HONDA LPGA THAILAND WEDNESDAY
PRE-TOURNAMENT NOTES
Lexi Thompson enters this week as the defending champion at the Honda LPGA Thailand after running away with the 2016 title by six strokes, the largest margin of victory in the history of the event.
“It feels great to be back in Thailand, this is one of my favorite tournaments here, and the course is in amazing shape for us once again,” Thompson said. “The fans are great here. I just had an amazing Pro-Am. It was so much fun. I’m really looking forward to this week once again.”
Thompson will be part of a group which consists of the past three Honda LPGA Thailand winners teeing off at 11:28 tomorrow morning with Amy Yang and Anna Nordqvist.
Ariya Jutanugarn Excited To Play In Front of Home Crowd
Ariya Jutanugarn is excited to be competing again in front of her hometown fans at this week’s Honda LPGA Thailand.
“You know, I always really excited to come back here again, and really looking forward to the tournament,” Jutanugarn said. “It’s mean a lot playing in front of all the fans in Thailand that come and support us.”
Jutanugarn is the highest ranked of the 13 Thai players in the field at No. 2 in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“I think it’s growing up a lot,” Jutanugarn said of the growth of the tournament. “Since like I play as an amateur everything is always to me look better. We got more like kids start play golf from this tournament because they we got inspired from all the golfer here, which is great for Thailand.”
Below are Jutanugarn’s results at this event:
2016 – T48
2015 – T13
2014 – T51
2013 – 2
2012 – T12
2011 – T8
2010 – 30
2007 – T 51
2007 – T22
Lydia Ko Returns To Thailand
Lydia Ko will be back in Thailand for the first time since 2014 and just the third time in her career. Ko’s best finish is a tie for 14th in 2013.
“Yeah, it’s definitely nice to be back. I think it’s been a couple years since I was here last. The course, there hasn’t been much change to it, so it’s nice to come back and see that not a lot has changed. The heat has definitely not changed. It’s definitely nice to be back here, especially with the Thai girls playing so well. It’s a great time for golf in Thailand.”
Numbers To Know
11:06 – Inbee Park returns to LPGA action at 11:06 tomorrow
19 – Inbee Park has missed the last 19 events on the LPGA Tour
55 – So Yeon Ryu has made 55 consecutive cuts
Most Wins 2016 and 2017 (LPGA and PGA Tour)
5 – Ariya Jutanugarn
4 – Lydia Ko, Dustin Johnson, Ha Na Jang
Quote of the Day
“Of course. Even more major because I think this week is really special for me.”
– Ariya Jutanugarn on if the Honda LPGA Thailand feels like a major to her
