Ariya, Minjee confirmed for Adelaide
The world, including the number 1 player, comes to Adelaide.
On a banner day for the 201PS ISPS Handa Women & # 39; s Australian Open, the number 1 Ariya Jutanugarn from Thailand has pledged to play in South Australia.
She is accompanied by her sister Moriya from 14-17 February at The Grange, herself the world number 20.
Australian number 1 and world number 6 Minjee Lee also agreed to resume her challenge for a first Patricia Bridges Bowl.
And as the conclusion of a big day for women's sports in South Australia, main sponsor ISPS Handa has also renewed its excellent dedication to the national championship for a tenth consecutive year.
Jutanugarn, the LPGA Tour player of the year, moneylist winner and CME Globe champion in a great number of stunning performances in 2018, plays her fifth ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, but for the first time at The Grange Golf Club.
The ever-smiling Thai, just 23, is a dual great champion, including the US Women & # 39; s Open this year as one of her three victories. Remarkably, she also finished in the top 10 in 16 of her 27 LPGA Tour start in 2018, with an emphasis on her consistency.
"It was a great year, I am really proud of what I have achieved and am happy that I have been competitive in so many tournaments," said Jutanugarn
.
"I've always enjoyed coming to Australia to play and I've had a lot of fun in Adelaide over the past few years, so I can not wait to come back in February and start my 2019 season.
"I have been close to Australia a few times, but I have not achieved any victory, so hopefully next year, I know I love the courses I've seen so far in Adelaide, so I'll try hard."
Ariya Jutanugarn during the 2017 ISPS Handa Women & # 39; s Australian Open in Royal Adelaide.
Jutanugarn missed the cut in her debut for Women & # 39; s Australian Open in 2014, but has since been a model of consistency
She came third in 2015 before missing in 2016, then shared third place at Royal Adelaide and shared seventh place in Kooyonga in Adelaide in recent seasons.
Lee, from Perth, is always a big hit among Aussie fans who are desperate to see the title return to local hands in 2014 for the first time since Karrie Webb.
She also had an incredible LPGA Tour season with 13 top 10 finishes – second only for Jutanugarn – and was second in the CME Globe standings in the Tour Championship in November. And all that on top of a victory and a second place on the Vic Open and Canberra Classic, respectively earlier this year.
Remarkably, just 22 years old, Lee will play her eighth Australian Open for women. After terminating T11 in her last year as an amateur in 2014, the member of Royal Fremantle finished three times in the top 10, including shares of the third and fifth place in South Australia for the past two years.
"I've come a few times, so hopefully I can take that next step in February," said Lee.
"It is always a huge excitement to play in front of the crowd and we have had a lot of support in Adelaide over the last three years.
"I had a solid 2018, so I am very excited about starting 2019 with a bang in The Grange."
ISPS Handa director Midori Miyazaki said, commissioned by founder Haruhisa Handa, that her organization is happy to work together again with the Women & # 39; s Australian Open.
"It speaks to great cooperation with Golf Australia and the national women's championship, that we can be the title sponsor for a full decade," said Miyazaki.
"The tournament has been hugely successful in helping people see golf in a different way in recent years – and ISPS Handa hopes, as always, to do the same with the unwavering support of Golf Australia.
"We believe in the power of sport to inspire and to be part of a tournament that has contributed to the revolution of female sports in Australia and to open new eyes for its potential is of the utmost importance and we are the impressive team of Gulf Australia sincerely grateful to his chairman John Hopkins and chief executive Stephen Pitt. "
ISPS Handa is already a major supporter of Australasian golf as title sponsor of the Women's Australian Open, World Super 6 Perth and the recent World Cup of Golf, as well as the PGA Tour of Australasia and the recent Australian All Abilities Championship and Disabled Cup tournaments that emphasized golfers with a disability on a global platform.
Pitt said the continued relationship with ISPS Handa by founder Dr. Handa and Ms. Miyazaki was a blessing for the Australian wave at all levels.
"We are again very happy to work with our good friends at ISPS Handa, their dedication to our national championship has been nothing less than an example," said Pitt.
"ISPS Handa delivers a world class message about empowering sports, so we are delighted to share our platforms to make the news known."
Pitt was also very pleased with the level of support from the world's best female golfers, with Ariya Jutanugarn already leading three reigning champions – after Georgia Hall and Pernilla Lindberg started last week – in Adelaide.
"And to make Minjee's incredible enthusiasm for the event so clear, it really helps to create that buzz that has made the tournament so popular in South Australia for the past three years," he said.
"Everyone loves Minjee and Ariya and that they have played so well and so consistently in 2018, we know for sure that they fit into the mix in The Grange.
"They always smile, they always talk to the kids about the job, they are legitimate superstars and we are happy that they are committed to come back to South Australia so early."
South Australian Secretary of Commerce, Tourism and Investment, David Ridgway, said the ISPS Handa Women & # 39; s Australian Open was a valuable addition to the packed summer events program of the state
"Securing world number 1 Ariya Jutanugarn and the Australian number 1 Minjee Lee are great coups for South Australia and proof of the exceptional status of this event", said Minister Ridgway
"The event last year attracted more than 33,000 golf enthusiasts and we expect the event to continue to attract large crowds this year, which will further support the US economy of $ 6.7 billion."
Tickets are officially on sale through Ticketek and remain some of the best value in the sport for $ 25 ($ 19 concession) per day, or $ 75 ($ 57 concession) for a four-day season pass when pre-booked. Children under 16 are free.
The tournament is fully sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the ALPG.
The ISPS Handa Women & # 39; s Australian Open is supported by the South Australian government through the South Australian Tourism Commission and Events South Australia.
