Ruoning Yin of China, Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, Hannah Green of Australia, Shannon Tan of Singapore, Lilia Vu of the United States and Charley Hull of England pose for a photo atop the SkyPark Infinity pool. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Australia’s Hannah Green returns to the scene of her famous victory at Sentosa Golf Club, ready to put up a stout defence at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, which starts on Thursday.
Nearly 12 months ago, Green stunned the field with a clutch 27-foot birdie putt on the final hole, edging out France’s Celine Boutier to win by one shot. That victory on The Tanjong Course marked the beginning of a remarkable run last season, where she captured two more LPGA titles and secured three top-10 finishes.
Speaking ahead of the US$2.4 million showpiece, now in its 17th edition in Singapore, Green admits it has been a surreal return to the Lion City and is hoping to live up to the expectations of being the defending champion.
“My face is everywhere – in the hotel, on the golf course, in the city. So, it’s unusual to see. But obviously, that gives me a lot of confidence, and hopefully, I don’t put too much added pressure on myself.
“Being a defending champion is always quite difficult. So, I’m making sure that I enjoy this journey, and hopefully, I can hit the first tee shot in the fairway.
She has already issued her statement of intent by skipping the Honda LPGA Thailand last week to stay fresh for the week.
“For me, it’s my first tournament in the Asia Swing and some girls played in Thailand, and even Saudi the week before, so they might be a little bit more tired. That’s why I didn’t play last week. I just wanted to give myself the best opportunity for a title defence,” said Green.
Meanwhile, Lilia Vu is back in the pink of health, ready to put up a performance befitting of her status as the World No. 5. The American entered the week as one of the pre-tournament favourites last year. However, illness forced her to withdraw during the fourth round.
“I’m super excited to be back here in full health. I look at golf through a different lens now. I’m not too worried about the technical part of it. I’m kind of more worried about my health day-to-day and just maintaining and getting stronger.
As long as I’m healthy, I’ll be okay and be able to kind of play my best golf. This golf course is really fun to play as you cannot really be on autopilot. You have to think, and it’s full of character,” said Vu.
World No. 9 Charley Hull is also determined to contend for her third LPGA title, declaring she is always ready to win each time she steps up to the tee.
“I generally love golf more than anyone really loves golf on this tour. I wouldn’t be in the event if I didn’t think I could win it, said Hull.
After a quiet start to her 2025 LPGA season, where she finished tied for 19th at the Founders Cup, the Englishwoman is hoping to burst into life – just like her 2024 season where she played in 17 tournaments, missed only two cuts and recorded five top-10 finishes.
“Last year, I was in great positions to win. If I don’t win an event, it only motivates me to push harder,” said the 28-year-old.
Green, Vu and Hull are among the nine out of the world’s top 10 players who are part of the stellar field at the event dubbed Asia’s Major.
This year’s lineup also includes 19 major champions, 46 LPGA winners with a combined total of 174 titles, 21 Solheim Cup players with 45 appearances, six former world No.1s, and for the first time two Singaporean players.
Of the 16 editions, 14 have been won by major champions, a testament to the golfers’ claim that this is ‘Asia’s Major’. The 2024 field featured a diverse field, with players from 22 nationalities, including 20 Major champions and 8 of the world’s top 10.
The 72-hole stroke play tournament will once again be played on The Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, which hosts its 12th edition of the tournament. Celebrated for its commitment to sustainability initiatives in golf globally, Sentosa Golf Club proudly holds the titles for, ‘Asia’s Best Golf Course’, ‘Asia’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ and ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’ as awarded at the 2024 World Golf Awards.
