacular, but very consistent,” Garcia said.

Garcia opened with six birdies while Ormsby, who arrived at the Eichenried course on the back of three missed cuts, returned to fine form with eight.

“I had a fast start out there, turned in 30 on the front nine, and then kind of kept it going on the back,” the Australian said.

Detry had a bogey on the first hole but recovered with six birdies and an eagle.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson (67) was among 12 players tied for sixth.