Jiyai Shin and Lorena Ochoa will go head to head at 2010 HSBC Women’s Champions

Contributed by Lorna Campbell

Singapore, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 – Winners of the HSBC Women's Champions 2008 and 2009, Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin, will return to Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) from 25-28 February 2010 to challenge for the top honours once again. HSBC made the announcement today, underlining the prestige and allure of ´Asia's Major' to the best female golfers in the world.

World number one and the inaugural ´Champion of Champions', Lorena Ochoa of Mexico will make her third appearance in Singapore and look to continue her fine form at the start of her eighth year on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Ochoa is also the Rolex Player of the Year for a fourth consecutive season in 2009.

Ochoa is excited to be coming back to Singapore saying, "I am very much looking forward to returning to Tanah Merah and trying to win a second HSBC Women's Champions title. Singapore is a fantastic city to visit and I am sure that we will have another excellent tournament in February."

Defending Champion and World number two, Jiyai Shin enthused, "I have had an amazing year and it all started when I won the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore in March. The confidence I took from both playing my final two rounds in 12 under par and coming out on top of such a strong field of the world's best players, really kick-started my season and definitely played a big part in helping me reach a career high of Number 2 in the World Ranking. I am very excited to return as defending champion."

In her first full year on Tour, Shin topped the LPGA Official Money List for 2009 with three titles and an additional nine top-ten finishes and won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award. With her remarkable victory at the HSBC Women's Champions, after a second successive six-under par 66 on Sunday, she also became a Rolex First-Time Winner.

The 63-player line-up of the world's top female golfers will come to Singapore for only the second event on the 2010 LPGA schedule. They will be refreshed after the winter break and ready to tackle the Garden Course at TMCC, playing for a share of the US$1.3million prize purse.

"This is a world class tournament featuring champions and we are delighted that our two defending champions will be returning to challenge for top honours," said Robbie Henchman, Senior Vice President of the tournament promoters, IMG.

He continued, "The world's best golfers will join both Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin when the HSBC Women's Champions kicks off in February and fans will be able to catch thrilling golf action in one of the premier tournaments on the LPGA calendar."

More star players confirmed to make an appearance in Singapore will be announced in the New Year. Along with two sponsors invites, the field will be completed by the winning Singaporean amateur or professional of a two-day local qualifying tournament taking place at TMCC on 20-21 January. In 2008, Amelia Yong represented the host country and fourteen year old Joey Poh had the honour in 2009.

Event Details

Player Field:
Qualification criteria for the HSBC Women's Champions 2010 caters for a maximum number of 63 players. There will be no cut, so all will play the full 72 holes. Those invited to participate will be:

Top 20 players from the Rolex Women's World Ranking (as of December 31, 2009)
LPGA Tournament Champions from 2009
HSBC Women's Champions Winners from 2008 and 2009
2010 Honda LPGA Thailand Winner
Two Sponsors invites
Singapore Qualifier
To fill the field to 63, leading players on the LPGA Tour Money List not other qualified (as of year ending 2009 LPGA Money List)

Format/Criteria: 72 hole stroke play event - no cut
Prize Purse: US$ 1.3 million

Ticketing Details:
Tickets for the HSBC Women's Champions 2010 are on sale from 16 December 2009 to 28 February 2010. You can purchase your tickets at any of the SISTIC outlets or log on to www.sistic.com.sg.