In comments published by Japan's Golf Digest Online on 28 October 2026, Erika Hara described the physical and technical challenges of her first full LPGA Tour season. Arriving in Malaysia for the Maybank Championship after events in China and South Korea, the Japanese player is balancing the confidence of an excellent final round with unfamiliar greens, another change in climate and the demands of repeated travel.
A closing 65 does not tell the whole story
The LPGA's official results from the BMW Ladies Championship show rounds of 79, 70, 69 and 65. Hara finished tied for 41st on 283 strokes, five under par. Her closing 65, seven under par for the round, matched her lowest LPGA round. The difference between her opening and closing scores was a remarkable 14 strokes, although the final-round surge did not erase all the damage done early in the tournament.
Yuri Yoshida won that event on 271 strokes, 17 under par, for her maiden LPGA title. For Hara, however, the more urgent lesson came from the number of opportunities lost at close range on the greens.
The one-metre problem
Hara told GDO that she estimated she had missed roughly eight putts from around one metre during the first two rounds. That figure is her recollection, not an independently verified LPGA putting statistic. In response, she experimented with a cross-handed putting grip during the weekend. For a right-handed golfer, this typically means positioning the left hand below the right on the putter; the technique can alter wrist involvement and the feel of the stroke.
Changing a grip is an adjustment, not proof of a permanent solution. Yet the tactical implications are significant. If a player is uncomfortable over a short putt, even a well-executed approach shot may not produce the expected birdie opportunity. Greater trust in the putter can therefore affect how confidently a player attacks accessible pin positions with an iron.
The Asian swing is also an endurance test
Malaysia is a new stop for Hara. After cold rain in Korea, she has encountered hot, humid conditions in Kuala Lumpur. She said the travel had proved more tiring than anticipated, while also appreciating the hospitality offered at each venue. The 2025 Epson Tour season helped her learn how to study new courses more efficiently, but a tightly packed schedule still leaves little time to recover and understand different turf.
Grass type matters particularly around the green. Changes in surface texture, grain and speed can affect how the ball starts and rolls. Hara did not publish measured green speeds or a laboratory account of her grip change, so any explanation of those mechanics should be read as editorial analysis rather than as a direct claim by the player.
What matters in Malaysia
The Maybank Championship is scheduled for 29 October–1 November at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club's West Course, a par-72 layout measuring 6,536 yards according to the LPGA. The tournament is played over 72 holes of stroke play. Hara's short-putt confidence will be worth watching alongside her approach play and ability to manage recovery between rounds.
Her aim is to maintain momentum through the final part of the season; participation in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship remains subject to qualification. The important distinction is between a spectacular score and repeatable performance. A 65 demonstrates potential. Four consistent rounds, including reliable putting from close range, would demonstrate that the changes have taken hold.
