SASO ANXIOUS ABOUT HER FORM
It’s been a long time since I last played so I’m worried if I can play as expected
Bugged with doubts on her form on the eve of the Daikin Orchid Ladies tournament, Yuka Saso battles not just a slew of aces in the kickoff of the 2021 LPGA of Japan Tour starting Thursday in Okinawa but also anxiety coming off a long layoff.
“It’s been a long time since I last played so I’m worried if I can play as expected,” said the Fil-Japanese who topped the money race with P43.5 million in earnings on two victories and six Top 10 finishes in her maiden campaign last year. “Can I hit the ball as I imagined?
Can I put on as I imagined?"
It didn’t go well, so I need more practice.
She tried to shake off the rust by arriving three hours before her scheduled practice round Tuesday, pounding the ball at varied distances although she admitted that “the feeling of the turf was different between the practice area and the course.”
“It didn’t go well, so I need more practice,” she said.
But organizers called off Wednesday’s practice round due to a reported case of a personnel testing positive for Covid-19 virus.
The Ryuryu Golf Club was closed for disinfection and contact tracing.
Whatever, the 108-player field is all set for the 120-million yen event (P54.5 million).
Saso, the 19-year-old ICTSI-backed ace, is one of the pre-tournament favorites.
“It was very windy and difficult to deal with it but as pros, we have to overcome such challenge,” said Saso, hopeful to first make the 36-hole cut to gain another crack at third crown after scoring back-to-back victories at NEC Karuizawa and Nitori Ladies last year.
“I’m happy to be able to play again. I’m just as excited as the rest even if I’m worried,” she added. “I’ll do my best to pass the (36-hole) qualifying.”
Saso will have her hands full right in the first two rounds as she drew 2019 British Women’s Open champion Hinako Shibuno and Korean Lee Min-young at 10:54 a.m. on No. 1.
It was very windy and difficult to deal with it but as pros, we have to overcome such challenge.
Others tipped to crowd the leaderboard early are Player of the Year frontrunner Ayaka Furue, defending champion Mamiko Higa, and last year’s leg winners Ayaka Watanabe, Sakura Koiwai, Erika Hara, Inami Mone, Yuna Nishimura and Saki Nagamine and 2019 top player Ai Suzuki.
Three other tournaments are slated for the month, keeping the JLPGA campaigners busy with the Y80 million Seimei Ladies Yokohama set next week in Kochi, the Y100 million T Point X Eneos Golf at Kagoshima on 19 to 21 March and the Axaledis Golf, another Y80 million event, on 26 to 28 March in Miyazaki.