James was a sponsor exemption into the Manulife LPGA Classic two weeks ago. It was her first LPGA event as a professional.
“It was a lot of fun and a really great experience,” said James after a practice session on Thursday. “Unfortunately I missed the cut, but it was still great. I decided to take last week off because on our Epson Tour off week, my agent did a really good job of setting up interviews so it wasn’t a true off week and so I wanted to take another week to rest.”
James is excited to get back out on Tour and compete.
“I doesn’t feel like I’ve been gone for three weeks, but I’m really excited to get back out here and compete the next three weeks,” said James, who won the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial earlier this year. “My game is in a really good place so I’m excited to see how it goes.”
James said she approaches every week the same and tries to put the purse size out of mind.
“A win is a win and that is what we are all out here trying to do,” said James. “I’m going to continue to work hard like I have been and hopefully the results continue.”
James leads all rookies with $34,387 earned and has two total top 10 finishes. A second win would all but assure her a spot in the final top 10 to earn her LPGA Tour card.
“If anything, the first win just gave me the confidence that I am able to win and compete out here,” said James. “Losing in the playoff in Charlotte, I had missed the prior two cuts, so the week didn’t seem easy so it showed me that any week I need to come out here and give it my all because anything can happen.”
)
)
)
)
