Ariya aims to escape 'valley' in Incheon

Ariya aims to escape 'valley' in Incheon

Ariya Jutanugarn will be trying to stop the rot when she tees off in the first round of the Hana Bank Championship in South Korea on Thursday.

Ariya Jutanugarn hits a chip shot during the Evian Championship last month. afp PHILIPPE DESMAZES

The US$2 million (approximately 66 million baht) LPGA Tour event at the SKY72 Golf and Resort in Incheon features 18 of the world's top 20 players including No.1 Ryu So-Yeon, No.2 Park Sung-Hyun Park, No.3 Lexi Thompson, No.4 Anna Nordqvist, No.5 Feng Shanshan and No.6 Ariya.

It is Ariya's first tournament after missing the cut at last month's Evian Championship.

Ariya won her first title of the year -- and sixth overall -- at the Manulife Classic in June.

The win sent the 21-year-old Thai to the top of the world rankings.

But the victory was the beginning of a slump in form.

She has since missed the cut in five tournaments, including four majors and withdrawn from one event due to a shoulder injury. Her best finish in more than three months has been a tie for 22nd.

"I feel excited to play in South Korea. I like playing in Asia as it is not far from home," Ariya said on Wednesday.

"I have learned a lot this year. I don't feel stressed. Time will solve my problems."

In a recent interview, she said: "It's like I have fallen into a valley. It will take time to climb out of it -- you just can't climb out of it in one step or two.

"There is always a way out and I am working on several aspects of my game to make a comeback."

She reiterated that her emphasis was still on "going out and having fun".

Ariya plans to play in the next six consecutive tournaments.

In the first two rounds in Incheon, she has been grouped with South Korea's Lee Jeong-Eun and American Jessica Korda.

Pornanong Phatlum is the only other Thai in the tournament.

Two victories among 10 top-10 finishes have already set up a banner year, but Ryu recorded disappointing performances in her last two starts with a missed cut at the Portland Classic followed by a tie for 40th at the Evian Championship.

"This year, I have been focusing more on positive thoughts, thinking about where I was going to get my birdie chances, how I was going to hit the ball closer to the pin," said Ryu.

"So overall I was having much more fun on the course, and that helped me greatly as well.

"Going into this championship now, to be honest, I think for the past six weeks I haven't had that same kind of buzz. I really hope to be able to feel that again."

World No.11 Brooke Henderson of Canada is seen as a contender after her victory in her previous start at the New Zealand Women's Open.

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