The LPGA will step into the spotlight this week with the season’s first major — the ANA Inspiration.
Big question will be: can the American women step up their games?
Austin Ernst had her best showing of the year, finishing second to Mirim Lee Sunday at the Kia Classic. Lee ran away with the title, shooting 20-under at Carlsbad, good for a six-shot margin of victory over Ernst and So Yeon Ryu. Ernst closed with 67 while Ryu shot 66. Ryu, the 2011 U.S. Open champ, has played in four events this year and has four top 10 finishes.
Gerina Piller, still trying for that first victory, finished tied for fourth with Cristie Kerr at 12-under. Kerr was in the thick of it for the first two rounds but shot 71-70 on the weekend to fall out of contention.
Lexi Thompson, the highest-ranked U.S. player, finished tied for 11th at 9-under.
The biggest news last week came when world’s No. 1 Lydia Ko, missed the cut for only the second time in her career. No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn’s tie for 21st put her within 1.3 points of Ko in the rankings.
With Ko slumping and Jutanugarn somewhat off her game, the first major is up for grabs.
This used to be the old Dinah Shore and it is still staged at Rancho Mirage where Ko won last year. She shot 12-under par and edged Charley Hull and In Gee Chun by a shot.
