Feb 27, 2018: With a taste for the best, sports fans in Singapore won’t be disappointed with the LPGA Tour rolling into town this week for the eleventh edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
Boasting 19 of the top 20 ranked golfers in the world, a combined haul of 177 LPGA Tour wins – including 29 majors – and all five major winners from last year, the tournament is not short of star power. But with an emerging star of the game, combined with two of the most recognisable names in women’s golf also making the trip to the Lion City, visitors will be spoilt for choice when the tournament gets under-way at Sentosa Golf Club this Thursday.
15-year-old Atthaya Thitikul secured a dramatic wire-to-wire victory at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship by winning a four-way play-off on Saturday, and in doing so, secured her place in one of the most competitive fields on the LPGA Tour.
The teenage prodigy has enjoyed a remarkable year, with recent highlights including her becoming the Ladies European Tour’s youngest-ever winner last July and gold medals in the SEA Games individual and team events in Malaysia a month later.
Speaking about the prospect of lining up alongside her heroes Ariya Jutanugarn and So Yeon Ryu in this week’s championship, Thitikul said, “I am looking forward to everything on offer at the HSBC Women’s World Championship which will certainly make me a stronger player for the future. After two practice round and four rounds in regulation, I am comfortable with the course laout and my plans for the week,” adding, “I love the fast greens and the way the ball rolls here.”
She will be joined by one of the most popular players on tour, who in 2017 demonstrated just why she attracts the kind of following she does. Michelle Wie’s inclusion in last year’s tournament came courtesy of an invitation from tournament sponsor HSBC but from day one, the Hawaiian returned the compliment in spades.
Wie’s name was at the top of the leader board after rounds one and three as she quickly got to grips with the new course. But dropped putts on the last round gave Olympic Champion Inbee Park an opening and the formidable putter never looked back as she went on to claim the trophy for the second time.
For Wie there’s a sense of unfinished business in Singapore. Confirming her participation in this year’s tournament, Wie said, “I put myself in a great position last year but just wasn’t able to carry that through into the final round. But overall, I played great, was really happy with my game and it set me up well for the season ahead. So yes, a bit of unfinished business in Singapore perhaps. It’s a great tournament and the new course really suits my game, so looking forward to getting back out there and giving it another shot.”
Adding to the excitement of the week will be the presence of Hall of Fame legend Nancy Lopez, who joins as Guest of Honour, in celebration of the tournament’s elevated status to the Women’s World Championship.
The American’s record includes 48 LPGA victories, including three majors, was the first woman in history to score under 70 in all four rounds at the U.S Women’s Open, and became the second player in LPGA history to cross the $3 million mark in career earnings, before retiring in 2002.
During her first full season on the LPGA Tour in 1978, Lopez won nine tournaments, including five in succession; she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, LPGA Rookie of the Year, LPGA Player of the Year and was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.
She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987, was a member of the United States Solheim Cup Team in 1990, and was Captain of the team in 2005, leading them to victory to regain the Cup from Europe.
Speaking ahead of her visit to Singapore, Lopez said, “I’m really looking forward to coming to Singapore. I’m still very involved in the game through a number of charitable events, but I still get a real buzz from tournament golf. I’d like to thank the HSBC Women’s World Championship for inviting me as Guest of Honour. It’s a fantastic field heading for Singapore, and I understand a great set-up at Sentosa Golf Club, so and I’m looking forward to it.”
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