Preview: LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship

0

Everything old is new again. That would be one appropriate theme for this week’s LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in San Francisco.

The event itself is new to the LPGA schedule, but familiar to the players. For three years from 2014-16, they played an event at Lake Merced Golf Club, the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. That event disappeared from last year’s schedule, but with a final last-minute push, the LPGA was able to firm up the debut for this week’s event for the 2018 schedule.

Another aspect that is both old and new centers on Inbee Park. The hottest player in women’s golf this year officially moved back this week into the No. 1 position in the world Rolex Rankings. It is the fourth time in her career that Park has ascended to the top of the rankings, but the first time she’s been in that spot since the 2015 season. Park comes to San Francisco with top three finishes in her last three starts, including a tie for second at last week’s HUGEL-JTBC LA Open.

One other player hoping the old is new theme holds true is Lydia Ko. During the three years the LPGA previously visited Lake Merced, Ko won two of the titles, coming in back-to-back form in 2014 and ’15. She currently stands at No. 18 in the Rolex Rankings.

Here are additional details to help you enjoy this week’s LPGA action.


THE SKINNY

Tournament: LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
Dates: April 26-29, 2018
Where: San Francisco, Calif.
Course: Lake Merced Golf Club
Distance: Par 72, 6,507 yards
Architect: Willie Locke
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
Purse: $1,500,000
Winning Share: $225,000
Defending Champion: New Event
Marquee Players: Haru Nomura, Inbee Park, Shanshan Feng, Lexi Thompson, So Yeon Ryu, Ariya Jutanugarn, I.K. Kim, Christie Kerr, Lydia Ko, Brooke M. Henderson, Moriya Jutanugarn, Paula Creamer

Read More at Pro Golf Weekly

Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here