2023 LPGA Drive On Championship (Mar 23 - 26)

[Argonne69]

Race to the CME Globe: 500 Points

 

Format: 72 holes

 

Purse: $1,750,000

 

Location: Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, Gold Canyon, AZ

 

Par: 72

 

Yardage: 6,526 yds

 

History: This is the 2nd year for the event. In 2022, Leona Maguire carded a final round 67 and cruised into the winner’s circle for the first time in her LPGA Tour career, becoming the first woman from Ireland to win in the Tour’s history.

 

Coverage:

 

March 23: The Golf Channel Stream 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

March 23: The Golf Channel 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm (EDT)

March 24: The Golf Channel Stream 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

March 24: The Golf Channel 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm (EDT)

March 25: The Golf Channel Stream 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (EDT)

March 25: The Golf Channel 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

March 26: The Golf Channel Stream 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (EDT)

March 26: The Golf Channel 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

 

[Argonne69]

OK, back to the golf. Looks like a solid field. 

 

'Nice to see the tour back in Arizona. 

 

[18majors]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

March 25: The Golf Channel Stream 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (EDT)

March 25: The Golf Channel 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm (EDT)  (Tape Delayed)

March 26: The Golf Channel Stream 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (EDT)

March 26: The Golf Channel 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm (EDT)  (Tape Delayed)

 

 

The weekend Golf Channel TV are tape delayed.  

Edited March 20, 2023 by 18majors

[18majors]

 

LPGA held five tournaments at Superstition Mountain before; the winners are all Hall of Famers:

 

2008	Mar 27-30	Lorena Ochoa (2)	Mexico	266 (−22)	Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club	1,500,000	220,000
2007	Mar 22-25	Lorena Ochoa	Mexico	270 (−18)	Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club	1,500,000	220,000
2006	Mar 16-19	Juli Inkster	United States	273 (−15)	Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club	1,400,000	210,000
2005	Mar 17-20	Annika Sörenstam (3)	Sweden	277 (−11)	Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club	1,400,000	210,000
2004	Mar 18-21	Annika Sörenstam (2)	Sweden	270 (−18)	Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club	1,200,000	180,000

[18majors]

Bianca Pagdanganan and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, two of the longest hitters, are paired together for Monday Qualifying round; I would follow that group for sure:

Pairings

[18majors]

 

Congratulations, Mina:

LPGA player double dips with wedding at Arizona course she's playing in tournament

 

[18majors]

 

With her solo 2nd in Singapore, Danielle Kang moved to #8 on the list of players who've earned the most Rolex points in 2023:

 

1	Lilia Vu	81.83
2	Jin Young Ko	72.70
3	Lydia Ko	66.80
4	Nelly Korda	55.10
5	Maja Stark	46.07
6	Aditi Ashok	42.00
7	Ashleigh Buhai	38.35
8	Danielle Kang	37.58
9	Nathakritta Vongtaveelap	37.20
10	Atthaya Thitikul	33.48

 

Notables
Minjee Lee	1.33
Lexi Thompson	14.41
Brooke Henderson	27.44
In Gee Chun	7.86
Leona Maguire	19.62
Celine Boutier	26.79
Charley Hull	19.66
Hye Jin Choi	6.74
Linn Grant	21.72
Pauline Roussin	21.84

Edited March 20, 2023 by 18majors

[18majors]

 

Top-3 Rolex Ranking this week:

 

1	Lydia Ko	8.27	380.41	46
2	Nelly Korda	7.77	271.79	34
3	Jin Young Ko	7.08	254.95	36

 

Lydia suffered because she only earned 7.40 from her solo 3rd in Singapore and her denominator went from 45 to 46.  Her denominator will drop back to 45 next week.

 

As it stands, Lydia is 24.0 ahead of Nelly and 51.0 ahead of Jin Young.  Lydia can potentially drop to #3 next week because a solo 2nd for Nelly and a win by Jin Young will catapult both above Lydia.

 

 

[Lobby]

DK is playing pretty well right now.   She seems to be in a happier place, mentally.   I'm happy for her.

But Lyds is just so darned talented.   If she's on, she's unstoppable.
 

This weekend will be fun.

[AKL Kiwi]

7 hours ago, 18majors said:

Bianca Pagdanganan and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, two of the longest hitters, are paired together for Monday Qualifying round; I would follow that group for sure:

Pairings

Vongtaveelap +8 and finished DL. Pagdanganan +2 finished 36th...failed to qualify although Vongtaveelap could still make it if 2 players withdraw being second reserve. 

[18majors]

2 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

Vongtaveelap

 

 

 

I was thinking what a difference between playing in Thailand and in Arizona.  She didn't play particularly well at 2022 Q-Series either.

 

We all know, not too many players can be like Lydia Ko or Jeeno Thitikul with instant successes.  Both Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko paid their dues before rising to the Top!

[AKL Kiwi]

7 minutes ago, 18majors said:

I was thinking what a difference between playing in Thailand and in Arizona.  She didn't play particularly well at 2022 Q-Series either.

 

We all know, not too many players can be like Lydia Ko or Jeeno Thitikul with instant successes.  Both Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko paid their dues before rising to the Top!

I don't think you can underestimate the difference between playing at home on a course you know well to having to travel week in and week out through different time zones and still performing at your best. I guess the top players can afford to travel 1st class which would help! 

[OnTheBag]

14 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

I don't think you can underestimate the difference between playing at home on a course you know well to having to travel week in and week out through different time zones and still performing at your best. I guess the top players can afford to travel 1st class which would help! 

This is often misunderstood by "scratch" to slightly plus golfers that play the same courses week after week.  Travel and unfamiliarity expose the high level of talent touring pros possess.  To shoot the scores they do at a different courses every week is a testament to how much better they are than the rest of us.

Edited March 20, 2023 by OnTheBag

[18majors]

11 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

I guess the top players can afford to travel 1st class which would help! 

 

 

 

Yes, being rich isn't all bad!

 

Yet, players like Lydia and Nelly are just good people; they may travel first class but not by charter or own their own planes.

 

 

[18majors]

 

 

The "Cinderella Story" I's hoping for Su Oh is diminishing week by week.  From 2022 Q-Series to Australian summer season to today's qualifying round; she just isn't all together!

 

Yet, hope springs eternal; maybe there still will be magic for Su and for Bianca Pagdanganan!

[BadgerLin]

1 hour ago, AKL Kiwi said:

Vongtaveelap +8 and finished DL. Pagdanganan +2 finished 36th...failed to qualify although Vongtaveelap could still make it if 2 players withdraw being second reserve. 

Can you post the scores from the Monday Qualiflier?

Thanks

[18majors]

2 minutes ago, BadgerLin said:

Can you post the scores from the Monday Qualiflier?

 

 

Scores

[woahnelly]

3 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Scores

 

Driving distance but not be that important on this course if Yaeeun and MHL advanced ! 

[woahnelly]

4 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

 

The "Cinderella Story" I's hoping for Su Oh is diminishing week by week.  From 2022 Q-Series to Australian summer season to today's qualifying round; she just isn't all together!

 

Yet, hope springs eternal; maybe there still will be magic for Su and for Bianca Pagdanganan!

 

I think Su is spending too much time in her Lamborghini , time to get aboard the Grace Kim bandwagon!

[Stooch]

45 minutes ago, woahnelly said:

 

Driving distance but not be that important on this course if Yaeeun and MHL advanced ! 

It's the 2nd year and I'm drawing a blank, I don't even remember this event ....... when did Leona win last year? lol  Leona is the type that wins on the courses where you need to hit the greens.  It's probably not super long but I think you'll need to be accurate and not miss greens this week.

[woahnelly]

11 minutes ago, Stooch said:

It's the 2nd year and I'm drawing a blank, I don't even remember this event ....... when did Leona win last year? lol  Leona is the type that wins on the courses where you need to hit the greens.  It's probably not super long but I think you'll need to be accurate and not miss greens this week.

 

2nd year of this event , first time it's being played in AZ. Last year was Florida. 

[JungleJimbo]

20 minutes ago, Stooch said:

It's the 2nd year and I'm drawing a blank, I don't even remember this event ....... when did Leona win last year? lol  Leona is the type that wins on the courses where you need to hit the greens.  It's probably not super long but I think you'll need to be accurate and not miss greens this week.

 

8 minutes ago, woahnelly said:

 

2nd year of this event , first time it's being played in AZ. Last year was Florida. 

 

@Stooch thanks for asking the question (and @woahnelly for the answer, so i wouldn't have to google it)  

 

 

[Stooch]

it seems to be much more of a desert course that the ladies have played in AZ before.  Golf in the desert just seems wrong without cacti.

[ChronicSlicer]

1 hour ago, woahnelly said:

 

I think Su is spending too much time in her Lamborghini , time to get aboard the Grace Kim bandwagon!

Of course just my observation, but it seems her drive to compete with the best has gone, now she seems happy to still be part of it all. I get the same vibe from Ariya these days. 

[JungleJimbo]

5 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Scores

 

Article mentions "2 Monday Qualifiers"... so does that mean there's a playoff between the 2 ladies currently tied for 2nd at 5-under?

 

https://www.lpga.com/news/2023/arizona-fans-ready-to-celebrate-first-full-field-lpga-tour-event 

 

Quote

"The desert party kicks off the first of four events in a five week stretch for the LPGA Tour and a five-month stint in the U.S. which makes up the bulk of the Tour’s schedule. The 72-hole LPGA Drive On Championship features 144 players, in addition to two Monday qualifiers, who will compete for a $1.75 million purse."

 

 

 

[woahnelly]

 

 

35 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Of course just my observation, but it seems her drive to compete with the best has gone, now she seems happy to still be part of it all. I get the same vibe from Ariya these days. 

 

At least Ariya has the luxury of riding off into the sunset on her exemptions once her form completely fades. Su has her LPGA card on a string this season. 

Edited March 21, 2023 by woahnelly

[18majors]

3 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Article mentions "2 Monday Qualifiers"... so does that mean there's a playoff between the 2 ladies currently tied for 2nd at 5-under?

 

 

 

You're right, there was a playoff between Yaeeun Hong and Mi Hyang Lee:

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

10 hours ago, Stooch said:

it seems to be much more of a desert course that the ladies have played in AZ before.  Golf in the desert just seems wrong without cacti.

 

They used to play at Wildfire. The resort had two courses, a Palmer design and a Faldo design. Both were desert courses, but the Palmer course was more target golf with more of the desert in play. The course used was a blend of the two, and I believe most of the TV coverage late in the round was on the Faldo nine.

 

[18majors]

 

Bet365.com betting odds:

 

Nelly Korda          6.5/1     Atthaya Thitikul          11/1     Jin Young Ko          11/1

Lexi Thompson    16/1      Lilia Vu                        16/1     Danielle Kang         16/1

 

Surprises:

 

Lucy Li                  40/1     In Gee Chun               50/1     Ashleigh Buhai        50/1

 

For @Whoa Nelly and me

 

Annie Park           500/1  Yealimi Noh                 275/1

Edited March 21, 2023 by 18majors

[8602081]

I'm going to bet again on JYK.

 

She seems to be back completely healthy and happy..