Malaysia’s Kelly Tan is taking the positives from her two-week stint in Australia, which ended today with a T48 finish in the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open following a closing one-over-par 74 at Royal Adelaide Golf Club.
“My scores this week definitely didn’t reflect how well I’ve played Royal Adelaide. The putts just didn’t fall for me but there are so many positives going into the season,” said the Malaysian No 1. “My ball striking is as good as I’ve ever felt so I’m excited to get the year going. I’m feeling close to something special and I’m very happy to be feeling this way.
“I know there are some weeks where I finished under-par and felt like I’ve scrambled around, but that was definitely not the case this week. I’ve given myself lots of chances and looks and birdie putts; I just wasn’t able to convert,” said Tan, who finished 40th in last week’s ISPS Handa Vic Open in her first LPGA start of the year.
Korea’s Inbee Park won the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open with a 14-under-par total following a closing 74, three shots ahead of American Amy Olson.
Tan is now looking forward to a short break back home before heading to Arizona for the Founders Cup on March 19-22. The LPGA Tour is on a month-long break following the cancellation of its three-event Asian swing due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
“I’m coming back to Malaysia for 10 days before I head to the US and start the LPGA Tour there at the end of March. Hopefully I’ll be able to spend some time with my family this time. I will be seeing my coach first week of March to tighten thing up and get going,” said the 26-year-old golfer from Batu Pahat, Johor.
Tan is back on the LPGA Tour after regaining full playing rights via last year’s Q-Series at Pinehurst. She played four full seasons on the LPGA Tour from 2014 but lost full playing rights following the 2017 season, competing mainly on the second-tier Symetra Tour in 2018 and 2019 where she won the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic last year for her first international professional title.
