Dubai: While other golfers talk of strong starts, Kim In-kyung is hoping to successfully defend her Omega Ladies Masters title with a strong finish.
She made the statement after jetlag affected the Korean golfer's performance during yesterday's first round at Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course.
Few would be disappointed with a round one three under par 69 finish leaving one tied for third in the leaderboard, but then again the 22-year-old did finish 18 under par to win in 2009.
On top of this, she has a newfound reputation to live up to as the resounding favourite to claim the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year Award
Kim is almost ¤70,000 (Dh342,670) ahead of next placed Maria Hernandez,
Quite a remarkable achievement as this is only the youngster's fourth LET event of the year.
Birdies on the second, third, 10th, 13th and 17th holes were only setback with bogeys on fifth and 12th from her first round.
Kim told Gulf News: "It was a pretty good opening round. I just wish I left some of those putts out there. I woke up at three this morning I'm still tired from travel so it's hard for my body to adjust and my mind to focus. Hopefully I can sort that out before the remaining three rounds."
Asked if she can defend her crown, Kim said: "It depends, if I play well enough towards the end on the last day maybe I can have a chance. But if I don't, I don't."
Kim who played oblivious to the odds-on Rookie of the Year gong added: "I don't think that was my best round but I don't have any regrets that's golf, I just hope I can adjust and play better — really I'm just happy to be here."
Having won here last year Kim reiterated: "Every tournament has its own meaning. This is a very special tournament for me. I'm grateful I was invited to play last year and won it — it means a lot to me."
She added the field was just as strong as last year and that she didn't think about scores to attain such as that winning 18 under, but just hopes to play to the high levels she's been hitting of late with 10 top finishes in the LPGA this season.
Priority
"I don't have any targets coming into today but I guess my goal was to birdie all the five pars and I did that pretty well."
The priority now is to catch up on her sleep for a big day two which will determine further whether or not the rookie can keep her title.
Scores
Leading scores after the first round of the Dubai LadiesMasters at the Emirates Golf Club (par 72):
67 - Florentyna Parker (ENG)
68 - Maria Verchenova (RUS)
69 - Julieta Granada (PAR), Marianne Skarpnord (NOR), Kim In-kyung (KOR), Suh Bo-mi (KOR), Morgana Robbertze (RSA)
70 - Julie Greciet (FRA), Kym Larratt (ENG), Felicity Johnson (ENG), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA), Melissa Reid (ENG), Veronica Zorzi (ITA), Caroline Afonso (FRA), Iben Tinning (DEN), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Maria Hernandez (ESP), Carling Coffing (USA), Lydia Hall (WAL)
71 - Tania Elosegui (ESP), Diana Luna (ITA), Rebecca Hudson (ENG), Cassandra Kirkland (FRA), Michelle Wie (USA), Emma Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Stefanie Michl (AUT), Pamela Feggans (SCO)
72 - Hazel Kavanagh (IRE), Elisabeth Esterl (GER), Lorie Kane (CAN), Lynnette Brooky (NZL), Jade Schaeffer (FRA), Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA), Tandi Cuningham (RSA).
