Jenny marked woman

Jennifer Rosales hopes to re-display the form that netted her the SBC Open title in Hawaii last week as she opens her bid for a second straight LPGA crown in the rich MasterCard Classic which unfolds Friday (Saturday in Manila) in Mexico City.

The fact that Rosales would be closely watched by the world No. 1 player right behind her flight could add up to pressure but the ace Filipina shotmaker would be more than willing to showcase her talent and shotmaking skills for all Annika Sorenstam to see.

Rosales, who found herself the bewildered leader in the early going of the money ranking with that wire-to-wire triumph in the SBS Open, tees off at the backside at 8:39 a.m. in the group of promising US-based Thai Aree Song and Korean bet Grace Park, just ahead of the Sorenstam group at 8:50 a.m.

The Swede ace, who dominated the circuit last year and whose form is said to have suited for the men’s circuit, skipped last week’s event and is raring to re-stamp her class in the $1.2 million tournament.

Sorenstam is paired with veteran campaigner Juli Inkster and hometown bet Lorena Ochoa, the only player in the fold to have the local knowledge of the par-72 Bosque Real Country Club course, which is hosting a tournament of this magnitude for the first time.

"Except for Lorena, nobody has played the course. I’m really excited to see and play the course because some caddies have seen it and they said it’s a good course," said Rosales, whose campaign on the LPGA is sponsored by Smart Communications and The American Eye Center.

"Jenny has utmost confidence in her game going into the second event of the LPGA Tour and we want to reiterate our support to her in her quest for back-to-back crown," said Smart Communications, Inc. in a statement.

It added: "We are proud of Jenny as a Smart endorser. She is a hero and an inspiration to all."