HSBC Women's Champions Tuesday Pre-Tournament Notes

Defending champion Ha Na Jang is excited to return to Singapore and the HSBC Women’s Champions.

“First time in Singapore, finish top-13 and last year I win, so I’m always happy to stay in Singapore. It’s really good,” Jang said.

In 2016, Jang shot a tournament-low 7-under 65 on Sunday and eagled the 72nd hole to claim her second career LPGA title at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore. Jang has since added two more wins at the 2016 Fubon Taiwan LPGA Classic and the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open earlier this season.

“Just really like more big target this year,” Jang said of her goals. “The target is win five time this year.”

Play at the 2017 HSBC Women’s Champions will begin on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Inbee Park Ready for Start Number Two of 2017

Inbee Park is coming off a T25 last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand, her first start back on the LPGA Tour since capturing Gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I love coming to Singapore,” Park said. “Obviously I have good memories from a few years ago, and obviously started the season in Thailand and I feel well enough to play again. Everything feels great. I just have to work with my short game and putting a little bit more. So I think I need to get the feel as soon as possible, and yeah, I think as the week goes on, it should get better over the week.”

Players’ Thoughts on the New Sentosa Golf Club

“I just played nine holes yesterday and today. It’s really difficult and really different than last year. Last year we play more (indiscernible) golf course, but year look like more wide and more open, no tree, and there’s so much windy. So really different.”
-Ha Na Jang

“I think it’s actually a little bit different to Serapong that we played the last few years. It’s more, I think you need to attack more than Serapong. I think there’s going to be more birdies and better scores here on this golf course, and obviously this golf course is fairly new. But considering that, I think the course is in good condition. Greens are a little bit slower than what we are used to, but I think it may get faster as the week goes on.”
-Inbee Park

“The golf course is great. The greens are a little firm. Just new greens, but they are rolling very true. The fairways are so tight, the tee boxes are, which I love them, but I can’t take my big divots, though. The course is in amazing shape for us and it’s a great layout. It will definitely be a test.”
-Lexi Thompson

Thompson Off to a Hot Start

Lexi Thompson has top-10 finishes in each of her first two starts on the LPGA this season. Thompson will look to build upon that stellar play as she competes at the HSBC Women’s Champions this week.

“I would say I’ve worked extremely hard in the off-season on my short game, especially my putting,” Thompson said. “I definitely something that’s come to help me in my last two events. I struggled a bit last week off the tee with my irons but I scrambled my way to a good score every day. But I made a lot of good putts, so definitely saved me out there.”

Below is where Thompson ranks in short game categories compared to how she finished 2016.

What You Need to Know About the HSBC Women's Champions

• 10 – This is the 10th year of the HSBC Women’s Champions
• 9 – 9 players have competed in every HSBC Women’s Champions (Brittany Lang, Eun Hi Ji, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Na Yeon Choi, Inbee Park, Angela Stanford and Karrie Webb)
• 0 – No player has ever won multiple HSBC Women’s Champions
• 2 – South Koreans have won the last two HSBC Women’s Champions: Ha Na Jang (2016), Inbee Park (2015)
• 3 – Americans have won the event: Paula Creamer (2014), Stacy Lewis (2013), Angela Stanford (2012)
• 65 – Tournament-low score, most recently shot by Ha Na Jang in the final round in 2016
• $584,823 – Paula Creamer has earned the most money in HSBC Women’s Champions history at $584,823
• 25 – Karrie Webb has never finished outside of the top-25 at this event with a win and four top-10 finishes

Quote of the Day

“You know, I really think it’s really different story to mine, Tiger is, because he’s making a lot longer time off than mine, and obviously his injury was a lot more serious than me. I don’t know how he feels but I heard that he had a couple of surgeries, and obviously that is different to just taking the time off. Yeah, I think a few things different, but I think it’s always possible to come back. He’s a talented player.”
- Inbee Park on comparing her injury with Tiger Woods’ injury