Is the HSBC Women’s World Championship losing its luster? ‘Asia’s major’ missing several U.S. stars

Since 2008, the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore has been a staple on the LPGA calendar. Known by many as “Asia’s Major,” the list of champions reads like a Who’s Who in women’s golf.

Of the 13 winners in Singapore, all but two (Ai Miyazato and Ha Na Jang) are major champions. Seven of the 13 are former World No. 1s and three are LPGA Hall of Famers (Inbee Park, Lorena Ochoa and Karrie Webb).

This week’s HSBC at Sentosa Golf Club is headlined by back-to-back champ Jin Young Ko, current No. 1 Lilia Vu, last week’s winner Patty Tavatanakit, and Lydia Ko who, with a victory, could play her way into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

A no-cut, limited-field affair that once featured glamorous photo shoots and Singapore Slings has long been viewed as an alluring reward for fine play. The HSBC debuted in 2008 with a purse of $2 million, and Ochoa, the event’s inaugural winner, earned $300,000 that first year. The same held true for Jiyai Shin in 2009.

But, as the economy took a hit in 2010, so too did the HSBC purse, which dropped to $1.3 million. In the years since, the purse has yet to reach that original mark of $2 million.

This year’s purse of $1.8 million will offer a winner’s prize of $270,000, the same amount Jin Young Ko won in 2023. In 2022, Ko earned $255,000 for her first HSBC victory.

While the HSBC has been a steady presence in a time of much turnover on the LPGA, it’s hard to look past the fact that the field has taken a hit in recent years, particularly among American stars. Even though the tournament takes care of airfare and hotel costs for players, as well as transportation, not everyone has booked a return ticket to Singapore.

It’s worth noting that players are responsible for the travel costs of their caddies. Last year, Jessica Korda finished last and earned $4,078. Take out taxes and the cost of her caddie, and there’s not much left, if anything.

Lexi Thompson hasn’t played in Singapore since 2019. She traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month for an LET event and will play in an Aramco Team Series event next week in Clearwater, Florida. On Monday night, she’s competing in Capitol One’s The Match on TNT in Florida.

Nelly Korda finished second at the 2023 HSBC, but this year, decided to take off seven weeks following her victory at the Drive On. She went to Prague to visit her grandparents immediately after winning at home in Bradenton, Florida.

Megan Khang, who will also be in the Aramco field in Clearwater, isn’t in Singapore this week. Neither are fellow Solheim Cup players Ally Ewing or Rose Zhang, who is also playing with Thompson, Rory McIlroy and Max Homa in The Match.

Angel Yin suffered an injury earlier this year and hasn’t played all season.

With only 14 U.S. players in the top 100 of the Rolex Rankings, when several go missing from an elite field of 66, it’s noticeable. Last week in Thailand, only 11 Americans were in the field, the same number as this week.

A total of 17 players will make their debut at the HSBC, including former No. 1 Ruoning Yin and Albane Valenzuela, who finished runner-up last week in Thailand.

Paula Creamer of the LPGA reacts to her winning 75-foot eagle putt at the 2014 HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.

There are a number of memorable victories over the years in Singapore, from the 75-foot eagle putt Paula Creamer made to win a playoff 10 years ago, to the 36-foot birdie putt Michelle Wie West drained from off the 18th green to clinch the title in 2018.

Here’s a look back on all the big names who have hoisted the HSBC trophy and signature ribbons.

SINGAPORE – FEBRUARY 27: Lorena Ochoa of Mexico signs autographs after the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions at the Tanah Merah Country Club on February 27, 2010 in Singapore. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

SINGAPORE – MARCH 08: Jiyai Shin of South Korea poses with the trophy and a watch after winning the HSBC Women’s Champions at Tanah Merah Country Club on March 8, 2009 in Singapore. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Ai Miyazato with the trophy after winning the HSBC Women’s Champions.

Karrie Webb celebrates with her trophy after winning the HSBC Women’s Champions, Sunday Feb. 27, 2011 in Singapore.

Angela Stanford reacts after winning the 2012 HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore in a three-player playoff. File photo

SINGAPORE – MARCH 03: Stacy Lewis of the USA with the winners trophy after the final round of the HSBC Women’s Champions at the Sentosa Golf Club on March 3, 2013 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Paula Creamer celebrates making a 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole to beat Azahara Munoz, winning her first LPGA title since the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open.

Inbee Park, shown at the 2015 HSBC Women’s Champions

SINGAPORE – March 01 : Ha Na Jang poses with the trophy during a photo call prior to the HSBC Women’s Champions at the Sentosa Golf Club on February 27th, 2017 in Singapore. Players were invited to ‘Own The Stage’ prior to the tournament, which will be hosted on the new Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from 2nd to 5th March, the 10th Anniversary of the HSBC Women’s Champions. (photo by Russel Wong/HSBC via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE – MARCH 04: Michelle Wie of the United States of America wins the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 4, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – MARCH 03: Sung Hyun Park of South Korea celebrates with the winner’s trophy after the final round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 03, 2019 in Singapore. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – MAY 02: Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on May 02, 2021 in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – MARCH 06: Jin Young Ko of South Korea poses with the HSBC Women’s World Championship trophy as she celebrates after winning during the Final Round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 06, 2022 in Singapore. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)