SINGAPORE: South Korea's Jang Ha-Na stormed to her second career LPGA victory on Sunday when she fired a seven-under-par 65 to win the HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore.
Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum finished four stokes behind while world number one Lydia Ko carded a three-under-par to end the tournament tied for 15th with an overall score of 281.
Playing in tough humid conditions at the Sentosa Golf Club, world No.10 Jang fired six birdies, a bogey and an eagle on the 18th to claim the $225,000 winner's check.
She said her target was to win two tournaments this year and was surprised she accomplished it so early.
"It's amazing," Jang said after her win. "I targeted two wins in 2016 but right now I did it and I'll change my targets to two more wins. But I am comfortable right now."
Jang's maiden LPGA title was at the Coates Golf Championship in Florida last month. Her previous best was four runners-up finishes during her rookie season in 2015.
With the win, the South Korean is expected to move five places up the rankings, but she said that was not her focus.
"I play golf every week and I want to enjoy every tournament," said Jang. "I don't want to think about rankings, the Olympics or titles."
Ko had a disappointing first two days but her form kicked in Saturday when she posted a five-under-par 67.
The 18-year-old started the final round strongly, firing two birdies and ripping the par-5 7th with an eagle.
She shot two more birdies in the back nine but three bogeys in the 13th, 15th and 18th undid much of the good work she had put in.
"I had an entirely good front nine, but it is not the best when you end up with a bogey on the last green," said the New Zealander. "Other than that I thought I played solidly this weekend, so there is a lot of positives from this week.
"But I feel it could have been better. I did not hole that many putts this week, and I think if I struck the ball a little better on the first two days, I may have been able to reduce a few shots."
Pornanong, who was gunning for her first LPGA career win after six years on the Tour, trailed Jang by a stroke entering the final round.
The Thai said she was not disappointed after coming close at the Serapong Course.
"Ha-Na played a very solid round today," said Pornanong. "I just tried my best, but didn't hit it that good. For now, I just want to improve my confidence level for the future and prepare and be ready for the Olympics."
Jang wins HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore
Jang wins HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore
Tiger Woods opens door to Masters return, US Ryder Cup captaincy
- Woods said Tuesday afternoon at the site of the Genesis Invitational at Rivera Country Club he wouldn’t rule out returning for the 2026 Masters in April
LOS ANGELES: Undaunted following a milestone birthday and a trio of recent major physical setbacks that have limited his tournament schedule to a trickle, Tiger Woods believes he has plenty of game left.
Woods said Tuesday afternoon at the site of the Genesis Invitational at Rivera Country Club he wouldn’t rule out returning for the 2026 Masters in April.
“I’m trying. Put it that way,” the 50-year-old Woods said. “The disc replacement has been one thing. It’s been a challenge to — I’ve had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it’s challenging.
“And now, I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart. That’s something that, as I said, I won’t do out here on (in PGA Tour events) because I don’t believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, that’s certainly (an) opportunity.”
In reality, Woods might be too busy to play tournament golf these days.
As the chair of the new Future Competitions Committee, Woods is heavily involved in what will be a new-look PGA Tour as early as the 2027 season, with a full roll out aimed for 2028. He revealed on Tuesday he was asked about his interest in being the United States captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup.
“Yeah, they have asked me for my input on it, and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods said of the Ryder Cup showdown against Europe that is set to be played in Ireland. “I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour.
“That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, our Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.”
This week, Woods’ main focus will be to welcome the field to the Genesis Invitational where he is the tournament host. While Riviera was the site of his first ever PGA Tour event, on a sponsor’s exemption at the Los Angeles Open in 1992 when he was 16, the Southern California native will not be playing this week.
But still could be on the course soon.
As for Augusta National, the 15-time major winner was asked if participating in the Masters was ruled out, Woods said “No.”
Future changes to the PGA Tour are not expected to move the Masters off its traditional spring window, but Woods said a myriad of other options are being considered. The plan essentially will create a shorter tournament calendar while still improving the product.
“Yeah, we’re going to get more top players playing and we’re going to make it more competitive,” Woods said. .”.. Having Brooks (Koepka) come back, having Patrick Reed play as well as he is and committed to coming back to the tour, having Scottie (Scheffler) as dominant as he has been, and to have Rory (McIlroy) complete the career grand slam, you have a lot of top players, but also you have a lot of youth that has come up.”
The current West Coast swing, which is the traditional start to the PGA Tour season, might cease to exist or be completely altered. Instead of starting the PGA Tour season in January, reports have indicated future seasons could start after the Super Bowl.
“Well, I think it’s trying to serve literally everyone, from the player side of it, from our media partners, from all of our title sponsors, from the local communities or even changing venues and going to bigger markets,” Woods said. “It’s what do we need to do from a competitive model to make our tour the best product it can possibly be each and every year and still have room for development. How do we do all of that at the same time?“
This week’s tournament in the Los Angeles area could remain in its February window or move toward the end of the season in August and be a playoff venue.
“It’s been a lot of moving parts, but it’s been in sync,” Woods said. “We’ve had a lot of information thrown our way, which has been great. Everyone is working collaboratively together.”
Woods could even be a part of that future schedule as a player. He still has physical limitations from the shattered right leg that happened during a single-car crash in 2021, followed by an Achilles injury and disc replacement surgery in his back this past October.
Given his physical ailments, playing on the Champions Tour, which allows players to use a golf cart, is under consideration. Woods turned 50 just over a month ago, making him eligible for the Champions Tour.
“I’ve had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it’s challenging,” Woods said. “And I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart. That’s something that, as I said, I won’t do out here on this tour because I don’t believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, that’s certainly that opportunity.”
He had no timetable on when a Champions Tour debut might take place. Woods is more content with turning back the clock this week.
“For me, that’s part of the neat thing about being here at (Riviera), being able to go back in time as a kid,” Woods said.
