Hong Kong to host richest LPGA Tour event in Asia

Hong Kong will stage the richest LPGA Tour event in Asia next year, when the inaugural Futu Ladies World Championship comes to the city.

Promising a prize purse of US$3.4 million, the tournament at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club will be the final leg of the Tour’s spring swing, following the Honda LPGA Thailand and the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.

Replacing the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan, organisers said they expected to attract a world-class 78-player field for the event, which will be held from March 4 to 7.

“Our fans across Asia have always been some of the most passionate in the world and going to strong markets that match that energy matters to us – we couldn’t be more excited to bring the Tour to Hong Kong,” Craig Kessler, the LPGA commissioner, said.

“This event checks every box we look for – a championship-calibre course, a market ready for the Tour, a perfect fit within our spring Asia swing, and partners who share our vision.”

Backed by Hong Kong fintech company Futu Holdings and global investment and trading platform Moomoo, the tournament is being organised by Asia-based sports and entertainment company SMK.