Inbee Park gets ready to make her season debut in the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2017
Bangkok, Thailand, 17 February 2017 - Inbee Park gets ready to the make her season debut in the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2017, after not playing in the 2016 season for 6 months to recover from her thumb injury and 2 months to prepare for her return, while Brooke M. Henderson is excited to visit Thailand for her first time and ready to perform her best.
“Honda LPGA THAILAND 2017” is a world-class female professional golf tournament held by the Bangkok Broadcasting & TV Co., Ltd. (BBTV Channel 7) and Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. at Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course, Chonburi, Thailand, on 23-26 February 2017. The total prize money is 1.6 million USD (approximately 57 million Thai Baht), with other interesting prizes such as a new Honda Civic TURBO RS worth 1,199,000 THB for the first player to score a Hole-In-One at Hole-16 during tournament day.
The field of 70 players will compete in a stroke-play format with no cut-off, consisting of 58 female players from the 2017 LPGA Official Priority List and the 2 title winners form the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic 2017 and ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open 2017, together with 10 sponsor invitation spots. Seven Thai female players will be taking part in the event: Ariya Jutanugarn, Pornanong Phatlum, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, Porani Chutichai, and Thailand’s rising youth golfers,Pajaree Anannarukarn and Atthaya Thitikul.
Inbee Park, the 28-year-old South Korean and 2013 Champion will return to the event again to make her first tournament appearance of the 2017 season. Inbee recently said that “Thailand is my first tournament of the year as I haven't played in a tournament format for about 6 months. There is little more pressure. But I really enjoy playing in Thailand and this tournament has great memories for me and is the perfect tournament to start my season as well. There is a little pressure but I am really excited to start my season in Thailand.”
The Olympic champion has been battling a thumb injury which limited her participation in LPGA events in 2016. She has not played since June, and even battled through pain to win a gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic in August. Then she decided to stop to recover from the injury and spent 2 months in Texas practicing and preparing herself to return.
“I prepared for about 2 months and I am now healthy, so preparation was successful. I didn't want to make my expectations too high for the first event back. I just want to test a lot of things to see what I need to do for the rest of the season. If good result follows, that's even better. Obviously, winning in 2013 was memorable, and it ended up as the greatest season in my whole career. So, I am really happy to open up the new season in Thailand. I would like to add a major trophy and obviously want to finish the season healthy. That would be my two main goals for the season.”, said the seven-time major champion and former world No. 1, whom recently told us that Thai food is her favorite, especially Padtai and soup.
Brooke M. Henderson, the 19-year-old Canadian, will perform in her first tournament in Thailand, and recently told us: “I’m very excited to visit Thailand for the first time. I’ve been fortunate to travel across Asia a bit over the past few years, but I’m excited that I’ll be playing in the event. I hope to get some time to experience the country and play well in front of these fans. I am quite close with both Ariya and Moriya, so I’ve heard lots of good things about the Honda LPGA Thailand. I know that they will be busy hosts during the week, but hopefully they can give us some great recommendations for food and fun in the area! Another one of my good friends, Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, has also been giving me lots of good knowledge about Thailand!”
The three-time LPGA champion, and one-time major titlist, discussed the development of golf in Thailand and is glad to see more Thai players having success on the LPGA.
Brooke M. Henderson
“My goal for this year is to continue to play consistent golf and contend to win championships – I would love to get back in the winner’s circle, but my main goal is to try and get better every day, improve my world ranking, and enjoy my travels throughout the year. I haven’t seen the golf course in Thailand yet, but I’ve heard great things and am excited to try and put on a show for all of the fans to see,” said Henderson.
Golf fans can purchase admission tickets at Thai Ticket Major (Thursday, 23 February and Friday, 24 February: 300 THB/day; Saturday, 25 February: 400 THB; Sunday, 26 February: 500 THB; Four-Day Package: 800 THB. Free entry for children below 18 years old and senior citizens over 60 years old). The gate opening time is at 08.30 hrs. on 23 – 24 February and at 08.00 hrs. on 25 – 26 February. News of the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2017 can be founded at www.lpgathailand.com and fanpage: Honda LPGA THAILAND.
Honda LPGA THAILAND 2017 is well supported and sponsored by Honda Automobile (Thailand) Company Limited, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Betagro Public Company Limited, Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited, AIS, SIAM GS SALES Company Limited, SIAM DAIKIN SALES Company Limited, Rolex, Siam Country Club Company Limited, Dusit Thani Pattaya, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, HP Inc (Thailand) Limited, First Inter Business Limited, Thainamthip Commercial Company Limited, LG Electronics Thailand Company Limited, CNX Golf Company Limited and Volvik Thailand.
