Malaysia has limited LPGA Tour representation with Kelly Tan standing as the country’s most successful female golfer. Tan has earned $1.3 million in LPGA career prize money over 13 seasons since 2011, establishing an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
Ashley Lau represents Malaysia’s emerging talent competing primarily on the Epson Tour with $58,000 in 2025 earnings while pursuing full LPGA membership.
Malaysia hosts the annual Maybank Championship on the LPGA Tour, bringing the world’s best players to Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. The tournament features a $3 million purse, with the 2025 champion Miyu Yamashita earning $450,000.
Malaysian players benefit from competing on home soil with strong local support despite challenging field competition.
Malaysia’s Wealthiest LPGA Representatives
Complete career statistics, net worth estimates, and earnings data for Malaysian LPGA players below.
| Player | Career Earnings | LPGA Status | Best Finish | 2025 Earnings | Net Worth |
| Kelly Tan | $1.3M | Conditional | T8 | $8,303 | $1.5M |
| Ashley Lau | $120K+ | Epson Tour | T22 | $58K | $150K |
Kelly Tan: Malaysia’s LPGA Pioneer
Kelly Tan is Malaysia’s highest-earning LPGA player with $1.3 million in career prize money and an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
The 36-year-old from Kuala Lumpur has competed on the LPGA Tour since 2011, making 179 career starts with four top-10 finishes. Her best result came at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where she tied for eighth, earning significant prize money.
Tan earned just $8,303 in 2025 across five LPGA starts, struggling with conditional tour status that limited playing opportunities. She made one cut at the Maybank Championship in her home country, finishing tied for 56th.
Tan crossed the $1 million career earnings milestone in 2019, becoming the first Malaysian to reach that benchmark on the LPGA Tour.
Ashley Lau: Rising Malaysian Talent
Ashley Lau represents Malaysia’s next generation of professional golfers with approximately $120,000 in combined career earnings.
The 25-year-old competes primarily on the Epson Tour where she earned $58,000 in 2025 across 20 starts. She made 16 cuts with three top-10 finishes, demonstrating consistency on the developmental circuit.
Lau’s best 2024 result came at the Maybank Championship where she tied for 22nd, earning $29,337. That finish represented her largest career paycheck and came while playing on a sponsor exemption at Malaysia’s only LPGA Tour event.
Lau finished 25th on the 2025 Epson Tour Race for the Card standings, earning conditional LPGA status for 2026.
Income Reality for Malaysian LPGA Players
Malaysian golfers face significant financial challenges maintaining LPGA Tour careers. Limited domestic sponsorship opportunities and conditional tour status create income volatility that makes professional golf financially precarious.
Malaysian Players’ Income Breakdown:
| Income Source | Kelly Tan (2024-2025) | Ashley Lau (2025) |
| LPGA Prize Money | $8,303-$20K | Minimal |
| Epson Tour Earnings | $14,748-$30K | $58,000 |
| Malaysian Sponsors | $15K-$30K | $10K-$20K |
| Maybank Championship | Home event bonus | Sponsor exemption |
| Teaching/Clinics | $10K-$20K | $5K-$10K |
Financial challenges for Malaysian golfers:
- Tan earned just $8,303 from five LPGA starts in 2025, demonstrating income volatility with conditional status. She earned $328,770 during her peak 2019 season, showing dramatic fluctuations that prevent financial stability.
- Limited Malaysian corporate sponsorship restricts endorsement income. Unlike players from South Korea or Japan with robust domestic golf markets, Malaysian golfers secure minimal off-course revenue beyond tournament earnings.
- Epson Tour income provides survival income while pursuing LPGA status. Tan earned $14,748 on the developmental circuit in 2024, barely covering travel and living expenses for touring professionals.
- Maybank Championship provides one guaranteed home event annually. Malaysian players receive sponsor exemptions and benefit from local support, though they rarely contend against elite international fields.
- Teaching and corporate clinics supplement tournament income. Tan conducts golf lessons and corporate events in Malaysia during off-season periods, earning $10,000-$20,000 annually.
Most Malaysian golfers cannot sustain full-time LPGA careers financially. The country’s limited golf infrastructure and modest domestic market make international professional golf careers extremely difficult without family resources or significant early success.
Malaysia’s Golf Development Challenges
Malaysia struggles to produce LPGA Tour players despite hosting an annual tour event. The country has approximately 200 golf courses, significantly fewer than golf powerhouses like South Korea (400+) or Japan (2,000+). High costs and limited junior development programs restrict access to competitive golf.
The Maybank Championship, held since 2023, provides Malaysian players with home-country exposure and playing opportunities.
However, no Malaysian has finished inside the top 20 at the event, demonstrating the talent gap between domestic players and international competition. Ashley Lau’s tie for 22nd in 2024 represents the best finish by a Malaysian.
Golf competes for resources with more popular Malaysian sports like badminton, football, and field hockey. Limited government investment in golf development means aspiring professionals must self-fund or seek scholarships abroad.
Most successful Malaysian golfers, including Kelly Tan, developed their games through American collegiate golf programs rather than domestic pathways.
2025 Season: Limited LPGA Presence
Kelly Tan earned $8,303 in the 2025 LPGA season across five starts, making one cut. Her tie for 56th at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur represented her only completed tournament.
Tan struggled to earn enough Epson Tour money to improve her LPGA status, finishing outside the top 50 on the developmental circuit’s money list.
Ashley Lau earned $58,000 on the Epson Tour in 2025, finishing 25th in the Race for the Card standings. She earned conditional LPGA status for 2026, though she’ll face limited playing opportunities without full membership.
Lau’s three top-10 finishes demonstrated potential to compete at higher levels with continued development.
FAQs
Who is the richest Malaysian LPGA player?
Kelly Tan is the richest with $1.5 million net worth and $1.3 million in career LPGA earnings. She has competed since 2011 and was the first Malaysian to cross $1 million in career earnings.
How much did Kelly Tan earn in 2025?
Kelly Tan earned $8,303 in the 2025 LPGA season across five starts with conditional membership. She made one cut at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
Has a Malaysian player won on the LPGA Tour?
No. No Malaysian player has won an LPGA Tour event. Kelly Tan’s best finish is a tie for eighth at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
How many Malaysian players compete on the LPGA Tour?
No Malaysian players currently hold full LPGA Tour status as of 2025. Kelly Tan competes with conditional membership while Ashley Lau plays primarily on the Epson Tour.
What is the Maybank Championship?
The Maybank Championship is Malaysia’s only LPGA Tour event, held annually in Kuala Lumpur with a $3 million purse. The tournament began in 2023 and provides Malaysian players with home-country playing opportunities.
Does Malaysia produce many LPGA players?
No. Malaysia has limited golf infrastructure with approximately 200 courses and minimal junior development programs. Only Kelly Tan has achieved sustained LPGA Tour membership in the country’s history.
