BRIEF-Golf-Miyazato tees off on 'hurtful' Japanese fans

TOKYO Oct 14 Japan's top woman golfer Ai Miyazato has hit out at Japanese fans for applauding an error by a rival on the final day of a tournament last weekend.

The world number nine described fans cheering when South Korean Jeon Mi-jeong's approach splashed into the lake at the last hole of the Sankyo Ladies Open as "hurtful".

"It pained my heart very much," Miyazato, who went on to capture her first title on the Japanese tour in three years, told her website (www.ai-miyazato54.com).

"That clapping was a real disappointment," added the 24-year-old, a winner on the U.S. LPGA Tour and third-placed finisher at this year's British Open.

"You expect fair play and respect from fans as well as the players."

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by Peter Rutherford. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)