LOCAL FOOTY SPECIAL SERIES
Local favourite Keating’s Vic Open mission
HOMEGROWN hope Stacey Keating says she plans to build on a promising maiden LPGA season when she begins her 2015 campaign tomorrow.
Keating enters the Oates Vic Open, which she won in 2013, as one of the tournament favourites and hopes to use the event as a springboard for a busy summer that includes the Ladies Masters and the Women’s Australian Open.
Should the Cressy export perform strongly in the LPGA-sanctioned Women’s Open at Royal Melbourne, she can propel herself up the priority list, where she is ranked No.168 in the world.
“It’s a good stretch of tournaments in Australia, so I’ll weigh up where I’m sitting and I’ll see where I go from March onwards,” Keating said from Thirteenth Beach Golf Links.
Keating endured an indifferent year on the professional circuit, making five cuts from 16 events on the LPGA tour.
She finished 120th on the money list with $US43,047 and secured two top-20 finishes to maintain her status.
The 28-year-old was also 113th on the Order of Merit on the Ladies European Tour, making three cuts from 10 tournaments.
“I probably didn’t expect to play as much as I did. I went over there with conditional status and I had one decent finish and ended up in 12, 13 events,” Keating said.
“A conditional card is not exactly what I wanted, so hopefully I can build on that. I just have to play it by ear what events I’m going to get into.
“But I still have European status, so if I’m not getting into events in the States I can play in Europe because I don’t want to not be playing golf.”
A winner of the Spanish and French opens in 2012, Keating admitted the step up to the LPGA was “noticeable”.
“The competition is a total new level,” she said.
“You can’t have an off round because it puts you right out of it, whereas elsewhere you can get away with it a little bit more.
“The golf courses play that bit longer and tougher.”
Keating acknowledged the past year had been a steep learning curve. “I’ve got to work on my confidence because it does take a hit on the LPGA when I’m not having as good a result as I have in the past,” she said.
“I think you’ve got to suck it up and deal with it if you want to get better. It can take a bit of a toll on your confidence because you are the little fish in a big pond, but that’s where I want to play so I’ll keep chipping away.”
Keating was “excited” to be back at Thirteenth Beach, where she finished tied for 15th last year.
“I love it. The course is always in good nick and everyone loves this event,” she said.
“Because it’s so close to home I’m a bit excited and a bit proud. I’m feeling good going into the week.”
And while she concedes there will be extra pressure as a past champion, Keating is taking it all in her stride.
“I guess, but I try not to look at it that way,” she said.
“I try to downplay everything the best I can, but maybe there is a bit (of extra pressure).
“I probably put more pressure on myself.”
Keating is striking the ball well, having finished equal second in the pro-am at Pennant Hills in Sydney earlier this week, and she hopes for a bit of adverse weather at the Vic Open.
Newly turned Melbourne professional Su-Hyun Oh shapes as the main contender in a classy Vic Open field.
“Su Oh would be the one if I was a betting girl,” Keating said. “Nikki Campbell is always a sure bet for the top five and there’s Laura Davies.
“There are a lot of girls from overseas and Rachel Hetherington would be a dark horse.”