Players to Watch
Sung Hyun Park
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Sung Hyun Park headlines the field at the Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group 1001. The week kicks off an intense stretch for the Korean as the defending champion in both Indianapolis and next week’s Volunteers of America Classic. Already a two-time winner in 2019, Park is on form heading into the season’s final stretch, finishing inside the top 20 in her last seven starts.
Lexi Thompson
The top-ranked American in the Rolex Rankings returns to the States after a jet-setting few weeks around the world. Lexi Thompson, who competed in the Solheim Cup, then flew to Korea for an exhibition match before returning to the U.S. for the Indy Women in Tech Championship. This week, the World No. 3 makes her first start on Tour since a rare missed cut at the Cambia Portland Classic, but she’ll feel comfortable in her return to Indianapolis, where she won the inaugural playing of the event in 2017.
Brooke Henderson
Brooke Henderson climbed to No. 5 in the world with her incredible play in recent weeks, including top-four finishes in her last two starts. The Canadian is already a two-time winner in 2019 and will be a player to watch in Indy, where she’s finished inside the top 10 in her previous two appearances. In 2018, Henderson fired a final-round 9-under 63 for her low round of the year.
Defending Champ
In 2018, Sung Hyun Park’s goal was to win three times. She achieved that goal with her victory at the Indy Women in Tech Championship, where she drained a 15-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Lizette Salas. Park carded rounds of 68-63-66-68 for her career-best 72-hole total on Tour. The victory was the fifth of Park’s LPGA Tour career and also lifted her back into the No. 1 position in the Rolex Rankings.
Quotable
“I'm not as young as I used to be, but I can still hang in there and play with these gals. And my confidence is there. And this might draw me back a little bit, but I'm going to rise to the challenge again, and I will be back, for sure.” – Lizette Salas after losing on the first playoff hole to Sung Hyun Park at the 2018 Indy Women in Tech Championship
Aon Risk Reward Challenge
The designated Risk Reward Challenge Hole at the Indy Women in Tech Championship is the par-4 16th hole at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course. The biggest challenge at the 370-yard hole will be the water that runs along the entire left side of the hole and particularly comes into play off the tee. Players will need to carry the ball more than 225 yards off the tee to safely find the fairway and set up an approach shot inside 100 yards. Click here for more about the hole.
Numbers to Know
11 – The number of players ranked inside the top 20 in the Rolex Rankings who are in the field in Indy
62 – The competitive course record shot by Lizette Salas in 2018 at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, which also matched Salas’ career low round
-23 – The 72-hole winning total in 2018, recorded by Lizette Salas and Sung Hyun Park
About This Week’s Event
The Course
Brickyard Crossing Golf Course was designed by famed golf course architect Pete Dye. What makes the course particularly unique is that four holes of the course are played inside the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 14 other holes are next to the backstretch of the track.
Tournament History
This year marks the third playing of the Indy Women in Tech Championship. The inaugural playing of the event was contested over 54 holes and won by Lexi Thompson at -19. In 2018, the tournament was expanded to 72 holes and won by Sung Hyun Park at -23.
A Tradition Unlike Any Other
In keeping with tradition, the winner of the Indy Women in Tech Championship will take part in the same celebration as those who have won the Indianapolis 500 at the Speedway. The winner will not only kiss the bricks, but also douse herself in milk and take a victory lap.
TV Times
Golf Channel (All times are Eastern)
September 26, 1-5 p.m.
September 27, 12:30-4 p.m.
September 28, 12:30-4 p.m.
September 29, 1-4 p.m.
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