DANVILLE, California: In-Kyung Kim will get her first shot at defending an LPGA title this week as the South Korean returns to the scene of her first US tour triumph at Blackhawk Country Club.
Since winning here last year, Kim has notched 10 top-10 finishes and her second career victory at the State Farm Classic - where she defeated superstar compatriot Se Ri Pak by one stroke.
“It’s good to be back here again this year,” Kim said. “Even though I didn’t really have a good week last week at Samsung, I played (here) this morning, and it just gives me a really good feeling and good confidence.
“I get more confident even just playing the practice round. Knowing that I can do this again, it’s a great feeling.”
If the 21-year-old can successfully defend the title she would join Hall of Famer Juli Inkster as the only players who have posted back-to-back wins at this tournament.
She’ll face stiff competition from seven of the top 10 players on the money list.
Of them, world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico and South Korean Jiyai Shin boast multiple victories this season.
Ochoa recorded victories in Thailand and in her native Mexico. Shin, meanwhile, has won three times, at the HSBC Women’s Champions, Wegmans LPGA and in Rogers, Arkansas.
Shin, who brought solid international credentials to her rookie season on the LPGA tour, is in the running for both rookie of the year and player of the year honors. The last player to capture both was Nancy Lopez in 1978.
Seven other first-year tour members are in the field, six of them seeking their first titles and one, South Korean M.J. Hur, vying to add a second title to her triumph in the Safeway Classic.
Kim said she thought the Blackhawk layout suited her style.
“I think this golf course really fits my golf game,” she said. “I’m more consistent, and you have to be consistent on this golf course.”
Weather conditions, however, could make for a different challenge from last year.
“I play better in the wind, in the tough conditions,” Kim said. “Last year, the greens were firmer and the wind was blowing. I like this golf course because you can shoot really low score, but you really have to be patient on those greens.”
