Lilia Vu likes flying below the radar in her title protection.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — When Lilia Vu touched down this week, one thing felt completely different.
“Immediately, after I landed in Houston it felt very calming to me,” Vu stated Tuesday. “I felt nearly form of dwelling. I don’t know, I simply saved enthusiastic about it. Even my dad and mom had been speaking about it final night time; may very well be a spot to think about to maneuver.
“As soon as I hit that first shot on the primary gap yesterday I used to be like, that is dwelling. It simply feels so proper.”
Vu is again because the defending champion on the Chevron Championship, which is being performed for the second time on the Membership at Carlton Woods, a half-hour drive from Houston.
The 26-year-old not solely seeks to proceed because the Chevron’s solely winner since its transfer from Palm Springs, however she’s additionally the winner of the latest main championship eventually summer season’s AIG Girls’s Open.
Vu had a breakout 2023, profitable two different instances along with her two main titles and ended the 12 months because the top-ranked participant on the planet and the LPGA’s Participant of the 12 months.
One would suppose coming into her first main title protection she’d be the focal point. However Lydia Ko gained the season’s first occasion in Orlando to get inside some extent of Corridor of Fame qualification, and Nelly Korda has ousted Vu as World No. 1 with a shocking run of 4 wins in as many begins; a victory this week would make 5.
Lilia Vu almost give up golf. Now, she’s the perfect participant on the planet
That’s left Vu considerably below the radar, which is ok by her.
“I usually prefer to fly below the radar,” Vu stated. “They’ve been enjoying nice. It exhibits how aggressive this sport is.
“I’m going to be trustworthy, I’m not making an attempt to place an excessive amount of strain on myself. I believe I’m going to take a look at this match as a brand new alternative to win and never put an excessive amount of strain of making an attempt to defend my title.”
This season, Vu has not but discovered the success of 2023; her greatest end was a T7 in a title protection on the Honda LPGA Thailand. She then withdrew mid-tournament from her subsequent two begins whereas coping with a again harm.
“It’s been a tough couple months battling with my harm. It’s been slightly scary,” she stated. “I’ve positively cried rather a lot on the vary generally as a result of my again simply couldn’t maintain up.
“It’s simply been type of an up and down not being absolutely bodily wholesome. On the times that I really feel bodily wholesome, then I’ll get upset not performing the way in which I believe I ought to.”
The key to hitting a push draw, in response to a World No. 1
However Vu arrived in Texas feeling lastly wholesome and able to get pleasure from herself on the course, she stated. She has stopped lifting in the intervening time and is working with a physiotherapist day by day.
She involves a Carlton Woods course that’s completely different than the gained she one gained a 12 months in the past. The membership constructed new greens and added a number of bunkers alongside the Jack Nicklaus Signature course that was the LPGA’s longest check final season.
Vu stated she expects it to play more durable and firmer, however the modifications assist her to overlook that she’s defending this week.
She additionally received some last phrases of encouragement earlier than she began her prep for the week.
“As soon as we landed right here on Sunday my dad was saying to me, ‘No matter occurs, occurs. Let or not it’s. Don’t get offended. Don’t get too up and down. Simply do your factor. You’re ok,’” Vu stated. “If I keep wholesome this week I believe I’ll have the ability to do what I have to do.”
