Japan atop

In 2005 a group of Japanese media went to the United States, specifically to California, venue of the LPGA Q-School. They were there to see a 20 year old who was about to play five rounds to get a card for the most demanding women's golf tour on Earth.

Ai Miyazato is a heroine in her country.

Even when she's a common face in Japan, after winning 15 times in the JLPGA (Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association) including a major, Ai Miyazato wasn't that much of a figure in the States, therefore it was pretty odd to see so many reporters from the Far East.

1.57 m tall, the Japanese became the player to follow; she had an impeccable iron and putter game, which balanced her lack of distance from the tee. Miyazato won the Q-School by a margin of 12 strokes; a feat Paula Creamer, Stacey Lewis, Se Ri Pak, Cristie Kerr, Juli Inkster or any other of the winners of the event had done before; actually it's still a record.

In her debut -SBS Open- more than 50 journalists went to Hawaii to track her down and, even when she finished T48, they never falter to follow her. Ai's talent had already been proved, at least in her natal Japan, nevertheless, she needed three and a half years to grab her first official LPGA victory

It was July 26th, 2009, after shooting 69, 66, 70 and 69 rounds, she went to playoff against Sophie Gustafson in order to determine the champion of the Evian Masters, a high class and limited field tourney. Miyazato took it away in the first hole of sudden death becoming the pride of a whole nation.

After that win, her career took off and by December 2009 she was among the top 10 in the Rolex Rankings, becoming the first Japanese to do so.

There was something clear for Ai this season: being the best player in the world. A dream that came true quickly after winning the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand -season opener-, HSBC Women's Champions, Tres Marías Championship and, last weekend, ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Now there's something she need to take into consideration, Jiyai Shin is pretty close to her in the Rolex Rankings, so there's no room for mistake. nevertheless, Miyazato knows how to play with pressure on so she can handle it and make her stay atop a very long one.

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