Click here for complete groups and tee times for the opening round of the Bank of Hope Founders Cup.
*All times are local.
Jessica Korda, Ariya Jutanugarn, Anna Nordqvist
7:44 a.m. – 10th Tee
Jessica Korda is in the midst of one of the most incredible comeback stories of the year. After undergoing off season jaw surgery, she rebounded with a win in her first start in Thailand. She backed that up with a T10 the following week in Singapore. She’s likely to pick up another solid finish this week in Phoenix where she has three top-10s. Korda will play the opening rounds alongside Ariya Jutanugarn and defending champion Anna Nordqvist. Jutanugarn will be motivated to end the week with her hands on the trophy after finishing runner-up to Nordqvist last season. The defending champ said she surprised even herself with her 25-under winning total but believes the Wildfire Golf Club sets up well for her game.
Nelly Korda, Sung Hyun Park, Inbee Park
7:53 a.m. – 10th Tee
The younger of the Korda sisters, Nelly, nearly made history in Singapore. Nelly finished runner-up the week after her sister’s victory in Thailand. Two sisters haven't won in a single season on Tour since the Sorenstams pulled it off in 2000. Nelly has two more top-10s to start her sophomore season. She will play the first two rounds alongside Sung Hyun Park and Inbee Park. The reigning Rookie and Co-Player of the year has put a lot of pressure this off season to top what she achieved in 2017. Sung Hyun has a good shot at picking up her first top-10 of the year this week in Phoenix where she’s twice finished T13. The LPGA Tour Hall of Famer rounds out this group as she makes just her second start of the season. Inbee has two top-10s in Phoenix including a T5 last year.
Michelle Wie, Jin Young Ko, Brittany Lincicome
12:34 p.m. – 1st Tee
Winners already in 2018, Michelle Wie, Jin Young Ko and Brittany Lincicome are grouped together in the opening rounds in Phoenix. Playing healthy and injury free, Wie picked up her first win in four years in her last start at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. The five-time winner is cautiously optimistic about the prospect of playing pain free in hopes of continuing to win in 2018. Ko, a rookie this season on Tour, captured the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open to win in her season debut. Her accomplishment has largely been overshadowed with Americans winning the other three events of the year. But the rookie is quickly making a name for herself. Ko hasn’t finished outside the top-10 to start the year. She currently leads the Money List, Race to CME Globe, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year standings. Ko also leads the Tour in G.I.R. and Driving Accuracy. Lincicome rounds out this group as the winner of the Tour’s season opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. She backed that up with a T7 in Thailand and is chasing her second win of the season in Arizona where she finished runner-up in 2011.
Brooke Henderson, Cristie Kerr, Lydia Ko
12:45 p.m. – 1st Tee
Brooke Henderson arrives in Arizona poised for her first win of the season with three top-10s in her first four starts of 2018. The Canadian has played consistently well at Wildfire Golf Club where she finished T4 and T13 in her first two appearances. She will play the opening rounds alongside Cristie Kerr and Lydia Ko. Kerr, an Arizona resident, will be comfortable playing close to home as she looks to pick up her first top-10 of 2018. Ko is coming off her first top-10 of the year and this week’s Wildfire Golf Club is an ideal venue for the former world No. 1 to keep the momentum rolling. She’s never finished outside the top-10 at the Founders Cup and twice has finished runner-up.
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