CALIFORNIA DREAMING FOR KO
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko will be California Dreaming this week at the Kia Classic.
“I wish I could actually live here full-time,” Ko said of Carlsbad. “So it’s always good to come back to a place where you feel really welcome and you just love the vibe of the place. I mean, every Aviara is one of the most beautiful courses we play all year round, so it definitely feels good to be back.”
Ko’s game has also been benefiting from the California vibes as she is coming off a third place showing at Aviara just a season ago.
“It’s in really good conditions,” Ko said. “I’m sure as the week goes on, the sun blares down on it, it will get in even better condition. So yeah, the course is in good conditions. It’s going to be tough, so it’s now up to us to play some good golf on it.”
FINAL PUSH FOR ANA INSPIRATION
This week, a number of players will be making one final push for at a spot in the year’s first major, the ANA Inspiration. The final criteria for players to get into the field is top 20-players who aren’t already qualified and are currently in the top 80 on the Official Money List at the conclusion of the Kia Classic. As of right now Mina Harigae is the last player in the field per the criteria and ranks 80th ($20,979) on the Money List through the JTBC Founders Cup.
Here are five players to keep an eye on over the next two days who have a good shot at earning a spot in the desert next week based on their play in Carlsbad.
| Pos. on Money List | Player | Money Won |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Bertine Strauss | $20,612 |
| 82 | Cydney Clanton | $20,468 |
| 83 | Lindy Duncan | $19,983 |
| 86 | Katie Burnett | $19,183 |
| 90 | Nontaya Srisawang | $14,838 |
ROLEX RANKINGS SCENARIOS
Below are the Rolex Rankings projections for this week at the Kia Classic. Please confirm with the LPGA staff during the tournament for updates.
Lydia Ko remains No. 1 this week regardless of her result and what happens in the field. She is currently 100 points ahead of No. 2 Inbee Park in the rankings.
Inbee Park will maintain No. 2 no matter the result of all players.
Sei Young Kim can become No. 4 if:
She wins AND Stacy Lewis finishes in third or worse
Sei Young Kim can become No. 3 if:
She wins AND Lexi Thompson finishes 61st or worse AND Stacy Lewis finishes third or worse
Ha Na Jang can become No. 4 if:
She wins AND Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Sei Young Kim finish in a three-way tie for 10th or worse
Current Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings
- Lydia Ko
- Inbee Park
- Lexi Thompson
- Stacy Lewis
- Sei Young Kim
- Ha Na Jang
- Amy Yang*
- Brooke M. Henderson
- In Gee Chun*
- Shanshan Feng
*Not in the field this week at the Kia Classic
NUMBERS TO KNOW
4 – A player from South Korea has won four of the first six tournaments this year, Ha Na Jang has won two
5 – There have been five holes-in-one through the first six tournaments this year
14 – There are a season-high 14 rookies competing this week at the Kia Classic
20 – Cristie Kerr holds the tournament scoring record at 20-under-par and is the only player to win the Kia Classic with all four rounds in the 60’s
22 – Number of rounds under par for Ha Na Jang this season
41 – Lydia Ko has spent 41 total weeks atop the Rolex Rankings in her short career
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