The host course, LPGA International Busan, is owned by the LPGA and is just the second course in the world with LPGA sanctioning (the other being the organisation’s home base in Florida). A strong contingent of Korean LPGA players joins some of the best from the LPGA for the tournament in what should be a compelling week of golf.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Local favourite Ha Na Jang won the inaugural championship in 2019, defeating American Danielle Kang in a play-off.
COURSE: Once the Asiad Country Club, LPGA International Busan is a completely redeveloped 27-hole complex designed to be, in the words of Mike Whan, ‘the heart of golf in Asia’.
RIGHT: Ha Na Jang claimed this event in its first year in 2019, with the 2020 tournament cancelled due to Covid. PHOTO: Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images.
The course was originally built in 2002 to host the Asian games but the LPGA brought in ‘Open Doctor’ Rees Jones to redevelop the site as a permanent home for this event.
Interestingly, this is Jones’ first project in Korea.
After 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic, the tournament returns to LPGA International Busan for just the second time though it will be familiar to many in the field who also teed up two years ago.
The course will play to a yardage of 6,150 metres which is average for a field of this calibre.
History suggests scoring should be good with Danielle Kang and Hana Jang finishing tied at 19-under in 2019.
Kang shot 64 that Sunday and Jang 65 suggesting that aggressive play will be rewarded.
PRIZEMONEY: US$2,000,000
RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week
PLAYERS TO WATCH: There are lots of interesting dynamics at play this week with the politics of the LPGA and KLPGA at play.
Many believe the Korean Tour is as competitive as the LPGA and the success of players migrating from Korea to the U.S. would suggest that is an idea not without merit.
This event is an opportunity for those from the local Tour to show off their skills in front of a home crowd against the better known and more highly regarded LPGA players.
It’s not tension, as such, but there is undoubtedly a competitive element.
Being a limited field event with no cut (there are just 84 players) also changes the nature of the competition and perhaps encourages a more aggressive mindset, particularly in the opening two rounds.
Both play-off participants in 2019 are noted for their attacking style it would be no surprise if both were in the mix again this year.
The Rees Jones redesigned LPGA International Busan welcomes the best players in the world once again this week. PHOTO: Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images.
World No.1 Nelly Korda hasn’t made the trip to Korea but No.2 JIN YOUNG KO and No.3 INBEE PARK have and will rightly be among the favourites.
Ko, in particular, has been in rare form in 2021 with her final round 66 when winning the Founders Cup two weeks ago being her 14th consecutive sub 70 score.
That ties a record set by Annika Sorentsam in 2005 and while there will be no shortage of pressure on Ko to make it 15 straight in the opening round it looks – from the outside at least – as though she is genuinely unflappable.
She was T9 here in 2019 so there is no reason to think she shouldn’t start favourite.
In terms of local support Ko will be popular but it is Park who is a national hero in her home country.
This will be her first appearance in this event after missing 2019 but she can never be ruled out.
However, while there are plenty of ‘name’ players in the field the real intrigue for the week will come from the KLPGA players who are barely known outside their own borders.
30 members of the KLPGA have been granted spots and if they are good enough to be competitive on that Tour they are easily good enough to contend this week.
All in all it should make for a fascinating week’s golf.
72-HOLE RECORD: Danielle Kang and Ha Na Jang navigated this layout in just 269 shots in 2019, their 19-under mark the number to beat this week.
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winner.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Hannah Green, Sarah Kemp, Minjee Lee and Su Oh.
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 1pm – 6pm)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 1pm – 6pm)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 Highlights 10am – 12pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 1pm – 6pm)
*AEDT, check local guides
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