Saso seeks redemption as Honda LPGA Thailand unfolds

MANILA, Philippines – Sixty seven of the world’s best players, including eight of the Top 15, set out for what promises to be an explosive start to the Honda LPGA Thailand Thursday with a slew of key matches on tap at the Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old course in Chonburi.

World No. 4 Minjee Lee of the Australia, the top ranked player in the select field in the absence of world No. 1 Jin Young Ko, No. 2 Nelly Korda of the US and No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, slugs it out with defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn and Canadian world No. 11 Brooke Henderson in the featured 10 a.m. group on No. 1, each raring to get going in the 72-hole championship capping the two-leg Southeast Asian swing of the LPGA.

Ko won last week’s Women’s World Championship in Singapore in stirring come-from-behind fashion to nail her sixth victory in the last 10 LPGA events but the Korean ace has opted to skip this week’s event to prepare for the Tour’s resumption in the US in a couple of weeks time.

But with a host of talented players in the roster, Sunday’s finish could match last week’s battle in terms of thrill and unpredictability with local aces Patty Tavatanaki and Atthaya Thitikul drawing Korean Amy Yang in the 9:48 a.m. flight and world No. 5 Danielle Kang facing off with No. 8 Yuka Saso and another hometown favorite Moriya Jutanugarn at 9:36 a.m.

Saso, for one, is out to redeem herself from a big letdown last week where the reigning US Women’s Open champion struggled to finish tied at 43rd, expecting to have made the necessary adjustments the last couple of days while vowing to dish out a strong start to get into the mix early.

World No. 12 Hyo Joo Kim is also ready to atone for her tied 26th effort last week, kicking off her drive at 8:24 a.m. with Mel Reid of England and American Kaitlyn Papp, while French Celine Boutier is paired with Dane Emily Pedersen and Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa.

Korean In Gee Chun, who tied for second with Lee in Singapore, also braces for a challenging start with Japanese Nasa Hataoka and Thai Wichanee Meechai in the 9 a.m. group while former British Women’s Open champion Hinako Shibuno of Japan and Korean So Yeon Ryu mix it up with Hannah Green of Australia at 9:12 a.m.

Jeongeun Lee6, who cracked with a late double bogey in the Women’s World Championship, is also out to redeem herself this week, drawing Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Thai Pajaree Anannarukarn in the 9:24 a.m. flight.

The $1.6 million championship also serves as part of the field’s preparations for the season’s first major, the Chevron Championship, on March 31-April 3 at Mission Hills’ Dinah Shore course in California with the touring ladies capping their buildup in the JTBC Classic on March 24-27, at the Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, also in California, with a full-packed field of 144, including Filipina Bianca Pagdanganan.