Click here for the complete field at the 2018 Kia Classic.
Kia Tests World's Best
With just one week remaining until the season's first major championship, this week's Kia Classic boasts 19 of the top-25 players in the Rolex Rankings as they make final adjustments heading into the ANA Inspiration. After skipping last week’s Bank of Hope Founders Cup, the world’s top-3 ranked players are back in the field with No. 1 Shanshan Feng, No. 2 Lexi Thompson and No. 3 So Yeon Ryu returning to action in Carlsbad. They’re joined by No. 5 Ariya Jutanugarn, No. 6 Anna Nordqvist and No. 7 In-Kyung Kim. Rounding out the top-10 in the field this week is Inbee Park, who jumped 10 spots to No. 9 in the rankings with her victory at last week’s Bank of Hope Founders Cup.
Park Hunting for Back-to-Back Wins
In just her second start since returning from a six-month hiatus to recover from a back injury, Inbee Park once again proved she’s one of the world’s best. Sunday at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, the Olympic gold medalist cruised to her 19th career victory, punctuated by four consecutive birdies on her closing stretch. If there was ever an opportunity for Park to keep the momentum rolling, it would be this week in Carlsbad. The LPGA Tour Hall of Famer is in the field at the Kia Classic where she is making her ninth consecutive appearance. In her eight prior starts, Park has twice finished runner-up and only once finished outside the top-20.
Happy Memories
Seven of the eight former champions of the Kia Classic return to Aviara Golf Club for the event’s ninth edition. Mirim Lee, the 2017 champion, returns looking to successfully defend her title and pick up her first win on Tour since capturing the Kia Classic last season. She’s joined by 2016 winner Lydia Ko, who is the last player on Tour to win the week before a major and go on to win the following week, having won both the 2016 Kia Classic and ANA Inspiration. But this year, Ko is struggling to find consistency with her game following the changes she made during the off season with both her coach and caddie. The former world No. 1 seemed to be hitting her stride two weeks ago in Singapore, where she picked up her first top-10 of the season, only to miss the cut last week in Arizona after opening rounds of 74 – 73.
Also in the field this week are former champions Cristie Kerr (2015), Anna Nordqvist (2014), Beatriz Recari (2013), Yani Tseng (2012) and Sandra Gal (2011).
Defending Champ
Defending champion Mirim Lee was surprised with the quick success she found on the LPGA Tour. A rookie in 2014, the Korean won twice that season to answer any doubts the first-year member was having about her capability of playing alongside the world’s best players.
“I knew I wanted to win sometime, but I won a lot sooner than expected,” Lee told LPGA.com. “I was worried and thought ‘can I do this?’ and then I won. That helped my confidence.”
That self-assurance kept her motivated over the next two years as she struggled to fulfill the potential she showed as a rookie. While Lee didn’t win over that stretch, she showed signs of brilliance. Lee’s game appeared built for golf’s toughest tests. In 2016, at both the U.S. Women’s Open and Ricoh Women’s British Open, she opened with record rounds of 64 and 62, respectively.
“I did really well and I didn’t really think about winning,” said Lee. “I just focused on doing my best and I’m pretty happy with the results.”
Lee remained committed to doing her best and the hard work paid off.
In 2017, Lee slept on the 54-hole lead for the second time at the Kia Classic, just two-years after finishing runner-up to Cristie Kerr. But this time, it was Lee who would be holding the trophy. On Sunday, Lee slammed her foot down on the accelerator and never looked back. She carded a 7-under par, 65 to match Kerr’s record of 20-under par and return to the winner’s circle for the first time since her rookie year.
“I always have a goal, I’m always thinking about it and that’s what drives me,” Lee said about staying motivated to earn that third win.
The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster for Lee and her return to Aviara Golf Club couldn’t have come at a better time. Since last September, Lee hasn’t cracked the top-20 and arrives in Carlsbad off her first missed cut of the year. Perhaps a return to the site of her last win will be the jumpstart Lee needs to return to her rookie ways.
)
)
)
)
