This week in professional golf, attention is focused on the LPGA Tour as the world`s top female players compete in the Chevron Championship, the first major tournament of the season. Concurrently, Rory McIlroy is set to return to competition following his recent achievement of the career Grand Slam at the Masters.
World number one Nelly Korda is set to defend her title at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. Last year, Korda joined Nancy Lopez and Annika Sörenstam as the only players in LPGA history to secure five consecutive victories. Korda is currently seeking her first win of the current season.
Fresh from his playoff victory against Justin Rose at Augusta National, McIlroy is scheduled to participate in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This event is the only team competition on the PGA Tour calendar.
McIlroy and his partner, Shane Lowry, are attempting to become the first pair to successfully defend their title at the Zurich Classic since the team format was introduced in 2017.
The LIV Golf League is also back in action this week, with play scheduled for Friday at Club De Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
Here`s a look at key developments to watch in golf this week:
Korda`s Major Defense
Reflecting on her dominant performance at the Chevron Championship last year, where she earned her fifth consecutive win en route to seven victories for the season, Nelly Korda noted that this year presents a fresh start. Despite finishing as a runner-up in the season opener and tying for seventh place in another event, she is still aiming for her first victory of the season in her sixth start.
“Last year is in the past,” Korda stated. “This is a new year with a new mindset. My achievements from last year are unforgettable memories, but now it`s about focusing on this week.” She expressed satisfaction with her iron play after a T16 finish last week but feels her putting is not yet at its peak performance compared to the previous season. Korda believes that continuing to work on her putting will help it improve.
Off the course, Korda shared that she relaxes by building Lego sets, recently completing a McLaren Formula 1 model and a Simba figure from `The Lion King.` She mentioned planning to engage in Lego building and competitive games like Sequence with her father this week as a way to unwind and take her mind off golf.
Happy to be There
Lilia Vu, the 2023 Chevron Championship winner, revealed that a back injury that caused her to withdraw from last year`s first major led her to question if she would ever be able to play golf professionally again. She recalled being unable to hit a golf ball further than 40 yards before withdrawing, leading her to seriously reevaluate her situation.
Vu described her lengthy absence from competitive golf as the “hardest two months” she had experienced. During her recovery, she spent time reading and listening to audiobooks. After missing the U.S. Women`s Open, she returned to achieve tied second finishes at both the Women`s PGA Championship and the Women`s British Open.
“I just tried my best to become a better person,” Vu commented. “That was all I could focus on improving at that point.” She worked diligently on her physical recovery, including physical therapy and learning proper breathing and posture. Vu views the injury period as a significant life change that ultimately increased her body awareness.
Zhang on the Mend
Rose Zhang, a former two-time NCAA Division I national champion, will miss her second consecutive tournament due to a neck injury. The injury occurred during her first-round match at the T-Mobile Match Play event on April 3, forcing her withdrawal from the second round.
In a post on her Instagram account on April 6, Zhang shared: “Things haven`t been great for me in golf lately, and I`ve struggled to compete at my best due to an injury. This period is challenging and frustrating, but I`m optimistic about getting better and working hard to return to competing at the highest level.”
Currently completing her studies at Stanford University, Zhang has participated in only three LPGA events this year, achieving a tied 10th place finish in one and missing the cut in another. Her timeline for returning to competition remains uncertain.
Lindblad`s Fast Success
Following her first LPGA victory in just her third start as a rookie at last week`s JM Eagle LA Championship, former LSU star Ingrid Lindblad received unexpected congratulatory messages on Instagram from golf legends Annika Sörenstam and Suzann Pettersen. Lindblad found it “pretty cool” to receive recognition from such prominent figures in the sport.
With her impressive amateur record, including a runner-up finish at the 2022 Augusta National Women`s Amateur and 53 weeks as the world`s top amateur, Lindblad is quickly making a name for herself in professional golf. The Swedish player earned her LPGA card efficiently after just nine starts on the Epson Tour last year. She also holds the record for the lowest amateur score (65) in a U.S. Women`s Open round, achieved in 2022.
Beyond the messages, Lindblad also experienced a small, unexpected perk related to her win. She mentioned that Delta Airlines waived her baggage fee on a recent flight, which she found surprising.
Schauffele Makes Unlikely Assist
After securing his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years at the RBC Heritage last week, Justin Thomas surprised reporters by attributing his significant improvement in putting this season to Xander Schauffele, a two-time major champion. Thomas revealed he asked Schauffele for a practice round late last year to discuss his meticulous putting routine.
Thomas explained that Schauffele, known for leaving “no box unchecked” in his pursuit of improvement, shared insights into his process for reading greens, practicing, and seeing the line. Through this discussion, Thomas realized he had lacked a consistent “home base” or method for his putting practice.
The results have been dramatic: Thomas`s strokes gained in putting ranking has jumped from 174th last season to 24th this season. He ranked seventh in the field in putting during his recent victory. Schauffele commented that Thomas seemed to have been searching or trying too hard and that the solutions were likely routines he had successfully used in the past. He felt Thomas, being a highly skilled player, was able to quickly implement the suggestions.
JT`s Sticking with His Caddie
Although Justin Thomas had Max Homa`s former caddie, Joe Greiner, on his bag for his recent win, Thomas clarified that his regular caddie, Matt “Rev” Minister, will return once he recovers from a back injury. Thomas stated on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that Greiner was always a temporary replacement until Minister was healthy again and that they were fortunate Greiner was available.
