Click here for the complete field at the 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand.
18 of Top-20 Compete in Thailand
The Honda LPGA Thailand boasts the strongest field to start 2017. 18 of the top-20 ranked players in the Rolex Rankings are in the field at the Tour’s third event of the year. World No.1 Lydia Ko makes her second start of the year in Thailand. She’ll look to bounce back after a disappointing start to the year after failing to break 70 during her season debut at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open where she finished T-46. World No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn will tee it up in front of a hometown crowd this week in Thailand. She finished in a share of third last week in Australia. World No.3 and Olympic bronze medalist Shanshan Feng makes her 2017 debut this week. Since finishing on the podium in Rio, Feng caught fire - she won back-to-back and didn't finish outside a share of eighth for the remainder of the season. World No.4 In Gee Chun also makes her first start of the season this week in Thailand.
Looking For No.8
Lexi Thompson is back to defend her title this week in Thailand. She captured her seventh career win on Tour at this event last season, the site of her only victory last year. With Thompson’s victory she became the only American to win in the 10-year history of the event and overtook Stacy Lewis as the top-ranked American in the world. She’s making her first start since the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic where she lost in a playoff to Brittany Lincicome.
Golden Girl
This week, former world No.1 Inbee Park makes her first competitive start on Tour since capturing gold at the Olympic games in Rio. Park battled a series of injuries in 2016 including both her back and left thumb, which forced her to miss much of last season. In addition to her 2013 victory, Park finished second in Thailand in 2014 and in a share of seventh in 2015. After withdrawing from the season opening event in 2016 due to back pain, Park finished T-30 in Thailand. The former world No.1 received a sponsor’s invite to compete this week.
Hello, 2017
Na Yeon Choi, M.J. Hur, Alison Lee, Mirim Lee, Lee-Anne Pace, Suzann Pettersen and So Yeon Ryu are among the players making their 2017 debut this week. Ryu is one of the most consistent players on Tour and owns the longest running active cut streak - she hasn’t missed playing the weekend on Tour since the 2014 Evian Championship. She's looking to put her work with instructor Cameron McCormick to good use and break through for her first win on Tour since 2014.