LPGA returning to Malaysia for $3mil Maybank Championship

THE LPGA Tour is returning to Malaysia this fall.

The inaugural Maybank Championship will take place from Oct. 26-29 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, the tour announced Tuesday.

The 78-player field will compete for a $3 million purse, one of the largest non-major prize pools on the 2023 calendar.

"The LPGA is excited to bring women's professional golf back to Malaysia for the first time in six years thanks to Maybank's incredible support," said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. "The LPGA and Maybank's shared values around elevating and empowering women make this an important partnership for us in this region of the world. Maybank is further demonstrating their commitment to women and our athletes by providing the largest prize fund of our Asian events and a world-class environment."

The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia event was held at the same golf course in Kuala Lumpur from 2010-17. Winners included LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda and Cristie Kerr.

"As a golfer who is proud to represent Malaysia around the world, I'm more than excited to have the LPGA Tour at Kuala Lumpur once again this October," said LPGA player director Kelly Tan. "I believe having a company like Maybank involved with the LPGA is a huge opportunity to help promote and continue developing the game of golf in Malaysia, and I'm thrilled that golf fans in my home country will have the opportunity to watch the world's best women professional golfers compete up close."

-- Field Level Media via REUTERS