At the HSBC Women’s World Championship held in Singapore, Jeeno Thitikul, the world’s top female golfer, faced difficulties during the opening round. She finished the day at 1-over 73, placing herself seven strokes behind the leader. Thitikul had just won a tournament in her home country of Thailand and was among the elite competitors participating in this LPGA event at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course.
Kim Takes the Lead
Auston Kim from the United States emerged as the frontrunner after the first round, shooting an impressive score of 66. Her performance included birdies on two of her last three holes, giving her a one-stroke advantage over China’s Yan Liu. Five players closely followed, all tied for third place with a score of 68.
Notable Performances
- Defending champion Lydia Ko shot a 70.
- Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson, from Smiths Falls, finished at 70, with five birdies and three bogeys.
- Haeran Ryu, ranked 12th, also posted a score of 68.
Despite her struggles, Thitikul was not the only top-ranked player trailing the leaders. Charley Hull and Minjee Lee, ranked third and fourth respectively, each recorded scores of 72. Nelly Korda, the second-ranked player, was the sole top 10 competitor absent from this Singapore tournament.
Looking Ahead
This competition marks the second of three events in the LPGA’s early-year Asian swing, with the final stop set for Hainan Island, China, next week. After her round, Kim reflected on her progress compared to the previous year, noting improvements in her game and mental approach.
As the tournament progresses, the remaining competitors will aim to close the gap and challenge Kim for the title at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
