Women’s World Championship 2025 Tips: Minjee our headline pick for Singapore

There’s one leg down of the LPGA’s East Asian swing and before ending this trio of events in China next week, we first head to Singapore for the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course this week.

Our expert golf tipster Jamie Worsley has previewed this event in his Women's World Championship 2025 Tips,  featuring six selections ranging from 28/1 all the way out to 200/1!

Angel Yin had been trending towards a second LPGA win for the best part of six months, and she finally got the rewards for her consistency in last week’s Honda LPGA Thailand. In what was a remarkable final round at Siam Country Club.

Entering the last day with a five-shot lead, you could’ve been forgiven for thinking a cool seven-under 65 would’ve been enough for the American to cruise to a comfortable victory. However, Japan’s Akie Iwai had other ideas, shooting an incredible 11-under 61 to push her all the way and after an eagle on her 72^nd, Yin was left needing a birdie to win outright.

She duly delivered to claim her second LPGA win in a little over 16 months and if she keeps up this kind of form, she’s going to be a serious player with major season on the horizon.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The HSBC Women’s World Championship was first held in 2008 at Tanah Merah Country Club, where it stayed until 2012. The tournament switched to Sentosa Golf Club in 2013; initially at the club’s Serapong Course, before moving to the Tanjong Course in 2017, where it has remained ever since.

An event that attracts a high-class limited field is bound to boast an impressive list of winners, which includes Lorena Ochoa (2008) and Karrie Webb (2011). Whilst this event also proved to be the scene of Michelle Wie’s last pro win in 2018.

However, there are only two players who have etched their name onto this trophy on more than one occasion: the Korean duo of Inbee Park (2015, 2017) and Jin Young Ko (2022, 2023).

Last five winners:

• 2024 – WINNER: HANNAH GREEN (-13)

Runner-up: Celine Boutier (-12)

• 2023 – WINNER: JIN YOUNG KO (-17)

Runner-up: Nelly Korda (-15)

• 2022 – WINNER: JIN YOUNG KO (-17)

Runners-up: Ingee Chun, Minjee Lee (-15)

• 2021 – WINNER: HYO JOO KIM (-17)

Runner-up: Hannah Green (-16)

• 2019 – WINNER: SUNG HYUN PARK (-15)

Runner-up: Minjee Lee (-13)

Australia’s Hannah Green broke South Korea’s recent stranglehold on this event last year, for what was then her fourth LPGA win. Having recorded a further two victories after that in 2024, she returns to defend as a now six-time LPGA winner.

THE COURSE

The Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club was designed by Frank Pennink in 1974. However, it was completely overhauled by Andrew Johnston in 2016, who also acts as the course superintendent.

He continues to tweak with the layout, adding a new strategic bunker to the landing area on the 18^th fairway in 2023 and prior to this year’s renewal, the fairways have been narrowed.

This par 72 is one of the longest courses played on tour, measuring 6779 yards, and it possesses 4x par 3s (178-199yds), 10x par 4s (348-424yds) and 4x par 5s (501-559yds). The course has provided a solid test of golf since beginning its association with this event, averaging a winning score of -16.4 in the seven renewals here.

The Tanjong Course is loosely tree-lined and while the undulating, gently doglegging zoysia fairways have been narrowed, they’re still reasonably generous. Many of them bottleneck and although bunkers aren’t overly abundant, they are smartly placed.

There are frequent elevation changes, which impacts club selection into the large and sloping bermudagrass greens, that could hit a speedy 12 on the stimp this week if the weather allows. Large bunkers hug many of the surfaces and along with countless false fronts, offer ample protection.

Water is the biggest threat at this course, in-play on 12 holes in total. It protects each of the par 3s and is also a prominent feature down the closing stretch, coming into play on five of the last six.

The collection of par 3s and 5s are long, but there are plenty of attackable par 4s, with seven of the 10 measuring under 400 yards. That being said, nothing is given away for free at the Tanjong Course and players will need to hit the ball well to make the most of the scoring chances this week.

THE WEATHER

The forecast isn’t looking great, with thunderstorms predicted throughout the entire week, which could create a frustrating, stop/start event. However, the wind doesn’t look to be too severe and when the players are actually out there, they could take advantage of a soft, receptive course in benign conditions.

KEY STATS

• SG: Approach

Strong iron play into these large, sloping greens is typically the most important asset at the Tanjong Course, and with the soft conditions expected this week, that’s likely to be even more prevalent.

Last year’s top two here last year, Hannah Green and Celine Boutier were among the best approach players on tour last season, ranking 18^th and 5^th respectively.

Jin Young Ko led the field in approach in this event in 2023 and was also 20^th in 2022; a year in which runners-up, Minjee Lee and Ingee Chun ranked 1^st and 7^th.

Other past champions, such as Hyo Joo Kim (2021), Michelle Wie (2018) and Inbee Park (2017) are/were all strong iron players.

• SG: Off-the-Tee/Driving Distance

With winners such as Inbee Park, Hyo Joo Kim and Jin Young Ko here, you clearly don’t need to be a big hitter to contend, despite the course’s length. That being said, it’s going to play even longer due to the incoming rain and it’s hard not to see that benefitting the power players.

Last year’s winner, Hannah Green is a solid driver who doesn’t lack for length. This was very much the case for 2019 and 2018 champions, Sung Hyun Park and Michelle Wie.

• SG: Putting (bermudagrass)

The size of these greens means players are bound to be left with some lengthy putts and anybody who typically excels on bermudagrass surfaces should be respected.

Our defending champion, Hannah Green was the 21^st-best putter on tour last year; Jin Young Ko ranked 6^th on the greens in her 2022 victory; whilst the winner of the first event staged here, Inbee Park, is one of the best putters to tee it up on the LPGA.

• Par 4 Scoring

Scoring well on the par 4s is key to unlocking this course and we don’t have to look far for evidence of this, as 2024 winner, Hannah Green ranked 4^th in par 4 scoring on the LPGA last year.

Indeed, every previous winner of the event has ranked among the best par 4 scorers on tour in their respective year, with Jin Young Ko ranking 1^st in 2023, Hyo Joo Kim 11^th in 2021; Sung Hyun Park ranked 3^rd in 2019, as did Inbee Park in 2017.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

2023 & 2024 BMW Ladies Championship (Seowon Hills)

Seowon Hills is a reasonably lengthy and loosely tree-lined course with generous, undulating fairways, elevation changes and large, speedy greens. All which has helped it develop strong form ties with the Tanjong Course in a short space of time.

Notable correlating form:

Hannah Green:

HSBC WWC (1^st, 2^nd) / BMW Ladies (1^st)

Minjee Lee:

HSBC WWC (2^nd, 2^nd) / BMW Ladies (1^st)

Celine Boutier:

HSBC WWC (2^nd) / BMW Ladies (2^nd, 5^th)

Jeongeun Lee6:

HSBC WWC (4^th) / BMW Ladies (5^th)

Jeeno Thitikul:

HSBC WWC (4^th) / BMW Ladies (5^th, 8^th)

Maybank Championship (Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club – West Course)

Kuala Lumpur G&CC’s West Course is another undulating venue in a similar climate to this week. It possesses average-wide fairways and large bermudagrass greens, that play at a comparable speed to what players will encounter this week.

Notable correlating form:

Hannah Green:

HSBC WWC (1^st, 2^nd) / Maybank (6^th)

Celine Boutier:

HSBC WWC (2^nd) / Maybank (1^st)

Brooke Henderson:

HSBC WWC (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th) / Maybank (6^th)

Jeeno Thitikul:

HSBC WWC (4^th) / Maybank (2^nd, 2^nd)

Chevron Championship (Carlton Woods – Nicklaus Course)

As with this week’s venue, the Nicklaus Course at Carlton Woods is one of the lengthiest courses on tour, measuring over 6800yds. Generous fairways and large, sloping bermudagrass greens are again in play there, on which tournament organisers can utilise some devilish pin positions.

Notable correlating form:

Brooke Henderson:

HSBC WWC (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th) / Chevron (3^rd)

Allisen Corpuz:

HSBC WWC (3^rd, 8^th) / Chevron (4^th)

Jeeno Thitikul:

HSBC WWC (4^th) / Chevron (4^th)

Amy Yang:

HSBC WWC (6^th) / Chevron (4^th)

The ANNIKA (Pelican Golf Club)

Pelican Golf Club is a typically flat Florida course. However, with its spacious, loosely tree-lined fairways and huge bermudagrass greens, which are squeezed by formidable bunkering, it has many aspects of play in common with our host venue in Singapore.

Notable correlating form:

Hannah Green:

HSBC WWC (1^st, 2^nd) / ANNIKA (4^th)

Brooke Henderson:

HSBC WWC (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th) / ANNIKA (5^th, 6^th)

Azahara Munoz:

HSBC WWC (3^rd) / ANNIKA (2^nd)

Allisen Corpuz:

HSBC WWC (3^rd, 8^th) / ANNIKA (3^rd)

Amy Yang:

HSBC WWC (6^th) / ANNIKA (4^th)

Arkansas Championship (Pinnacle Country Club)

Last on the list for this week is Pinnacle Country Club, host of the Arkansas Championship. This rolling, tree-lined course features regular elevation changes, generous zoysia fairways – which are protected by limited but strategically placed bunkers – and large, quick greens.

Notable correlating form:

Sung Hyun Park:

HSBC WWC (1^st, 3^rd) / Arkansas (1^st)

Hyo Joo Kim:

HSBC WWC (1^st) / Arkansas (2^nd)

Minjee Lee:

HSBC WWC (2^nd, 2^nd) / Arkansas (2^nd, 3^rd)

Danielle Kang:

HSBC WWC (2^nd, 3^rd) / Arkansas (2^nd, 2^nd, 4^th)

Jenny Shin:

HSBC WWC (2^nd) / Arkansas (3^rd, 5^th)

Yuka Saso:

HSBC WWC (2^nd) / Arkansas (4^th)

Celine Boutier:

HSBC WWC (2^nd) / Arkansas (5^th)

Nasa Hataoka:

HSBC WWC (3^rd) / Arkansas (1^st, 1^st)

Yuna Nishimura:

HSBC WWC (3^rd) / Arkansas (3^rd)

Azahara Munoz:

HSBC WWC (3^rd) / Arkansas (3^rd)

Jeeno Thitikul:

HSBC WWC (4^th) / Arkansas (1^st)

Amy Yang:

HSBC WWC (6^th) / Arkansas (2^nd)

THE FIELD

As usual, the HSBC Women’s World Championship has attracted a super-strong field, which includes nine of the world’s top 10 and 18 of the top 25. World #1, Nelly Korda is the only absentee from that top 10, with Jeeno Thitikul the highest-ranked player in this limited 66-woman field at #2.

Hannah Green is our defending champion, and she is joined by the previous two winners: Jin Young Ko (2023, 2022) and Hyo Joo Kim (2021).

Japanese stars, Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda each make their first starts in this event. Whilst the top Singaporean player in the world, Shannon Tan receives a sponsor’s invite to also make her debut.

Women's World Championship 2025 Odds

SELECTIONS

Market leaders: Jeeno Thitikul 5/1, Lydia Ko 11/1, Jin Young Ko 12/1, Haeran Ryu 14/1, Miyu Yamashita 16/1

The weather and possible delays that may come with it could make this a volatile event; therefore, I’m not interested in getting too involved at the top of the betting this week.

Instead, I’m going to start down at the 28/1 mark with a player who has a good record here and has made a positive start to this season, Minjee Lee.

1.75 pts Minjee Lee each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 28/1

2024 was Minjee’s worst season on tour since 2017, as she recorded just one top-five finish on the LPGA. She was by no means dreadful, missing only five cuts and hitting the top 10 on a further five occasions, but it was nowhere the level we’re use to seeing from her.

However, she looked great in the 2025 season opener, finishing 4^th in the Tournament of Champions and after a rock-solid 28^th-place finish on her latest start in the Founders Cup, she looks in a much better place at the start of this year.

It’s been incredibly encouraging to see the putter firing, as it’s usually the area in which she struggles most. Whilst we’re only three events into this new season, she ranks 2^nd on the greens so far.

She hasn’t quite found her full stride with the long game as yet, but as the best iron player on tour last season, and a strong, lengthy driver, we know she has it in her locker.

Minjee has a great record here having finished 2^nd on two occasions, in 2019 and 2022. Her most recent LPGA victory in the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship also bodes well for this challenge, as does two top-three finishes in Arkansas.

1.25 pts Hye-Jin Choi each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 40/1

Hye-Jin Choi was in good form at the end of last season and with plenty of positives to be found from her seasonal reappearance in Thailand, she looks an interesting contender this week.

Choi recorded four top-eights across her final six starts on the LPGA last year, looking particularly good when 4^th in the BMW Ladies Championship. She returned to finish a solid 26^th last week at Siam Country Club, shooting three rounds in the 60s and with just a disappointing 75 in round three to blot her scorecard, she can build on that here.

The lack of strokes-gained data for that event is frustrating but she appeared to hit the ball excellently, finding more fairways than anyone and also recording a high greens-in-regulation percentage of 79%. This is in-keeping with her performances from last year, as she ranked 41^st in approach and 53^rd off-the-tee; combined with rankings of 20^th in putting and 19^th in par 4 scoring, she has the skillset to tackle this layout.

Choi has played here three times and recorded top-20 finishes in the last two years. That 4^th-place finish in the BMW Ladies Championship, along with a 6^th in the Maybank Championship, look like a couple of handy pieces of comp form and suggests she can go even better at the Tanjong Course.

1 pt Lilia Vu each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 55/1

It all looked a bit of a struggle for Lilia Vu on her return to action last week, as she began with three straight over-par rounds. However, she looked to have finally blown the cobwebs away in round four, shooting a three-under 69 and having gone well here previously, and possessing some excellent form in correlating events, this multiple major winner looks well worth rolling the dice on at the price.

Vu has been blighted with back trouble since her spectacular 2023 season, but this still didn’t stop her winning again last year, in the Meijer LPGA Classic. In addition, she also recorded two major championship runner-up finishes, which came in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Women’s Open.

Her strength was in her putting in 2024, ranking 14^th. The long game regressed somewhat – understandable due to the injury problems – but it was by no means poor, ranking 49^th in approach and as a player who scores well on the par 4s, achieving a rank of 9^th last year, she is a good fit for this setup.

Vu certainly appeared to enjoy the course on debut in 2023, finishing 14^th thanks to four straight two-under-par rounds. Whilst as a past champion of the Chevron Championship and The ANNIKA, she has plenty of winning form on large and tricky bermudagrass greens.

0.75 pts Yuka Saso each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 100/1

Two-time US Women’s Open winner, Yuka Saso found her best effort of the season in Thailand. Having enjoyed positive experiences of this course, right from her amateur days to the pro ranks, she looks a big price in Singapore.

Saso again showed herself as a player for the big occasions last year, as she left behind some otherwise average form to win her second US Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club by three shots. She did only record one further top five from there, underwhelming towards the end of the year, but after continuing that into this year, she improved her performance in Thailand, shooting four under-par rounds to finish 17^th.

Again, due to the lack of more detailed data, we don’t know exactly how she achieved that finish last week, though she appeared to be typically good with driver and putter. Indeed, these are the areas she excelled in last year, ranking 11^th off-the-tee (as well as 25^th in driving distance) and 17^th in putting. Assets that will be of use at Sentosa.

Saso debuted in this event in 2022, finishing 43^rd, but she has stepped up on that markedly in the last two years, finishing 6^th in 2023 and 17^th last year. We shouldn’t be surprised by her ability to perform here, as she finished 2^nd at the course in the 2018 Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur and having finished 4^th in Arkansas, she possesses a handy piece of comp form to boot.

0.75 pts Maja Stark each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 125/1

Maja Stark bookended her week with quality in Thailand and although she hasn’t quite fired in two previous trips to Sentosa Golf Club, she has form elsewhere that suggests she can do much better.

Stark enjoyed a great start to last season, recording three top-three finishes across her first nine starts and although struggling through the middle part of the year, she again hit the top five on her third-last start of the year in the Maybank Championship.

After missing the cut on her first start of 2025, she finished 28^th last week, opening with a brilliant 65 and recorded another round in the 60s on the final day.

The long game looked in good shape there, especially the driver, which comes as no surprise as she ranked 29^th off-the-tee and 50^th driving distance in 2024. She failed to get much going on the greens but as a typically sound putter, it’s not a major concern.

Stark hasn’t hit the top 50 in two starts here, but as shown by finishes of 2^nd in the Chevron Championship and 4^th in the Maybank Championship, she’s more than capable of playing well here.

0.75 pts Chanettee Wannasaen each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 200/1

We were on Chanettee Wannasaen at a huge price last week and though ultimately fading to 24^th, she gave us plenty to cheer over the first two rounds. Her game looked in good shape for the most part and after a promising debut effort here last year, she is worth taking again this week.

Wannasaen hit the top five on four occasions last season, including recording a second tour victory in the Dana Open. After struggling to get going in her first two starts in 2025, I fancied she’d improve in Thailand, which she did with that 24^th-place finish – an event in which she sat inside the top 10 at the halfway point – and I’m hoping that jolt of positivity can bring about another good performance in Singapore.

She finished a solid 29^th on her debut at the Tanjong Course last year, doing all of her best work with a four-under 68 in round four. As a strong top-40 driver who also gained strokes in approach and on the greens last year, the Thai star has much in her favour to perform at this venue.

That belief is strengthened by Wannasaen’s latest top-five finish on the LPGA, which came courtesy of a 3^rd-place finish in last year’s BMW Ladies Championship.

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