Slugger Kim Arim "Targeting the Niche Market in Northern Ireland" ... Anannarukkan 'Title Defense'

ISPS Handa World Invitational Title Challenge, Maguire as Favorite, Korea Joined by Imhyang and Hong Yeeun

A-rim Kim targets the 'niche market' at the ISPS Handa World Invitational.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the ‘niche market strategy’ of long hitter Kim Arim (27).

On the 11th (local time), the LPGA Tour ISPS Handa World Invitational (total prize money $1.5 million) will be held at Galgorm Castle GC (par 73, 6,621 yards) and Massereene GC (par 72, 6,517 yards) in Antrim, Northern Ireland. This tournament is held simultaneously with the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) on the same courses during the same period. The men's tournament has the same name and the same total prize money. Only the course length is longer for the men's tournament.

Players alternate between the two courses during rounds 1 and 2. Rounds 3 and 4 are played at Galgorm Castle GC. There are 132 male and female players each, with the top 60 advancing after round 2 and the top 35 after round 3 to the next rounds. Most of the top LPGA Tour players do not participate. World No. 1 Ko Jin-young (27) and Jeon In-ji (28), who was runner-up at last week’s AIG Women’s Open, are all taking time to regroup.

Korea is led by Kim Arim. She is a player who won the major US Women’s Open in 2020 as a non-member and joined the LPGA Tour the following year. She has played in 18 tournaments this year and entered the top 10 twice. Her best season result was a tie for 9th at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in March. She showed signs of regaining her shot form by finishing tied for 13th at the AIG Women’s Open. Along with Kim Arim, Lee Mi-hyang (29) and rookie Hong Ye-eun (20) have also joined.

Among this year’s champions, only Leona Maguire (Ireland) has entered. She is a strong European player who won her first career victory at the Drive On Championship in February. She performed well with a tie for 4th at the AIG Women’s Open. Pajaree Anannarukarn (Thailand) is aiming for a second consecutive win. She recalls the memory of clinching the ‘winning par’ on the second hole of the playoff resumed at the 18th hole (par 5) after tying with Emma Talley (USA) last year.