The LPGA Tour returned to Malaysia for the first time in six years for the 2023 Maybank Championship, an inaugural tournament with a field of just 78 and no cut.
The second edition of the event, which takes place at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, follows an identical format, while the prize money on offer is also the same as a year ago.
Back then, Celine Boutier claimed her sixth LPGA Tour title when she beat Jeeno Thitikul in an epic nine-hole play-off, which tied the record for the second-longest stretch of extra holes in LPGA Tour history.
It was worth the effort, though, as she claimed prize money of $450,000 from the $3m purse while Thitikul had to settle for $282,976, and identical sums will be awarded to the top two this week.
Unfortunately for Thitikul, she collected the same figure again after she missed out by a shot to China's Ruoning Yin. The World No.4 took home the title and a check for $450,000 after going bogey-free over the course of rounds two, three, and four and finishing on 23-under.
Following this week’s event, only three tournaments will remain before the season-closing CME Group Tour Championship. That is slated to have a purse of $11m - one of the largest ever in the women’s game - so competition is understandably intense to try and finish in the top 60 of the Race to CME Globe standings to ensure qualification. Whoever wins this week will bank 500 Race to CME Globe points.
Below is the prize money payout for the LPGA Maybank Championship.
Maybank Championship Prize Money Payout
Who Are The Star Names In The Maybank Championship?
As well as defending champion Boutier, there were many other world-class players in the field for this week’s tournament.
One was Australian Hannah Green, who was looking for her second successive title after holding off Boutier in last week’s BMW Ladies Championship to land her third win of the season.
Amundi Evian Championship winner Ayaka Furue also plays, while other Major winners in the field included Lilia Vu, Ruoning Yin, Jin Young Ko, Yuka Saso and Brooke Henderson. Other big names in the field include Patty Tavatanakit, Maja Stark, Jennifer Kupcho, Haeran Ryu and Megan Khang.
Charley Hull also makes her first start since finishing T19 at the Kroger Queen City Championship the week after the Solheim Cup, while she is joined by European teammates including Esther Henseleit, Linn Grant and Albane Valenzuela.
Who Won The 2023 Maybank Championship?
The 2023 tournament was won by Celine Boutier, but she was made to work for it, emerging on top after an epic nine-hole playoff against Jeeno Thitikul, the joint second-longest in LPGA Tour history.
Where Is The LPGA Maybank Championship?
The inaugural tournament was held in 2023 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and players return to the venue for this week. The West Course, where the tournament will be held, is generally regarded as one of the best in Malaysia.
