| Change is in the air at this week’s Chevron Championship as the first major of the LPGA season moves to its new home in Houston and Carlton Woods after 51 years in California’s Coachella Valley. What isn’t changing about this year’s event is the quality of the field—and the intriguing storylines that it brings.
A rare LPGA Hall of Fame berth is on the line for Lydia Ko, as a victory would allow the No. 1 player in the Rolex World Rankings to become the fifth woman to qualify since 2000. World No. 2 Nelly Korda and No. 3 Jin Young Ko head to Texas in good form, as do Canadian Brooke Henderson and Englishwoman Georgia Hall, as they all look to add to their major totals.
Perhaps a bit under the radar is the defending champion, Jennifer Kupcho, who made the final leap into Poppie’s Pond last year after carrying a six-shot lead into the final round and holding on to win. Kupcho’s ball-striking was superb for the week, particularly in the third round, when she made nine birdies to shoot eight-under 64.
The 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion has two key moves that she works on with her coach to keep her long game sharp, and she knows they’ll help your game, too. The good news? Both are backswing moves, meaning you’ll have fewer thoughts on the way down. Check out Kupcho’s advice for how to dial in your ball-striking with her two backswing keys, right here. |
