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GILBERT, Ariz. — The LPGA isn’t any stranger to the state of Arizona. During the last 75 or so years, the tour has visited the state near 70 occasions.
This yr, the tour is within the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert for the inaugural Ford Championship introduced by KCC. 9 of the highest 10 gamers within the Rolex Rankings are right here as are all 5 event champs to this point in 2024.
The Thunderbirds, the civic group that runs the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open, joined as a founding accomplice a couple of month in the past and kicked in some additional funds, elevating the entire purse to $2.25 million, with the winner getting an outsized test for $337,500.
Only a few weeks earlier than that, Ford got here on as title sponsor, and that offered an uncommon perk for the LPGA gamers.
“Shoutout to Ford for supplying each single participant with a Ford car this week,” stated 2024 event director Emily Podzielinski. “We had just about each participant take us up on that provide, which is nice.
“That doesn’t occur, ever on the tour, for the gamers that each single individual will get the chance to obtain that.”
There have been a number of automobiles for gamers to select from.
“Some gamers wished to drive vans. Among the Texans love driving the vans,” stated Podzielinski.
After two rounds, gamers stated they have been having fun with the arrange of the golf course, too.
Ayaka Furue of Japan putts on the sixth inexperienced throughout the first spherical of the 2024 Ford Championship at Seville Golf and Nation Membership in Gilbert, Arizona. (Photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)
Azahara Munoz, who performed her faculty golf at close by Arizona State, opened her week 64-68. Is there something specifically she likes about Seville Golf and Nation Membership, a Gary Panks-design that opened in 2002?
“Every part, I assume,” she stated. “It’s good. It units up good. Offers you actually good traces off the tee. The greens are agency, which is sweet nevertheless it’s type of forgiving, too, so that you might be aggressive and make a number of birdies.”
Extensive fairways, agency and quick greens and loads of sunshine have generated low scores. The 36-hole reduce got here in at 5 below, tying the LPGA mark, which was final achieved in 2019.
There’s already been a 61 (Hannah Inexperienced), three 63s (Pajaree Anannarukarn, Sarah Schmelzel and Yuka Saso) and a slew of 64s by Munoz, Carlota Ciganda, Isi Gabsa, My Hyang Lee, Gabi Ruffels, Lydia Ko, Lilia Vu and Frida Kinhult.
Celine Boutier of France received the LPGA’s Drive On Championship at Superstition Mountain in close by Gold Canyon a yr in the past in what turned out to be a one-year stint.
“I really like coming to Arizona. I feel the golf programs listed below are so good, and particularly this time of the yr they’re all the time pristine situation,” she stated. “Clearly a bit of bit unhappy to not be taking part in Superstition Mountain once more however I feel it’s nonetheless an incredible observe right here. Be an excellent check to shoot some low scores.”
After capturing 65-69 over the primary two days, Boutier confirmed her preliminary impressions.
“It’s been good. I really feel like this course may be very scorable, so that you get a number of birdie probabilities. The par 5s are fairly reachable, so I feel it’s a scorable course.”
Nelly Korda, one of many longer hitters on tour, returned to No. 1 on this planet after profitable final week.
“The par 3s are fairly robust out right here, however all of the par 5s are fairly gettable,” she stated. Korda had an eagle and 7 birdies with simply two pars on the course’s 4 par 5s over her first 45 holes.
The LPGA held one-off occasions on the Legacy (2000), Papago (2009) and at Superstition (2023). Will Seville be a one-and-done as nicely, or will the tour return in 2025?
“I feel we’re going to get by means of this every body I do know is it’s wonderful having Ford on board, Ford Motor Firm because the title accomplice,” Podzielinski stated. “We need to be right here within the Valley for a extremely very long time and so we’re going to construct a community-sustainable occasion and we’re excited to try this. This one got here actually actually shortly and we’re proud of it. The membership’s been nice, the neighborhood’s been nice however a number of issues need to fall into place earlier than we begin planning for 2025.”
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