Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, former winners Ruoning Yin and Céline Boutier, and some of the biggest names in women’s golf are set for the Maybank Championship, which tees off at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) this week.
The tournament will feature a strong international field, including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Australia’s Hannah Green, and South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Haeran Ryu, all looking to challenge for the title at the West Course.
Yamashita returns to Malaysia after a successful season, keen to build on last year’s breakthrough victory. The Japanese golfer said she was pleased with her preparations and looked forward to defending her title.
“My feeling is really good. I’m really happy to be back here as a defending champion,” she said.
Despite the expectations that come with returning as champion, Yamashita said she felt little pressure.
“I don’t really feel much pressure, and I’ve been really looking forward to playing here as a defending champion. I hope a lot of fans come out to watch us play the tournament,” she added.
The Japanese star expects accuracy and a consistent approach game to be important on the West Course, where she plans to focus on her second shots.
“I think the consistency with my shots is really important because there are a lot of tricky holes out there. I’ll focus on hitting good second shots,” she said.
Ruoning Yin
China’s Yin, the 2024 champion, is also returning with renewed confidence after winning the FM Championship and Buick LPGA Shanghai earlier this season.
The two victories came after several close calls and have strengthened her belief in her game as she looks to challenge for another Maybank Championship title.
“I think I got super close a couple of times and couldn’t get it done. FM and Buick just boosted my confidence. My swing and every part of my game feel good, so I’m just hoping to have another good week,” she said.
Yin said improvements in her putting and mental approach had been among the most satisfying aspects of her season.
“I definitely improved a lot, especially on my putting. My putting and my mental game are getting stronger and stronger. That’s what makes me happiest,” she added.
Having learnt that no player has successfully defended the Maybank Championship title, Yin said becoming the tournament’s first repeat winner would be a significant achievement.
“I did not know that before you told me, but that would mean a lot if I’m the first repeat winner. I think that’s my goal for this week as well,” she said.
Hannah Green & Lydia Ko
Green, who finished runner-up last year after losing in a playoff, hopes to go one better this time. The Australian said she was refreshed after spending time at home and was ready for the final stretch of the season.
“Malaysia almost feels like a somewhat of a home event, as it is very close to Perth where I live in Australia, and also there are a lot of Australians that come up and watch,” she said.
Green believes her previous performances at KLGCC will give her confidence as she seeks her first Maybank Championship title.
“I tend to perform well at venues where I’ve had success before, and perhaps I haven’t had the trophy in my hands, but I’ve had good results here,” she said.
Reflecting on last year’s playoff, Green hopes to replicate the relaxed approach that helped her contend for the title.
“I do hope that I can play like I did last year. I felt like everything felt very easy going, which is always really nice to be in that flow state when you’re out on the golf course,” she added.
Ko, meanwhile, described the Maybank Championship as one of her favourite tournaments in Asia. The former world number one said she enjoyed the course and was excited to return to Malaysia for the final event on her autumn Asian schedule.
“I’m super excited to be back here. This is probably one of my favourite ones in Asia. I just really like the golf course,” she said.
Ko also praised Malaysian spectators for the support they have shown for the LPGA Tour and women’s golf, despite the challenging heat.
“I think that’s just how dedicated they are in supporting the LPGA and women’s sport in general,” she said.
She hopes the tournament will encourage more young Malaysians to take up the sport and pursue opportunities at the highest level.
“This is a great step for the growth of golf in Malaysia, and hopefully we’ll be able to inspire future generations to want to play in this event or in any other LPGA event in the future,” she added.
Celine Boutier
Boutier, the inaugural Maybank Championship winner in 2023, is also looking forward to returning to a venue that holds fond memories for her. The Frenchwoman said the tournament provided a fitting end to her Asian Swing before heading back to the United States.
“It’s so fun to come back. I have great memories from the last couple of years. This is my last tournament of the Asian Swing, so it’s very nice to be able to end here before I go back to the States,” she said.
Boutier identified course management as a key factor on the West Course, where players must carefully position their shots to avoid trouble and to create scoring opportunities.
“It’s a course that doesn’t necessarily mean you can just drive everywhere, and it’s very strategic. It’s all about placement, because there’s a lot of bunkers and run-out areas. You have to place the ball well and give yourself the most opportunities that you can,” she said.
Hye Jin Choi and Haeran Ryu
South Korea’s Choi will also be aiming to turn last year’s near miss into a victory. Having come close to claiming her maiden LPGA Tour title before losing the lead in the final round, she believes the experience has given her valuable lessons.
“I think it’s going to be really meaningful for me to win this tournament. Last year, I felt I was really close to my first win. If I have a good chance this week, I’ve gained a lot of experience, so I just want to make that happen,” she said.
Compatriot Ryu, meanwhile, hopes to carry her positive form into the tournament after a season that has yielded encouraging results, particularly in the major championships.
“This year has been such a great year for me because I have a lot of great memories from the major championships, and everything has been much better than last year,” she said.
With former champions, recent winners and established stars in the field, the Maybank Championship promises an exciting week of LPGA Tour action at KLGCC.
