LPGA MOVES TO SINGAPORE FOR WEEK FOUR OF THE 2018 SEASON

The LPGA’s Spring Asia Swing moves to Singapore this week, as the tour visits the Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club and the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship.

With 63 of the top players in the world here in Singapore, fans are assured of an exciting week of world-class golf. Defending champion Inbee Park, who also took the title in 2015, returns to the LPGA Tour after a seven-month break due to a back injury and a desire to spend more time with her family. She is joined by Lexi Thompson, who rose to World No. 2 after a tie for second last week in Thailand, and last week’s winner Jessica Korda, as well as past HSBC champions Ha Na Jang (2016) and Angela Stanford (2012).

The 2017 tournament saw Park shoot a final-round 8-under 64, setting a course and tournament record, en route to a one-stroke victory over Ariya Jutanugarn. Park had only just returned after an extended absence from the Tour, which perhaps sets the stage for yet another stirring comeback this week for the former World No. 1.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEFENDING CHAMPION INBEE PARK

Park’s 2017 victory in Singapore was the 18th of her LPGA career and joined her title here in 2015
Park, a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, has received numerous awards during her career, including 2013 Rolex Player of the Year honors and the 2015 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award
After rehabbing a back injury, Park is competing in her first LPGA event since the 2017 Ricoh Women’s British Open
Park was part of the Olympic torch relay for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in her home country of the Republic of Korea, carrying the torch through Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium

FROM SUMMER TO WINTER – PARK ENJOYS WHIRLWIND OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE

Three weeks before the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics in the Republic of Korea, LPGA star Inbee Park got word that she had received one of the biggest honors in sports. She had been selected as one of the final participants of the Olympic Torch Relay, carrying the flame into Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, in front of thousands of her countrypeople.

“We had to keep this confidential. I knew this was something that I really wanted to tell everyone, watch me on TV, but I couldn’t do that,” said Park, who said the rehearsal took place at midnight to cut down on the possibility of leaks. “It was a great honor to represent my country in the Olympics.”

Park captured the gold medal when golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She spoke glowingly of this new winter experience, which was also shared by legendary Korean golfer Se Ri Pak, who was one of six athletes who carried the Korean flag into the stadium.

“Obviously to professional golfers, representing the athletes in the Olympics was really big,” said Park. “I think it has to do a lot with golf being in the Olympics in 2016. I’m glad that golf is now in the Olympics because I really know how the Olympians feel and how much pressure they must be feeling. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the last two weeks on TV because it I was so excited to watch all the sports. Now I can say that I know how they feel.”

Park has now set her eyes on the warmer climate of Singapore, making her way south a few days ahead of this week’s tournament to adjust to the higher temperatures and humidity. She competed in a handful of Korean LPGA events since she last played on the LPGA Tour in August at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, and while she is comfortable with the state of her game, the savvy veteran knows not to think too far ahead.

“Because this is the first tournament of the year, it’s hard to kind of judge where my game is,” said Park. “I’ll play four rounds and kind of see why where my game is at and if the results come, that’s great. But I’m trying to just see and kind of test my game in this tournament and have some good results. I have been getting some good results in Singapore.”

SINGAPORE IS LAP FOUR IN RACE TO THE CME GLOBE

This week’s HSBC Women’s World Championship marks the fourth lap of the 2018 Race to the CME Globe. With a win apiece, Brittany Lincicome and Jin Young Ko sit tied the standings with 590 points each, followed by Honda LPGA Thailand winner Jessica Korda (500), World No. 2 Lexi Thompson (400) and Moriya Jutanugarn (392).

Throughout the season’s 33 official events, LPGA Members will battle for position, with the top 12 players after the Blue Bay LPGA heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship with the opportunity to take home a $1 million bonus, the biggest prize in women’s golf.

All tournaments have the same point values except for the five major championships, which carry 25 percent more value. For all events with a cut, points are awarded to members who make the cut, while for events without a cut, points are awarded to members who finish in the top 40 and ties.

Points will be reset for the CME Group Tour Championship following the Blue Bay LPGA, with the top 72 LPGA Members, as well as any non-Member winners and alternates, seeded into the championship field. For the top five players, it’s easy – win the CME Group Tour Championship and take home $1 million. However, the top 12 in the points race all have a mathematical chance to take the title of Race to the CME Globe Champion and win the coveted check.

In 2017, Lexi Thompson became the first American winner of the Race to the CME Globe and the accompanying $1 million prize. She joined Lydia Ko (2014, 2015) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2016) as the only players to hoist the crystal trophy.

LPGA Moves to Singapore for Week Four

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