As the golf world is left buzzing after the first men’s major championship of the year, we turn our attention towards the first women’s major of the year, The Chevron Championship. The Chevron is taking place at The Club at Carlton Woods again after making it’s debut at this venue one year ago. We were treated with an exciting finish to the 20223 edition of this event when Lilia Vu took down Angel Yin in a playoff. While there was mixed reviews on the course itself last year, it did seem to produce a stern test that elevated the best players the women’s game has to offer. All finishing T4 or better last year were Lilia Vu, Angel Yin, Nelly Korda, A-Lim Kim, Allisen Corpuz, and Atthya Thitikul. We are hopeful to see a leaderboard with similar star power again this year. We will stick to our usual picks format, a player from the top, middle, and bottom of the odds board that we expect to play well this week. And since it is a major week, we will throw in a bonus fourth pick as well!
Lydia Ko
It may be shocking to not see Nelly Korda be the pick here. There is no amount of superlatives that you could use that would exaggerate her current level of play. She has won each of the last four events that she has played in on The LPGA Tour. While the LPGA had the week off last week, it almost feels like too much pressure to maintain that current run of form. I still think she will contend in finish in the top 5, but I think Lydia Ko takes the title this week at Chevron. Lydia has been in good form this season, having made six starts so far and finishing inside the top 18 five of those six. She already has a win, a runner up, and a T4 this season as well. I think the spotlight on Lydia has been so bright since her win earlier this year because she is one point away from earning a spot in the hall of fame. With the spotlight and pressure now firmly on Nelly, I expect Lydia to come in a little more freed up than she has been in her last few starts and come away with a victory at The Chevron Championship.
Allisen Corpuz
The defending U.S Open champion is not having her best season so far. She only has three top 20 finishes thus far and her best finish is a T8. However, this could be the week that she turns it around in a big way. She is too good of an approach player to struggle for this long. Her strokes gained off the tee is what has been holding her back according to her KPMG performance insights page. We have limited course history with last year obviously being the first Chevron held at this venue, but as previously stated Corpuz finished T4 in last years event. I think this is a bounce back week for Corpuz and she finishes inside the top 10.
Aditi Ashok
Aditi has had a relatively uneventful season up to this point. She has made the cut in 4 of her 5 starts, yet her best finish is a T21. Her profile on KPMG performance insights is encouraging. She is only negative in strokes gained off the tee and is positive in all other areas of the game. If she has a good week driving the ball, you can expect to see her potentially post her best finish of the season. Look for Aditi to post a top 20 finish this week at Chevron.
Gabi Ruffels
Gabi was a highly touted LPGA rookie coming into this year. She missed the cut in her first event, and has not missed another in a stroke play event since. In those stoke play events in which she has made the cut, her worst finish is a T15, with her best being a T3. Gabi’s stats seem to back up the eye test as well as the results with her being 13th in strokes gained on The LPGA Tour this season. I think this fast start to Gabi Ruffels LPGA Tour career continues with a top 10 finish this week at The Chevron Championship.
