KUALA LUMPUR: Golfer Natasha Andrea Oon is pumped up for her second professional start at the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Championship which tees off in Jakarta tomorrow.
The 21-year-old and compatriot Alyaa Abdulghany are invited for the US$750,000 (RM3.35 million) event, which is part of the newly formed Ladies Asian Tour.
The pair will not be playing for just individual glory, but also for country as the three-day meet will feature a team contest.
Natasha and Alyaa will be up against a star-studded field that includes major champions such as world No 4 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and No 8 Kim Hyo Joo of South Korea at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Also in the list of 44 competitors are Hinako Shibuno of Japan, the 2019 women's British Open champion, and South Korea's Ryu So Yeon who has 21 victories worldwide.
Natasha, who turned professional in June, said: "I'm excited for sure. I'm still trying to get my foot in the door, my place in life."
"The pro golf, I feel like that's a weird transition for sure, a very overwhelming one."
Natasha, who is preparing for the LPGA Tour Qualifying School in September, is currently relying on invitation to gain entry into tournaments.
She made her professional debut at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan in June, but missed the cut by two shots.
Natasha said she is relishing a chance to team up with Alyaa again for the first time since winning the team silver at the 2019 Manila Sea Games.
"I'm excited to play with Alyaa, it's been a while since we last met, I'm sure it will be fun. We're going to try to make Malaysia proud."
