The LPGA season kicks off next week with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, and World No. 1 Lilia Vu headlines the field. It marks the first time that Vu has been eligible for the field given that she won her first career title last February at the Honda LPGA Thailand and went on to win three more times, including two majors.
The season-opener takes place Jan. 18-21 at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida. LPGA winners from the past two seasons are invited to compete for a $1.5 million purse while a field of celebrities vie for $500,000.
Once again, Lake Nona resident Annika Sorenstam will compete in the celebrity field along with NBC’s Dylan Dreyer, U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Landon Donovan, eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter, country music star Chris Lane and World Series Champion John Smoltz.
While Vu and No. 2 Ruoning Yin begin their 2024 seasons next week, six players inside the top 10 of the Rolex Rankings are skipping the first event. For many international players, the lure of a longer offseason outweighs the perks of the TOC.
While there are two events in Florida to start the season in 2024, with the LPGA Drive On event in Bradenton the following week, the tour then has three weeks off before beginning the spring Asian swing in Thailand.
Here’s a look at which top players are in the field for this year’s TOC and which ones are sitting out:
Lilia Vu gets champagne poured on her after winning The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2023, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Ruoning Yin tees off on the 4th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Celine Boutier of France tees off on the 8th hole during the second round of the Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on October 27, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Australia’s Minjee Lee is sprayed with champagne by Australia’s Hannah Green (L) as she celebrates her victory at the end of the BMW Ladies Championship golf tournament at Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju on October 22, 2023. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
Nelly Korda of the United States looks on from the second tee during the second round of the CME Group…
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