China's Feng Yue'er said she was not nervous and was realistic about her prospects as the youngest competitor at the US Women's Open beginning on Thursday.
"I thought I would completely freak out but I was not freaking out," 13-year-old Feng told Reuters on the practice putting green on Wednesday before joining veterans Paula Creamer and Lindsey Wright for a practice round at Saucon Valley. "I thought I would be more nervous, but so far it's not as bad as I thought."
The 5-foot-6 (1.68 m) Feng, who likes to be called "Cindy", was born in China and has made a name for herself on the US junior circuit from her home in Orlando, Florida.
Twice a winner on the American Junior Golf Association circuit, the slender Feng qualified for the women's major by firing a second-round 68 after an opening 76 in sectional qualifying in North Carolina.
She leads a youth brigade that includes 26 teenagers and 28 amateurs in the 156-player field assembled at the 6,740-yard layout for the third women's major of the year.
"It's really tough. It's really long, so I have to use some really long clubs for the approach," said Feng, who needed to hit three-woods into some long par-fours.
"That means less consistency compared to the shorter clubs, so I have to sharpen my short game."
The poised Feng, wearing dark, wraparound sunglasses, said it would be hard keeping up.
"I'm not the longest hitter out there," she said, assessing her driving distance as "probably 230-ish including the roll.
"I just come out here to learn. I'm not expecting any scores. I'm not expecting to make the cut or finish top whatever. I'm just here to experience it."
(Reuters via China Daily July 10, 2009)
