The year 2019 feels like a lifetime ago for defending Honda LPGA Thailand winner Amy Yang. Though she doesn’t remember much from her spectacular performance two years ago, Yang revels in being able to call herself now a three-time champion this event. “I love to come to Thailand and play this event. This is one of my favorite,” said Yang. “I like the golf course, the area, love the fans here. It's no fans this year, but it's great to be back.”
Pushing through final round lightning and weather delays, Yang emerged victorious after a final-round 65, holding off Minjee Lee by one stroke and finishing -22 overall. It became the 14th occurrence of a player winning at least three times on the same course in the Tour’s history, last achieved by Lydia Ko in 2018 with her third win at Lake Merced Golf Club (2014 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, 2015 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic presented by CTBC and the 2018 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship). Though the record for most wins of the same tournament on Tour is five, Yang said she’d be honored to get closer to that number this week in Chonburi.
“I been very fortunate to like win three times here. I would love to win another one, but I'll just focus on right now. I just need to -- I just -- I'm just going to focus what I need to do next four days,” said Yang. "That will be it.”
Part of the strategy for this year’s tournament? Stay hydrated, and enjoy the mango sticky rice. “I had like three times already. It's so good,” laughed Yang. But, in all seriousness, the four-time Tour winner feels that being mentally prepared for the heat and conditions predicted to come is just as important to getting through this week with another top finish.
“Golf, it's four days of golf, it's a lot of golf. You're competing against so many good players from around the world and the weather as well, so got to be like tough mentally,” said Yang. “Be strong, be patient, yeah, and I would say just focus on your game.”
Yang tees off No. 1 on Thursday alongside major champions Ariya Jutanugarn and Lydia Ko at 10 a.m.
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