As the LPGA Tour prepares for its spring Asia swing at the start of the 2026 season, three players return to the region looking to defend titles they earned during last year's stretch through Thailand, Singapore and the People's Republic of China.

Angel Yin won the Honda LPGA Thailand in February 2025 after a tournament-record 28-under-par performance at Siam Country Club’s Old Course, beating hard-charging Japanese rookie Akie Iwai by one stroke. The California native's closing 65 saw Yin secure her second career LPGA title and marked the lowest winning score on Tour since Lydia Ko's 28-under performance at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei at Kapolei Golf Club.

Yin's victory saw her carry a five-shot lead into the final round, though the margin ultimately vanished on the back nine when Iwai posted an 11-under 61 to cap off her Honda LPGA Thailand debut. Yin answered the rookie’s late push with three consecutive birdies that began at the 13th hole to reclaim control and finish at 27-under for the week.

“It's such an honor,” said Yin after her triumph. “I'm super grateful that I was able to come and win here. Thailand, the fans are incredible, and the golf course is incredible, and I think the whole week and experience is a 10 out of 10. I'm just extremely grateful to be able to win here.:

Lydia Ko followed Yin with a four-stroke victory at the HSBC Women's World Championship one week later, finally conquering Singapore's Sentosa Golf Club in her 11th appearance in the tournament. The Olympic gold medalist and three-time major champion closed with a 69 to finish at 13-under on the Tanjong Course, holding off Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and Japan's Ayaka Furue to collect her 23rd career victory in a dominant four-stroke fashion.

"Winning this event, Asia's major, has always been a goal of mine, and to finally achieve it was an incredible moment," Ko said after the victory, which marked her first and only 2025 LPGA Tour title. "The course, the fans, and the atmosphere in Singapore make it such a special tournament, and I feel so proud to have my name on the trophy. I'm excited to come back next year and give it my all in defending the title."

Rio Takeda completed the spring Asian swing with a dominant six-shot victory at the Blue Bay LPGA in the People's Republic of China. The 21-year-old Japanese rookie fired a career-low 64 in the final round, which also tied the 18-hole tournament scoring record at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, to finish at 17-under overall and beat three-time major champion Minjee Lee.

Takeda actually had success across all three tournaments, notching three consecutive top-25 performances to launch her strong rookie campaign in 2025, one that saw her finish second in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings.

Along with her victory in China, Takeda’s T9 showing at the Honda LPGA Thailand and T21 result at the HSBC Women's World Championship proved the rookie belonged among the LPGA’s elite, a fact that was further asserted when she climbed into the top 15 of the Rolex Rankings as the season progressed.

The 2025 rookie already had eight victories on the JLPGA Tour before joining the LPGA full-time, including the co-sanctioned TOTO Japan Classic in October 2024, a tournament that Takeda won in a six-hole playoff over a now-retired Marina Alex. Coming from strong golf bloodlines – her mother Satoko Hirase was a professional golfer, and her aunt, Mayumi Hirase, won 18 times on the JLPGA – Takeda has already established herself as one of Japan's newest international stars.

Yin, Ko and Takeda might be set to face fields chock full of the LPGA Tour’s best athletes as the Asia swing begins this week, but they are looking forward to the task that awaits them as the three-event stretch that winds through Thailand, Singapore and China finally sees the LPGA’s 2026 schedule ramp up to full speed.

Early Asia Swing Returns with Defending Champions Ready

Related Articles