Singapore, 26 February 2026 – American Auston Kim set the early pace after carding a first round six-under-par 66 to lead the stacked field at the HSBC Women’s World Championship on Thursday.
The 25-year-old leads by one over China’s Yan Liu (67) after navigating through the challenging par-72, 6,212 yards course at The Tanjong, Sentosa Golf Club, with a commanding round that featured seven birdies and one bogey.
A group of five players – Sweden’s Linn Grant, Japan’s Miyu Yamashita, England’s Mimi Rhodes, Korea’s Haeran Ryu, and American Lindy Duncan – are tied for third after posting matching 68s.
Chen Xingtong, who is making her third appearance at the championship after winning the national qualifier, emerged as the leading Singaporean after signing for a 70 to take a share of 14th place.
Kim credited her resilience and sharp recovery play for a near-flawless round that left her beaming with satisfaction for seizing the early lead under steamy conditions.
“Mission accomplished today. I feel like I won the day. But there are still three more rounds to go. I really enjoyed being out there, had a lot of fun, and felt like I stuck to my process well. Now it’s just about doing the same thing for the next three days — trying my best and trying to win each day.”
When asked which aspect of her game worked, Kim said: “I hit a lot of really good shots today, and every time I hit a bad one, I was able to recover. I made three big par saves that really kept my round together and allowed me to go low.”
Liu enjoyed a memorable championship debut with a composed round that included seven birdies against two bogeys, keeping her firmly in contention for a maiden LPGA title.
“It’s my first time here, and during the practice rounds I felt the course was very challenging. So today I stayed fully focused and committed to every shot, and that was the most important thing for me,” said Liu.
Ryu, a three-time LPGA winner who has captured at least one title in each season since her rookie year in 2023, is now chasing her next victory in the Lion City after firing five birdies against a lone bogey.
“I’m usually a slow starter, so I just tried to enjoy the round and keep working hard on my swing and shot control. Today I hit the ball well, and I’m really happy with how my swing feels,” said the 24-year-old.
Rhodes, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, justified her place in the US$3 million field with an impressive start that saw her go toe-to-toe with the world’s elite.
“It shows me that even my ‘B’ game can compete here, and when I bring my ‘A’ game, I can really challenge the best players. That’s something I’ve dreamed about since turning professional,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chen credited her growing experience for her confident showing in front of home supporters.
“This is my third time here, so I handled it much better. I’m more used to the adrenaline from the crowds and feel I’ve matured a lot as a player over the past few years. That has given me much more confidence,” said the 17-year-old.
The HSBC Women’s World Championship is hosted at The Tanjong Course, Sentosa Golf Club for the 13thtime. Sentosa continues to receive global recognition for its leadership in sustainable golf and championship venue status, with The Serapong recently being named Asia’s Best Golf Course and Singapore’s Best Golf Course at the 2025 World Golf Awards.
Partners of the 2026 HSBC Women’s World Championship are: Sentosa, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Marina Bay Sands, Lexus, Nunchi Marine, Singapore Airlines, Rolex, Hilton Singapore, AON, Epson, Puma, COBRA Golf, Ecco, Sony, Sunbird Brewing Company, Technogym, Loch Lomond Whisky, Titleist, Bluewater, Tanglin Gin, Yeo’s, Telmont, 2XU and SParms.
