KO PLAYS IN NEW JERSEY FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2014

Rolex Rankings No. 15 Lydia Ko will make her second career start at the ShopRite LPGA Classic this week after a three-year hiatus from the event. Her only other start here (finished 48th in 2014) came on the heels of her third career LPGA victory and first as an LPGA member at the 2014 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic - she would go on to win two more times that season and become the youngest-ever winner of the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award at 17 years old.

Since the last time Lydia played in Atlantic City, she spent at total of 104 weeks at No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, won 12 more LPGA tournaments (including the 2018 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship) and a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, celebrated her 21st birthday and took part in her sister’s wedding in South Korea.

Ko has played a few rounds this week at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club which helped refresh her memory of the Donald Ross designed Bay Course. She’ll go off the 10th tee in tomorrow’s first round at 8:10 a.m. alongside Shanshan Feng and Austin Ernst.

“I remember pretty much the majority of the golf course, especially after the tee shot,” said Ko. “I could remember all the greens and all that.”

Ko is playing the second event in a string of six consecutive starts, which she notes is the longest stretch of events she will go through in her LPGA career. It began with last week’s U.S. Women’s Open and will include an event she has won in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G as well as the year’s third major at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship before culminating with the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.

“You kind of have to work around them and see the travel and logistics. Some players have outings and all that. Yeah, you just have to see what fits best in your schedule. Every player’s schedule looks a little differently to another one.”

This season, Ko has six top-20 finishes including her win in San Francisco. With a victory this week, Ko could join Ariya Jutanugarn as the second player to score multiple victories on the 2018 season.

KIM LOOKS TO MAKE HER SECOND UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN TEAM

Seven-time LPGA winner and defending ShopRite LPGA Classic champion In-Kyung Kim, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, looks forward to the chance of making her second UL International Crown team appearance at this year’s UL International Crown representing the Republic of Korea.

“I’ve been playing for the last 12 years. I’ve played in UL before, and also played other team events. I think it’s good kind of celebration for golf when we do get to play that kind of game,” said Kim, a member of Team Korea in 2014.

Kim currently holds the fourth spot for Team Korea and sits behind fellow major champions Inbee Park, Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu. As the “home team,” this golf-crazed nation is expected to have a huge response, welcoming home its golf heroes.

“You know, I look at it as just such a great opportunity if I get to play. I don’t get to go home very often, and the people love following us. They watch golf 2:00 a.m. Can you imagine? And go work and talk about golf. I think would be such a great treat for them,” said Kim.

The participating teams were decided after the U.S. Women’s Open and players have four more events to make moves towards making their respective teams. Participating players will be announced after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on July 2 - the top four players in the Rolex Rankings from each country will make up each team.

UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN STANDINGS (countries are finalized as of June 4, 2018; standings updated weekly)

1. Republic of Korea, 19 points (Inbee Park, Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu, In-Kyung Kim)

2. United States of America, 44 points (Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie)

3. Japan, 172 points (Ai Suzuki, Nasa Hataoka, Mamiko Higa, Momoko Ueda)

4. England, 184 points (Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Bronte Law)

5. Australia, 231 points (Minjee Lee, Katherine Kirk, Sarah Jane Smith, Su Oh)

6. Thailand, 251 points (Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pornanong Phatlum, Saranporn Langkulgasettrin)

7. Sweden, 277 points (Anna Nordqvist, Pernilla Lindberg, Madelene Sagstrom, Caroline Hedwall)

8. Chinese Taipei, 317 points (Teresa Lu, Wei-Ling Hsu, Hsuan-Yu Yao, Candie Kung)

The field of eight countries will be determined by the combined Rolex World Ranking of the top four players from each country as of the Rolex World Rankings. Countries must have a minimum of four ranked players to be eligible. The eight countries that qualify for the 2018 UL International Crown were determined following the U.S. Women’s Open on June 4, while the players will be determined following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on July 2.

LPGA TAKES A SWING AT WORLD LONG DRIVE COMPETITION

On Tuesday, four LPGA players took to the grid at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash, a World Long Drive Tour Event at Atlantic City Country Club. Players including Sam Troyanovich, Emily Tubert, Amelia Lewis and Daniella Iacobelli took part in a mini-long drive competition going head-to-head, each hitting four balls in a span of a minute and a half to determine a champion.

Tubert, who contemplated registering for the event, was the group’s longest hitter, reaching as far as 276 yards, only several yards off her average driving distance for the year (272.6 yards). That distance would have been good enough to advance her into the finals of the event should she have actually been competing.

“I’ve been wanting to do one of the long drive competitions. I actually registered with the tour two weeks ago but didn’t pull the trigger to compete in the event this week,” said the 26-year-old. “Now that I’ve been out there and gotten the experience, I definitely want to give it a try! I’m hoping one of their events will fit into my schedule this year.

ShopRite LPGA Classic Wednesday Pre-Tournament Notes

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