Click here for complete groups and tee times for the opening round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.
Hyo Joo Kim, Caroline Masson, Yani Tseng
Thursday – 8:10 a.m. – 1st Tee
Friday – 1:10 p.m. – 10th Tee
Former world No.1 Yani Tseng showed signs of returning to form in 2015, posting her second of what would be three runner-up finishes in 2015 at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. But Tseng has been unable to carry over that form into 2016 and has missed the cut in her last three starts without cracking the top-60 this season.
Tseng will play alongside Caroline Masson and two-time LPGA champion Hyo Joo Kim, who picked up the second win of her career earlier this season at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. She posted a T-13 finish in this event last year. Masson will make just her second start in Alabama this week, looking for her second top-10 finish of the year.
Brooke Henderson, Haru Nomura, Kris Tamulis
Thursday – 8:21 a.m. – 1st Tee
Friday – 1:21 p.m. – 10th Tee
The second highest ranked player in the field at No.5, Brooke Henderson makes her second start in Alabama where she finished T-13 last year. She’s coming off a T-19 finish in Texas, putting an end to her streak of eight consecutive top-10 finishes on Tour.
Henderson will tee it up in the opening rounds alongside two-time LPGA winner in 2016 Haru Nomura and defending champion Kris Tamulis. Nomura makes her fourth start in this event where she hasn’t found much success and will hope to break into the top-30 for the first time. Tamulis is the final member of this group, who is hoping to recapture the magic she found here last season as she looks for her first top-10 of 2016.
Jessica Korda, Charley Hull, So Yeon Ryu
Thursday – 8:32 a.m. – 1st Tee
Friday – 1:32 p.m. – 10th Tee
Jessica Korda returns to Alabama for her first start in this event since 2011, when she finished T-59. She’ll be well rested having skipped last week’s event in Texas and is coming off a T-27 finish at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Like Korda, playing partner So Yeon Ryu is making a return to Alabama for the first time in years, her last start coming in 2012 when she finished T-8. Ryu has continued to trend upward in recent weeks with changes she's making to her game and looks to continue her cut streak currently at 39 consecutive events, the longest active streak on Tour.
Charley Hull is the final member of this group and has continued to trend upward in recent weeks, posting back-to-back top-16 finishes including a share of runner-up at the ANA Inspiration. She’s making just her second start in this event.
Brittany Lincicome, Gerina Piller, Ariya Jutanugarn
Thursday – 1:21 p.m. – 10th Tee
Friday – 8:21 a.m. – 1st Tee
All eyes will be on this trio as Gerina Piller looks to break through for her first win on Tour after post top-10’s in five of her last six starts, including a share of second last week in Texas where she held the 36 and 54-hole leads. Piller makes just her third start in this event and first since 2011.
Piller will play alongside Brittany Lincicome and Ariya Jutanugarn, who has also played well in recent weeks, coming off a sixth place finish in Texas. She finished T-20 in her first start in Alabama last season. Lincicome is looking to find a spark this week, posting just one top-10 finish this year at the season opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. Lincicome has six starts in this event, her best finish coming in a second place showing in 2010.
Stacy Lewis, Minjee Lee, Ai Miyazato
Thursday – 1:32 p.m. – 10th Tee
Friday – 8:32 a.m. – 1st Tee
Stacy Lewis has played some of her best golf in Alabama, winning in 2012 and posting three more top-6 finishes in this event. She’ll look to find that same magic again this week in hopes of picking up her first victory since 2014.
Lewis will play alongside Minjee Lee and Ai Miyazato on Thursday and Friday. Lee, already a winner in 2016 at the LOTTE Championship could become the fourth multiple winner of the year with a victory this week. Miyazato has showed signs of returning to form in recent weeks with three top-10 finishes so far this year, including a season best third place finish at the Kia Classic.
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