Women's number one Cristie Kerr is ready for a second major title in three weeks at the U.S. Women's Open starting on Thursday after her overpowering triumph at last month's LPGA Championship."It's just kind of my time now," the 32-year-old American told reporters at Oakmont Country Club. "And I feel like I'm at the maturity point in my life where I'm ready to do that, I'm ready to handle all the stuff that comes with it."Kerr claimed the top ranking with a record 12-shot victory by going 19 under par at Locust Hill at the LPGA Championship."It took me almost a whole week to get back to feeling normal and to kind of come down from cloud nine," said Kerr, whose grip on the top spot could be challenged this week."But I recognize what a monumental win that was, what a performance it was."It kind of made everybody pay attention and brought a lot of attention to me. I think American golf really needed that."In recent years, U.S. golfers have toiled in the shadow of Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and then Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, and were passed in a surge by Asian players, most notably South Koreans.Americans have won just six of the last 36 LPGA Tour events and Kerr has three of those victories.Kerr, the 2007 U.S. champion, said the women's circuit, which lost sponsors and a number of tournaments in the economic downturn, would benefit from her establishing "the American force on our tour again."World number two Ai Miyazato of Japan, winner of four events this season, Kraft-Nabisco champion Yani Tseng of Taiwan and defending champion Ji Eun-hee of South Korea are among the international contenders in a 156-player field.The field, which also includes 15-year-old American Alexis Thompson playing in her first major as a professional, is expected to be tested by the heavy bunkering and complex greens at Oakmont.The last major held at the classic Oakmont course outside Pittsburgh was the 2007 U.S. Open, won by Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who held off Tiger Woods to claim victory.The 1992 U.S. Women's Open was staged at Oakmont with the silver trophy going to Patty Sheehan, who beat fellow-American Juli Inkster in an 18-hole playoff.Inkster, who turned 50 during the LPGA Championship, is once again in the field for this week's Open at Oakmont.(Editing by Alison WildeyTo query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)(For more news on Reuters India, click http://in.reuters.com)News posted by www.newsinfoline.com
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