LPGA RETURNS TO THE NATURAL STATE
For the 11th consecutive year, the LPGA is visiting the state of Arkansas for the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. A field of 143 professionals and one amateur, including 12 of the top 20 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, eight 2017 LPGA winners and six past Walmart NW Arkansas champions, will take to Pinnacle Country Club on Friday through Sunday.
Defending champion Lydia Ko will tee it up in hopes of capturing her first 2017 victory. Last year, Ko shot a tournament-record, 17-under 196 en route to a three-stroke victory over Candie Kung and Morgan Pressel.
This week also marks the first LPGA event for Ai Miyazato since announcing that she will retire at the end of the 2017 season. Miyazato spent 11 weeks atop the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2010, and her last LPGA victory came at the 2012 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WALMART NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY P&G
- 5 – Players from five countries have won at Pinnacle C.C. (Chinese Taipei, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, USA)
- 11 – This is the 11th playing of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G
- The inaugural tournament in 2007, won by then-amateur and University of Arkansas senior Stacy Lewis, is not official, as it was reduced to 18 holes due to rain delays; a tournament must be at least 36 holes to be official
- 15 – 15 players have won titles in 2017, which ties 1991 for the longest stretch to begin a season in LPGA history
- 62 – 18-hole tournament record, held by Angela Park (second round, 2008) and Jane Park (third round, 2008)
- 196 – 72-hole tournament record, held by Lydia Ko (2016)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 2016 CHAMPION LYDIA KO
- No. 2 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings
- 14-time LPGA winner, five-time Ladies European Tour winner, one-time KLPGA winner
- 2014 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, the youngest winner in Tour history
- 2015 Rolex Player of the Year, the youngest winner in Tour history
- Two major victories at the 2015 Evian Championship and 2016 ANA Inspiration
- At 18 years, 11 months and 9 days, she is the second-youngest player, male or female, to win two majors, behind only Young Tom Morris
- Silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she represented New Zealand
WOO PIG SOOIE!
Five players in this week’s field are proud current or former members of the University of Arkansas women’s golf team:
- Stacy Lewis – 2008 graduate with a degree in finance and accounting; from The Woodlands, Texas
- Gaby Lopez – 2016 graduate with a degree in sports management; from Mexico City, Mexico
- Regina Plasencia – 2016 graduate with a degree in international relations; from Guadelajara, Mexico
- Emily Tubert – 2014 graduate with a degree in broadcast journalism; from Burbank, Calif.
- Alana Uriell – rising senior and sponsor invite; from Carlsbad, Calif.
SIXTEEN WEEKS INTO THE RACE TO THE CME GLOBE
This week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G is the 16th event in the season-long Race to the CME Globe. World No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn currently leads the standings with 2,128 points, followed by Lexi Thompson (2,086 points) and So Yeon Ryu (1,695 points).
In 2017, the reset points for the Race to the CME Globe will be modified slightly. As a result of these modifications:
- The top five finishers entering Naples will control their own destiny at the CME Group Tour Championship
- If a player in the top five wins in Naples, she will also win the $1M CME Globe
- The top 12 finishers entering Naples will have a mathematical chance to win the $1M CME Globe
- Please note that previously, the top three controlled their destiny and top nine had a mathematical chance
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., Walmart helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, we serve nearly 260 million customers who visit our 11,504 stores under 65 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2015 revenue of $486 billion, Walmart employs more than two million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity.
Saving people money to help them live better was the goal that founder Sam Walton envisioned when he opened the doors to his first Walmart more than 40 years ago. Today this mission is more important than ever to their customers and members around the world.
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