Liyana Durisic is looking forward to another Maybank Championship—with her older brother by her side and words of encouragement from her golfing idol fresh in her mind.
The 23-year-old Malaysian will make her third consecutive appearance at the US$3 million tournament, which begins Thursday at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC). Her brother, Danial Aizat Durisic, will caddie for her, as he did when she made her tournament debut in 2023.
“It’s just amazing when your family members are always there for you when you compete in a tournament like the Maybank Championship,” Liyana said at Wednesday’s press conference. “I’m very grateful that my brother will be next to me, guiding me during the tournament.”
Her brother Danial is also no stranger to the game too. A former national golfer and currently a coac, he represented Malaysia on multiple international stages. Over a career spanning more than 15 years in competitive golf, he has successfully transitioned from being a top-tier collegiate athlete in the United States to a collegiate coach and sports entrepreneur back home.
As for Liyana, she secured her place in this year’s field through the Asean Qualifier in August, earning the final spot with a two-under-par 70 to finish at one-under 143.
She also played in the 2024 edition, having first appeared as an amateur on a sponsor’s exemption while representing Iowa State University.
This time, she arrives with a professional victory behind her. Liyana won the Women’s World Sand Greens Championship in New South Wales, Australia, closing with a seven-birdie final round.
She will also carry a boost from a conversation with fellow Malaysian Mirabel Ting, whom she calls her “GOAT” and idol. The two spoke at the tournament’s welcome dinner, just before Liyana heads to the United States for Stage 2 of LPGA Tour qualifying.
“She was the only one who won twice on the Epson Tour, she bombs it down the fairway and she has absolutely no fear when it comes to playing golf,” Liyana said.
Ting, who has secured her LPGA Tour card for next year, reassured Liyana that she could succeed in doing well here.
“She was telling me about Stage 2, telling me, ‘The course is easy, you’re going to tear that course up,’” Liyana said. “The fact that she thinks I could also do it too is so wholesome. It means I just have to believe in myself as much as she believes in me.”
Liyana will join Ting and fellow Malaysians Kelly Tan, Natasha Andrea Oon and Genevieve Ling in a five-player home contingent at the championship.
