Malaysian ladies No 1 Kelly Tan is hoping to carry her recent solid form into this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
Kelly finished T18 and T24 in her last two outings on the LPGA Tour and is confident of putting on a good show in what will be her 15th Major start.
“My best finish in a Major so far is at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. I believe it was T30 and I’m look forward to bettering that position this week!” said the 26-year-old.
This will be Kelly’s first competitive outing at the storied Aronimink course, rated as one of the toughest in the United States. Restored on numerous occasions since it opened in 1928 with the most recent makeovers seeking to stay true to the original Donald Ross blueprints, Aronimink was the venue for the men’s PGA Championship in 1962 when South African legend Gary Player triumphed. It was also the venue for the 2003 Senior PGA Championship (won by John Jacobs), 2010 and 2011 AT&T National (won by Justin Rose and Nick Watney respectively), and 2018 BMW Championship ( won by Keegan Bradley).
“My main goal out here this week is to stay patient, keep hitting good shots and give myself chances; I’ll play my best and see where that puts me at the end of Sunday. I’m super excited! It is a treat playing at Aronimink,” said Kelly.
In addition to the official practice rounds, Kelly has played Aronimink before with some of the club’s members. She describes the par-72, 6831-yard layout as a ‘beast’.
“The course is in a pristine shape and is playing super long. The greens are tricky so you definitely have to stay below the hole,” noted Kelly.
“Like Gary Player tweeted, ‘practice lots of lag putting’. I think that’s the key at Aronimink as it is playing long. Hitting longer clubs into the greens, we may not be able to attack many flags.”
“If I can get my speed dialled in on those long putts and walk away with some good pars, that’ll be great.”
In what has been a solid comeback season for her on the abbreviated LPGA Tour, Kelly feels that she is on the verge of ‘something special’.
“I feel like I’m very close to something special and it is a good position to be in. I’m building confidence each week out here and getting more comfortable for sure,” she said.
Kelly tees off in the first round on Thursday, October 8, at 12.23pm (Malaysian time – Friday, October 9, 12.23am). The championship will be broadcasts ‘live’ on Golf Channel (Astro Channel 822).
