[Golf Topic] Newly Established KLPGA Singapore Open "Total Prize Money Surpasses 27 Billion Won"

The Hana Financial Group Singapore Open, newly established in the KLPGA Tour 2020 season, will be held with a record-breaking total prize money of 270 million won.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…"Total prize money for the regular tour surpasses 27 billion KRW."

This is the scale of the 2020 season of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. On the 28th, it was announced that "the 'Hana Financial Group Singapore Ladies Open,' hosted by Hana Financial Group and co-organized by KLPGA and the Singapore Golf Association (SGA), has been established," and "the total prize money for the new tournament is 1 billion KRW." From November 6th, 96 players will compete over three days in a 54-hole stroke play format to determine the winner. The venue is the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Golf Club in Singapore.

The KLPGA Tour has expanded its territory to Singapore following China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. It is determined to solidify its position as an "Asian golf hub." This year, there will be a total of 31 events with total prize money of 27 billion KRW. The season opener was the Hyosung Championship held last December, and the final event will be the ADT Caps Championship in November. The first tournament of the year is the Taiwan Ladies Open in March. The domestic season opens in April with the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open, followed by the first major, the KLPGA Championship, in the same month.

The five majors include the Korean Women's Open in June, the Hanwha Classic in August, and the Hite Jinro Championship and KB Financial Star Championship in October. The Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open, Kyochon Honey Ladies Open, Doosan Match Play Championship, and S-OIL Championship (each with 100 million KRW prize money), as well as the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open (200 million KRW), have all increased their total prize money. There are seven premium matches with prize money exceeding 1 billion KRW, with the highest prize being 1.5 billion KRW at the Hana Financial Group Championship. Other tournaments are also considering increasing their prize money, making this season expected to be a record-breaking one.