LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Danielle Kang hopes her successful comeback from a spinal tumor can inspire others as she chases a seventh LPGA Tour victory in familiar surroundings on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Californian tees off at the Mediheal Championship at the Saticoy Club outside Los Angeles this week in her fifth tournament since returning to golf after a near three-month layoff.

Kang, who was given an honorary membership to Saticoy during her college days at nearby Pepperdine University, came within a whisker of a fairytale victory in Arkansas last month, when she was beaten in a playoff by Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul.

Kang said she hoped that successful return to golf can act as inspiration for others battling health or personal challenges.

"When people see me I just want them to have hope they you can do it too," Kang told a press conference on Wednesday.

"My life sometimes hasn't gone the way I wanted to, and I know that a lot of people's lives are like that. Everybody feels that.