Ai Miyazato

(Royal Pines Resort, Queensland – 1st February 2006) – Players at the ANZ Ladies Masters took a break from practice on Pro-Am day at Royal Pines to have their photographs taken with the Australian wildlife ahead of this week’s tournament.

Players from the Ladies European Tour, ALPG Tour and international stars including Ai Miyazato of Japan, got up-close and personal with a koala and a three year old crocodile from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, on the Gold Coast of Australia.

Players who dared to get close to Australia’s unique wildlife included Germany’s Elisabeth Esterl, Sweden’s Linda Wessberg, Italian Diana Luna, Germany’s Anja Monke, Spaniard Marta Prieto and Natascha Fink from Austria.

There was a media frenzy as Miyazato hand held the cuddly koala and the crocodile. The 20-year-old has been under constant media attention since arriving in Australia for tournament, which takes place from 2nd -5th February, but was more alarmed by the tiny croc, which has its mouth taped up for safety. The Japanese star, who, according to her manager is more famous than David Beckham in her own country, takes the press attention in her stride, but was nevertheless pretty shocked by the look of the reptile.

With six home wins, a World Cup win and a resounding 12 shot victory at the LPGA Tour School behind her, the year ahead promises much for Miyazato if 2005 is anything to go by. With 148 of the world’s best players at Royal Pines, this week the tournament field boasts some of the brightest prospects in the women’s game. The 2006 edition of the ANZ Ladies Masters promises to be one of the biggest and most closely fought contests in the history of the 17-year-old event.

Diana Luna

To see more pictures of the players with the animals and from the tournament, check out our media gallery for the ANZ Ladies Masters