It’s been far from easy out there

Working hard on trying to improve, Kelly remains confident

IT goes without saying that we are entering the busiest part of the season and I am really looking forward to playing more competitive golf tournaments.

I started the first couple of months of the season isolated back home in Malaysia and just finished my fifth tournament at the Kingsmill Championship in Virginia last week.

It was much like most of my season has been so far, where a lot of great things were happening but I have not found a steady groove yet. I am learning to stay patient though and believe the best is yet to come this year.

In my first round after three weeks without playing, I came out firing on all cylinders and shot a four-under-par 67. And then, just as I was beginning to think that something special might happen, I started my second round with five straight bogeys. That was tough.

After the 5th hole I told my caddie that I felt like I was trying to turn a submarine around in a small pool – that’s how it felt.

But that is what it has been like for me this season. I get on a decent roll and things look, and feel, promising and then all of a sudden I lose momentum.

I was bitterly disappointed that

I was unable to play in the two South-East Asian tournaments (Singapore and Thailand), neighbouring Malaysia.

Seeing everyone in Singapore and not being able to play was especially difficult for me. It was so close to my fans and friends, and family (in Batu Pahat, Johor).

My 37th place finish on the CME roster for 2020 unfortunately did not carry over into this season and now I will have to work extra hard to improve and try to play my way onto the 2022 Tour.

Still, in the weeks off I was able to qualify for the 76th US Women’s Open which will be held at the Olympic Club in the San Francisco area. My work as of this week is the start of my preparations for tournament.

Besides this, I am really excited about the month of June as there are two Major championships on the Tour schedule – the US Women’s Open and the KPMG PGA Championship, to be staged at Atlanta Athletic Club, north of Atlanta in Georgia, United States, from June 20 to 23.

Once we tee off at the US Open this week, our schedule has tournaments all the way up to the Tokyo Olympics. It will be an incredibly busy stretch of golf and I will have to decide what events to take off to get some rest.

For me, I just cannot wait to play consecutive weeks again and get the momentum going.

I have always loved playing in Major championship golf and being privileged to play at such great golf courses is awesome.

I have also been fortunate to receive both doses of my vaccine shots. I have fielded many questions about safety and health, and side effects. And I am just grateful to be able to do my part in trying to help keep everyone safe and protect myself from everything that is going on.

Despite the tough situation that we find ourselves in right now (across the globe), we must continue to do everything to stay healthy and safe.

Back to the golf – I am happy to start of the second half of my season now and I know it’s going to be a busy time.

But I will continue to do my best to provide positive news, and hopefully with some success, for Malaysian golf.

I am hopeful of building some momentum over the next month leading up to the Tokyo Olympics.

So, until next month, stay safe and healthy.

–aFP With the difficult road ahead of her in trying to make the grade for the 2020 Tour, Kelly Tan is well aware and focused on the work that she has to do.