Five players - Sandra Gal, Porani Chutichai, Brooke Henderson, Alison Lee, and Su Oh - took part in a photo call on Tuesday at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
“It was really fun,” said Henderson. “Especially when it’s something so meaningful like this I think it’s really neat to be a part of.”
The players got made up and donned traditional Thai outfits for the photo call.
“I’m used to wearing sweatpants so it was definitely different from the everyday attire but it was a really cool experience,” said Lee.
Play at the 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand will begin on Thursday at 9:49 a.m. local time.
Inbee Park Is Back
Inbee Park returns to action this week at the Honda LPGA Thailand for the first time since capturing Gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“It’s really exciting,” Park said. “Since I’ve taken quite a long break I’m happy be back. Happy to be healthy and back on the golf course. Happy to be playing golf. I’m really happy to be starting the tournament in Thailand. This is one of my favorite tournaments to play so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Park, who won this event in 2013, has missed the past six months while recovering from a left thumb injury.
“I feel really good,” Park said of her current health. “I haven’t felt much pain at all for the last couple of months. I think that’s a pretty safe sign. I haven’t played a tournament yet but I’m pretty confident that I can go through pretty healthy this year. I took a lot of time off. I didn’t touch a club after the Olympics for maybe four months. I started practicing in December and until now I have slowly gotten my practice time to a little bit longer and longer and now I’m back to pretty much regular routine.”
The 17-time LPGA winner and 7-time major champion will be looking to test herself against a strong field which features 14 of the top-15 players in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“Obviously, with the injury my swing has changed a little bit so I’m trying to get that back to what I usually swung,” Park admitted. “I think I’m back to what I want to do. The most important thing is that I can’t be scared on my injury. If I still have that feeling inside me, my swing is going to change and I’m trying to get that fear off me and that has been working pretty well.”
While there has been time off the goals remain lofty as ever for Park.
“I’d like to add major championships trophies. That’s all that I’m really worried about right now and then the rest of the things is just being healthy for the whole season and playing a normal routine and schedule.”
Yani Tseng's Thailand Tradition
Yani Tseng has a unique tradition every time that she tees it up in Thailand, she stops by a temple in Bangkok to pray.
“I played the Queen Sirikit Cup when I was 16 or 17 and Chinese Taipei hadn’t won for a long time so we all went there to pray and wish we could win the tournament and individual and we won both so wish came true,” Tseng explained. “So we went back on Sunday after the tournament to say thanks for this and after that I’ve been praying new wishes every year and go back to say thank you. When I come to Thailand I always go on Monday and it’s a tradition that I do.”
Tseng is the only player to have won the Honda LPGA Thailand more than once going back-to-back in 2011 and 2012.
“It’s good to be back in this country,” Tseng said. “I’ve been coming here almost every year since I was an amateur at 15 or 16. I love this golf course. I want to thank Honda for giving me this sponsor invite to come here to play. I’m just going to have fun and try to make as many birdies as i can.”
Honda LPGA Thailand Donates 20 Bikes To Local School
As part of the Honda LPGA Thailand’s charitable initiatives, the tournament gave a gift of 20 bikes, and all of the expenditures that go along with them, to Baan Mab Prachan school.
Ariya Jutanugarn, Inbee Park, Georgia Hall, Atthaya Thitkul, Pajaree Anannarukarn along with representatives from Honda were on hand at the school to present the bikes which will be used by school children throughout the year.
Quote of the Day
“This golf course is a great setup to test your game before the season starts. I’ve had great results here in Thailand. This course really fits my eye. I really like to start the tournament with confidence obviously and this tournament is a small field tournament and is a great event to test your game so i love to be here.”
- Inbee Park on the Honda LPGA Thailand
Below are Park’s results at this event
2016 - T30
2015 - T7
2014 - 2
2013 - 1
2012 - T41
2011 - T43
2010 - T47
2009 - T 46
2007 - T22
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