Before I get started with today's topic, I want to give a big congratulations to Nasa Hataoka for winning the Kia Classic. It was Nasa's third win on the LPGA Tour. Nasa finished 3 strokes better than five different players.
![Image result for 2019 ana inspiration]()
This week the LPGA moves to Rancho Mirage, California for the playing of the ANA Inspiration. This is the first Major Championship of the 2019 season.
Last year's tournament provided us with what might have been the most exciting event of the entire 2018 season. Pernilla Lindberg, Inbee Park and Jennifer Song were all tied after 72 holes, forcing a three way playoff. After playing the 18th hole three times, Jennifer Song was eliminated. Inbee and Pernilla would play the 18th hole one more time, before play was suspended due to darkness. They resumed the next morning, and after playing three more holes we still did not have a winner. Finally, on the next hole Lindberg would sink a 25 foot winning putt.
This will be tournament #8 of 33 on this year's LPGA schedule, and the first of five Major Championships.
Here are the Key Details:
Course: Mission Hills Country Club: Dinah Shore Tournament Course
Location: Rancho Mirage, California
Defending Champion: Pernilla Lindberg
Winning Score: 65-67-70-71 = 273 (-15) Playoff
History: This event began in 1972 and became a Major in 1983.
Final Field: 112 players
Par: 36/36 = 72
Yardage: 6,763 yards
Purse: $3,000,00
Race to the CME Globe: 625 points
Aon Risk Reward Challenge Hole: 11th (par 5)
My strength of field rating is a super strong 89.5% (up from 87.5% last year when it was the strongest field of the year) making it by far the strongest field of this year by far. The only way it could be stronger was if more top players from other tours were invited. Seventy-three of the top seventy five players from the LPGA Priority List, and the entire top 25 on this week's Rolex World Rankings will be teeing it up. Jiyai Shin (#23 in the world rankings) and Mamiko Higa (#42), are the two stars teeing it up from other tours.
I will post the pairings as soon as they are made available.
Here are the television times:
So Yeon Ryu had her cut streak snapped at 31 straight. Brooke Henderson also missed the cut for the first time in her last twenty starts.
This week the LPGA moves to Rancho Mirage, California for the playing of the ANA Inspiration. This is the first Major Championship of the 2019 season.
Last year's tournament provided us with what might have been the most exciting event of the entire 2018 season. Pernilla Lindberg, Inbee Park and Jennifer Song were all tied after 72 holes, forcing a three way playoff. After playing the 18th hole three times, Jennifer Song was eliminated. Inbee and Pernilla would play the 18th hole one more time, before play was suspended due to darkness. They resumed the next morning, and after playing three more holes we still did not have a winner. Finally, on the next hole Lindberg would sink a 25 foot winning putt.
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| Pernilla Linberg holds up her 2018 ANA Inspiration trophy. |
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| Lindberg makes the leap into Poppie's Pond. |
Here are the Key Details:
Course: Mission Hills Country Club: Dinah Shore Tournament Course
Location: Rancho Mirage, California
Defending Champion: Pernilla Lindberg
Winning Score: 65-67-70-71 = 273 (-15) Playoff
History: This event began in 1972 and became a Major in 1983.
Final Field: 112 players
Par: 36/36 = 72
Yardage: 6,763 yards
Purse: $3,000,00
Race to the CME Globe: 625 points
Aon Risk Reward Challenge Hole: 11th (par 5)
My strength of field rating is a super strong 89.5% (up from 87.5% last year when it was the strongest field of the year) making it by far the strongest field of this year by far. The only way it could be stronger was if more top players from other tours were invited. Seventy-three of the top seventy five players from the LPGA Priority List, and the entire top 25 on this week's Rolex World Rankings will be teeing it up. Jiyai Shin (#23 in the world rankings) and Mamiko Higa (#42), are the two stars teeing it up from other tours.
I will post the pairings as soon as they are made available.
Here are the television times:
Apr 4 - GC 12:00 PM-4:00 PM ET
Apr 4 - GC 7:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
Apr 5 - GC 12:00 PM-4:00 PM ET
Apr 5 - GC 7:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
Apr 4 - GC 7:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
Apr 5 - GC 12:00 PM-4:00 PM ET
Apr 5 - GC 7:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
Apr 6 - GC 5:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
Apr 7 - GC 5:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
Players Most Likely to Win: (Top players in the field)
1- Sung Hyun Park - #1 player in the world
2- Ariya Jutanugarn - Could retake top spot with a victory here.
3- Minjee Lee - Always a threat.
1- Sung Hyun Park - #1 player in the world
2- Ariya Jutanugarn - Could retake top spot with a victory here.
3- Minjee Lee - Always a threat.
Players to Watch Out For: (I'm feeling it this week)
1- Nelly Korda - Because she's on the leaderboard every week.
2- Lexi Thompson - Her favorite course.
3- So Yeon Ryu - Always steps it up in majors.
1- Nelly Korda - Because she's on the leaderboard every week.
2- Lexi Thompson - Her favorite course.
3- So Yeon Ryu - Always steps it up in majors.
Longshot Picks: (Not likely, but not impossible)
1- Anne Van Dam - This course fits her game.
2- Jodi Ewart Shadoff - Playing the best golf of her career.
3- Stacy Lewis - Has played just 3 events in past year, but plays well here.
Other Tidbits:
1- Anne Van Dam - This course fits her game.
2- Jodi Ewart Shadoff - Playing the best golf of her career.
3- Stacy Lewis - Has played just 3 events in past year, but plays well here.
Other Tidbits:
Rolex Rankings Movers of the Week:
Nasa Hataoka makes the most important jump this week going from #7 to #4. Azahara Munoz leaps from #41 to #34, while Stacy Lewis rises from #75 to #67. On the downside, So Yeon Ryu drops out of the top five for the first time in recent memory. She falls to #7.
Race to the CME Globe: (Top 60 point earners to compete for $1.5 million first place prize).
Jin Young Ko takes over the lead this week from the idle Nelly Korda with 1,332 points. Nelly is in second place with 1,155. They are followed by Sung Hyun Park with 907, Eun-Hee Ji 772, and Azahara Munoz 744.
Aon Risk Reward Challenge: (1 million dollars)
Jessica Korda takes over the lead this week with a score of -1.5. She is followed by Angel Yin -1.125 and Minjee Lee -1.1.
Who's Hot:
Azahara Munoz and Jin Young Ko both registered their 4th top ten of the year. Only Nelly Korda (5) has more. Nelly is the only player to register a top ten in each of her starts.
Who's Not:
Angela Stanford has not finished better than 56th this year.
Nasa Hataoka makes the most important jump this week going from #7 to #4. Azahara Munoz leaps from #41 to #34, while Stacy Lewis rises from #75 to #67. On the downside, So Yeon Ryu drops out of the top five for the first time in recent memory. She falls to #7.
Race to the CME Globe: (Top 60 point earners to compete for $1.5 million first place prize).
Jin Young Ko takes over the lead this week from the idle Nelly Korda with 1,332 points. Nelly is in second place with 1,155. They are followed by Sung Hyun Park with 907, Eun-Hee Ji 772, and Azahara Munoz 744.
Aon Risk Reward Challenge: (1 million dollars)
Jessica Korda takes over the lead this week with a score of -1.5. She is followed by Angel Yin -1.125 and Minjee Lee -1.1.
Who's Hot:
Azahara Munoz and Jin Young Ko both registered their 4th top ten of the year. Only Nelly Korda (5) has more. Nelly is the only player to register a top ten in each of her starts.
Who's Not:
Angela Stanford has not finished better than 56th this year.
This Week's Trivia Question:
Since the year 2000, only one player has won this championship 3 times. Can you name her?
For the answer to this week's trivia question press here.
Since the year 2000, only one player has won this championship 3 times. Can you name her?
For the answer to this week's trivia question press here.
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