SHIMA, Japan (AP) Stacy Lewis is rested and ready to defend her title at the Mizuno Classic, the LPGA's last stop on a five-event Asian swing.
Lewis, who overcame a seven-stroke deficit to win last year's tournament, is coming off a three-week break from the tour and has big plans to add to her career titles.
"I'm not playing all the Asia tournaments just because I want to be fresh when I am playing and I want to play good and have a chance to win," said the No. 3-ranked Lewis, who leads the LPGA Tour in top-10 finishes this season with 16. Her three victories this season include a major championship, and she still has a remote shot at winning the player of the year award with three events remaining.
Karrie Webb of Australia and Jiyai Shin of South Korea, both past champions at the Mizuno Classic, figure to be among the main challengers to Lewis' title defense in Japan.
Webb claimed her 39th career victory in June, while Shin captured her first title of the year and 11th overall at the season-opening Australian Open.