Pak, Gulbis to play in Champions

LONDON, England -- South Korean star Se Ri Pak and Natalie Gulbis of the United States are the latest big names to confirm their participation in the HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore next year.

The tournament at the Tanah Merah Country Club from February 28 - March 2 will boast a prize fund of $2 million, the biggest for a women's event in Asia, and the pair join former world number one Annika Sorenstam and Japan's Ai Miyazato as early entries.

Current world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico is yet to confirm her participation in the event which will be part of the LPGA Tour.

The event mirrors the HSBC Champions men's tournament in Shanghai, which was won last month by Phil Mickelson, with invites open to all the winners from the 2007 LPGA Tour, plus leading money winners from other major tours worldwide, who will chase a $300,000 first prize.

The experienced Pak has been proved an inspiration for the flood of young players from Asia who are now making their mark on women's golf, having secured 24 LPGA Tour wins including five majors.

The 30-year-old, who was recently inducted to the golf, qualified for the HSBC Women's Champions by winning the 2007 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic and the 2006 McDonald's LPGA Championship.

"I have played in Singapore at Tanah Merah and enjoyed my time here very much so it will be great to return in February 2008. It will be an exciting competition and I look forward to many fans from across Asia coming to support us all. This is certainly one title I would like to add to my collection next season," she said.

The exciting Gulbis is one of the emerging talents on the LPGA Tour, claiming her maiden victory at the Evian Masters in France in July before being part of the victorious U.S. team at the Solheim Cup against Europe.

The Californian is delighted to be returning to the Far East: "I love coming to Asia and think it is great to have such a big tournament in this part of the world for everyone to enjoy," she said. E-mail to a friend