Green, Hye Jin seek redemption as Ruoning eyes Maybank double

Hannah Green and Choi Hye Jin are returning to Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club for the Maybank Championship, aiming to improve on their runner-up finishes from last year's three-way playoff. This time, Choi Hye Jin, the 2024 champion, is targeting a second title. Last year, the South Korean lost to Japan's Miyu Yamashita in a playoff, but she views that experience as valuable preparation for another chance at the title.

Choi Hye Jin emphasized the importance of course management, particularly keeping the ball in play and reading the greens on the West Course.

Hannah Green also reflected on last year's championship, acknowledging the fine margins that decided the outcome. She believes luck played a role in both her playoff qualification and her eventual loss. After spending the past two months in Perth, Green is drawing on that experience to target another strong performance in Kuala Lumpur. Her strategy for the final four or five holes involves carefully considering whether to take on the water or some bunkers.

As their opponent, Ruoning is coming off strong wins at the FM Championship and the Buick LPGA in Shanghai. The Chinese golfer, who won the Maybank Championship in 2024, is unaware that no player has successfully defended the title before. She expressed her goal of being the first repeat winner and credited her basketball background for helping her trust her instincts, especially in putting.