Asia Awakening: Why Thailand’s LPGA Opener Signals a Tour Shift We’ve Been Waiting For

After 35 years covering professional golf, I’ve learned that the tournaments that matter most aren’t always the majors. Sometimes they’re the ones that tell you something true about where a sport is heading. Thursday’s opening round at LPGA Thailand was one of those moments—and frankly, it’s got me thinking about the future of women’s golf in ways I haven’t in quite some time.

Let me be direct: what we saw on the Siam Country Club Old Course wasn’t just a solid opening day at a regional event. It was a statement about the LPGA’s commitment to Asia and, more importantly, about the depth and maturity of the women’s game right now.

Hataoka and Wannasaen Set the Tone

Nasa Hataoka’s 7-under 65 to share the lead with Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen tells you something important about competitive balance in women’s professional golf. Hataoka is a proven winner—five individual LPGA titles, two International Crown victories—and she came out firing. But she didn’t run away from the field. That’s actually healthy.

“I think my tee shots and iron shots were pretty good today, and that’s why I was able to create so many birdie chances,” said the 27-year-old Hataoka.

What I liked about Hataoka’s comment is the precision. She didn’t talk about getting lucky or having “one of those days.” She identified the specific elements of her game that worked. That’s the mark of a mature professional who understands her craft. Having caddied for Tom Lehman back in the ’90s, I can tell you that mindset is what separates consistent winners from one-hit wonders.

The fact that Wannasaen, a Thai player, is tied at the top in her home country is exactly what the LPGA should want. Local interest, legitimate competitive golf, and a player who belongs at the highest level. That’s not a feel-good story manufactured for marketing purposes—it’s genuine competitive equity.

The Real Storyline: Depth Below the Surface

Here’s what struck me most: the leaderboard was wonderfully crowded.

Opening Round Leaders:

• Tied for 1st: Nasa Hataoka (65), Chanettee Wannasaen (65)
• Tied for 3rd: Gemma Dryburgh (66), Somi Lee, Hye-Jin Choi
• Tied for 6th: Jeeno Thitikul (67), Lydia Ko (67), and 8 others
• Defending Champion: Angel Yin (69)

Gemma Dryburgh shot 66 after opening with an eagle and three birdies. Thitikul, the world’s top-ranked player at just 22 years old, was seven shots back but hardly out of the picture. Even defending champion Angel Yin at 69 is well within striking distance. This is what competitive depth looks like.

In my experience covering 15 Masters and countless other majors, this kind of distribution actually makes for better tournaments. It means multiple narratives, multiple potential winners, and genuine suspense. That’s what casual fans want to watch.

Thitikul’s Perspective: The Game’s Evolution

Here’s a moment that really got me thinking about generational change. When Thitikul reflected on playing in Thailand for the first time at 14, she said something that perfectly captures how the LPGA has evolved:

“I couldn’t believe like time flies so fast. I mean, yesterday I just sitting on the coach in the hotel room and imagine I couldn’t believe how far that I have been come from 14 to now.”

That’s a 22-year-old world No. 1 looking back at her 14-year-old self with genuine amazement at her own trajectory. The LPGA’s commitment to developing international players—especially in Asia—has created a pipeline of talent that didn’t exist when I started covering this tour in the ’90s. Thitikul isn’t an outlier; she’s becoming more typical of the tour’s composition.

The Korda Question: What We’re Missing

Now, I want to address something that’s been nagging at me: Nelly Korda’s absence. She won the Tournament of Champions just weeks ago—her first victory in 14 months—and she’s skipping the early Asia swing for the third consecutive year. This is the third year running.

I’m not going to pile on Korda. She’s an exceptional talent and a major champion. But I think it’s worth noting: the LPGA’s commitment to this three-tournament Asian stretch is real and serious, and it matters when top-ranked Americans opt out. Not because it’s disrespectful or wrong—athletes have legitimate scheduling preferences—but because it sends a message about priorities.

The tour is building something here. Consecutive weeks in Thailand, Singapore, and China represent a statement that women’s professional golf is global in ways it wasn’t a decade ago. That’s the real story.

Looking Forward

What I’m watching closely over the next two weeks is whether this opening round’s competitive balance holds. Will we see the same kind of distributed leaderboard, or will one or two players break away? My money is on seeing fresh faces in contention. That’s the strongest indicator of a healthy professional tour.

The LPGA Thailand isn’t a major championship. It never will be. But it’s become something arguably more important: proof that women’s professional golf has truly globalized, with legitimate competitive depth across continents and cultures. After three and a half decades watching this game evolve, I find that genuinely exciting.