Home star Atthaya Thitikul will try to win the title at this week's Honda LPGA Thailand as a birthday present.
The Ratchaburi native, who turned 20 on Monday, warmed up for the LPGA Thailand by finishing joint 18th at the Saudi Ladies International in Jeddah in her first start of the year on Sunday.
The 16th edition of the LPGA Thailand will be held at Siam Country Club in Pattaya from Thursday to Sunday.
World No.4 Atthaya came close to winning the tournament in 2021 when she lost to compatriot Ariya Jutanugarn by one shot.
Ariya remains the only local winner of the LPGA Thailand.
Atthaya, affectionately called Jeen or Jeeno by the media and fans, has since become a big star on the LPGA Tour.
She won two LPGA tournaments in her first season on the tour and claimed the 2022 rookie of the year award.
Other Thais in this week's field include major winners Ariya and Patty Tavatanakit, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Pornanong Phatlum.
World No.1 Lydia Ko will be the favourite to win the 2023 LPGA Thailand after her triumph at the Saudi Ladies International.
Ko's win was her third in her last four worldwide starts.
The New Zealander won the LPGA's season-ending Tour Championship in November to earn the 2022 player of the year award.
It was her last tournament before tying the knot with Chung Jun, the son of a prominent Korean businessman, in her birthplace Seoul during the off-season.
"Sadly, I could not participate in 2022, but I am hopeful I can make up for that with success at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2023," Ko said recently.
"I'm excited to be back in Thailand to experience the great Thai hospitality and warmth that surrounds the event once again."
Apart from Ko and Atthaya, other big-name stars in the 72-player field include No.2 Nelly Korda, No.3 Minjee Lee, No.5 Ko Jin-Young, No.6 Brooke Henderson, and No.8 Chun In-Gee.
Ko Jin-Young is returning from a wrist injury that ruined her 2022 season.
"I'm ready for a good 2023 season and aim to give my best at the Honda LPGA Thailand. The strategy is to be consistent on Siam Country Club's Old Course," said the South Korean.
"I also like being here in Thailand as there's always a warm welcome and the fans are great."
Nanna Koerstz Madsen from Denmark will defend the title.
Last year, she saw her lifelong dream of winning on the LPGA Tour come true with a clutch 10-footer for eagle on the second play-off hole to defeat China's Lin Xiyu.
Twelve months later, the Dane returns to Siam Country Club to defend a title for the first time in her career this week.