Park Begins Reign as No. 1

Inbee Park’s sixth career major championship win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship also came with a return to the world No. 1 ranking. Park will be graced with the green bib for her caddie, signifying her presence as the world’s No. 1 player for the tournament this week. Lydia Ko had previously held the No. 1 spot since the first week of February but Ko missed the cut and Park won the tournament to regain her foot hold.

No. 1 is not a new spot for Park. She previously served 59 weeks as the world No. 1 from 2013 - 2014 and she was also No. 1 to begin the 2015 season, before Ko took it from her with a runner-up finish at the Coates Golf Championship to open the year.

Park has already won three events this year - the HSBC Women’s Champions, Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout Presented by JTBC, and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship - and she leads the standings for the Race to the CME Globe, money list, scoring average and Rolex Player of the Year honors.

Defending Her Home Turf

Stacy Lewis returns to her roots this week - the place that helped build her into one of the best players in the world. Lewis spent five years at the University of Arkansas, after redshirting her freshman year as she recovered from back surgery to correct scoliosis. Lewis’ Arkansas roots are still deeply embedded as she’s maintained a close relationship with Arkansas women’s golf coach Shawna Estes-Taylor, who came to the U.S. Women’s Open last year to assist Lewis with short-game shots at Pinehurst No. 2. And in the offseason, Lewis returns the favor by returning to Fayetteville to act as a volunteer women’s golf coach for the team.

She served a dual role Monday, acting as both one of the world’s best players and also as a coach as she played a practice round with Arkansas junior Gabriela Lopez, who finished as the runner-up at the NCAA Championships.

Lewis sent Arkansas fans into an uproar a year ago with a birdie at the last for the win in front of her home fans. It was the second win here in the eight-year history of the event for Lewis as she also won in 2007 as an amateur when the tournament was rain shortened to 18 holes.

Second Act

Lydia Ko looks to start a new streak this week. After making the cut in her first 53 LPGA starts, Ko missed the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship but will look to begin a new streak this week. It’s been a year of streaks for Ko, who posted 29 consecutive under par rounds early in the year to tie Annika Sorenstam’s record.

Ko, the No. 2 player in the world at just 18 years old, finished in a three-way tie for second a year ago here with Cristie Kerr and Angela Stanford, one shot back of Stacy Lewis. Ko went on to win the 2014 Race to the CME Globe and has already won twice in 2015.

Un-Pressel-dented Stretch

Morgan Pressel may be the youngest major champion in women’s golf history but even she’s never enjoyed a stretch like this on Tour in her decorated eight years on the LPGA. Whatever Pressel says she lost in her game on the Asian Swing to start the year, she’s certainly found as she’s posted four top-five finishes in her last eight starts.

Perhaps, more impressive is the competition she’s done it in. She posted a solo third, just one shot out of a playoff, at the season’s first major - the ANA Inspiration - and followed that up with a playoff loss at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, which had one of the strongest fields of a non-major all season. And she didn’t slow down when May hit, taking the lead into the final day at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer before falling into a third. Her last start at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship was further validation that the changes in her golf swing have taken to in a major way as she finished in fifth for her second consecutive top-five in a major championship - the second time she’s done that in her career.

Loudest hole on Tour gets louder

The famous 17th hole at Pinnacle Country Club, or as it’s affectionately known “the loudest hole on Tour,” is bigger and better than ever this year. The build surrounding the green has been enhanced and should make for even more raucous crowds this year.

Year of the Rookie

It’s been the Year of the Rookie on the LPGA Tour. Four times already an event has ended this season with a rookie winner with Sei Young Kim winning twice and Minjee Lee and Hyo Joo Kim both winning once. Currently, six LPGA rookies sit in the top-25 on the money list.

Kim’s been the most spectacular of the bunch, winning the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in a three-way playoff and stealing the Lotte Championship away from world No. 1 Inbee Park with a holed out chip at the last to force a playoff and a dunked, 154-yard second shot on the first playoff hole to win in Hawaii. Kim’s also posted top fives in both major championships to start 2015. Don’t be surprised to see a rookie in contention - or even winning - again this weekend.

Notes and Stuff

LPGA rookie Sadena Parks is featured in the upcoming ESPN The Body Issue. Parks joins 23 other athletes featured in the annual issue including Bryce Harper, Kevin Love, Odell Beckham Jr., Laird Hamilton, Gabby Reece, Tyler Seguin and Brittney Griner, among others. The issue will be released online on July 6 and on newsstands July 10.
The Race to the CME Globe is heating up, with Inbee Park passing Lydia Ko for the lead after her win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points in every Official LPGA Tournament and compete for the $1 million prize. For a complete points listing, please visit www.lpga.com/race-to-cme-globe/updated-points-listing
The 2015 Solheim Cup will take place Sept. 18-20 at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club near Heidelberg, Germany. Players began earning points toward the 2015 Solheim Cup at the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open and can earn points through the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. For a complete listing of Solheim Cup points for Team USA, please visit www.lpga.com/statistics/points/solheim-cup

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