The U.S. Women’s Open tees off tomorrow morning in Houston with the world’s best looking to end 2020 on a high note… and with a cool $1 million winners check in their pocket.
This is the first LPGA major to ever be played in December, and because of the shortened days, the first two rounds will be played on two different courses, Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit. The final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday will be played exclusively on the Cypress Creek course, which was originally slated to host the entirety of the major.
The TV schedule is as follows (all times ET):
Thursday: 12:30-6:00pm, Golf Channel
Friday: 3:00-6:00pm, Golf Channel
Saturday: 11:00am-1:00pm, Golf Channel; 2:30-6:00pm, NBC
Sunday: 11:00am-2:00pm, Golf Channel; 2:00pm-5:00pm, NBC
The field is stacked, but here’s 5 golfers we’ll be keeping our eyes on:
World Ranking: 1st
Recent Wins: ANA Championship (2019), Evian Championship (2019)
After a dominant 2019, Jin-young found herself in South Korea unable to join the tour (due to COVID-19) to defend her Rolex World Ranking and many other tournament wins. The South Korean international is now back on the tour, and while she hasn’t participated in any majors this year, she looked sharp during her only stateside tune up in the Volunteer of America Classic last week, taking fifth.
South Korea's Ko Jin-young has won her first major at the ANA Inspiration.In full: https://t.co/Jg1eOXOMqT#Golf #InspirationStartsHere pic.twitter.com/V95n0E7bGO— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 8, 2019
South Korea's Ko Jin-young has won her first major at the ANA Inspiration.In full: https://t.co/Jg1eOXOMqT#Golf #InspirationStartsHere pic.twitter.com/V95n0E7bGO
World Ranking: 2nd
Recent Wins: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (2020), Pelican Women’s Championship (2020)
The 27-year old from South Korea is on a hot streak, winning her last two starts earlier this year. Heading into 2020, Sei-young was the most successful women’s golfer without a major win. She got the monkey off her back in decisive fashion, winning by 5 strokes at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in October.
"I think motivation is critical to athletes. If you don't have that motivation, you won't have the will and the thought to go forward, so I think motivation is really important.Inspired by BTS and the tradition of Tiger Woods: Meet first-time major winner Kim Sei-Young. pic.twitter.com/onpr0WtEOw— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) December 7, 2020
"I think motivation is critical to athletes. If you don't have that motivation, you won't have the will and the thought to go forward, so I think motivation is really important.Inspired by BTS and the tradition of Tiger Woods: Meet first-time major winner Kim Sei-Young. pic.twitter.com/onpr0WtEOw
World Ranking: 4
Recent Wins: LPGA Drive On Championship (2020), Marathon LPGA Classic (2020)
The second highest ranked American (behind Nelly Korda) is the only other golfer on the tour besides Kim Sei-young with two title wins this season. She’s been competitive in every tournament she’s played this year; however, both her victories came early in the tour season.
Great bunker shot by Danielle Kang, who is maintaining her lead at the LPGA's first event back. pic.twitter.com/cmAYF3Wt1J— Travis Fulton (@travisfulton) August 1, 2020
Great bunker shot by Danielle Kang, who is maintaining her lead at the LPGA's first event back. pic.twitter.com/cmAYF3Wt1J
World Ranking: 26
Recent Wins: Honda LPGA Thailand (2018)
The older sister of the Korda duo is still searching for her first major title. With younger sister Nelly pulling out of her last tournament in October due to back pain, Jessica may have the best shot of winning a title for the Korda family. She started strong in the first two rounds last week in Texas (69,69) giving her a share of the lead, before falling off in the final rounds. If she can find that consistency, she’s got an outside shot.
LPGA Tour stars and sisters @TheJessicaKorda and @NellyKorda are our latest cover stars. ????The @Cisco athletes share their secrets to surviving sibling rivalry and growing up in a family of world-class athletes: https://t.co/IgktPMBhIt #sponsored pic.twitter.com/KpBJEVhhBC— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) November 23, 2020
LPGA Tour stars and sisters @TheJessicaKorda and @NellyKorda are our latest cover stars. ????The @Cisco athletes share their secrets to surviving sibling rivalry and growing up in a family of world-class athletes: https://t.co/IgktPMBhIt #sponsored pic.twitter.com/KpBJEVhhBC
World Ranking: 46th
Recent Wins: Volunteer of America Classic (2020)
Sometimes you gotta go with the hot hand. Last week, the veteran won her 7th LPGA Tour title at the Volunteer of America Texas Shootout. In a talented field, Stanford excelled in stretches where the world’s best struggled, shooting a four-under 67 to close the tournament, with a stretch on the back nine starting on the 13th that included four birdies in five holes. Can she surprise the field again?
A win at home. ????Texas native and TCU alum @Angela_Stanford cards a final-round 67 to win the @VOAClassic for her seventh LPGA Tour title. pic.twitter.com/Y58c8R1QYz— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 6, 2020
A win at home. ????Texas native and TCU alum @Angela_Stanford cards a final-round 67 to win the @VOAClassic for her seventh LPGA Tour title. pic.twitter.com/Y58c8R1QYz