Princess Mary Superal of the Philippines is ready to spring a surprise once again when the inaugural Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open gets underway at the Tanah Merah Country Club tomorrow.
The 25-year-old made heads turn back in August when she upstaged the likes of New Zealand's Lydia Ko and South Korea's So-yeon Ryu to win the Ladies Asian Tour Series' Simone Asia-Pacific Cup in Jakarta for her first-ever international title.
Four months on, Superal has a good chance of proving that her previous triumph was no fluke.
It will be an equally tough contest this time as Superal takes on some of the KLPGA Tour heavyweights this time.
World number 14 Min-ji Park and Su-ji Kim are spearheading a power-packed KLPGA contingent where nine out of the 10 top performers of the 2022 season making their way to the Tampines Course this week.
A thrilling battle is certainly on the cards this week as the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Singapore Golf Association, serves as the season-opener of KLPGA Tour's 2023 season.
"I'm definitely hoping to win again. I'll just have to do my best. We'll see this week," said Superal.
Playing in her first-ever national Open event, Superal has commended the organisers' effort in putting up the tournament as she savours the opportunity to compete against Asian best competitors.
Since turning professional in 2016, Superal has yet to secure a card on any major Tours. She's currently playing mostly in local tours of Thailand and the Philippines.
"I'll make the most of this opportunity to gauge where my level is. I hope to learn as much as possible from the top-ranked players," said Superal.
"As an Asian player, we don't normally get to play in top-level competition due to the lack of international tournaments here. I haven't had the chance to even play a national Open in my country too.
"Hopefully, with the creation of the Singapore Women's Open, there will be more to come. We need more such tournaments for women's golf to become big in Asia," added Superal, who had secured a conditional status on JLPGA Tour via its Qualifying School.
India's Gaurika Bishnoi, who's into her seventh year as a professional, echoed Superal sentiment on the importance of having more regular national Open tournaments for women in this region.
Bishnoi had recently finished a career-best tied sixth in the Hero Women's India Open.
"I know how important India Open is to the Indians, so I can only imagine how much the Singapore Open matters to the Singaporeans," said Bishnoi, who was India's number one in 2017 and 2019.
"It's my wish that many countries would have their own national Opens and invite players from all around the world to be part of it.
"In this case, I'm very pleased to be playing in this beautiful country and beautiful course this week."
Bishnoi said she will be no pushover against the KLPGA cream of the crop and is ready to make her country proud.
"I'm the first-ever Indian to play on the KLPGA and I'm very proud of that," said Bishnoi.
"I'm coming in with good form having won two domestic titles recently. Every tournament I play, I'm playing to win it. If I don't feel I'm in the best shape to compete, then why bother competing?
"I believe I have what it takes to excel here. This course is very similar to my home course in Delhi where the greens are undulating and sloppy, which I'm quite used to."
Ends.
