KARRIE WEBB TO DEFEND HSBC CHAMPIONS' TITLE IN SINGAPORE

NEWS RELEASE
Singapore - LPGA legend and Hall of Famer Karrie Webb will return to defend her HSBC Women’s Champions title at the Tanah Merah Country Club from February 23 to 26 February.
The Australian golfing legend, currently ranked 18th in the official Rolex Rankings, will be returning to the club where she won last year’s title with hopes of repeating her winning performance.
The 2012 edition of the tournament considered as “Asia’s Major,” will be once again boast an elite field of players from within the women’s game. The “Champions of Champions” event has one of the most challenging qualification criteria of any golf event in the world.
To be sure of their place in the US$1.4 million prize purse, a player must have won a LPGA tournament in 2011 or finished the year in the Top 20 on the Rolex Rankings.

Webb, pictured, who beat the strongest field ever gathered in Asia to win the 2011 title on the lush fairways at Tanah Merah, continued her winning form throughout the year with five top ten finishes and two victories from 20 starts.
Webb has a total of 36 LPGA Tour victories, which is the most of any player currently active on the LPGA tour, and her presence at next year’s tournament is highly anticipated.
Webb said of her participation, “I am really looking forward to coming back to Singapore and playing in the HSBC Women’s Champions. As a professional you always want to test yourself against the best, and from past experience the tournament in Singapore attracts one of the best fields of the year outside of the Majors.
"I’ll be training hard over Christmas to be in the best form I can for February.” An elite field of international golfers is once again expected for the fifth edition of this tournament, led by 2011 champion Webb.
For further information on next year’s tournament please visit the official site http://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens/home

Event Details
Player Field:  Maximum number of 63 players. There will be no cut, so all will play the full 72 holes.
Those invited to participate will be:
Top 20 players from the Rolex Women’s World Ranking (as of Dec31, 2011)
LPGA Tournament Champions from 2011
HSBC Women’s Champions Winners from 2010 and 2011
2012 Honda LPGA Thailand Winner
Two sponsors’ invites
Singapore Qualifier
To fill the field to 63, leading players on the LPGA Tour Money List not other qualified (as of year ending 2011 LPGA Money List)