Click here to make your LPGA Fantasy Series picks for the 2016 ANA Inspiration.
Brooke Henderson
With five top-10 finishes in her last five starts, Brooke Henderson will be one to watch at the season’s first major. Henderson makes just her second start in this event, having teed it up as a 16-year-old amateur when she received an invite and finished T-26 for the week. Henderson doesn’t need to hold the 54-hole lead to be a factor. The 18-year-old knows how to make a charge on Sunday, she hasn’t posted a single over-par final round this season, carding a cumulative 20-under par in her final rounds of 2016.
Ha Na Jang
Ha Na Jang is on the hunt for her first major victory. While her celebrations may have caught people’s attention, it’s her game that is worth noting. Jang hasn’t finished outside the top-16 this season and notched two victories in her first five starts. While she didn’t find much success in the majors during her rookie season in 2015, she has discovered something in the first half of 2016 that has made her a winner and it could very well have her celebrating on the 72nd hole at Mission Hills Country Club on Sunday.
Lexi Thompson
Already a winner in 2016, Lexi Thompson knows what it takes to get it done in Palm Springs, having captured her first major victory at this event in 2014. Thompson will be looking to shake off her performance at last week’s Kia Classic where she finished T-43 after an opening round 77, her worst finish since April of 2015.
Karrie Webb
The desire to represent her home country of Australia has been a driving force for Karrie Webb in the final stages of her career and a third ANA Inspiration would surely be the icing on what has already been an impressive career. Webb has teed it up in Palm Springs since 1997, twice winning the event in 2000 and 2006 in addition to eight more top-10 finishes.
Inbee Park
After struggling to start 2016, the future LPGA Hall of Famer showed signs of returning to form at last week’s Kia Classic where Inbee Park finished runner-up to Lydia Ko. Park won the 2013 ANA Inspiration in what was her first of three major victories that year. She has posted two additional top-10’s in the event in 2008 and 2010.
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel figured out at an early age what it takes to win at Mission Hills Country Club, becoming the youngest major champion in 2007 with her first victory on the LPGA Tour, a record that was surpassed only last season with Lydia Ko’s victory at the Evian Championship. Pressel has twice finished third in this event, including just last season where she finished one-stroke outside the playoff with Brittany Lincicome and Stacy Lewis.
Anna Nordqvist
With four top-10’s at the ANA Inspiration, it’s only a matter of time before Anna Nordqvist makes that leap into Poppie’s Pond. She’ll have a chance if she can build on her solid finish at last week‘s Kia Classic where she posted a top-12 finish.
Mi Hyang Lee
Knowing a 10-under par, 62 is possible from Mi Hyang Lee, anything could happen for the South Korean this week in Palm Springs. Going 9-under on her first 9 holes of the JTBC Founders Cup, Lee looked to be on track to shoot 59 before her putter cooled her to an opening round 62. That kind of play combined with her strong performance in the majors, including four top-20 finishes in the 2015 majors, she cold be unstoppable come Sunday.
Suzann Pettersen
Since making her first start in Palm Springs in 2002, Suzann Pettersen has amassed six top-10's including three runner-up finishes. Her affinity for Mission Hills Country Club along with the work she’s put in with Butch Harmon, might just be the edge she needs to break through this week.
So Yeon Ryu
Rested after taking the week of the Kia Classic off, So Yeon Ryu will be one to watch this week. Ryu has been working on swing changes with Cameron McCormick and Ian Baker-Finch and with a week of hard work under her belt, she may just find herself back in contention this week. Ryu finished runner-up to best friend Inbee Park when she won the 2013 ANA Inspiration.
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