World’s Best Come Together in Korea
20 of the top 25 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are in the field this week at the LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship, including World No.1 Inbee Park and nipping at her heels for the top spot, World No.2 Lydia Ko. The highest ranked player not in the field is World No.3 Stacy Lewis. The two top ranked players in the world may be trading spots at the top this week with Ko closing in on the No.1 ranking thanks to her great play as of late.
Home Sweet Home
30 of the 77 players in the field will enjoy a home game in teeing it up in their home country of Korea. There are also 12 members of the KLPGA in the field. The highest ranked players from Korea in the field this week include World No.1 Inbee Park, No.4 So Yeon Ryu, No.7 Hyo Joo Kim, No.8 In Gee Chun, No.9 Amy Yang and No.10 Sei Young Kim.
Looking For A Repeat
Six of the former champions of the LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship are in the field this week to give it another shot at a repeat win. Suzann Pettersen has already captured this event twice, having won in 2012 and 2007. Other former champions making an appearance this week include defending champ Q Baek, Na Yeon Choi, Candie Kung, Yani Tseng and Amy Yang. This championship has some illustrious winners in its history, including Grace Park in 2004 and Se Ri Pak in 2002.
All They Do Is Win
24 of the 25 winners on the LPGA Tour this season are in the field in Korea, including the most recent champion in Jessica Korda, winner of last week’s Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. The only winner this season not teeing it up this week is Cambia Portland Classic champion Brooke Henderson.
Giving It Another Go
Nine of the top 10 players on the leaderboard at last year’s LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship return for another shot at the title this year, including both players to have lost in last year’s playoff to Q Baek, In Gee Chun and Brittany Lincicome, who both won major championships this season. Also in the field again this year are Michelle Wie who finished T-5 last season with Catriona Matthew, Gerina Piller who was T-8 in 2014 and Sandra Gal who finished T-12 last year. Beatriz Recari is the only player from the top 10 not in the field this week.
Notable Invite
Victorious Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster received a sponsor’s invite to compete in this week’s event. It is her first start since leading Team U.S.A. to victory in Germany in the biggest comeback in Solheim Cup history. Inkster has teed it up in Korea three times since 2009, never finishing outside a tie for 13th.
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