LPGA Pro of the Week - Week of 2/22/10

Known as one of the most famous women athletes in Japan, 24 year old Ai Miyazato’s ascent to the LPGA was much anticipated. Miyazato was an extraordinary junior player and was seen as the next big athlete in Japan, even as a teenager. She did not disappoint. She joined the Japanese Tour at age 18 and it did not take long for her to dominate. In her first three years on the JLPGA she gathered 12 wins and is still the youngest player to capture a JLPGA major championship at age 20. She now currently sits on 15 career JPAGA victories.

In 2005 she blew the competition away at the LPGA Q-School to gain her card here in the US on the LPGA. But it all wasn’t just hoorays, candy, and flowers; it was an uphill climb. She tasted small successes in her first 3 seasons, but was not able to cash in a victory. Her best money list finish in those first 3 years was 17th. But things changed in 2009. Miyazato got her first LPGA win in Europe at the Evian Masters, known as one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Her win there help capped her best LPGA season clinching her standing as 3rd in earnings.

Although Miyazato has yet to be victorious in an LPGA major, she has had some pretty good success in her career in the big ones. She has finished in the top 15 of each major at least once and has two T3 finishes (’06 LPGA Championship and ’09 Woman’s British). She is the torchbearer for Japan when it comes to bringing home a major in the LPGA, and I think her time is coming.

The forecast for 2010 is VERY good for Miyazato, considering she has already cashed in her 2nd career LPGA victory in the season opener in Thailand. She is looking to build off of her blistering final round that helped her sneak past tour vet Suzann Pettersen. Miyazato is also hoping she can do something in 2010 she has yet to do as a professional…win on US soil. She will no doubt get her opportunity, and by the way she played week one, she will be a force to be reckoned with as the season continues. This win was no flash in the pan; keep Miyazato on your radar all season long.