The Honda LPGA Thailand marks the second event of the 2026 LPGA Tour season, returning after a three-week hiatus following Nelly Korda’s victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. This no-cut, 72-hole stroke-play tournament features a 72-player field competing for a $1.8 million purse at the Siam Country Club Old Course. As the 19th edition, it highlights a strong international contingent, including three past champions and eight Thai players, emphasizing precision iron play and putting on a classic parkland layout. Defending champion Angel Yin returns after her record-setting -28 performance in 2025, facing top-ranked challengers like world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and recent LET Saudi Ladies International winner Charley Hull (who is skipping this event). The field boasts a 69% strength rating, up significantly from 2025’s 58.5%, with 76% from the LPGA Priority List and 62% from Rolex Rankings.
Venue Location
The tournament takes place at Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand, approximately 90 minutes southeast of Bangkok and near the Gulf of Thailand. Founded in 1971 by Dr. Thaworn Phornprapha and renovated in 2007, this 800-rai (320-acre) parkland course is tree-lined with rolling fairways and strategic bunkering, sitting at sea level with ocean breezes influencing play. It has hosted the event since 2007 (except 2020 due to COVID), making it a staple for Thailand’s premier LPGA-sanctioned tournament.
Tee time is scheduled for
- Round 1 (Thursday): First tee times begin at 7:45 AM ICT (UTC+7; 4:45 PM PST on February 18). Notable early groups include 7:45 AM (Tee 10): Somi Lee, Jin Hee Im; 7:50 AM (Tee 1): Cassie Porter, Wei-Ling Hsu.
- Round 2 (Friday): Tee times start around 7:45 AM ICT, with groups reversed.
- Rounds 3-4 (Weekend): Tee times from approximately 7:45 AM ICT, with leaders in the afternoon based on standings.
- TV Coverage: Golf Channel (US): 10:00 PM – 3:00 AM ET Thursday/Friday (7:00 PM – 12:00 AM PST); 10:30 PM – 3:30 AM ET Saturday/Sunday. Streaming via LPGA app and ESPN+.
All rounds at Siam Country Club Old Course.
Weather Conditions
Pattaya’s tropical climate promises warm, humid conditions with potential afternoon breezes from the Gulf. Forecast for Chonburi (all times ICT, highs/lows in °F):
| Day | High/Low | Precipitation Chance | Wind | Conditions |
| Thursday (Feb 19) | 89/78 | 58% (possible early showers) | 9-11 mph (SSE, gusts to 15 mph) | Partly cloudy, humid; breezes may affect approaches. |
| Friday (Feb 20) | 90/78 | 22% (isolated showers) | 11 mph (S) | Mostly sunny, warm. |
| Saturday (Feb 21) | 88/80 | 15% | 14 mph (S, gusts to 18 mph) | Partly cloudy, breezy. |
| Sunday (Feb 22) | 88/80 | 5% | 14 mph (S) | Sunny, stable. |
Humidity around 68-79%; light rain early could soften greens, but winds favor accurate ball-strikers.
Course Conditions
Siam Country Club Old Course is a par-72 layout measuring 6,649 yards, with tree-lined fairways, water hazards on 11 holes, and 89 bunkers. It rewards straight driving and strong approaches on undulating Bentgrass/Poa annua greens.
Key features:
- Fairways/Rough: Narrow Kikuyu fairways with 2-3 inch rough, penalizing errant drives but allowing recovery from semi-rough.
- Greens: Medium-sized (average 6,000 sq ft), running at 11-12 on the Stimpmeter—firm, true, and sloped, testing lag putting and short game.
- Bunkers/Hazards: Deep bunkers and water (e.g., par-3 17th island green); doglegs emphasize positioning.
- Difficulty: Scoring average around 69-70 in recent years; toughest holes include par-4 10th (450 yds) and par-5 18th (550 yds). Warm weather may yield low scores, but breezes add challenge.
Tournament History
Established in 2006, this event has seen 18 editions (skipped 2020), with international winners dominating. Multiple champions include Ariya Jutanugarn (2013, 2018) and Amy Yang (2015, 2017, 2019). Thai players often contend, with Jeeno Thitikul’s T4 in 2025 a highlight. Recent winners set low scores due to birdie-friendly conditions.
Recent winners:
| Year | Winner | Score | To Par | Margin | Runner-Up(s) |
| 2025 | Angel Yin (USA) | 260 | -28 | 1 stroke | Akie Iwai |
| 2024 | Patty Tavatanakit (THA) | 267 | -21 | 1 stroke | Albane Valenzuela |
| 2023 | Lilia Vu (USA) | 266 | -22 | 1 stroke | Natthakritta Vongtaveelap |
| 2022 | Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DEN) | 262 | -26 | Playoff | Xiyu Lin |
| 2021 | Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) | 266 | -22 | 5 strokes | Atthaya Thitikul |
Notable: Record low score by Yin in 2025; event promotes Thai golf with local exemptions like Chanoknan Angurasaranee.
Recent Player Forms
The 2026 LPGA season opened with Nelly Korda’s win at the HGV TOC (canceled final round due to weather), where she led at -10, followed by Amy Yang (-9). Many players competed in the LET’s PIF Saudi Ladies International last week, boosting form. Based on SG: Total, top-10s, and recent trends (including Rolex Rankings):
- Jeeno Thitikul (THA, World No. 1): T10 at HGV TOC; strong history here (T4 in 2025); leads SG: Approach early 2026.
- Akie Iwai (JPN): T2 at LET Saudi (-18); runner-up here in 2025; hot putter (top-5 SG: Putting).
- Angel Yin (USA, Defending Champ): T15 at HGV TOC; excels on long courses (top-10 Driving Distance).
- Hye-Jin Choi (KOR): T4 at LET Saudi (-17); consistent irons (ranked 8th SG: Approach 2025).
- Carlota Ciganda (ESP): T4 at LET Saudi (-17); strong scrambler (78% up-and-down).
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- Others Trending Up: Rio Takeda (top-10 HGV TOC, accurate driver); Nanna Koerstz Madsen (2022 winner, T20 HGV); Amy Yang (runner-up HGV, multi-winner here). Rookies like Youmin Hwang (5th HGV) and Gianna Clemente add depth. Top skips: Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Minjee Lee.
Player Matchups
Round 1 tee times (ICT, selected from Tee 1/10; all times approximate):
- 7:45 AM (Tee 10): Somi Lee, Jin Hee Im.
- 7:50 AM (Tee 1): Cassie Porter, Wei-Ling Hsu.
- 8:02 AM (Tee 1): Gurleen Kaur, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard.
- 8:09 AM (Tee 10): Lindy Duncan, Minami Katsu, Megan Khang.
- 8:26 AM (Tee 1): Danielle Kang, Auston Kim, Robyn Choi.
- Featured Groups: Jeeno Thitikul, Angel Yin, Akie Iwai (time TBD); Jin Young Ko, Yan Liu (8:14 AM Tee 1); Ariya Jutanugarn with locals.
Key head-to-heads: Thitikul vs. Yin (No. 1 vs. defending); Iwai vs. Choi (recent LET standouts).
