The JM Eagle LA Championship, a prelude to the majors of the LPGA Women's Golf Tour, will begin on April 18 (Japan time) at El Caballero CC in California, and will be broadcast live on WOWOW every day. Twelve Japanese players, including Ayaka Furue, Miyu Yamashita, Reo Takeda, Akie Iwai and her sister Chirei, and Hinako Shibuno, are scheduled to participate, and they spoke of their enthusiasm ahead of the start of the tournament.
◇Ayaka Furue
-How have you been spending the week since the T-Mobile Match Play?
I got into LA right away and was feeling relaxed.
-Have you made any adjustments in preparation for this week?
I didn't make any particular adjustments, but I did practice a little bit here and there.
-What are your impressions of this week's course?
There are some ups and downs, the greens seem to be "fast and hard," and there are some undulations, so I think it will be difficult.
--What do you think are the key points to competing for the top spot?
I would like to be able to hit the fairway and the green firmly and make as many putts as possible.
--This week is a preview of the majors, how do you want to play?
This will also be my last match where I will be able to understand my condition, so I would like to perform well while carefully assessing my condition.
◇Yamashita Miyu
Q: It's been two weeks since the last Ford Championship. How have you been spending those weeks?
I think it was a good two weeks since I returned to Japan and was able to rest my body while also making adjustments.
--What did you particularly like about it?
I loved being able to eat lots of my favorite Japanese foods, such as yakiniku, steak, and sushi.
- You had an unfortunate result (not qualifying) in the last Ford Championship, so have you done anything in particular to practice in preparation for this week?
I've mainly been practicing my short game, so I think putting and approaches are especially important rather than shots, so I've been practicing those more.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.
I want to play my own game a little better, and since I've been struggling to hit shots that I'm satisfied with, I'd like to work hard to improve my par-on rate and get birdies.
◇Reo Takeda
-Please tell us what you have been working on in preparation for this week.
My shots and putting have improved a lot compared to last week and the week before, so I'd like to work hard to see how I can show that in the match.
--It's been two months since the season started. How do you feel looking back on how it's gone so far?
It's a lot of fun being able to play in different regions, including the Asia Series, and I discover new things every week, so I would like to use those discoveries to do my best in America.
-How do you want to play this week, which is a prelude to the majors?
I hope to give my best over the four days and play well.
◇Akemi Iwai & Chirei
Q: Chirei, you tied for 4th place at the KKT Cup Vantelin Ladies on the domestic tour last week. Is there anything that you think is the reason for your success?
Chirei: I wonder why I tied for 4th place. I think I've gotten better at using my mentality of just concentrating on this without thinking about the future. I think the reason I'm in a good flow right now is because I was able to concentrate without thinking about how under par I was when I got a birdie.
--Akemi, you tied for 26th place in the same tournament. What did you do well and what challenges do you face?
Akie: I can't really find anything good, but my weaknesses are that I can't make putts, and my shots are the same, so I don't feel like myself. I can really see that I'm scared somewhere and it's showing in my play. I'm conscious of working on my shots and putts so that I can hit the ball to the pin with courage this week.
--This is your first time on this course. What are your impressions of it?
Chirei: Today I started from the 10th hole, but the 16th par 5 is a good chance hole, so I think it will change my mood a lot the next day depending on whether I get a birdie there, a par, or a bogey. It's a hole I definitely want to get, so I'm going to take it seriously.
Akie: They're all important. I can't choose. I don't remember the courses very well, so I think I got used to them little by little during the match, but I don't really like them.
-Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.
Akie: I want to get through the qualifying rounds and be shown on TV. I'll do my best to be able to play in that position.
Chirei: I also want to show everyone in Japan that I am having fun after passing the qualifying rounds.
◇Mao Saigo
-How have you been spending the week since the T-Mobile Match Play?
I just moved here and started practicing.
--It's been two months since the season started. How are you feeling about your condition and the results so far?
I still haven't played the kind of golf I want to play, so I want to get back to playing my own style as soon as possible. I also think that the things I noticed during practice last week will help me find the mistakes I made in this week's matches, so I'm hoping that I can create some kind of good opportunity by then, as the major tournament starts next week.
--Did you do anything special at this tournament last year?
Last year I was busy just getting through the qualifying rounds, but this was the first time I was able to place in the top 10, so in that sense I think this tournament has given me a lot of confidence.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.
I would like to play in a good position while checking how much of the practice I have done last week and up until this match I can put to good use in the match.
◇Nasa Hataoka
How do you feel about this week's new course?
The green is bent grass, but there are some places where it is too dry and hard, and the ball stops unexpectedly, so I think it is important to distinguish that. Also, there are some places where the slope is quite steep from the back, and if you use it too much, the ball will come back to the front, so I think it would be good to attack by using the slope well and not using it.
--How are you feeling?
Today I felt really good, and my shots were rough on Monday and Tuesday, but today I think I was able to get it together. When things get a little worse, I tend to swing too much and my timing is often off, so I need to be careful. Also, there's a difference in elevation, so I need to be careful. I've been playing at high altitudes in Arizona and Las Vegas, so the ball has been flying really far, but on the other hand, this week I'm pretty close to the ocean, so I need to adjust the distance between the front and back well.
--Please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.
My shots and putting are gradually coming together, so now I feel like I just need to go for it, and I'll do my best.
*The JM Eagle LA Championship will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW. From the first day (April 18th) to the final day (April 21st), the tournament will be broadcast live on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand from 7am each day. WOWOW On Demand will also be live streaming a "camera dedicated to Japanese players" that will focus on the performance of Japanese players.
