Golf: Park Inbee to defend HSBC Women's World Championship title in March

South Korean golfer Park Inbee has confirmed she will return to defend her HSBC Women's World Championship title next year. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The HSBC Women's World Championship may still be nearly four months away but former world No. 1 and Olympic gold medallist Park Inbee has already confirmed she will return to defend her title next March at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Ticket sales were launched on Monday (Dec 11), with tournament sponsor HSBC taking the opportunity to announce Park's participation as well.

The world No. 12 had a sensational final round this year. She began the final day three shots off the lead but fired nine birdies to storm to a one-stroke victory over Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn.

The 11th edition of the tournament, which will take place from March 1-4 on the refurbished Tanjong Course, has also undergone a name change. It was previously known as the HSBC Women's Champions.

The Tanjong Course will also host the inaugural Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific golf championship in February, with the winner earning an invite to the HSBC Championship.

"This event is a very special one to all of us on the LPGA. I love the name change and it definitely reflects the stature the tournament has achieved over the years," said Park, 29, a seven-time Major winner.

" I also look forward to seeing which exciting new young talent makes it through (the Amateur Asia-Pacific championship) and to meeting her in March."

Added Tricia Weener, HSBC's global head of marketing, commercial banking and sponsorship: "We are immensely proud of the tournament's history but as a leading sponsor of the game, we must continue to evolve and innovate to attract new fans and move golf into a new era. We believe the name change reflects the event's hard-earned reputation of 'Asia's Major' and the global nature of the event."

Single-day tickets cost $22 and $33 respectively for the tournament's two halves. A season pass costs $88.

For more information on the HSBC Women's World Championship 2018, visit the tournament website at https://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens.

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