Shanshan Feng will have another chance to win in her home country of China this week, as the LPGA Tour heads to Hainan Island for the $2 million Blue Bay LPGA event.
The LPGA’s second Chinese event in four weeks, the Blue Bay LPGA will be held at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, a new test for Tour players in the inaugural event. This week’s event is the fourth of seven consecutive weeks outside the United States for the LPGA, with the first six weeks all coming in Asia.
KLPGA player Kyu Jung Baek won the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship on Sunday in her native Republic of Korea after birdieing the first playoff hole in a three-way playoff against fellow KLPGA player In Gee Chun and American Brittany Lincicome. Feng won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia the week before and will be a big draw this week.
Three of this year’s major champions – Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie and Mo Martin – are also in the talent-laden field, as well as two-time 2014 champions Jessica Korda, Lydia Ko, Mirim Lee and Anna Nordqvist. Other tournament winners from this year who are teeing it up this week are Austin Ernst, Mi Jung Hur and Lizette Salas, as well as newly anointed Hall of Famer, Dame Laura Davies.
In addition, 19 players in this week’s 81-player field are either sponsor invites or Chinese LPGA members who would love to pick up an official LPGA victory.
Part of the Hainan province, which is not restricted like the rest of the country when it comes to the construction of new golf courses, Hainan Island offers a scenic paradise for Tour players. The tournament was announced in late march as an event to be conducted by the China Golf Association, the LPGA and IMG Golf and follows the 2013 Reignwood LPGA Classic as a joint venture among the trio of partners.
The Blue Bay LPGA is another chance for Tour players to earn crucial points toward year-end honors, and Ko will be looking to make a move in the Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings, especially with the absence of world No. 1 Stacy Lewis and second-ranked Inbee Park. A win by Ko this week could make the battle at the top of the LPGA standings in the home stretch even more interesting and compelling.
After this week, it’s on to Taiwan, Japan and Mexico before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla., Nov. 20-23. Only five events on the LPGA’s 2014 schedule remain, so it’s time to make a move or wait until next year.