Tag: TPC Harding Park

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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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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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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Eight countries have qualified for the International Crown. But which players will be at TPC Harding Park? (Sadly, no Lydia Ko)

The top four players from each country in the Rolex Rankings as of April 3 will compete May 4-7.

The list of eight countries that will compete in the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown was finalized last November, and now it’s a mad dash til April to determine which players will qualify for the unique team competition.

The top four players from each country in the Rolex Rankings as of April 3 will compete May 4-7 at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park.

The countries that have qualified include the United States (35 points), South Korea (35 points), Japan (85 points), Sweden (120 points), Thailand (183 points), England (197 points), Australia (298 points) and China (446 points).

South Africa (475 points) just missed on qualifying for its first Crown. Countries must have a minimum of four ranked players to be eligible.

The event brings in players from around the world who are not eligible for the Solheim Cup, though top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Canada’s Brooke Henderson, No. 7, will not be in the field of 32.

The Crown was last held in 2018 in South Korea, where the team of So Yeon Ryu, Sung Hyun Park, In-Kyung Kim and In Gee Chun triumphed on home soil in front of a packed and boisterous crowd.

The field will be finalized on the Monday after the DIO Implant LA Open. Here’s how things currently stand:

TPC Harding Park set to host LPGA’s Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown in 2023 with new Sunday format

The event features 4 players from the top 8 countries in a team match-play competition and was last held in 2018.

The LPGA announced that the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown will return to the schedule May 4-7, 2023, at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, as first reported by Golfweek.

The unique event consists of four players from the top eight countries in a team match-play competition. The Crown was last held in 2018 in South Korea, where the team of So Yeon Ryu, Sung Hyun Park, In-Kyung Kim and In Gee Chun triumphed on home soil in front of a packed and boisterous crowd.

The biennial event was created under the leadership of former LPGA commissioner Mike Whan and debuted in 2014 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. Spain won the first contest, followed by the United States in 2016 at the Merit Club just north of Chicago.

The event will return to South Korea in 2025.

The field of eight countries will be determined by the combined Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings of the top four players from each country as of Nov. 21, 2022, immediately following the CME Group Tour Championship. The final field of 32 players will be determined via the Rolex Rankings as of April 2, 2023, immediately following the Palos Verdes Championship.

“The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown is a true marker of the global reach of the LPGA. The 32 athletes who will compete at TPC Harding Park in 2023 will have the ultimate honor of playing under their national colors and representing their countries, one of the most exciting opportunities an athlete can experience,” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a release. “We are very happy to bring the International Crown back to our schedule and are incredibly thankful to our partners at Hanwha, TPC Harding Park and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department for their shared vision and dedication to providing our players and our fans with a world-class experience.”

In Gee Chun, So Yoen Ryu, In-Kyung Kim and Sung Hyun Park of South Korea pose for photographs with the trophy after winning the UL International Crown at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club on October 7, 2018 in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

The first three days of competition will be the four-ball format. Sunday’s final round will feature a new twist, with two singles matches and one foursomes match taking place. With no team captain, the four players from each country will determine their strategy.

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

Harding Park, designed by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, opened in 1925 and was named after U.S. President Warren G. Harding. Following a $16 million renovation in 2002-2003, TPC Harding Park has hosted such events as the 2005 WGC-American Express Championship; the 2009 Presidents Cup; the 2010, 2011 and 2013 Charles Schwab Cup Championship; the 2015 WGC Dell Technologies Match Play; and the 2020 PGA Championship.

The Crown will be the first elite women’s competition held at Harding Park.

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