Jutanugarn and Ryu Highlight Field in Indy
Rolex Rankings’ world No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, No. 2 So Yeon Ryu, No. 4 Sung Hyun Park, defending champion No. 5 Lexi Thompson, No. 6 Shanshan Feng, No. 7 Minjee Lee and No. 9 Jessica Korda make up the top-10 in the field in Indianapolis, where 14 of the top-20 in the world are teeing it up. Thompson looks to defend her title in Indiana where she finished four-strokes ahead of Lydia Ko in 2017. Thompson is making her first start since the Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I and after withdrawing from the Ricoh Women’s British Open, the fourth major of the season, to take time to work on herself and “recharge her mental batteries.”
Back for Another
Nine players who finished in the top-10 behind Lexi Thompson at last year’s playing of the Indy Women in Tech Championship return to the field again this year. Runner-up Lydia Ko is in search of her second win of the season. The 15-time Tour winner has five additional top 11 finishes this season, including a tie for eleventh at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Minjee Lee, who finished third in 2017, is also in the field this week and looking for win number two. Olafia Kristinsdottir, who finished fourth in 2017, is in search of her first top-10 of the season after missing the cut in her last event the in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. Haeji Kang, Lizette Salas, Brooke Henderson, Ashleigh Buhai, Candie Kung and Moriya Jutanugarn all finished in the top-10 last season and are in the field again this week.
Thompson Ready to Defend
In just her first start since taking a few weeks off to work on her mental health, Lexi Thompson is ready to prove she’s one of the world’s best. The defending champion looks to defend her title this week, her second of two wins last season, having also won the Kingsmill Championship present by JTBC. In her thirteen prior starts this season, Thompson has posted five top 10 results but has yet to find the winner’s circle in 2018.
Phatlum Rides Strong Play into Indy
World No.46, Pornanong Phatlum, moved up 51 spots in the Rolex Rankings after her runner-up finish at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, her best ranking since April of 2017. The Thai has posted 37 rounds at or under-par heading into the Indy Women in Tech Championship. Of the 37 rounds, 31 are under par. Her last over par round was in the third round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.
Looking for Another Win
Fourteen winners of the 2018 LPGA Tour season are in the field this week in Indianapolis, all looking to add hardware to the trophy case. This season’s multiple winners Ariya Jutanugarn (3) and Sung Hyun Park (2) are joined by first-time winners Nasa Hataoka, Moriya Jutanugarn, Jin Young Ko, Pernilla Lindberg, Annie Park and Thidapa Suwannapura, each looking to pick up their second win in 2018. Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Jessica Korda, Minjee Lee and So Yeon Ryu are also looking to raise another trophy this season.