lpga tour arizona

Advertisement

Lpga's return to arizona features a stellar field, djs on the driving range, flat-screens for march madness, selfie stations, share this article.

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. — The LPGA is finally returning to one of golf’s hotbeds.

The Drive On Championship, the first full-field event in 2023, will be held at Superstition Mountain Golf Club, March 23-26. If the name of the course sounds familiar, the LPGA’s Safeway International was played at Superstition Mountain for five years, last visiting there in 2008 before moving to Portland.

The LPGA staged other events around the greater Phoenix area for the next 12 years, only missing 2010. The Founders Cup got its start in Arizona, and golf ball maker Volvik was named the title sponsor for the 2020 event, but that never came off as the COVID pandemic knocked it and several other pro golf events off the calendar that year.

So it’s been since 2019 that the LPGA last competed in Arizona. Jin Young Ko made the Bank of Hope Founders Cup her third LPGA win and first in the U.S. at Wildfire Golf Club that year.

Now the LPGA is back at a popular location near the Superstition Mountains, which provide a stunning backdrop from all vantage points around the property.

The 18th green during the final round of the 2008 Safeway International at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Superstition Mountain, Arizona. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

“I think it’s amazing. Really important. This is a warm-weather hub,” said owner by Susan Hladky.

She and Superstition Mountain general manager Mark Gurnow had been working for several years to bring a tournament to the venue. They first tried landing the KMPG Women’s PGA. There were also talks with the PGA Tour Champions.

“I figured either the ladies or the senior players are the ones this golf course is going to fit,” said Gurnow.

In the end, the best fit was the LPGA, although the announcement didn’t come till November 2022. It’s a been a mad dash to get the course ready ever since.

An ace in the hole for Superstition Mountain: director of agronomy Scott Krout has been there since the place opened in 1999.

“He was here when the first shovel went into the ground and was here when we [LPGA] played here last, so he’s got it dialed in,” said 2023 tournament director Scott Wood.

Fans coming out to watch the golf and enjoy the sunshine will also experience what tournament officials are calling a sports-bar atmosphere with the 19th Hole Beer Garden near the driving range, where Arizona-based DJ’s DJ Javin (Wednesday to Friday) and DJ Aja Cruz (Saturday and Sunday) will crank up the tunes.

In addition, there will be large flatscreens with Golf Channel’s coverage of the golf but also the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament games.

There will be another hangout spot at the 17th hole featuring the theme “You Glow Girl” where specialty drinks served in souvenir cups. Concessions will be available there.

Fans can get up close and personal with the LPGA golfers, who plan to visit “Selfie Stations” around the course.

The bottom line: fun for fans.

“They can watch some golf, eat some good food, catch up on their brackets. We’re going to have a family fun zone for kids,” Wood said. “Just trying to bring some different energies to the golf course in certain places.

“We feel it’s important to do some different things, to try some different things, since we basically are our own title sponsor for this week. Why not try it, right? We can only yell at ourselves,” he continued. “Overall, we just want people to have a good time. We know the golf is going to be great.”

The Drive On is owned and operated by the LPGA. The event is scheduled at Superstition Mountain for just this season, but all parties involved are hoping to secure a long-term partnership.

Most Popular

Dustin johnson leads this list of best value picks to win the masters 2024, an early look at the top 10 betting favorites for the 2024 masters, rickie fowler among these 7 big names to miss the cut at the valero texas open, meet the 35 golfers who made the 2024 augusta national women's amateur cut, best golf shoes for 2024, masters survey 2024: rickie fowler, matt kuchar and will zalatoris on what makes the masters feel different from a typical pga tour event, masters survey 2024: keegan bradley on the 'secret bathrooms,' justin thomas dreams of the champions locker room & zach johnson's butler cabin humble brag among pros favorite building or room at augusta national.

It's fitting that as LPGA returns to Arizona, the course it's playing is owned by a woman

The LPGA is back in Arizona. It’s also back at one of its most popular stops.

Perhaps it’s fitting that the golf club hosting the event is owned by a woman, and the company hired to run concessions during the tournament is also female-owned.

All that wasn’t done by design, but it does speak to a convergence of events that puts women at the forefront of the LPGA’s first full-field event on the 2023 schedule.

The Drive On Championship will be held at Superstition Mountain Golf Club Thursday-Sunday. It’s the fourth event of the season, but the first three were limited field tournaments.

Top-ranked Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee aren’t in the field but the best of the rest are going to play, as Nos. 2, 3 and 4 — Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko and Atthaya Thitikul — are set to tee it up, as are Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Lilia Vu, Danielle Kang and Jennifer Kupcho.

“It’s going to be a star-studded field,” said Scott Wood, the 2023 tournament director. Six of the top 10 and 14 of the top 20-ranked golfers in the world are in the field of 144.

Arizona golf fans will remember Superstition Mountain.

It hosted the Safeway International for five years, from 2004 to 2008. Those events are remembered for the three World Golf Hall of Famers who won there: Annika Sorenstam in 2004 and 2005, Juli Inkster in 2006 and Lorena Ochoa in 2007 and 2008.

The location was a hit for fans, as well, with more than 150,000 spectators roaming the galleries those weeks.

The LPGA returned to Arizona with the Founders Cup in 2011. That event was last staged in Arizona in 2019 when Jin Young Ko won her first tournament in the U.S. at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club. The 2020 event was canceled by the COVID pandemic, and then the tournament was moved out of state.

In the ensuing years, Susan Hladky, owner of Superstition Mountain, and her general manager, Mark Gurnow, started working behind the scenes to bring professional golf back to their corner of the world.

One of their first efforts was to try to attract the KPMG Women’s PGA. They aimed high right off the bat, swinging for the fences to land a major. While that didn’t pan out, it did help get them in front of some of the movers and shakers in the tournament world.

“That never quite came to fruition but it got our juices flowing, and we were saying, ‘How are we going to do this?'” said Gurnow, who had several talks with the LPGA.

Then, suddenly, his phone rang.

“I guess it was last fall, they said ‘Might you be interested?'” he said. Indeed they were, even though they had to be ready a mere six months later.

Neither Hladky nor her husband, James, played golf, but the opportunity to purchase Superstition Mountain was too good to pass up in late 2009. Lyle Anderson had developed the site with Jack Nicklaus but fell on hard times, and had to let the club with two 18-hole layouts go as the economy hit the skids.

Less than two years later James, a Wyoming oilman, died when his helicopter crashed. Susan was suddenly the sole owner and operator of the golf club.

She has a strong team behind her, starting with Gurnow, who’s been at the club for almost 10 years and was with Troon for seven years before that. Superstition Mountain’s director of agronomy, Scott Krout, has been with the club since it opened in 1999. He still has tournament notes from those Safeway events 15 years ago.

It’s believed Hladky is the only woman to own a course on the LPGA schedule, but she’s quick to not make a big deal about that.

“Maybe not a pioneer,” she said of her status. “But it’s exciting to think that maybe it’s influential to women’s golf.”

More: LPGA's return to Arizona features stellar field

Her commitment to women’s game goes beyond hosting an LPGA event. Hladky has also opened her course to eight players who have memberships: Carlota Ciganda, Mina Harigae, Dana Finkelstein, Jaclyn Lee, Charlotte Thomas, Caroline Inglis, Jennifer Kupcho and Brianna Do.

Superstition Mountain has been the site of a variety of events including Arizona Women’s Divisional Stroke Play, U.S. Women’s Open qualifying (twice), events for the universities of Kansas and Denver, Southwest Section Pro-Lady Championship (twice). It will host the 2025 NCAA women’s regional.

“When I grew up, it was more of a man’s sport, women got a day a week or whatever,” Hladky said. Her efforts now are opening doors for so many.

“We’re definitely making a concerted effort across the tour to work with more women-owned or diversity-owned companies,” Wood said. “When we bring a tour somewhere there’s a significant economic boost to that town so if we can help support business owners that look like our players, and are as successful as our players, that’s a win for all of us.”

Superstition Mountain’s membership is well north of 400. Last November, the members  raised $80,000 for Sunshine Acres , a local charity that provides for homeless children. The membership is taking to the LPGA event, too, with many of them making up the volunteer crew of about 400 people.

The Drive On Championship is owned and operated by the LPGA and has been held in other states previously. The tournament for now is only slated for 2023 but if all goes well, who knows?

“We hope this goes well and the event returns in 2024,” Hladky said.

“Success for us is to bring the tour back to the fans of Phoenix. Have great crowds, great weather, competitive rounds,” said Wood. “We’ll crown a champion next Sunday and take a look at things and see how we can improve next time and see where the ’24 schedule develops.”

• LPGA Newsletters
• LPGA Travel
• Women's Network
• LPGA Professionals
• Members Only
• Lesson Zone
• Membership Information
• Find A Teacher
• Professionals Job Board
• Events Calendar
• LPGA Amateurs
• Become A Member
• Member Login
• LPGA Foundation
• LEADERBOARD
• Changing The Face of Golf
• C-Me Action Plan
• Diversity Policy
• Diverse Supplier Opportunity
• Celebrating the Green
• All Access Series
• Instruction
• Live Stream
• Award Winners
• Hall of Fame
• ROLEX FIRST TIME WINNERS
• ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD
• 2024 Player Priority List (PDF)
• TOURNAMENTS
• Download Schedule
• Completed Tournaments
• Drive On Championship
• International Crown
• Solheim Cup
• CME Group Tour Championship
• LPGA Local Qualifying Rounds
• Hilton Grand Vacations TOC
• LPGA Senior Championship
• RACE TO CME GLOBE
• Season Standings
• Past Winners
• Explanation and Points Breakdown
• Projected Points Standing
• CME Group Cares Challenge - Score 1 for St. Jude
• Aon Risk Reward Challenge
• KPMG Performance Insights

• April 03 Golf Channel (ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• April 04 Golf Channel (ET) 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• April 05 Golf Channel (ET) 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
• April 06 Golf Channel (ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• April 07 Golf Channel (ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

• April 03 Peacock (Stream ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• April 04 Peacock (Stream ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• April 05 Peacock (Stream ET) 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
• April 06 Peacock (Stream ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• April 07 Peacock (Stream ET) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• Tournament Entries
• Buy Tickets

Leaderboard

• Course Info

• Charitable Solicitation Disclosures
• Corporate Sponsors
• LPGA History
• LPGA International
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Legends of the LPGA

Fan Feature

• LPGA Women's Network
• ADA Act Request
• Anti-Doping Information
• Feedback Form
• Gender Policy
• Integrity Program Information
• Media - Press Site
• Player Login
• Privacy Policy
• Professionals Member Login
• Terms and Conditions
• Ticket Terms and Conditions

Global Tour

• International TV Distribution

Mobile Apps

• Android App
• Top Stories

LPGA Tour Ford Championship presented by KCC

March 28-31 at Seville Golf and Country Club

The LPGA Tour is coming to Gilbert to experience the best Arizona has to offer, on the green and off. Arizona’s winter weather is nothing short of amazing while Gilbert provides an ideal mix of big-city amenities and small-town charm. Whether you are visiting from out of state or across town, use this guide to make the most of your time in Gilbert.

Gilbert’s nationally recognized downtown, the award-winning Heritage District, offers 30+ restaurants, live theatre, a farmers’ market, art walk, giant illuminated water tower, and a stunning collection of public art. In 2023, Architectural Digest named Gilbert one of the nation’s best hidden gems for winter travelers-earning first place for activities and dining.  Discover more ways to explore Gilbert below.

LPGA Fan Fest

Come out on Sunday, March 24 from 1-5 p.m. for LPGA Fan Fest at OHSO Brewery & Distillery, located at 335 N Gilbert Rd #102, Gilbert, AZ 85234. Kickoff tournament week with fun activities, specialty cocktails & mocktails, live entertainment, and your chance to win prizes!

Discover more ways to explore Gilbert

Heritage District

Downtown Gilbert, better known as the  Heritage District , is home to some of the region’s best dining options and live entertainment, plus vibrant nightlife and local shopping. Open-air patio dining is abundant, so you can enjoy your food and company while you lounge in the beautiful Arizona weather.

Agritopia Farm  was founded with two goals in mind: to preserve urban agriculture and to serve as a place for the community to gather and enjoy life. Restaurants and shops surround the 11-acre USDA organic farm. Enjoy farm to fork meals and purchase local products and produce from the Farm Store. But that’s not all. Explore handcrafted goods at Barnone, grab a bite at  Belly Kitchen & Bar  or experience award-winning cocktails at  Undertow  at Epicenter.

SanTan Village

No Gilbert getaway is complete without a trip to  SanTan Village , an open-air shopping destination that features big-name retailers, local boutiques and great restaurants. Even when you’re not looking to shop, SanTan Village offers plenty of entertainment options and amazing dessert spots, including Kids Empire, a Harkins movie theater, Honeymee and Frost Gelato.

Golf Courses

Places to eat, shop local finds.

If you want to experience the best of Gilbert, Arizona and support the local economy, you should visit these three amazing local shops that offer a range of products that reflect the charm and character of this town. State Forty Eight is a clothing brand that embraces the spirit of Arizona, Studio 223 , a hidden gem in Gilbert, offers handmade goods infused with Gilbert Charm, and not to be missed is Why I Love Where I Live , offering apparel, gifts and prints that highlight the beauty and wonder of Gilbert and its communities. Don’t miss this chance to shop local and take home a piece of Gilbert, Arizona!

There are many great events happening weekly and annually. Please go to gilbertaz.gov/events for updated information on events in Gilbert.

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE UPDATES

It’s easy! Just provide us with your name and email and soon you will be receiving current deals, travel tips, and upcoming events for your Gilbert Visit!

GET YOUR FREE TRAVEL GUIDE

You can download or we'll mail you a FREE guide to help you plan your next trip to Gilbert.

• FanNation FanNation FanNation
• Swimsuit SI Swimsuit SI Swimsuit
• Sportsbook SI Sportsbook SI Sportsbook
• Tickets SI Tickets SI Tickets
• Shop SI Shop SI Shop
• Free Agency
• March Madness
• What's on TV
• Golf Golf Golf
• Home Home Home
• News News News
• Leaderboard Leaderboard Leaderboard
• Schedules Schedules Schedules
• SI Rankings SI Rankings SI Rankings
• Travel Travel Travel
• Instruction Instruction Instruction
• Gear Gear Gear
• Betting Betting Betting

2024 LPGA Tour Schedule: Dates, Purses, Winners

• Author: John Schwarb

Members of the LPGA Tour will play for a record $116 million in 33 official events during the 2024 season.

The season begins with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions from Jan. 18-21 in Orlando and concludes with the CME Group Tour Championship from Nov. 21-24 in Naples.

The LPGA Tour has five majors again in 2024 including the Chevron Championship.

Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports

We'll track the winners and total purses for each event here.

2024 LPGA Tour Schedule: Dates, Winners, Purses

Jan. 18-21: Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, Lake Nona G. and C.C., Orlando, Florida, $1.5 million

Winner: Lydia Ko

Jan. 25-28: LPGA Drive On Championship, Bradenton Country Club, Bradenton, Florida, $1.75 million

Winner: Nelly Korda

Feb. 22-25: Honda LPGA Thailand, Siam C.C., Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand, Purse: $1.7 million

Winner: Patty Tavatanakit

Feb. 29-March 3: HSBC Women's World Championship, Sentosa G.C., Singapore, Purse: $1.8 million

Winner: Hannah Green

March 7-10: Blue Bay LPGA, Jian Lake Blue Bay GC, Hainan Island, China, $2.2 million

Winner: Bailey Tardy

March 21-24: Se Ri Pak LA Open, Palos Verdes Golf Club, Palos Verdes Estates, California, $2 million

Winner: TBD

March 28-31: Arizona Championship presented by JTBC, TBD, Phoenix, Arizona, $2 million

April 3-7: LPGA Match Play at Shadow Creek, Shadow Creek G.C., Las Vegas, Nevada, $2 million

April 18-21: The Chevron Championship, The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas, $5.2 million

April 25-28: JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, Wilshire C.C., Los Angeles, California, $3 million

May 9-12: Cognizant Founders Cup, Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton, New Jersey, $3 million

May 16-19: Mizuho Americas Open, Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey City, New Jersey, $3 million

May 30-June 2: U.S. Women's Open, Lancaster Country Club, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, $11 million

June 7-9: ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, Seaview, A Dolce Hotel (Bay Course), Galloway, New Jersey, $1.75 million

June 13-16: Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Blythefield C.C., Grand Rapids, Michigan, $3 million

June 20-23: KPMG Women's PGA Championship , Sahalee Country Club, Sammamish, Washington, $10 million

June 27-30: Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Midland C.C., Midland, Michigan, $3 million

July 11-14: Amundi Evian Championship, Evian Resort G.C., Evian-les-Bains, France, $6.5 million

July 18-21: Dana Open for Children, Highland Meadows G.C., Sylvania, Ohio, $1.75 million

July 25-28: CPKC Women's Open, Earl Grey Golf Club, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, $2.6 million

Aug. 1-4: Portland Classic, Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Oregon, $1.75 million

Aug. 8-11: 2024 Paris Olympics, Le Golf National, Paris, France

Aug. 15-19: Women's Scottish Open, TBD, Scotland, $2 million

Aug. 22-25: AIG Women's Open, St. Andrews (Old Course), St. Andrews, Scotland, $9 million

Aug. 29-Sept. 1: FM Global Championship, TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts, $3.5 million

Sept. 13-15: Solheim Cup , Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia

Winning Team: TBD

Sept. 19-22: Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, TBD, Cincinnati, Ohio, $2 million

Sept. 27-29: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, Arkansas, $3 million

Oct. 10-13: Buick LPGA Shanghai, Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, China, $2.1 million

Oct. 17-20: BMW Ladies Championship, TBD, South Korea, $2.2 million

Oct. 24-27: Maybank Championship, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, $3 million

Oct. 31-Nov. 3: TOTO Japan Classic, Seta Golf Course, Shiga, Japan, $2 million

Nov. 6-9: LOTTE Championship, Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, $3 million

Nov. 14-17: The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Pelican G.C., Belleair, Florida, $3.25 million

Nov. 21-24: CME Group Tour Championship, Tiburon G.C., Naples, Florida, $11 million

Rose Zhang among four tied for LPGA Match Play lead

• Associated Press

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Rose Zhang watched her 2-stroke lead with two holes to play Thursday turn into a four-way tie for first place, the strong wind playing havoc with her and everyone else who teed off in the afternoon at the LPGA Tour's T-Mobile Match Play.

Zhang ended the second round of the stroke-play portion at Shadow Creek with two straight bogeys, dropping her into a tie at 4-under 140 with first-round leader Sei Young Kim , Carlota Ciganda and Angel Yin . The latter two played in the morning, when warm temperatures and moderate wind created near-perfect playing conditions.

Then the expected gusts of more than 40 mph hit to provide those on the course with quite a challenge. No one with an afternoon tee time broke par.

"Shadow on its own is always a very difficult golf course and very easy to shoot over par here," Zhang said. "With the wind, makes it tenfold a lot harder. So when I saw a little bit of the scores and the cut line, it justifies how difficult we played it today."

The projected cut went from 5-over par to 9 over in about three hours, with 67 players making it through. It's the highest cut line on the LPGA Tour since the 2020 Women's British Open.

The top eight on Friday advance to the weekend, and any tie for the final spot will be resolved through a playoff. Then the tournament moves to match play. It was entirely a match-play event the first three years.

Zhang knocked her approach shot on No. 16 to within 3 feet for a birdie and two-shot lead. But she then bogeyed the 17th and hit her drive on No. 18 into the water, leading to another bogey and a second-round 73.

Kim faced her own ups and downs, twice lipping out putts on her back nine to finish with a 74.

"Even [with a] tough golf course and then tough conditions, I kind of enjoyed it," Kim said. "It's fun. A lot of factors on the green and it's challenging every hole."

Ciganda carried on her strong play from last week, when she tied for third in the Ford Championship in Arizona. She shot a bogey-free 67.

This is Yin's first tournament since breaking her leg the week after Thanksgiving while in Austria. She carded a 68, crediting ibuprofen for helping get around the hilly, 6,765-yard course.

"I'm just happy to play," Yin said. "No tournament next week, so I can rest all I want. If I can hash it out this week and see where my game is, because every single round I play I get to improve more."

Las Vegas resident Danielle Kang began the day tied for second with Zhang, but shot an 83 on her home course and still made cut at 6 over.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda's hopes of extending her three-tournament winning streak remain alive after she walked off with a 73 for the second day in a row, putting her at 2 over.

Defending champion Pajaree Anannarukarn shot a 79 and was 9 over, just enough to keep her in the tournament.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• March Madness
• AP Top 25 Poll
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Nelly Korda 3 shots back at LPGA Tour’s Ford Championship in bid to win 3 straight starts

Nelly Korda hits from the ninth tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nelly Korda walks up the eighth fairway during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nelly Korda hits from the seventh tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nelly Korda hits from the second tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Lydia Ko smiles after her shot on the eighth green during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Paula Creamer reacts to missing her shot on the first green during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Anna Nordqvist hits from the second tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Anna Nordqvist throws her ball to her caddie on the third green during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Caroline Masson hits from the fourth tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Paula Reto hits from the 11th tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Azahara Munoz hits from the 11th tee during the first round of LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

• Copy Link copied

GILBERT, Ariz. (AP) — Nelly Korda fought through brutal conditions to win in Southern California last week.

A solid opening round on a soft course in perfect weather has the world’s No. 1 player in position to win her third straight start.

Korda shot a 6-under 66 in the first round of the Ford Championship on Thursday, leaving her three shots back in a bid to become the first LPGA Tour player to win three straight starts in eight years.

“Completely different today compared to last weekend,” Korda said. “The greens are quite soft. I know Arizona has been getting a good bit of rain throughout the winter. I knew there would be low scores out there, so needed to be aggressive.”

A week after brutal wind outside Los Angeles in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, ideal scoring conditions greeted the players in the inaugural event at Seville Golf and Country Club.

Pajaree Anannarukan took advantage with a bogey-free, 9-under 63 after starting on the back nine at the 6,734-yard course in suburban Phoenix. She had a one-shot lead over Lilia Vu, Gabriela Ruffels, Isa Gabsa and former Arizona State players Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda.

The top-ranked Korda opened with four birdies in five holes and closed with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th as she tries to become the first LPGA Tour player to win three straight starts since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.

Korda won the Drive On Championship in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, before sitting out all of the LPGA Tour’s Asian swing. She showed no rust after the long break, winning last week to move back atop the world ranking and is in contention again.

“(I) kept it pretty light at the beginning of the week knowing I needed rest and that was the most important,” Korda said.

Anannarukan has won twice on the LPGA Tour, including last year’s Bank of Hope Match Play at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old from Thailand missed the cut last week, but closed with five straight birdies to shoot 6-under 30 on Seville’s front nine.

“The condition’s really similar to Las Vegas,” she said. “I feel like if you can get the good number into most of the shots going into the green, that’s just really helpful. I think I got a really good number today, just really helped me with the putts as well.”

Vu fell out of the top spot in the world when Korda won in a playoff last week at Palos Verdes Golf Club. The two-time major champion sandwiched four birdies around a bogey on the par-3 eighth and had four birdies on the back nine.

Cigand rolled in eight birdies in a bogey-free round that started on the back nine.

“I love being here. I feel the support — it just feels very comfortable,” she said. “I’m staying at home so that’s really nice this week. Sleeping in my own bed. Yeah, eating my own dinners and doing my thing. So that’s always very comfortable.”

Munoz had a wild round that included eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys in her bid to win for the first time since the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship.

Ruffels had seven birdies and an eagle with a bogey, a week after missing a birdie putt that would have put her in a playoff with Korda and Ryann O’Toole. Gabsa had three birdies on the front nine, then reeled off four straight to shoot 5-under 31 on the back to finish off her bogey-free round.

Celine Boutier and Hyo Joo Kim shot 65.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf