The LPGA Tour heads to a very historic destination this week for the Women’s L.A. Open — the Wilshire Country Club.
The iconic venue is now 103 years old and Brooke Henderson returns to defend the title she won last year.
Henderson withdrew from the Lotte Championship last week in Hawaii with an undisclosed illness. Last year, the Canadian star shot rounds of 68-65-67-67 for a record-setting 16-under par performance. As good as it was, she still only edged Jessica Korda by a shot.
Last week, Henderson opened with a 74 at the Lotte then withdrew prior to the second round. Prior to that WD, she opened her season with six straight finishes in the top 15. She was runner-up in the season opener.
While America’s best player — Nelly Korda — is still recovering from her blood-clot related surgery, sister Jessica knows how to go low at Wilshire.
This event will also mark the return of Jin Young Ko, who failed to contend at the season’s first major — the Chevron. This is her first appearance since finishing T53 in the final go-round at Mission Hills.
“I didn’t play well in the Chevron so I needed to fix something to do my swing, so I practiced hard,” said Ko, the world’s No. 1. “It was getting better and better, but I needed to more practice for my swing and to perfect. “My driver wasn’t far in the Chevron, so I practiced more downswing to the ground, like push the ground and then get the power from the ground.”
Ko has found a good comfort level at Wilshire. She’s finished in the top five since the tournament began in 2018. She tied for second that year, tied for fifth in 2019 and tied for third last year. Ko shot 14-under and tied with Hannah Green.
Ko also considers her parents to be her “good luck charm.” They’ll be there this week and next as the Tour plays back-to-back events in the Los Angeles area. Next week is an inaugural event — the Palos Verdes Classic at Palos Verdes Estates.
L.A. Open Pairings, Tee Times:
L.A. Open Television Schedule:
Thursday- Sunday: The Golf Channel 6:30 pm EDT-9:30 pm EDT
Champions Tour Creates Event At Mission Hills:
The LPGA Tour’s season-opening major has vanished from Mission Hills but there will be an event coming up at the famous venue.
The PGA Tour Champions is partnering with healthcare company Grail for the Galleri Classic that will be staged March 24-26 next year on the Dinah Shore tournament course at Mission Hills.
Galleri is Grail’s multi-cancer early detection test.
