HSBC Women’s World Championship: Field, betting odds, and tee times for one of the LPGA Tour’s most star-studded events outside of the Majors

LPGA Tour HSBC Women's World Championship

The LPGA Tour heads to Singapore for the 16th edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship played at Sentosa Golf Club

The LPGA Tour season is in full swing, with the fourth event being played this week in Singapore at Sentosa Golf Club. The HSBC Women’s World Championship is the second event of this multi-event Asian Swing and it welcomes many of the best golfers in the world before the LPGA Tour heads to China for the Blue Bay LPGA.

The HSBC Women’s World Championship has been an event played on the LPGA Tour since 2008. Between 2008 and 2012 the tournament was played at Tanah Merah Country Club. From 2013 onwards, Sentosa Golf Club has hosted the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

This year marks the 16th playing of the HSBC Women’s World Championship on the LPGA Tour. Over the years there have been 13 different winners of this event with only Inbee Park and Jin Young Ko winning this tournament on multiple occasions. Jin Young Ko is the defending champion and she’s playing once again this year to defend her title – as she did in 2022. If Jin Young Ko is to win this week she’ll become the fifth golfer to have won the same tournament three times in a row on the LPGA Tour after Patty Berg (1953-1955), Laura Davies (1994-1997), Karrie Webb (1998-2000), and Annika Sorenstam (1997-1999, 2001-2005, and 2003-2005).

South Korean golfers have dominated this event in recent years with seven of the last eight champions. The only non-South Korean winner since 2015 was American Michelle Wie West. The star-studded field teeing it up this week includes players from all corners of the globe, including Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit who’s coming into this week with the best form in the field, having won her previous two outings – The Aramco Saudia Ladies International and Honda LPGA Thailand.

However, with the majority of the best players in the game lining up this week, it’s going to prove difficult for Patty Tavatanakit to win her third event in a row, or Jin Young Ko to win her third HSBC Women’s World Championship in a row. Who else is playing this week who can steal the headlines?

Who is playing in the HSBC Women’s World Championship?

As mentioned, there is a fantastic turn-out this week with 34 of the top 50 in the Rolex Women’s
World Golf Rankings playing in the HSBC Women’s World Championship, including eight of the top 10. Only two former champions are competing this week and it’s the two most recent winners – 2022 and 2023 champion Jin Young Ko and 2021 victor Hyo Joo Kim.

Patty Tavatanakit is playing this week with her sights firmly set on winning her third consecutive tournament after winning in Saudi Arabia and her native Thailand. This week’s field is full of winners including Lydia Ko who won the opening event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, but Nelly Korda, victor of this year’s second event on the LPGA Tour, and runner-up of this event last season won’t be in the field this week.

Other notable competitors this week include World No. 1 Lilia Vu, Canada’s Brooke Henderson who’s looking for her first victory since January 2023, Australian Minjee Lee who’s playing in her first event since signing with Callaway, and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda who plays alongside seven of her Solheim Cup winning teammates.

Every player in this star-studded field is either looking to continue their strong start to the season or kick-start their season ahead of Major Season which is fast approaching. Take a look at the full list of players teeing it up in the HSBC Women’s World Championship and how they qualified here.

What is the format of the HSBC Women’s World Championship?

The HSBC Women’s World Championship is played as a standard strokeplay event over 72 holes. However, being a tournament with a limited field there is no cut after 36 holes. Every player in the field completes all four rounds of golf with the lowest-scoring golfer at the end of the four days being crowned the champion.

Where is the HSBC Women’s World Championship being played?

In its first five years as an event on the LPGA Tour, the HSBC Women’s World Championship was played at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore. Since 2013, Sentosa Golf Club has hosted the event. Sentosa Golf Club is home to two highly regarded golf courses – The Serapong and The Tanjong. Between 2013 and 2016 the tournament was played on The Serapong course, in 2017 the switch was made to The Tanjong course and the HSBC Women’s World Championship has been played on this course ever since.

The Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club measures 6,749 yards for the HSBC Women’s World Championship and it’s played as a par 72.

Who will win the HSBC Women’s World Championship?

The HSBC Women’s World Championship is going to be a brilliant watch this week thanks to the high-profile golfers making the trip to Singapore. Even though the PGA Tour Cognizant Classic, LIV Golf Jeddah, and DP World Tour SDC Championship are all taking place this week, tuning in to the LPGA Tour this week is bound to get you excited.

At this stage, it’s hard to put a finger on exactly who will win in Singapore. With so many of the best golfers in the world lining up this week the title really is anyone’s to claim. The bookmaker’s favorite is Lydia Ko, but by no means is she an out-and-out favorite with Lilia Vu a close second favorite. Other prominent players in the betting are two-time defending champion Jin Young Ko, 2021 winner Hyo Joo Kim, Minjee Lee, Brooke Henderson, and Celine Boutier.

With it being such a hotly contested tournament there are a few notable “outsiders” worth looking at.

Selected odds (correct at 11 am GMT on Feb 28, 2024)

Lydia Ko 11/1

Lilia Vu 12/1

Hyo Joo Kim 12/1

Minjee Lee 14/1

Brooke Henderson 14/1

Jin Young Ko 14/1

Patty Tavatanakit 18/1

Celine Boutier 20/1

Ayaka Furue 22/1

Leona Maguire 45/1

Allisen Corpuz 50/1

Linn Grant 50/1

Hannah Green 66/1

How much does the winner of the HSBC Women’s World Championship get?

Many events on the LPGA Tour schedule have received a purse increase for the 2024 season. However, the HSBC Women’s World Championship has the same purse as it did last year. This is the first year since 2019 that this event hasn’t had its purse increased.

The purse for this event is $1,800,000, the winner will take home $270,000. With there being no cut every player in the field will get paid – last place is expected to take home around $4,000.

How to watch the HSBC Women’s World Championship

UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports Golf

All times GMT

Thursday, February 29: Sky Sports Golf, 04.30

Friday, March 1: Sky Sports Golf, 04.30

Saturday, March 2: Sky Sports Golf, 04.30

Sunday, March 3: Sky Sports Golf, 04.30

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel

All times EST

Wednesday, February 28: The Golf Channel, 21.30

Thursday, February 29: The Golf Channel, 21.30

Friday, March 1: The Golf Channel, 21.30

Saturday, March 2: The Golf Channel, 21.30

HSBC Women’s World Championship Tee Times

Tee time information for the HSBC Women’s World Championship can be viewed here.

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About the author

James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer

James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.

He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.

You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.