LPGA HEADS BACK TO THE ROSE CITY FOR THE 48TH CAMBIA PORTLAND CLASSIC

For the 48th time, the LPGA is in Portland, Ore., for the Cambia Portland Classic, the Tour’s longest-running non-major competition. The 2018 tournament saw New Jersey’s Marina Alex breakthrough with her first LPGA win, shooting a final-round 65 to erase a six-stroke deficit and claim victory. She now joins an illustrious list of past champions that includes Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, JoAnne Carner and Annika Sorenstam.

Alex has returned to Portland to defend her title, headlining a field that includes seven other past champions in Austin Ernst (2014), Brooke Henderson (2015, 2016), Mi Jung Hur (2009), Juli Inkster (1999), Cristie Kerr (2008), Stacy Lewis (2017) and Suzann Pettersen (2011, 2013). Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko, fresh off her fourth win of the year at last week’s CP Women’s Open, is also in the Rose City, along with 2018 Cambia runner-up Georgia Hall.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CAMBIA PORTLAND CLASSIC

This is the 48th edition of the Cambia Portland Classic, making it the longest-running non-major competition on the LPGA Tour
The tournament was first played in 1972 and was conducted in 1977-1982 as an unofficial team event
The tournament was not held in 2001, as it was cancelled due to the Sept. 11 attacks
Nancy Lopez is the only three-time winner of the tournament (1985, 1987, 1992)
Cambia Portland Classic winners represent eight countries: Canada, England, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sweden and the USA
There have been 10 playoffs in tournament history, most recently in 2014, when Austin Ernst defeated In-Kyung Kim with a par on the first extra hole

ALEX READY FOR TITLE DEFENSE

Imagine driving up to a golf course and seeing your face plastered across the side of the clubhouse. That’s this week’s reality for defending Cambia Portland Classic champion Marina Alex. While it may be a weird experience, it’s one she wouldn’t change for the world.

“It's a little awkward, not going to lie. It's cool, though,” said Alex with a laugh. “I've just never gotten exposure like this before so it's kind of different to see yourself in the locker room and everywhere. The billboards are massive. It's something I'm getting used to.”

Alex became a Rolex First-Time Winner in 2018 after book-ending the tournament with a career-low 62 on Thursday and a closing 65. The 29-year-old from Northern New Jersey, who now makes her home in South Florida, comes to Columbia Edgewater with a healthy attitude about defending that title. Only three players in tournament history have successfully defended their titles – Kathy Whitworth (1972, 1973), Annika Sorenstam (2002, 2003) and Brooke Henderson (2015, 2016). Alex understands that the odds are not exactly in her favor.

“I guess it eases me a little bit to know I could go out and I could really play great and someone could play better,” said Alex. “There's nothing wrong with that. If I happen to repeat, that's fantastic. I would be super proud of myself, but I'm not going to be hard on myself in terms of the result this week.”

CAMBIA DEBUT FOR WORLD NO. 1 KO

This week marks the Cambia Portland Classic debut for Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko. The Korea native may not know much yet about Columbia Edgewater Country Club, but one thing is for sure – she is ready to take in Portland’s famed food scene.

“Many players told me about the great food here and the great music on the road, and then also a great city. So I want to play here,” said Ko. “Last year I was tired, so that's why I skipped this tournament. But this year I'm good with everything. I like eating food.”

Ko comes to Portland fresh off her fourth win of 2019 at last week’s CP Women’s Open. Ko carded four consecutive bogey-free round in Canada to continue an unbelievable streak of flawless golf. Her last bogey came on Aug. 1 on the second hole of her third round at the AIG Women’s British Open, a streak of 106 consecutive holes.

“I will try to keep the bogey-free run. I hope so,” said Ko, who became the first 72-hole bogey-free winner since Inbee Park in 2015. “But nobody knows about how can I play the course. I want to keep the bogey-free round, but just focus on my game.”

TWO-TIME CAMBIA CHAMP HENDERSON READY FOR MORE

It’s easy to understand why Columbia Edgewater Country Club is one of Brooke Henderson’s favorite golf courses. The 21-year-old Canadian captured her first LPGA Tour title here in 2015 as a 17-year-old amateur, becoming just the second Monday qualifier to win in the history of the LPGA. That win allowed her to petition for LPGA Membership before reaching her 18th birthday. The following year, Henderson successfully defended that title, and she has never finished worse than 21st at the Cambia Portland Classic.

“I just have so many great memories and I feel like every hole kind of suits my eye,” said Henderson, who has also defended victories at the LOTTE Championship and the Meijer LPGA Classic with wins in 2018 and 2019. “I feel very comfortable on every tee box, which is a great feeling, and when you're striking it well and you have confidence, I feel like that's when you make a lot of birdies and you can kind of get on streaks where you're on fire, which is always a lot of fun. Hopefully I can do that again this week.”

Last week’s CP Women’s Open, played outside Toronto, was particularly tiring for Henderson. After winning her national title in 2018, her fan-favorite status in Canada exploded and Henderson spent the entire week as the face of the championship. She ultimately finished third, playing in the final group and walking to the 18th green on Sunday arm in arm with eventual winner Jin Young Ko. Add in a cross-country flight to get to Oregon and Henderson is understandably tired. But she is more than ready to get back out in front of the Portland fans.

“It's such a busy week and so much going on that week that it takes a lot of energy out of you, and then travel all day yesterday,” said Henderson. “I tried to come out a little bit earlier today and practice and get my work in and then looking forward to getting a little bit more rest this afternoon, and hopefully be ready to go by Thursday.”

ROSE CITY RUMBLE – YIN VS. VAN DAM

The first tee at Columbia Edgewater Country Club saw a totally new competition on Tuesday afternoon. The Rose City Rumble: A Long Drive Showdown, pitted the Netherlands’ Anne van Dam, the LPGA Tour’s longest driver at 283.8 yards, against the USA’s Angel Yin, who sits second to van Dam at 281.7 yards. The pair had swapped jabs all year about who was truly the Tour’s longest hitter, with the gregarious Yin often jokingly calling out the more reserved van Dam for a Long Drive contest.

The first tee was packed with players, caddies and fans, with defending Cambia Portland Classic winner Marina Alex leading the cheers. With the contest hosted by Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz, Yin stepped to the tee first, cranking a longest drive of 315 yards over eight balls. But in the vernacular of the World Long Drive Championship, van Dam was “one and done,” matching Yin’s 315 on her first tee shot and hitting 326 yards just a few balls later to claim the title of Longest Player on Tour.

“Rematch” was Yin’s first impression of her performance, joking that she needed to hit the gym and work on her strength to match van Dam’s length. Van Dam gave it right back, saying “All I’m going to say is she had eight balls and all it took me was the first ball to beat her.”

In an added twist, three-time and reigning World Long Drive champion Phillis Meti was in attendance. Following Yin and van Dam, Meti put on a show of driving prowess, hitting 341 yards on her second tee shot and cranking one 346 yards a few shots later.

“To me, the closer the green you can get, the easier your second shot becomes. When our girls can dial in on the fairway, they’re able to pitch into the green and finish it off,” said Meti, who raved about the control that van Dam and Yin have in complement to their clubhead speed and distance. “It makes the game so much easier. I’m not saying that’s an easy feat, but I think length definitely helps. These girls have it.”

Highlights of the Rose City Rumble will air in this week’s Golf Channel coverage of the Cambia Portland Classic. They will also be used in next week’s World Long Drive Championship coverage and again in two weeks at Gleneagles in Scotland, when van Dam makes her European debut at the Solheim Cup and Yin tees it up for the second time for Team USA.

RACE TO THE CME GLOBE UPDATE

As the LPGA Tour heads into Week 25 of the 2019 Race to the GME Globe, four-time winner Jin Young Ko has pulled 1,519 points clear of her nearest competitor. With 3,937 points, Ko has a huge lead over Brooke Henderson, who sits second with 2,418 points. Jeongeun Lee6 is third with 2,381 points, with Sung Hyun Park (2,337 points) and Minjee Lee (2,325 points) rounding out the top five.

The 2019 season brings a fresh face to the Race to the CME Globe. LPGA Members will accumulate points at each official LPGA Tour event leading up to the CME Group Tour Championship. The top 60 points earners and ties will then earn a spot in the CME Group Tour Championship, with the entire field competing for the $5 million purse and the $1.5 million winner’s check, the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.

LPGA Heads Back To Rose City for Cambia Portland Classic

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