The setting and forecast paint a pretty picture.

For Coquitlam's Jisoo Keel, the last piece to the puzzle is being in full health for next week's CN Canadian Women's Open at the Vancouver Golf Course.

The teen golfer - who'll celebrate her 17th birthday this Sunday - was resting up after a busy summer in anticipation of the pro tour stop in her hometown and recuperating from some nagging injuries.

"I haven't been able to play at the Vancouver Golf Club as much as I'd like because of my travel schedule," Keel told The NOW on Thursday. "Since I got home (last week) I've been going every day."

Despite the injury, Keel expects a weekend of rest will get her ready for Canada's spotlight tournament, which has attracted 48 of the LPGA's top golfers.

Led by world No. 1 Yani Tseng, the lineup features most of the game's top players, each eyeing a Canadian Women's title.

Among those in the hunt for the $2-million purse Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer, Na Yeon Choi, Cristie Kerr, Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel, Ai Miyazato, defending champion Brittany Lincicome and teenage sensation Alexis Thompson.

The Canadian content includes Lorie Kane, Alena Sharp and Rebeccas Lee-Bentham, while challenging as amateurs are rising star Brooke Henderson of Ontario, Richmond's Christine Wong and Keel, who will be competing in her second straight CN Canadian Women's Open.

A year ago, Keel finished 66th overall after posting the low amateur score.

Her hope is to improve on that, while soaking up all the experience she can.

"I just want to make the cut and do better than last year," the Gleneagle Secondary student said.

Although she considered last month's U.S. Open experience at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, WI as "just okay," the teen got to play with pros like Jeong Jang and Inbee Park over the first two rounds - she shot 158 and missed the cut by nine strokes.

"It was okay but I didn't play too well, but the experience is good," she said.

"After seeing how Park and Jeong Jang play, I can say my game needs a lot of work."

Getting pro exposure can only help, she added.

Making the cut at last year's Canadian Open gave her a lot of confidence, now her focus is on taking it up a notch.

"My long game (at the U.S. Open) was pretty close to theirs, but my short game was not very good. "

Keel, who became the first female golfer to capture the low score title at the B.C. High School AAA golf championship, will complete Grade 12 this coming school year and prepare for her next athletic and academic test - at Stanford University.

She accepted their four-year scholarship offer last month, and is eager to join the heralded golf program.

"Everything," Keel said of what won her over. "The school, the location, the courses, it's all unbelievable."

The CN Canadian Women's Open kicks off Aug. 20 with the final qualifier for four positions, played at Morgan Creek in South Surrey.

On Tuesday, the Vancouver Golf Club will feature practice rounds, an LPGA Superstars clinic (1 to 2 p.m.), and the CN Future Links Skills Challenge from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday play includes the CN Future Links playoff and a pro-am tournament. The CN Women's championship round tees off Thursday. It continues until Aug. 26.

It is the third time that the VGC has hosted an LPGA event - with prior visits in 1988 and 1991 for the du Maurier Classic.

Tickets are available online at cncanadianwomensopen.com or by calling 1-866-571-5742.

sports@thenownews.com