Six-time LPGA Tour champion Nasa Hataoka is entering the first event of the 2023 LPGA Tour season, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, with some exciting new changes already coming down the pipe. The Japanese golfer announced Tuesday that she is the title sponsor’s newest ambassador, making her fourth consecutive appearance in the Tour’s season opener the most special yet.
“It was just right about one year ago, last year, I was able to meet the CEO Mark Wang at this golf course, at Lake Nona, and he at that point told me that he is looking for a new ambassador and was considering myself,” she said. “One year later, just very fortunate to be the brand ambassador and playing this tournament as a brand ambassador. Looking forward to it.”
Hataoka qualified for this year’s Tournament of Champions through her victories at the 2021 Greater Toledo LPGA Classic, 2021 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G and 2022 DIO Implant LA Open. Her best finish at the event was a T2 finish in 2020, but she’s looking to improve on that result after putting in a lot of work on the course during the off-season, especially to improve her swing.
“Honestly, I didn't get that much time off. (I’ve been) working on my new swing with my coach, and I feel like it might take a little bit more time for that to really settle in,” Hataoka said. “I feel good, but I'm still working on not jumping on my impact, staying more stable through my down swing.”
)
)
)
)
