ANA Inspiration, ANWA: A Huge Week For Women’s Golf

Huge week for women’s golf — professional and amateur.

First, you’ve got the ANA Inspiration — first women’s major championship of 2021, only six months after the 2020 version last September won by Miram Lee.

Next, there’s the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.  Jennifer Kupcho was the inaugural winner in 2019, the 2020 event was wiped out by the COVID pandemic.  But the invitation-only field is back for 54 holes with the final 18 on Saturday at Augusta National its ownself.

Professionals first.

This 2021 version of what began as the Dinah Shore Classic, pops up out at Mission Hills Country Club after only four events so far on the LPGA Tour.  The Korda sisters, Nelly and Jessica, won the first two events followed by Austin Ernst at Golden Ocala and Hall of Famer Inbee Park last week at the Kia Classic.

So how do you handicap this week’s field?

You don’t.

There was one point of contention last year that won’t be present this year — that big blue monster sitting behind the 18th green that became known as “The Great Wall Of Dinah.”

Normally there are spectator stands behind 18 that block second shots on the par five hole from possibly finding their way into the water behind the green.  This year, the hole will play as a true island green.

You may or may not recall that last year, the winner, Lee, bounced her second off “The Wall” — got a free drop and chipped in for an eagle three to tie Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson, two players ranked in the top six in the world.  Lee went on to win the playoff.

Lee won’t be able to do that this week and the green will be a true island green.  Sail your second too long and you’ll drown your golf ball.

That was Lee’s fourth LPGA Tour victory and she hasn’t won since, although to be fair, she hasn’t had many chances.

Last week at the Kia that last thing the rest of the Tour needed to see was Inbee Park finding her “A” game.  When that happens, Park becomes a dooms-day ball-striking machine — she’s unflappable under pressure and showed it by shooting 14-under par to bury the rest of the field.

Lexi Thompson, a former ANA champion, tied with Amy Olson for second, five shots back of Park.

But then consider the world’s No. 1, Jin Young Ko, started finding her game.  She finished solo fourth at eight-under.

Two of last year’s playoff names finished tied for 10th — Korda and Henderson.

So with some big names heating up, this week should be a good one — especially with the “Great Wall Of Dinah” stored away in a warehouse somewhere.

Rose Zhang Favored At Augusta National Women’s Amateur?

In August of last year, 17-year-old Rose Zhang upset defending champion Gabby Ruffels to win the U.S. Amateur championship.  On the third playoff hole, Ruffels missed a three-footer for par and Zhang was the champion.

Zhang went on to tie for 11th in the ANA last September so perhaps it’s not a stretch to list her as the favorite to win this week.  She played in the first event two years ago and finished 17th.

The first two rounds will be played on Wednesday and Thursday at the Champions Retreat Club and the field will be trimmed to the low 30 who then have Friday to practice at Augusta National before the final 18 at the home of The Masters on Saturday.

There was some pre-tournament disappointment for three University of Texas golfers.  Kaitlyn Papp, Hailee Cooper and Agathe Laisne all tested positive for COVID and had to withdraw from the field.

The news was especially tough for Papp, who finished tied for fifth in 2019 when Jennifer Kupcho won.  Papp also had a top 10 finish at the Women’s U.S. Open last December.  She would have been a threat this week.

Still, the show will go on and don’t be surprised if its Zhang, the top-ranked amateur in the world, receiving the trophy on Saturday from ANGC Chairman Fred Ridley.