“Absent stars from the HSBC Women’s World Championship in 2026”

The anticipation for the 2026 HSBC Women’s World Championship is palpable, especially following Atthiya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul’s impressive victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand last week. However, as the stars of the LPGA Tour prepare for the challenge in Singapore, five major names in women’s golf have decided not to participate in this prestigious tournament, which offers a total prize fund of $3 million. Let’s explore who these notable absences are and the impact this may have on the competition.

Nelly Korda, the current world number 2, has been following a trend in recent years. After winning the LPGA Drive On Championship in 2024, the player chose to skip the entire Asian leg of the Tour, a decision she repeated in 2025. For the 2026 season, Korda again opted not to join her peers on the trip to the East, which has drawn criticism from fans who accused her of having an elitist attitude. Brentley Romine, a well-known golf commentator, pointed out that with this decision, Korda will have missed 19 consecutive events in Asia. The player stated that she prefers to focus on training at home, even if it means losing her number 2 position to Charley Hull. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will have consequences when the Tour returns to the United States in March.

Lexi Thompson, another golf star, continues to be a part-time LPGA player. She is balancing her professional career with personal life, which has led her to avoid long trips, especially during the demanding Asian Tour schedule. The 30-year-old player had already taken this same approach in 2025, signaling a new chapter in her career, focusing more on her life outside of golf.

Nasa Hataoka, ranked 16th in the world, had a promising start to the season, finishing T9 at the HGV Tournament of Champions and T18 at the Honda LPGA Thailand. However, the Japanese player has decided to take a break from the LPGA schedule, not only skipping the HSBC Women’s World Championship but also without confirmation for the Blue Bay LPGA the following week. This decision may indicate a desire to prepare for upcoming challenges in the United States, including the Founders Cup next month.

Maja Stark, the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open champion, also joins the list of absentees. Although she participated in the first two LPGA events of 2026, her results were not as impressive as Hataoka’s. Stark, like her Japanese counterpart, has chosen not to participate in the HSBC Women’s World Championship, opting to return to Europe to prepare for the competition in California.

Lastly, Lauren Coughlin, who made her last appearance at the HGV Tournament of Champions, surprised everyone by not participating in the HSBC Women’s World Championship, especially after a performance that had positioned her to potentially break into the top 10 the previous year. Coughlin, who finished T34 in 2024 and T18 in 2025, also decided not to travel to Asia this year, but she is already confirmed for the Fortinet Founders Cup next month.

With these notable absences, the 2026 HSBC Women’s World Championship may see a different competition, leaving fans eager to see who will seize this opportunity to shine in Singapore.