American golfer Nelly Korda will be the top draw for the Maybank Championship at the West Course of the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) from Oct 26-29.
The world No. 3, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, has yet to win on the LPGA Tour this year, but does have seven top 10s to show for some good form.
Korda has eight LPGA Tour titles, including the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship, and will look to return to winning ways in Malaysia.
Joining Korda in the field is Evian Championship winner Céline Boutier of France, Brooke Henderson, Ko Jin Young, and Lee Min Jee.
They will join a growing, star-studded line-up that includes major champions Ruoning Yin (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and Allisen Corpuz (US Women’s Open).
Ruoning Yin, this week, became the world No. 1 female golfer, only the second Chinese player to reach the top spot. Feng Shanshan did it in 2017.
Alongside these global stars are a talented group of Asean players – Singapore’s Amanda Tan, Dottie Ardina of the Philippines, and Indonesia’s Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri.
The 24-year-old Tan is the first Singaporean to secure an Epson Tour card.
Ardina, who triumphed in an Epson Tour event last year, also clinched the Ballarat Icons Pro-Am in 2020.
Indonesian Ida Ayu is another strong contender, and was Indonesia’s top-ranked player from May 2018 to April 2020. Hailing from Bali, she has consistently performed well on the Thai Tour, making all the cuts so far this season, which should hold her in good stead on her visit to Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia’s Kelly Tan, Asean ambassador for Maybank, will lead the local charge as the LPGA Tour returns to Malaysia after a lapse of six years.
Tan, hoping to qualify for her third consecutive Olympics, is currently ranked No. 100 in the most recent world rankings.
Image: Maybank Championship
