78 players will compete for $3 million purse in 72-hole, no-cut event

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., and KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 28, 2023 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Maybank, one of Asia’s leading banking groups and Southeast Asia’s fourth-largest bank by asset, announced today that the inaugural Maybank Championship will take place October 26-29, 2023, at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 78-player field will compete for a $3 million purse, one of the largest non-major championship purses on the 2023 LPGA Tour schedule.

Maybank, who employs 42,000 people worldwide, has an international network of about 2,600 offices in 18 countries, including all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Maybank was the first financial institution in Malaysia to champion a structured long-term development of golf across the region, celebrating the spirit of the sport for over 14 years. The multi-year partnership with the LPGA is the latest testament towards Maybank’s unwavering dedication to empowering communities throughout the ASEAN.

“The LPGA is excited to bring women’s professional golf back to Malaysia for the first time in six years thanks to Maybank’s incredible support,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “The LPGA and Maybank’s shared values around elevating and empowering women make this an important partnership for us in this region of the world. Maybank is further demonstrating their commitment to women and our athletes by providing the largest prize fund of our Asian events and a world-class environment.”

“Over the years, Maybank Championship has successfully achieved its main intent of elevating ASEAN on a global stage in sports. Now, we see that the way forward in the evolution is to champion inclusivity of the sport in the region,” said Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Maybank during the launch at KLGCC. “With the LPGA, we have found a partner that is committed to ensuring that golf courses are an equitable place for everyone, and we are proud to stand alongside this association in realising their vision to help grow the women’s game and provide equal opportunities for girls and women of all ages.”

Established in 1991, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC), owned and managed by Sime Darby Property Berhad, is located minutes from the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The club’s West Course is a serene 18-hole championship test, offering golfers the perfect combination of immaculate conditions and tranquil scenic surroundings. In 2022, the West Course was once again recognized as the best golf course in Malaysia on “Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia” list, published by www.top100golfcourses.com. KLGCC is also the only club in Malaysia included on the prestigious “2022-2023 Top 100 Platinum Golf & Country Clubs of the World” in March 2022, ranking No. 77.

On the LPGA Tour, KLGCC famously hosted the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia from 2010-2017, which included winners like LPGA Hall of Fame member Inbee Park, major champion Lexi Thompson, six-time LPGA Tour winner Jessica Korda and Shanshan Feng, who was a two-time winner of the event. Cristie Kerr earned the 20th victory of her career in the event’s final playing.

KLGCC has also hosted numerous other professional international tournaments, including the CIMB Classic, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour from 2013-2018 on the West Course, and the Maybank Malaysian Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and DP World Tour in the years 2010-2015.

"As a golfer who is proud to represent Malaysia around the world, I'm more than excited to have the LPGA Tour at Kuala Lumpur once again this October," said Kelly Tan, two-time Olympian and LPGA Player Director. "I believe having a company like Maybank involved with the LPGA is a huge opportunity to help promote and continue developing the game of golf in Malaysia, and I'm thrilled that golf fans in my home country will have the opportunity to watch the world's best women professional golfers compete up close."

LPGA Announces Return to Malaysia for Maybank Championship

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