Category: LPGA

Team USA clinches final spot in LPGA Crown semifinals; one veteran Swedish team enjoys record day and Thailand remains undefeated

Team USA, winners of this event in 2016, finished second in Pool A to become the fourth team to advance.

Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hewdall remain a force at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown. The Swedish duo moved their overall fourball record in the event to 7-1-1 after defeating World No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 4 Lilia Vu, 1 up.

“We’ve had so much fun together,” said Hedwall, “and I think that shows on the game we have, as well. I’m just proud of everyone.”

Hedwall and Nordqvist now own the record for most appearances together, edging Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson and sisters Moriya Jutanguarn/Ariya Jutanugarn, who both have eight. With an average age of 34, Nordqvist and Hedwall also happen to be the oldest pair at TPC Harding Park.

Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall of Team Sweden react after a putt on the second green during day three of the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. (Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Sweden topped Pool A with 5 ½ points, finishing tied in their second match against Team USA. Maja Stark, who partnered with Madelene Sagstrom, converted a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole to bring the match back to even with Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang.

“I kind of liked it because it felt like they got mad,” said Stark of the finish, “and that’s kind of funny. I just really wanted to make that putt. Just being able to perform under pressure, like that is not something that I’ve really felt before because it’s usually been — everything has just been about myself, but now I do it for my team and for Sweden. It’s really nice to be able to come in clutch like that at the end.”

Team USA, winners of this event in 2016, finished second in Pool A to become the fourth team to advance.

Thailand hasn’t lost a match in three days, finishing with six points to lead Pool B. Australia was the second team to advance out of that pool.

“We played well,” said Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand’s perfect record. “We deserve it.”

Defending champions South Korea won their first points of the event on Saturday, taking both matches against Japan.

“I know I feel sad and a little disappointed we can’t show our game anymore tomorrow,” said In Gee Chun, “but I believe our Korean players, they’re all strong.”

China, England, Japan and South Korea failed to advance.

With no captains, teams had 15 minutes to figure out the pairings for Sunday’s semifinals. Each matchup will consist of two singles matches and one foursomes match. The first country to reach two points will win their match.

Team USA takes on the undefeated Thailand, while Sweden faces Australia. When asked how they planned to take on a country that hasn’t dropped a match, Thompson said not think about their record.

“Just focus on our own games and do what we can,” said Thompson. “Play aggressive golf, but stay within ourselves, focus on our attitudes and our golf. That’s all we can do.”

[parone_video_player hide-all=”true” autoplay=”true” feed=”20-lpga-video” content-key=”2f7092bb48f7016c2f70″/]

Jon Rahm takes in Suns-Nuggets game; Danielle Kang throws out first pitch at Giants game

The Suns mascot wore a Masters caddie suit while presenting Rahm with a No. 23 jersey.

A couple of golf’s biggest names were taking in the sights and sounds of other pro sports Friday night.

Jon Rahm was enjoying some NBA playoff basketball, while Danielle Kang visited a Major League Baseball game.

Rahm, who five days ago in Mexico came up just short of his 12th PGA Tour win, has been enjoying some family time in his adopted home of Arizona. Friday, he was courtside for Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal playoff game between the host Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets.

The Suns started the game Friday night down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series, and “Rahmbo” was looking to bring some good luck to the purple and orange.

Rahm was presented a No. 23 jersey from the Gorilla, the Suns mascot, who was wearing a white Masters caddie jumpsuit with Rahm’s name across the back.

The Gorilla also gave Rahm a set of plastic golf clubs. Guessing those are going to Kepa, Rahm’s two-year-old son.

Meanwhile, about 750 miles northwest of Phoenix, LPGA standout Danielle Kang, just hours after helping Team USA eliminate England at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. Kang was born in San Francisco.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Sweden, Thailand ride to 4-0 starts at LPGA’s 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown

Through two days at TPC Harding Park, Sweden and Thailand have yet to lose.

Through two days at TPC Harding Park, Sweden and Thailand have yet to lose.

The Swedish teams of Madelene Sagstrom/Maja Stark and Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall won their matches early Friday in the second round of the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, giving them a sterling 4-0-0 mark in San Francisco.

Sweden has already earned a spot in Sunday’s semifinals, regardless of how things shake out during Saturday’s third round. Thailand will join the Scandinavians after closing out Korea in the final matches of the day on Friday to also secure a perfect start.

Patty Tavatanakit/Atthaya Thitikul defeated Jin Young Ko/Hyo Joo Kim while the sister squad of Ariya Jutanugarn/Moriya Jutanugarn took down Hye Jin Choi/In Gee Chun.

“I love this course. I feel like it is a really tight course, but it doesn’t seem tight for me just because I really love this course and I feel like I can really get it going with a lot of confidence,” Tavatanakit said. “That really helped with my flow, too. That’s why I really hit it well.”

2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown
Atthaya Thitikul of Team Thailand plays her shot from the third tee during day two of the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. (Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Team USA, the top-seed in the eight-team event and the only team with all four members having won a major championship, was 1-1-0 after Day 1 after splitting its matches with China.

On Friday, the Lilia Vu/Nelly Korda duo knocked out Liz Young/Alice Hewson, while the Danielle Kang/Lexi Thompson team beat Bronte Law/Jodi Ewart Shadoff, which sent the English squad to its fourth loss in two days. The U.S. has 3 points out of a possible 4.

The Americans are fourth after two days, however, as Team Australia, with 3 ½ points, has also yet to lose a match. The teams dealt with chilly temperatures throughout the day and Saturday’s forecast is expected to bring rain.

“I’m a Florida girl and I get cold pretty easily, but I think making sure you adjust to the weather, clubbing up, talking to your caddie a little more with club selections, and staying warm is key,” said Korda. “Everyone is kind of dealing with it, so you’re just trying to stay as patient as possible.

“The golf course is tough. It’s tough weather and the fairways aren’t very wide, and it gets tricky out here, especially if the wind picks up. Trying to stay warm and patient is the key this week.”

The No. 2-seeded Korean squad and the fifth-seeded English team will return to play Friday but will do so having both been eliminated from advancing.

[parone_video_player hide-all=”true” autoplay=”true” feed=”20-lpga-video” content-key=”CA03Cd79cC9C99CAFDF0″/]

A peaceful, easy feeling has come over this Scandinavian team at the LPGA’s Hanwha International Crown

Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark of Team Sweden played together for the first time in a team event as professionals.

There’s something about California that brings out the easiness in everybody. Soft breezes. Beautiful beaches. The Eagles playing through speakers at every turn. It’s a place to exhale and relax.

Just ask Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark of Team Sweden, who played together for the first time in a team event as professionals on Thursday as part of the Hanwha International Crown at TPC Harding Park.

In her debut at the event, Stark admitted she was nervous and a birdie on the first hole didn’t settle her down. But things just rolled from there as she and Sagstrom battled the English duo of Liz Young and Alice Hewson.

Since Sagstrom had experience with the format, she felt the need to ease her talented teammate into the tournament.

“I kind of felt like I knew what I was doing today and it was more trying to get her in a good place,” Sagstrom said. “It was a really good matchup. We played really well together. Our games are fairly similar, so it’s fun. We’ve never played team events before because I’m a lot older than her, so it’s cool. It’s awesome.

“But I think at the same time my experience also kind of helps me being out there. I talked a little bit about how I felt in previous Solheims and stuff, so it was good.”

The pair got to 4 under through the first three holes and had little trouble dispatching the English side 5 and 4. Their teammates, Anna Nordquist and Caroline Hedwall, also had little trouble with the Brits, winning 4 and 3 to put the Swedish team on the top of Pool A.

As for the format, the first three rounds of play feature four-ball competition with the top two countries from each pool advancing to Sunday. Two semifinal matches will be played Sunday morning. New this year, each semifinal match will consist of two singles matches and one foursomes match.

The winning semifinal countries will compete in the final match on Sunday afternoon, and a third-place match will take place between the two losing semifinal countries. Both matches will be in the same format as the semifinals.

Anna Nordqvist of Team Sweden plays her shot from the 12th tee during day one of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown at TPC Harding Park on May 04, 2023, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

As for Stark, she thinks she’s ready for whatever comes next, thanks to a relaxing opening day with Sagstrom.

“It was mostly nice to see (Sagstrom) was not frustrated with me, that she knows what it’s like and can relate to it,” Stark said. “It was very nice because it made me more calm and I could focus on what I was doing wrong like technically in the shots, which was that I was thinking about technique and not the pins because I was trying to be perfect.

“So yeah, I think it was just calming.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Record number of entries filed for U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach; former champs Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr among those who will try to qualify

Everyone wants to be part of history.

It comes as no surprise that the USGA received a record 2,107 entries for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. This marks the first time that entries surpassed 2,000, with the previous record of 1,874 set last year at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.

Everyone wants to be part of history.

Past champions Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr are among those who will have to advance through qualifying to compete in the first Women’s Open ever held at Pebble Beach. Kerr, 45, and Creamer, 36, are scheduled for the May 15 qualifier at Echo Lake Country Club, in Westfield, New Jersey. Both have previously received special exemptions into the championship.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda is among the 87 exempt players currently in the field. Players who win LPGA-sanctioned events between now and July 3 will also be added to the field as well as any player who is among the top 75 points leaders and ties from the Rolex Rankings as of July 3, not otherwise exempt. The winner of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Division I Championship will also secure a spot.

Three-time major champion Anna Nordqvist played Pebble Beach for the first time last week and nearly aced the par-3 seventh hole. She called it “probably” the best course she’s ever played in the U.S.

“I was lucky with the weather,” said Nordqvist. “It started blowing two, two and a half clubs on the back nine, but what an amazing golf course.

“Yeah, it was beyond what I could ever dream of, and it’s going to be an amazing tournament there for the U.S. Women’s Open. I’ve been pro since 2009, and just to have the opportunity to go to such like an iconic venue playing golf, I think it’s an amazing opportunity for the women’s game.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Crr6UZZu49v/

Korda said at the Hanwha International Crown on Wednesday she had never played Pebble Beach. Danielle Kang said the same. Lexi Thompson played it for the first time last year during an outing, along with Cypress Point.

“It’s an amazing venue,” said Thompson. “I only got to play it for the first time towards the end of last year. I got probably the most perfect weather. It was about 70 degrees and blowing 5 miles per hour and everybody was like, don’t get used to that.”

The championship’s youngest entrant is 9-year-old Bella Simoes, an amateur from Brazil.

Kimberly Williams, a 60-year-old professional from Bethesda, Maryland, is the oldest.

Here’s the list of players who are fully exempt into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open (as of May 4):

  • Marina Alex
  • Na Rin An
  • Aditi Ashok
  • a-Saki Baba
  • a-Jessica Baker
  • Celine Boutier
  • Ashleigh Buhai
  • a-Krissy Carman
  • Chella Choi
  • Hye-Jin Choi
  • In Gee Chun
  • a-Monet Chun
  • Carlota Ciganda
  • Allisen Corpuz
  • Gemma Dryburgh
  • Ally Ewing
  • Ayaka Furue
  • Linn Grant
  • Hannah Green
  • Georgia Hall
  • Mina Harigae
  • Nasa Hataoka
  • Brooke Henderson
  • Charley Hull
  • Mone Inami
  • Chisato Iwai
  • Eun-Hee Ji
  • Ariya Jutanugarn
  • Danielle Kang
  • Minami Katsu
  • Haruka Kawasaki
  • Megan Khang
  • A Lim Kim
  • Grace Kim
  • Hyo Joo Kim
  • Sei Young Kim
  • Cheyenne Knight
  • Jin Young Ko
  • Lydia Ko
  • Jessica Korda
  • Nelly Korda
  • Jennifer Kupcho
  • Brittany Lang
  • Bronte Law
  • Alison Lee
  • Andrea Lee
  • Da Yeon Lee
  • Minjee Lee
  • Mirim Lee
  • So Mi Lee
  • Jeongeun Lee6
  • Hee Jeong Lim
  • Xiyu Lin
  • Gaby Lopez
  • Nanna Koerstz Madsen
  • Leona Maguire
  • Jill McGill
  • Yuna Nishimura
  • Anna Nordqvist
  • Ryann O’Toole
  • Min Ji Park
  • Sung Hyun Park
  • Paula Reto
  • Hae Ran Ryu
  • Madelene Sagstrom
  • Mao Saigo
  • Lizette Salas
  • Yuka Saso
  • Jodi Ewart Shadoff
  • Hinako Shibuno
  • Jiyai Shin
  • Annika Sorenstam
  • Angela Stanford
  • Maja Stark
  • Patty Tavatanakit
  • Atthaya Thitikul
  • Lexi Thompson
  • Momoko Ueda
  • Lilia Vu
  • Michelle Wie West
  • Miyu Yamashita
  • Amy Yang
  • Angel Yin
  • Ruoning Yin
  • Yuri Yoshida
  • a-Yana Wilson
  • a-Rose Zhang

(a-amateur)

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Four-time Solheim Cup player Mel Reid and wife Carly announce they’re expecting first child

The baby boom continues.

LPGA player Mel Reid and her wife Carly announced on social media Wednesday they’re expecting their first child. The couple married last April.

England’s Reid, 35, won her first LPGA title in 2020 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic and has represented Europe four times at the Solheim Cup, most recently in 2021.

Reid has competed five times on the LPGA this season and is currently No. 289 in the world. Carly is a senior PR and and social media manager at Betterworks.

LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park recently gave birth to her first child as did Germany’s Caroline Masson, whose husband, Jason McDede, caddies for World No. 1 Nelly Korda.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CrwD_wKuszN/?hl=en

 

LPGA players Amy Olson and Sophia Popov are also expecting their first children in 2023.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

What to know about Hanwha International Crown: How to watch, what they’re playing for, format twists and No. 1 Nelly Korda’s thoughts on TPC Harding Park

The Hanwha International Crown returns to the LPGA schedule for the first time in five years this week at TPC Harding Park.

The Hanwha International Crown returns to the LPGA schedule for the first time in five years this week at TPC Harding Park, which means a number of players are competing in the event for the first time.

Team USA comes into the week as the top seed out of eight countries and will face China in Thursday’s opening round. Of the four Americans, only Lexi Thompson has experience, having competed in all three previous Crowns. South Korea won the last edition on home soil in 2018.

“I really love team events, like a lot of other girls probably do, too,” said American Danielle Kang, “and having the International Crown come back on the schedule was really exciting for me because it’s something I haven’t done.

“I use it as kind of a check box in my career, and being a part of an International Crown team as a top four player in the United States that gets to represent … is a huge honor.”

‘This is a dream-changer’: First-ever U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach set to feature Michelle Wie West, Annika Sorenstam and vast potential

It’s fitting that Michelle Wie West will take part in what could be the most important U.S. Women’s Open.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Michelle Wie West’s husband, Jonnie, tested positive for COVID-19 just a couple days before last year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Wie West tested negative for four days and felt it was somewhat of a miracle that she was able to compete at Pine Needles as she transitioned away from a competitive career on the LPGA, though it stung to be across the country from her husband, daughter and parents.

“I just remember sitting in my hotel room thinking, this is not the way to go,” said the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion. “This is so sad.”

The 78th U.S. Women’s Open, July 6-9 at Pebble Beach Golf Links, will provide the chance for Wie West to say a proper goodbye in her beloved Bay Area, with her husband on the bag and the rest of her family watching every shot. It’s fitting that the most well-known player in the women’s game in recent years will take part in what could be the most important championship in U.S. Women’s Open history.

On Tuesday, Wie West took part in Women’s Open media day, playing nine holes there for the first time in blustery conditions.

“I didn’t dream of this to be the last one,” she said, “but if I could this would be the way to go.”

2023 U.S. Women’s Open
Michelle Wie West at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Preview Day in Pebble Beach, California, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/USGA)

As Wie West got her first glimpse of the iconic course, Annika Sorenstam announced on Twitter that she had accepted a special exemption to compete at Pebble, making an historic week in the women’s game all the more special.

“I think this is a dream-changer,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan of the U.S. Women’s Open coming to Pebble Beach for the first time. “I think this really matters to the people playing, but the real impact of this is the girls that are thinking about playing or aren’t really sure what they think about golf.”

History won’t just be made on the course as the USGA announced record-breaking television coverage (26 hours) and live prime time network coverage over the weekend on NBC. In addition, the media and fans will be able to track every shot that’s hit at Pebble Beach as the USGA utilizes the PGA Tour’s ShotLink scoring system for the first time at a women’s event.

The message: This isn’t just a big week in women’s golf. It’s a big week in women’s sport.

2023 U.S. Women’s Open
Michelle Wie West at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Preview Day in Pebble Beach, California, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Photo: Tim Schmitt/Golfweek)

Former U.S. soccer star Brandi Chastain and Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, who became the first Asian-American to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympic competition in 1992, joined major champion Morgan Pressel on a panel to talk about the potential impact of the historic week. Pressel will be lead analyst for NBC.

Chastain became a household name in the U.S. after scoring the winning goal at the 1999 World Cup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Northern California native believes there are many things that could be taken from that history-making Cup, which broke records in attendance, television ratings and interest.

“I think No. 1 is the leadership that said we see what could be,” said Chastain, “and we must put it out there in a way that’s brave and bold.”

The Women’s Open at Pebble Beach could be a milestone for women’s sport, much like the Rose Bowl was in 1999.

The 54-year-old Chastain grew emotional when she talked about her personal connection to Pebble, where her grandfather took her out to watch the Crosby as an 8-year-old. They’d walk the course together and eat strawberry shortcake along the 18th fairway.

“As I was sitting there listening to Mike (Whan),” said a teary-eyed Chastain, “I realized I would be bringing my two granddaughters, and we’re going to have the same walk.”

2023 U.S. Women’s Open
Brandi Chastain at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Preview Day in Pebble Beach, California, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/USGA)

Wie West, who will have her daughter Makenna onsite, had originally planned to start grinding on her game in April, but got busy and now plans to start this month. Jonnie, who works for the Golden State Warriors and plays to about a 2-handicap, will caddie for her for the first time at Pebble, though he has looped at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am a couple times as well as a Web.com event for Steph Curry.

“I know I play my best golf when I have fun,” she said, “so having my husband on the bag is going to be key for that.”

Unforgettable, too.

[pickup_prop id=”33349″]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

LPGA exemption for inaugural The Annika on the line at 2023 Annika Intercollegiate in Minnesota

There’s going to be a lot on the line at the Annika Intercollegiate.

Come the beginning of the 2023-24 college golf season, there’s going to be a lot on the line at the Annika Intercollegiate.

Held at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, the Annika Intercollegiate has quickly grown to be one of the premier women’s college golf events in the country. And this year, the stakes are even higher.

An LPGA tournament exemption to be awarded to a player from this year’s winning team. The exemption will allow one player to compete in the inaugural The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican taking place Nov. 6-12 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

The Annika, an official LPGA event, will offer a $3.25 million purse, one of the largest outside of the majors. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Annika Foundation.

The 2023 Annika Intercollegiate presented by 3M takes place Sept. 10-13. This year’s tournament will see 12 top NCAA Division I women’s golf programs compete in a 54-hole, stroke-play event, including defending champions Wake Forest. 

“This is one of the tournaments I look forward to most each year,” Annika Sorenstam said in a release. “It allows the Annika Foundation to advance its mission by providing an opportunity for talented golfers to compete and make connections. We are thrilled to raise the stakes this year by extending the winning team an LPGA tournament exemption, further cementing our event as a launch pad for the nation’s top programs and players.”

Other teams in the field include Duke, Florida State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, San Jose State, Oregon, Texas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Virginia. The final team will be announced after the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Virginia sophomore Amanda Sambach won the individual title in the fall.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Annika Sorenstam accepts special exemption into 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach

Annika Sorenstam isn’t done with major championship golf just yet.

Annika Sorenstam isn’t done with major championship golf just yet. The 10-time major winner has accepted a special exemption into this year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Sorenstam, of course, played her way into last year’s Women’s Open at Pine Needles by crushing the field by eight strokes at the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open. The 52-year-old shot 74-81 last year at Pine Needles, missing the cut in her first LPGA major since 2008.

This marks the first time Sorenstam – who is one of four players to win the U.S. Women’s Open three times (1995, 1996 and 2006) – has accepted an exemption into the championship. She has made 16 previous appearances. Only Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright, both four-time champions, have won more.

Sorenstam won 72 times on the LPGA and stepped away from playing full time after the 2008 season to start her family. She competed in her first LPGA event in more than a dozen years in in 2021, making the cut at the Gainbridge LPGA event at her home club, Lake Nona.

This year’s historic U.S. Women’s Open will be contested July 6-9 and marks the first time the championship will be held at Pebble Beach.

“I am incredibly grateful to the USGA for the opportunity to play in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open,” Sorenstam said in a release. “It is a championship that has helped to define my career, and to play in the first one at Pebble Beach, which will be a defining moment for women’s golf, with my family by my side will be a week we never forget.”

Past champions Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr were the last players to receive a special exemption into the championship in 2021 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. The most recent special exemptions before that went to two-time champion Karrie Webb, in 2018 and 2019. Amy Alcott’s sixth-place finish in 1994 at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan, is the highest finish for anyone given a special exemption.

Michelle Wie West, winner of the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, previously announced that this year’s championship will be the last competitive event on her calendar for the foreseeable future.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]