Bangkok – The Honda LPGA Thailand 2021 saw over 70 top female golf pros from around the world, competing in a closed tournament at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course, Chon Buri, from 6 – 9 May, 2021, with no spectators in line with Thailand’s COVID-19 control measures.
Organised by Honda Automobile (Thailand) together with IMG, the tournament will be broadcast live to more than 100 countries worldwide and via PPTV HD 36 Channel or www.pptvhd36.com or PPTVHD36 Application.
According to Ms. Winnie Heng, Vice President and Managing Director for Thailand at IMG, this year’s tournament is held behind closed doors with strict hygiene and safety measures to provide the utmost confidence to all female golfers and all stakeholders. The Sports Authority of Thailand has established an Organizational Quarantine (OQ) facility for all athletes participating in the competition, in accordance with the regulations of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). This year, Honda has prepared a prize purse with a total value of US$1.6 million (50 million Baht) and a Honda Accord Hybrid, HYBRID TECH variant, worth 1.799 million Baht. The car will be presented to the first player to make a hole-in-one on the 16th hole.
Honda LPGA Thailand 2021, as with every year, welcomed many of the world’s premier female golfers from the LPGA rankings. Players hitting the course include: Amy Yang, the champion of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2019; Danielle Kang, from America, the 5th ranked pro in the world; Minjee Lee, from Australia, ranked number 10 in the world; and Gaby Lopez from Mexico, the winner of the Champion of 2020 Diamond Resort Tournament.
Also competing will be Thai pro golfers: “Pro May” Ariya Jutanugarn; “Pro Mo” Moriya Jutanugarn; “Pro Junior” Jasmine Suwannapura; “Pro Wan” Pornanong Phatlum; and “Pro Meaw” Pajaree Anannarukarn.
Four winners from four major tournaments including ” Pro Meow” Patty Paphangkorn Tavatanakit, who recently achieved her dream by winning her first major LPGA Tour, the 2021 ANA Inspirational, The Champion of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, Madelene Sagstrom from Sweden will be playing, as well as Hee Young Park, from South Korea who won the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open, and Sophia Popov from Germany, the winner of the 2020 AIG Women’s Open will also be on the course.They will be joined by the winner of the Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers – “Pro Praw” – Chanettee Wannasaen, and nine exemption golfers from the tournament’s organizers will also be competing, all of whom are world-renowned golfers, and one of them, “Pro Jeen” Atthaya Thitikul, is the No.1 golfer from Thai LPGA Season 2021.
According to IMG’s Ms. Heng, “This tournament plays an important role in raising Thailand’s golf standards and promoting the overall image of the country’s sports tourism, which includes our readiness to provide well-prepared health safety plans and measures, ensuring the safety of sport and tourism activities in Thailand with SHA hygiene standards, all of which will help to build confidence among world-class golfers looking to compete in Thailand.
It will also attract businessmen and event organizers from different countries to consider Thailand as a great destination for travel and international events, especially when the country is opened up in the future. This will enable Thailand to revive its economy and result in a positive improvement in people’s quality of life,” Ms. Heng said.