ANNIKA MAYERS: Joining me today ahead of the HSBC Women's World Championship, is Shannon Tan.
Shannon, you're coming back to this event as the LET Order of Merit winner. How does that impact you, and does it make you feel more confident heading into this week compared to last year?
SHANNON TAN: Definitely first off having played this event last year, I kind of know what to expect going into this year. I think, also, winning the LET Order of Merit last year, that definitely adds a lot of confidence, and I guess, also, in Saudi two weeks ago, I played well there.
So it's just continuing that good momentum, and I guess it just helps to add confidence as I go event to event.
ANNIKA MAYERS: You've mentioned before that you grew up coming to this event as a fan. How does it feel now to be out there competing alongside the LPGA players?
SHANNON TAN: I mean, I'll admit, I still get starstruck sometimes. I mean, when I see like Lydia and, I mean, when I first -- I mean, when I played last year, I'm definitely more starstruck than I was this year. I've seen them around a couple of events like British Open and Evian. I got to know a few of them personally now.
But I think having watched them when I was a teenager and growing up looking up to them and then being in the same field, that really means a lot to me.
ANNIKA MAYERS: And then you mentioned that you've played out here a few times, outside of the HSBC.
Are there any secrets or tips to this course that you think you might know that the other players might not?
SHANNON TAN: Yeah, there definitely are tips. I think I won't give too many tips, though. I'll probably just say one would be get your speed control right for lag putts. The greens here are really big.
So expect to hit about 16 greens but you expect that those will have long putts, and that's where speed control and lag putting comes in. So I guess if you have that dialed in this week, it should be pretty good.
Q. What does it mean to you to be playing in your second HSBC Women's World Championship, and what does it mean for the field and Singapore golf?
SHANNON TAN: First of all, really thankful and grateful to HSBC for the invite to play in this event. I look forward to playing this event when I found out I got in, and so that means a lot to me.
And having grown up watching this event, having grown up watching all the players playing this week, looking up to them and stuff, so that means a lot.
And I'm thankful in terms of Singapore Golf having two Singaporeans in the field this year, me and Xingtong (Chen), it's also a good thing to showcase Singapore golf on the world stage.
Q. You've always been talking about inspiring the next generation of golfers from Singapore. How important is that for you as well, a very good result?
SHANNON TAN: It's very important to me because, I mean, I know what it's like to look up to someone and want to be like them.
So if I could be that person and have kids grow up looking up to someone, I think that will mean a lot. I mean, it's always, I guess, good to have someone as a role model, and, like, I mean, I saw a few juniors from the squad out there today on the longest drive hole and nearest the pin challenge, and yeah, like you could tell -- they put on a good show. One of the guys hit it closer than me on the 17th hole today.
It's good, seeing all these juniors being really passionate about the game. That really means a lot, as well.
Q. What is your mindset going in? Are you going to be focussing just on your game, or are you going to be using the big names for extra motivation?
SHANNON TAN: I think for me in terms of heading into this week, I'll treat it like how I treat every other week. At the end of the day, it's still -- I'm going to take it shot-by-shot, hole-by-hole and just stick to my game plan.
I mean, definitely, I want to do well and I want to be up there amongst the big names. But I think if I focussed on the small steps and my small processes that I have, then that should add up to the big picture. And I think, yeah, just mentally, just head into this week like I prepare for every other week.
Q. Is earning the LPGA card, is it your long-term goal?
SHANNON TAN: Yeah, so that's been my goal since I wanted to turn professional. I always wanted to play on the LPGA, and I would watch a lot of the LPGA coverage when I was like maybe 14, 15, 16, 17, up till even now I watch the LPGA play. I watch them play in Thailand on TV last week.
It's definitely still going to be a dream to get my card, but I think there are a lot of things that I can still improve on right now. And also, it's always going to be a steppingstone and a process that I just need to trust, and if I focus on things that I have to improve on, it should add up.
Q. So you're into your third year as a pro now. Can you just share how you feel you've developed since you turned pro two years ago?
SHANNON TAN: I developed as a person as well as I've developed on golf course. On my first year on tour, I think a few parts of my game stood out where I could really improve on.
So short game was one of it, like I was 35 percent at the end of 2024 in terms of up-and-down percentages, and then end of last year, I was 52 percent. So I think I saw that translate into, like, the overall score and like how many shots I saved per round, etc.
So in other parts of my game, like iron play, putting, I've seen improvement in those statistics, as well. So I think in terms of how much I've grown as a golfer, I think I've done more on that part but it's a long process and I have a lot of things to work on in my game, like my putting, looking at the statistics.
In terms of how much I've grown as a person, travelling on tour and going to different countries and meeting different people, I think that helps me grow as a person.
So, yeah, I think overall, I've grown on and off the course.
Q. So this year is going to be quite a big year for you. You have two more majors to play in.
SHANNON TAN: Four majors. So I've got Chevron, KPMG, Evian, British.
Q. Does it help playing in a field like this at HSBC when you are preparing to compete in events like the majors?
SHANNON TAN: Yeah, I mean, this is technically Asia's Major. So it's, of course, a really big and stacked field. I mean, nine of the top ten players are here this week. To play amongst them, it's the same sort of feeling I got playing in the other majors, as well.
It's a big event, and also it's being played at home. So I guess having home crowds and everything gives it a slightly different vibe.
I'm sure I'll enjoy having, like, home fans and supporters come out to support and stuff. I enjoyed it last year.
So I guess it's a bit of a different atmosphere compared to the other four majors just because I'm playing at home, and I've got all the support from all Singaporeans here. But I guess playing amongst the big names will sort of add to my learning experience leading up to the majors this year.
ANNIKA MAYERS: Perfect. Thank you, Shannon.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports