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Joo Mi-kim faces strong field of rivals in Hawaii

Joo Mi-kim plays a tee shot during the Pro-Am at the SBS Open golf tournament at the Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, Hawaii, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

South Korea's Joo Mi-kim returns to defend her LPGA SBS Open title here this week against a strong field of challengers led by Mexico's Lorena Ochoa and Australian Karrie Webb.

Kim outlasted Mexico's Ochoa and fellow Korean Soo Young Moon with two birdies in a sudden death playoff last year to claim her first LPGA tour title.

"I came back here hoping that I will be in the same position on Saturday night after the round as last year," said Kim, adding that getting that early win was a big confidence booster for the rest of her 2006 season.

"I think it took a lot of pressure off of me," she said. "I enjoyed the season throughout the year just because I had a win at the beginning of the year."

She'll have her work cut out repeating that pattern this year.

Ochoa, 25, won six tournaments to claim last year's Player of the Year title. She finished the season with 20 top-10 finishes in 25 starts.

Also in the field is 20-year-old Julieta Granada, who became the first player in women's professional golf to win a US$1 million first prize when she captured the season-ending ADT championship in November.
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