America’s golf sweetheart, Lexi Thompson, turned 24 last week.
With the birthday celebration behind her, she’s off to Thailand, a place where she’s played so very well — how about for top fives in her last five appearances at the Siam Country Club?
The big names on the LPGA Tour have finally come out of hibernation and will gather this week for the Honda LPGA Thailand.
World’s No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn is the home-country favorite but her sister, Moriya, has typically outperformed her in his event. No matter which sister is near the top, the crowds will be pulling for a home-country winner some Sunday.
The one player missing this week is defending champion Jessica Korda.
Korda is suffering from a forearm injury and send her regrets for not being on hand to defend:
“Really sad to announce that I have to WD out of Honda LPGA Thailand and the HSBC Singapore. Unfortunately, my recovery from my forearm injury has taken longer than we expected. I hope to start my season in March at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Arizona.”
All is not lost for the Korda family, younger sister Nelly is in the field, fresh off her victory last week at the Australian Women’s Open. Nelly’s win boosted her into the world’s top 10 and she’s checking in at No. 9.
Heading into this event, Sung Hyun Park checks in at No. 2 behind Jutanugarn, So Yeon Ryu starts the new season at No. 3, former No. 1 Inbee Park is at No. 4 with Thompson at No. 5, stopping her slide thanks to that win to end the 2018 season at the CME Globe.
