Tag: 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown

2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown prize money payouts for each LPGA player at TPC Harding Park

The winning team’s portion is $500,000, or $125,000 per player.

The fourth staging of the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown saw Thailand dominate the eight-country field with an 11-1-0 record. The $2 million purse is unofficial money. The winning team’s portion is $500,000, or $125,000 per player.

A total of 32 players were in the field, representing the following countries: United States, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, England, Thailand, Australia and China.

This marked the first time Thailand and Australia reached the finals.

Team Thailand was seeded sixth coming into the week and the lineup boasted three major titles and two former World No. 1s: Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul.

The event, which was last contested in 2018, is meant to be a biennial affair. The location of the next edition in 2025 has yet to be announced.

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Pos Team/Players Earnings
1 Thailand $500,000
Atthaya Thitikul $125,000
Patty Tavatanakit $125,000
Moriya Jutanugarn $125,000
Ariya Jutanugarn $125,000
2 Australia $303,600
Minjee Lee $75,900
Hannah Green $75,900
Stephanie Kyriacou $75,900
Sarah Kemp $75,900
3 United States $280,000
Nelly Korda $64,400
Lexi Thompson $64,400
Lilia Vu $64,400
Danielle Kang $64,400
4 Sweden $240,000
Maja Stark $55,200
Madelene Sagstrom $55,200
Anna Nordqvist $55,200
Caroline Hedwall $55,200
T-5 Korea $177,500
Jin Young Ko $40,825
Hyo-Joo Kim $40,825
In Gee Chun $40,825
Hye Jin Choi $40,825
T-5 China $177,500
Xiyu Lin $40,825
Ruoning Yin $40,825
Yu Liu $40,825
Ruixin Liu $40,825
7 England $155,000
Jodi Ewart Shadoff $35,650
Bronte Law $35,650
Alice Hewson $35,650
Liz Young $35,650
8 Japan $155,000
Nasa Hataoka $32,200
Ayaka Furue $32,200
Yuka Saso $32,200
Hinako Shibuno $32,200

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Thailand dominates 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, knocks out Australia in final

Team USA clinched third place with a victory over Sweden in the consolation match.

Team Thailand enjoyed a near-perfect week at the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, dropping only one match over the course of four days.

Former World No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn chipped in to close out the final match against Australia on Sunday, a fitting end for the dominate foursome that went 11-1-0 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

Ariya Jutanugarn, currently No. 83 in the world, looked more like her old self, a two-time major champion, playing alongside sister Moriya. She oozed with confidence and putted beautifully as the sisters were undefeated in both four-ball and foursomes.

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Thailand, seeded No. 6, swept No. 7 Australia in the final match, which consisted of two singles matches and, for the first time in event history, one foursomes match. It marked the first time these two countries had advanced to the finals in the fourth edition of the Crown.

Patty Tavatanakit defeated Aussie Hannah Green, 4 and 3, while Atthaya Thitikul dusted Stephanie Kyriacou, 4 and 2. The Jutanugarn sisters birdied four consecutive holes in alternate shot midway through the round to take control.

“I was one of those kids,” said Patty Tavatanakit. “I looked up to the (Jutanugarn) sisters and to be able to play alongside them this week has been a dream come true and also an honor.

“I’m just so excited to see where Thailand’s golf is heading to in the future.”

Ariya Jutanugarn earned the event’s inaugural MVP award. The last time the Jutanugarns won on the LPGA was two years ago at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

Only the youngest player on the team, Atthaya Thitikul, 20, came into the event in world-class form. Perhaps this week is the spark needed for the rest to get back in the winner’s circle. To reach the final match, Thailand knocked out Team USA in the semifinals.

“I’m going to say we’ve been waiting for this since 2014,” said Ariya, “and finally we got what we’ve been waiting for.”

Prior to this week, Australia’s best finish in the event was sixth in 2018.

Team USA clinched third place with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the consolation match. Lexi Thompson defeated Maja Stark 3 and 2 and singles, while the Danielle Kang/Nelly Korda duo knocked out Anna Nordqvist/Carolina Hedwall. Madelene Sagstrom did earn Sweden a point after beating Lilia Vu 5 and 4.

“Having team events like this,” said Thompson, “I think, brings a wider fan base for us. I think fans really enjoy it, and I think there’s a lot more energy out here and people cheering and things like that. We got big crowds today.”

This marked the first playing of the Crown, which is meant to be a biennial event, since 2018. The 2025 venue has yet to be announced.

The $2 million purse is unofficial money. Thailand’s winning portion is $500,000, or $125,000 per player.

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Thailand defeats Team USA at International Crown, set to meet Australia in Sunday’s primetime finale at TPC Harding Park

The U.S. will take on Sweden in the consolation match.

Ariya Jutanugarn buried a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to give Thailand control of the last match on the course at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown. It proved a dagger to Team USA.

Sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn took down World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Danielle Kang, 1 up, thanks to birdies over the last two holes. It was the second point Thailand needed to advance to Sunday afternoon’s final match against Australia at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Neither of the finalists have ever won the Crown, now in its fourth edition.

The U.S. will take on Sweden in the consolation match Sunday.

Former No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul defeated Lexi Thompson, 3 and 2, in singles play. Lilia Vu posted the only point for Team USA, defeating fellow UCLA Bruin and Chevron champion Patty Tavatanakit, 1 up. It marked the only match Thailand has lost the entire week.

The format for the semifinals and finals consists of two singles matches and one foursomes match. With no team captains, the players determine the lineups.

Anna Nordqvist, a three-time major champion and Solheim Cup stalwart, played impeccable golf at the Crown on Saturday but then fell to Stephanie Kyriacou, No. 118 in the world, in semifinal singles, 4 and 3. Match play never fails to deliver a few shockers.

“I think I play my best when I’m aggressive,” said Kyriacou, “and in match play you only need to beat one person so there’s not as much pressure. But yeah, I played pretty aggressive all day. All week actually.”

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Veteran Sarah Kemp wasn’t at all surprised to see her Aussie team sweep Sweden.

“Not in a cocky way,” said Kemp, “just because of the way we are around each other and the team that we’ve built from the beginning. We’ve had lunch together, we’ve had breakfast together every day, we’ve had dinner together, we do everything together, and we’ve just come together really well, and it’s paying off as you can see on the course.”

Hannah Green, who won on the LPGA exactly one week ago, defeated Caroline Hedwall, 3 and 2, in singles play. Kemp and Minjee Lee took down Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark in foursomes play.

“I think we should be proud of ourselves,” said Nordqvist. “We still have a match for third. Obviously, it was a little bit of a rougher morning than we hoped for, but Australia played great, and there’s not much you can do then.”

Sagstrom, looking ahead to this year’s Solheim Cup in Spain, felt it was a meaningful week for young Stark.

“We all knew her game was good,” said Sagstrom. “This is kind of her first entree to professional team events, so it was nice to have her under my wing and try to help out with whatever experience that I have. She played awesome.”

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Meet the women of Orca Golf, creators of the International Crown team bags, and learn about the special touch on each one

Each team has the flower of their respective countries on their bags.

SAN FRANCISCO – Six weeks before the start of the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, the women of Orca Golf got a phone call. The request from LPGA officials: Ladies, we need bags.

Co-founders Deborah Bennett and Erica Bennett called in favors and got to work, scrambling to produce unique, well-crafted bags for 32 players from eight different countries. The last of the panels arrived at TPC Harding Park one day before the competition started. Deborah admittedly isn’t an emotional person, but she knew seeing their custom bags on a global stage would carry a lot of meaning.

“Knowing what happened to get them in their hands,” said Deborah, “the care that was taken, the thoughtfulness that was taken and wanting so badly for them to be proud to carry that bag. It’s what the bag represents.”

Team USA poses with their 2023 Crown golf bags, made by Orca. (LPGA photo)

Deborah and Erica launched their golf business 4 ½ years ago, after an apprenticeship on bag-making with a gentleman from Scotland. Deborah’s background includes a career in D.C. politics, NGO’s and education. There was a point when she managed 300 engineers – all men – in nine countries.

“If you think technology is tough,” said Deborah, “try taking on the golf industry.”

Erica is the artist and storyteller, and her special touch on the bags this week came from her Jamaican roots and the rose garden the couple kept in D.C.

“I wanted to do something special for each country but that would also be personal and special for the individual players,” Erica said.

“When I grew up in Jamaica, I loved flowers. When I would run to my grandmother’s home, there were always lots of flowers along the way. So, as I was thinking about the designs of these bags, I thought that I would go back to my 10-year-old self and ask myself, what would that little girl put on there? The answer was flowers.”

Each team has the flower of their respective countries on their bags. Team USA, for example, has a rose. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose the floral emblem of the U.S.

Other national flowers include: Korea (Mungunghwa), Japan (Cherry Blossom), Sweden (Harebell), England (Tudor Rose), Thailand (Ratchaphruek), Australia (Golden Wattle) and China (Plum Blossom).

Everything Deborah and Erica work toward has a purpose beyond the bags. The Orca brand and its founders, for example, support LPGA*USGA Girls Golf and the First Tee. They take every custom order personally, with Erica sending hand-written thank-you notes. She still remembers every story behind each custom design.

Last fall the brand enjoyed a massive boost after designing a special yellow staff bag for Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and their Play Yellow campaign that benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Deb reports that Jack was shocked to learn that two women created the bag.

“I wish we had a picture of his face,” said Deborah, smiling through the phone.

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The Orca brand launched shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant 2021 was a rebuild year. So far in 2023, Orca has done more business in one quarter than all of 2022.

“The best thing about golf is the conversations,” said Deborah.

Why not carry around something that gets people talking?

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Photos: See the LPGA’s glam photos from the Hanwha International Crown gala

The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown returned in style after a five-year hiatus.

The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown returned in style after a five-year hiatus. The top eight countries in the world gathered at San Francisco City Hall for an early-week gala hosted by Golf Channel’s Tom Abbott.

A total of 32 players from eight countries qualified for this week’s event at TPC Harding Park, including seven of the top 10 players in the world. The final field was determined via the Rolex Rankings published on April 2, 2023, immediately following the DIO Implant LA Open.

Here are the eight countries: United States, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, England, Thailand, Australia and China.

The purse for the event is $2 million, with the winning team’s portion of $500,000, or $125,000 per player.

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Take a look at scenes from earlier in the week:

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Team USA clinches final spot in LPGA Crown semifinals; one veteran Swedish team enjoys record day and Thailand remains undefeated

Team USA, winners of this event in 2016, finished second in Pool A to become the fourth team to advance.

Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hewdall remain a force at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown. The Swedish duo moved their overall fourball record in the event to 7-1-1 after defeating World No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 4 Lilia Vu, 1 up.

“We’ve had so much fun together,” said Hedwall, “and I think that shows on the game we have, as well. I’m just proud of everyone.”

Hedwall and Nordqvist now own the record for most appearances together, edging Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson and sisters Moriya Jutanguarn/Ariya Jutanugarn, who both have eight. With an average age of 34, Nordqvist and Hedwall also happen to be the oldest pair at TPC Harding Park.

Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall of Team Sweden react after a putt on the second green during day three of the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. (Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Sweden topped Pool A with 5 ½ points, finishing tied in their second match against Team USA. Maja Stark, who partnered with Madelene Sagstrom, converted a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole to bring the match back to even with Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang.

“I kind of liked it because it felt like they got mad,” said Stark of the finish, “and that’s kind of funny. I just really wanted to make that putt. Just being able to perform under pressure, like that is not something that I’ve really felt before because it’s usually been — everything has just been about myself, but now I do it for my team and for Sweden. It’s really nice to be able to come in clutch like that at the end.”

Team USA, winners of this event in 2016, finished second in Pool A to become the fourth team to advance.

Thailand hasn’t lost a match in three days, finishing with six points to lead Pool B. Australia was the second team to advance out of that pool.

“We played well,” said Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand’s perfect record. “We deserve it.”

Defending champions South Korea won their first points of the event on Saturday, taking both matches against Japan.

“I know I feel sad and a little disappointed we can’t show our game anymore tomorrow,” said In Gee Chun, “but I believe our Korean players, they’re all strong.”

China, England, Japan and South Korea failed to advance.

With no captains, teams had 15 minutes to figure out the pairings for Sunday’s semifinals. Each matchup will consist of two singles matches and one foursomes match. The first country to reach two points will win their match.

Team USA takes on the undefeated Thailand, while Sweden faces Australia. When asked how they planned to take on a country that hasn’t dropped a match, Thompson said not think about their record.

“Just focus on our own games and do what we can,” said Thompson. “Play aggressive golf, but stay within ourselves, focus on our attitudes and our golf. That’s all we can do.”

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Sweden, Thailand ride to 4-0 starts at LPGA’s 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown

Through two days at TPC Harding Park, Sweden and Thailand have yet to lose.

Through two days at TPC Harding Park, Sweden and Thailand have yet to lose.

The Swedish teams of Madelene Sagstrom/Maja Stark and Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall won their matches early Friday in the second round of the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, giving them a sterling 4-0-0 mark in San Francisco.

Sweden has already earned a spot in Sunday’s semifinals, regardless of how things shake out during Saturday’s third round. Thailand will join the Scandinavians after closing out Korea in the final matches of the day on Friday to also secure a perfect start.

Patty Tavatanakit/Atthaya Thitikul defeated Jin Young Ko/Hyo Joo Kim while the sister squad of Ariya Jutanugarn/Moriya Jutanugarn took down Hye Jin Choi/In Gee Chun.

“I love this course. I feel like it is a really tight course, but it doesn’t seem tight for me just because I really love this course and I feel like I can really get it going with a lot of confidence,” Tavatanakit said. “That really helped with my flow, too. That’s why I really hit it well.”

2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown
Atthaya Thitikul of Team Thailand plays her shot from the third tee during day two of the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. (Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Team USA, the top-seed in the eight-team event and the only team with all four members having won a major championship, was 1-1-0 after Day 1 after splitting its matches with China.

On Friday, the Lilia Vu/Nelly Korda duo knocked out Liz Young/Alice Hewson, while the Danielle Kang/Lexi Thompson team beat Bronte Law/Jodi Ewart Shadoff, which sent the English squad to its fourth loss in two days. The U.S. has 3 points out of a possible 4.

The Americans are fourth after two days, however, as Team Australia, with 3 ½ points, has also yet to lose a match. The teams dealt with chilly temperatures throughout the day and Saturday’s forecast is expected to bring rain.

“I’m a Florida girl and I get cold pretty easily, but I think making sure you adjust to the weather, clubbing up, talking to your caddie a little more with club selections, and staying warm is key,” said Korda. “Everyone is kind of dealing with it, so you’re just trying to stay as patient as possible.

“The golf course is tough. It’s tough weather and the fairways aren’t very wide, and it gets tricky out here, especially if the wind picks up. Trying to stay warm and patient is the key this week.”

The No. 2-seeded Korean squad and the fifth-seeded English team will return to play Friday but will do so having both been eliminated from advancing.

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A peaceful, easy feeling has come over this Scandinavian team at the LPGA’s Hanwha International Crown

Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark of Team Sweden played together for the first time in a team event as professionals.

There’s something about California that brings out the easiness in everybody. Soft breezes. Beautiful beaches. The Eagles playing through speakers at every turn. It’s a place to exhale and relax.

Just ask Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark of Team Sweden, who played together for the first time in a team event as professionals on Thursday as part of the Hanwha International Crown at TPC Harding Park.

In her debut at the event, Stark admitted she was nervous and a birdie on the first hole didn’t settle her down. But things just rolled from there as she and Sagstrom battled the English duo of Liz Young and Alice Hewson.

Since Sagstrom had experience with the format, she felt the need to ease her talented teammate into the tournament.

“I kind of felt like I knew what I was doing today and it was more trying to get her in a good place,” Sagstrom said. “It was a really good matchup. We played really well together. Our games are fairly similar, so it’s fun. We’ve never played team events before because I’m a lot older than her, so it’s cool. It’s awesome.

“But I think at the same time my experience also kind of helps me being out there. I talked a little bit about how I felt in previous Solheims and stuff, so it was good.”

The pair got to 4 under through the first three holes and had little trouble dispatching the English side 5 and 4. Their teammates, Anna Nordquist and Caroline Hedwall, also had little trouble with the Brits, winning 4 and 3 to put the Swedish team on the top of Pool A.

As for the format, the first three rounds of play feature four-ball competition with the top two countries from each pool advancing to Sunday. Two semifinal matches will be played Sunday morning. New this year, each semifinal match will consist of two singles matches and one foursomes match.

The winning semifinal countries will compete in the final match on Sunday afternoon, and a third-place match will take place between the two losing semifinal countries. Both matches will be in the same format as the semifinals.

Anna Nordqvist of Team Sweden plays her shot from the 12th tee during day one of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown at TPC Harding Park on May 04, 2023, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

As for Stark, she thinks she’s ready for whatever comes next, thanks to a relaxing opening day with Sagstrom.

“It was mostly nice to see (Sagstrom) was not frustrated with me, that she knows what it’s like and can relate to it,” Stark said. “It was very nice because it made me more calm and I could focus on what I was doing wrong like technically in the shots, which was that I was thinking about technique and not the pins because I was trying to be perfect.

“So yeah, I think it was just calming.”

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What to know about Hanwha International Crown: How to watch, what they’re playing for, format twists and No. 1 Nelly Korda’s thoughts on TPC Harding Park

The Hanwha International Crown returns to the LPGA schedule for the first time in five years this week at TPC Harding Park.

The Hanwha International Crown returns to the LPGA schedule for the first time in five years this week at TPC Harding Park, which means a number of players are competing in the event for the first time.

Team USA comes into the week as the top seed out of eight countries and will face China in Thursday’s opening round. Of the four Americans, only Lexi Thompson has experience, having competed in all three previous Crowns. South Korea won the last edition on home soil in 2018.

“I really love team events, like a lot of other girls probably do, too,” said American Danielle Kang, “and having the International Crown come back on the schedule was really exciting for me because it’s something I haven’t done.

“I use it as kind of a check box in my career, and being a part of an International Crown team as a top four player in the United States that gets to represent … is a huge honor.”

‘I don’t think that that’s a lot to ask for’: Bronte Law unhappy how she learned Georgia Hall and Charley Hull will skip International Crown

Radio silence didn’t make for happy remaining teammates on English team after two players withdraw.

For the first time since 2018, the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown is back on the LPGA schedule.

One of the unique events on the golf calendar, the event pits the top eight countries (based on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings) against one another in match play May 4-7. This week’s tournament will be at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. It’s the fourth installment of the event.

The United States and Korea have dominated the event, but other countries are doing their best to try to take down those two, including Team England.

However, England will attempt to do so without two of its top players, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull. The duo withdrew Saturday, leaving officials scrambling to replace them. Hall told Golfweek she has struggled with her left foot for several weeks. Hull said she hasn’t felt well recently and planned to go home to see a doctor.

However, their Team England teammates don’t sound too happy with their decision. Bronte Law and Jodi Ewart Shadoff said they didn’t find out about Hall and Hull’s decision until Sunday, Law joking she found out through “Chinese whispers,” which is a game in the United Kingdom similar to the American game of telephone in which information is repeated.

“I think anyone with some level of decency would send their teammates a message that they weren’t coming, not find out from other players on tour who have heard things from them saying things at the tournament last week,” Law said during a pre-tournament press conference at TPC Harding Park. “I don’t think that that’s a lot to ask for.”

Ladies European Tour players Alice Hewson and Liz Young flew in Sunday from England to round out the four-player English squad.

“Very happy to have both Alice and Liz are here,” Law said. “They’re both very patriotic, very team-oriented, and I think that that’s a testament to kind of what this tournament is about and is more important than the individuals in the team.

“I know that they’ll fight with everything that they’ve got.”

Law said she didn’t get any messages from Hall or Hull until Tuesday, when Hull reached out to apologize for not being able to play.

“But it’s besides the point now,” she said. “We’re here, and this is our team This is Team England.”

The competition gets underway Thursday. There are eight teams in this year’s Crown: U.S., South Korea, Japan, Sweden, England, Thailand, Australia and China.

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