As Bianca Pagdanganan enters her second year in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the rising Filipina talent hopes to ride on her impressive rookie year and target more top 10 finishes in the tour.

“[After] last year’s experience of finishing in the top 10 in a major, it made me feel good and confident in my own game, so hopefully more top 10s for me this year,” said Pagdanganan, who ranks No. 150 in the Rolex rankings.

Though she is still targeting to get into more majors and gain a priority standing in the money list rankings, Pagdanganan has a clear goal of bagging a title in the tour.

“Winning events is also a goal for me this year,” added Pagdanganan in a recent virtual press conference, where she was introduced as the newest ambassador of Smart Communications.

“It’s important to aim high. I don’t have any expectations, but it’s important to keep goals just so you know what you’re working towards.”

Last year, German golfer Sophia Popov realized this dream as she became the lowest ranked player at No. 304 to win a major in the 2020 Women’s British Open.

Now, Popov ranks No. 26 in the world and No. 8 on the money list, which would give her priority to major tournaments.

After Pagdanganan’s 9th place finish in the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the 23-year-old golfer surpassed Popov in setting the LPGA world ranking record leap of 478 places.

In her rookie season, Pagdanganan was hailed for her power play as she topped the tour’s average driving distance, norming 283.071 yards.

Though she’ll continue to use her power to her advantage, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist is also practicing other aspects of her game such as putting.

“It was kind of a shock for me to have that distance [and be recognized for it], but it’s not really everything. I’ve been working on consistency and not only driving,” shared Pagdanganan.

Pagdanganan is set to leave for the US on the first week of February in order to complete a 14-day quarantine before opening the season with the Gainbridge tournament in Orlando, Florida from February 25 to 28.

Pagdanganan is also in contention for a slot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics together with teen golfer Yuka Saso, who she won the 2018 Asian Games women’s team gold with.

Both Filipina golfers are in the top 60 of the Olympic rankings as Fil-Japanese Saso sits comfortably at No. 21, while Pagdanganan ranks No. 41.

“It’s important to aim high and work for it. I think we have a good chance especially with the players we have right now. It will be really cool if golf were the first sport to get the country’s first Olympic gold,” said Pagdanganan. – Rappler.com