HENDERSON MAKES DEBUT IN SINGAPORE
Brooke Henderson hadn’t been in Singpore for a full day yet and she was already gushing about the city that she is visiting for the first time. Her older sister Brittany is traveling with her and will be on the bag this week.
“It’s amazing,” said Henderson. “Britt and I have been talking and we think it’s one of our favorite places we’ve been so far. Looking forward to enjoying the sights.”
Henderson has had her eyes set on making her first appearance in the Tour’s Australia/Asian swing and has been off to a good start so far in her first full season on Tour.
“Coming into this year I was really looking forward to the Asia swing and this is the first time in Singapore for my sister and I and we’re just really enjoying the experience,” said Henderson. “Basically the top 63 players in the world are here competing and hopefully I’ll have a good showing this week.”
Henderson , who is currently ranked 12th in the Rolex Rankings, is coming off three consecutive top 10s (runner-up at Coates Golf Championship, T9 at the ISPS Australian Women’s Open and T8 at the LET’s RACV Ladies Masters last week). Henderson got a first look at the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club on Tuesday and said she’s looking forward to teeing it up on Thursday.
“I think this course suits my game,” said Henderson. “You need to play smart and make smart decisions. Look forward to having fun out there and being creative.”
Asked if she could comprehend getting to live out her dream at 18 years old, the Canadian said she still has to pinch herself sometimes.
“Sometimes it’s hard to believe sometimes that this is real life but I’m just trying to enjoy it,” said Henderson. “Compared to last year my life has changed dramatically.”
FULL SCHEDULE IN SINGAPORE
HSBC has once again showed its innovative side and commitment to growing the game of golf and has a packed schedule of extra events during the HSBC Women’s Champions. The new-look promises four days of world class entertainment for music aficionados, foodies and golf fans amid the spectacular vistas of Sentosa Golf Club. International pop sensation Take That will return to Singapore for the first time in over 20 years and will perform on a stage at the back of the driving range on Saturday night.
The four-day event is set to feature a host of other local and international talents including the highly acclaimed 29-year old EDM artist Jack Novak from Chicago who will spin in the event amphitheater in the early evening.
Visitors will also be treated to a food village unlike those found in a standard sporting event. Internationally renowned chef Monica Galetti will be onsite to give a preview of her international restaurant debut Mere.
World No. 9 Shanshan Feng said she can’t wait to take in all of the festivities this week and looks forward to taking in a concert, something she doesn’t get to do as often as she’d like.
“I just got to the course today and saw the big stage still building behind the driving range and we’re hitting balls toward the stage,” said Feng. “I’m really looking forward to seeing Take That who was one of the biggest bands in the 90’s. I don’t know them that much but I think after that day I’ll be the biggest fan. I love to go to concerts and hang out with my friends. All of the players are going to have a great time this week.
No. 1 Lydia Ko recognizes HSBC’s effort in combining lifestyle aspects to a golf event.
“HSBC is doing a great job trying to grow the game and this event more and more,” said Ko. “They’re doing a great job trying to make it stand out and I think you can see that with the strength of field here…We’re on the road so much we don’t get to go to concerts all that much so this will be great.”
World No. 2 Inbee Park hopes the effort of expanding the event outside the ropes will target a new audience to turn into golf fans.
“Having all of this here will hopefully attract some more people who may not have come just to watch the golf,” said Park. “I think it’s a great way to try to get a new group of fans here.”
QUOTABLES
“At the Australian Open I was paired with Laura Davies and Karrie Webb,” said Henderson. “That was a pretty cool pairing. Both in the Hall of Fame so I was in great company. It sometimes is hard to believe I grew up watching these players and wanting to be like them and now I’m hitting shots and putts right be-side them and watching them play. It’s really a neat feeling and hopefully I’ll become one of the legendary players some day.” -Brooke Henderson on playing amongst some of her idols as a member of the LPGA
“Sorry, I’m a 90’s baby.” -Lydia Ko on not being familiar with the headlining musical act this week - Take That
GROUPS TO WATCH
Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee and In Gee Chun: 8:43 p.m. ET Wednesday
The threesome of young superstars features players who have all already won on Tour and headline a youth movement in the women’s game. Chun is the oldest in the group at the ripe age of 21 while Henderson and Lee are just 18 and 19 respectively. Henderson is making her debut in Singapore this week while Lee (T30) and Chun (T37) will try to improve on their first-year finishes.
Inbee Park, Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis: 8:46 p.m. ET Wednesday
This trio of past champions will give the fans in Singapore something to cheer about. Park and Lewis hold the tournament record at this course (15-under par) and Creamer hit maybe the shot of the decade with her 75-foot eagle putt two years ago to win in a playoff against Azahara Munoz. Lewis will try to respond to being unseated as the top-ranked American after Lexi Thompson surpassed her last week in Thailand.
Lexi Thompson, Haru Nomura and Ha Na Jang: 9:10 p.m. ET Wednesday
All three are winners in 2016 and Thompson comes in on a strong wave of momentum from her six-shot win in Thailand last week. She’s played well here in the past and has yet to finish outside the top 16. Previous finishes include: T12 in 2015, T16 in 2014 and T8 in 2013. Nomura finished T25 here a year ago and got into this year’s field on the merit of her win two weeks ago in Australia. Jang has played in all four events so far in 2016 and hasn’t recorded a finish worse than T11 and is coming off three-consecutive top-10 finishes including her first career victory at the Coates Golf Championship.
KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW
10- All 10 of the top-10 players in the Rolex Rankings will be in action this week. No. 1 Lydia Ko will return to action after taking last week off
9 – This week mark’s the ninth time the LPGA Tour will return to Singapore and has played here every year since 2008
0 – There have been no two-time winners of this event
6 – Past champions in the field this week: Ai Miyazato, Karrie Webb, Angela Stanford, Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer and Inbee Park
20 – Tournament scoring record (20-under par) held by Lorena Ochoa in the event’s inaugural year in 2008 when it was held at Tanah Merah Country Club. Inbee Park (2015) and Stacy Lewis (2013) hold the record at Sentosa Golf Club with 15-under par total
19 - Consecutive weeks Lydia Ko has now held the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings
69.25 - LPGA rookie In Gee Chun leads the Tour with a 69.25 scoring average
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