The LPGA Tour visits China this week for the 4th annual Blue Bay LPGA, the final event of its five-tournament Asian Swing.
The 80-player field is headlined by three of the world’s top-five ranked players – all of whom are major champions: World No. 1 Sung Hyun Park (2017 U.S. Women’s Open), No. 3 Shanshan Feng (2012 LPGA Championship), and No. 5 Anna Nordqvist (2017 Evian Championship).
Feng, who won last week in Japan, after a T3 and T2 in her two previous starts, is the (very) slight favorite to win her third title of 2017. The 28-year old Chinese star is listed with 3-1 odds.
Rookie of the Year Sung Hyun Park is essentially a co-favorite, alongside Feng as the 24-year old South Korean is listed with 4-1 odds. After Feng and Park, the payouts improve somewhat.
Anna Nordqvist, the long-hitting Swede, rounds out the top-three favorites at 10-1.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, the defending champion, is listed with 12-1 odds, as is American Lizette Salas and Thai Moriya Jutanugarn.
A couple of players who finished in the top 5 last week, and offer good payouts: South Korean Mi Hyang Lee (28-1, T5) and Aussie Sarah Jane Smith (80-1, T5).
THE SKINNY
Name: Blue Bay LPGA
Course: Jian Lake Blue Bay GC
Where: Hainan Island, China
Distance: 6,680 Yards, Par 72
Field: 80 players
Format: 72-hole stroke play/no cut
Total Purse: $1,500,000
Winner’s Share: $225,000
2016 Winner: Minjee Lee (Australia)
ODDS TO WIN: 2017 BLUE BAY LPGA
[table id=403 /]Credit: Bovado Sportsbook, Getty Images