Entries have closed for the 2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore, March 2-5 with 18 of the world’s top 20 ranked players confirmed in the field, including our very own Leona Maguire.
The Cavan star enjoyed a tied-ninth finish upon her seasonal reappearance at the Tournament of Champions in January and is set for an LET Aramco appearance in Saudi next week before the LPGA Tour stops in Thailand and Singapore.
The five best players in the world will lead the stellar line-up at the latter as World No.3 Minjee Lee, World No.4 Atthaya Thitikul join previously announced No.1, 2 and 5 Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda and defending champion Jin Young Ko.
Thai star, Thitikul, who tasted victory at Sentosa during her amateur career when she won the 2018 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific as a 15-year-old, finished in 4th place last year, kicking off a remarkable run that included 16 top 10 finishes, two victories and saw her crowned 2022 LPGA Rookie of the Year. Thitikul spent two weeks at No.1 on the Rolex Rankings (Oct 31- Nov 13) and a strong finish at the 2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship could help return her to the top spot.
Australian fan-favourite Lee won two titles in 2022 including her second major title at the US Open. A stunning closing round of 63 saw her finish in tied second place at Sentosa in 2022 and it remains fresh in her mind as she looks forward to returning next month, commenting: “Remembering my final round on The Tanjong course makes me excited to return to Singapore this year. I mean, I’m always excited to visit Singapore as it’s such an awesome city, but any time you finish in second place you are eager to come back and see if you might be able to go one better.”
All of last year’s Major champions are in the line-up including American Jennifer Kupcho, (The Chevron Championship) Minjee Lee, (US Open) South Korean In Gee Chun, (KPMG LPGA Championship 2022) Canadian Brooke Henderson, (The Amundi Evian Championship) and South African Ashleigh Buhai, (AIG Women’s Open 2022) with all looking to win this coveted title for the first time.
Henderson, a two-time Major winner, who finished tied 6th last year and runner-up in 2018, commented: “I am most looking forward to having fans back at the HSBC Women’s World Championship this year as I definitely missed their support out on the course last year. It’s a special week on our Tour and one of our favourites of the year! HSBC ensure we have a major set up in terms of the course and facilities, Sentosa is such a beautiful setting, everyone’s so friendly and we are made to feel so welcome. And Singapore has some of the best food and shopping anyone could ask for!”
Kee Joo Wong, CEO of HSBC Singapore said: “HSBC is committed to opening up a world of opportunity for women in sport and to bringing the best of the world to Singapore. We are thrilled to see such a stellar line-up for the 15th edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship.”
There are still six spots to be claimed with the winner of the National Qualifier taking place at Sentosa, Feb 8-9, securing the chance to compete amongst the elite of women’s golf. Five sponsor invitations will be announced in due course along with the winner of the 2023 Honda LPGA Thailand, if not otherwise qualified.
Partners of the 2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship already confirmed are Sentosa, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Lexus, Rolex, Singapore Airlines, AON, ECCO, Mandarin Oriental, Panasonic, Penfolds, Puma, Epson, COBRA Golf, Titleist, Sony, Ice Mountain, 100 Plus, TikTok.
This year marks the 15th edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship and remarkably, of the 14 previous winners, 12 are Major champions, lending yet further credibility to the player’s claim that this is ‘Asia’s Major.’
The 72-hole stroke play tournament will once again be played on the renowned Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, which hosts its tenth edition of the tournament. Sentosa Golf Club is a leading light in driving sustainability initiatives in golf around the world and was recently named ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ at the annual World Golf Awards.
For more information on the HSBC Women’s World Championship and all the latest news, please visit the tournament website at https://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens
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