From April 18 to 21, the U.S. LPGA Tour will host the first major of the year: the Chevron Championship at the Carlton Woods Club in Texas. The total prize fund increased to $7.9 million, up from $5.1 million last year. The lineup is very eye-catching, the world No. 1 Nellie Korda, Lilia Wu, Gao Baojing, Liu Xiaoran, Zeng Yani and other 13 former champions participated, in addition, seven Chinese mainland female players also qualified, they are: Yin Ruoning, Lin Xiyu, Liu Yu, Liu Yan, Liu Ruixin, Yin Xiaowen, Zhang Weiwei.
Courtesy of the LPGA in the United States
At present, China's first sister Yin Ruoning is ranked fourth in the world and the highest ranking of female players in Chinese mainland. Yin Ruoning's best result this season was a tie for eighth at the Park Se-ri Championship, which was also her first defense of her title at the LPGA in the United States. In 2024, one of her key goals is to achieve good results at the Games, and when it comes to preparing for the Games, she says: "There are still 100 days, more than three months, and I want to play on this course before the Games start and get a feel for the game." ”
Last week was an off-season week for the LPGA, and Yin Ruoning went to the Augusta National Club to watch the Masters. "When I went to the game, I felt very motivated. There was a lot of spectators, and I was looking forward to seeing so many people in the women's competition. Also, I see how good men's professional players try out and prepare for the game, and I will also gain something. Coming to the Grand Slam this week, Yin Ruoning will start on Thursday at 12:59 p.m. local time on the 10th hole.
Photo courtesy of the US LPGA
China's Jinhua Lin Xiyu returned to the field this week after a week's break and set her sights on the top 15. "After last year, the course was adjusted, and the new greens were still harder, so it was a little bit more difficult. Lin Xiyu said that she feels that she has been in average form recently, and hopes to find a better state in the competition and deliver good results in the Grand Slam. Lin Xiyu hopes to be "very patient" at the Chevron Championships, "this week you need to play as good as possible, have the ability to save Pa, and be mentally prepared to face everything". In the 2024 season, Lin Xiyu has won two top-10 finishes and is currently ranked 11th in the world, starting at 7:48 a.m. local time on Thursday morning, on the 10th hole.
Courtesy of the LPGA in the United States
Liu Yu will depart on Hole 10 at 12:15 p.m. local time on Thursday. She used last week's gap to make some adjustments to both the long and short games, hoping for a good performance this week. "I didn't make the cut in this arena last year, and this year I hope to learn from last year's experience and perform better!" Liu Yu also felt the difference between the two years, "There are some changes in the setting of the greens and fairways, and the weather is hotter than last year, so it feels different to play." The Grand Slams will be a bit more challenging and I want to play my best. This season, Liu Yu has played seven tournaments in the LPGA in the United States, and his best result is a tie for 31st place at the Blue Bay Masters.
Liu Yan (data map)
The remaining four Chinese mainland players, Liu Yan will start on the 10th hole at 8:54 a.m. local time on Thursday morning; Zhang Weiwei will start on the 10th hole at 1:54 a.m.; Liu Ruixin will start on the 1st hole at 2:05 p.m.; and Yin Xiaowen will start on the 10th hole at 2:05 p.m. local time.
In addition, the 2024 Chevron Championship offers $10,000 to players who fail to advance, which is a full double last year's $5,000. This is the largest knockout prize on the U.S. LPGA tour, allowing players who don't qualify to pay for entry.
The competition is about to start, I hope that the Chinese Jinhua can quickly find their best state on the field, and look forward to them writing their own style on the field of the Chevron Championship!