Click here for the complete field at the 2016 ANA Inspiration.
Best of the Best Meet In Palm Springs
19 of the top-20 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are in the field at this week’s ANA Inspiration. The only player missing from the field is No.20 Teresa Lu.
World No.1 Lydia Ko headlines the field, coming off her first win on Tour in 2016 at the Kia Classic, giving her momentum heading into the season’s first major championship where she’s looking to go back-to-back in the majors, having captured the 2015 Evian Championship in September.
No.2 Inbee Park and No.3 Lexi Thompson return this week having previously won at Mission Hills Country Club, Park winning in 2013 and Thompson getting it done the following year for her first major title.
Looking For Lucky No.3
This week, defending champion Brittany Lincicome is looking to match what only Annika Sorenstam and Amy Alcott have been able to achieve. With a win, Lincicome would become just the second player to go back-to-back in this event, a feat previously accomplished by Sorenstam in 2001 and 2002, and third to win the event for a third time, joining the company of Sorenstam who won again in 2005 and Alcott who won in 1983, 1988 and 1991.
Back In Action
World No.9 In Gee Chun returns at this week’s ANA Inspiration, having withdrawn from the previous three events due to a back injury. Chun has made just two starts in her rookie season, finishing T-3 at the Coates Golf Championship and runner-up at the Honda LPGA Thailand, her last start on Tour. The reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion finished T-41 at the ANA Inspiration last year.
The Tradition Continues
This week, eight former champions at Mission Hills Country Club return to the site of their victory. Two-time winner Juli Inkster, having captured the title in both 1984 and 1989 will tee it up again this week. Karrie Webb is also a two-time champion, having won in 2000 and 2006, this week celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her last major title. 2007 champion Morgan Pressel, 2010 winner Yani Tseng, 2011 champion Stacy Lewis, 2012 winner Sun Young Yoo, 2013 champion Inbee Park and 2014 winner Lexi Thompson are also in the field this week, in addition to defending champion and two-time winner Brittany Lincicome.
No Amateur Competition
Seven amateurs will play alongside the pros this week at the ANA Inspiration. Reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Hannah O’Sullivan earned her way into the field this week by way of her victory last year. She makes her third start in a major this week, having also competed two weeks ago at the JTBC Founders Cup where she finished T-33 for her best finish on the LPGA Tour. USC’s Sierra Brooks finished runner-up to O’Sullivan at last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur and received an invite this week. Other amateurs receiving invites this week include ANNIKA Intercollegiate champion Karen Chung, UCLA’s Bronte Law, Duke sophomore Leona McGuire and Spanish Am Stroke Play champion Albane Valenzuela.
The final amateur spot in the field will go to the winner of Monday’s ANA Junior Inspiration.
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