Rianne Malixi hopes to make the most of her first foray in an LPGA Tour event, thrilled but determined to come out of the Mizuho Americas Open stronger and better.
*Rianne Malixi (right) with 2021 US Women's Open champion and ICTSI stablemate Yuka Saso.*
The $2.75 million event, one of the biggest in the sport outside of the major championships, unfolds June 1 (Thursday) at the Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey with the world’s leading players, led by this year’s two-time winners and current world No. 1 Jin Young Ko of Korea and No. 4 Lilia Vu of the US, bannering the field. “Playing an LPGA event alongside the top pros would be a great opportunity for me to learn and gain experience,” said the ICTSI-backed Malixi, one of the two amateurs, the other being Megha Ganne of the US, seeing action in the 12th leg of this year’s LPGA Tour. Others tipped to contend for the championship are world No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and fellow major champions Brooke Henderson of Canada, Aussie Minjee Lee and 2021 US Women’s Open titlist Yuka Saso and former world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand. A two-time AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) winner who has won several titles on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, the 16-year-old Malixi is coming off a strong performance in a pro event, the Beaumont Emergency Hospital Open of the Women’s All Pro Tour, in Texas last week. She saved the best for last, putting in the best final round score (66) to finish solo third in the 72-hole tournament. She expects to ride on the momentum of her big WAPT finish when she launches her drive in the world’s premier circuit, which also serves as part of her buildup for the US Women’s Open elims on June 7 in Chicago. Malixi is also set to compete in the British Women’s Amateur on June 13-18 in England. Meanwhile, former amateur hotshot Rose Zhang of the US will also make her keenly awaited pro debut in the Americas Open. The 20-year-old will abandon her record 141 weeks as the world’s top-ranked amateur.
*Rianne Malixi (right) with 2021 US Women's Open champion and ICTSI stablemate Yuka Saso.*
The $2.75 million event, one of the biggest in the sport outside of the major championships, unfolds June 1 (Thursday) at the Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey with the world’s leading players, led by this year’s two-time winners and current world No. 1 Jin Young Ko of Korea and No. 4 Lilia Vu of the US, bannering the field. “Playing an LPGA event alongside the top pros would be a great opportunity for me to learn and gain experience,” said the ICTSI-backed Malixi, one of the two amateurs, the other being Megha Ganne of the US, seeing action in the 12th leg of this year’s LPGA Tour. Others tipped to contend for the championship are world No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and fellow major champions Brooke Henderson of Canada, Aussie Minjee Lee and 2021 US Women’s Open titlist Yuka Saso and former world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand. A two-time AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) winner who has won several titles on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, the 16-year-old Malixi is coming off a strong performance in a pro event, the Beaumont Emergency Hospital Open of the Women’s All Pro Tour, in Texas last week. She saved the best for last, putting in the best final round score (66) to finish solo third in the 72-hole tournament. She expects to ride on the momentum of her big WAPT finish when she launches her drive in the world’s premier circuit, which also serves as part of her buildup for the US Women’s Open elims on June 7 in Chicago. Malixi is also set to compete in the British Women’s Amateur on June 13-18 in England. Meanwhile, former amateur hotshot Rose Zhang of the US will also make her keenly awaited pro debut in the Americas Open. The 20-year-old will abandon her record 141 weeks as the world’s top-ranked amateur.