Click here for complete groups and tee times for the opening round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
Kelly Tan, Stacy Lewis, Anna Nordqvist
9:34 a.m. – 1st Tee - Group 21
Grouped together on day one of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia is the country’s own Kelly Tan, American Stacy Lewis and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist. Tan is one of nine “Malaysian Angels” as they’ve been dubbed by the Tournament this week, competing in front of friends and family in their home country. Tan is making her fifth start in this event but looking to crack the top-50 for the first time. Tan has just one top-20 so far in 2016 but said during this week’s pre-tournament press conference that she’s been working hard on fitness and her game and is hopeful the results will begin to show soon.
Lewis returns to the Tour this week for the first time since the Evian Championship in September. Lewis has consistently played well in Malaysia where she has three top-10 finishes including a share of second last season. Lewis has played well throughout this season with eight top-10’s, but is still looking to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2014.
Nordqvist makes her third start of the 2016 Asia Swing this week in Malaysia where she finished in a share of seventh in 2015 for her first top-10 in six starts in that event. Nordqvist is already a winner in 2016 after successfully defended her title at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in June.
Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Ariya Jutanugarn
9:45 a.m. – 1st Tee – Group 23
In an exciting grouping that includes the top-ranked players in the field, No1. Lydia Ko of New Zealand, No.5 Brooke Henderson of Canada and No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand will play together during the opening round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Ko returns to action after skipping last week’s Blue Bay LPGA and will have a local caddie on her bag after parting with her former caddie following the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. Henderson continues her active streak at what is her 26th consecutive event. She will be taking off next week’s TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC, which will be only the second event of the season she will have missed. Jutanugarn is the final member of this group and continues to play incredible golf as she’s coming off her ninth top-10 of the year after a third place finish last week at the Blue Bay LPGA. The trio leads the tour in top-10 finishes in 2016.
Jessica Korda, Ha Na Jang, Shanshan Feng
9:56 a.m. – 1st Tee – Group 25
Defending champion Jessica Korda of the U.S.A, the Republic of Korea’s Ha Na Jang and China’s Shanshan Feng are grouped together on day one in Malaysia. Korda is coming off her best finish of the year after a second place showing at the Blue Bay LPGA and will look to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since her win here last year. Jang is making her second start in this event after finishing sixth in 2015. Jang is a three-time winner this season, her most recent victory coming at the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship earlier in October. Since taking home the bronze medal at the Olympics in August, Feng hasn’t finished outside the top-four in Tour and will look to continue that streak in Malaysia where she won in 2014.
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