Olympic champion Korda, local ace Kelly to spice up Maybank Championship
LUMPUR: The 2023 Maybank Championship is quickly gaining a foothold in the world of golf by attracting some of the top players in the women’s LPGA, including five major champions and Olympic gold medal winner, Nelly Korda from the United States.
The organisers announced that Korda, Celine Boutier, Brooke Henderson, former world number one Jin Young Ko and Min Jee Lee are set to join a growing star-studded cast that already includes two of the four major champions of this year – Ruoning Yin and Allisen Corpuz.
The lucrative tournament with a total prize purse of US$3 million (about RM14.05 million), is for Oct 26-29 at the West Course of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC).
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics champion Korda, 25, whose exceptional game has been highlighted by eight Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour titles including the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship, is definitely a big attraction among the fans.
“Making her second visit to KLGCC as a professional, the world number three is seeking her first victory of the season, but the US-golfer does have seven top 10s to show for some good form,” Maybank championship said in a statement.
Boutier, who cemented her name as the first Frenchwoman to win her country’s lone major championship, will be eyeing to add another win to her 2023 achievements after having clinched back-to-back victories (Evian Championship & Scottish Open) last month, with the former being her first major championship.
South Korean sensation Young Ko boasts two notable wins so far this season (the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Cognizant Founders Cup), has 15 LPGA Tour titles to her credit and six top 10s alone this year to underscore her pedigree when she arrives in Kuala Lumpur.
Adding to the glamour roster is the 13-time LPGA Tour champion Henderson and Australian Min jee, a two-time major winner – 2021 Evian Championships and 2022 US Women’s Open.
Alongside the global stars, a talented group of ASEAN players will be vying for major career breakthrough, including Singapore’s Amanda Tan, Dottie Ardina of the Philippines and Indonesia’s Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri.
The local challenge would be led by Maybank’s ASEAN Ambassador and Malaysia’s own Olympian Kelly Tan. — Bernama