Fired-up Jen trains sights on US Open

Despite blowing what could’ve been an otherwise won bid in the Giant Eagle Classic, things are looking up for Jennifer Rosales on the LPGA Tour with her swing coach Bong Lopez confident of her chances in perhaps the most prestigious event in the circuit — the US Women’s Open.

"The US Open is good for her because she plays really well on hard courses where premium is on shotmaking. Yung hindi birdie-han ang laban, kundi pagalingan pumalo," said Lopez. "Kaya confident ako of her chances."

But the ace Filipina shotmaker could be in for a tough outing.

According to the USGA, the par-71 Pumpkin Ridge Country Club course in North Plains, Oregon, venue of this year’s Open slated July 3-6, has been spruced up to championship condition with the fairways, collars and tees cut to 3/8 of an inch and the primary rough to three inches and intermediate rough to 1 1/4 inches.

"The primary rough will be three inches. At three inches, it will be tough; it will be thick; it will be US Open rough," said Kendra Graham, director of Rules and Competition for the US Golf Association.

"This will be the longest US Women’s Open championship course, and at par 71, that really says something," said Graham. "While it’s going to be long, it will be very fair."

Still, Lopez believes her ward, for all her talent and skill, is ready for the challenge although he insists that Rosales needs to polish her putting stroke to be able to seriously contend for the crown.

"Putting na lang talaga ang kulang. Parang switch — on and off," added Lopez, noting that Rosales blew her title bid in the Giant Eagle Classic when she muffed a seven-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole. Australian Rachel Teske snatched the crown with a birdie on the third extra hole of a four-player playoff.

"Maganda na talaga yung nilalaro nya kaya putting na lang dapat ang i-polish," said former Philippine Open champion and Asian PGA Tour campaigner Gerald Rosales, Jenny’s brother whom she called up Monday after her sorry setback in Ohio.

"I told her that her time will come soon. It’s a good thing that she’s playing almost every week. Andun na yung laro nya at madami pa siyang chances kaya dapat relax lang siya," said Gerald.

Heading into the US Open, Rosales, who has four top 10 finishes so far in 11 tournaments in the season and has moved up to 19th from 34th in the money rankings, is set to play for two more events — the Wegmans Rochester in New York this week and the ShopRite Classic on June 27-29 in New Jersey where she would be joined in by Lopez, Gerald and mom Lourdes.

"I’m so proud of her. She played and survived her game with Annika (Sorenstam). She lost the tournament but gained more confidence and belief in herself," said Lopez. "The US Open is ours."