LPGA: Major Champions Henderson and Kang ready to take on Asia’s young guns at HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa

Thu 27 January 2022

Living up to its reputation as one of the premiere golf events on the international circuit, the HSBC Women’s World Championship will once again feature some of the brightest talents in the game when the LPGA Tour makes its return to Singapore in a month’s time.Teeing off at Sentosa Golf Club from 3rd to 6th March, the 2022 edition of ‘Asia’s Major’ is set to feature nine of the top ten ranked players in the world, competing in a field comprising both familiar names and prodigious young talent.

Leading the North American challenge will be Canada’s Brooke Henderson and Danielle Kang of the U.S. The two major winners will see the stunning vistas of Sentosa as the perfect place to get their year off to a winning start, having both had to settle for a share of second place behind Michelle Wie in 2018.

Henderson, who posted seven top-ten finishes in 2021, including a 10th career win at the LA Open said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Singapore to play the HSBC Women’s World Championship. It’ll be three years since I last played the tournament but it’s a great course and one of the best championships we get to play on Tour. I know all the players are really pleased to see it on the schedule again this year, so a big shout-out to everyone there that’s making it happen. We really appreciate it!”

Yuka Saso and Nasa Hataoka, aged 20 and 23 respectively of Japan, will be sure to take the fight to the ‘old guard’, while Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (22) and Atthaya Thitikul (18) will give

Thai fans plenty to cheer about as they return to familiar hunting grounds.

Hataoka has five wins to her name, while Saso claimed no less than six top ten finishes last year, including a first major title at the US Women’s Open in her rookie year.

It will be Saso’s first time competing in the HSBC Women’s World Championship but she’s no stranger to the course, having made it to a four-way play-off in the 2018 Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific on the Tanjong, before eventually losing out to none other than then 15-year-old Thitikul.

Saso said: “I’m really looking forward to the trip to Singapore and playing in the HSBC Women’s World Championship for the first time. Having spent a lot of time growing up in the Philippines, it’s not quite home, but it will certainly feel closer to home. I know the course well having played it as an amateur in 2018, so hopefully I can play the conditions well and push for a good result.”

Tavatanakit is another player to have made a huge impact since joining the LPGA Tour in 2020, winning her first major title at last year’s ANA Inspiration. With the Jutanugarn sisters also returning to the Lion City, fans can expect to see at least one of the Thai players in contention come Sunday.

They will be joined by Sei Young Kim of Korea whose impressive form over the years has seen her notch up 12 victories since making her Tour debut in 2015. The World No. 5 will be looking to build on a strong year in 2021 and get back to her winning ways in Singapore.

Minjee Lee of Australia also returns to Singapore as a major winner following her success at last year’s Amundi Evian Championship. A sponsor invite to the tournament back in 2015, the World No. 6 has proven her class over the years and will be looking to go one better than her second-place finish in the Championship in 2019.

Lee Said: “The HSBC Women’s World Championship is one of the great events on Tour and one I always have happy memories of, whether that’s playing on an invite for the first time as a rookie or a couple of good results I’ve had over the years. I’ll be sorry that some of the fans from my home club won’t be able to make the trip up from Perth but it’s just great that the tournament is on this year’s schedule. I’m really looking forward to getting back out there.”

COVID SAFETY

Tournament organizer IMG continues to work closely with the relevant authorities in Singapore to stage the tournament in accordance with prevailing safe management measures. To safeguard the health and safety of all participants and attendees, this year’s HSBC Women’s World Championship will once again be a non-ticketed event.

Golf fans in Singapore will still be able catch all the action on HubSports and keep up to speed with the latest happenings at Sentosa via a ramped up social media tournament offering.

Grant Slack, EVP & Managing Director, Golf Events, IMG said: “We’re delighted to see the return of the HSBC Women’s World Championship to Singapore in March. Last year’s tournament played a pivotal role in bringing elite golf back to the region and while we share in fans’ disappointment that the 2022 edition will again be a limited attendance event, we hope the Singapore golf community will take pride in seeing the return of such a prestigious tournament to Sentosa.

“Once again the Championship has an incredibly strong field, and we are very pleased that so many of the world’s best players are once again Singapore-bound. I’d like to express our gratitude to all our partners for the support they have continued to show and a particular thanks to our title sponsor HSBC, to Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore Tourism Board, and our partners at the LPGA Tour.”

The 72-hole stroke play tournament will once again be played on the renowned Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, which hosts its ninth 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 the second consecutive year.

Partners of the 2022 HSBC Women’s World Championship already confirmed are: Singapore Tourism Board, Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore Airlines, Lexus, Rolex, Hilton Singapore Orchard, Aon, Panasonic, ECCO Golf, OSIM, Under Armour, COBRA Golf, Ice Mountain, TikTok, Titleist and 100PLUS.

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