Everything You Need to Know

LPGA’s Elite Fine-Tune Games at Stacked Ford Championship

After a three-week Asian swing, the world’s best female golfers have landed in Arizona with one collective thought: The Chevron Championship is coming.

With just four weeks until the season’s first major, this week’s Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass is brewing. The field? Stacked. The stakes? High.

The Who’s Who of Women’s Golf

Let’s talk about this field:

• 19 of the top 20 Rolex-ranked players
• All 5 winners from this young season
• Defending champ Nelly Korda looking to restart her victory train
• Lydia Ko fresh off a HSBC win and eyeing LPGA Hall of Fame status
• Jeeno Thitikul hotter than Arizona pavement with a LET win and two top-3s

Not to mention major champs like Lilia Vu, Brooke Henderson, and Celine Boutier mixing it up with fan favorites like Charley Hull. This isn’t a warm-up – it’s a showdown.

Nelly is Back

Remember when Korda went on that ridiculous five-win streak last year? The Ford Championship was win #3 in that run, where she casually posted a bogey-free 65 on Sunday like it was a casual round with friends.

This year? She’s playing her third event total after:

• A runner-up at the Tournament of Champions
• A T7 at the Founders Cup

Translation: She’s rested and she’s ready

The Comeback Kids

While the young guns dominate headlines, two veterans are stealing the spotlight this week:

Cristie Kerr (20-time LPGA winner)

• Making her third start since 2024
• Recently dipped her toes in senior golf
• Last year at Ford

Lexi Thompson (Fan favorite turned part-timer)

• “Retired” but clearly not
• T13 at Founders Cup showed she’s still dangerous
• T3 here last year proves she loves the desert

And let’s not forget Rose Zhang, the Stanford student who keeps reminding us she’s also one of the best.

New Course Alert: Whirlwind’s Cattail

Golf course reviewers, assemble! The tournament moves to:

• Whirlwind GC’s Cattail Course (designed by Gary Panks)
• Features: Wide fairways (breathe easy, bombers), big greens (hello, three-putts), and “scenic seclusion”
• Fun fact: First LPGA event ever hosted here

Early scouting reports suggest the winning formula will be:

1. Hit it long
2. Putt amazing
3. Avoid the “subtle undulations” that will secretly ruin scores

Sponsor Exemptions Worth Watching

Maria Fassi

• Making 2025 LPGA debut
• Known for: Power and her Instagram game stronger than her putter

Gabby Barker

• First female Native American pro golfer
• Epson Tour veteran getting a well-deserved shot

Both missed the cut here last year. Both have everything to prove.

Why This Week Matters

With $2.25 million and 500 CME Globe points up for grabs, this is more than just a tune-up. It’s:

• A final chance to test new equipment before majors
• A gut check for players shaking off rust
• A statement opportunity for anyone wanting to say “Hey, remember me?” before Chevron

Every player here is eyeing that April 20th major date. The only question is – who’ll use this week to build momentum, and who’ll leave Arizona questioning all their life choices?