View photos of major champion Patty Tavatanakit throughout her young career.
At just 23 years of age, is it too early to say that Patty Tavatanakit is having a career resurgence?
As one of the most highly touted juniors in recent memory, Tavatanakit got out to a scorching hot start to her professional career in 2019. Winning three times in just eight starts on the now-Epson Tour, Tavatanakit ran away with Rookie of the Year honors and jumped up to the LPGA in 2020.
After a COVID-19-hindered rookie season, the Thai broke through for her first LPGA win in 2021.
Tavatanakit joined a shortlist of golfers whose first win on tour was a major championship, winning the ANA Inspiration by five strokes over Lydia Ko.
In her eight major starts since that win, Tavatanakit locked down three top-10 finishes but rode a cold streak of four straight missed cuts heading into the 2023 major season.
After briefly being in contention at the Chevron, it will be interesting to see how Tavatanakit continues her search for her second major title.
World No. 1 Jin Young Ko headlines the list, along with defending champion Anna Nordqvist and Lexi Thompson.
With so much history on the line this weekend at Muirfield, missing the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open stings just a little bit more. Not to mention the fact that this is the final major of 2022.
It’s a long wait til the Chevron Championship next April.
World No. 1 Jin Young Ko headlines the list, along with defending champion Anna Nordqvist, Lexi Thompson and a host of other marquee players.
This marks the first time female professionals have competed at Muirfield, one of the world’s most iconic clubs. A total of 65 players made the cut at 3 over.
Three-time major winner In Gee Chun paces the field at 8 under.
Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie West are among several notable names going home early at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles.
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie West came into the 77th U.S. Women’s Open not expecting to win, of course. But they certainly wanted to play the weekend.
The task proved too much for both, however, with Wie West carding 73-74 to finish 5 over for the tournament, two shots outside the cut line of 3 over. The field of 156 was cut to the top 60 and ties.
Sorenstam, 51, playing in her first LPGA major since 2008, shot 74-81 to finish at 13 over.
“It was an amazing week,” said Wie West, who announced plans to step away from the tour after this. “It’s definitely a bittersweet week. I wish I would have ended on making the cut and all of that.
“Obviously, no matter what, missing the cut sucks, but overall, I had a very positive experience.”
Here are some of the notable names leaving Pine Needles early.
“I had it rolling well and you’ve got to make putts in a major.”
Three years ago on this weekend, Jennifer Kupcho wowed the world with her performance in winning the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
In 2022, on the same spot on the calendar but in an entirely different environment, Kupcho claimed her first LPGA title and more importantly, her first major championship at the Chevron Championship.
Kupcho’s Saturday 64 got her to 16 under and staked her to a six-shot lead heading into the final round on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
Winning is never easy but Kupcho, the 2018 NCAA Women’s Division I champion, had it on cruise control over the last 18 holes, building her lead to seven shots at one point. She shot a final-round 74 to finish 14 under to win by two shots.
Jennifer Kupcho plays her shot from the first tee during the final round of the 2022 Chevron Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports)
Kupcho at one point had her sights on the tournament’s 72-hole scoring mark of 19 under set by Dottie Pepper in 1999. Kupcho got it to 17 under with a birdie on No. 11, but back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 essentially kept Pepper’s record intact.
On the 15h hole, Kupcho basically put the tournament on ice, stuffing her approach to about a foot, setting up a birdie to make the lead four shots once again.
Jessica Korda was the closest pursuer Sunday She fired a final-round 69 but never could get any closer than two shots. Korda settled for solo second at 12 under.
Pia Babnik and Hinako Shibuno tied for the best rounds of the day with 6-under 66s. The tournament’s defending champion, Patty Tavatanakit, who also won her first LPGA event and first major in this event one year ago, started the day at 10 under, six shots back, but managed just a 72 Sunday to finish tied for fourth.
Sunday was the LPGA’s 51st playing of this championship. The event moves next year to a spot later in the year on the calendar as well as to a different golf course. The front runner, Golfweek has learned, is The Clubs at Houston Oaks, a private golf course in Texas.
Only two players have won the Chevron title in consecutive years.
Anyone who watched Patty Tavatanakit dominate the field at the Chevron Championship in winning the 2021 major championship can’t be surprised that Tavatanakit is looking for back-to-back wins in the event this year.
A pair of late birdies Friday pushed Tavatanakit to 8-under 136 after 36 holes on the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club. That puts Tavatanakit, the reigning LPGA rookie of the year, just one shot behind leader Hinako Shibuno after the morning wave of players in the second round.
Only two players, Sandra Post in 1978-79 and Annika Sorenstam in 2001-02, have won the Chevron title in consecutive years.
Shibuno, the 2019 AIG Women’s Open winner, shot one of the best rounds of the morning, a 6-under 66 that included seven birdies. Shibuno is at 9 under, and like Tavatanakit, she is seeking her second major title.
Tavatanakit is tied at 8 under with Annie Park, who for the second day in a row played without a partner. Park shot a 67 on Friday.
A group of players is tied at 6 under for the tournament, including overnight leaders Minjee Lee and Jennifer Kupcho, who have afternoon tee times.
Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand reacts after a birdie on the 17th hole during the second round of The Chevron Championship at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa on April 01, 2022, in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Tavantanakit said she left too many shots on the course Friday, but was happy with the two closing birdies
“I think 17 was definitely a bonus,” Tavatanakit said of the 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3. “That pin position (tight to the left side of the green) was just taking it one shot at a time, and it ended up being a great shot.”
Knowing the tee is up on the 485-yard par-5 18th hole, Tavatanakit was again able to reach the island green in two shots but missed the putting surface to the left. She hit a delicate chip shot to within three feet and made the birdie putt in front of applauding fans who were not at the tournament last year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“I remember being here as an amateur and making birdie on that hole (the 18th) is always a cheery feeling,” Tavatanakit said.
Park playing well
Annie Park, the 26-year old from New York who attended USC, was the first player out on the course Friday, and she played by herself as the odd woman out in the 115-player field. She took advantage of the solitude by firing a 5-under 67 to move her to 8 under for the tournament.
Annie Park tees off on the 9th hole during the second round of the Chevron Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on April 1, 2022.
Park being in contention could be considered a bit of a surprise. This is Park’s 23rd major championship, and she’s never finished inside the top 15. Her best finish in this event is a tie for 56th.
“Just overall it was a great day and I feel pretty — a lot better about my long game. Been putting a lot better. Made some really good putts out there. Did leave some out there, but overall I’m stroking it pretty solid,” said Park, who’s just plain having fun on the course this week. “Yeah, it’s nice. I think the fans are very supportive. So nice to see just fans out there again, always supporting, Hey, go Annie, fight on.”
“I love coming back here. But we’re evolving and changing, and we always look forward to what’s new.”
RANCHO MIRAGE, Cali. — Patty Tavatanakit begins the defense of her Chevron Championship title with a feeling no other defender has faced in the tournament’s 51-year history.
“It’s a bittersweet goodbye I guess,” Tavatanakit said as the last player who will defend the LPGA major championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. The event will move to the Houston area next year, meaning whoever wins the title this week won’t come back to the Dinah Shore Tournament Course a year from now.
“Having to move this event out of California, out of the desert, it’s sad,” said Tavatanakit, who played in the tournament twice as an amateur while at UCLA. “I love coming back here. But we’re evolving and changing, and we always look forward to what’s new.”
For all the memories and sadness from players over leaving the Shore Course, there is still the immediate reality of a major championship to be won Sunday with the traditional leap into Poppie’s Pond. For Tavatanakit, that means trying to become just the third player in tournament history to win in consecutive years, joining Sandra Post (1978-79) and Annika Sorenstam (2001-02).
Tavatanakit will lead a field of 110 professionals and five amateurs into play Thursday. That field includes World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, the 2019 champion of the Chevron title and winner of six of her last 11 starts on the women’s tour. Jin Young Ko is one of 10 past champions in the field. That list includes 2016 winner Lydia Ko, who was second in the event to Tavatanakit last year while shooting a course record-tying 62 in the final round.
“Obviously, there is so much history here with Amy Alcott being the first one to jump into Poppie’s Pond,” Ko said of Alcott’s famous jump into the lake at the 18th green in 1988. “That kind of started I think a lot of dreams for many girls out there to want to jump in Poppie’s Pond. I’ve seen so many different shots, so many different finishes that led to players jumping in there.”
For the 22-year-old Tavatanakit, the 2021 Chevron Championship remains her only win on the LPGA. But she also finished fifth in the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship and AIG Women’s Open, two other LPGA majors. That helped her to the LPGA Rookie of the Year award.
Despite not winning in the last 12 months, Tavatanakit says she believes her overall game is better than the game that pushed her to 18-under par in last year’s Chevron event, just one off the tournament’s scoring record.
Better than last year?
“It’s just a feeling. It is, I would say it is better. That’s just how I feel with my game,” Tavatanakit said. “If anything, last year I was working on some stuff and I happened to execute better than this year. Because if you were to ask me 10 more times, 100 times, I would say it is better than last year. Scores are scores. You can’t really control that, but you can control what you’re doing with the process, what you can do to become a better player.”
Lydia Ko tees off on the 8th hole during the Chevron Championship pro-am practice round at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, March 30, 2022.
For Lydia Ko, both her game and the Shore Course itself have changed since she won in 2016 as an 18-year-old. Ko said she hits the ball farther than she did six years ago, but the course remains demanding.
“It’s so important to be on the fairways here because the greens are pretty firm as well and the rough are quite juicy,” said Ko, whose win at the Gainbridge Classic in Florida in February was her 17th LPGA title. “So to kind of be on the fairways is going to be a huge advantage, and I’m sure that the days that I played well I did that well. And then was able to putt and take advantage of the times that I put myself in good position.”
Lexi Thompson signs an autograph for Izzy, center, Willa, and their father Jesse Bergland during the Chevron Championship pro-am at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, March 30, 2022.
Concentrating on golf will be fine for most of the week, but many players would embrace being the last champion at Mission Hills and the last player to jump into Poppie’s Pond, including 2014 winner Lexi Thompson. Thompson played in the tournament when she was 14 and is playing in her 11th consecutive Chevron event as a pro.
“A lot of great memories, a lot of special ones since I was very young,” Thompson said. “It’s definitely unfortunate that it will be moving from this special venue at Mission Hills. I think we’re all a bit bummed out about it, but at the same time, we’re not losing the event, we’re just losing the location.
“Hopefully something will happen out of it,” Thompson added. “Maybe we have another event here, anything. Anything can happen.”
A total of 10 players from Thailand are in the field this week. Here’s a closer look at some of the host nation’s best.
As the Honda LPGA Thailand celebrates its 15th year, golf in Thailand has never been so robust. Last year Ariya Jutanugarn became the first Thai player to win the event, fitting given that she was the first Thai to win on the LPGA and rise to No. 1.
Incredibly, Thai players finished 1-2-3 last year with LPGA rookie Atthaya Thitikul placing second and last year’s Chevron winner, Patty Tavatanakit coming in third.
This marks the 10th time the Honda Thailand will be contested on the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club.
A total of 10 players from Thailand are in the field: Jaravee Boonchant (Bangkok), Ariya Jutanugarn (Bangkok), Moriya Jutanugarn (Bangkok), Wichanee Meechai (Bangkok), Jasmine Suwannapura (Bangkok), Rina Tatematsu (Bangkok), Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok), Prima Thammaraks (Bangkok), Atthaya Thitikul (Ratchaburi) and Chanettee Wannasaen (Chiang Mai).
Here’s a closer look at some of the host nation’s best:
Patty Tavatanakit fired a bogey-free 67 and holds a one-shot lead over Inbee Park, A Lim Kim and Danielle Kang.
After a month off, the LPGA returned to action this week at the 2022 HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, where the leaderboard is packed with big names after the first round.
Patty Tavatanakit fired a bogey-free 67 and holds a one-shot lead over Inbee Park, A Lim Kim and Danielle Kang. There are 14 golfers who shot 65s, and the group includes World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson.
Tavatanakit, who is coming up on the anniversary of her lone LPGA win at the 2021 ANA Inspiration, sounded satisfied but not thrilled with her round.
“I feel like everything was pretty solid,” she said Tavatanakit. “Couple of shots here and there. But overall, I’m really happy with how I played.”
Kang, who had a first- and a second-place finish before sitting out the third LPGA tournament so far this season, had a one-shot lead before bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 to shoot a 68. That gives her nine straight rounds of being either first or second on the leaderboard.
“It was just getting so hot at one point. And unfortunately, I think I just kind of checked out from golf for a little bit because I was more focused on trying to stay cool,” she said. “I haven’t been in this kind of heat in a while.”
Park is seeking her third win in the event.
“I think this golf course really suits me. I think this golf course is not overly long, and that really gives me some good advantage of playing with the long hitters,” she said. “The course is playing really good for me. I mean, it has over the years, and it is this year as well.”
Jin Young Ko had an amazing streak come to an end Thursday. Ko hit 63 consecutive greens in regulation, the longest streak in LPGA as well as PGA Tour history, at the 2021 season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. On Thursday, she hit the first three greens to extend that mark to 66 but on the fourth hole, the run ended when she missed the green. But, she would go on to drain a 16-footer for birdie on No. 18 to cap a round of 69.
Lydia Ko also shot 3 under but she had perhaps the best par of the day after standing in a lake to hit off a sloping lie.
“Their rhythm is so good. It’s just unbelievable.”
Inbee Park, the most decorated player in the LPGA field at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, is rather fond of opening her 16th season on tour alongside celebrities. There’s less pressure this week, she said, than typical tour events. The seven-time major winner considers it the “perfect” warmup.
“This tournament is a very fun format,” said Park, “so we’re enjoying the different atmosphere and meeting a lot of people. Watching them play is enjoyable.”
Park, who is four strokes back of leader Nelly Korda through two rounds, is one of 29 LPGA players in the field. Winners from the past two seasons are invited to the opener at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. Among the 50 players in the celebrity division is Annika Sorenstam, the greatest player in the modern era who retired from the LPGA in 2008. Park and Sorenstam aren’t competing against each other. The celebrities vie for a purse of $500,000 and use a modified Stableford scoring format.
Former MLB pitcher Derek Lowe leads Mark Mulder and Sorenstam by one point heading into the weekend.
“I think it’s a little bit more relaxing watching them getting more nervous,” said Park.
See what some of the celebrities in the field had to say about the best female golfers on the planet:
With $1.5 million on the line, here are 18 players to watch this week in Naples.
It’s all come down to this. The last tournament of the LPGA tour season is this week at Tiburon Golf Course. The CME Group Tour Championship is loaded with star power, including last week’s winner of the Pelican Women’s Championship and World No. 1, Nelly Korda.
Lexi Thompson, who fell short down the stretch at the Pelican and is surely looking to bounce back, is also in the field.
The winner of the CME Group Tour Championship will be walking away with $1.5 million, the largest prize in the history of women’s golf.
Tiburon will play as a par 72 throughout the week, measuring in at 6,556 yards.
Here are 18 players in the field to keep your eye on.
Jin Young Ko
Jin Young Ko of South Korea tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan on October 21, 2021 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Age: 26 Home country: South Korea Resides: Seoul, South Korea LPGA Career Victories: 11 Race to CME Globe: 1
Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda poses with the trophy after winning the Pelican Women’s Championship in a playoff at Pelican Golf Club on November 14, 2021 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Age: 23 Home country: U.S. Resides: Bradenton LPGA Career Victories: 7 Race to CME Globe: 2
Lydia Ko
Age: 24 Home country: New Zealand Resides: Orlando LPGA Career Victories: 16 Race to CME Globe: 3
Patty Tavatanakit
Patty Tavatanakit waves after putting out on the 10th green during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 22 Home country: Thailand Resides: U.S. LPGA Career Victories: 1 Race to CME Globe: 4
Inbee Park
Inbee Park plays her shot from the second tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 33 Home country: South Korea Resides: Las Vegas LPGA Career Victories: 21 Race to CME Globe: 5
Ariya Jutanugarn
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand plays her shot from the first tee during day four of the The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 25, 2021 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Age: 25 Home country: Thailand Resides: Bangkok, Thailand LPGA Career Victories: 12 Race to CME Globe: 6
Lexi Thompson
Lexi Thompson and her caddie on the first tee during the first round of the AIG Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on August 19, 2021 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Age: 26 Home country: U.S. Resides: Coral Springs LPGA Career Victories: 11 Race to CME Globe: 7
Brooke Henderson
Brooke Henderson of Canada tees off on the 9th hole during the pro-am prior to the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on August 18, 2021 in Carnoustie, Scotland. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Age: 24 Home country: Canada Resides: Smiths Falls, Ontario/Miromar Lakes LPGA Career Victories: 10 Race to CME Globe: 8
Minjee Lee
Minjee Lee of Australia waves at the 18th hole during Day Three of the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on August 21, 2021 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Age: 25 Home country: Australia Resides: Perth, Australia LPGA Career Victories: 6 Race to CME Globe: 9
Nasa Hataoka
Nasa Hataoka hits her tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio on July 09, 2021 in Sylvania, Ohio. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Age: 22 Home country: Japan Resides: Japan LPGA Career Victories: 5 Race to CME Globe: 10
Sei Young Kim
Sei Young Kim tees off at one during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at the Tiburon Golf Club in North Naples, Florida.
Age: 28 Home country: South Korea Resides: South Korea LPGA Career Victories: 12 Race to CME Globe: 11
Danielle Kang
Danielle Kang of Team USA reacts during competition rounds of the Solheim Cup golf tournament at Inverness Club. (Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)
Age: 29 Home country: U.S. Resides: Las Vegas LPGA Career Victories: 5 Race to CME Globe: 12
Jessica Korda
Jessica Korda (USA) tees of on the ninth hole during the first round of the women’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 28 Home country: U.S. Resides: Bradenton LPGA Career Victories: 6 Race to CME Globe: 13
Moriya Jutanugarn
Moriya Jutanugarn tees off at the tenth hole during the first round of the LPGA’s 2021 Hugel-Air Premia LA Open tournament at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. (Photo: Ashley Landis/Associated Press)
Age: 27 Home country: Thailand Resides: Thailand LPGA Career Victories: 2 Race to CME Globe: 14
Jeongeun Lee6
Jeongeun Lee6 of Korea lines up a shot during day three of the The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 24, 2021 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Age: 25 Home country: South Korea Resides: South Korea LPGA Career Victories: 1 Race to CME Globe: 15
Yuka Saso
Yuka Saso hoists the US Open trophy after winning in a sudden death playoff following the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Photo by Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 20 Home country: Philippines Resides: Philippines LPGA Career Victories: 1 Race to CME Globe: 16
Leona Maguire
Leona Maguire reads a putt on the third green during round two of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 17, 2021 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Age: 26 Home country: Ireland Resides: Ireland LPGA Career Victories: 0 Race to CME Globe: 17
Celine Boutier
Celine Boutier (FRA) tees off on the ninth hole during the first round of the women’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 28 Home country: France Resides: France/Dallas LPGA Career Victories: 2 Race to CME Globe: 18
Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com. Support local journalism with this special subscription offer at https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/
