The Mizuho Americas Open, an LPGA women's golf tour event, kicked off on May Getsuku(Japan time) at Liberty National GC in New Jersey, USA, and will be broadcast live on WOWOW every day. This tournament, the first tournament after the first reshuffle (changing of participation priority) following the results of last week's Black Desert Championship, will feature 11 Japanese players, including Ayaka Furue, Yuka Sasao, Hinako Shibuno, and Erika Hara, who is currently competing in the US women's lower tour. WOWOW asked each player about their enthusiasm.
◇Hara Erika
--This is the first LPGA tournament of the year. How do you feel?
This year I've been mainly competing on the Epson Tour, but having been recommended for the LPGA tournament means I have the opportunity to play in this tournament so I'm really excited and I hope to finish with a good result.
--You've been in contention for the win and have finished in the top positions on the Epson Tour, how do you feel about it so far?
Compared to last year, I've been able to get my driving distance back, so I feel like I'm playing a lot more aggressively, but I'm still having a bit of trouble with my putting, which is the most important part, so I'm practicing and overcoming that, and I'm in the process of trial and error, but the greens are in great condition this week, so I'd like to have a week where I can improve even more.
--Was there anything that surprised you or that was difficult during the Epson tour?
It was surprisingly fulfilling and there was nothing particularly surprising about it, but some of the players were pulling or carrying carts themselves, so the pace of play there could be a challenge.
--Please tell us your enthusiasm for this week and your message to your Japanese fans.
I think my condition is improving, so I would like to fight to the best of my ability. I will do my best, so please support me.
◇ Hinako Shibuno
--The weather wasn't good the day before yesterday and yesterday, so how did the rain affect the course?
Yesterday, I started playing after noon, so I didn't get caught in the rain, but the wind started to blow really hard, and I thought it would be just as difficult as last year. I don't think the course conditions were bad, and I think I've changed a lot since last year, so I'm not sure how it will go.
-What kind of management approach are you considering?
I think I'll usually use a driver, but I want to get birdies on the par 5s. I don't think I'm scoring that well, but it really depends on the wind and the weather, so I want to work hard to keep the ball on the same level.
Q: How have your shots felt so far this week?
The matches are still ongoing and I'm feeling a bit tired, but I feel like I'm swinging well and the distance is good, so it's different from last week, and although the distance is different, I hope I can make the right adjustments to that as well.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
I will do my best to fight over the four days and compete for the top spots.
◇Minami Katsu
--The atmosphere is completely different from last week's course, but what are your impressions of this week's course?
Every year, the course seems to be softer and windier than last year due to the rain. Yesterday's practice round was also cold and windy, and if you hit against the wind, the course will be long, so I think it will be a round where you have to strategize while also taking into account the influence of the wind.
--How are you feeling personally?
My swing started to feel really good midway through last week, and after playing a practice round yesterday, I think I'm now able to hit the ball the way I want to, so I don't think it's going badly.
--Was there any particular trigger or point in time?
My habit was to lean my body forward or rise up when changing direction, so I tried to be conscious of that and practiced leaning as far back as possible.Since my original swing is centered on the heels, I tried to be conscious of ``resting on the bones'' like that.
--There are plans to tour with juniors later this week. What do you think about that?
Even after turning professional, it's not often that I get to play with junior players, but I did play with them last year and there were a lot of talented players, so I learned a lot from them. I hope to be able to watch what I can learn and remember a lot of things while playing a round.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
I haven't been able to place in the top positions in the last three races, so I'll do my best to finish under par on all four days so I can move up the ranks.
◇Yoshida Yuri
--You've been posting on social media in Utah, but is there anything you're looking forward to in New York?
It was my first time in New York, and the atmosphere was different from Tokyo and I was able to see some really great things.
--Is there any area in particular you've been focusing on practicing since last week to this week?
I was quite worried about my putting, so although my form wasn't bad, I still made a lot of mistakes, so I'm practicing and looking for areas I need to improve.
-What do you think of the course?
It's surprisingly narrow and the green is small, so I'll be able to attack with some solid shots.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.
This will be my first time playing in this tournament, but it's a very good course and the weather is a bit like New York with rain, but I'd like to prepare as hard as I can so I can play my own golf.
◇ Yuuna Nishimura
--What is your impression of this week's course compared to last week?
This course is one of my favorites, and although it is very difficult, it allows me to concentrate better, so I'm really happy to be back.
-What do you think are the key points of this course?
The tee shot is very narrow, so the target is quite narrow. The scenery makes it difficult, but I think the most important thing is to hit the ball without being defeated by it and to keep it on the fairway.
--It rained quite a bit yesterday and the day before, but how is the course condition?
I always think of this course as being hard and fast, but perhaps due to the rain, it was quite soft, so it was easier to attack and it felt like the ball would be a bit more of a stretch than usual. Also, new bunkers had been built on a few holes and the greens had become wider, so it felt like the atmosphere had changed.
-Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.
I want to play well for all four days, and if I make it to the finals I'll get to play with amateurs, which is something I'm looking forward to, so I'll do my best to get there.
*The Mizuho America's Open will be broadcast live on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand from midnight on the first (Getsuku) and second (10th), from 5:30 am on the third (11th), and from 1 am on the final day (12th). WOWOW On Demand will also broadcast live a "camera dedicated to Japanese players" that focuses on the play of Japanese players.
