Similar to other Tours in the men’s professional circuit, LPGA Tour has also been making big moves. While the Tour had yet to fill some of its blank spots in the schedule, the destination was recently revealed. With the Ladies Tour becoming more enticing, which country will host the LPGA event later this year is what’s on everyone’s mind.
The growth of the Women’s Tour has been immense in recent years. Big names such as Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, and Atthaya Thitikul have taken the Tour to new heights. Nonetheless, earlier this year, LPGA released its schedule for the 2023 season. Since it has few spots left to be filled, the top golfers will head to the ‘Land of Indigenous Malay’ for the first time since 2017.
Which country is LPGA returning to?
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The Tour has several golfers with an Asian background. Though the world number one, Lydia Ko, may be from New Zealand, she was born in South Korea. However, the LPGA Tour will return just across the Korean country, to the capital of Malaysia.
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The top female golf stars will head to Kuala Lumpur for the 2023 Maybank Championship. The event will take place from October 26-29 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. It will mark the tournament’s return to ladies’ professional golf, six years after it was discontinued.
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The Malaysian event replaces the Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA, which was canceled last Thursday due to “operational factors”. The upcoming Maybank Championship will be part of the four-tournament series of the LPGA’s Asian Swing along with China’s Buick Invitational, the BMW Ladies Championship and the Toto Japan Classic held in Japan.
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The tournament will have a field of 78 players competing over 72 holes with no cut. Moreover, with $3 million in prize money, the event will be the highest money offering in the LPGA’s Asian tournaments. “The LPGA is excited to bring women’s professional golf back to Malaysia for the first time in six years”, said the Tour commissioner, Millie Marcoux Samaan.
With the ladies’ professional circuit consisting of several Asian stars, it is a great initiative for the Tour to inspire more youth from the continent. Regardless of the prize money or the competition at the Maybank Championship, the people of Malaysia will get to witness the best golfers in the world compete in their capital.
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What are your thoughts on LPGA heading to Malaysia? Let us know in the comments section below.
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