Gino-Athaya Thitikul faces off against Angel Yin, the defending champion, to open the Honda LPGA Thailand 2026 as the world No. 1, marking her first time playing in Thailand in this role. Eight Thai female golfers are participating.
On 18 Feb 2026 GMT+7, the long-awaited Honda LPGA Thailand 2026 golf tournament is set to begin. Eight Thai female golfers will showcase world-class swings, led by Gino-Athaya Thitikul, the world No. 1, teeing off on 19 Feb. She will play in the same group as Angel Yin, the 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand champion and world No. 13 from the United States, and Akie Iwai, world No. 19 from Japan.
The 19th edition of the global women's golf tournament, Honda LPGA Thailand 2026, will take place from 19–22 Feb 2026 GMT+7 at Siam Country Club Old Course, Pattaya, Chonburi Province. The event features 72 top LPGA Tour golfers competing for a total prize of $1.8 million (approximately 60 million baht). Special hole-in-one prizes include a Honda GoldWing motorcycle worth 1,355,000 baht at hole 8 and a new Honda CR-V e:HEV RS with Modulo accessories valued at 1,863,220 baht at hole 16.
Eight Thai female golfers are competing in this event: Gino-Athaya Thitikul, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Chanettee Wannasaen, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pornanong Phatlum, April Angkulanon, and Prims Pratchanakorn—the only amateur in the field. They will compete against world-class players such as Miyu Yamashita, world No. 5 from Japan; Lydia Ko, world No. 6 from New Zealand; Ruo Ning Yin, world No. 7 from China; defending champion Angel Yin, world No. 13 from the USA; and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand champion from Denmark, among others.
Gino-Athaya Thitikul, the world No. 1, expressed, "I'm very happy to return to compete in the Honda LPGA Thailand, a prestigious tournament I've been connected with since my grandfather took me to watch it as a child. Seeing world-class golfers like Michelle Wie and Ai Miyazato inspired me greatly. Competing here for the first time felt like a dream come true, and I hope to pass this inspiration on to younger players."
The 2025 LPGA Tour Female Player of the Year said that during the new season's start, she is working on improving her game, especially her irons, as good iron play benefits her putting and overall performance. She doesn’t focus heavily on results but on playing well each tournament. She is familiar with Siam Country Club Old Course, though she notes the greens seem faster now and require adjustment. The biggest challenge in golf is oneself, as daily life brings many events that require managing thoughts, emotions, and feelings positively.
Angel Yin, world No. 13 from the USA and 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand champion who set an LPGA record with 28 under par, returns to defend her title. She stated her form last year was excellent but this year she aims to improve consistency. On the first day, she will play alongside Gino-Athaya and Akie Iwai, world No. 19 from Japan. She especially admires Gino-Athaya’s consistent play that propelled her to world No. 1, calling it very impressive.
Miyu Yamashita, world No. 5 from Japan and winner of two LPGA professional tournaments including the Women's Open major, said this is her first time playing in Thailand and she feels very excited. She is aiming to perform her best this week. Winning the 2025 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award last season boosted her confidence and helped her qualify for this event, which she is very proud of.
Moriya Jutanugarn, 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand champion and currently world No. 25, said she feels excited every time she returns to this tournament, having participated since she was 11 years old. Much has changed since winning in 2021, especially in her game and planning. She plans to adapt well to the course and aims to play consistently well across all 18 holes over the four days.
Pajaree Anannarukarn, world No. 49, said it is a special occasion to play in the Honda LPGA Thailand annually in front of fans, supporters, and family. She feels good every time and will do her best. This year she aims to master green speed to enjoy playing more. She hopes to win but focuses first on playing her best in each moment.
Pornanong Phatlum, who has been on the LPGA Tour for 16 years and is currently world No. 258, was invited to compete in the Honda LPGA Thailand 2026. She said she is glad to return to the event, feels she still has the passion for golf, and wants to practice and prepare to perform well. She added that professional sports, including golf, require discipline and great patience.
April Angkulanon, 2026 Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers champion, expressed happiness at her effort paying off to qualify for this competition. She aims to perform her best. She noted that the Thai golf scene is booming and hopes to see more Thai female golfers participating in the Honda LPGA Thailand each year.
Prims Pratchanakorn, a 17-year-old Thai national team golfer and two-time SEA Games gold medalist (individual and women’s team) at the 33rd SEA Games, is the only amateur in this event. She said last week at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in New Zealand she faced cold and windy weather, requiring her to adjust her play. She sees this Honda LPGA Thailand week as a good opportunity to gain new experiences to further develop herself.
Tickets for the Honda LPGA Thailand 2026 are now on sale at hondalpgathailand.com. Single-day tickets cost 500 baht for Thursday–Friday and 700 baht for Saturday–Sunday. Two-day weekend tickets cost 1,200 baht, and four-day tickets are 1,600 baht. Special discounts of up to 15% are available for B-Fast credit and debit cardholders from Bangkok Bank. Additionally, spectators under 16 and over 60 years old can register for free entry. Live broadcasts will be available via AIS Play.