AIG Women & # 039; s Open: Hinako Shibuno ready to & # 039; play smart & # 039; to defend the title
Hinako Shibuno had left Japan only once in her life before traveling to the UK to compete last year Location: Royal Troon, Ayrshire Date: August 20-23 Coverage: Nightly highlights on BBC Two and regular updates on BBC Radio Live.
Defending champion Hinako Shibuno is confident that her game can withstand the rigors of the Royal Throne left at the AIG Women's Open, which opens Thursday.
Shibuno from Japan, 21, lit up the event last year with a stunning win at Woburn to claim her first major.
Her victory on the inland park track was the first competitive event she had played outside of Japan.
"It will be very difficult, I know there will be wind and rain. I will ha I have to play smart," she said.
"But I'd like to be the defending champion and show other parts of my game."
Shibuno will defend her title in whatever The main golf tournament will be held in Britain since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and will also be the country's biggest women's sporting event in 2020.
It is the first major of the 2020 LPGA season and will take place without fans looking on the Scottish track.
"I have high hopes for myself, but I want to play with a smile on my face," said Shibuno, world number 13
“I've seen the Open Championship on TV and I know I have to focus on the tee shots and miss the fairway bunkers.”
Shibuno was a little-known figure before joining the crowd at Woburn and becomi astonished. ng a world star.
Nicknamed the & # 39; Laughing Cinderella & # 39 ;, she is now one of Japan's sporting superstars.
"My victory last year was life changing, & # 39; & # 39; she said.
" I became a celebrity in Japan and couldn't believe the number of people when I got home to the airport. It was weird. "
Hall & Hull lead British challenge
The British challenge is headed by Georgia Hall, who won the 2018 title at Lytham , and her Solheim Cup teammate Charley Hull.
Hull has won this year's Rose Ladies Series tournaments sponsored by England's Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open Champion.
Legendary English player Laura Davies is competing in her 40th British Open and has the honor of being the first to turn down when the action kicks off on Thursday.
England's Laura Davies, 56, is the most decorated female player in her country
Danielle Kang, one of 40 Americans in the field, is the player who first two events to resume the LPGA Tour.
[1 9459051] "Despite its limitations, the bubble protocol has been fantastic here in Scotland," said the world's number two.
"It's so different for everyone, but there's easy access to everything we need."
