Miyazato wins LPGA season opener

Japan’s Ai Miyazato produced a stunning final round 63 to capture the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand – the opening event on this season’s LPGA Tour.

Miyazato’s nine-under par round saw her overhaul the tournament leader, Norway’s Suzann Petterson and add to her only previous LPGA win, the Evian Masters last year.

Miyazato’s round included a chip-in birdie at the 18th hole but even her blistering round might not have been enough had Petterson been able to hang onto her large lead going into the final round. Miyazato had started the last day six shots behind the Norwegian, but Petterson couldn’t find the birdies she needed to see off the Japanese player and her two-under par round of 70 wasn’t enough to hold off her rival.

“There’s nothing I can do when Ai shoots 9-under,” said Pettersen. “I played pretty good golf and I don’t waste much energy thinking of why I didn’t win it. For me, it was a great start.”

A strong field for the season’s opener at Siam Country Club also featured women’s world number one Lorena Ochoa, as well as Karrie Webb, Christie Kerr, Laura Davies, Angela Stanford, Catriona Matthew, Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis and Michelle Wie among others.