A new event gets under way on the LPGA Tour, the Mizuho Americas Open at one of the most celebrated courses in the US, Liberty National in New Jersey.
The tournament has a high-profile host for its inaugural year, too – 2014 Women’s US Open Champion Michelle Wie-West, and she will welcome many of the world’s best players.
They include World No.1 Jin Young Ko. After missing part of 2022 with a wrist injury, the South Korean has shown all the signs of putting those frustrations firmly in the past in recent months.
She served notice of her form with victory in the HSBC Women’s World Championship in March, and claimed her 15th LPGA Tour win in the Cognizant Founders Cup in mid-May. She will be confident of another strong performance this week.
A player who fared less well in the Cognizant Founders Cup was World No.3 Lydia Ko. Her T42 in the tournament continued a mini slump. However, she finished tied for third in the LET’s Aramco Team Series Florida event soon after, so will be hoping that marks the start of a return to her best.
Lilia Vu won the first Major of the year, The Chevron Championship, to add to her maiden LPGA Tour win in February’s Honda LPGA Thailand and the World No.4 looks to continue in that vein during an impressive breakout year.
Chevron Championship winner Lilia Vu also plays
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The player immediately beneath Vu in the world rankings is Minjee Lee, and the Australian will be looking to put the disappointment of being edged into second by Jin Young Ko in the Cognizant Founders Cup behind her with a win.
Completing the list of players from the top 10 in the field are former World No.1 Atthaya Thitikul, two-time Major winner Brooke Henderson and 2018 Women’s British Open victor Georgia Hall.
With the likes of Celine Boutier, Nasa Hataoka and Danielle Kang in the field, too, the tournament is set for a memorable first event.
Even with that array of talent, one of the most anticipated appearances will surely be Rose Zhang’s. The 20-year-old makes her debut as a professional after an amateur career that included a string of accolades, awards and titles. Zhang leaves the amateur game after a record 141 consecutive weeks at the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking and will be looking to make an immediate impact as a professional.
Rose Zhang makes her professional debut in the tournament
(Image credit: Getty Images)
There is a twist with the format of this week’s tournament, too, with the AJGA (American Junior…
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