Laura Davies insists that her priority this season is to win the Ladies European Tour’s Henderson Money List, despite missing the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China to play at the Mission Hills Star Trophy - a celebrity golf pro-am.
This week Davies has a chance to become the European No.1 for the eighth time in her 25-year career if she wins the Daishin Securities Tomato M Korea European Ladies Masters starting at Haevichi Country Club in Jeju on Friday and then finishes well in the final two events of the year in India and Dubai.
Davies is currently ranked second behind five-time winner this season Lee-Anne Pace, who is hoping to become the first South African to win the Henderson Money List - formerly known as the order of merit. Davies, who has won four tournaments this year, in New Zealand, Germany, Austria and Spain, cannot catch her this week, but can get very close.
With three events remaining on the 2010 schedule, Davies trails Pace by €55,962 and will be chasing a USD 75,000 (about €54,000) first prize.
Pace is targeting her sixth win of 2010 and her third in three weeks and she has the same goal as Davies.
European Number three Melissa Reid of England is also in the field chasing her second victory this season.
However, even if one of the top three Europeans wins this week, the race will not be settled until the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters from December 8-11.
There are also a number of talented Korean players in the field, including KLPGA No.2 Soo-Jin Yang, No.3 Shin Ae Ahn, No.4 So-Yeon Ryu, No. 6 Hee-Kyung Seo and the defending champion Hyun-Ji Kim.
After playing the course for the first time in cold and blustery conditions on Wednesday, the 76-time tournament champion said:
“It’s very nice and with the wind as it is, it’s very difficult and tricky. If the wind dies down, I think the scoring will be very good because the greens are beautiful and you can make some really good putts out there.
“If it keeps blowing like this, you are going to have to hit very good shots, because anything bad is going to be punished. If the wind stays up like this it’s a brute of a golf course.
“Every time I come to Jeju it’s windy so I expect it. That’s part and parcel of playing golf on this island. You know you are going to be tested not just on the course but with the conditions."
“I like it. This is probably my tenth time here and I’ve always enjoyed it. I always enjoy the golf courses and that’s why I like coming back.”
Tara Delaney is paired with Korean duo Julie Yang and Jin Joo Hang.
Martina Gillen is also paired with two Korean players, II Hee Lee and Young-Ran Jo.
Rebecca Coakley plays alongside Karen Lung of Australia and Ran Hong of Korea.
