Tough challenge awaits Ariya and Moriya
CARLSBAD: Jutanugarn sisters Ariya and Moriya continue their LPGA campaign at the Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California this week.
Ariya, who has moved up two spots to No.5 in the world following her joint runner-up finish at the Founders Cup on Sunday, is chasing her first win of the year and eighth overall while big sister Moriya, who is currently ranked 21st, is after her LPGA breakthrough title.
The US$1.8 million (approximately 57.6 million baht) tournament is the last event before this season’s first major — the ANA Inspiration.
Ariya’s best result at the tournament was a tied 21st spot while Moriya’s was eighthplace finish, both in 2015.
Ariya and Moriya will be up against 16 of the world’s top 20 players in one of the strongest fields of the LPGA season.
Four of the five tournament winners in 2018 are in the field (Brittany Lincicome, Ko Jin-Young, Michelle Wie and Park In-Bee) along with seven of the eight previous winners of the Kia Classic, including 2017 champion Lee Mi-Rim.
Top-ranked Feng Shanshan of China is also in the field as does American world No.2 Lexi Thompson and third-ranked Ryu So-Yeon of South Korea.
The trio will be fresh and raring to go after skipping last week’s tournament in Phoenix.
Founders Cup champion Park is playing her second straight tournament after a six-month lay-off because of back injury.
Park celebrated her 19th LPGA Tour victory and first in a little over a year on Sunday at Desert Ridge.
The 29-year-old South Korean star finished at 19-under 269, winning a day after revealing she was 50-50 about retiring before returning from a long break.
“The reason that I am competing and playing is because I want to win and because I want to contend in golf tournaments,” Park said on Sunday.
“This week definitely proved me I can win and contend and play some painfree golf.”
Ariya tees off alongside American star Wie and former champion and world No.6 Anna Nordqvist of Sweden at 10.06pm (Thai time) tonight, while Moriya, who starts at 10.17pm, is in the same group with Lee and world No.7 Kim In-Kyung, both from South Korea.
Other Thai players in the Carlsbad field are Pornanong Phatlum, Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, Benyapa Niphatsophon, Wichanee Meechai, Thidapa Suwannapura and PK Khongkraphan.