Following a week that included a pair of season-low rounds, a young star’s continued ascension and a top-notch tournament is a tough task, but this week’s event can certainly do that successfully.
Twenty-year-old Lexi Thompson picked up a big victory at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, Republic of Korea, on Sunday, and there were two 10-under 62s recorded at the $2 million event, so this week’s Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship comes at a time when the Tour is riding a strong wave of momentum. World No. 1 Inbee Park won’t be back to defend her 2014 title, but perhaps two-time winner Suzann Pettersen (2012-13) or 2011 champion Yani Tseng will once again make their way to the winner’s circle on Sunday.
This week’s $2 million event takes place at Mirimar Golf Country Club in Taipei, and second-ranked Lydia Ko and world No. 3 Stacy Lewis will be out hunting birdies on the scenic course. In addition, two-time 2015 winners Na Yeon Choi and Sei Young Kim will join fellow tournament winners Minjee Lee, Jessica Korda, Chella Choi, Anna Nordqvist, Brittany Lincicome, Hyo Joo Kim and Amy Yang in the stacked field.
With Park’s absence, Ko has a chance to supplant her as the world’s top-ranked female professional golfer with a strong showing this week. Ko has won two of the LPGA’s last five events and has four tournament titles on her 2015 resume.
The international field also includes more than a dozen Taiwan LPGA members and four sponsor invites, two of whom are amateurs. LPGA tournament champions Ai Miyazato and Christina Kim make up the other two sponsor invitations and add some depth to the field.
The Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship is one of only five Tour events remaining on this season’s schedule, so money and points are at a premium. The LPGA moves on to China and Japan the next two weeks before shifting to Mexico and Florida for the final two events of the year.
Whose sense of urgency will propel them to new heights? Will a new champion emerge, or will another player add to their already impressive season accomplishments?
Golf Channel will broadcast it all as it unfolds from 12-4 a.m. ET Thursday through Sunday, and any night owl staying up to watch the drama will be treated to some great golf, no matter what the hour.
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