Click here for complete field at 2016 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship.
Strength of Field
This week in Incheon, Korea the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship welcomes the strongest field of the Asia swing so far. The third event of the six tournament stretch features 17 of the top-20 players in the Rolex Rankings. World No.1 Lydia Ko headlines the field along with No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn, who skipped last week’s Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship after finishing sixth in China at the Reignwood LPGA Classic. No.4 Brooke Henderson is once again in the field, making her 27th start of the year, and coming off three consecutive top-10’s including a share of third last week in Taiwan. Defending champion and No.5 Lexi Thompson returns to action for her title defense, making her first start since the Evian Championship in September. The Tour’s most recent champion, No.8 Ha Na Jang, is teeing it up again this week after jumping four spots in the rankings with her third victory of 2016.
Welcome Back
This week, world No.3 In Gee Chun makes her first start on Tour since capturing her second major title at the Evian Championship in September. The 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion climbed from No.7 to No.3 in the rankings with her win in France to reach her highest position in the rankings to date. But Chun hasn't got much rest since her victory, teeing it up on both the JLPGA and KLPGA over the past two weeks where she finished fourth in both starts to give her 12 worldwide top-10’s in 2016.
So Long, Se Ri
It’s been a season of goodbye's for Se Ri Pak. The Hall of Famer announced at the beginning of the season that 2016 would be her final year on the LPGA Tour. In July she made it official at the U.S. Women’s Open where she played in her final Tour event in the States. This week Pak will take her final bow at home in Korea where she became a pioneer for women’s golf and will play in her last event on Tour.
They’re Baaaaack
In Gee Chun isn’t the only player making her first start since Evian as several players took off the past few weeks following the season’s final major. Suzann Pettersen, Gerina Piller, Brittany Lincicome and Gaby Lopez will all be making their first start during the Asia swing. Lopez was spotted on social media making an appearance alongside her fellow countrywoman and idol Lorena Ochoa in promotion of her upcoming event but was also seen wearing an ankle brace. She’s posted additional photos saying her rehab is going well and will be back in action this week in Korea. The 2016 rookie is currently third in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings.
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