KEY POINTS:
Veteran tennis administrator Peter Gardner struggled to comprehend what he was witnessing.
Happily spending time at the driving range in the centre of Ellerslie racecourse hitting a bucket of balls and proudly admiring his best efforts, he looked across and watched as a young woman a couple of bays away smacked golf balls out of sight. His efforts paled into insignificance.
Intrigued, Gardner introduced himself to this obviously precocious talent. He soon learned he had nothing to be ashamed of.
He was being blasted off the range by the hottest female talent in the world of long driving, 20-year-old Phillis Meti.
For Meti, it was a last hit-out before heading back to the United States to defend the title she won last year.
Meti, her faithful SMT 455 driver stored in the hold, flew out yesterday bound for Mesquite, Nevada and the 2007 version of the world long-driving championship.
What is she looking to do differently this time?
"Be more consistent in terms of direction," said Meti. "In the semi-final and final last year, I was only getting three balls out of 12 in the grid. This time, I'm aiming for at least six.
"I want to get one good ball out there early, even if it means being a bit conservative."
Meti has some reservations about her preparation.
"I'm not really competitive fit. Unlike last year when we had a New Zealand qualifying event, this year there hasn't been one," she said.
But Meti is unfazed. "I'm going back to win again. Not to defend my title."
She will take that power of positive thinking into a contest which will bring together 43 women - the biggest hitters on the planet - all hellbent in their bid to collect the US$14,000 ($18,660) winner's cheque.
But, Meti insists, the money is "not at all" the motivating factor.
"It is great being the world champion," said Meti. "I have a five-year exemption and will probably make use of that for the next couple of years." And then move on.
She is part way through a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation at AUT and wants to get that out of the way before chasing her dream of playing golf professionally.
Still playing at Redwood Park - these days on a 1.6 handicap - her opportunities (as a professional) are limited, after losing her amateur status in accepting prize money at the long-distance championships last year.
"Thankfully, the people at Redwood Park still accept me as a member," said Meti. "But at the back of my mind - every day - is the thought of playing as a professional, hopefully within the next two or three years."
Meti, without the advantage of a qualifying event here, has turned to other sports to help prepare for the championship where she will come up against the best from Russia, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden, Australia and the big American contingent.
She has just returned from Hawaii where, as a member of the national out-rigging team, she competed in a 78km race enjoying a hard-fought top-10 finish.
"It is heaps of fun," said Meti. "And really helps with my upper body strength and fitness."
She will need all that - and the dead-eye accuracy of keeping the ball in the grid - if she is to retain her title.
The feeling, as she heads into the qualifying rounds on Tuesday and with the semifinals and final two days later, is that few are prepared to bet against that.
