JLPGA Ready For First Major Of 2012 Season, The World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup

Defending Salonpas Cup Champion, Sun Ju Ahn of South Korea

The JLPGA readies itself for the first Major of the 2012 season, the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup. The defending champion is 2-time defending JLPGA Player of the Year Sun-Ju Ahn of South Korea. Over the years, several prominent LPGA players have won this event (in all of its various brandings) including Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam (when the event was called the Nichirei Cup World Ladies Golf Tournament). However, the event has only been a JLPGA Major since 2008. Since then, it has been won by an LPGA player once, in 2010 by Morgan Pressel. This year, Morgan returns to compete again, along with fellow LPGA stars, including Ai Miyazato and Mika Miyazato (who started on the JLPGA), Shanshan Feng, Jiyai Shin and Michelle Wie.

Michelle Wie with parents during practice round at Salonpas Cup

Although I don’t post every week about the JLPGA, I post frequently enough to have my own JLPGA favorites. Some players I’d like to see challenge or win Salonpas Cup from the JLPGA include Sakura Yokomine, Chie Arimura, Mi-Jeong Jeon, Shinobu Moromizato and 50-time JLPGA winner (and legend) Yuri Fudoh. I’m also happy to see Thai amateur Moriya Jutanugarn get an invite to play. I didn’t see Ariya on the field list. Maybe she will caddie for Moriya, as they often do for each other when one is not playing. I guess I’ll see when play begins. This should be a great field and hopefully an exciting tournament with a great finish.

Ai Miyazato during practice round at Salonpas Cup