South Korean star Park In-Bee will bid to clinch her third consecutive major of an incredible year this week when she tees off in the US Women’s Open Championship.
The world No.1 is seeking to become just the second golfer in LPGA history to capture the first three major championships of the season after taking the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the LPGA Championship earlier.
“This is the best I’m playing in my career,” said Park, the 2008 US Women’s Open champion. “I’m trying to keep this going.
“I’ve played very good golf the last two or three months. Everything’s going the way I really want it to. I’m hitting the ball and striking it great and putting it very well.”
Park has five victories this season including the last two events by playoffs.
Babe Zaharias won all three majors in 1950, including the Open.
Park will tee off on Thursday at the Sebonack Golf Club, but will have her work cut out for her as the field also includes world No.2 Stacy Lewis and No.5 Ryu So-Yeon.
The Australian challenge will be led by Karrie Webb, buoyed by her victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic earlier this month.
The seven-time major winner has drawn great confidence from her first win on the LPGA Tour in two years.
The other Australians are Sarah-Jane Smith, Lindsey Wright, Stacey Keating and Katherine Hull-Kirk, while New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko is expected to make a strong showing.
World No.2 Lewis said Park’s dominance on the LPGA Tour is wearing on the rest of the players.
“It is frustrating for the rest of us, that’s for sure,” Lewis said. “I know people like to see somebody make history and do all of that. But for the players it is frustrating to see someone sit there and win week after week, after week.
“She’s making good putts and she is steady.”
Last year, defending champion Choi Na-Yeon, also of South Korea, shot a one-over 73 on the final day and secured her first major title.
She finished at seven-under-par 281, four strokes in front of South Korean Amy Yang.
Other big names hoping for strong performances include Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer and Kim I.K..