Without any traffic, 2020/2021 LPGA Tour rookie Andrea Lee reckons it takes about 35 minutes to drive to Wilshire Country Club from her home in Hermosa Beach. It is worth the commute for the HUGEL-Air Premia LA Open tournament sponsor exemption, who is also an honorary member at Wilshire.
“I'm really excited. It's not every day that I get to play a tournament at a home course and stay at home, so it's really exciting for me. I'm really looking forward to it,” said Lee, who was bestowed the honor last spring. “The course looks like it's in incredible shape, so, just really excited.”
The Stanford University graduate is one of a couple players in this week’s field that get to call the host club nestled in the heart of LA, “home.” The other is current University of Southern California student and LPGA Tour member Robynn Ree. Lee has plenty words of wisdom about the course setup, which includes knowing how to maneuver around the greens.
“I think the defense to this golf course is definitely the greens. I've played it so many times now and I still get kind of tripped up on the greens and don't really know which way it breaks sometimes,” said Lee, who is set to make her fifth start of the 2021 LPGA Tour season. “I think green reading is going to be key, and just putting yourself in the right spots on the fairway to hit good approach shots into the green.”