LPGA Tour Has It’s Own L.A. Open At Wilshire

The world’s best women golfers will be teeing it up this week just outside “La-La-Land” at the historic Wilshire Country Club — host to the LPGA Tour at this week’s L.A. Open.

Wilshire is 102-years-old and once the golf home to many celebrities, including the reclusive billionaire — Howard Hughes — who once lives in a Spanish villa-style home just off the eighth green of the club that is just six miles from downtown Los Angeles.

Lydia Ko returned to the winner’s circle last week at the Lotte Championship, ending a near-three-year winless streak.  She’ll play on Thursday and Friday with Jessica Korda and long-hitting, ANA-winning Patty Tavatanakit.

The world’s No. 1 — Jin Young Ko — is back in action as are most of the world’s top 1o.

After this week’s stop in L.A., the LPGA Tour will head overseas for the HSBC’s WGC event for the ladies in Singapore then the following week (May 6-9), they travel to Thailand for the LPGA Thailand event.

Last year’s L.A. Open was wiped off the schedule by the COVID pandemic.  Defending champion from the 2019 event is Minjee Lee.

L.A. Open Field, Starting Times/Pairings:

Korn Ferry Tour Heads To Texas Rangers Golf Club:

This week’s Korn Ferry Tour event will be played on the only course named for a major league baseball team.

The up-and-comers and PGA Tour-card hopefuls are in Arlington, Texas for the Veritex Ban Championship.  They’ll play four rounds at the Texas Rangers Golf Club.  The course is one of the best new layouts in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.  Look for some low scores this week with wide fairways and Texas-sized greens.

California Caves — Spectators Will Be Allowed At Men’s and Women’s U.S. Opens:

While California continues to be your virtual “Land Of The Lockdown,” there will actually be spectators allowed at the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens this summer.

Golf-starved spectators who want to attend either of the national championships will be required to follow a series of guidelines set forth by the USGA in accordance with officials from the state.

Out-of-state fans will be  required to show proof of vaccination 14 days prior to the start of the tournament. State residents who wish to attend will be required to show either proof of vaccination 14 days prior or a negative test upon entry. All attendees will be required to wear a mask at all times and abide by social distancing rules, regardless of vaccination status.

The women’s championship will be played June 3-6 at the historic Olympic Club in San Francisco.

The men’s championship will be played at Torrey Pines South Course in San Diego, June 17-20.

There was a lot of doubt recently that fans would actually be allowed to show up.  There haven’t been any fans at a golf event since the pandemic started last March.