Park In-bee vs Shibuno "Major Queens Clash at AIG Women's Open"

LPGA Major Opening on August 20: Ko Jin-young, Park Sung-hyun, Kim Sei-young, and Kim Hyo-joo Withdraw Considering 'COVID-19'

Park In-bee (left) and Shibuno Hinako are challenging for the championship at the season's first major, the AIG Women's Open.

[Asia Economy Reporter Noo Rae] 'Golf Queen' Park In-bee (32, KB Financial Group) and 'Japan's Pride' Hinako Shibuno (Japan) are set to clash.

The two players have declared their participation in this year's first major of the LPGA Tour, the AIG Women's Open (formerly the AIG British Women's Open, total prize money $4.5 million), held at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland (par 72) on the 20th of next month (Korean time). After achieving her 20th career win at the Australian Women's Open last February, Park In-bee has not competed in official tournaments due to COVID-19. She aims to reclaim the title for the first time in five years since 2015.

After competing in the Orange Life Champions Trophy Park In-bee Invitational held in Gyeongju in early August, she will depart for the UK. She plans to participate in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, which opens at the end of August after moving to the United States. Shibuno is the defending champion of the AIG Women's Open. Last year, she earned her ticket as the second-ranked money leader on the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour and caused a sensation by winning by one stroke.

Players eyeing opportunities at the AIG Women's Open include world No. 5 Nasa Hataoka (Japan), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Minjee Lee (Australia), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), Danielle Kang, Stacy Lewis, and Cristie Kerr (all from the United States). Meanwhile, Korean players such as No. 1 Ko Jin-young (25), Park Sung-hyun (27), Kim Sei-young (27, Mirae Asset), Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte), and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24, Daebang Construction) are not participating, considering COVID-19.

The AIG British Women's Open has been renamed the AIG Women's Open starting this year. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) announced on the 23rd, "We have signed a new contract with the global insurance company AIG until 2025," and "The tournament has been rebranded as the AIG Women's Open." Although the tournament name has changed whenever the sponsor changed, this is the first time 'British' has been removed. Established in 1976, it was incorporated into the LPGA Tour in 1994 and elevated to a major in 2001.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.