Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Displaying a carefree attitude in a stress-free environment paid dividends for Feng Shanshan.
Having wilted under the pressure of high home expectations at last week’s Reignwood LPGA Classic in Beijing, Feng turned on the style with a closing eight-under-par 63 to claim victory in the 2014 Sime Darby LPGA championship.
Thanks to a six-under back nine at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, one that included an eagle on 16, Feng seized control of the tournament on the way to her fourth career victory.

Feng used the same three-wood on 16 today that she also used for the magical approach into a hazard on 18 that hit a rock and bounced off the flagstick, setting up eagle en route to winning the 2013 Reignwood LPGA Classic.

“It was actually a little between clubs. If I hit three-wood it would be maybe a little long, so I decided actually to go forward. I hit the three-wood with a smooth swing,” Feng explained. “Then I was hoping to get a good bounce, which I did. It reminded me kind of like 18 hole at Reignwood last year. Same club. It’s the magic three-wood again. I made an eagle again, and I think that was pretty important for my win.”

Until the 16th hole, Feng didn’t think she had a chance to win. After missing a 15-foot birdie putt and the outright lead on 15, Feng rebounded in a big way to take command of the tournament after Pornanong Phatlum hit a shot in the water on 16. Feng did so despite accidentally taking a look at the leaderboard on the hole.

“I have a habit that I don’t look at leaderboards during my play,” Feng said. “Actually, I accidentally knew I was tied with her when I was on 16 green. I did not want to see the score, but I saw it.”

Feng admitted she thrived away from the intense scrutiny she faced on home soil last week.

“Last week I was defending champion in China at Reignwood and I did really bad,” Feng said. “So coming into this week, I had no pressure at all. Even until the 17th hole I still didn’t think I was going to win. What I was doing was just to focus on every shot and just try to do my best and hope that putts can fall. That’s all I did.”