Major Winners Feature at Thornberry Creek
Ariya Jutanugarn will be looking to keep up her challenge for the number one spot in the Rolex Rankings with a successful tournament at the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. Jutanugarn spent just two-weeks in pole position, before So Yeon Ryu leapfrogged her with her win at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G.
The Thai golfer will need to take confidence from her second round 68 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she missed the cut by one shot. Victory at the official golf course of the Green Bay Packers would be Jutanugarn’s second of the season, with her first coming at the Manulife LPGA Classic at the beginning of June.
With eight top 10 finishes this season, including second place on three occasions, Jutanugarn will look to become the first name on the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic trophy.
However, she will face stern competition from the in-form Brooke Henderson. The Canadian came close to defending her KPMG Women’s PGA title last week, but a final hole birdie from Danielle Kang saw Henderson finish one back. To add, she has finished first and second in her previous two starts on the LPGA Tour.
Know what it takes
Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim all know what it takes to win on the LPGA Tour this season and will be looking to double their title tallies at the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
Kerr was victorious in Hawaii at the LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY, where she won by three strokes. Park won the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore and Kim topped the field in May at the Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Match Play Presented by Aeromexico and Delta
Haru Nomura is the only other 2017 LPGA winner in the field this week. The Japanese golfer was successful at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout Presented by JTBC.
Searching for a win
Seven of the world’s top-20 players are still searching for a win this season, including In Gee Chun, Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull, who all feature in the field this week.
Pettersen has featured 12 times on the LPGA Tour this season, collecting four top-10 finishes – including T3 at the ANA Inspiration. The Norwegian will be looking for a strong week to avoid dropping out of the world’s top-20.
After finishing as bridesmaid in four of her 12 starts this season, In Gee Chun will be aiming to finally claim a first-place finish in Wisconsin. The Republic of Korea golfer could move closer to the world No. 1 spot, with a strong week.
Charley Hull has just one career victory on the LPGA Tour, coming at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in 2016. The English golfer currently sits in 46th position in this year’s Race to CME Globe and is searching for a win to boost her up the rankings. She will also be looking for a steadier performance after missing the cut last week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
You’re Invited!
Three players received invites to this week’s inaugural event in Wisconsin. Ladies European Tour player Carly Booth, Wisconsin-native Casey Danielson and Selanee Henderson make up this trio of invitees.
Henderson currently plays on the Epson Tour, however the ex-Big Break Atlantis contestant has missed the cut in six of the nine events she has featured in this season. The sibling of Dan Henderson – an Olympic wrestler – will be looking to gain some confidence playing with some of the best players in the world this week, at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
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