KUALA LUMPUR: A year after their thrilling battle for the Maybank Championship crown, defending champion Yin Rouning and inaugural winner Celine Boutier return to the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) with unfinished stories of their own.
Rouning, 23, etched her name into the record books last year when she held off Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul by a single stroke to capture the title at 23-under-par-265. The Chinese world No. 7 said the course still brings out the best in her game.
“I think last year my putting was the strongest part of my game at this tournament.
“This week, my ball striking feels really good. If I can shoot five-under every day, I think Sunday will be a good score.”
Known for her precision and poise, Rouning said she feels no extra pressure coming in as the defending champion, only gratitude for how far the women’s game in Asia has come.
“I would love to defend my title, but there are so many great players this week,” she said.
“The LPGA golfers keep getting stronger. Only one multiple winner this year, so I would say there is a chance for me to defend my title, but there are a lot of great players as well.”
For Boutier, returning to Malaysia always stirs fond memories. The French-Thai golfer, who won the inaugural Maybank Championship in 2023 after a dramatic nine-hole playoff against Thitikul, called it one of the most unforgettable weeks of her career.
“I do think it was one of the craziest wins I’ve ever had. It was a lot of fun. Definitely not during, but after looking back, it was not one of those things that really are very memorable in someone’s career,” said Boutier.
“I feel even for the (indiscernible) that was there to support, I think it was just so crazy.”
Ranked world No. 18, Boutier said the KLGCC West Course suits her well, rewarding smart play and patience.
“It’s very much about placement off the tee and accuracy with your approach shots,” said Boutier.
“When you miss, you can have some bogeys, so you need to be smart but also aggressive when the pin allows.”
Her Thai heritage makes the week even more special.
“My parents always make the trip, so it’s nice to have them around. The climate feels like Thailand, and the fans are always warm. It’s one of my favourite stops of the year,” said Boutier.
As the US$3 million (RM12.6 million) event tees off on Thursday, both Rouning and Boutier will look to draw strength from familiar fairways, with one hoping to defend her crown while the other seeking a return to glory.
The Maybank Championship will see a total of 78 players on the field in the four-day, no-cut competition.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
