Nasa Hataoka - © c827 for the LPGA

In 2018, during the TOTO Japan Classic, Nasa Hataoka wowed his homeland by signing a 67 (-5) card on Sunday to take the victory by two strokes. She has since added a victory to her LPGA Tour record at the 2019 Kia Classic. Nasa Hataoka took a two-week leave to recover from an illness, and she said she was not 100% cured. %, but that she could not miss an opportunity to defend her title and recall her success in 2018.

“I mainly play in the United States, so I don't have a lot of opportunities to play in Japan. To participate in this tournament with the members of the LPGA and to win has been an honor ”Hataoka said through a translator. “At the same time, by winning, I was able to show the Japanese fans that I improved my game.”

Nasa Hataoka starts the TOTO Japan Classic off to a good start. In September, she won the Japan Women's Professional Golf Championship Konica Minolta Cup, a JLPGA major, and then in October, she won the Japan Women's Open for the third time in her career. In her last three LPGA events, she finished T3 at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, T4 at the Cambia Portland Classic and T5 at the CP Women's Open.

She only has two events left on the LPGA Tour, slashing her chances of reaching her goal of three wins in 2019, but Hataoka says she is confident. “I'm still lucky so I'm staying positive. "

Lexi Thompson returns to action at TOTO Japan Classic

Rolex Rankings No.8 Lexi Thompson returns to the LPGA Tour for this week's TOTO Japan Classic, her first start since the Indy Women in Tech Championship in September. While Thompson was given a much needed rest during this time, she said she spent her free time exercising in the gym and on the course, including working on some changes to her swing.

Thompson said she tries to tame the jump in her swing in order to be more consistent, and shared a few videos of her progress on her Instagram.

Despite a long break, the major champion says she has her eyes set on her 12th LPGA title this week.

“Obviously wanting to win. It's still my number one goal, but with all the effort I've put in over the past four weeks, really committing to what I've been working on and continuing to work on my swing ”said Thompson. “Let it go and enjoy the experience of being here. "

Thompson also said she looks forward to taking advantage of the TOTO Japan Classic to prepare to defend her title at the CME Group Tour Championship to close her eighth season on the tour.

“It's important for me at the moment, with the swing changes I've made, to have a little test and to put it in a competitive situation, I think it's very important. I'll have a week off after that so it will be good for a tune-up before Napoli to see where my game is and what I need to work on. "

Double champion Shanshan Feng happy to be back in Japan

In seven starts on the TOTO Japan Classic, the great champion Shanshan Feng has never finished beyond the top 30. She has finished four times in the top 10 in the standings, including two consecutive victories in the event in 2016 and 2017 at Taiheiyo Club.

As the 2019 TOTO Japan Classic is played at the Seta Golf Course, Feng has indicated that it is one of his favorite stops on the LPGA.

“Every time I come back to Japan, I'm really excited, very happy because I love Japanese, and I love cooking and Japanese lessons,” said Feng. “TOTO did a really good job organizing this tournament. I think we are very much appreciated and whenever I have the opportunity to come back I like to enjoy the week. "

This season, Feng has had five top-10 results, including a win at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. With only two events remaining on the 2019 LPGA tour schedule, Feng hopes to end his season on a positive note.

"I haven't set any goals this week, I know I'm successful in this tournament, I just want to enjoy the week and it's the end of this year's season, so I think I will do my best. "

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To read our last article on the TOTO Japan Classic:

TOTO Japan Classic: all you need to know