22 December 2011, Singapore - LPGA legend and Hall of Famer Karrie Webb will return to defend her HSBC Women's Champions title at the Tanah Merah Country Club from 23 to 26 February 2012. The Australian golfing legend, currently ranked 18th in the official Rolex Rankings, will be returning to the club where she won last year's title with hopes of repeating her winning performance.
The 2012 edition of the tournament considered as "Asia's Major," will be once again boast an elite field of players from within the women's game. The "Champions of Champions" event has one of the most challenging qualification criteria of any golf event in the world. To be sure of their place in the US$1.4 million prize purse, a player must have won a LPGA tournament in 2011 or finish the year in the Top 20 on the Rolex Rankings.
Webb, who beat the strongest field ever gathered in Asia to win the 2011 title on the lush fairways at Tanah Merah, continued her winning form throughout the year with five top ten finishes and two victories from 20 starts. Webb has a total of 36 LPGA Tour victories, which is the most of any player currently active on the LPGA tour, and her presence at next year's tournament is highly anticipated.
Webb said of her participation, "I am really looking forward to coming back to Singapore and playing in the HSBC Women's Champions. As a professional you always want to test yourself against the best, and from past experience the tournament in Singapore attracts one of the best fields of the year outside of the Majors. I'll be training hard over Christmas to be in the best form I can for February."
An elite field of international golfers are once again expected for the fifth edition of this tournament led by 2011 Champion, Webb. Further player announcements will take place early next year and the crowds can, once again, look forward to a fantastic week of golf.
Alex Hungate, CEO of HSBC Singapore said, "We are very proud to have LPGA legend Karrie Webb as our reigning champion, and we are very much looking forward to having her back in Singapore. All of us at HSBC feel that the field of this tournament is what makes it such a stand out event on the global golf calendar and we really pride ourselves on bringing only the best to Singapore."
Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings said, "Our desire is to have only the best golfers in the world come out and put on a great show for all the spectators and golf fans around the world who want to watch the event. It is also important to us that the golfers offer both something on and off the course, whether that is supporting junior coaching clinics or showing top sportsmanship on the fairway, and in this way, they will show themselves as true champions. Our continued support of quality golf events around the world shows the belief that we have in the strength of this sport and its ability to connect with our core customers."
Robbie Henchmen, Senior Vice President and Co-Managing Director of IMG Golf said, "IMG is very much a large part of ladies golf here in Asia and we take pride in being associated with the best events. HSBC Women's Champions is definitely one of the best events in women's golf anywhere in the world. When you get a field together like this one you know the competition will always be close. We are all looking forward to another great golf tournament at this year's event."
Further details on the HSBC Women's Champions 2012 and on additional star players who have confirmed their participation in the event in Singapore will be announced in the coming weeks.
For further information on next year's tournament please visit the official site http://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens/home
Topics: Webb, Karrie, HSBC Women's Champions
