Rianne joins Pinay pros in Singapore Open

Sixteen-year-old Rianne Malixi may be the youngest in the group, but that won't diminish the possibility of her making a star-turn as five Filipinas see action in the Hana Financial Singapore Women's Open kicking off Thursday.

Malixi will be the only amateur in the pack that includes Dottie Ardina, Princess Superal, Daniella Uy and Samantha Bruce in the Korean Ladies PGA tournament.

The event, slated at Tanah Merah Country Club, is only Malixi's third tournament after a successful swing in Australia where she won a title (Masters of the Amateurs) finished in Top 10 (Women's Amateur Asia Pacific).

"After the WAAP, she just focused on her studies and training," said her father, Roy.

Then after that, Malixi will return 11 March only to fly to Los Angeles 12 March.

There she will undergo three-day putting diagnosis and correction — the better to prepare her for even tougher tournaments later in the year — under coach Derek Uyeda in San Diego.

Malixi, who is set to enter Duke University in November, will then have her club-fitting with TaylorMade at the Kingdom in Carlsbad.

She will play in the Sage Valley Invitational on 21-23 March, then rest a few days before flying to Georgia for the fifth Augusta National Women's Amateurs on 3-6 April.