Deluge hits course as tournament waits for Christina Kim to blow in
The Age
Thursday March 4, 2010
LAURA Davies was asked her take on the exuberant, indeed almost outrageous, Christina Kim yesterday and she replied: "You'll hear her before you see her. I guarantee that." Well, she was neither seen nor heard at Royal Pines yesterday.The 31-year-old Korean American's reputation had preceded her on this her first visit to Australia and her media conference was highly anticipated. But she missed the red-eye flight from Perth to Brisbane on Tuesday night and didn't make it.She'd gone to Perth for a rest after playing the HSBC Champions event in Singapore which finished on Sunday, and now will head into today's opening round of the ANZ Ladies Masters without having seen the course.Kim will be greeted on the first tee by a sodden layout, yet playable providing there has been no further deluge after 35 greenkeepers worked from 5am to nightfall to drain and repair bunkers, mow tees and greens and pump surface water off the fairways which will remain uncut until tomorrow. Preferred lies will be in play today.In reality, it is a course for those with web feet which may be an omen for Karrie Webb in her quest for a seventh Masters title.Had Kim presented herself, we might have asked a few questions about her bawdy, raunchy, witty, very readable book, Swinging From My Heels, which hits the bookshelves in the US next month.In it she talks of the travelling circus that barnstorms the country, in and out of a new town every week, and its vagabond lifestyle.Here is an extract:"I'm sure the average golf fan would be shocked to know how much we talk about sex during tournament rounds, given that a lot of the girls are not getting much action."Once I was paired with a good friend who regaled me with stories from the raunchy book she was reading I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell in which a real-life cad recounts his various sexual adventures. All the fans assumed we were discussing the finer points of Mickey Wright's swing or Alister MacKenzie's bunkering, but really it was naughty sex the whole time."Then, of course, we could have asked about her nude photos for ESPN magazine's body issue last year. She talks of that, too, in the book, of being a little wary at first but flattered nevertheless because it was a "public acknowledgement that I was no longer medically obese".Davies, one of the great characters in women's golf, acknowledges that Kim is, well, worth her weight on the LPGA Tour as well."She's brilliant, she's good for the game, very lively. If you've never seen her before, she's good to watch. She's right on the edge. She's very risky. She's good for the game," Davies said.The Englishwoman hadn't caught up with the photo shoot. "Being Christina, I am not at all surprised," she said.We'll get our first look at Kim, the golfer, at 8.10am today when she hits off with Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera and Queenslander Tamie Durdin.AUSTRALIAN LADIES MASTERSFrom today to Sunday. Royal Pines course, Gold Coast, par 72, 5862 metresCo-sanctioned by ALPG Tour and Ladies European TourTotal prizemoney: $600,000FOUR TO WATCHKARRIE WEBB (Aus)Six-time Masters winner andformer world No. 1 who knowsthis course backwards andrarely plays badly on it. Withtwo lead-in tournaments underher belt she€™s the player tobeat as usual.CHRISTINA KIM (US)Exciting Californian (left) whohas won twice on the US LPGATour. Finished third in theBritish Open last year.KATHERINE HULL (Aus)Defending champion who wonby fi ve shots last year after herbreakthrough LPGA Tour win inthe Canadian Open. Has beenworking on swing changes toadd length.EUN-HEE JI (Kor)Sank a birdie putt on the lasthole to win the US Women€™sOpen and claim her fi rst majorchampionship. A two-timewinner already and has a lowscore of 63.
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