Players to Watch
Lexi Thompson- Thompson returns to the fold after taking two weeks off following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She’s made five previous career appearances at Highland Meadows Golf Club, including the previous two years. She had her best career finish of 2nd place in 2017, her second top five finish at the Marathon Classic presented by Dana. She finished T3 in her debut here in 2013.
Minjee Lee-Lee is teeing it up for the second time in her career at the Marathon Classic, her first happening during her rookie year in 2015. She finished T22 in her debut. Lee comes back after taking the Thronberry Creek LPGA Classic off, having played very steady golf before her break. She finished in the top 25 in eight of nine starts, which featured her victory in Los Angeles.
Jeongeun Lee6- Lee6 makes her first appearance at the Marathon Classic as the current runaway Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race leader. She missed the first cut of her LPGA member career last week. The Rolex Annika Major Award leader looks to rebound in her final start before the last two majors of the year, the Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s British Open, coming up starting at the end of the month.
Defending Champion Jasmine Suwannapura
Jasmine Suwannapura returns to defend her title coming off her lowest round of the season last week at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. The 2012 rookie became a Rolex First Time Winner with her playoff victory over Brittany Lincicome. Suwannapura finished eagle-birdie at the par 5 17th and 18th for a final round 65 to get to (-14), going on to birdie the first playoff hole to bring home the first victory of her career.
AON Risk Reward Hole- 17th Hole, Par 5
This Par 5 challenges the player with a "blind" tee shot over the hill to a fairly narrow, tree lined, fairway. Any player wishing to have a go at the green in two will need to draw the ball off the tee as the slender fairway turns left in the landing area. If their tee shot finds the short grass, many players will almost certainly have a go at the well-bunkered, tiny green. Any player successful in finding the green, will almost certainly be rewarded with a reasonably makeable eagle putt.
Numbers to Know
1984- The first year the tournament was hosted
121- The number of starts for Suwannapura to find her first career victory
71- Par at the 6,550 yard Highland Meadows Golf Club this week
62- The lowest final round carded by a winner, posted by So Yeon Ryu in 2012
17- Number of holes in one recorded on the LPGA Tour this season, resulting in $340,000 donated to St. Jude.
About This Week
Play will begin on Thursday, July 11th and will air on the Golf Channel. The tournament will air from 7:30-9:30 P.M. EST on Thursday and Friday July 12th. On the weekend, play will air from 6:00-8:00 P.M. EST.
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