Lydia Ko Felt ‘Very Left Out’ Before LPGA’s International Crown Change

The LPGA Tour has announced a significant change to the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, introducing a World Team to the 2025 tournament. This adjustment aims to include top-ranked players from regions not represented by qualifying countries, offering them the opportunity to compete on an international stage.

The World Team will comprise the highest-ranked player from each of the following four regions, provided their country hasn’t already qualified:

Americas (North and South America)

Europe

Asia

Africa and Oceania

If the selections were made today, the World Team would feature:

Lydia Ko (New Zealand, World No. 3)

Celine Boutier (France, World No. 9)

Brooke Henderson (Canada, World No. 25)

Peiyun Chien (Chinese Taipei, World No. 88)

This change is particularly significant for players like Lydia Ko, who, despite her high ranking, has previously been unable to participate in the International Crown due to New Zealand not fielding a qualifying team. The introduction of the World Team ensures that top talents from underrepresented regions can now showcase their skills in this prestigious event.

The 2025 International Crown is scheduled for October 23-26 at New Korea Country Club in Goyang-si, South Korea. The tournament will feature eight teams of four players each, competing over four days in match-play formats. The prize pool stands at $2 million, with $500,000 awarded to the winning team.

The final list of qualifying countries will be determined after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June, with individual player selections finalized following the AIG Women’s Open in August. This new format not only enhances the inclusivity of the tournament but also elevates its competitive spirit by bringing together the world’s top female golfers, regardless of their country’s team status.