Yani Tseng
For the inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng, already a four-time winner worldwide in 2011, and No. 2 Jiyai Shin, headline what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable first year for the unique event.
The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, taking place March 18-20 at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, will donate its entire $1-million purse to charity, with $500,000 going to The LPGA Foundation and its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf programme and $500,000 going to the top-10 finishers’ designated charities.
Top American Cristie Kerr, No. 5 in the Rolex Rankings, will play, as will other fan favorites Morgan Pressel, Christina Kim and Paula Creamer. LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb, who won her 37th LPGA title two weeks ago at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore, will also be in the field. There’s also the long-hitting Brittany Lincicome and Laura Davies, the 74-time world-wide winner who will make her 2011 debut in Phoenix. You also can never count out 50-year-old Hall of Fame member and 31-time winner Juli Inkster, who’s still at the top of her game, vying to become the oldest winner in LPGA history.
The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup will be the American professional debut of much-heralded young gun Jessica Korda, daughter of former professional tennis player Petr Korda. Joining her will be two-time LPGA Futures Tour winner Jennifer Song, the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur and Women’s Public Links champion and now an LPGA Tour rookie. LPGA Futures Tour Player of the Year last year, Cindy LaCrosse, will make her 2011 debut.
But there’s not a hotter player in the world right now than Tseng. Tseng, who won Rolex Player of the Year last year after winning two major championships – the Kraft Nabisco Championship and RICOH Women’s British Open – made headlines when she bought Annika Sorenstam’s Orlando home and was challenged by the 73-time winner to refill her trophy cases.
Well, Tseng must have taken the challenge to heart, because to so far in 2011, she has won four times world-wide, including the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open and ANZ RACV Ladies Open co-sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) and the Ladies European Tour (LET)and the season-opening Honda LPGA Thailand on the LPGA Tour. Then the following week, going for four straight, she finished third at the HSBC Women’s Champions, almost chasing down eventual winner Webb with a final-day 67.
Two players will also earn spots into the field via the qualifier on Tuesday, March 15.
While LPGA players will forgo tournament earnings in favor of charity, results at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup will impact the 2011 LPGA Official Money List. Players also will earn points towards Rolex Player of the Year, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, Rolex Rankings and U.S. Solheim Cup team. Scores posted also will count towards the prestigious Vare Trophy.
The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup Pro-Am will take place at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix.
