Maybank C’ship will wow local fans despite absence of Korda and Ko

Asian star: China’s world No. 4 Yin Ruoning will be one of the big names to compete at the Maybank Championship. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: Despite the absence of world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States and Lydia Ko of New Zealand, the Maybank Championship starting this Thursday promises a feast for local golf fans with one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history.

This year’s tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) will see a prize money of US$3mil (RM12.9mil), making it one of the richest events on the LPGA calendar.

The 78-player field features eight of the top 10 players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings alongside seven of the top 10 on the LPGA Tour’s Race to CME Globe ranking and three Major winners from the 2024 season.

Korda, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion, pulled out from the Maybank championship after sustaining a neck injury in practice last week.

Ko, who won the Olympic gold in Paris in August, did not cite any reason for her last minute withdrawal over the weekend.

But it will still be top class action with the likes of world No. 2 Lilia Vu of US, No. 4 Yin Ruoning of China, No. 5 Ko Jin-young of South Korea, No. 6 Ayaka Furue of Japan, No. 7 Amy Yang of South Korea, No. 8. Hannah Green of Australia, No. 9 Ryu Hae-ran of South Korea and No. 10 Celine Boutier, the defending champion who prevailed in a nine-hole playoff last year.

Three of this year’s Major tournament winners – Yuka Saso of Japan (US Women’s Open), Amy (KPMG Women’s PGA Cham–pionship) and Furue (Evian Championship) – will be teeing it up at KLGCC.

Kelly Tan has also decided to withdraw her participation to focus on the LPGA Q-Series Qualifying Stage, which will take place in Florida the same week.

The tournament was rescheduled following the devastating Hurricane Milton last week.

Kelly is seeking to regain full playing rights on the LPGA Tour in 2025 but will have to do it the hard way after a dismal 2024 campaign, where she is currently placed 186th on the Race to CME Globe rankings.

Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines will take Kelly’s place.

Shouldering the local challenge on sponsor invites will be national No. 1 amateur Mirabel Ting, Paris Olympian golfer Ashley Lau, Nur Durriyah Damian and Liyana Durisic.

Liyana, who turned pro in August, is determined to hold her own against the world’s best.

“I’m confident I’m a much better golfer now (her decision to turn pro). It’s exciting to compete against the world’s best as a professional.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how I measure up and progressing from there,” said Liyana, who made her LPGA Tour debut as an amateur at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in 2017, where she finished 74th out of 78 golfers.