The Guangzhou, China, native sank an eagle putt to leapfrog Stacy Lewis and win the tournament by a stroke, much to the delight of a partisan crowd. It was Feng’s second career victory and first win of the 2013 season, and she would love to add another title this weekend.
Feng was instrumental in the China event being added to the 2013 calendar, so it was fitting she came out on top in the end. It no doubt left a bad taste in Lewis’ mouth though that she will be working to erase this week.
Reignwood Pine Valley Golf Club will be the stage for the drama, and the par-73, 6,596-yard course gives Tour players ample birdie opportunities. Feng won last year’s event at 26-under-par, and 18 players finished at 10-under or better in the first-year event.
Lewis, the world’s No. 1 player, will be back to challenge Feng, along with a host of 2014 tournament champions that includes second-ranked Inbee Park, Austin Ernst, Mirim Lee, So Yeon Ryu and Mi Jung Hur. Hur won in Prattville, Ala., two weeks ago to make it five wins in six tournaments for South Korean-born players, and it will be a big storyline if anyone can put a halt to the national dominance of late from the Asian powerhouse.
Fourth-ranked Suzann Pettersen has been playing great golf as of late and could easily be a factor on Sunday, and Beatriz Recari and former world No. 1s Na Yeon Choi and Yani Tseng are other players to watch. With so many birdies ripe for the taking and a wide-open field, this week’s event is yet another chance for a new star to emerge.
The Reignwood LPGA Classic also kicks off an impressive seven-week international tour for the LPGA that will include another stop in China in late October after tournaments in Malaysia and South Korea. Then, it’s on to Taiwan, Japan and Mexico before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla., Nov. 20-23.
The international seven-pack of events not only represents the LPGA’s status as a formidable global entity in the sports world, but will go a long way in growing the women’s game across the globe.
Eight of the 2014 season’s 33 events remain, and season-ending races will begin to take more shape as the international swing proceeds. Not only will hundreds of thousands of dollars be on the line each week, but positioning for the year’s culmination will take more of a central status in what is being talked about and written about in the golf world.
It all begins this week, and there are no more off weeks providing breaks in the schedule for anyone to hide or lay low. It’s time for players to start making their moves and lunging toward the finish line, and it will be compelling drama every step of the way.
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