Being brave and smart will be key: Kim

In-Kyung Kim (centre) with her fans at Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club.

In-Kyung Kim returns to the scene where it all began for her on the Ladies European Tour and the South Korean hopes she can draw inspiration from that win in 2009 as she plots an assault on the rebranded Omega Dubai Ladies Classic.
The World No.8, returns to Dubai after seven years, and the 29-year-old will be aiming for her second title here and become the third multiple winner of the tournament after China's Shanshan Feng and Sweden's Annika Sorenstam.
And that looks a possibility with Kim in red-hot form this season. The Santa Fe resident has had three wins this season, including her first Major - the Women's British Open at Kingsbarns in Scotland.
Her other victories were the ShopRite LPGA Classic and the Marathon Classic, making her the second multiple winner on the LPGA Tour this season apart from countrywoman So Yeon Ryu. This is the first time that she has had more than one win on the Tour.
Kim, who finished tied sixth here in 2010 to win the Rookie of the Year, felt that a mixture of aggressive play and tactical nous will be the key to winning this weekend.
The 12th edition of the Omega Dubai Ladies Classic tees off at the Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club from Wednesday.
"This weekend, contenders, there are so many I think," Kim said, when asked by the Khaleej Times on Tuesday.
"I think whoever plays well, I guess, will have a chance. But it is four days, and I think this golf course, keeping it in the fairway is very important. Some pin positions are really hard to get to. So whoever is bravest, and also smart play, would be the winner," she added.
Kim reckoned that the Majlis Course, from experience, was one of those golf courses where you cannot go in with a set plan and you have to adapt depending on the conditions, especially the wind.
"Sometime I plan everything where I want to play, like how I want to play. But this golf course and some of the golf course that I play, when the wind changes, and depends on the weather, that I have to be very flexible. I remember this golf course is one of the golf courses that can be very tough to shoot even par on the back nine when it's very windy," felt Kim.
Looking back to the season, Kim said that it has been a year of progress. "It's been a fun year not only because I've won a couple tournaments, but I've seen the progress and that I've put in the work," said Kim.
james@khaleejtimes.com