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Stacy Lewis on the missed Opportunity of Ryder Cup/Solheim Cup 2023 Double Feature

Stacy Lewis as Captain of Team USA at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Stacy Lewis as Captain of Team USA at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

As the anticipation builds ahead of the Solheim Cup 2023 in Spain, Team USA, led by Captain Stacy Lewis, emanates a sense of excitement, unity, and confidence. The press conferences provided a platform for the players to express their feelings, expectations, and preparations for the high-stake tournament, revealing insights into their mentality, camaraderie, and strategic approaches.

Team USA Captain Stacy Lewis: “We’re moving in the right direction”

Captain Stacy Lewis and her squad have hit the ground running, focusing on unity and trust within the team to navigate the challenges presented by the course layout. Lewis expressed her excitement, saying, “We’ve had good practice rounds, and we’re moving in the right direction.” Her sentiments were echoed by Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis, with the latter describing the Solheim Cup as her “absolute favorite work week.”

Analyzing the event’s location and logistics, Lewis highlighted how analytics played a pivotal role in their preparations, “It’s been my start point for everything… analytics are a huge part of what we’re doing.” The strategic significance of the drivable par-4 on the first hole was also discussed, seen as an opportunity to put some pressure on Team Europe right from the start.

Despite some setbacks and disappointments over missed opportunities for joint promotions with the Ryder Cup Lewis remains hopeful about future collaborations for the betterment of women’s sport, “I thought this could have been marketed together as two weeks in Europe, two Cups for play… Let’s further the game of golf in general,” she stated.

The camaraderie, mutual support, and the shared excitement are forming the essence of Team USA’s experience ahead of the Solheim Cup 2023. The amalgamation of experienced guidance from the veterans, the youthful energy from the rookies, and the strategic insights under Captain Lewis’s leadership have made the team optimistic about facing the challenges and putting up a spirited fight in the tournament.

Solheim Cup 2023 Rookies are excited

The rookies of Team USA, Andrea Lee, Rose Zhang, Cheyenne Knight, Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vu, expressed their surreal experiences and excitement at being part of such a prestigious event. Lee described being in Spain and witnessing everything coming together as “super exciting,” while Zhang emphasized her commitment to the team’s success, “Regardless of how much I’m playing, I’m going to be fighting out there every single event or every single match that I participate in.”

Vu likened the team environment to her experiences with college golf, emphasizing the enjoyment she’s found in practice rounds and team bonding activities. The comparison between their shared history and experiences at the Solheim Cup 2023 was marked as special, especially by Stanford Cardinals, Andrea Lee, and Rose Zhang, who valued their shared experiences in Spain.

Veterans offer Insights and Guidance

The veterans, Angel Yin and Angela Stanford, offered valuable guidance and support to the newcomers, helping them navigate their nerves and adrenaline. Yin expressed confidence in the rookies, citing them as well-experienced and praising the leadership of Stacy, “she really keeps the team together, and she’s very transparent, very good at communicating…”

Stanford shared advice to rookies on enjoying the unique experience and being honest. She along with Morgan Pressel emphasized the team’s competitive nature and considered it a real asset for the upcoming matches.

The players engaged in special bonding activities like trivia games and dinner outings, cherishing the moments and gifts received, especially their USA golf bags. The players, including Cheyenne Knight and Allisen Corpuz, highlighted the cohesive dynamics, supportive atmosphere, and the beautiful landscape of the golf course.

Ally Ewing, Lexi Thompson, and Danielle Kang emphasized the honor of representing their country and showed enthusiasm about the team’s strength and leadership. They discussed the course’s condition, the strategy involved, and the importance of statistics in preparing partnerships, providing better insights for teaming up.

With the new approach fostering unity, challenging terrains sparking strategic discussions, and the unequivocal commitment from every member, Team USA seems ready to represent their country with their best efforts and is looking forward to the competition with zeal and anticipation. The Solheim Cup is thus setting the stage for a spirited clash, blending experience with fresh talent and strategic gameplay, promising an enthralling experience for the spectators.

(This article was created using AI.)

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Ladies Tours

Solheim Cup 2023: Rules and Format explained

America versus Europe - rules and format of the Solheim Cup. (Image: Getty)

The Solheim Cup is the female counterpart to the Ryder Cup in professional golf. Since 1990, the best female golfers from Europe have squared off against their American counterparts every two years in teams of twelve players each.

Solheim Cup 2023DatePlaceAttendeesFormat
Solheim Cup 202322.09. – 24.09.2023Finca Cortesin Golf Club, SpainTeam USA vs. Team EuropeMatchplay (Fourball / Foursome / Single Matches)

Solheim Cup 2023: Rules and format

In 1996, the Solheim Cup adopted the exact same format as the Ryder Cup. Over the course of three days, the tournament is played in a “woman-to-woman” format, comprising a total of 28 matches over 18 holes. Three different game formats are played over these three tournament days. On the first and second tournament days, there are a total of eight classic foursomes (alternate shot) and eight four-ball best-ball matches (fourballs). In these matches, two players from one team, appointed by the captain, compete against two players from the opposing team. On the final day, the competition culminates in singles matches, where it’s one-on-one.

Foursomes

On Friday and Saturday, four foursome matches are played. Here, the same ball is alternately played within a team of two until it’s holed. If one team takes fewer strokes than the opponent on a hole, they go “1 up.” If a team is ahead by more holes than there are remaining, the match ends before the 18th hole, and the winning team gets a point. If both teams have won an equal number of holes, the match is halved, and each team receives half a point.

Fourballs

On Friday and Saturday, four fourball matches are also played. In these matches, two European golfers face off against two American golfers in a foursome flight. However, unlike foursomes, all four players use their own balls. Only the best score per team is counted for each hole. Otherwise, the same rules as other match-play formats apply. Whether the days start with foursomes or fourballs is determined by the event organizer.

Singles

On Sunday, the Solheim Cup concludes with twelve singles matches. The order in which players from each team face representatives of the opposing team is determined by the respective captain. However, captains do not know in advance which players will face each other. The matchups are randomized by the captains’ selections, a process that also applies to foursomes and fourballs.

How the Solheim Cup is decided

For every victory in a match, the team earns a point, which contributes to the team’s overall score. If a match ends in a tie, both teams receive half a point. With a total of 28 matches, there are 28 points up for grabs. A team needs 14.5 points to win the Solheim Cup. In the event of a tie, the defending champions are declared the winners.

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Ladies Tours

A Solheim Cup venue unlike any other

The course of Finca Cortesin in spain. (Photo: Solheim Cup)
The course of Finca Cortesin in spain. (Photo: Solheim Cup)

The 24 European and American players have been selected for the upcoming Solheim Cup, the biennial competition between the best women golfers of Europe and the United States. With the opening ceremony just a few weeks away, it is time for the final touches at Finca Cortesin, “one of the best venues ever”, according to Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist, who will be teeing it up in her eighth Solheim Cup.

Solheim Cup 2023: “Breathtaking surroundings, world-class amenities, and unwavering dedication to championship golf”

The week of celebrations in Finca Cortesin, nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Spain with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea, will start on Monday, September 18th, with a combination of team practices, flamenco exhibitions, gastronomic evenings, and candlelight concerts.

Finca Cortesin (Photo: Solheim Cup)

“It is the perfect destination and setting to host the Solheim Cup. With breathtaking surroundings, world-class amenities, and unwavering dedication to championship golf, we hope to create an unparalleled experience for players and spectators during the event,” said Rocio Sanchez, Assistant Golf Manager at Finca Cortesin.

The golf course, designed by Cabell Robinson, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard residing in Spain, has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments including the Volvo World Match Play Championship (2009, 2011, 2012). It is one of the longest layouts in Europe with around 7,500 yards, large undulating greens and more than 100 strategically placed bunkers.

The matches will start on Friday, September 22nd, with a risk-reward tee shot over a large lake that guards the front of the green of the short par-4 first hole. The excitement will continue with the third, a magnificent par-5 that features an approach over the water; the tenth, a downhill par-3 with incredible views of the nearby mountains, and the eleventh, a long par-5 that provides a great test for all players.

“Finca Cortesin is definitively the best venue of the Solheim Cup. It has so many fantastic facilities with an incredible hotel and one of Europe’s best golf courses,” said Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, Captain of the European squad, which boasts players from six different countries.

“It is a great golf course for match play,” said Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, who will be playing in her sixth Solheim Cup and the first one on home soil. “I love that it is in Spain, with the food, the ‘jamon’, the hospitality, and the great weather,” added Ciganda, member of the winning squad at the last edition in Toledo, Ohio (2021).

(Photo: Solheim Cup)

“Since day one, the resort has been committed not only to showcasing the finest golfing conditions, but also fostering opportunities for women to excel in the sport, both through playing and in business. The Solheim Cup will not only celebrate competition, but the legacy of women in golf and their vital role in shaping the sport’s future,” said Sanchez.

It has been 24 years since Southern Spain displayed its attractions for golfers at the male equivalent of this transatlantic tournament, the 1999 Ryder Cup. The competition and the experiences during this first Solheim Cup will showcase what Finca Cortesin and the region have to offer to women professional and amateur golfers from around the world.

Beyond golf, the property contains a classic Andalusian hotel with 67 spacious high-ceiling suites and three restaurants featuring Asian-Mediterranean fusion, authentic Spanish cuisine, and award-winning Italian dishes. The resort’s Beach Club is less than a mile away at Bahia Casares, with Balinese beds and sun loungers dotted around an infinity pool.

Finca Cortesin sits in the middle of an area that covers the mountains and the wineries led by women oenologists in Ronda, the museums and art scenes of Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, and two of the most important and luxurious marinas in the Mediterranean coast, Puerto Banus and Sotogrande.

It does not take long from Finca Cortesin to explore other local attractions, like the recently renovated La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, the Andalusian horse show and sherry wineries in Jerez, the Alhambra in Granada, the Guadalquivir River in Sevilla, or the Arab baths by the Mosque in Cordoba.

And for recovery, detox, and refreshment, there’s the Spa at Finca Cortesin, home to thermal baths, a fitness center, tennis and yoga instruction, a heated indoor saltwater pool, three thermal areas—each with their own sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation area—and a Snow Cave.

In the words of US Team Captain, Stacy Lewis: “The resort at Finca is amazing. It is first class. We are going to be so spoiled and then the golf course itself is in unbelievable condition. It is going to be a treat for all of us.”

(Text: Solheim Cup)

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Ladies Tours

Solheim Cup 2023: These players will travel to Spain for the USA

Captain Stacy Lewis choose her captain's picks and the american qualify is over for the Solheim Cup 2023
Captain Stacy Lewis choose her captain's picks and the american qualify is over for the Solheim Cup 2023

After the end of the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada, the qualification for the Solheim Cup is also over. The first nine players have been selected and captain Stacy Lewis has named three more players to her team as Captains Pick. Qualified are the first seven of the Solheim Cup point ranking and the first two of the Rolex World Ranking, which are not in the top seven in the Solheim point ranking.

Two players are qualified via the world rankings

Lexi Thompson is arguably the most experienced of the entire team. It will be Thompson’s sixth Solheim Cup appearance. Few have played more Solheim Cups in their lives. She qualified through the world rankings. She has already won a major tournament and ten other tournaments on the LPGA Tour in her career. Her experience should give the debutants peace of mind and security.

Rose Zhang is making her debut at the 2023 Solheim in Spain. She was a rookie on the LPGA Tour this season and immediately attracted attention after winning her first tournament on the LPGA Tour two weeks after turning pro. Since then, she has become an integral part of golf’s elite and is now competing in the Solheim Cup for Team America. “It’s an honor for me to be on this team, to be with the best players in the world and to represent her country as an athlete,” Zhang said. “I can’t wait to travel to Spain and serve with these amazing girls while representing the red, white and blue team.”

Seven players qualified via the Solheim point ranking

The clear number one in the Solheim Cup points ranking is Lilia Vu, who is also currently ranked first in the world. She won two major tournaments in 2023. The American, who has been playing on the tour since 2019, won her first title in Thailand just this year. Whereupon came two more Major victories and she is currently the best US player in the world. Following her is Nelly Korda, who has been playing at the top of women’s golf for years. For her it is already the fourth participation in a Ryder Cup. The same goes for Megan Khang, who was victorious in Canada just last week. In addition to the two, Allisen Corpuz, Jennifer Kupcho, Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee also qualify for the 2023 Solheim Cup.

“Ich war ziemlich gestresst, als es heute auf die Zielgerade ging, denn ich wusste, dass ich unter die ersten 13 kommen musste, um nicht auf die Wahl des Kapitäns angewiesen zu sein”, so Lee, für die es ebenfalls der erste Solheim Cup werden wird. “Ich bin einfach super dankbar und fühle mich geehrt, die USA vertreten zu dürfen. Das war schon immer ein Traum von mir, seit ich ein kleines Mädchen war. Ich habe in zwei Junior-Solheim-Cup-Teams gespielt und wollte schon immer in einem richtigen Solheim-Cup-Team spielen. Ich bin einfach so aufgeregt und kann es kaum erwarten, für Stacy und das Team USA zu spielen.”

The Captains Picks for the 2023 Solheim Cup

Kurz nach dem Ende der Qualifikationsphase gab Stacy Lewis auch ihre Captain’s Picks bekannt. Sie hat Ally Ewing, Cheyenne Knight und Angel Yin zur Vervollständigung des amerikanischen Teams ausgewählt.

“Diese letzten Tage gehörten definitiv zu den härtesten meiner Karriere, aber ich bin so stolz darauf, Ally, Cheyenne und Angel im Solheim-Cup-Team der USA für 2023 zu haben”, sagte Lewis. “Diese drei Frauen haben sich ihren Platz in diesem Team verdient, indem sie sich sowohl durch ihr Spiel auf dem Platz als auch durch ihre Teamarbeit abseits des Platzes ins Gespräch gebracht haben. In den letzten anderthalb Jahren habe ich alle US-Spielerinnen unglaublich gut kennen gelernt, und ich fühle mich geehrt, ihr Kapitän zu sein. Wir werden eine unglaubliche Woche in Finca Cortesin erleben.”

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Ladies Tours

Hollywood Actress Kathryn Newton is a Marvelous Addition to R&A Ambassador Line-up

Kathryn Newton playing in the Pro-Am at the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath. (Credit: R&A)

Hollywood actress Kathryn Newton will use her star power to support The R&A’s drive to make more people aware of the benefits of playing golf and inspire new audiences to take up the sport as a Global Development Ambassador.

Newton, 26, has previously starred in Big Little Lies, The Society, Golden Globe and BAFTA award winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and returned to big screens around the world in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Having amassed 2.4 million followers on social media, Newton will use these platforms to post about her love for golf and what she enjoys most about the sport in order to encourage fans to pick up a golf club for the first time through The R&A’s recently launched development initiative golf.golf.

Kathryn Newton ahead of the AIG Women’s Open 2023

She started playing golf aged four, competing at the age of eight and now plays off a handicap of four.

Newton said, “I love playing golf and really want to show everyone why it’s such a good sport so that we can get them playing too. Golf is a chance to be outside, spend time with friends and be active. There are so many great things about the sport and I can’t wait to share them with my audiences.”

A passionate supporter of women’s golf, Newton will attend the Women in Sport Summit at Walton Heath tomorrow ahead of the AIG Women’s Open which tees off on Thursday 10 August.

“I am so excited to be attending the AIG Women’s Open, I cannot wait to watch the world’s best players in action,” she added.

“Last year, I was lucky enough to play some holes with Georgia Hall, who has won the AIG Women’s Open, which was so inspiring. These women are such incredible athletes and I would encourage everyone to come out to Walton Heath to watch and learn from them too.

“To be also invited to be a guest speaker at the Women in Sport Summit, where I can share my passion for golf with a room full of likeminded women, who are some of the leading voices in their chosen professionals, is a real honour.”

Kathryn Newton is a new Global Development Ambassador for The R&A. (Credit: R&A)
Kathryn Newton is a new Global Development Ambassador for The R&A. (Credit: R&A)

“Kathryn is an avid golfer who is enthusiastic about getting more people into golf”

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “Golf has experienced a surge of interest with participation rising worldwide and so we need to capitalise on this opportunity for the sport by continuing the momentum. It is why we are working closely with Kathryn and our other ambassadors to position golf to millions of people as a fun activity that can be enjoyed by everyone, while debunking some of the unhelpful perceptions that exist.

“Kathryn is an avid golfer who is enthusiastic about getting more people into golf and we are grateful for her commitment towards supporting our aim of ensuring golf is thriving 50 years from now.”

Newton joins major champion Michelle Wie West, football superstar Gareth Bale and global music sensation Niall Horan as Global Development Ambassadors appointed by The R&A to utilise the power of influencers from the sports and entertainment industries to broaden golf’s appeal and image.

The R&A’s appointed Modest! Golf, founded by Horan, to work on golf.golf, an ambitious pilot initiative to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities across Scotland

Bale features in The R&A’s ‘Golf is Good’ campaign, first piloted in Wales last year, which builds on scientific research to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of playing the sport through creative storytelling.

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Ladies Tours

The Amundi Evian Championship: A unique Reference Point in the Women’s Game

The Amundi Evian championsship in France is the only golf major on european mainland. (Source: Rolex)
The Amundi Evian championsship in France is the only golf major on european mainland. (Source: Rolex)

Golf’s first Major to be staged in continental Europe, The Amundi Evian Championship is a reference point in the women’s game. Nestled between the pristine shores of Lake Geneva and the majestic summits of the Alps, the Evian Resort Golf Club in France offers a venue befitting this Major championship and the talent of its field. Each year, the world’s finest players take on the Champions Course to showcase their exceptional skills, with this year’s edition held from 27–30 July.

The Success Story of the Amundi Evian Championship”

First played in 1994, the tournament has grown in stature year-on-year, constructing its own history. Rolex has been a Main Partner and Official Timekeeper at The Amundi Evian Championship since 2000, as part of a broad and enduring commitment to women’s golf that dates back to 1980, when the Swiss watchmaker became a partner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

The Amundi Evian Championship has been the stage of many triumphs for Rolex Testimonees, including two-time champion Annika Sörenstam (2000, 2002). Widely regarded as one of the best golfers in the history of the women’s game, she set a benchmark of excellence to which the modern generation can aspire.

Reflecting on her experiences there, Annika Sörenstam said: “It was one of my favourite tournaments on the LPGA Tour. The championship showcases the incredibly beautiful landscapes of Evian-les-Bains and the quality of the services surrounding the golf is first class. The course requires great technical skill and control over your game. It is less about power and more about accuracy as the fairways are quite undulating.”

Seeking to emulate the Swede and win a second crown at Évian-les-Bains will be fellow Testimonee Brooke Henderson. The Canadian returns as defending champion, having captured the second Major title of her career last year, and in the process, becoming the first LPGA player to begin any Major with successive rounds of 64.

Speaking ahead of this year’s tournament, Brooke Henderson said: “Competing at any Major championship is always difficult – both physically and mentally. At The Amundi Evian Championship, the conditions are different to any other golf course due to the differing size of slopes which makes it a very challenging week. Despite this, I had a great strategy in 2022 which allowed me to go really far under par in the first two rounds which was really exciting. It was a dream come true to be able to push on and win the trophy on the Sunday afternoon. Winning my second Major championship was a really special moment and one that I will always remember. I am really looking forward to returning this year.”

Rolex’s Enduring Commitment to Women’s Golf

Other Testimonees to have triumphed at this visually stunning venue include Lydia Ko (2015), Suzann Pettersen (2013) and Anna Nordqvist (2017). Lydia Ko said: “The Amundi Evian Championship will always remain special to me as it is where I won my first Major championship. When I play at the event, I almost feel like I am playing in front of my family as the crowds are extremely supportive. It would be extremely special to join fellow Rolex Testimonee Annika Sörenstam as having won the tournament more than once. This is definitely a big motivation and I will try to achieve the feat at this year’s edition. I was proud of the way I played at the 2022 tournament but fellow Rolex Testimonee Brooke Henderson truly excelled and deserved the win.” 

Rolex has been a committed partner of women’s golf for more than 40 years as part of one of the most successful relationships between a brand and sport. This enduring partnership contributes to the game’s development around the world. The Swiss watchmaker is part of the very fabric of golf and supports the game at all levels, including elite and legends of the game, Major championships – including all five women’s Majors – the foremost professional tours and the world’s leading team competitions, among them the Solheim Cup.

Built on a strong sense of integrity, respect for tradition that promotes the continuity of expertise and transfer of knowledge, and an appreciation of the importance to invest in the sport’s development for future generations, Rolex’s support also extends to amateur tournaments, international federations and organizations representing golfers of all ages.

(Text: rolex)

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Ladies Tours

Jin Young Ko Record World No. 1

Jin Young Ko has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 159 weeks of her career (Photo: getty)
Jin Young Ko has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 159 weeks of her career (Photo: getty)

Following her tie for 20th at the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Jin Young Ko remains at No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for the 159th week in her career. Ko has now outlasted Lorena Ochoa’s record of 158 weeks at Rolex Rankings No. 1, which Ochoa held consecutively from April 2007 to May 2010.

Ko has held the No. 1 position five different times since April 2019. With her sixth consecutive week since May 2023, she now sits on top of the record list ahead of notable names including Lydia Ko (125 weeks), Yani Tseng (109 weeks), Inbee Park (106 weeks) and Annika Sorenstam (61 weeks).

Player Weeks at No. 1
Jin Young Ko 159 weeks
Lorena Ochoa 158 weeks
Lydia Ko 125 weeks
Yani Tseng 109 weeks
Inbee Park 106 weeks
Annika Sorenstam 61 weeks
Nelly Korda 35 weeks
Stacy Lewis 25 weeks
Jiyai Shin 25 weeks
Shanshan Feng 23 weeks
Ariya Jutanugarn 23 weeks
Sung Hyun Park 20 weeks
So Yeon Ryu 19 weeks
Ai Miyazato 11 weeks
Cristie Kerr 5 weeks
Atthaya Thitikul 2 weeks

Jin Young Ko only one of five Koreans at the top of the world rankings

At 27 years old, Ko has the most career weeks at Rolex Rankings No. 1 by a player from the Republic of Korea. She is one of five Korean players to hold the No. 1 position, alongside Inbee Park (106 weeks), Jiyai Shin (25 weeks), Sung Hyun Park (20 weeks) and So Yeon Ryu (19 weeks).

“It’s an honor people saying with Lorena and me in the same sentence. It makes me happy, but also it makes me humble,” said Ko, who has had Ochoa’s long-time caddie Dave Brooker on her bag for most of her time at Rolex Rankings No. 1. “It’s great to honor, to stand with Lorena.”

In 2023, Ko has claimed victories at the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Cognizant Founders Cup. In addition, she has four top-15 finishes this year, most recently at the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open, and represented the Republic of Korea in this year’s Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown.

She currently ranks third in greens in regulation (75%), fifth in scoring average (69.34) and sixth in birdies (140) on the LPGA Tour for the 2023 season. In addition to being the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1, she also sits on top of the leaderboard in the Race to the CME Globe, an honor she previously won in 2020 and 2021.

Jin Young Ko’s achievements

A 15-time champion on the LPGA Tour, Ko has captured major titles at The Chevron Championship and Amundi Evian Championship in 2019. Just a year prior, she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2018 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in her first event as an LPGA Tour member. Before her career on the LPGA Tour, she won 10 times on the KLPGA Tour and won the LPGA Tour’s 2017 LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship as a non-member.

Ko won Rolex Player of the Year in honors in 2019 and 2021 and was the 2018 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year. In 2019, she won the Vare Trophy, which is given to the player with the season’s lowest scoring average. That same year, she also won the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which is given to the player with the season’s best overall performance in major championships.

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LPGA Tour Uncategorized

The Chevron Championship: First Major of the season

The Club at Carlton Woods will host the first major of the year (Source: LPGA Women's Network)
The Club at Carlton Woods will host the first major of the year (Source: LPGA Women's Network)

The enthusiasm of the title sponsor and the local community is bringing the Chevron Championship to a brand-new venue, The Club Carlton Woods, in The Woodlands, Texas. Just a few weeks before the start of this first major of the year, the excitement of Chevron and its employees, the members and staff of Carlton Woods, and the residents of The Woodlands is setting the stage for a memorable LPGA event.

The Chevron Championship and the Woodlands seek to raise the bar for women’s golf

“It was really a natural fit as we looked at our portfolio of external engagements in the sports area. This is a real opportunity for us to raise the bar with women’s tournaments,” said Josetta Jones, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Chevron, which became the new title sponsor of the former ANA Inspiration through a six-year relationship with the LPGA that began in 2022.

Jones, born and raised in the Houston area –and moving back to Texas after a period in California– will join a large Chevron employee base in the area, eager to volunteer and attend the tournament with their families and children.

“As a large Fortune 500 company we support women; we supportwomen athletics.Given the gravitas of this event and what it has done for women’s golf, we want to show that we are equally as committed to being the next chapter for this major,” added Jones about the history of a tournament with 14 champions inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Hosting a major tournament is an extreme honor for the Club at Carlton Woods and the Woodlands

According to Stacy Lewis, another Houston native and winner of the Chevron Championship in 2011 (then Kraft Nabisco), “the members and the club management at Carlton Woods are thrilled to have been chosen to host a Major Championship. Having the support of both the club and The Woodlands community will be crucial to establishing this as a wonderful major venue for the new era ahead.”

For Lewis, captain of the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup Teams, who will be participating in her sixteenth Chevron Championship from April 20-23, “being able to compete in a major in front of my friends, family and community is pretty special.”

Hosting a major championship is no small feat, but The Club at Carlton Woods seems to be the perfect stage for the next chapter of the LPGA’s first major of the season.

“We are just excited to hopefully bring more women out to watch the tournament and kind of grow their interest in the game. Since we heard that the tournament was coming officially here, we have been bragging because we are proud to have it at this location,” said Marissa Brandsburg, a LPGA Class A Professional at Carlton Woods.

Dr. Ann K. Snyder, The Woodlands Township Chairman, echoes the pride and anticipation among the community.

“We appreciate the confidence in The Woodlands with this world-renowned tournament and the highly supportive activities of women’s and girl’s golf associated with the tournament. Our residents and businesses are looking forward to making our township the most favorite place on tour,” said Dr. Snyder.

Cindy Bryson, Coordinator for Volunteers and Player Housing for IMG, one of the three tournament organizers –along with the LPGA and Chevron— celebrates how the residents are putting that excitement into action.

“The enthusiasm from the community to get involved and support The Chevron Championship has made my work a wonderful experience.As a 37-year resident, I am so proud to see the huge appetite to embrace this women’s major,” said Bryson.

“The Woodlands is a great location for all types of sporting events, and it is really exciting for us to have something of this caliber,” said Elizabeth Eddins, Executive Director of Visit The Woodlands, highlighting some of the main local attractions: 220 miles of pathways, Market Street high-end shopping, and dining along the waterway.

“We have a lot of women in leadership in The Woodlands and I think it is just kind of the right time to have this type of event,” added Eddins about The Chevron Championship, which will coincide with the Ironman Americas Championship on April 22 nd.

If there’s one thing that can be said about this new major championship location, it’s that The Woodlands will fully embrace and celebrate the best women golfers in the world with its streets and trails full of sports fans, visitors and athletes golfing, cycling, running, walking the trails, and riding the free trolley to their favorite store and restaurant along the waterways. (text: LPGA Women’s Network)

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Highlights Tours LPGA Tour

Stacy Lewis Named Captain for 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup Team

Stacey Lewis will captain Team USA at the Solheim Cup two years in a row. (Photo: Getty)
Stacey Lewis will captain Team USA at the Solheim Cup two years in a row. (Photo: Getty)

Two-time major champion Stacy Lewis has been named captain of the 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup Team. Lewis is already hard at work as captain for the 2023 Team and will now also lead the top 12 American female golfers as they represent their country at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., on Sept. 10-15, 2024.

Stacy Lewis: back-to-back Solheim Cup Captain

“This is such an amazing honor, to be asked to again captain the U.S. Solheim Cup Team. Receiving the first call was one of the highest points of my career, and I am truly grateful to add this second opportunity,” said Lewis. “I’ve said it many times – representing the United States and wearing our colors are experiences that stand out in any player’s career. To have the chance to lead our country’s best players twice, and especially in 2024 outside our nation’s capital, is a true privilege.”

“Stacy has already proven to be an outstanding captain as she prepares for the 2023 Solheim Cup,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “She has embraced the role in every way and has implemented several innovative ways to help her team reach peak performance, including the use of advanced data and analytics. Her Solheim Cup experience, proven leadership and passion coupled with the many benefits of consistency in 2023 and 2024 led the selection committee to enthusiastically invite Stacy to captain the team in 2024.”

Successful career

Lewis is a 13-time LPGA Tour winner, earning major titles at the 2011 Chevron Championship and the 2013 AIG Women’s Open. She spent 264 consecutive weeks from 2011-16 ranked in the top 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including 25 weeks at No. 1, and was the 2012 and 2014 Rolex LPGA Player of the Year. In 2016, Lewis was a member of Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, finishing tied for fourth.

Lewis represented the U.S. on the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 Solheim Cup Teams. In 2019, Lewis served as an unofficial assistant captain under Juli Inkster after withdrawing from competition due to injury, and she worked in that role in an official capacity under Pat Hurst in 2021.

In February 2022, Lewis was named captain for the 2023 U.S. Solheim Cup team, which will take on Team Europe at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain. At 38 years, 7 months and 6 days old on the first day of competition in 2023 and 39 years, 5 months and 28 days old in 2024, she will be the youngest American captain in Solheim Cup history. She will also join World Golf Hall of Fame members Juli Inkster (2015, 2017, 2019), Judy Rankin (1996, 1998), Patty Sheehan (2002, 2003) and Kathy Whitworth (1990, 1992) as the fifth person to captain the U.S. Team at least twice.

Dedication to equal opportunities

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Lewis enjoyed a standout amateur career as a four-time All-American at the University of Arkansas, taking the NCAA Division I national title in 2007 as one of her 12 titles. She graduated in 2008 with a degree in finance and accounting, the same year she became the first player in Curtis Cup history to go 5-0 during a 13-7 USA victory over Great Britain and Ireland on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Lewis currently serves as a Player Director on the LPGA Board of Directors and is also an ambassador for LPGA-USGA Girls Golf. She is a vocal proponent for pay and sponsorship equity in sports and has advocated for improved maternity clauses in the women’s game.  

Solheim Cup 2024 in the USA

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, the 2024 host venue located just outside Washington D.C., was founded and designed by famed golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., who considered the layout to be one of his finest designs. The course and its designer have long worked to join the game of golf with the American presidential lineage, with Jones first installing a putting green at the White House in 1954 for President Dwight Eisenhower. The club was the host venue for the 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2005 Presidents Cups, with four presidents serving as honorary chairmen, as well as the PGA Tour’s 2015 Quicken Loans National.

(Text: Press release LPGA)

Categories
LPGA Tour

LPGA Announces “Drive On: LPGA All Access” Series Coming to LPGA Platforms

The LPGA Tour launches its own documentary series. (photo: getty)
The LPGA Tour launches its own documentary series. (photo: getty)

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced the creation of “Drive On: LPGA All Access,” a multi-episode series that will air on LPGA platforms and give fans a beyond-the-course glimpse into the lives of some of the best golfers in the world – LPGA Tour athletes.. Approximately 10 episodes are planned for the 2023 season. The first episode will debut Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. EST on YouTube and LPGA.com, and feature behind-the-scenes moments with players like Gemma Dryburgh, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Ashleigh Buhai during the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

One of the players featured in the Series is Gemma Dryburgh. She entered the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions following a career-defining year where she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2022 TOTO Japan Classic. Dryburgh made the most of her experience at Lake Nona, playing alongside idol and 72-time Tour winner Annika Sorenstam and meeting celebrities like Ellie Goulding.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff is also part odf the show. After nabbing her career-first win at the 2022 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, Ewart Shadoff finally got to play a “home game” at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, about 30 minutes from her residence in Orlando that she shares with her husband and local sports reporter Adam Shadoff.

Another one taking part in the series is Ashleigh Buhai. The South African, who was exempt into her first #HGVLPGA thanks to her major victory at the 2022 AIG Women’s Open, had a busy offseason, capturing the 2022 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in December and returning home to South Africa. She’s ready for competition with husband David Buhai on the bag for one week only.

The docu-series will showcase the “stories and personalities of LPGA Tour”

The first-of-its-kind series for the LPGA Tour will follow the storylines of the 2023 season like never before, with exclusive moments between players on and off the course during the year’s biggest events like the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown at TPC Harding Park and the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin.


“This docu-series is an excellent opportunity to continue showcasing the many stories and personalities of LPGA Tour athletes and give fans a peek into what goes into life on Tour,” said Brian Carroll, EVP of global media distribution and partnerships for the LPGA. “We’re excited to embark on this season-long production with episodes illustrating a record-breaking year for those battling for titles week in and week out on the LPGA Tour.”

The documentary series will be produced in partnership with toldright and Executive Producer Adam Hertzog.

About the LPGA

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive.

Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Epson Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.

Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and gamechangers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone.

Follow the LPGA on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel, online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

(Text: LPGA)