ie Webb has a million reasons to play well at the Mizuno Classic in Japan this week.
Webb, who has played just one of the five events so far of the LPGA Tour's Asian swing, has consequently dropped to 10th on the points ranking for the season-ending Race to CME Globe bonus.
The veteran Australian, approaching her 40th birthday next month, is safely in the field for the season-ending championship in Florida from 20-23 November, after two wins this season.
But only the top nine players on the final points list are guaranteed a chance to win the $1 million bonus. And Webb is not playing at the Lorena Ochoa tournament in Mexico next week, the last tournament prior to the tour championship.
Hence, she needs a strong finish in Japan to push back inside the top nine.
“Obviously, everyone knew at the start of the year that the top-9 give you a chance to win the million,” Webb said. “I actually didn’t realize that I’d slipped out of the top-9 so I guess I’ll need a good week this week because I’m not playing next week.”
Of the high profile players the likes of Na Yeon Choi and Jess Korda also are outside the top nine, and Azahara Munoz, who is ninth, is not playing this week. She is only eight points ahead of Webb, which is next to nothing. A victory, for instance, is worth 500 points and there are points awarded down to 40th place.
Fortunately Webb is a regular in Japan, where she loves playing.
“I enjoy playing in Japan. I think the Japanese fans are some of our greatest fans,'' she said. "They are very respectful of the game of golf and of us. I’ve always enjoyed playing here and having won here before gives me good memories coming back every year.”
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RACE TO CME GLOBE RANKINGS
1. Stacy Lewis, 4,783
2. Inbee Park, 3,912
3. Lydia Ko, 3,313
4. Michelle Wie, 2,939
5. So Yeon Ryu, 2,526
6. Anna Nordqvist, 2,455
7. Shanshan Feng, 2,353
8. Chella Choi, 2,164*
9. Azahara Munoz, 2,154
10. Karrie Webb, 2,146*