Records tumbled as Angel Yin defied Akie Iwai in an epic final-day duel at the US$1.7 million Honda LPGA Thailand.
Despite firing a tournament best 11-under-par 61, Japan’s Iwai was edged out by American Yin after an extraordinary and mesmerising contest to rival any that have preceded it in the tournament’s storied 18-year history.
Five shots ahead of LPGA Tour rookie Iwai at the start of the day, Yin withstood every punch her rival threw at her en route to carding a flawless seven-under-par 65. It was her second consecutive bogey-free round, giving her a four-day aggregate of 28-under 260 and a one-stroke success from Iwai, who made a stunning last-hole eagle to ensure the tournament went right down to the wire.
Both players bettered the previous low tournament total of 262 posted by Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Lin Xiyu in 2022.
Thais Jeeno Thitikul (66), Moriya Jutanugarn (68) and defending champion Patty Tavatanakit (65) all performed brilliantly, finishing third and joint fourth respectively, but could only look on in bewilderment as the top two blitzed the Siam Country Club’s Old Course.
In what will go down in the annals as one of the great final-day duels in LPGA Tour history, the numbers were simply staggering. Between them, Yin and Iwai snared 17 birdies and an eagle with a better ball score of 15-under 57.
In front of record galleries of more than 45,000 who flocked to the Chonburi venue over the course of the four days, it was a brilliant exhibition of world-class golf from two players for whom multiple top-level triumphs surely await.
For Yin, who leaned on the experience of local caddie Sakchai Sirimaya (Tom) after her regular looper fell ill at the start of the week, it was the second win of her LPGA Tour career, adding to her victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai in 2023.
Throughout the week, Yin was in formidable form, following an opening 67 with back-to-back 64s and a 65 to sign off with. Across 72 holes she made 30 birdies and just two bogeys, and did not drop a shot over the last 47 holes.
Nonetheless, she was pushed all the way by the fearless 22-year-old Iwai, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour who is destined to become one of the next superstars in the women’s game.
Bidding to become only the sixth sponsor invite to win on the LPGA Tour in the last 20 years, Iwai quickly made inroads into Yin’s healthy overnight lead, birdies at three of the first four holes reducing the deficit to just two in the showpiece.
Yin began conservatively with four straight pars but stepped up a gear with three successive birdies of her own from the fifth. Her lead was three at the turn. But Iwai, five-under at that point, still would not lie down, rolling home further birdie putts at 10, 11 and 12 to draw level.
With tension mounting, Yin responded with a courageous birdie three at 13 to re-establish the lead. The duo continued to match each other blow-for-blow before Iwai missed the green right on 17 and lipped out with her par putt, giving Yin a two-stroke cushion going to the last.
Still the drama was not over. Both players struck majestic second shots to the treacherously positioned pin at the back of the 18th green. After seeing Yin’s eagle attempt slide two feet beyond the cup, Iwai holed a lightning-quick 22-foot downhill putt for a three.
Maintaining the commendable mental fortitude she displayed all week, Yin duly rolled home her birdie effort to avoid the prospect of a sudden-death play-off and seal a win for the ages.
She said: “I stuck to my strategy and didn’t really budge. I knew I had to do that, because there was nothing else. I didn’t need to change my strategy because that was the best strategy going in because it brought me to where I was today.”
Iwai was magnanimous in her assessment. “One time I caught up with Angel, but she played really well. She didn’t give me any room to get in. She played better than me. That’s it.”
The Honda LPGA Thailand was the first stop of the LPGA Tour’s early season Asian swing, which continues with the HSBC Women’s World Championship (Feb 27-Mar 2 / Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore) and the Blue Bay LPGA (Mar 6-9 / Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, Hainan, China).
