World No.1 Lydia Ko will play at next month's Honda LPGA Thailand, organisers said yesterday.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand. afp SAM GREENWOOD
The 19-year-old New Zealander will take part in the tournament for the second time after her debut in 2014.
The 2017 edition offers a total purse of US$1.6 million and will be held at Siam Country Club's Old Course in Pattaya from Feb 23-26.
Ko is the only golfer who is ranked higher than Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, the player who pipped her for the 2016 LPGA player of the year award.
With Ko in the field, the Honda event is expected to attract a record attendance.
The 21-year-old Ariya, who won five times last year, will begin her 2017 campaign in the Bahamas later this month.
She has said that her goal this year is to wrest the top spot from Ko.
Ko suffered a slump in form in the second half of the 2016 season and parted company with coach David Leadbetter.
The Kiwi, who won four titles last year, has also switched to new equipment.
Meanwhile, former world No.1 Park In-Bee told lpga.com that she will return to action at the 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand.
The South Korean, who won in Pattaya in 2013, has not played on the LPGA Tour since missing the cut at the Women's PGA Championship in June.
However, she played at the Rio Olympics in August and won the gold medal.
The 11th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand features 70 players including Thais Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum.
Lexi Thompson claimed the title last year to become the first American champion of Thailand's premier women's golf event.