Hungry Ariya wants to win it all

World No. 1 Thai will keep driver in the bag as she plots her way to victory at British Open

LYTHAM ST ANNES (England) • Ariya Jutanugarn was not a fan of links courses, but victory in the Scottish Ladies' Open at Gullane last Sunday has given the new world No. 1 a boost ahead of the Women's British Open starting today at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

The 22-year-old Thai star won the British Open at the non-links course of Woburn two years ago and added the US Open in June.

She chalked up another of her career goals when she first became world No. 1 for a short spell last year. "Now I just want to win as many titles as I can," said the Bangkok native.

"This course is amazing. But I still don't really love links golf," she added after a first outing over Lancashire's famous Open Championship course. "But I'm getting better at playing the courses. Last week was great and I learnt a lot about playing in the wind."

Known for her big hitting, Ariya did not include a driver in her armoury when she lifted the trophy two years ago.

It will be the same over the next four days - the longest club will stay in her bag.

"I do use it sometimes - honest," she said. "But just not this week."

Kim In-kyung arrives at Lytham as the defending champion.

The South Korean laid her Major demons to rest when she won the title at Kingsbarns near St Andrews last year.

At the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship in California, she earned sympathy from golfers around the world by missing a one-foot putt for victory before losing in a play-off.

"After winning my first Major last year, I am now finally at peace," said the 30-year-old world No. 7.

"I have had ups and downs in Major championships, but I have coped with everything."

She added that she could not be happier to be back at Lytham.

"I was here for the 2009 Women's British Open and it is my favourite golf course in the entire world," Kim said.

"Being back here as the defending champion is a real bonus.

"It's tight, which suits my game, and you can get really punished if you stray off line."

Park Sung-hyun is another South Korean in hot form.

The current LPGA Rookie of the Year already has two Major titles - the 2017 US Women's Open and this year's LPGA Championship.

As a rookie, she reached world No. 1 in November last year and is currently ranked third behind Ariya and the 2015 British Open winner, Park In-bee.

"This is my third British (Open), and I haven't really performed too well," said the 24-year-old, who finished just inside the top 20 at Kingsbarns. "But I played in Scotland last week and the extra experience at a links course has really helped."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN

Day 1: Singtel TV Ch115 & StarHub Ch209, 6pm

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 02, 2018, with the headline Hungry Ariya wants to win it all. Subscribe