Ai Miyazato announces her retirement from the LPGA Tour

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Ai Miyazato announces her retirement from the LPGA Tour at the end of the 2017 season and will hold a press conference on May 29 in Japan. There, she will share her thoughts on the decision and will thank all the people who have supported her during her 14-year professional career.
Stats and victories as of 5-26-2017
CAREER EARNINGS CAREER VICTORIES CAREER TOP 10S
$8,166,557 9 59
LPGA Tour Victories
2012 - LPGA Lotte Championship, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
2011 - Evian Masters
2010 - Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, HSBC Women's Champions, Tres Marias Championship, ShopRite LPGA Classic, Safeway Classic
2009 - Evian Masters

www.lpga.com/news/ai-miyazato-to-retire-at-the-end-of-the-2017-season

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www.lpga.com/news/2017-miyazato-retires-at-the-end-of-the-season


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 29, 2017 – Nine-time LPGA Tour winner Ai Miyazato announced Monday at a press conference in her native Japan that she will retire from the LPGA Tour following the 2017 season.
“I started golf when I was 4,” Miyazato said on Monday. “It’s over 20 years. I have received many supports from many people. So I would like to repay from my position.”
She added, “I received many messages from many people, that you have done well. Many players, older and younger, told me that they will miss me. But now I am very thankful. Friends, players, family were very warm and accepting about my retirement.”

Over her 12-year LPGA Tour career, Miyazato has amassed nine victories, 62 top-10 finishes and more than $8 million in career earnings. She spent 11 weeks in the No. 1 spot on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2010, and became the most beloved Japanese golfer since Ayako Okamoto.

The 5-foot-2-inch golfer is known for her slow, smooth swing and garnered a huge fan following in her home country. Prior to joining the LPGA in 2006, Miyazato was a standout player as an amateur and later on the JLPGA. In 2003, she won the Miyagi TV Dunlop Ladies Cup as an amateur, a victory that Miyazato points to as the turning point in her early career. As a rookie on the JLPGA in 2004, she won five tournaments and six more the following year before heading to the 2005 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, where she won by a record 12 shots.

In addition to her on-the-course accomplishments, Miyazato is known by her fellow players for her bright smile and always pleasant demeanor. Her graciousness and desire to give back earned her the 2012 William and Mousie Powell Award. The award is given an LPGA member who, in the opinion of her playing peers, by her behavior and deeds, best exemplifies the spirits, ideals and values of the LPGA.

“If there is a nicer person than Ai on this planet, I haven’t met them,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “Ai is a world-class player and an even better member, person and friend.”
Miyazato will next play at the site of her most recent LPGA victory in 2012, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, which will take place June 23-25 in Rogers, Ark. Her final LPGA event is still being finalized.

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LPGA Communications ~ Ai Miyazato

"FACING RETIREMENT, MIYAZATO HAPPY TO RETURN TO ARKANSAS"

"This week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, Ai Miyaza­to will make her first LPGA appearance after surprising the golf world with the news that she will retire following the 2017 season. Miyazato, whose last LPGA victory came here at Pinnacle Country Club in 2012, made the announcement on May 29 in her native Japan, saying that she has been mulling retirement for the last four years.

“It makes me feel so right because finally I’m listening to what my heart says, like what my mind says, not like what the other people saying,” said Miyazato, who added that her future plans beyond professional golf are still being determined. “I’m glad I made the decision because I believe I’m still young and I love this sport and I still have a passion to do something with the golf. I still love this game and I think I want to do something a different way with golf.”

Miyazato, who celebrated her 32nd birthday two days ago, says she may play one or two more events in her home country, but for this week, the former World No. 1 is fully focused on the competition in Northwest Arkansas.
“I love this tournament because everything is very organized and the local people are very supportive of this tourna­ment,” said Miyazato. “It’s always nice to be here, so I’m very excited.”

Link to the article..
www.lpga.com/news/2017-pre-tournament-notes-walmart-nw-arkansas-championship

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