Bedminster: Six Thai players, led by world No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn, will be competing at the US Women's Open which tees off today at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.
The other five are No.32 Moriya Jutanugarn, No.56 Pornanong Phatlum, Thidapa Suwannapura, Supamas Sangchan and amateur Paphangkorn Tavatanakit.
Ariya will be trying to end her slump at the year's third major event.
She became the top-ranked player in the world after claiming her first win of the year at the Manulife Classic last month.
But since that triumph, Ariya has struggled and lost the No.1 ranking to South Korea's Ryu So-Yeon.
She missed the cut at the Women's PGA Championship and was forced to withdraw from last week's Thornberry Creek Classic due to a shoulder injury.
The 21-year-old from Bangkok said she was fit to play at the US Women's Open.
"I am feeling better now. However, I don't expect much this week. I just hope I do not get injured," said Ariya, who won her first major title at the 2016 Women's British Open.
Her sister Moriya, 22, is aiming to secure her first LPGA win. Moriya has had a good start in several tournaments this year only to run out of steam.
She was near the top of the leaderboard in the first round of the Thornberry Creek Classic but finished down the field.
"My aim is to get my first win. I am trying to do what I have to do. If I can tighten everything up, I will become successful,'' Moriya said.
Pornanong is fresh from finishing fourth at the Thornberry Creek Classic after shooting a career-best 62 in the final round.
Meanwhile, the shadow of US President Donald Trump hangs over the US Women's Open which is being held at his course.
Brittany Lincicome said a couple weeks ago she hopes Trump doesn't appear at the event because the spotlight should be on the players and not on the controversial politician.
Two-time major winner Lincicome said she would let her performance "do the talking".
"Hopefully, maybe he doesn't show up and it won't be a big debacle and it will be about us and not him," American Lincicome told the Chicago Tribune.
"I don't know him. I have met him probably once. I think it will be fine. We're going to play an amazing golf course and let our clubs do the talking.
"It would be so impossible, even if we wanted to boycott it. I mean, the purse is so big, I don't think anybody would. We don't get to play for that much money that often."
Despite earlier rumblings that some of the LPGA professionals might boycott the event at Trump's golf course because of his offensive comments about women, a full field is expected to attend.
American stars Michelle Wie, Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer all declined to comment on Trump.
"This week is about the golf," Wie said. "The US Open is our national championship. So, you know, I really want to focus on the golf part and hopefully inspire a lot of young women and women in general with my game."
At least one of the US golfers thinks Trump will turn out to be a great president.
Cristie Kerr said: "I happen to believe that he is going to do some great things for this country."
Other players in the field include holder Brittany Lang, world No.1 Ryu, No.3 Lexi Thompson and No.4 Lydia Ko. bangkok post/afp