Photo Caption: Mr. Pitak Pruittisarikorn (3^rd from left), Chairman of the Board, Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Ms. Manawara Phechpalakon (2^nd from left), Marketing General Manager and Corporate Affairs General Manager, Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd.  Winnie Heng (2^nd from right), Senior Vice President and Managing Director at IMG in Thailand together with Atthaya Thitikul (left), the reigning Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and the youngest female Thai player to reach world number one and Arpichaya Yubol (right) Invited Player of Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 recently announced the readiness to host the Honda LPGA Thailand 2023, the tournament is set to take place from 23^rd-26^th February 2023 at the Siam Country Club Old Course, Chonburi province. Up for grabs this year is a prize purse of $1.7 million (approx. 62 million baht) with the Honda Accord e:HEV TECH variant worth 1,799,000THB.

 

Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, MinJee Lee and Atthaya Thitikul amongst the field of 72 set to compete for the prestigious title at Siam Country Club Old Course, Chonburi province, from February 23rd-26th, 2023

 

The Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 tournament is set to be bigger when the 16^th edition Southeast Asia’s longest running event is played at the prestigious Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya, Chonburi Province from February 23^rd-26^th, 2023. The leading female golfers led by Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee and Atthaya Thitikul, be part of a field expanded to 72 players, will play for an increased prize purse of $1.7 million USD (about 62 million Thai Baht*), and have a shot at winning the Honda Accord e:HEV TECH variant worth 1,799,000THB, for the first Hole-in-One on the 16th hole. An exciting return to full scale, the tournament is eagerly anticipating welcoming back fans to witness the action live on ground. 

 

Mr. Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Chairman of the Board of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said “We are ready to welcome back players and fans from around the world in full force. The field has been increased to 72 players and will include defending champion Nanna Koerstz Madsen, world no.1 Lydia Ko, star sisters Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda together with Minjee Lee, Brooke Henderson and Nasa Hataoka. There are 11 Thai players competing in front of their home fans this year - local fan favourites Atthaya Thitikul, the reigning Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and the youngest female Thai player to reach world number one, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Patty Tavatanakit, Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya Jutanugarn, Pornanong Phatlum and sponsor invites such as Wichanee Meechai, Jaravee Boonchant, Chanettee Wannasaen and Arpichaya Yubol. Also joining the field will be Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, winner of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 National Qualifiers.”

 

World number one Lydia Ko said she was looking forward to her visit to Siam Country Club Old Course. "I love playing in Thailand, and the Honda LPGA Thailand will be the first LPGA event I play in the beginning of 2023. I’ll be doing my best," said Ko, the LPGA Tour’s Rolex Player of the Year. "I would like to thank the sponsors and organisations that make this tournament possible every year."

 

Nelly Korda, who won the Pelican Women’s Championship last year, will be returning to the field for the first time since 2019. “It's exciting to be back in Asia. I am looking forward to playing my best and having this tournament be part of what I hope to be a very successful 2023 season.”

 

Nineteen-year-old Thai national, Atthaya Thitikul, who was named Rookie of the Year and be the second of Thai player who also climbed to number one in the process, said “the Honda LPGA Thailand is an important tournament on the schedule for Thai players. For me, It has been a tournament I’ve watched since nine years old. I was honoured to compete for the first time in 2017 with a sponsor’s invitation and I’m excited to enter my fifth year of competing on this field. I will strive to continue that form in February and the coming season. I will do my very best to make my fans and Thailand proud, and I hope that I too can help inspire young and upcoming golfers, just as I benefited from the Honda LPGA Thailand." 

 

Sports Authority of Thailand Director of Office of the Professional Sports Committee, Dr. Nittaya Kerdjuntuk said of the event: "Seeing up and coming athletes showcase their skills on competition grounds, we are driven to support sports at all levels as it continues to be a source of inspiration for new athletes to step up and follow their dreams. We are pleased to see the steady growth of players and fans in Thailand. We appreciate the efforts of Honda, IMG and the other sponsors and partners in promoting and elevating Thailand’s golf while promoting the country’s tourism. 

 

The tournament’s promoter, Winnie Heng, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at IMG in Thailand shared: "We look forward to welcoming both our Thai and International spectators and we are excited to be able to offer the full tournament experience once again. We have an exciting variety of activations lined up by sponsors, exclusive merchandise giveaways and interactive activities like Chip-4-Charity and Beat The Pro where they can put their golf skills to the test while raising funds. With enticing food and beverage on offer as well, there will be something for everyone on and off the course over the four days. We hope fans will bring along their family and friends to join us as we create an impressive tournament experience of world-class standards."

 

Held in partnership with Sports Authority of Thailand, the Honda LPGA Thailand hosts key programmes that are part of the "Road to Honda LPGA Thailand" initiative, which focuses on the sustainable growth and development of Thailand’s golf industry such as the Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 National Qualifiers, Young Ambassador Programme and Junior Golf Clinic. As part of the tournament’s charitable efforts, registration fees received from National Qualifiers will be used to purchase medical supplies for the local Ban Tan Man Health Center in Chonburi province while generous donations from the Charity Night auction will continue to support the Siriraj Foundation. 

 

Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 tickets are currently available at https://hondalpgathailand.com/. Bangkok Bank cardholders can enjoy an additional 10% discount on all ticket purchases online and on-site. Additionally, fans aged 16 and below or 60 and above are welcome to attend the tournament free of charge.

 

Thai golf fans will also be able to watch the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament live on Official Broadcast Host PPTV HD 36 and their digital platforms; www.pptvhd36.com, Facebook, YouTube or the PPTVHD 36 application across the four tournament days. 

For tickets and latest updates on the tournament, visit www.hondalpgathailand.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lpgaThailand or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hondalpgathailand.

 

-- 2023-02-06

  

Women's LPGA golf ... very relaxing and quite Zen to watch.