Everything is bigger, they say, in Texas, and no LPGA player’s game has been bigger at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving than Inbee Park.
The superstar won the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout Presented by JTBC two of the three years it has been contested, but will miss her title defense this week with a left thumb injury. So, the race for the tournament trophy is wide open.
Last year’s runners-up Cristie Kerr and Hee Young Park, as well as 2014 tournament champion Stacy Lewis, should be in the mix this week and could easily be considered favorites to contend down the stretch. Hyo Joo Kim, Lexi Thompson, Sei Young Kim and Minjee Lee – all of whom who have already won in 2016 – will arrive in the Lone Star State hungry to add tournament title No. 2 to their season resumes.
Players like In Gee Chun, Lee-Anne Pace, Gerina Piller and Na Yeon Choi are in fine form heading into this week, and Laura Davies, Shanshan Feng, Anna Nordqvist, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and Suzann Pettersen add great depth and star power to an impressive field.
The par-71, 6,462-yard course has created a birdie-fest atmosphere the last three years, with Park and Lewis averaging 13-under-par while winning their titles. The tournament record of 64 very well could be in danger this week if the wind is mild, and whoever hoists the hardware on Sunday afternoon will have to see red all week on the scoreboard.
A unique event, the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout will have two cuts, the first to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes. The second cut pares the field down to the top 50 and ties following Saturday’s third round.
This week’s $1.3 million event is the third event in a four-week Spring stretch for the LPGA and the 11th tournament of the 2016 season. The current quartet concludes next week in Prattville, Ala., before players get a breather that will be their last break for three months as the busy summer schedule heats up.
Volunteers of America is a “church without walls” that dates back to 1896, when it was founded by Maud and Ballington Booth. The Alexandria, Va.-based organization focuses on helping the most vulnerable sectors of the population and has done wonders to aid female veterans returning from combat and military service.
Fans attending the event will able to see some great golf while supporting an organization dedicated to helping others. That’s not a bad way to spend a week.
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