Malaysian golfer Kelly turns heads in Ohio
August 11, 2020 @ 10:02am
GOLFER Kelly Tan is starting to show her true mettle on the LPGA Tour.
The 26-year-old produced a superb performance at the Marathon Classic on Sunday to qualify for this year's Women's British Open.
The Malaysian closed with a two-under 69 to finish in an 11-way tie for ninth spot on seven-under 277, eight shots behind winner Danielle Kang, at the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Ohio.
She made the British Open cut by finishing in the top-10 bracket of golfers who have yet to qualify for the event.
It was Kelly's second top-10 finish of her LPGA Tour career. She finished tied fourth, also at the Marathon Classic in 2014.
Kelly pocketed US$27,129 (RM113,600) and moved up 13 rungs to 25th in the CME Race to Globe standings for her effort.
Last weekend, Kelly finished joint 11th at the Drive On Championship, also in Ohio.
The British Open, scheduled on Aug 20-23 at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland, will be Kelly's first appearance in a major since 2016.
The other four majors in women's professional golf are the ANA Inspiration, PGA Championship, US Open and the Evian Championship.
Four years ago, Kelly, who turned professional in 2013, featured in four majors — ANA Inspiration, PGA Championship, US Open and the British Open.
"Heading to the Women's (British) Open with a splash. Thanks to Marathon Classic and all the volunteers for another amazing event.
"I did just enough here to qualify for the British Open. I played consistently throughout the week.
"T9 and keep trending in the right direction. Scotland, here I come," Kelly tweeted on Sunday.
Kelly also thanked her caddy, John Wilkes for her performance in Ohio.
"You always believed in me... even when I didn't. You have always been a family to me," added Kelly, who represented Malaysia at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
She will feature in this week's Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club ahead of the British Open.
Meanwhile, American Danielle completed back-to-back LPGA Tour triumphs with a one-shot victory after former World No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand suffered a dramatic late collapse.
Lydia, who had started the final round four shots clear, looked to be cruising to victory after opening up a five-shot lead with six holes to play.
But the 23-year-old, chasing a first win in two years, endured a nightmare finish down the stretch that included bogeys on the 14th and 16th before a disastrous double-bogey seven on the 18th.
Lydia's stumble allowed Danielle to sneak in and claim victory by one shot only a week after her win at last week's Drive On Championship in Toledo, the first LPGA event after a five-month Covid-19 hiatus.
"My caddie looked at me and said, 'You're right in it. I looked at him and said, 'I'm five down with six holes to go.' I kind of liked that mentality, made some good birdies coming in and kept it together." said Danielle, who finished with a 15 under aggregate 269.