At the LPGA Drive On Championship last week, the first full-field event of the season on tour, Golfweek asked several players to name their favorite swing on tour (outside of their own). Not surprisingly, one name kept popping up – Nelly Korda.
The hometown favorite would go on to win her ninth LPGA career title in a playoff against Lydia Ko in Bradenton, Florida. Danish player Nanna Koerstz Madsen even noted that she has used videos of Korda’s swing in the past to help her get into certain positions.
The No. 2 player in the world wasn’t the only name mentioned, of course. Here are the favorites:
Three players went unbeaten over the three days but only one earned 4 points over the five sessions.
CASARES, Spain — The 2023 Solheim Cup couldn’t have been closer.
The 18th edition of the biennial bash between the United States and Europe was all square at 8-8 entering Sunday singles, and after the final 12 matches – five won by the both teams and two ties – the competition ended in a 14-14 tie, and the Europeans retained the Cup.
In the event’s 23-year history, the Americans have taken home the trophy on 10 occasions, with the Europeans earning the other eight. Team Europe hasn’t lost since 2017 in Iowa.
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was the only player to score four points this week (4-0-0) and was one of four players who went unbeaten, joining Gemma Dryburgh (0-0-2), Megan Khang (3-0-1) and Cheyenne Knight (2-0-1). Two players went winless for each team, but only one failed to earn a point.
Here’s a breakdown of how each player fared this week by event at the 2023 Solheim Cup.
Cheyenne Knight (2-0-0) is undefeated so far in Spain.
Solheim Cup captains are always judged in part by their captain’s picks. The composition of the two 12-person teams are different in that Suzann Pettersen selects four players for Europe compared to Stacy Lewis’ three picks for Team USA.
So far, the European captain’s picks have combined for 4½ points to Team USA’s four points. While Pettersen has practically hidden two of her picks with Caroline Hedwall and Gemma Dryburgh only playing in one match apiece, she has leaned heavily on one pick: Emily Pedersen. The Dane is one of three European players to tee it up in all four matches. No American, however, will play every session.
World No. 2 Lilia Vu is on the bench for the opening matches, as is rising star Rose Zhang.
CASARES, Spain — The opening tee shots of the 2023 Solheim Cup are just hours away and the first group of pairings have officially been announced.
Friday morning’s foursomes pairings and matches at Finca Cortesin on Spain’s southern coast were released during the opening ceremony Thursday night at nearby Marbella Arena, with none other than U.S. star Lexi Thompson, who has struggled this year, set to take the first swing alongside Megan Khang against European and Swedish rookies, Linn Grant and Maja Stark.
Notably on the bench for the American side are world No. 2 Lilia Vu, who won two major championships this season, as well as rising star Rose Zhang, who has a penchant for match play.
“I wanted to get off to a good start. I wanted to get out four really good pairings and that’s kind of been my focus this whole time,” said U.S. captain Stacy Lewis. “So it was more about who matched up together versus even — I didn’t even look at who was sitting, to be honest. I wasn’t even worried about who was sitting. It was more just what are my best four options.”
“For my sake, I feel like I’ve had these four pairings down on paper for quite a few months now,” added European captain Suzann Pettersen. “It was more like in what order do you play ’em.”
Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the first session of matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Note: Spain is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S.)
A drivable par-4 1st hole sets a unique tone for what fans should expect to see this week in Spain.
CASARES, Spain — When’s the last time you saw a drivable par 4 on the first hole of a golf course?
Fans who tune in to the 2023 Solheim Cup this week at Finca Cortesin on Spain’s southern coast will be treated to the rarity as the opening hole will provide a risk-reward option for players right from the jump.
A lot of the pre-match discussion this week from both players and captains has been about the unique test that this year’s host course will provide. The course at Finca Cortesin offers wide fairways and will bless the good shots and penalize the poor ones. Not only that, the heat and hills will make the 18th matches between the United States and Europe an equal parts physical and mental test for players and their caddies.
Here’s what the stars of the week had to say about this year’s host course as the Solheim Cup is held in Spain for the first time in its nearly two-decade history.
There are two winners this week at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, meaning two players are taking home the top prize.
The LPGA’s best took on Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan, this week in a team competition. With a major championship on the horizon next week in Europe, some players took the week off, but there was plenty of star power in the field looking to fine tune their games before the Amundi Evian Championship.
Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol held on to their 54-hole lead to win at 23 under. Matilda Castren and Kelly Tan had a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, but it just missed. Knight and Szokol earned $326,872 for their victory, splitting the first-place prize.
Here’s a look at the prize money payouts for the 2023 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
Matilda Castren smacked her putt, and partner Kelly Tan watched anxiously as it rolled toward the cup.
The ball looked as if it was going in the whole way, but instead, it broke hard right at the hole and missed. Standing off to the side of the 18th green, Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol gave a hug to each other before Emma Talley and Maria Fassi rushed the green and sprayed them in champagne.
Knight and Szokol held on to their 54-hole lead, shooting 5-under 65 to hold on at 23 under and win the 2023 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan. For Knight, it’s her second LPGA victory while Szokol picked up her first. It was their third start as partners in the tournament.
“It’s amazing to get my first win,” Szokol said. “It’s something I’ve been working for a long time, and it’s so tough to win out here. Everyone is such a great player.
“So to finally do that, and it’s even better with Cheyenne by my side. We’ve been talking about this event all year. And since our good finish last year, we couldn’t wait to get back, and to actually win is pretty amazing.”
Knight and Szokol also became the second American duo to win the event, joining defending champions Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas.
Castren’s putt would’ve forced a playoff, but her and Tan settled for solo second at 22 under. There was a three-way tie for third at 20 under, including Celine Boutier/Yuka Saso, Jodi Ewart Shadoff/Talley and Celine Borge/Polly Mack.
There was a nearly two-hour rain delay with the leaders on the 13th hole, but Knight and Szokol made two birdies down the stretch to hold on.
“It was hard going to the rain delay, two-shot lead coming back, and it evaporated really quickly,” Knight said. “It was just surreal. It was, like, wow, we did it. We’ve been out here all day, but we did it. So it was just, yeah, pure joy.”
Up next is the fourth women’s major championship of the year, the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in France. Brooke Henderson is the defending champion.
The Dow is the first official team competition in LPGA Tour history.
The duo of Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol was tied for 18th after the first round and tied for sixth after the second.
After 54 holes at the LPGA’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the duo holds the outright lead, three clear of the field.
And they did so by posting the tournament’s 18-hole foursomes scoring record.
“We’re really good friends, so I think we’re very comfortable playing together,” Szokol said. “We know each other really well, and I have so much trust in Cheyenne’s game, and that makes it so much easier for alternate shot.”
On Friday, Knight/Szokol recorded a 62, their day featuring a back-nine 29, nine total birdies and only one bogey at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan.
“I think our goal every day is just to have fun. I think before we started on Wednesday, alternate shot you are a little bit nervous, but we just said, let’s just have fun and enjoy it,” Knight said. “We don’t get a format like this or a team event very often, so it’s just super fun.”
Knight and Szokol are at 18 under overall, three ahead of Matilda Castren/Kelly Tan. Celine Borge/Polly Mack are tied for third at 13 under along with Shadoff and Talley.
Knight has one LPGA win, the 2019 Volunteers of America Classic. Szokol is seeking her first victory.
Notable teams that missed the Thursday cut included Brooke Henderson/Lexi Thompson, Ruoning Yin/Xiaowen Yin and Georgia Hall/Ryann O’Toole.
The tournament concludes Saturday, giving those headed to the LPGA’s next major, the Amundi Evian Championship in France, an extra day for travel and preparation.
Sunday finish for Dow in 2024
The Dow started in 2019 and has always featured a Saturday finish. Next year, however, it’ll conclude on a Sunday.
The first official team competition in LPGA Tour history, the Dow is shifting dates to accommodate the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will be in Paris.
View photos of Cheyenne Knight thoughout her career
Cheyenne Knight is quickly becoming a name to watch on the LPGA Tour.
Knight had quite the amateur resume when she left Alabama in 2018 to turn professional, leaving Tuscaloosa with four individual wins. She was a huge part of the Crimson Tide’s stacked 2018 NCAA National Championship team.
Knight broke through with her first LPGA victory in her home state of Texas at the 2021 Volunteers of America Classic at Old American Golf Club in The Colony.
Knight has flown under the radar ever since, but is showing promise and gaining form as we near the midway point of the 2023 season. With three top 10s over the past calendar year and currently sitting in the top 25 in the Race to CME Globe, Knight is a name to watch with three majors remaining in the LPGA season.
“Someone asked me if it is more pressure, and I don’t think so.”
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Gene Knight was headed to the range one day at The Woodlands Country Club when his wife said, “You’re not leaving here without a kid.” After Jayna handed him daughter Cheyenne, Gene set her up with a cut-down hybrid and the promise of $1 for every ball she hit past the 100-yard marker. Gene lost $10 pretty quick that day.
He couldn’t have known then that 26-year-old Cheyenne would grow up to not only win her first LPGA title in Texas, but contend in her first major championship back home in The Woodlands, where the Chevron Championship is being staged at The Club at Carlton Woods for the first time.
Knight’s 3-under 69 on a muddy day in Texas puts her 4 under for the tournament and three shots back of leader Lilia Vu. Tournament officials gave Knight 10 tickets for the week, and she asked friends for about 15 more. After such a strong start, a request for more might be in order as she’s poised to contend in a major for the first time.
“Someone asked me if it is more pressure, and I don’t think so,” she said of playing in her former hometown.
“They’re going to love and support me no matter what. I think it’s just being comfortable just seeing familiar faces and trying to give them some water on the golf course, so they don’t pass out.”
Boyfriend Easton Stick, a back-up quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers will be in the gallery supporting. Knight met Stick at the Palos Verdes Championship last year when he played in the pro-am.
Knight grew up about 2 miles down the road from the Nicklaus Course on the second hole of the Palmer Course. She played the Nicklaus Course with family friends a time or two but was too young to remember much about it.
“I would play from the red tees,” she said, “and we would be here for snacks or running in the bunkers.”
Cheyenne Knight plays her second shot on the first hole during the second round of the 2023 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Stacy Lewis was the local legend when Knight was a kid. Lewis graduated from the local high school and went on to become the No. 1 player in the world.
In 2003, Lewis’ high school team had 30 girls on it. It was the same for Knight, who said there were A and B teams for the girls as well as a JV team her freshman year. The boys B team at the Woodlands, in fact, was so good when Knight was a freshman that they won the state title.
“I actually have a signed flag from when (Lewis) won in Mobile,” said Knight.
This week, Lewis, a 13-time LPGA winner, including two majors, is staying at her childhood home about three and a half miles from the Nicklaus Course. The 2023 and 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup captain opened with a 73 and is hovering around the cut line.
“It’s something that definitely growing up here I thought would never happen,” said Lewis, “to bring a championship like this to The Woodlands. But it’s been awesome. There’s so many people walking around, so many people that I know.”
After her freshman year, the Knights moved to Aledo, Texas, just west of Fort Worth. That’s where her golf career really blossomed with a golf scholarship to Alabama. In 2019, at age 22, Knight won her first LPGA title at the Volunteers of America Classic, 65 miles from Aledo.
With her parents now building a house back in The Woodlands area, Knight will be forced to move out, and recently bought a townhome in Fort Worth about a mile and a half from where she practices at Shady Oaks.
“It’s an off-week thing,” said Knight as she signed electronic mortgage documents after Tuesday’s pro-am round, “just buying a house because there’s no time to do it.”
Cheyenne Knight poses with the trophy after winning the Volunteers of America Classic golf tournament at the Old American Golf Club on October 6, 2019 in The Colony, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)
Knight never had the chance to attend an LPGA event until she qualified for one her freshman year of college. She marvels at what a women’s major in a golf-centric place like the Woodlands might do for juniors.
Knight’s tournament career started with three-hole competitions from the middle of the fairway. Gene said first instructor, Donnie Massengale, nicknamed her “one more” because she always wanted to hit one more shot.
