THOMPSON’S TURF
Lexi Thompson’s game seems to translate well to the demands of the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club.
The power-hitting 22-year-old has never missed the cut in eight starts at the ANA Inspiration, and she has finished inside the top-10 in each of the last three years.
“Well, this is a very special tournament to me because it was the first major that I’ve ever won,” Thompson said. “Just this whole week in general, it’s very special to me. Obviously it’s a very big tournament but just the history behind it and the tradition, it’s just overall very special.”
Thompson has two finishes inside the top-4 through five events in 2017, including a runner-up result at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. The top-ranked American is coming off of a T11 finish at the Kia Classic after missing her first cut of the year at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup.
LEXI THOMPSON - RECORD AT THE ANA INSPIRATION
Year Scores Finish
2016 69-68-69-73=279 (-9) 5th
2015 72-69-71-70=282 (-6) 7th
2014 73-64-69-68=274 (-14) WIN
2013 76-72-71-71=290 (+2) T48
2012 72-72-68-74=286 (-2) T22
2010* 74-72-73-71=290 (+2) T24
2009* 72-72-72-77=290 (+2) T21
*as an amateur
JUTANUGARN CHASING WORLD NO. 1
This week at the ANA Inspiration, Ariya Jutanugarn can pass Lydia Ko and become the No. 1 player in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings if she wins AND Lydia Ko finishes 5th or worse.
“I really want to be happy on the course,” Jutanugarn said when asked if No. 1 was on her mind. “Whatever happens, be really happy and have fun, that’s my goal.”
Jutanugarn has spent 35 consecutive weeks ranked as the No. 2 player in the world. A year ago, Ariya was No. 51 and was looking for her first career win on the LPGA Tour. Since March 2016, Ariya has not finished outside of the top 60 in an event and has recorded 5 wins to position herself towards earning the top spot.
Seven months ago, the average points differential between No. 1 and No. 2 in the world was 6.57 points. This week, the difference is now 1.33 average points.
AMATEURS TURNED MAJOR CHAMPIONS
This week marks Lexi Thompson’s eighth appearance at the ANA Inspiration. The 2014 champion twice competed in the event as an amateur, finishing inside the top-25 both times (T21 in 2009 and T24 in 2010). “First of all, I think it’s a great opportunity for these amateurs to be playing in the field,” Thompson said.
“Not only as a learning experience, but I think they will just truly enjoy just being around some of the players that they look up to and hope to aspire to be. I just wanted to show them that I’m out here following my dreams and I’m doing something I love, and that’s what I want to show to them and hopefully they do the same.”
Brooke Henderson also had a strong showing at the ANA Inspiration as an amateur, finishing T26 in 2014. “I think just being able to experience the atmosphere is an amazing opportunity,” Henderson said, “and I hope they make the most of it.” Since then, Henderson has picked up three LPGA titles including the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
In 2017, six amateurs (Katelyn Dambaugh, Andrea Lee, Lucy Li, Hannah O’Sullivan, Eun Jeong Seong, Paphangkorn Tavatanakit) will tee off alongside the best female golfers in the world. Lucy Li, the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open (age 11), won the AJGA’s ANA Junior Inspiration on Sunday at Mission Hills Country Club to earn the final spot in the field.
WEATHER WATCH
All eyes will be on the weather forecast during Thursday’s first round at the ANA Inspiration. While rain is thankfully not in the picture, high winds are expected to blow across the Coachella Valley over the next 48 hours. Starting mid-morning on Thursday, gusts upward of 35 mph are expected to buffet the area, with the highest sustained winds expected overnight Thursday into Friday.
QUOTABLE
“There’s nothing like waking up, putting on my country’s colors and going out and teeing it up for my country.” - Lexi Thompson on her goal of making the 2017 Team USA Solheim Cup. Thompson is currently first in the Team USA point standings, 77 points ahead of Stacy Lewis. This season, Solheim Cup points, which determine eight of the 12 American golfers who make the team, are worth double for each of the five majors.
QUICK HITS
- Lexi Thompson’s six top-25 finishes at the ANA Inspiration tie her personal record for most top-25 finishes at a tournament, she also has six top-25s at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
- Lexi Thompson currently ranks inside the top-8 on Tour in seven statistical categories: 3rd in average driving distance (271.97), fourth in sand saves (81.82%), fifth in rounds under par (16), seventh in eagles (3), eighth in greens in regulation (80.56%), eighth in scoring average (68.94) and eighth in rounds in the 60s (10).
- Ariya Jutanugarn currently ranks first in the Race to the CME Globe standings, second in the Rolex Player of the Year race and second on the 2017 Official Money List. In 2016, Jutanugarn became the second player to win the Rolex Player of the Year, Race to the CME Globe and the LPGA Official Money Title in the same season, joining Lydia Ko (2015).
- In four appearances at Mission Hills, including two as an amateur, Ariya Jutanugarn has never finished outside of the top-25 with a career-best fourth-place finish in 2016.
- One-time major champion Brooke Henderson has competed at the ANA Inspiration twice previously, with her best finish (T10) coming last year (as an amateur in 2014 she finished T26).
- Through six tournaments this season, Brooke Henderson has collected four top-21 finishes including a T4 finish at the HSBC Women’s Champions.
- Michelle Wie tees off Round 1 from the first tee at 8:45 a.m. paired with amateur Lucy Li. Wie shares the ANA Inspiration record for the best finish as an amateur, a fourth-place finish in 2003.
- Juli Inkster remains the only rookie to ever win the ANA Inspiration (1984), the 2017 field features eight LPGA Tour rookies: Aditi Ashok, Peiyun Chien, Laura Gonzalez Escallon, Nelly Korda, Sung Hyun Park, Katherine Perry, Mel Reid and Angel Yin.
- The quest for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award starts on Thursday. The award was established in 2014 to recognize the player who has the most outstanding Major Championship record during a current LPGA Tour season. Past RAMA winners include: Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016).
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