Jasmine Suwannapura is thriving under the pressure of trying to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship in two weeks time and has managed to jump inside the top 60 in the season-long Race to the CME Globe point standings with just two events remaining through which to qualify.
The TOTO Japan Classic and next week’s The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican are the final two events remaining on the LPGA Tour’s schedule in which players can earn the critical points needed to earn a spot in the field at the CME Group Tour Championship. Only the top 60 in the Race to the CME Globe point standings will qualify.
Suwannapura began the TOTO Japan Classic at No. 59 in the point standings, making a critical leap in the standings from No. 84 thanks to a tie for third at last week’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia, where she led for the first two rounds before fading on the weekend.
But now comes the pressure of trying to maintain that position.
Through the first two rounds of the TOTO Japan Classic, Suwannapura is doing exactly what she needs to thus far, opening with rounds of 68 and 66. The Thailand native got off to a slow start on Friday, making bogey on her first hole of the round, but she rallied with five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 12th hole to sit just four strokes back of the lead heading into the weekend. She’s also now projected to move from No. 59 to No. 51 in the Race to the CME Globe point standings based on her current position through 36 holes at the TOTO Japan Classic.
“Just have fun and be free, and everything will be okay,” Suwannapura said about her carefree approach to the final two days. “And then, yeah, we'll make some birdies and have fun.”
The game has been fun for Suwannapura in recent weeks as she’s been able to see a few more putts drop, averaging 29 putts over the first two days in Japan. She also made a switch in recent weeks to a longer driver.
Suwannapura is hopeful these tweaks might just be the adjustments she needs to propel her to a third career win on the LPGA Tour. It's something she’s reminded of often as the two-time winner wears two star tattoos on her face beside her left eye. She says they’re meant to represent her two victories on Tour.
“I actually have other things, too. I have heart, music notes and moons, I but just like the star,” Suwannapura said Friday after her round when asked about her tattoos. “I had a little mole right there that I can put exactly the same every day, so everybody thought it was actually a real tattoo.”
The prospect of adding a third star to her face with a victory come Sunday is something Suwannapura says she’d certainly consider. “I don't mind adding another one,” she said.
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