It might not have even been caught on tape, but Ha Na Jang’s parting words after her champion’s press conference this morning said everything.
“Thank you so much, I want to interview as champion again (on Sunday),” she said with trademark and infectious giggle.
The defending ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open champion returns to one of her favourite haunts this week.
Adelaide brings with it great crowd support after her eagle on the 71st hole at Royal Adelaide a year ago was one of the crowning moments of her fabulous 12-win – and building – career.
Her “Jang Gang” last year roared to her a famous hard-charging victory that left her with a fan club with whom she’s stayed in loose social media contact.
“I want to say better than my group because big voice, feels like 100 people or 200 people,” she beamed today.
“All people talking about Australia (for)almost for two or three months. (They) talk about 17 hole and the 5-iron.”
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Then there’s the bonus of playing courses that suit her game, perhaps over and above her peers who play week in and week out on much softer courses, predominantly in the United States.
”Yeah, I played four times in Australia and three times (I’ve finished in the) top 10, one time the champion, so my mind is really concentrated … I feel really comfortable. I don't know why.
“Australian golf courses really follow the fairway, the green is really good, too, and really fast, too.
“I remember last year on the 17th, 170 yards out and I hit an 8-iron and I managed a 20-yard (putt) on the green and my ball went in, which was very hard on the green, so I think it’s really good for my playing golf probably.”
And then there’s the brutal practice regime she’s undertaken in the off-season in a camp in Vietnam.
Up before 5am, alternating playing, putting and training drills and competitions with gym sessions until almost 9pm, Jang is raring to go.