Featured Groups - Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G

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So Yeon Ryu, Jessica Korda and Lexi Thompson 8:47 A.M. (10th tee)

So Yeon Ryu is the defending champion and is coming off an important win for her confidence at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Ryu has worked extensively on her putting, and with her psychologist, and it’s paying off. She posted rounds of 65-61-69 last year in Arkansas and finished T13 at Pinnacle Country Club the year prior. Jessica Korda has been as close to a lock for a top 25 finish as anyone this year. In ten starts, she has finished outside the top 26 once, when she missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open. She rebounded at the ShopRite LPGA Classic with a T17 result and did not play last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Lexi Thompson hasn’t historically played the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, but she is in the field this year in what could be a tune up ahead of next week's major championship. The last time she played in Arkansas was 2015, when she finished T22.

Carlota Ciganda, Sung Hyun Park, Catriona Matthew 8:25 A.M. (10th tee)

The Spainard, Carlota Ciganda, has finished inside the top 30 in her last five starts including a third place result at the U.S. Women’s Open. She ranks 14th on the LPGA money list this year and seems primed for her first win since 2016. Ciganda has a world class resume with three Solheim Cup appearances, an Olympics and 22 career top 10s, and it is only a matter of time before she is in the conversation as a top tier player. Meanwhile, Sung Hyun Park has struggled since winning the weather-shortened Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic. She has missed the cut in her last three starts. Park finished T19 in her lone appearance in Arkansas last year. Catriona Matthew is always an intriguing watch, especially considering she’ll be the captain for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup in 2019. Matthew has had glimpses of solid golf this year, including a T10 at the Kingsmill Championship and a T20 at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup.

Jenny Shin, Nelly Korda, Caroline Masson 1:47 P.M. (1st tee)

Caroline Masson is starting to flourish on the LPGA on a consistent basis. She has five top 10s including a runner-up finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic, where she drained long putts including a 70-footer on the 72nd hole. Masson ended the 2017 season as the No. 56 ranked player in the world and has climbed 20 spots this season. Nelly Korda has also found momentum in recent weeks with a T10 at the U.S. Women’s Open and a T9 at the Meijer LPGA Classic. The younger Korda missed the cut last year in Arkansas. Rounding out the group is Jenny Shin, who has a pair of top 10s this year. Shin’s best finish at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship is a T10 in 2012.

Inbee Park, Charley Hull, Azahara Munoz 1:25 P.M. (10th tee)

Inbee Park returns to the LPGA following a T13 finish in one of the majors on the KLPGA. The No.1 player in the Rolex Rankings has five top 10 finishes in eight starts this year. Park finished in a tie for sixth last year in Arkansas. Charley Hull has played very well this year and maybe hasn’t garnered the attention she deserves. She has eight top 20 finishes in 11 starts and ranks 21st on the money list. While she has made every cut this year and has impressive results, she is missing a win. Hull’s lone victory on the LPGA was the 2016 CME Group Tour Championship. Azahara Munoz has also had a strong 2018 season thus far. She ranks 19th on the official money list and has a pair of top 10s, including a T4 last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Munoz finished T31 last year at Pinnacle Country Club and missed the cut the year prior.

Lydia Ko, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome 1:36 P.M. (10th tee)

This will be a fun group to watch with all three in the top 20 in earnings this season. Lydia Ko collected her fourth top 10 of the season last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic and is putting together what has, so far, been an under-appreciated season. Her putting has been excellent as she ranks third in putting average at 28.77. Ko won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in 2016 with a three-day score of 17-under par and finished T25 last year. Michelle Wie has just one top 10 since her win in March, but she is still playing solid golf. She finished T13 last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Wie has 21 rounds in the 60s this year, sixth most on Tour. She finished T4 in Arkansas a year ago. Brittany Lincicome won the first event of the year, but hasn’t truly contended since. She is still throwing up low numbers like a 66 in round two in Texas and a 67 in round three in Michigan. It's the first rounds that are throwing her off. She hasn’t posted a first round in the 60s since the second event of the year. She is a combined 2-over par in opening rounds in her last four starts.