PLAYERS TO WATCH
The 2024 Chevron Championship returns to The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands for the second year. The first of five majors of the LPGA season will be contested Thursday-Sunday over the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.
Here are 10 golfers to watch:
NELLY KORDA
Age: 25.
Hometown: Bradenton, Fla.
Notable: World No. 1 has won four straight starts, culminating at T-Mobile Match Play two weeks ago. …First American to win four consecutive starts on LPGA Tour since Nancy Lopez won five straight starts in 1978. …12-time winner on tour. …Won individual Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2020. …Along with sister Jessica, represented U.S. at 2019 and 2021 Solheim Cup, as well as on her own at 2023 Solheim Cup.
LYDIA KO
Age: 26.
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand.
Notable: A win this week secures spot in LPGA Hall of Fame. …First reached No. 1 in women’s world golf rankings at 17 years old in 2015, becoming youngest person to be ranked that high. …20-time winner on tour with two major wins – 2015 Evian, 2016 Chevron. …LPGA Player of the Year and top money winner in 2015, 2022. …2014 LPGA Rookie of the Year, added Vare Trophy (lowest scoring average) in 2021, 2022.
BROOKE HENDERSON
Age: 26.
Hometown: Smith Falls, Ontario.
Notable: Among 13 tour wins are two majors – 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, 2022 Evian Championship. …Two-time Olympics participant. …Career earnings top $12 million with 77 top-10 finishes. …20 rounds under par and 109 birdies both are second-best this season. …Coming off share of ninth in T-Mobile Match Play.
SEI YOUNG KIM
Age: 31.
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea.
Notable: Plays on LPGA of Korea Tour as well as LPGA Tour, where she has 12 of her 17 pro wins. …LPGA’s Player of the Year in 2020, tour’s 2015 Rookie of the Year. …Won 2020 Women’s PGA Championship and other top finishes in majors are share of second in 2018 Evian, tie for third in 2021 Chevron, share of fourth at 2018 Women’s British Open. …From 2019-21 finished fifth, second, fourth respectively in women’s world golf rankings.
PATTY TAVATANAKIT
Age: 24.
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand.
Notable: Won this tournament in 2021, her first victory on tour. …In February, won the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF on the Ladies European Tour by seven shots for her first professional victory since capturing the 2021 Chevron Championship. …Turned pro in 2020 following career at UCLA where she won seven tournaments before earning 2021 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. …Lowest scoring amateur at 2018 U.S. Women’s Open.
HIRA NAVEED
Age: 26.
Hometown: Perth, Australia.
Notable: A rookie, leads tour in scoring average (69.0), scrambling percentage (76.4). …Finished second to Korda at the Ford Championship in just her fourth LPGA Tour start. …Has spent past four seasons competing on Epson Tour where she recorded eight top-10 finishes. …Secured LPGA Tour status via 2023 LPGA Q-Series. …After playing collegiately at Pepperdine, won professional debut at Long Beach Open on Cactus Tour.
LEONA MAGUIRE
Age: 29.
Hometown: Cavan, Ireland.
Notable: Reached T-Mobile Match Play final, earning No. 1 seed following stroke-play competition. Runner-up finish in Las Vegas was her first top 10 on tour since picking up second career win at Meijer LPGA Classic. …Has a win in each of past two seasons on tour. …Represented Europe in 2021 and 2023 Solheim Cups. …Competed in 2016 Rio Olympics and 2021 Tokyo Olympics. …10th this season in money earnings ($291,317).
CELINE BOUTIER
Age: 30.
Hometown: Montrouge, France.
Notable: Of the French professional’s six wins on tour, four came in 2023, including Evian Championship. …Three-time participate in Solheim Cup and took part in 2021 Tokyo Olympics. …Also plays on the Ladies European Tour and has 14 overall pro wins. …Her international amateur titles include 2012 European Ladies Amateur and 2015 British Ladies Amateur. …Helped Duke to 2014 NCAA championship.
LILIA VU
Age: 26.
Hometown: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Notable: Defending Chevron champion and 2023 Rolex Player of the Year, beating Angel Yin in a playoff at Chevron, one of four wins in 2023 and one of two majors (AIG Women’s Open). …Second in U.S. Solheim Cup points having played in 2023 edition. …Ranks 13th in sand-save percentage (57.8). …First all-time in UCLA career individual wins with eight.
LOTTIE WOAD
Age: 20.
Hometown: Farnham, England
Notable: Earned exemption into Chevron by winning this month’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. This will be her first LPGA Tour event. …Sophomore at Florida State where she holds second-lowest career stroke average (70.68). First-team All-American as freshman. Has not finished outside top 8 in college golf this season. …Ranks No. 4 in world amateur golf rankings.