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By Chia Han Keong
COMPARED to their Team International counterparts, the six Team Asia rookies at this weekend's Lexus Cup are more reserved and quiet.
For example, debuting American golfer Christina Kim sent her Team International teammates into guffaws with her bubbly charm at yesterday's media conference.
In contrast, Team Asia rookies, such as Choi Na Yeon and Kim Song Hee, were content to sit silently and smile politely, while captain Pak Se Ri handled most of the media queries.
Yet, the fact that they outnumber their opposing counterparts - six to three - shows that Asia has a new wave of golf talents ready to take on the world.
Said Pak: "These rookies are fearless. They want to win everything. Perfect.
"So, even though there are six of them around, I feel very confident about winning."
Indeed, two of them, both just 19, won women golf's Major titles this year: Inbee Park emerged victorious in the US Open, and Tseng Ya-ni triumphed in the LPGA Championship.
Still, making their debuts at this unique matchplay Lexus Cup at the Singapore Island Country Club proved to be a nervous experience for the duo.
Said Park: "Definitely, we feel a lot of pressure to do well.
But we still intend to enjoy ourselves as much as we can."
 Taiwanese Tseng Ya-ni shot to world No. 2 this year, and is upfront about aiming to be No. 1 next season.
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Tseng, who had one of the most impressive professional debuts this year as she shot to world No. 2, is no stranger to Singapore.
Back when she was a budding golfer, the Taiwanese had won the SICC Junior Championships in 2001 and 2002 - and she still keeps in touch with local women golfers like Heng Su-Ann and Melissa Loh.
She said in Mandarin: "We met up for dinner, and they teased me endlessly about my world No. 2 position.
"But it's great to finish this season back in Singapore. I've found so much success in such a short time that it is overwhelming at times, so it's nice to be back at a familiar place, meeting up with old friends."
Still, she makes no apologies about wanting to shoot for the world No. 1 position next season, now held by Mexico's Lorena Ochoa.
She said: "She's on another level really, but I feel that if I can become mentally stronger and not lose leads as I often did this season, I can at least win three to five more titles.
"But, to finish my rookie season above Annika Sorenstam in the rankings is already unbelievable."
Indeed, these Asian rookies' winning mentality means that even the battle-tested Team International veterans will be in for a hard time at the Lexus Cup.
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