Affordable area puts together as LPGA Trip returns in Thailand
The LPGA Trip resumes this Thursday with the 2nd event of the 2023 period– Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Nation Club in Chonburi, Thailand.An overall of 72 golf enthusiasts are headed to the Old Training Course at Siam Nation Club, with 12 Koreans signing up with the field.Reigning champ Nanna Madsen of Denmark will certainly seek to protect her title, with three-time champ Amy Yang of Korea wishing to take her 4th title, 4 years after she took the last one.Yang very first won the event in 2015 with 15-under-par, 273, and also included 2 even more titles with 22-under-par, 266, in both 2017 and also 2019. The Honda LPGA 2020 was terminated because of the Covid-19 pandemic, making the 2021 event the following in the series. She completed third because tournament.Sequentially talking, 2022 need to have been Yang’s year, however she fell short to win the title as she linked for 4th in an especially affordable area, at 23-under-par, 265. Madsen took the prize in 2015 with a rating of 26-under-par, 262. The Danish golf enthusiast’s rating in 2015 in the competitors was likewise the most effective in the last 5 years. The 2018 champ Jessica Korda of the USA taped a rating of 25-under-par, 263, while Yang took care of 22-under-par, 266 in 2019, and also 2021 champ Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand took care of 22-under-par, 266. Yang’s finest rating yet as a champion in the event is likewise 22-under-par, 266. Previous champ Ariya Jutanugarn becomes part of the Thai section at this year’s occasion, completing along with her sis Moriya Jutanugarn, globe No. 4 Atthaya Thitikul, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit and also Pornanong Phatlum, along with enroller exceptions Chanettee Wannasaen, Wichanee Meechai, Jaravee Boonchant, Arpichaya Yubol and also Natthakritta Vongtaveelap.Former champ Anna Nordqvist of Sweden is likewise in the area. Nordqvist won in 2014 with a rating of 15-under-par, 273. Together with Yang, the Oriental section consists of globe No. 5 Ko Jin-young, presently the highest-ranked Oriental on the main Rolex Globe Position after an especially rather year for Oriental golf last year.World No. 8 Chun In-gee is likewise completing in Thailand, as is No. 9 Kim Hyo-joo. Finishing the Oriental section are Choi Hye-jin, Kim Sei-young, An Na-rin, Kim A-lim Ji Eun-hee, Lee Jeong-eun6, Chella Choi and also Jenny Shin.Hall of Famer Park In-bee, that formerly won the Honda LPGA in 2013, is not participating this year due to the fact that she is expectant. She has actually not completed in any type of competitions because last August.Former globe No. 1 Ko shows up in Thailand having not won a competition because the 2022 HSBC Female’s Champions in Singapore in March in 2015. Ko has actually been recuperating from a wrist injury over the winter months, remaining the Competition of Champions last month while she concentrated on her recovery.That injury eventually required her to yield the No. 1 place that she had actually held for regarding 2 years to Lydia Ko of New Zealand.The Honda LPGA is specifically crucial to Ko Jin-young as it tees up her effort at a title protection following week when the LPGA proceeds its Oriental swing with the HSBC Female’s Globe Champion in Singapore.Meanwhile, Chun begins her 2023 period having actually remained real to develop in 2015, winning the Female’s PGA Champion and also completing 2nd at the British Open. Chun’s video game has actually constantly preferred significant competitions like the PGA Champion and also British Open– 3 of her 4 job LPGA wins originated from majors.Both Kim and also Choi completed last period on a solid note, linking for 3rd location at the BMW Ladies Championship.This is Choi’s 2nd year on the LPGA Trip. She made her launching in 2015 and also acquired a variety of leading 10 completed throughout her newbie tour.With a $1.7-million bag, the Honda LPGA has actually drawn in every one of the leading golf enthusiasts to Thailand to compete.World No. 1 Lydia Ko leads the area along with No. 2 Nelly Korda of the USA, No. 3 Minjee Lee of Australia and also Thitikul of Thailand.The Honda LPGA is practically the 2nd event on the 2023 LPGA Trip, however it is the very first occasion available to all ranking golf enthusiasts. The Trip formally began last month with the Hilton Grand Vacations Competition of Champions, however that event is just available to previous champs from the previous season.This year’s Honda LPGA embarks on Thursday and also goes through Sunday. There will certainly be a cut after the very first 2 rounds.Yang will certainly be the very first Oriental off the mark on Thursday, embarking on in the really initial team on the very first opening at 8 a.m. with Maja Stark of Sweden and also Yuka Saso of Japan. Chun In-gee will certainly embark on on the very first opening a hr later on along with Hinako Shibuno of Japan and also Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand. Ko Jin-young complies with in the following team, embarking on at 9:12 a.m. with Leona Maguire of Ireland and also Wichanee Meechai of Thailand.BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr].
