Celebrating its 15th year, the event is without last week’s winner Jin Young Ko, but there remains a strong field ready to join the list of winners that includes some of the biggest names in the women’s game, including Lorena Ochoa, Ariya Jutanugarn, Lexi Thompson and Yani Tseng.

Played over 72 holes, the tournament features a limited field and no halfway cut with a guaranteed cheque for every player headed to Pattaya and scoring generally low over the week, with the last five winners reaching 20-under or better.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Thailand’s own Ariya Jutanugarn stormed home with a final round 63 in 2021 to reach 22-under and take home the trophy.

The former World No.1’s final round was without a bogey on the card and included a six-under 30 on the front side. Jutanugarn hit all but one green in regulation, managing to get up and down from the sand the one time she did miscue an approach. Her stellar play delivering a one shot win over compatriot Atthaya Thitikul.

RIGHT: Ariya Jutanugarn won the biggest event held in her home country in 2021. PHOTO: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images.

COURSE: Siam Country Club has four courses on the property, but it is the club’s Old Course that will once again welcome the LPGA Tour this week.

This week marks the 14th time the club will host this event and the 13th time the Isao Mazumi designed Old Course layout will take centre stage.

Updated by Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt in the early 2000s, the par-72 measures 6,576 yards and is not as heavily treed as it once was, with sightlines previously blocked and now features Seashore Paspalum fairways that are better equipped to the climate and weather in the southern part of Thailand.

Water dissects the course and comes into play on a number of holes, while expansive bunkering poses the most significant challenge to scoring, no more so than at the par-5 18th where nine bunkers lie in wait on the dogleg left hole that also has a tree in the fairway right of the green to make approach shots more challenging.

PRIZEMONEY: US$1,600,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With the World No.1 Ko missing here and the Korda sisters remaining stateside, there will be plenty of players fancying their chances of taking home the title this week. With many of the top tier names in good form.

The defending champion, Ariya Jutanugarn, might not have found her best golf yet in 2022, her share of 17th last week in Singapore her best result so far, but the major champion loves playing golf at home. Even the immense pressure that comes with it.

Jutanugarn obviously likes the course and it won’t surprise anyone if she is in the mix come Sunday afternoon.

Of the American contingent, Danielle Kang appears the most likely to record just the third win for her compatriots here after finishing inside the top-10 in all three of her starts this year, including a T9 last week and a win in Florida to start the new season.

The 18th hole of Siam Country Club's Old Course inevitably plays a crucial part in the result of the Honda LPGA Thailand each year. PHOTO: Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images.

Similarly Canada’s Brooke Henderson has been very solid so far this year, although she is yet to get over the line for a win from her four tournaments. A noted ball striker, Henderson has two previous top-10 finishes here and possesses a game that would suggest higher honours across the Old Course.

Based off her impressive start to the season last week, Minjee Lee is one to keep an eye on here as she chases a seventh win on the LPGA Tour.

Rising to World No.4, the 25-year-old was second last week after a blistering final round 63 and her prior form at this event is another good omen for the West Australian.

Lee was the runner-up here in 2019 following a fourth place the year prior, and clearly feeling no competitive rust and with more major championship success on her mind will likely be consistent contender over the year.

Lee’s fellow major winner Hannah Green again makes this list after sharing sixth last week in her first LPGA start on the back of consecutive wins at home.

There is no question the 25-year-old is playing the best golf of her young career and her pair of matching 66s across the weekend in Singapore suggests things might only be getting better, while her lone start at this event yielded a T7 finish last year.

72-HOLE RECORD: 263 (-25, Jessica Korda, 2018)

18-HOLE RECORD: 62 (Jessica Korda, 2018)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winners.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Sarah Kemp and Su Oh.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 2pm – 7pm)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 1pm – 6pm)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 506 LIVE 1pm – 6:30pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 506 LIVE 1pm – 6:30pm)
*AEDT, check local guides