Miramar Golf Country Club
Kintestsu Kashikojima Country Club
Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan
Rolex Rankings No. 7 Karrie Webb
Rolex Rankings No. 118 Belen Mozo
Rolex Rankings No. 174 Dori Carter
The LPGA returns to Japan for the 36th edition of the Mizuno Classic held at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima-Shi, Mie. Throughout the years, several of the LPGA’s best have captured victories in Japan including; Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam and a pair of former champs who are in the field this week, Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.
“I enjoy playing in Japan,” Webb said. “I think the Japanese fans are some of our greatest fans. They are very respectful of the game of golf and of us. I’ve always enjoyed playing here and having won here before gives me good memories coming back every year.”
As in the past, members of the JLPGA have been invited to compete in this year’s event as 35 members, including defending champion Teresa Lu and former Mizuno Classic winners Momoko Ueda and Jiyai Shin, will be teeing it up among the LPGA’s best.
Current JLPGA members have had the upper hand at the tournament of late, as five of the last seven winners of the Mizuno Classic currently call the JLPGA their home Tour. Looking to end that run will be a strong contingent of 43 LPGA players led by Lewis and Webb.
WEBB LOOKS TO GET BACK INTO TOP-9 IN RACE TO THE CME GLOBE
The Race to the CME Globe is coming down the home stretch and one of the questions on everyone’s mind is who will get into the top-9 and have a chance at the one million dollar first prize?
Having only played one event out of the five so far on the Asia swing, Karrie Webb recently fell out of a top-9 spot which she had held since her victory at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in the second event of the year
“Obviously, everyone knew at the start of the year that the top-9 give you a chance to win the million,” Webb said. “I actually didn’t realize that I’d slipped out of the top-9 so I guess I’ll need a good week this week because I’m not playing next week.”
Webb sits a mere eight points behind current No. 9 Azahara Munoz and just 18 points behind No. 8 Chella Choi. Webb would pass either with a 40th place finish that would net her 31 points. However, it most likely won’t be that easy as Choi is also in the field this week and Munoz is scheduled to competed in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational while Choi and Webb are not.
For more information on the Race to the CME Globe please watch this video - youtu.be/E10KXaKCptA.
WEEK SIX IN ASIA FOR MOZO
Belen Mozo is one of the 15 players in the field this week who have decided to compete in all six events on the LPGA’s fall Asia swing.
“A lot of people thought I was crazy,” Mozo admitted. “One of the reasons for my decision is that it was the first time in four years that I actually got to get in all of them. There are some events that I didn’t play before that I was very excited to play this year. “
Mozo has had a good few weeks with three top-20 finishes, including a tie for 11th at Blue Bay. While the top-20 finishes are nice, Mozo has also been able to take a lot away from her time in Asia off the course, including some new friendships.
“I really like the way you get to interact with other players,” Mozo explained. “You really get to know players that maybe you don’t get the chance to hang out with at normal tournaments and I like that. That’s what I’ve missed on this Tour.
I feel like that’s the difference with the European Tour, they hang out more often and they get to know one another. When you get to play these Asian events you get to stay with them and you get to hang out with them more often because everyone is going out together at the same time and same place. That part I really like it.”
The Spaniard is in good spirits as she looks to close out the swing on a high note.
“Honestly, it’s my last tournament and people ask me how I feel. I feel great,” Mozo said. “I don’t feel like I’m ready to leave. I don’t feel tired. I’m not counting my days. I think I just got into a routine and take it day-by-day.”
DORI CARTER ENJOYING HER FIRST ASIA SWING
Dori Carter is one of several players in the field experiencing their first Asia swing.
“So far so good,” Carter said with a smile. “I didn’t get into Korea but this is my sixth week over here. I stayed in Asia during that week off. It’s been a good experience. I’ve enjoyed it. I haven’t been too homesick. I’ve been able to eat normal foods, get good amounts of sleep and it hasn’t been too bad. It’s nice. The golf courses have been great too.”
Carter is coming off her best finish in Asia at last week’s Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship and hopes to build off an already solid season which has seen the Ole Miss grad rack up over $180,000 in earnings and the first two top-10 finishes of her career.
“This is the best year I’ve had ever,” Carter said. “I played really well in the beginning of the year. Kind of struggled to- wards the end. Had some changes I went through. Played a lot more golf. I’m not used to playing in these Asia events and extending my season so it’s been a lot of golf but this whole year has just been a blast. A lot of new experiences playing and being in the hunt a few times and having some good rounds so i feel really good about this year. It’s been great.”
That solid season has left Carter in a great position to qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, as she currently sits in 67th place in the Race to the CME Globe with two events left. The top-72 and ties will advance to the Tour Championship.
“That’s huge,” Carter admitted. “That’s such a big deal to qualify for. I haven’t played in it before so if I can hold onto my spot or move up on the list a little bit and play well this week it will definitely be a good season ender.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I enjoy playing in Japan. I think the Japanese fans are some of our greatest fans. They are very respectful of the game of golf and of us. I’ve always enjoyed playing here and having won here before gives me good memories coming back every year.”
–Karrie Webb on playing in Japan.
THE SOCIAL SCENE
This week at the Mizuno Classic, the LPGA’s typical social media handles on the back of caddie bibs have been replaced with Japanese. Pernilla Lindberg took to Instagram to show this off.
“P Lindberg in Japanese....#lpga #japan”
- (@pernillagolf )
Rolex Rankings No. 7 Karrie Webb
On trying to get into the top-9 in the Race to the CME Globe
“Obviously, everyone knew at the start of the year that the top-9 give you a chance to win the million. I actually didn’t realize that I’d slipped out of the top-9 so I guess I’ll need a good week this week because I’m not playing next week.”
On playing in Japan
“I enjoy playing in Japan. I think the Japanese fans are some of our greatest fans. They are very respectful of the game of golf and of us. I’ve always enjoyed playing here and having won here before gives me good memories coming back every year.”
Rolex Rankings No. 118 Belen Mozo
On playing all six Asia events
“A lot of people thought I was crazy. One of the reasons for my decision is that it was the first time in four years that I actually got to get in all of them. There are some events that I didn’t play before that I was very excited to play this year. “
‘I found them very easy. The worst thing about playing so many tournaments in a row is getting the stuff together, like all of the traveling and hotels and such, and they take care of it and they treat you very well. It’s comfortable. You get a couple of days off if you want to on Monday and Tuesday, play the pro-am, get a couple of practice rounds in and it’s not that bad. I’ve talked to other girls that play and what they say is true. If I would have flew back home I would have actually had to deal with a lot more stuff than if I stayed here. I would have had to run a lot of errand that I don’t want to face yet and I’d probably have to practice as well so it’s not much difference than what I’m doing here.”
“Honestly, it’s my last tournament and people ask me how I feel. I feel great. I don’t feel like I’m ready to leave. I don’t feel tired. I’m not counting my days. I think I just got into a routine and take it day-by-day.”
On some of her highlights of the Asia swing
“Definitely the culture clash. It’s been different to stay in these different places. The food is different. I’m really good at adapting so I didn’t struggle as much. I really like the way you get to interact with other players. You really get to know players that maybe you don’t get the chance to hang out with at normal tournaments and I like that. That’s what I’ve
missed on this Tour. I feel like that’s the difference with the European Tour, they hang out more often and they get to know one another. When you get to play these Asian events you get to stay with them and you get to hang out with them more often because everyone is going out together at the same time and same place. That part I really like it.”
Rolex Rankings No. 174 Dori Carter
On her first time on the Asia swing
“So far so good. I didn’t get into Korea but this is my sixth week over here. I stayed in Asia during that week off. It’s been a good experience. I’ve enjoyed it. I haven’t been too homesick. I’ve been able to eat normal foods, get good amounts of sleep and it hasn’t been to bad. It’s nice. The golf courses have been great too.”
On being in good position to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship
“That’s huge. That’s such a big deal to qualify for. I haven’t played in it before so if I can hold onto my spot or move up on the list a little bit and play well this week it will definitely be a good season ender. I’m looking forward to playing in it so it would be a big deal.”
On her season
“This is the best year I’ve had ever. I played really well in the beginning of the year. Kind of struggled towards the end. Had some changes I went through. Played a lot more golf. I’m not used to playing in these Asia events and extending my season so it’s been a lot of golf but this whole year has just been a blast. A lot of new experiences playing and be- ing in the hunt a few times and having some good rounds so i feel really good about this year it’s been great.”
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