The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G will feature a very strong field in Rogers, Arkansas this year. Of the top 30 players in the world, 24 will tee it up this week at Pinnacle Country Club. The No. 1 player in the world, Inbee Park, who played on the KLPGA last week, returns to the LPGA this week. Park has now been number one for five straight weeks. The top nine players in the world are all in the field including No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn, No. 3 Lexi Thompson and No. 4 Shanshan Feng. The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship will serve as the final tune up before the third major of the season, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. So Yeon Ryu is the defending champion and is coming off her first win of the season. She turned in rounds of 65-61-69 last year in Arkansas. Remember that the tournament starts on Friday and is a 54-hole event. Other past champions in the field include: Lydia Ko (2016), Stacy Lewis (2014), Inbee Park (2013) and Yani Tseng (2010 and 2011).
A Special 61 for So Yeon
So Yeon has to be a considered a favorite this week after tossing up an 18-under three-day total a year ago. In the second round, she lit up Pinnacle Country Club with ten birdies, five on the front nine and five on the back. She made 19 birdies against just one bogey over the 54 holes. Ryu has a solid history beyond 2017 in Arkansas. She finished T13 in 2016, T29 in 2015 and fifth in 2014.
So Yeon's win last year in Rogers vaulted her to the No. 1 spot in the Rolex world rankings. She held onto the spot for 11 weeks.
Special Weeks Coming for Stacy Lewis
This is always one of the most important weeks on the schedule for Stacy Lewis, who was a four-time All-American at the University of Arkansas and won the 2007 individual National Championship. Lewis has remained very closely connected to Razorback nation over the years as a volunteer assistant coach, as a member of the search committee for the new athletic director in 2017 and a major donor. Lewis has donated over $100,000 to help expand the golf facilities at Blessings, the home course for Arkansas golf. This week, Lewis will reveal the gender of her baby with a fireworks display. If the fireworks are pink, she’s having a girl and if they are blue, it’s a boy. Lewis is expected to play in just three more tournaments before putting the clubs away to prepare for her first child. Lewis won in Arkansas in 2014 and has some other strong finishes since: T3 in 2015, T25 in 2016 and T4 in 2017.
Danielle Kang is in the Field After a WD
Danielle Kang is in the field this week after withdrawing last week from the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give after 11 holes of the first round. Kang cited personal reasons for the WD and let her fans know on social media that she would be back this week.
There were several photos on Getty Images, like the one above, of Kang clearly in discomfort. It’ll be important for Kang to feel healthy this week before heading to defend her KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory the following week.
Razorback Golfer Maria Fassi, Tops in Nation, in Field
Arkansas rising senior Maria Fassi, who won the ANNIKA Award given to the nations top female collegiate golfer, is a sponsors exemption this week. Fassi was the most dominating player in college golf this year collecting six wins including the NCAA Austin Regional. She also finished second at the SEC Championships. The ANNIKA Award also comes with an exemption into The Evian Championship later this year. Over 34 rounds, Fassi’s scoring average was 70.50 with eight top 10s in 11 events.
Former Razorback and fellow Mexican Gaby Lopez is also in the field.
Natalie Gulbis and Emily Collins are also in the field on sponsor exemptions.
Moriya Jutanugarn Thrives at Pinnacle
Moriya Jutanugarn is a sneaky good pick this week to win based on her finishes over the last two years in Arkansas. Moriya finished T2 last year with a three-day score of 16-under and T4 with a 13-under total in 2016. Moriya is 29-under in her last six rounds at Pinnacle Country Club.
Moriya has seven top 10 finishes this season.
Selective Scheduling Working for Inbee
Inbee Park has only played in eight events this season yet she ranks second in money earned. The 2015 season was the last time Park played in more than 20 events. She played in 25 that season. The scheduling philosophy seems to be centered around the majors. She played the week before the ANA Inspiration, the week before the U.S. Women's Open and is playing in Arkansas the week before the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
Park has also played in two KLPGA tournaments so she is up to ten starts this year. She has finished inside the top 15 in seven of them with two wins.
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