Singapore 'Big Match'... KLPGA vs LPGA vs JLPGA

KLPGA Tour 2023 Season Overseas Opening Event Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open Showdown
Park Minji·Kim Suji vs Titikun·Choi Hyejin vs Shin Ji-ae·Jeon Mijeong and Stars from Korea, US, and Japan Tours Gather

Minji Park, Atthaya Thitikul, and Jiyai Shin (from left) will compete in a battle of pride at the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘KLPGA vs LPGA vs JLPGA’

Three tours clash in Singapore. On the 9th, the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour's 2023 overseas season opener, the Hana Financial Group Singapore Ladies Open (total prize money 1.1 million Singapore dollars), kicked off at the Tanamera Country Club Tampines Course (par 72, 6,486 yards). Players from the KLPGA Tour, the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, and the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour are competing.

The KLPGA Tour is led by Park Min-ji. She swept 6 wins this year, including 2 majors. She won the most wins and prize money titles for two consecutive years. Park Min-ji plans to showcase her skills from the overseas season opener for the first time in three years due to COVID-19. "I have been busy after the season ended, so my condition is not at its best," said Park Min-ji, adding, "I am half excited and half worried, but I will try to show a good performance as much as the fans expect."

Top KLPGA Tour players such as Player of the Year Kim Su-ji, Rookie of the Year Lee Ye-won, Korean Women's Open champion Lim Hee-jung, and two-time winner Lee So-mi have all gathered. Kim Su-ji expressed confidence, saying, "I am maintaining the good shot sense and condition from last season well, and I think I can show a good performance in this tournament as well."

‘LPGA Rookie of the Year’ Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) is competing with KLPGA Tour players for the first time in a while. She is ranked 3rd in the world. Thitikul said, "I really like Singapore because everything, including the weather, is similar to my hometown Thailand," and added, "I will show a solid performance." Choi Hye-jin, who won the KLPGA Player of the Year title for three consecutive years and was the LPGA Rookie 2nd place, also participated in a domestic tournament for the first time in over a year.

Shin Ji-ae and Jeon Mi-jung represent the JLPGA. Shin Ji-ae moved directly to Singapore after finishing as runner-up at last week's ISPS Handa Australian Ladies Open. Shin Ji-ae said, "I am disappointed because I failed to adjust my condition due to the unpredictable weather at the last tournament, but I believe that if I manage my stamina well during the tournament, my performance will naturally follow."