Breakthrough for Ai
With her third place finish today at the Kia Classic, former World No. 1 Ai Miyazato had her best finish in an LPGA event since a runner up finish at the 2013 JTBC Founders Cup. Her last top-10 also came that year, this time at the 2013 Lotte Championship.
“I haven’t finished Top-10 since, I don’t know, maybe a couple years ago, and finally I did it,” Miyazato said after the final round. “So I’m really satisfied what I did, and definitely gained my confidence.”
What was the biggest change in her game over the years?
“Well, putting,” Miyazato answered. “I’ve been struggling with my putting since a couple years ago, and that’s why my game wasn’t really there. But I had really good patience and I know I can get through it. Right now, I’m in the process, but just the difference is it’s just I’m having fun more with my game. So I think that was it. I need this feeling till end of November.”
Final UL International Crown Battle
Heading into the Kia Classic, Team Australia (with a combined Rolex Rankings score of 376) sat in the 8th and final position in the 2016 UL International Crown standings ahead of Team Sweden (with a combine Rolex Ranking score of 383). Both teams had two players remaining in the field on Sunday at the Kia Classic.
For Team Australia, Minjee Lee finished T20 and Karrie Webb finished T43 in an attempt to improve their position. Team Sweden had four players in the field this week. Anna Nordqvist finished T12, Pernilla Linberg finished T43 and both Maria McBride and Caroline Hedwall missed the cut. The final eight teams will be set at the conclusion of the ANA Inspiration next week.
Of Note
- After the final round today at the Kia Classic, World No. 1 Lydia Ko now has nine consecutive rounds under par and seven consecutive rounds under 68.
- Ai Miyazato finished 3rd today and her last top-10 finish was a T6 finish at the 2013 Lotte Championship
- Sponsor invite and Rolex Rankings No. 28 Sung Hyun Park finished T4 with Jenny Shin.
- Alison Lee and Ji Young Oh withdrew from the Kia Classic prior to the conclusion of the first round.
- With her runner-up finish today, Inbee Park moved from 76th to 15th place in the Race to the CME Globe.
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