Malaysia’s Kelly Tan concluded her 2020 season in a career-high 37th position on the LPGA Tour’s Race To CME Globe, following a 65th place finish in the US$3 million CME Group Tour Championship
Kelly carded a four-round total of 294 (72-74-72-76) at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, in what was her first appearance in the LPGA Tour’s season-ender. The tournament was won by World No 1 Jin Young Ko of Korea with an 18-under-par total.
Despite the disappointing finish, 2020 has been a superb comeback year for Kelly after two seasons playing mainly on the second-tier Symetra Tour. She registered five top-20s and just two missed cuts in 15 starts on the abbreviated 2020 LPGA season, highlighted by a T13 performance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship which was the best ever finish by a Malaysian in a Major.
“It’s been a great year!” enthused Kelly. “If you had told me on July 15th – right before the restart – that I’ll finish 54th on the money list and 37th on the Race to CME Globe, I’d have thought that’s a little too much to ask for considering how the past few years have gone for me.”
Kelly began the year in a lowly 411th place on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings and has made an amazing ascent in 12 months, currently ranked 142nd without the weekend tournaments computed yet. She reached a career high world ranking of 140 following a T11 finish in the Volunteers of America Classic earlier this month.
“I surpassed all my goals this year by creating a new Rolex Ranking finish, whatever it is going to be tomorrow. I’m stoked!” added the 27-year-old, who turned pro in 2013 and has based herself in the United States ever since.
Kelly intends to return to Malaysia in early 2021 and spend Chinese New Year, which falls on February 12, with her family.
“I plan to come back to Malaysia after the New Year celebrations and definitely spend Chinese New Year with the family,” said Malaysia’s top lady golfer, who hails from Batu Pahat, Johor. “Full-field events won’t start till March, I believe, and it looks like I’ll have a couple of months in Malaysia.”
In the meantime, Kelly is looking forward to a well-deserved Christmas break at the popular Mexican beach resort city of Cabo San Lucas. “For now, I’m looking forward to my off-season, spending Christmas in Cabo San Lucas … it’ll be fun!”
