Last week's LPGA winner takes on field featuring world's top nine players
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 October 2010 - Hot on the heels of her maiden LPGA victory just four days ago, Spain's Beatriz Recari says she is just 'enjoying the present' as she prepares to try and post consecutive wins at the inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, which tees off tomorrow at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
Recari shot a final-round 70 to earn her first LPGA title by one stroke last weekend at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge in California. This week her attention turns to the superstar-studded field at the US$1.8 million Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, an event featuring the world's top nine players and the leading 10 on the LPGA money list.
Said the 23-year old, who vaulted to 37th place on the LPGA Tour Money List with her maiden win: "It is very important (to try and win every week), but you also have to enjoy the victories as well.
"You work so hard to achieve your goals and then when you achieve them you say: 'I am going onto the next one' without really enjoying it. I am very calm about this week and just enjoying the present.
"I had a very long flight which gave me some time to think about what I did and how happy I was with my performance. When I landed in Hong Kong (in transit) and turned on my phone, I had at least 50 emails. My phone has gone a little bit crazy, but I love it."
Recari will be joined in tomorrow's first round by Katherine Hull and world number three Jiyai Shin, one of the top nine ranked players in the field. World number one Ai Miyazato heads the cast, along with Cristie Kerr (world number 2), Yani Tseng (4), Suzann Pettersen (5), Na Yeon Choi (6) and Michelle Wie (7).
In addition, five Malaysian players - professionals Cindy Lee-Pridgen and Jean Chua and amateurs Kelly Tan, Diana Tham and Aretha Pan - will join the action. Tan will enjoy the full benefits of her LPGA debut, being paired with Natalie Gulbis for the first round.
Recari, meanwhile, having arrived on Tuesday, is ready for action. "Yesterday I played 18 holes and I came for the evening party and it was really fun. I got a taste of the Malaysian culture and the food and I had my name written in Arabic and Chinese, so it was a lot of fun."
The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, which commences tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, will feature a field of 60 players, including 50 leading players from the LPGA Tour. There are also 10 sponsors' exemptions competing for the prize purse of US$1.8 million.
The tournament was officially opened today by Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of Sime Darby, who teed off the pro-am session this morning with dignitaries and Japan's Miyazato.
The three-day stroke play event with no cut will ensure that players are in Kuala Lumpur for the tournament duration and the local and regional golf community can catch their favourite golfers in action till the end of the tournament.
For more information on the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, please visit the event website at http://simedarbylpgamalaysia.com/index.php.
Fans can follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Sime-Darby-LPGA-Malaysia/133534379995100?ref=sgm and Twitter at twitter.com/simedarbylpga
Topics: Player Feature, Recari, Beatriz
