LPGA - HSBC Women's Champions 3rd Round Surprises

Going into the final round in Singapore, the LPGA spring Asia Swing promises an exciting finish.

The LPGA’s final event in its spring Asia Swing is anything but routine. The final round promises some interesting golf!

Michelle Wie Is Back In The Game!

Let’s start with Michelle Wie, who’s had three truly terrible seasons and who’s looked to be on the downside of her career. If her play this week in Singapore is an accurate of barometer of what’s to come in 2017, you can count Wie back in the game!

Wie’s going into the final round at the HSBC Women’s Champions on the top of the board and with a two-shot lead over Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, and LPGA rookie Sung Hyun Park.

The 2014 US Women’s Open champion has plummeted down the world rankings to 179th since she edged out Stacy Lewis by 2 shots coming down the back nine on a steamy Sunday afternoon at Pinehurst No. 2. It’s been a long and painful fall from what appeared to be the pinnacle of her career.

With a missed cut at the Pure Silk Bahamas and a T30 finish at the Women’s Australian Open, 2017 was looking to be more of the same for Big Wiesy. But for Michelle Wie fans, there was some reason to hope. She abandoned that awkward tabletop putting stance. Her putting stats this week suggest the change has been positive.

The Trifecta of Wie Challengers

However, with Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn only two strokes back, Wie is certainly not going to cruise to an easy 4th round victory in Singapore. The two young guns of women’s golf have been tantalizing fans with the promise of a head-to-head contest. Now they’re positioned to deliver on that promise and disrupt Wie’s steady progress toward victory.

The potential Sunday scenarios are even more complicated by LPGA rookie Sung Hyun Park. Park shares 2nd place with Ko and Jutanugarn going into the final round and she’s no pushover. I’ve tagged her as one of the Tour’s top 2017 rookies and despite Nelly Korda’s jump start on the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year award, watch out for Park.

Wie’s been paired with Park before, at the 2016 HanaBank Championship, and is fully aware of her potential. Ko and Jutanugarn are going to discover just what the rookie can do with a golf club come Sunday in Singapore.

Don’t Count Inbee and Ha Na Out Just Yet

But wait! Defending HSBC Women’s Champions titleholder Ha Na Jang and newly minted LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Inbee Park are starting the final round lurking 3 shots back of Wie. Despite some gloomy predictions that her retirement was imminent, Inbee Park isn’t looking like she’s going to retire any time soon.

In case you were sleeping during the 3rd round of the HSBC Women’s Champions, catch up and get ready for Sunday with these 3rd round highlights.

Notable Movers Further Down the Board

More from Pro Golf Now

Three potential members of the American 2017 Solheim Cup team – Jess Korda, Morgan Pressel, and Paula Creamer – are going into Sunday sharing 11th place on the board. That’s good news for Team USA. Although they’re very experienced Solheimers, Pressel, at 22nd, and Creamer, at 19th, are well down the Solheim Cup points ranking. They’d welcome a high finish in Singapore and so would Team USA fans.

Golf Channel provides live coverage of the HSBC Women’s Champions final round beginning at 10:30pm (ET) Saturday night. There’s going to be some good golf played before the trophy’s hoisted. You may want to take a nap and follow the action live rather than hit record.

Next: Inbee Park's Life Lessons From the Links

The LPGA is off next week while the Tour transitions from Asia back to the United States and the Founders Cup, March 16-19.

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LPGA – HSBC Women’s Champions 3rd Round Surprises

By Elizabeth Bethel | Mar 4, 2017