PATTAYA, Thailand (Kyodo) Ai Miyazato has set her sights on reclaiming the world No. 1 spot she held for 11 weeks last year as she prepares for her title defense at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
"I want to get back to world No. 1," Miyazato told a press conference on the eve of Thursday's LPGA season-opener at Siam Country Club's Old Course. "It is important to try and achieve your targets."
Miyazato chipped in for birdie on the 72nd hole of last year's event to defeat Suzann Pettersen by one shot and went on to become the first player in 44 years to sweep the first two events of a season after taking the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore.
The 25-year-old Okinawan added three more victories in a sensational season but she could not ride the momentum right through the end of the campaign and was unable to achieve her target of winning the LPGA Player of the Year award. She eventually finished sixth in the money rankings.