Malaysia's top lady golfer Kelly Tan is absolutely stoked about the LPGA's return to Malaysia after a five-year lapse through the USD3 million Maybank Championship this October 26-29.

"I think it's great! I know how much the girls love coming to Malaysia and I know we are all very excited about it. We are known for providing the best hospitality to players and I feel very proud of that! I'm definitely looking forward to October," said Tan, who at age 29 is already a veteran of the LPGA Tour having played on the world's leading ladies' circuit since 2014. 

The last time the LPGA made a Malaysian stop was in 2017 when the eighth edition of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia was won by American legend Cristie Kerr at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club's East Course. The Maybank Championship will also be played at KLGCC but at the club's West Course, once the venue for high-profile men's events such as the Maybank Malaysian Open (2010 to 2015) and the CIMB Classic (2013 to 2018).

Tan stressed that having an LPGA event on home soil had a huge impact on her career and that the Maybank Championship will do the same for the current generation of aspiring young golfers.

"The Maybank Championship is huge for women’s golf in Malaysia. We have lots of talent and we need companies like Maybank to step up to provide the opportunities for us to compete on the world stage.

"I’m confident through Maybank’s support in this event, it will also create opportunities for young Malaysian women to compete on the LPGA Tour as well," said Tan.

"I would like to say I am one of the Sime Darby LPGA’s 'grown babies', as that tournament had such a huge impact on my career. Without that back then, I’m not sure if I will be where I am right now," she added.

The Maybank Championship's latest incarnation as an LPGA event was also met with much enthusiasm by the Malaysian golf fraternity, as it marks the return of top-tier professional golf to the country after more than three years. The Maybank Championship had previously been staged from 2016 to 2019 as a men's event, jointly sanctioned by the European Tour and Asian Tour. Prior to that, Maybank was the title sponsor of the Malaysian Open from 2006 to 2015.

The 78-player field for the four-day, no-cut Maybank Championship will see 68 players from the LPGA Tour and 10 invitations made up of Malaysian and ASEAN players.

On a personal note, it has already been a year of milestones for Tan as she was elected to the LPGA Board in January as one of four new player directors along with Gemma Dryburgh, Mel Reid and Elizabeth Szokol, They succeeded Lydia Ko, Amy Olson, Alena Sharp and Michelle Wie West, whose terms had expired. This followed Tan's marriage to long-time partner Dusty Lattery last December

"It has been a lot of fun learning the business side of the tour as well as being the voice of my peers. Mostly to be the voice as the players and the board value our opinions as well, and not just looking at the business side of deals," shared Tan

"Taking a few hours of my time away to take part in meetings with the board and share our opinions is what they are asking for, and I think it is a great distraction off the course for me!"

Last year, Tan finished 67th on the LPGA's Race To CME Globe standings in a season highlighted by a runner-up finish with Finland's Matilda Castren in the team-format Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. Her best season came 2020 when she finished 37th in the Race To CME Globe.