Golf-In-form Davies targets ‘ultimate’ career goal (Reuters)
March 31, 2010
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
RANCHO MIRAGE, California, March 31 (Reuters) – LPGA Tourveteran Laura Davies, buoyed by a triumphant start to thisyear, believes she is close to the best form of her illustriouscareer.
The 46-year-old won her 53rd title worldwide at the NewZealand Women’s Open in February and has set her sights on afifth major victory at this week’s Kraft Nabisco Championshipto put the seal on her glittering resume.
“A win here would mean everything to me,” the Briton toldReuters at Mission Hills Country Club on Wednesday.
“It’s the last leg of the (career) grand slam, it would getme in the Hall of Fame and it would get me in everything forthe rest of the year and the next few years coming. So there isa lot on the line.”
England’s Davies, who has piled up 20 LPGA titles, won herfirst major at the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open before adding theMcDonalds LPGA Championship in 1994 and 1996 and the du MaurierClassic, also in 1996.
The du Maurier Classic was replaced as a grand slam eventby the Women’s British Open in 2001.
Victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, where she hasposted four top-five finishes including a runner-up spot in1994, would complete a long-cherished career grand slam.
“But you don’t think about that,” the long-hitting Daviessaid. “All you think about is getting off to a good start andhaving a chance (to win the tournament) on Sunday morning.
ULTIMATE GOAL
“The ultimate goal, you try not to think about it or youput too much pressure on yourself.”
Davies has made a fast start to her 2010 campaign, tyingfor sixth at the LPGA Tour’s season-opener in Thailand beforefollowing her New Zealand triumph with a runner-up spot at thismonth’s Australian Open.
“My form is good, as good as it’s been for a few yearsplaying at this event,” she said. “It’s probably not far offthe best form of my career at the moment.
“There are just a few things to sort out. My putting seemsto come and go whereas before I was more consistent, I holed alot more putts on a regular basis. Now I’m more streaky.
“If I can just turn the putting around and hit a few morefairways, that would be my big thing.”
Davies has relished competing on the challenging par-72layout at Mission Hills since making her debut here in 1988.
“It’s just such a lovely course,” she said. “It’s a hardgolf course, it’s pretty long compared to what we normally playand the rough is normally up, which obviously makes drivingextremely important.
“And it rewards good iron play which is probably the bestpart of my game. If I can just hit a few more fairways thanI’ve done in years gone by, you never know.”
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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