Golf: European No 1 to play in NZ

Lee-Anne Pace, the European Tour's top golfer, has confirmed her entry at next month's New Zealand Women's Open at Pegasus near Christchurch.

The 29-year-old South African is set to resume her rivalry with former world No 1 Laura Davies on February 17-20 after they won 10 titles between them last year.

Pace made a late decision to begin her season in the Downunder swing in Australia and New Zealand, after finishing her breakthrough season by securing the Order of Merit honour only after the final event in Dubai last month.

"I've had an amazing year. It's been so special to me," Pace said. "I wanted to come back and play. I love New Zealand and I love coming back there.

"Christchurch was so nice ... It feels a bit like home to me."

Pace has links to New Zealand stretching back for some years, first venturing here in 2003 with the South African amateur team for the Commonwealth tournament in Auckland. At that stage she was on scholarship at Murray State University in Kentucky before transferring to Tulsa State through to graduation with a degree in psychology in 2005 and a bag full of top performances.

She qualified for the LPGA in 2007 where she struggled, changing to qualify for the LET the next year. She had six top-10s on debut in 2009 before her stunning 2010 year with wins in the Swiss Open, Wales Championship, Finnair Masters, Sanya Open and Suzhou Taihu Open.

She became the first South African to win the Order of Merit after she headed off the great Davies in a close battle, attributing her success to hard work on and off the course with South African-based coach Val Holland and James Petts, an Englishman based in Copenhagen.

"I have been working hard on my swing for the last three years to get it to the stage it is right now where I can do what I want.

"My work in the gym has meant I've been making quite a bit of gain in distance ... It makes such a bit difference to go for a par 5 in two or have to lay it up."

Another key was her Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open win in June.

"The first win was important ... my confidence went to a new level."

Pace gave up the opportunity to qualify for the LPGA after making it to final qualifying, so she could focus on the Order of Merit honours.

"It will allow me to play in Europe and should get some invites to America."

Pace vows fans in Christchurch will see a much different player to the one who finished 45th last year, and looks forward to see the further development of the Pegasus course.

The New Zealand Women's Open is a €200,000 ($344,000) event co-sanctioned by the Australian Ladies' Professional Golf (ALPG) and the Ladies' European Tour (LET).

- NZPA