Ai Miyazato

Started playing golf at age 4 and credits her father and coach Masaru Miyazato as the individuals most influencing her career. Recently announced that she will be retiring from competitive golf after the 2017 season. Her brothers Kiyoshi and Yusaku both play on the Japan PGA Tour. Yusaku once made two holes- in-one in one round in a rare appearance on the PGA Tour at the 2006 Reno-Tahoe Open. Kiyoshi qualified for the 2014 U.S. Open. He and Ai are the seventh brother-sister combination to play in the men and women?s U.S. Open in the same year.
Capped her amateur career with a victory in the 2003 Miyagi TV Dunlop Ladies Golf Tournament, a professional event on the Japan LPGA Tour, when she was a senior in high school. Also won the 2003 Japan Junior Golf Championship and the Japan Women's Amateur Golf Championship.
In 2003, turned professional in October and competed on the JLPGA.
In 2004, won five events on the JLPGA. Played in two LPGA events, including a T2 finish at the Mizuno Classic where she carded a career-low 63 in the final round.
In 2005, won six events on the JLPGA, including the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship. Competed in six LPGA events. She tied for ninth at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, tied for 10th at the Mizuno Classic and tied for 11th at the Weetabix Women's British Open. Partnered with Rui Kitada to win the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf, an unofficial LPGA event. Won the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament by a record 12 strokes to earn her card for the 2006 LPGA season.
In 2006, recorded seven top-10 finishes, including a season-best T3 at the McDonald's LPGA Championship. Won two events on the JLPGA circuit.
In 2007, recorded six top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, where she lost to Seon Hwa Lee in the championship match. Crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings.
In 2008, recorded three top-10 finishes: T4 at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship, T5 at the Ricoh Women's British Open and T6 at the Wegmans LPGA.
In 2009, became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Evian Masters, where she defeated Sophie Gustafson in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff. Finished second at the Samsung World Championship and T2 at the CN Canadian Women's Open. She tied for third at the Ricoh Women's British Open, tying her career-best finish at a major championship. Her other top-10 finishes included T4 at the Safeway Classic, T5 at the season-opening SBS Open at Turtle Bay and LPGA Corning Classic, T-6th at the LPGA State Farm Classic and the U.S. Women's Open, a T-8th at the LPGA Tour Championship, T9 at the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International, a ninth-place finish at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill and a T10 at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship.
In 2010, held the Rolex Rankings No. 1 spot for 11 weeks during the season. Became the first player since 1966 to win consecutive season-opening events with the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand and the HSBC Women's Champions. Also won the Tres Marias Championship, ShopRite Classic and Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola. Tied for third at the LPGA Championship.
In 2011, won her seventh-career LPGA victory at the Evian Masters and crossed the $5 million mark in career earnings. Five additional top-10 finishes included third at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, T4 at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, T5 at the Sybase Match Play Championship, T6 at the U.S. Women's Open and T8 at the Safeway Classic.
2012 Notes: Played 23 events, making 20 cuts. Won the LPGA Lotte Championship and the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship. Had nine additional top-10 finishes and earned $1,334,977, which placed her fifth on the Tour money list. Crossed the $7 million mark in career earnings.
2013 Notes: Played in 20 events and made 18 cuts, finishing 27th on the Tour money list. Had two top-10 finishes, including her season-best runner-up effort at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. Played in three LET events and finished T11 at the Homma Pilsen Golf Masters. She suffered whiplash in a February 2013 auto accident in Thailand. Miyazato, Paula Creamer, and Suzann Pettersen were involved in a five-vehicle crash as they were traveling to an airport in Thailand on Sunday to catch flights for Singapore.
2014 Notes: Played in 22 events making 15 cuts and Miyazato's best finish is 24th at the Kia Classic, where she finished at 4-under par. Was 86th on the money list with $119,825.
2015 Notes: Played in 23 LPGA events making 16 cuts. Here best finish was T-14th at the CME Group Tour Championship. Was 77th on the money list with $164,446.
2016 Notes: Played in 26 LPGA events making 20 cuts. She was 3rd at the Kia Classic for her first top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour in 66 starts since the 2013 Lotte Championship. One week later she shot 67 in the first round of the ANA Inspiration to share the first round lead. She eventually finished T18. Finished the year 67th on the money list with $275,446 and was 70th in CME points
2017 Notes: Best finish T-34th LOTTE Championship. Miyazato announced in May that she will retire from competitive golf at the end of the 2017 season.