Korea's Lee defends against diminished LPGA field

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Se Ri Pak and Mi Hyun Kim will test Meena Lee as their South Korean compatriot defends her first LPGA triumph starting Thursday here at the Canadian Women's Open.

While much of the LPGA elite will stay in Europe another week following the Women's British Open major championship, Lee and her countrywomen will be among the favorites at this 1.7 million-dollar event.

World number one Annika Sorenstam is hosting the Scandinavian Championship this week and many of the tour's top golfers are absent, including LPGA money leaders Lorena Ochoa of Mexico and Karrie Webb of Australia and American Sherri Steinhauer, the Women's British Open winner.

Also missing is Michelle Wie, the US teen sensation whose next events are in September and against men on the European and US tours.

Wie recently fired caddie Greg Johnston, who served the high school senior since she turned professional last October.

Lee won the Canadian crown as an LPGA newcomer, firing a final-round three-under 69 and going on to finish second behind American Paula Creamer in tour Rookie of the Year honours.

"It's not easy to win in the first year of the LPGA, so when I went back home everybody was so surprised because it it was my first year and I won the championship," Lee said through a translator.

Lee will face her idol Pak and a growing number of Koreans who have found success in North America.

"We're working so hard and we get a lot of support from family," Lee said. "And before we come into the LPGA we're practicing in Korea, so we're ready for this. We have a really good fundamental base coming out of our country.

"When we start golf at the beginning I think we're really focused on our skills and we're building up our skills and really hard working. Basically, that's what it is. It makes us good golfers."

The tournament is the only LPGA event in Canada and had been in danger of being dropped until a new sponsor stepped in with a three-year commitment.

"It is so important to keep this as an LPGA Tour event," Kane said. "We need the LPGA in Canada to keep young players (and) their dreams alive about where they want to play."

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AFP 091915 GMT 08 06