Ariya brushes off LPGA pressure

Defending champion in Thailand is ‘excited’ before this week’s golf event

BANGKOK:

Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn on Tuesday shrugged off talk of pressure ahead of this week's Honda LPGA Thailand, insisting she was "excited" to defend her crown on home soil.

The 26-year-old finds herself plastered over billboards around the Siam Country Club in Pattaya after storming to victory last year with a blistering nine-under-par final round.

But the two-time major winner, one of a crop of young Thais making waves in the LPGA, says she is looking forward to teeing off on Thursday.

"I felt like I'm more excited like what going to happen this week, not only for me, but for all the Thai players this week," she said.

"And I don't really feel pressure because I know everybody just want to support me."

The former world number one and her older sister Moriya have been the vanguard of a surge of talented Thais, who now number 12 on the LPGA tour.

Among the 10 home golfers challenging for the $1.6 million purse this week is Patty Tavatanakit, who last year bagged a major as her first tour victory at the Chevron Championship.

"I'm very happy that I can see all the new generation, a lot of Thai girls on Tour right now," said Moriya.

"Now it feels like everywhere you walk on the golf course you (can) probably speak Thai with someone, which is such a good feeling."

Elsewhere US star Danielle Kang, fifth in the world standings, is the highest-ranked competitor, while Australia's Minjee Lee and Japan's Yuka Saso will also be in the hunt.