This Thursday, the HSBC Women’s World Championship has begun, the second stop of the Asian tour of the LPGA Tour. Sarah Schmelzel (-4) is the first leader of the tournament, although the real protagonist is the Tanjong course, the venue of the competition located at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. A gentleman’s golf course that must be addressed formally. A real test.
Only 22 players have managed to beat the course on the first day and only four have managed to score under 70 strokes. A challenge of the highest order. And that’s even though the playing conditions have not been particularly difficult. The wind has blown a bit, but not much, and the greens were receptive due to the humidity. It’s a long course that demands a lot of precision from the tee, a combination that demands the best golf.
With these premises, Schmelzel, an American who studied at the University of South Carolina, can be especially proud that the first individual leadership of her career on the LPGA Tour, has arrived under these conditions. It must be a boost to her confidence. However, what’s coming from behind is enough to keep her on her toes. We’ll see how she holds up, but she won’t have it easy with 54 holes ahead.
One stroke behind Schmelzel are three heavyweights of the LPGA: Lilia Vu, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit. Enough to keep her on her toes. And two strokes behind is another group of players among which stand out Leona Maguire (-2), Hyo Joo Kim (-2) and In Gee Chun (-2). As you can see at a glance from the leaderboard, the Tanjong lives up to the reputation that precedes it. In the last seven editions, players who have a Major in their record have won the tournament. And in its entire history, since 2008, only Ha Na Jang has won here and has not won a Major. Top elite.
Among the players to watch this week, Jin Young Ko (-1), winner here the last two years, has started on the right foot, despite her 2024 debut not being the best. Along with her are other very prominent names such as Albane Valenzuela, Ruoning Yin, Hataoka or Sagstrom. In addition, Patty Tavatanakit (+1), winner the last two weeks, is also not far from the lead. In the same situation is Celine Boutier (+1).
Carlota Ciganda (+2) is the best ranked Spanish player. The Navarrese has handed in a card of 74 strokes with three bogeys and one birdie. The downside of her round has been on the greens. Her tee to green deployment has been notable, but she has struggled to sink putts. The figure of 34 putts with 14 greens in regulation says it all.
Meanwhile, Azahara Muñoz (+5) has struggled quite a bit more with her long game. She has had to recover from off the green up to eight times. Let’s say it’s been a round on the back foot, especially due to the sequence of +4 she has added between holes 16, 17 and 18. Actually, her +1 score on the rest of the course is notable.
The difficulty of the Tanjong course is observed in the high scores of players like Lydia Ko (+4), Emily Pedersen (+7) or Jodi Ewart (+9). It’s not a course that messes around.
