The LPGA Lotte Championship doesn’t have a repeat champion yet.

If that bothered last year’s winner Ai Miyazato, her disappointment was hidden well.

The cheery Miyazato had a front-row seat for Suzann Pettersen’s 5-under 67 closing effort — and playoff win over Lizette Salas — for Pettersen to seize the title of the second-year event at 19 under.

Miyazato couldn’t quite match the 12 under she put up in 2012 to win by four strokes. She started the day in contention, three behind Pettersen, but missed a few early birdie opportunities that stuck with her the rest of her round.

Miyazato, of Okinawa, shot even for the day and finished at 11-under 277 to earn $49,355.

By the time she was done fielding questions from the Japanese media, Miyazato was back in her happy place. She had an interpreter on hand for English-speaking media, but the ninth-ranked player in the world was just fine on her own.

"I had a great time in this place," said Miyazato, 27. "I love to be here. Hawaii’s just the best place to play golf, I think. I really enjoyed this week. I played really well this week, I think I had a good feeling until the last hole and it’s going to be good for next week too (at the North Texas LPGA Shootout). I’ll keep having a good feeling to next week. So that’s the important thing."

She was left to rue (in her good-natured way) a handful of makable putts that prevented her from any final three-way competition among her, Pettersen and Salas. She parred the last four to finish solidly, if not spectacularly.

"I played really well out there, it’s just I couldn’t make some putts today, specifically the first three holes," Miyazato continued. "I had great chances, but I couldn’t make it. I couldn’t keep my round going until the last. If I could made it, then it’s gonna be like 5 under, 6 under round today. But it was just a little bit impatient after that, and I had a little bit of an unlucky feel, but overall I played well."

Then, in mid-interview, Salas’ approach shot on the playoff hole splashed into the water hazard off the 18th green, all but sealing it for Pettersen. Miyazato gasped. Everyone, except seemingly Pettersen, made too many mistakes on this day.

An overly aggressive putt on No. 8 left Miyazato with too much coming back and led to a bogey. Miyazato converted a great birdie putt from the fringe on No. 9; It was one of three instances in the round she bogeyed, then immediately followed it up with a birdie.

"I was so mad at myself, because I made bogey on 8," she said. "It wasn’t good shot selection and I didn’t have a good putt, so I didn’t have a good feeling. It just made me want it back so that’s why I think I made that putt (on 9)."

She had a sizable gallery over the first three days, and it swelled much larger with the pressures of being among the leaders’ group. Her popularity among both local fans and travelers from Japan was difficult to overstate.

Miyazato left no doubt she’d be back for another run here next year.

"Of course. I can’t wait," she said, smiling wide.