Chunan (South Korea), Oct 09: Laura Davies found a short course and extra confidence in making the cut at the Korean Open after a practice round Wednesday ahead of her challenge against the men.
``I'm very pleased the course is not very long, so I have a chance to make some birdies,'' said Davies, who played 18 holes on the 7,042-yard Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course in central South Korea.
The 40-year-old LPGA veteran says the key to making the cut will be -- ``Driving!'' ``I think if I can play really well, drive the ball really well, I have a chance,'' she told reporters. ``But if don't, then I have no chance. If I drive the ball badly, I'll miss the cut easily.
``When I hit a good drive (Wednesday), I was only hitting maybe a 5-, 6- or a 7-iron. It's not like I'm having to drive then use a one iron on par-4, which I thought maybe would happen,'' she added. ``So I think it's a pleasant surprise.''

Ranked fifth on the LPGA tour with an average of 267.2-yard driving distance, Davies knows how to get distance on the ball. In Wednesday's practice round, she fell just a few yards short of hitting the green with her second shot on course's longest hole, extending 561 yards. She hit a bunker just in front of the green, where PGA long-hitter John Daly also landed his second shot while playing in a group in front of Davies.



Playing against the men won't be a new experience for Davies. Five years ago, she played in the Johnnie Walker Super Tour against eight men, an exhibition in which four rounds were played in four Asian cities. Vijay Singh won with a 19-under 269, while Davie finished last, 39 strokes behind.



``I'm not trying to beat any of the guys,'' she said. ``This is just something that's fun for me to do.''



Justin Rose, a top contender in the Asian PGA Tour event, welcomed his compatriot to the competition. ``She's not trying to prove anything. It's just a different challenge for her,'' he said. ``I think she doesn't see it necessarily as a battle of the sexes. I was speaking to her about it, and she sees it as a fun for her.''



``A lot of ladies who don't hit the ball as far, I don't see the point in coming to play with men. But Laura hits it so far.'' he added. ``I hope she does make the cut ... it'll be a good fun.''



The two Brits also agreed on another thing -- the short holes will be a major factor in their scores.



``I think the hardest thing for me is the par-3s. They are very long,'' Davies said. The four par-3s include the 219-yard 13th with an island green and the 226-yard 16th.



``The course is very tricky, and the par-3s are very difficult,'' Rose said. ``For me, if you can play the par-3s well then you should have a good score.''



Davies will tee off Thursday with Daly and South Korean S.K. Ho, who tied for 28th in this year's British Open. She'll be the fourth woman to go against the men this year.



No. 1-ranked Annika Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA Tour when she missed the cut at Colonial with rounds of 71-74. Connecticut club pro Suzy Whaley qualified for the Greater Hartford Open and also missed the cut. Michelle Wie, the 13-year-old amateur from Hawaii, also failed to make the cut on the Nationwide Tour at the Boise Open.



Davies, who has won 64 times around the world including four majors, is keeping her hopes up of making history. But she isn't at all concerned about failing.



``I don't care if I finish last or 50th or whatever, as long as I feel I had a good game,'' she said. ``I won't be ashamed if everyone beats me because I'm just trying my best. That's all.''


Bureau Report